The Bishop of Canterbury- Stevens-Douglass (NY) c. 1840s
[The songs and ballads from this manuscript collection, titled A Pioneer Songster, were written down from 1841-1856. Spelling is kept as in the original document and not corrected or edited. Some incorrectly spelled words are footnoted and others are corrected in brackets by Thompson and me.
Here's a description of A Pioneer Songster: Folklorists and lovers of folk songs will delight in this collection of the lyrics of songs sung by settlers of western New York in the middle of the nineteenth century. The manuscript on which this book is based is the most important collection of traditional song-texts, British and American in origin, to survive from its period. Discovered in the 1930s in the attic of Harry S. Douglass in Arcade, New York, it was written by Julia S. and Volney O. Stevens, who transcribed nearly ninety of the songs with which their father, Artemas Stevens, so often entertained them.
The Stevens family had come to Wyoming County, New York, from New England in 1836, bringing with them traditional songs and ballads. The Stevens-Douglass manuscript contains the texts of 89 songs.
The notes from Thompson follow.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
1. The Bishop of Canterbury [Child, 45]
In ancient lore a person's life sometimes depended on his ability to answer riddles. This tale of King John, who ruled England from 1199 to 1216, has counterparts in many different countries. In Child version (A) we find the story in a little more detail. Apparently the bishop tried to defend himself against the king's jealousy by maintaining that he had a right to spend his own money as he wished. Unmoved by this logic, King John demanded either the bishop's life or answers to three riddles within a specified time. (In a similar story told in Scotland of James V four riddles are given, the first being, "Where is the middle of the earth?" The answering miller put down his staff and replied, "There, as your majesty will find by measuring.") Unable to find help in either Cambridge or "Oxenford," the bishop rode home and confided in his half-brother, a shepherd, who volunteered to answer for him. When he had answered the riddles correctly, the king promised him the bishopric, but the shepherd declined on the grounds that he could "neither write nor reede." The king then forgave him and the bishop for the trick and promised him three hundred pounds a year. Child (A) closes with the remark that such a great thing has not happened to a shepherd since the time of David.
The song goes by different names such as "King John and the Bishop" and "The King's Three Questions," and in the Flanders, Garland, and Child (B) versions has a "Deny down" refrain.
There is a great deal of variation in wording. Stanza 1 of the Douglass version is obviously faulty. Child (B) clears up the corruption:
I'll tell you a story, a story anon,
Of a noble prince, and his name was King John;
For he was a prince, and a prince of great might,
He held up great wrongs, he put down great right.
Flanders prints a melody for the song.
The Bishop of Canterburry
1. Here's a health to king john so great was that king
Built up great wrongs Tore down great rrights
And as he was seated to make himself merry
He sent for the bisop of canterburry
2. He says Mr. bishop it is told unto me
That you set a much better table than me
And if don't answer to my questions three
Your head will be taken from your boddy
3. The first question is as ime on my stage
With my golden crown on all my head
With all my abilities joy and great mirth
You must tell to one peny just what I am worth
4. The next question is with out any doubt
How long will I be traveling this whole world about
The third question is as I do now wink
You must tell to me presently what I do think
5. O mow[1] the poor bishop O now he is gone
He met a shepherd all a lone
Good morning good morning the shepherd did say
What news do you bring from the king to day
6. Bad news bad news I tell unto thee
The king he has asked me questions three
And if I dont answer to them all right
My head will be taken from my body quite
7. The first question is as he's on his stage
With his golden crown all on his head
And all his abilities joy and great mirth
I must [tell] to one peny just what he is worth
8. The next question is with out any doubt
How [long] he will be tra[v]eling this whole world about
The third question is as he does now wink
I must tell to him presently what he does thenk
9. If you will give me a suit of your pearl [apparel]
I will go and answer to the quirl [quarrel]
A suit of my pearl I freely give
And ten pounds a year as long as I live
10. O now the poor shepherd O now he is gone
To answer the questions of king John
And if he dont answer to them all right
His head will be taken from his body quite
11. Good morning good morning the king he did say
Have you come here to live or to die
And if I dont answer to your questions three
I hope your grace will paron[2] me
12. The first question is as your are on your stage
With your golden crown all on your head
With all your abilities joy and great mirth
I must tell to one peny just what you are worth
13. For thirty peaces our savior was Sold
Among the jews So brave and so bold
And twenty nine is your just due
For me thinks [he was] one peace better than you
14. The next question is without any doubt
How long youll be traveling this whole world about
If you rise with the sun and go down with the same
In twenty four hours you can it obtain
15. The third question is as you do now wink
I must tell to you presently what you do think
O that I can do twill make your heart mery
You think ime the bishop of canterberry
1 6. The king he looked on him with a smile
He can be bishop another while
Go tell the old bishop go tell him for me
He keeps a fine fellow if he keeps the [thee]
Footnotes:
1. moaned
2. pardon