A New Ballad of
[K]ing John and the Abbot
of Canterbury.
To the Tune of The King and Lord Abbot.
With Allowance.
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[I'll 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 w]as a Prince, and a Prince of great might,
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[He held] up great wrongs, & he put down great right
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[Derr]y 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 Cant]erbury,
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[And of his House-keeping and Hig]h Renown.
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[Which made him repair to fair Londo]n 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 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 Leige 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 then [thru must not shrink,
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[But tell to m]e 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, etc.
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O three days space I will the 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 Sheepherd was going to his fold,
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He spy'd the old Abbot came riding along,
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How now Master Abbot! you'r 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 sat 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 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 thou 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 Quarrel:
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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 then he:
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Derry down, etc.
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And the next Qustion 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, & ride with the same
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Until the next Morning he 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 thou 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, & 'twill make your heart 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 Abbot the other while;
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O 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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