John Dory

As it fell on a holy-day, and upon an holy-tide-a,
John Dory bought him an ambling nag, to Paris for to ride-a:

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.

The first man that John Dory did meet, was good King John of France-a;
John Dory could well of his courtesie, but fell down in a trance-a:

‘A pardon, a pardon, my liege and my king, for my merie men and for me-a;
And all the churles in merie England, Ile bring them all bound to thee-a.’

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.

‘Run up, my boy, unto 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.’

They hoist their sailes, both top and top, the meisseine and all was tride-a;
And every man stood to his lot, whatever should betide-a.

The roring cannons then were plide, and dub-a-dub went the drumme-a;
The braying trumpets lowd they cride to courage both all and some-a.

The grapling-hooks were brought at length, the browne bill and the sword-a;
John Dory at length, for all his strength, was clapt fast under board-a.