An Excellent BALLAD of
KING JOHN
AND THE
ABBOT of CANTERBURY.
To the Tune of, The King and Lord Abbot.
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I Will tell you a Story, a Story anon,
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Of a noble Prince, and his Name was King John:
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For he was a Prince, and a Prince of great Might,
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He held up great Wrongs, and he put down great Rights.
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Derry down, down, hey derry down.
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Ill tell you a Story, a Story so merry,
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Concerning the Abbot of Canterbury:
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And of his House-keeping, and high Renown,
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Which made him repair to fair London Town.
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Derry down, etc.
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Now! now! Brother Abbot, tis told unto me,
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That thou keepest a far better House than I:
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And for thy House-keeping, and high Renown,
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I fear thou hast Treason against my Crown.
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Derry down, etc.
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I hope, my Liege, that you owe me no Grudge,
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For spending of my true gotten Goods.
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If thou do not Answer me Questions Three,
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Thy Head shall be taken from thy Body.
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Derry down, etc.
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When I am set so high on my Steed,
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With my Crown of Gold upon my Head,
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Amongst all my Nobility with Joy and much Mirth,
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Thou must tell me to one Penny what I am worth?
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Derry down, etc.
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And the next Question you must not flout,
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How long I shall be riding the World about?
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And the next Question thou must not shrink,
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But tell to me truly what I do think?
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Derry down, etc.
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Oh! these are hard Questions for my shallow Wit,
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For I cannot Answer your Grace as yet:
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But if you will give me but three Days Space,
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Ill do my Endeavour to answer your Grace.
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Derry down, etc.
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O three Days Space I will thee give,
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For that is the longest Day thou hast to live:
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And if thou dost not Answer these Questions right,
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Thy Head shall be taken from thy Body quite.
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Derry down, etc.
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And as the Shepherd was going his Sheep among,
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He espyd the old Abbot came riding along;
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How now! Master Abbot, you are welcome home,
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What News have you brought from good King John?
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Derry down, etc.
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Sad News, sad News, I have thee to give,
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For I have but three Days Space for to live;
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If I do not Answer him Questions Three,
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My Head shall be taken from my Body.
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Derry down, etc.
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When he is set so high on his Steed,
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With his Crown of Gold upon his Head;
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Amongst all his Nobility with Joy and much Mirth,
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I must tell him to one Penny what he is worth.
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Derry down, etc.
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And the next Question I must not flout,
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How long he shall be riding the World about:
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And the third Question I must not shrink,
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But tell him truly what he does think.
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Derry down, etc.
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O Master, did you never hear it yet,
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That a Fool may learn a wise Man Wit:
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Lend me but your Horse and your Apparel,
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Ill ride to fair London and answer the Quarrel.
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Derry down, etc.
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Now I am set so high on my Steed,
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With my Crown of Gold upon my Head,
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Amongst all my Nobility with Joy and much Mirth,
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Now tell me to one Penny what I am worth?
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Derry down, etc.
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For thirty Pence our Saviour was sold,
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Amongst the false Jews as you have been told;
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And Nine and Twentys the Worth of thee,
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For I think thou art one Penny worse than he.
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Derry down, etc.
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And the next Question thou mayst not flout,
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How long I shall be riding the World about?
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You must rise with the Sun, and ride with the same,
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Until the next Morning he rises again.
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Derry down, etc.
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And then Im sure you need not doubt,
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But in Twenty-four Hours youll ride it about:
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And at the third Number thou must not shrink,
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But tell to me truly what I do think?
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Derry down, etc.
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All that I can do, and twill make your Heart merry,
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For you think Im the Abbot Canterbury,
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But Im his poor Shepherd, as you may see,
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And am come to beg Pardon for him and me.
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Derry down, etc.
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The King he turned him about and did smile,
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Saying, Thou shalt be Abbot the other while.
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Oh! no, my Liege, there is no such need,
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For I can neither Write nor Read.
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Derry down, etc.
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Then four Pounds a Week will I give unto thee,
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For this merry true Jest thou hast told to me:
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And tell the old Abbot when thou comest home,
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Thou hast brought him a Pardon from good King John.
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Derry down, down, hey derry down.
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