John Dory (song) explained

John Dory is Child ballad number 284. The fish John Dory may be named for the title person.[1] The song is a three-part round. The first printing of the tune and text is 1609 in Thomas Ravenscroft's Deuteromelia songbook but there are earlier mentions of the song in books.[2] It was quite popular, and both parodies and satires were written to the same melody.

Synopsis

John Dory, a ship's captain (perhaps a pirate, likely French) appeals to the king of France for a pardon, promising to bring him captive Englishmen. The first ship John Dory meets is a "good black bark" (ship) with "50 oars on a side" owned by Nicholl, a Cornish man. After a battle, John Dory is captured.

The king mentioned in the song ("good King John of France") might well be John II of France (1319–1364) who was known as "John the Good".

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Notes and References

  1. Book: Walsh . William Shepard . American Notes and Queries . August 2008 . BiblioBazaar . 9780554978604 . en.
  2. Book: Carew . Richard . The Survey of Cornwall, And, An Epistle Concerning the Excellencies of the English Tongue . 1769 . Printed for B. Law . 135 . English.