Steeleye Span - John of Ditchford lyrics

In the spring of thirteen twenty two Henry Felip and his son Were riding home from Northampton When they met with six bold robbers Henry shouted to his son "Take the money, boy and run" So he's turned his horse to Courteenhall For to raise the hue and cry His father faced this ugly crew But six to one, what could he do? And when his son returned with help He was too late to save him He left his father where he lay Through his tears to ride that day And pursue the k**ers in their way As they made off in the distance Five of six, they swiftly caught But one alone did slip their grasp And to Wooten Church, he's turned away And through her doors she's took him Sanctuary was his claim Sword and grief outside remain Till the Coroner he quickly came To hear the thief's confession "I'm John of Ditchford", said the man "I was there of six our band And yes, we k**ed that nobleman On the road to Stoke Bruerne" "Do you now abjure the realm? What's your meaning?", says young John "You will leave this land and never return Or your blood we will spill on her" "Do you now abjure the realm? I abjure it", says young John "So to Dover you will straightway go And the first ship you will take her" He must reach that distant port Without coin nor shoes nor friend And stand in the ocean to his knees And wait what ship would have him They took from him all he had Gave him sackcloth for to wear And a wooden cross for him to hold On the lonely road to Dover He sets out upon the road Cross in hand and heavy heart They found him headless in a field A mile away from Wooten