The KING and the BISHOP.
OR,
Unlearned Men, hard matters out can find,
When Learned Bishops, Princes eyes do blind.
To the Tune of, Chevy-Chase.
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IN Popish time when Bishops proud
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in England did bear sway,
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Their Lordships did like Princes Live,
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and kept all at obey:
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Their Palaces with Arrace hangd,
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their houses shind with gold:
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Their train of gallant Gentlemen,
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most stately to behold.
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A King then in this Land did Raign,
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(some say twas old Henry)
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One day he for a Bishop sent,
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his Scholar-ship to try:
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Then straightway to the Court he went,
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in all his Pomp and state,
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And took it for a favour great,
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upon the King to wait.
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And when he came unto the King
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he did both bow and bend,
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His Graces pleasure he did crave,
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why he for him did send:
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Bishop (quoth he) I sent for thee,
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to put thee to a task,
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And I Resolved true will be
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of three things I will ask.
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And three weeks time I will thee give
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on it to meditate,
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And then if you not tell me true,
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I vow to have thy pate:
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If that it like your Majesty,
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(the Bishop then did say)
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Ile try the utmost of my skill,
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your will for to obey.
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The first thing now (then said the King)
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is this that I would know,
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Unto a very hour the time
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a traveller may go
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About the vast and spacious world,
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and then Return again
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Unto the place he did set forth,
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and this I know would fain.
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The second thing that tell you must,
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even to one poor half-crown,
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What I am worth, that am a King;
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(this made the Bishop frown)
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The third thing it is this (he said)
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the which you must explain,
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To tell to me what I do think,
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when you come here again.
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And so good Bishop you do know
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what things I do desire,
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And for to be resolvd therefore
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of you I do require:
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Tell me the truth and keep your time,
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or else your head shall flye
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From off your shoulders when you come,
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your wits you now must try.
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These are hard things to be Resolvd,
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unto the King he said,
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No man on earth can tell the same,
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I greatly am afraid:
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Yet I will try the greatest skill
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and so he took his leave:
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The task and sentence both were hard,
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which made his Lordship grieve.
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The second Part, to the same Tune.
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WHen he came home to study hard
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the Bishop then did go,
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His brains did hammer in his head,
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his heart was fild with woe:
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But yet for all his Learning great,
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these things he could not find,
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The time began for to expire,
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which did torment his mind.
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The heavy sentence of the King
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did touch him to the quick;
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With Grief and overstudying
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he presently fell sick:
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The Bishop he a brother had,
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a man that hard did fare,
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A Shepherd by profession,
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for whom he did not care.
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This Shepherd when that he did hear
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his brother sick did lye,
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To visit him he did think best,
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before that he should dye.
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With much ado, at length he got
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admitance him to see:
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It Grievd the poor man to the heart
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at this his misery.
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Saluting his Lord brother then,
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ask[']d him how he did do;
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He answered him with heavy heart,
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O full of Grief and Woe:
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You cannot help my misery,
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no man my Life can save,
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The tasks too hard for me to do,
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the King my head will have.
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Dear brother (then the Shepherd said)
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to me your Grief explain,
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And if that I can save your life,
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i[']le venture to be slain:
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The Bishop told him every thing,
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cause he ado did make:
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If this be all the Shepherd said,
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the same ile undertake.
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You know that we are very like
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in person, speech, and face,
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Let me put on your Robes of State,
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ile execute the place:
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Your trains of gallants to the Court
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must bear me company,
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And if I do not tell these things
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instead of you ile dye.
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The time being come next day he went
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to see his Majesty,
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Who presently was entertaind
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with courtlike courtesie:
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Now welcome Bishop (quoth the King)
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can you resolve me true?
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And if you cannot he did say,
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I know what I must do.
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Unto your Graces question,
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the first I answer make:
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Let any man ascend the Sky,
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and the Suns Chariot take,
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In twenty and four hours time,
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about the World may ride,
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The which is but one day and night,
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this journey to abide.
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Thou sayest true (then said the King)
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unto the second then:
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Now unto that (the Shepherd said)
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I answer thus agen:
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The King of Kings, our Saviour Christ,
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for thirty pence was sold,
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I undervalue you by far,
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for all your Crown of Gold.
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Then said the King, Bishop tis right,
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what thou hast said before,
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Now tell me truly what I think,
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and I will ask no more:
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You think that I the Bishop am,
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the Shepherd then did say:
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Why so I think; then quoth the King,
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in spight of all says nay.
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You have confest I told your thought,
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ant like your Majesty,
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Although I ware the Bishops Robe,
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a Shepherd poor am I:
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One Father and one Mother both
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we had and brethren are,
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And for to please your Royal Grace,
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my brother had a care.
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He now lies sick neer unto death,
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and hither did me send,
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Who bid me tell you all these things,
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for fear he should offend:
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Commend me to him (quoth the King)
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and thank him heartily,
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He now hath satisfi[']d my mind
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and pleased well am I.
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A hundred pound the King bestowed
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upon the Shepherd then,
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And taking leave away he went
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with all his Gentlemen:
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When to the Bishop he did come,
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all things he did relate,
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He thankd his brother, and was glad
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of this his happy fate.
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Upon him he bestowd a Farm,
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of forty pounds a year,
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As well he might for he did find
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of him a brother dear:
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And thus unlearned men sometimes,
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hard matters out can find,
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When learned Bishops miss the mark,
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and Princes eyes do blind.
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