The King when he heard the purport of these heads, derisively said, with the greatest indignation, "Why, amongst these unjust demands, did not the barons ask for my kingdom also? Their demands are vain and visionary, and are unsupported by any plea of reason whatever." And at length he angrily declared with an oath, that he would never grant them such liberties as would render him their slave. The principal of these laws and liberties, which the nobles required to be confirmed to them, are partly described above in the Charter of King Henry, and partly extracted from the old laws of King Edward as the following history will show in due time. KING JOHN AND THE ABBOT OF CANTERBURY. [Traditional ballad of the 13th century. Probably of Coptic folk-lore and transferred to John. Thus it illustrates the reputation of John and not an actual incident.] An ancient story I'll tell you anon Of a notable prince that was called King John; And he ruled England with main and with might, For he did great wrong and maintain'd little right. And I'll tell you a story, a story so merry Concerning the Abbot of Canterbury; How for his house-keeping, and high renown, They rode post for him to London town. An hundred men the King did hearsay, The Abbot kept in his house every day; And fifty gold chains, without any doubt, In velvet coats waited the Abbot about. "How now, father Abbot, I hear it of thee, Thou keepest a far better house than me, And for thy house-keeping, and high renown, I fear thou work'st treason against my crown." "My liege," quo' the Abbot, "I would it were known, I never spend nothing but what is my own; And I trust, your grace will do me no dere, For spending of my own true-gotten gere." "Yes, yes, father Abbot, thy fault it is high, And now for the same thou needest must die; For except thou canst answer me questions three, Thy head shall be smitten from thy body. "And first," quo' the King, "When I'm in this stead, With my crown of gold so fair on my head; Among all my liege-men so noble of birth Thou must tell me to one penny what I am worth. "Secondly, tell me, without any doubt, How soon I may ride the whole world about; And at the third question thou must no shrink, But tell me here truly, what I do think." "O, these are hard questions for my shallow wit, Nor I cannot answer your grace as yet; But if you will give me but three weeks' space, I'll do my endeavour to answer your grace." "Now three weeks' space to thee I will give, And that is the longest time thou hast to live; For if thou dost not answer my questions three, Thy lands and thy livings are forfeit to me." Away rode the Abbot all sad at that word, And he rode to Cambridge and Oxenford; But never a doctor there was so wise, That could with his learning an answer devize.