Simply English - KingJohn and Abbot of Canterbury | Текст песни

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• KingJohn and Abbot of Canterbury

I'll tell you a story, a story anon
Concerning a prince and his name was King John
He was a prince and a prince of great might
And he held up great wrong, but he put down great right

Derry down, down, hey derry down

And 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 on me steed so high
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
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"

"Three days space to thee I will give
That is the longest that thou hast to live
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 us from good King John?"

"Sad news, sad news I have for to give
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 said
A fool may learn a wise man wit?
Lend me your horse and your apparel
And I'll go up to London and answer the quarrel"

"When I am set on my steed so high
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"

The King he laughed and swore by St. Bittel
"I did not think I was worth so little"
And the next question you must not flout
How long I'll be riding the world about"

"You must rise with the sun, ride with the same
Until the next morning he rises again
Then I am sure that without any doubt
Within twenty-four hours you'll ride it about"

The King he laughed and he swore by St. Jone
I did not think it were done so soon!
And the third question thou must not shrink
But tell to me truly what I do think"

"oh, that I can do, it will make your Grace merry
You think I'm the Abbot of Canterbury
But I'm his poor servant, as you may see
I've come to beg pardon for he and for me"

Well the King he turned him around and did smile
Saying, "Thou can be Abbot the other while"
"Oh no, me lord, there is no need
For I can neither write nor read"

"Then tuppence a week, I will 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"

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