KING JOHN AND THE ABBOT OF CANTERBURY



I'll tell you a story, a story anon

Concerning a prince and his name is King John

He was a prince and a prince of great might

And he held up great wrong, put down great right



Derry down, down, hey derry down



I'll tell you a story, a story so merry

Concerning the Abbot of Canterbury

Of his housekeeping and high renown

Which caused him to go up to fair London town



"How now, Brother Abbot, it's told unto me

That thou keepest a far better house than I

For thy housekeeping and high renown

I fear you of treason against me crown"



"Well I hope, My Liege, that you hold me no grudge

For spending of me true gotten goods"

"If thou dost not answer me questions three

Thy head will be taken from thy body"



"When I am set so high on my steed

With me crown of gold all on me head

With my nobility, joy, and much mirth

Thou must say to one penny how much I am worth"



"And the next question you must not flout

How long I'll be riding the world about

And the third question thou must not shrink

But tell to me truly what I do think"



"Oh these are hard questions for my shallow wit

For I cannot answer Your Grace as yet

But if you will give me but three days space

I'll do my endeavor to answer Your Grace"



"Oh three days space I will thee give

For that is the longest that thou hast to live

And if thou dost not answer these questions right

Thy head will be taken from thy body quite"



Well as the shepherd was going to his fold

He saw the old abbot come riding along

"How now, Master Abbot, you're welcome home

What news have you brought from good King John?"



"Sad news, sad news I have for 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"



"Oh Master, have you never heard it yet

That a fool may learn a wise man wit?

Lend me your horse and your apparel

I'll ride up to London and answer the quarrel"



"When I am set so high on my steed

With me crown of gold all on me head

With my nobility, joy, and much mirth

Thou must say to one penny how much I am worth"



"For thirty pence our Savior was sold

Amongst the false Jews as we have been told

Nine and twenty is the worth of thee

For I think you are one penny worse than He"



"And the next question you must not flout

How long I'll be riding the world about"

"You must rise with the sun and ride with the same

Until the next morning he rises again

And then I am sure you will make no doubt

But in twenty-four hours you'll ride it about"



"And the third question thou must not shrink

But tell to me truly what I do think"

"That I can do, it will make your merry

You think I'm the Abbot of Canterbury

But I'm his poor shepherd, as you can see

I've come to beg pardon for he and for me"



The King he did turn him about and did smile

Saying, "Thou can be Abbot the other while"

"Oh no, Your Grace, there is no need

For I can neither write nor read"



"Then tuppence a week, I'll give unto thee

For this merry jest you have told unto me

And tell the old Abbot when you get home

You bring him a pardon from good King John"



Child #45

recorded by Chris Foster

a common theme in folklore

there was an abbot as well as an archbishop in Canterbury, but an

archbishop is more likely to keep up a house in great style.

Indeed, Henry VIII took over Hampton Court from Archbishop

Woolsey for outshining him. Henry II was unhappy with Becket's

display as well. King John was good in few people's eyes.

@riddle @royalty @humor

filename[ KJONCANT

play.exe DERRYDWN

SF

===DOCUMENT BOUNDARY