A New BALLAD of
King John and the Ab-
bot of Canterbury.
To the Tune of, The King and the Lord Abbot. With Allowance, Ro. L'Estrong[e]
|
ILe tell you a Story; a Story anon,
|
Of a noble Prince & his Name was King John.
|
For he was a Prince, and a Prince of great might,
|
He held up great Wrongs, he put down great Right.
|
Derry down, down hey derry down.
|
Ile tell you a Story, a Story so merry,
|
Concerning the Abbot of Canterbury,
|
And of his House-keeping and high Renown,
|
Which made him resort to fair London Town:
|
Derry down,
|
How now Father Abbot? tis told unto me;
|
that thou keep a far better House then I,
|
and for House-keeping and High Renown,
|
I Fear thou hast Treason against my Crown
|
Derry Dow[n]e
|
I hope my Liege that you owe me no grudge,
|
For spending of my true gotten goods:
|
If thou dost not answer me questions three,
|
Thy head shall be taken from thy Body:
|
Derry down,
|
When I am set on my steed so high
|
With my Crown of Gold upon my head,
|
Amongst all my Nobility with joy and much mirth
|
Thou must tell me to one penny what I am worth
|
Derry down,
|
And the next Question you must not flout,
|
How long I shall be riding the World about,
|
And the third Question thou must not shrink
|
But tell to me truly what I do think;
|
Derry down
|
O These are hard Questions for my sh[all]ow wit,
|
For I cannot answer your Grace as yet,
|
But if you will give me but three days space,
|
Ile do my endeavour to answer your Grace:
|
Derry down, down hey derry down.
|
O three days space I will thee give,
|
For that is the longest day thou hast to live,
|
And if thou dost not answer these questions right,
|
Thy head shall be taken from thy body quite:
|
Derry down,
|
And as the Shepherd was going to his fold,
|
He spyd the old Abbot come riding along,
|
How now Master Abbot? your Welcome home:
|
What News have you brought from good King John.
|
Derry down,
|
Sad news, sad news, I have thee to give,
|
For I have but three days space for to live
|
If I do not answer him questions three,
|
My head will be taken from my body;
|
Derry down,
|
When he is sat on his Steed so high:
|
With his Cro[w]n of Gold upon his head,
|
Amongst all his Nobility with joy and much mirth
|
I must tell him to one penny what he is worth:
|
Derry down,
|
And the next question I must not flout,
|
How long he shall be riding the World about,
|
And the third question thou must not shrink,
|
But tell to him truly what he does think;
|
Derry down,
|
O Master did you never hear it yet,
|
That a Fool may learn a Wiseman wit[,]
|
Lend me but your Horse & your apparel,
|
Ile ride to fair London and answer the Quarrel:
|
Derry down,
|
Now I am set on my steed so high,
|
With my Crown of Gold upon my head,
|
Amongst all my Nobility with joy & much mirth
|
Now tell me to one penny, what I am worth
|
Derry down,
|
For thirty pence our Saviour was s[old,]
|
Amongst the false Jews as you have been [told,]
|
And nine and twentys the worth of thee,
|
For I think thou art one penny worser than he,
|
Derry down,
|
And the next question thou mayest not flout,
|
How long I shall be riding the World about,
|
You must rise with the Sun, and ride with the s[ame]
|
Until the next morning he rises again:
|
And then I am sure you will make no doubt,
|
But in twenty-four hours youl ride it about:
|
Derry down,
|
And the third question you must not shrink,
|
But tell to me truly what I do think:
|
All that I can do, and twill make you merry,
|
For you think im the Abbot of Canterbury;
|
But im his poor Shepherd as you may see,
|
And am come to beg pardon for he and for me.
|
Derry down,
|
The King he turnd him about and did smile,
|
Saying, thou shalt be the Abbot the other while;
|
O no my Grace, there is no such need,
|
For I can neither Write nor Read.
|
Derry down,
|
Then four pounds a week will I give unto thee;
|
For this merry true jest thou hast told unto me
|
And tell the old Abbot when thou comest home,
|
Thou hast brought him a pardon from good King John
|
Derry down, down hey derry down.
|
|
|
|
|
|