"Good minstrel," said he, "ten golden guineas I will give you for your song, and to the ten will add ten more if you will tell me where you learned it."
"An easy matter that," said the minstrel. "The sailor who rides in yon white ship in your harbor taught it to me."
"The soldier who even now stands guard at your majesty's gate gave me the song," said the sailor when he was asked.
"I had it from the chapman who travels on the king's highway," said the soldier.
"I heard the little goose-girl sing it," said the chapman when they found him.
"'Tis Robin Ploughboy's song," laughed the goose-girl. "Go ask him about it."
"The king sang it first and I next," said the ploughboy.
Then the king knew that he had made a good song that everybody with a happy heart might sing; and because he was glad of this, he stood at his window and sang again:
