A New Ballad of
King John and the Abbot
of Canterbury.
To the Tune of, The King and the Lord Abbot.
With Allowance.
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ILL tell you a Story, a Story anon,
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Of a noble Prince, & his name was King John:
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For he was a Prince, & a Prince of great might,
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He held up great wrongs, he put down great right.
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Derry down, down hey derry down.
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I'll 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 resort to fair London Town:
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Derry down etc.
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How now Brother Abbot? 'tis told unto me,
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That thou keepest a far better house [th]an 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 d[own, 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 dost 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 on my steed so high,
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With my crown of gold upon my head,
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Amongst all my nobility with joy & 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 third 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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O 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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I'll do my endeavour to answer your Grace.
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Derry down, down hey derry down.
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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 to his fold,
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He 'spy'd the old Abbot come riding along,
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How now Master Abbot? you're 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 will be taken from my body:
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Derry down, etc.
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When he is set on his Steed so high,
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With his Crown of Gold upon his head,
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Amongst all his Nobility, with joy & 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 to 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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I'll ride to fair London, and answer the Quar-rel:
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Derry down, etc.
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Now I am set on my Steed so high,
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With my Crown of Gold upon my head,
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Amongst all my Nobility with joy & 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 twenty's the worth of thee;
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For I think thou art one penny worser than he:
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Derry down, etc.
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And the next Question thou mayest 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, & ride with the same,
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Until the next morning it rises again,
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And then I am sure you will make no doubt,
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But in Twenty-four hours you'll ride it about:
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Derry down, etc.
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And the third Question you must not shrink,
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But tell to me truly what I do think:
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All that I can do, and 'twill make you merry,
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For you think I'm the Abbot of Canterbury;
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But I'm his poor Shepherd, as you may see,
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And am come to beg pardon for he and for me:
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Derry down, etc.
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The King he turn'd him about, and did smile,
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Saying, Thou shalt be the Abbot the other while:
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Oh no my Grace, 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 unto 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, etc.
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