The KING and the BISHOP. OR,  
Unlearned Men, hard matters out can find,  
When Learned Bishops, Prince's eyes do blind.  
To the Tune of, Chevy-Chase.  

 
 

IN Popish time when Bishops proud  
in England did bear sway,  
Their Lordships did like Princes Live,  
and kept all at obey:  
Their Palaces with Arrace hanged,  
their houses shined with gold:  
Their train of gallant Gentlemen,  
most stately to behold.  
A King then in this Land did Reign,  
(some say 'twas old Henry)  
One day he for a Bishop sent,  
his Scholar-ship to try:  
Then straightway to the Court he went,  
in all his Pomp and state,  
And took it for a favour great,  
upon the King to wait,  
And when he came unto the King  
he did both bow and bend,  
His Grace's pleasure he did crave,  
why he for him did send:  
Bishop (quoth he) I sent for thee,  
to put thee to a task,  
And I Resolved true will be  
of three things I will ask.  
And three weeks time I will thee give  
on it to meditate,  
And then if you not tell me true,  
I vow to have thy pate:  
If that it like your Majesty,  
(the Bishop then did say)  
I'll try the utmost of my skill,  
your will for to obey.  
The first thing now (than said the King)  
is this that I would know,  
Unto a very hour the time  
a traveller may go  
About the vast and spacious world,  
and then Return again  
Unto the place he did set forth,  
and this I know would fain.  
The second thing that tell you must,  
even to one poor half-crown,  
What I am worth, that am a King;  
(this made the Bishop frown)  
The third thing it is this (he said)  
the which you must explain,  
To tell to me what I do think,  
when you come here again.  
And so good Bishop you do know  
what things I do desire,  
And for to be resolved therefore  
of you I do require:  
Tell me the truth and keep your time,  
or else your head shall fly  
From off your shoulders when you come  
your wits you now must try.  
These are hard things to be Resolved,  
unto the King he said,  
No man on earth can tell the same,  
I greatly am afraid:  
Yet I will try the greatest skill  
and so he took his lead:  
The task and sentence both were hard,  
which made his Lordship grieve.    

The second Part,  
to the same Tune.  
WHen he came home to study hard  
the Bishop then did go,  
His brains did hammer in his head,  
his heart was filled with woe:  
But yet for all his Learning great,  
these things he could not find,  
The time began for to expire,  
which did torment his mind.  
The heavy sentence of the King  
did touch him to the quick;  
With Grief and overstudying  
he presently fell sick:  
The Bishop he a brother had,  
a man that hard did far,  
A Shepherd by profession,  
for whom he did not care.  
This Shepherd when that he did hear  
his brother sick did lie,  
To visit him he did think best,  
before that he should die.  
With much ado, at length he got  
admittance him to see:  
It Grieved the poor man to the heart  
at this his misery.  
Saluting his Lord brother then,  
asked him how he did do;  
He answered him with heavy heart,  
O full of Grief and Woe:  
You cannot help my misery,  
no man my Life can save,  
The task's too hard for me to do,  
the King my head will have.  
Dear brother (than the Shepherd said)  
to me your Grief explain,  
And if that I can save your life,  
I'll venture to be slain:  
The Bishop told him every thing,  
cause he ado did make:  
If this be all the Shepherd said,  
the same i'll undertake.  
You know that we are very like  
in person, speech, and face,  
Let me put on your Robes of State,  
i'll execute the place:  
Your trains of gallants to the Court  
must bear me company,  
And if I do not tell these things  
instead of you i'll die.  
The time being come next day he went  
to see his Majesty,  
Who presently was entertained  
with courtlike courtesy:  
Now welcome Bishop (quoth the King)  
can you resolve me true?  
And if you cannot he did say,  
I know what I must do.  
Unto your Grace's question,  
the first I answer make:  
Let any man ascend the Sky,  
and the Sun's Chariot take,  
In twenty and four hours' time,  
about the World may ride,  
The which is but one day and night,  
this journey to abide.  
Thou sayest true (than said the King)  
unto the second then:  
Now unto that (the Shepherd said)  
I answer thus again:  
The King of Kings, our Saviour Christ,  
for thirty peace was sold,  
I undervalue you by far,  
for all your Crown of Gold.  
Then said the King, Bishop 'tis right,  
what thou hast said before,  
Now tell me truly what I think,  
and I will ask no more:  
You think that I the Bishop am,  
the Shepherd then did say:  
Why so I think, than quoth the King,  
in spite of all says nay.  
You have confessed I told your thought,  
an't like your Majesty,  
Although I beware the Bishop's Robe,  
a Shepherd poor am I:  
One Father and one Mother both  
we had and brethren are,  
And for to please your Royal Grace,  
my brother had a care.  
He now lies sick near unto death,  
and hither did me send,  
Who bid me tell you all these things,  
for fear he should offend:  
Commend me to him (quoth the King)  
and thank him heartily,  
He now hath-satisfi●d my mind,  
and pleased well am I.  
A hundred pound the King bestowed  
upon the Shepherd then,  
And taking leave away he went  
with all his Gentlemen:  
When to the Bishop he did come,  
all things he did relate,  
He thanked his brother, and was glad  
of this his happy fate.  
Upon him he bestowed a Farm,  
of forty pounds a year,  
As well he might for he did find  
of him a brother dear:  
And thus unlearned men sometimes,  
hard matters out can find,  
When learned Bishops miss the mark,  
and Princes eyes do blind.    

London, Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, and J. Wright.