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 fair London town.

An hundred men, the king did hear say,

The abbot kept in his house every day;

And fifty gold chains, without any doubt,