King JOHN and the Abbot of Canterbury.

I
Will tell you a story, a story anon,
Or a noble prince whose name was king
John:

For he was a prince, and a prince of great
might,

He held up great wrongs, and put dowa great
right.

Derry down, down, down, derry down.

I will tell you a story, a story so merry,
Concerning the Abbot of Canterbury ;

Which made him repair to that London town
The king having heard of his fame and re-
nown.

Derry down, &c.

How now brother Abbot, it is told to me,
That thou keept it a far better house than I,
And for thy house-keeping and high renown
I fear thou haft treason against my crown.

Derry down, &c.

I hope my liege you owe me no grudge,
For (pending my own true geten goods,
If thou doft not anwer me queftions three,
Thy head fhall be taken from thy body.

Derry down, &c.

When I am fer upon my flood,
With my crown of gold upon my head ;
Among all my nobility with joy and mirth,
Then fill me to one penny what I am worth.

Derry down, &c.

At the next question you must not flout,
How long shall I be riding the world about ?
At the third question you must not shrink
But tell me truly what I do think.

Derry down, &c.

And as the shepherd was going to his fold,
He 'fpy'd the old Abbot come, riding along,

How now fomer Abbot, if you are welcome
home,

What news have you brought from good king
John?

Derry down, &c.

Sad news, sad news I have to give,
For I have but three days on earth to live,
If I don't anwer him queftions three,

My head will be taken from my body.

Derry down, &c.

When he is fit on his flood so high,
With his crown of gold upon his head ;

Among all his nobility with joy and mirth,
I muſt tell him to one penny what he is
worth.

Derry down, &c.

At the next question I muſt not flout,

How long he ſhall be riding the world about.

At the third question I muſt not ſhrink,

But tell him plainly what he does think.

Derry down, &c.

These are hard queſtions for my ſhallow ſwit
For I cannot anſwer your Grace as yet ;

But if you will give me three days'pace,
I'll do my endeavour to anſwer your grace.

Derry down, &c.

O three days'pace I will the give,

And that is the longeſt time thou ſhalt live,
If you do not anſwer theſe queſtions right,

Your head ſhall be taken from your body
quite.

Derry down, &c.

O maſter ! did you never hear it yet,

That a fool may learn a wife man wit :

Lend me your horſe and your apparel,
I will go to Lnoden and anſwer your quar-
rel.

Derry down, &c.

Now I am fit on my flood so high,
With my crown of gold upon my head,
Among my nobility with joy and mirth,
Tell me to a penny what I am worth.

Derry down, &c.

For thirty pence our Saviour was fold,
Among the falſe Jews, as I have been told:

And nine and twenty is the worth of thee,

For I think thou art one penny worſe than
he.

Derry down,

At the next question you muſt not flout,

How long ſhall I be riding the world about ?
You muſt rife with the fun, and ride with the
fame,

Until the next morning it ſiſeth again.

Derry down, &c.

And then I am ſure there is no doubt,

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

At the the third queſtions you muſt not ſhrink
But tell me truly what I do think :

Derry down, &c.

All that I can do and make your hearterry
For you think I'm the Abbot of Canterbury ;
But I'm a poor ſhepheard as you may fee,

And I am come to beg pardon for him and
me.

Derry down, &c.

The king he turn'd round, and did ſmile,
Saying thou ſhalt be ABBOT the other
while.

O no, my liege, there is no ſuch need,
For I can neither write nor read.

Derry down, &c.

Then four pounds per week I give unto thee,
For this merry true jeſt thou haſt told me ;
And tell the old Abbot when thou comest
home,

Thou haſt brought a pardon from good king
John.

Derry down, &c.

Printed and Sold in Aldermary Church Yard,

10-125108