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Read Ebook: Hesperothen; Notes from the West Vol. 1 (of 2) A Record of a Ramble in the United States and Canada in the Spring and Summer of 1881 by Russell William Howard Sir
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Ebook has 276 lines and 71552 words, and 6 pages
OF VOLUME EIGHTH.
Page
Kempy Kaye. 139
Kempy Kaye. 141
The Jovial Hunter of Bromsgrove 144
The Bludy Serk 147
The Wanton Wife of Bath 152
The Gentleman in Thracia 158
Sir Richard Whittington's Advancement 165
Catskin's Garland, or, The Wandering young Gentlewoman 172
The Taming of a Shrew 182
Titus Andronicus's Complaint 188
John Dory 194
Sir Eglamore 196
Jephthah, Judge of Israel 198
Samson 201
Queen Dido, or, The Wandering Prince of Troy 207
George Barnwell 213
The Duke of Athol's Nurse. 228
The Duke of Athol's Nourice. 231
The Hireman Chiel 233
Armstrong and Musgrave 243
Fair Margaret of Craignargat 249
Richie Storie 255
The Farmer's Old Wife 257
The Duel of Wharton and Stuart 259
Saddle to Rags 265
The Fause Knight upon the Road 269
Gifts from over Sea 271
The Courteous Knight 272
The Northern Lord and Cruel Jew 277
Gight's Lady 285
GLOSSARY 293
INDEX 303
KING JOHN AND THE ABBOT OF CANTERBURY.
'Unlearned men hard matters out can find, When learned bishops princes eyes do blind.'
An ancient story Ile tell you anon Of a notable prince, that was called King John; And he ruled England with maine and with might, For he did great wrong, and maintein'd little right.
And Ile tell you a story, a story so merrye, 5 Concerning the Abbott of Canterb?rye; How for his house-keeping and high renowne, They rode poste for him to fair London towne.
An hundred men, the king did heare say, The abbot kept in his house every day; 10 And fifty golde chaynes, without any doubt, In velvet coates waited the abbot about.
"How now, father abbot, I heare it of thee, Thou keepest a farre better house than mee; And for thy house-keeping and high renowne, 15 I feare thou work'st treason against my crown."
"My liege," quo' the abbot, "I would it were knowne I never spend nothing, but what is my owne; And I trust your grace will doe me no deere, For spending of my owne true-gotten geere." 20
"Yes, yes, father abbot, thy fault it is highe, And now for the same thou needest must dye; For except thou canst answer me questions three, Thy head shall be smitten from thy bod?e.
"And first," quo' the king, "when I'm in this stead, 25 With my crowne of golde so faire on my head, Among all my liege-men so noble of birthe, Thou must tell me to one penny what I am worthe.
"Secondlye, tell me, without any doubt, How soone I may ride the whole world about; 30 And at the third question thou must not shrink, But tell me here truly what I do think."
"O these are hard questions for my shallow witt, Nor I cannot answer your grace as yet: But if you will give me but three weekes space, 35 Ile do my endeavour to answer your grace."
"Now three weeks space to thee will I give, And that is the longest time thou hast to live; For if thou dost not answer my questions three, Thy lands and thy livings are forfeit to mee." 40
Away rode the abbot all sad at that word, And he rode to Cambridge, and Oxenford; But never a doctor there was so wise, That could with his learning an answer devise.
Then home rode the abbot of comfort so cold, 45 And he mett his shepheard a going to fold: "How now, my lord abbot, you are welcome home; What newes do you bring us from good King John?"
"Sad newes, sad newes, shepheard, I must give, That I have but three days more to live; 50 For if I do not answer him questions three, My head will be smitten from my bod?e.
"The first is to tell him there in that stead, With his crowne of golde so fair on his head, Among all his liege men so noble of birth, 55 To within one penny of what he is worth.
"The seconde, to tell him, without any doubt, How soone he may ride this whole world about: And at the third question I must not shrinke, But tell him there truly what he does thinke." 60
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