John Dory - Folklorist

“John Dory”

Description

John Dory gets a horse and sets out for Paris. There he meets King John. He offers to bring King John "all the churles in merie England" in return for a pardon. Dory is overtaken by one Nicholl of Cornwall, who takes him prisoner after a sharp battle

Supplemental text

John Dory [Child 284]
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

As printed by Francis James Child, #284 (p. 132 in volume V of the
five volume Dover edition). Derived from Ravenscroft's 1609 printing.

1 As it fell on a holy-day,
    And vpon all holy-tide-a,
  Iohn Dory bought him an ambling nag,
    To Paris for to ride-a.

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.

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.

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.'

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.

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.']

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.

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.

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.

Notes

In addition to the citation from Ravenscroft, we find a reference to this song in Beaumont and Fletcher's _Knight of the Burning Pestle_; ActII, scene iv, line 35 reads, "Would I had gone to Paris with John Dory."

There is a fish, Latin name Zeus astralis, informally known as the "John Dory." It is apparently carniverous, approaching its prey cautiously and colored so as to resemble seaweed. I do not know if the name is in any way connected with this song. - RBW

Historical references

1350-1364 - Reign of John II of France (the only French king named John who lived during the Hundred Years' War)

References