The Old ABBOT
AND
King OLFREY.
To the Tune of, The Shaking of the Sheets.
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[I]N old times past there was a King we read,
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was bountifull in each degree,
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That gave Reward to every Subjects need,
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so orderly as it may be:
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[A]nd kept his Princly Pallaty,
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[I]n every Kingly Quality,
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Maintaining Hospitality.
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[W]hen the King was given to understand;
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there liv'd an Abbot in those days,
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[T]hat kept a Noble House in such a band,
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and comely Men at all Affays,
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[T]hat made the King to marvel much,
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[T]he Abbots Living it should be such,
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[An]d how he came for to be so Rich.
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Then the King sent for the Abbot straight,
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to come to Court he might him see,
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To number out the men on him did wait,
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the multitude as it might be:
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And thither went the Lord Abbot then,
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And after him five hundred men,
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To aid him out and home agen.
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Then the noble King he did demand,
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of his House-keeping and all his Train,
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How chance you keep so many men, quoth he?
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or how come you by all your gain?
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Unto your grief I'le make it known,
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I hope my cause is quickly shown,
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For I spend no more then is my own.
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Thou art too wealthy said the King,
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and it is time to cut off your head,
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For now I do suppose in every thing
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how daintily you must be fed.
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Unless you can resolve to me,
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Within one year these Questions three,
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Your head shall off I'le warrant ye.
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First of all you must declare to me,
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to the uttermost what I am worth,
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See that you have a ready care, quoth he,
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for to study and to bring it forth:
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And secondly, the truth to know,
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How I about the world must go,
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This is the second Riddle you know.
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Then last of all to tell me what I think,
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and then you shall your Pardon have,
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Readily set down with Pen and Ink,
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your Lands and Livings all to save:
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If you your Livings mean to hold,
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With all your Gallants in their Gold,
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See these Riddles you ready unfold.
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And then the Abbot he sought out,
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to the cunningest men that there might be,
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How his purpose then might bring about,
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and for to set his Livings free:
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But yet by no good means could he,
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These Riddles expound in any degree,
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Nor yet by University.
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Then the old Abbot he a Brother had,
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a silly man that kept his Sheep,
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Who musing how his Brother came so sad,
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and how he came in dump so deep:
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Saying dear Brother tell to me
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How chance you look so heavily,
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That none of your friends can remand ye?
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Then the Lord Abbot told his Brother all
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the Questions three which made him sad,
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Saying dear Brother shall I be so bold,
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to answer them and make you glad:
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Let me put on your Abbots Weed,
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And I'le go Court like in your stead,
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And see dear Brother, how I shall speed.
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If you these Questions ready can put out,
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and answer them to my discharge,
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Half of my Living that I have no doubt,
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shall be thy own to live at large:
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And thither went the Shepherd then,
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And after him five hundred Men,
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To Guard him out and home again.
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Now you be very welcome said the King,
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indeed your day is just come forth
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I make no doubt but to me you bring,
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to the uttermost what I am worth:
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Yes I'le assure your Grace quoth he,
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Worth nine and twenty pence you be,
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Nor a penny more I will warrant ye.
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For Jesus Christ who was the King of Kings
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was sold but for one penny more
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When Judas sold him to the Jewish things,
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the Scrpture bringeth forth therefore:
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Then I do trust your Grace will say,
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You'r worth no more no manner of way.
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But a Penny lesser then they did pay.
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Then touching how to go the world about,
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in twice twelve hours as you may see,
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The Sun doth take its speedy course about
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so speedily as it may be:
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If you about the World would go,
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In twice twelve hours you may do so,
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And this the second Riddle you know.
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Then last of all to tell you what you think,
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I am sure you think that it is I
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Am the Lord Abbot which to you did bring,
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these questions so Reddily:
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No, I am but his poor Brother God wot
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In Field which after his sheep do trot,
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For Lands and livings I have not.
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When as the Noble King had heard,
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his Questions he had answered so,
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He hearing that the Shepherd he had need,
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a living on him did bestow:
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And his Brother Likewise he did yield,
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Half of the Livings which then he held,
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Thus was he promoted from the field.
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