X:1
T:The King and the Tinker
B:Journal of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, Dec 1936
S:The Edinburgh MS (no 65)
Z:Frank Kidson/Anne G Gilchrist
M:6/8     %Meter
L:1/8     %
K:Am
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w:As_ he was a-hunt-ing the swift fal-low deer,
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w:He dropped all his no-bles. and  when he got clear
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w: In hope of some pas-time a-way he did ride_
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w:Till~he came to an ale-house hard by a wood-side
W:And now to be brief, let us pass over the rest
W:Who seldom or never were given to jest
W:And come to King Jamie, the first of our throne,
W:A pleasanter monarch sure never was known.
W:
W:As he was a-hunting the swift fallow deer,
W:He dropped all his nobles, and when he got clear
W:In hope of some pastime away he did ride,
W:Till he came to an alehouse hard by the wood-side.
W:
W:And there with a tinkler he happened to meet,
W:And him in kind sort he so friendly did greet:
W:"Pray thee, good fellow, what hast in thy jug,
W:Which under thy arm thou dost lovingly hug?"
W:
W:"By the mass!" quoth the tinkler, "its nappy brown ale.
W:And for to drink to thee, friend, I will not fail;
W:For although thy jacket looks gallant and fine,
W:I think that my twopence as good is as thine."
W:
W:"By my soul! honest fellow, the truth thou hast spoke!"
W:And straight he sat down with the tinkler to joke;
W:They drank to the King and they pledge to each other.
W:Who'd seen 'em had thought they were brother and brother.
W:
W:As they were a-drinking the King pleased to say,
W:"What news, honest fellow? come tell me, I pray."
W:"There's nothing of news, beyond that I hear
W:The King's on the border, a-chasing the deer.
W:
W:And truly I wish I so happy may be
W:Whilst he is a-hunting the King I might see,
W:For although I have travelled the land many ways.
W:I never have yet seen a King in my days."
W:
W:The King with a hearty brisk laughter replied
W:"I tell thee, good fellow, if thou canst but ride
W:Thou shall get up behind me, and I will thee bring
W:To the presence of Jamie, thy sovereign King."
W:
W:"But he'll be surrounded with nobles so gay,
W:And how shall we tell him from them, sir, I pray?"
W:"Thou'lt easily ken him when once thou art there;
W:The King will be covered, his nobles all bare."
W:
W:He got up behind him and likewise his sack,
W:His budget of leather and tools at his back;
W:They rode till they came to the merry greenwood,
W:His nobles came round him, bareheaded they stood.
W:
W:The tinkler then seeing so many appear
W:He slily did whisper the King in his ear:
W:Saying "They're all clothed so gloriously gay,
W:But which among them is the King, sir, I pray?"
W:
W:They King did with hearty good laughter reply
W:"By my soul, my good fellow, it's thou or it's I!
W:The rest are bareheaded, uncovered all round" -
W:With his bag and his budget he fell to the ground.
W:
W:Like one that was frightened quite out of his wits,
W:Then on his knees he instantly gets,
W:Beseeching for mercy; the King to him said,
W:"Thou art a good fellow, so be not afraid.
W:
W:Come, tell me thy name!" "I am John of the Dale,
W:A mender of kettles, a lover of ale."
W:"Rise up, Sir John, I will honour thee here, -
W:I make thee a knight of three thousand a year!"
W:
W:This was a good thing for the tinkler indeed;
W:Then unto the Court he was sent for with speed,
W:Where great store of pleasure and pastime was seen
W:In the royal presence of King and a Queen.
W:
W:Sir John of the Dale he has land, he has fee,
W:At the court of the King who so happy as he?
W:Yet still in his hall hangs the tinkler's old sack
W:And the budget of tools which he bore at his back.
W:
W: