%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Old ABBOT/ AND/ King OLFREY. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1681-1684 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 09/06/2007 20747

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

2.127 R234323 1 The Shaking of the Sheets The Shaking of the Sheets The Shaking of the Sheets IN old times past there was a king we read,/ was bountiful in each degree. first lines unclear: [I]N old times past there was a king we read,/ was bountiful in each degree. Pepys 2.127 Wing O195B Pepys Library The Pepys ballads : facsimile volume Editor W.G. Day D.S. Brewer Cambridge [England] 1987 Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 2: 127 The Old ABBOT/ AND/ King OLFREY. The Old ABBOT AND King OLFREY. The Old Abbot and King Olfrey. 1/2 sheet oblong folio, 200 x 315 cropped left edge, creased along fold, uneven inking 1681-1684 Printed for I. Wright, I. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passinger. J. Wright, J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, T. Passinger. Blagden

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 Taxonomy used by Pepys to Organize Ballads in Albums A Small Promiscuous Supplement Devotion & Morality Drinking & Good Fellowship History - True & Fabulous Humour, Frollicks &c Love Pleasant Love Pleasant and Unfortunate Love Unfortunate Marriage Sea State & Times Tragedy Various Subjects Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/health alcohol animals/nature appearance Bible/biblical figures buildings/architecture catastrophe children class clothing/fashion country/nation crime death economics/trade entertainment family/procreation folklore gender historical figures & events holidays/seasons infidelity law London love maritime marriage military/war monstrosity mythology/Classical world news nobility/court politics/government punishment religious concepts religious figures religious types & sects royalty rural life servitude sex/sexuality supernatural/magic The New World travel trickery/deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgarities/crass humor Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 9/6/2007 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America History - True & Fabulous death economics/trade religiousfigures royalty 9/6/07 Checker Rachel Mann Transcription checked, metadata updated, XML created 8/8/06 Checker Simone Chess Transcription checked 8/8/06 Transcriber Bill Gahan Original transcription 8/19/2004 Bibliographer Maggie Sloan/Jessica Murphy Bibliographic SQL Database Record Created
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[I]N old times past there was a King we read, was bountifull in each degree, That gave Reward to every Subjects need, so orderly as it may be: [A]nd kept his Princly Pallaty, [I]n every Kingly Quality, Maintaining Hospitality. [W]hen the King was given to understand; there liv'd an Abbot in those days, [T]hat kept a Noble House in such a band, and comely Men at all Affays, [T]hat made the King to marvel much, [T]he Abbots Living it should be such, [An]d how he came for to be so Rich.
Then the King sent for the Abbot straight, to come to Court he might him see, To number out the men on him did wait, the multitude as it might be: And thither went the Lord Abbot then, And after him five hundred men, To aid him out and home agen. Then the noble King he did demand, of his House-keeping and all his Train, How chance you keep so many men, quoth he? or how come you by all your gain? Unto your grief I'le make it known, I hope my cause is quickly shown, For I spend no more then is my own.
Thou art too wealthy said the King, and it is time to cut off your head, For now I do suppose in every thing how daintily you must be fed. Unless you can resolve to me, Within one year these Questions three, Your head shall off I'le warrant ye. First of all you must declare to me, to the uttermost what I am worth, See that you have a ready care, quoth he, for to study and to bring it forth: And secondly, the truth to know, How I about the world must go, This is the second Riddle you know. Then last of all to tell me what I think, and then you shall your Pardon have, Readily set down with Pen and Ink, your Lands and Livings all to save: If you your Livings mean to hold, With all your Gallants in their Gold, See these Riddles you ready unfold. And then the Abbot he sought out, to the cunningest men that there might be, How his purpose then might bring about, and for to set his Livings free: But yet by no good means could he, These Riddles expound in any degree, Nor yet by University. Then the old Abbot he a Brother had, a silly man that kept his Sheep, Who musing how his Brother came so sad, and how he came in dump so deep: Saying dear Brother tell to me How chance you look so heavily, That none of your friends can remand ye? Then the Lord Abbot told his Brother all the Questions three which made him sad, Saying dear Brother shall I be so bold, to answer them and make you glad: Let me put on your Abbots Weed, And I'le go Court like in your stead, And see dear Brother, how I shall speed.
If you these Questions ready can put out, and answer them to my discharge, Half of my Living that I have no doubt, shall be thy own to live at large: And thither went the Shepherd then, And after him five hundred Men, To Guard him out and home again. Now you be very welcome said the King, indeed your day is just come forth I make no doubt but to me you bring, to the uttermost what I am worth: Yes I'le assure your Grace quoth he, Worth nine and twenty pence you be, Nor a penny more I will warrant ye. For Jesus Christ who was the King of Kings was sold but for one penny more When Judas sold him to the Jewish things, the Scrpture bringeth forth therefore: Then I do trust your Grace will say, You'r worth no more no manner of way. But a Penny lesser then they did pay. Then touching how to go the world about, in twice twelve hours as you may see, The Sun doth take its speedy course about so speedily as it may be: If you about the World would go, In twice twelve hours you may do so, And this the second Riddle you know. Then last of all to tell you what you think, I am sure you think that it is I Am the Lord Abbot which to you did bring, these questions so Reddily: No, I am but his poor Brother God wot In Field which after his sheep do trot, For Lands and livings I have not. When as the Noble King had heard, his Questions he had answered so, He hearing that the Shepherd he had need, a living on him did bestow: And his Brother Likewise he did yield, Half of the Livings which then he held, Thus was he promoted from the field.
Printed for J. Wright, J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passinger.