%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> King JOHN and the Abbot of Canterbury. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA) Director Patricia Fumerton Associate Director Carl G Stahmer ?-? Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 06/21/2014 33074

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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

1 NONE Derry Down I Will tell you a story, a story anon, / Of a noble p[r]ince whose name was king John: Derry down, down, down, derry down. Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 592 King JOHN and the Abbot of Canterbury. King JOHN and the Abbot of Canterbury. King JOHN and the Abbot of Canterbury. ?-?

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol Americas animals/ nature Bible/ biblical figures buildings/ architecture catastrophe children class clothing/ appearance country/ nation crime death economics/ commerce entertainments family Featured folklore gender holidays/ seasons infidelity labor/ craft law London love maritime marriage military/ war monstrosity mythology/ Classical news nobility/ court politics/ government procreation punishment race/ ethnicity religious concepts religious figures religious groups royalty rural life servitude sex/ sexuality supernatural/ magic travel trickery/ deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgar humor youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 6/21/2014 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America class religious figures royalty trickery/ deceit Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 6/21/2014 1:28:34 PM XBallad Jaworski, Cheryl Created XML Version of Ballad 6/21/2014 1:28:34 PM Transcription Supervisor Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/21/2014 1:28:34 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/21/2014 1:28:34 PM Transcriptionist Two Moss, Benjamin Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/21/2014 1:28:34 PM Transcriptionist One Palmer Browne, Megan Transcription of ballad manuscript 8/20/2013 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/6/2013 Checker William Hildalgo Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 10/23/2012 Bibliographer Shannon Meyer Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">King JOHN and the Abbot of <hi rend="bold">Canterbury.</hi></hi></seg>
I Will tell you a story, a story anon, Of 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 down 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 fair London town The king having heard of his fame and re-nown. Derry down, etc. How now brother Abbot, it is told to me, That thou keep'st a far better house than I, And for thy house-keeping and high renown I fear thou hast treason against my crown. Derry down, etc.
I hope my liege you owe me no grudge, For spending my own true gotten goods. If thou dost not answer me questions three, Thy head shall be taken from thy body. Derry down, etc. When I am set upon my steed, With my crown of gold upon my head; Among all my nobility with joy and mirth, Then tell me to one penny what I am worth. Derry down, etc. 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, etc. And as the shepherd was going to his fold, He 'spy'd the old Abbot come riding along.
How now father Abbot, you are welcome home, What news have you brought from good king John. Derry down, etc. Sad news, sad news I have to give, For I have but three days on earth to live, If I don't answer him questions three, My head will be taken from my body. Derry down, etc. When he is sit on his steed 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, etc. 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, etc. These are hard questions for my shallow wit, For I cannot answer your Grace as yet; But if you will give me three days space, I'll do my endeavour to answer your grace. Derry down, etc. O three days space 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, etc. O master! did you never hear it yet, That a fool may learn a wise man wit: Lend me your horse and your apparel, I will go to London and answer your quar-rel. Derry down, etc. Now I am sit on my steed 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, etc.
For thirty pence our Saviour was sold, 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 rise with the sun, and ride with the same, Until the next morning it riseth again. Derry down, etc. And then I am sure there is no doubt, But in twenty-four hours you'll ride it about: At the third question; you must not shrink But tell me truly what I do think: Derry down, etc. All that I can do and make your heart merry For you think I'm the Abbot of Canterbury: But I'm a poor shepherd as you may see, And I am come to beg pardon for him and me. Derry down, etc. 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, etc. 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, etc.
Printed and Sold in Aldermary Church Yard, Bow L[ane] L[ondon]