The Child Ballads: 284. John Dory

Sacred Texts Legends & Sagas England Index Previous Next 284A: John Dory 284A.1 As it fell on a holy-day, And vpon an holy-tide-a, Iohn Dory bought him an ambling nag, To Paris for to ride-a. 284A.2 And when John Dory to Paris was come, A little before the gate-a, John Dory was fitted, the porter was witted To let him in thereat-a. 284A.3 The first man that John Dory did meet Was good king John of France-a; John Dory could well of his courtesie, But fell downe in a trance-a. 284A.4 ‘A pardon, a pardon, my liege and my king, For my merie men and for me-a, And all the churles in merie England, I’le bring them all bound to thee-a.’ 284A.5 And Nicholl was then a Cornish man, A little beside Bohide-a, And he mande forth a good blacke barke, With fiftie good oares on a side-a. 284A.6 ‘Run vp, my boy, vnto the maine top, And looke what thou canst spie-a:’ ‘Who ho! who ho! a goodly ship I do see, I trow it be John Dory[-a’] 284A.7 They hoist their sailes, both top and top, The meisseine and all was tride-a, And euery man stood to his lot, What euer should betide-a. 284A.8 The roring cannons then were plide, And dub-a-dub went the drumme-a; The braying trumpets lowde they cride To courage both all and some-a. 284A.9 The grappling-hooks were brought at length, The browne bill and the sword-a, John Dory at length, for all his strength, Was clapt fast vnder board-a. Next: 285. The George Aloe and the Sweepstake