King JOHN and the Abbot of Canterbury.
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I Will tell you a story, a story anon,
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Of a noble prince whose name was king
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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 put down great right.
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Derry down, down, down, derry down.
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I will tell you a story, a story so merry,
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Concerning the Abbot of Canterbury;
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Which made him repair to fair London town
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The king having heard of his fame and re-nown.
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Derry down, etc.
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How now brother Abbot, it is told to me,
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That thou keep'st 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 you owe me no grudge,
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For spending my own 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 upon my steed,
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With my crown of gold upon my head;
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Among all my nobility with joy and mirth,
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Then tell me to one penny what I am worth.
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Derry down, etc.
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At the next question you must not flout,
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How long shall I be riding the world about?
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At the third question you must not shrink
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But tell me truly what I do think.
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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 father 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 to give,
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For I have but three days on earth to live,
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If I don't 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 sit on his steed so high,
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With his crown of gold upon his head;
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Among all his nobility with joy and 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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At the next question I must not flout,
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How long he shall be riding the world about.
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At the third question I must not shrink,
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But tell him plainly what he does think.
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Derry down, etc.
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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 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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And that is the longest time thou shalt live,
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If you do not answer these questions right,
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Your head shall be taken from your body quite.
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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 your horse and your apparel,
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I will go to London and answer your quar-rel.
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Derry down, etc.
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Now I am sit on my steed so high,
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With my crown of gold upon my head,
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Among my nobility with joy and mirth,
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Tell me to a 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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Among the false Jews, as I have been told:
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And nine and twenty is the worth of thee,
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For I think thou art one penny worse than he.
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Derry down,
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At the next question you must not flout,
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How long shall I 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 it riseth again.
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Derry down, etc.
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And then I am sure there is no doubt,
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But in twenty-four hours you'll ride it about:
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At the third question; you must not shrink
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But tell me truly what I do think:
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Derry down, etc.
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All that I can do and make your heart merry
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For you think I'm the Abbot of Canterbury:
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But I'm a poor shepherd as you may see,
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And I am come to beg pardon for him and me.
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Derry down, etc.
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The king he turn'd round, and did smile,
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Saying thou shalt be ABBOT the other while.
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O 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 per week I give unto thee,
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For this merry true jest thou hast told me;
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And tell the old Abbot when thou comest home,
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Thou hast brought a pardon from good king John.
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Derry down, etc.
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