The Three Worthy Butchers of the North:
I weep, I wail, and travel much in pain,
Now all my youthful Days are past, theyl never come again;
Once I was a Man, but now alas I am none,
For all my Companions are from me fled and gone.
To a pleasant New Tune.
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DId you never hear of worthy Butchers three,
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And how they spent their days in mirth and jollity,
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there was Kitson, Wilson, & Johnson, mark me what I say,
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They took 300 pounds worth of Goods upon a day.
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When as the day of payment began for to draw near,
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Their money to their Creditors intended for to bear;
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And riding upon Blankly-lane as fast as they coud trig
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Be merry my hearts, said Johnson, let us sing up a jig.
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With a hey down, down, with a down derry dee,
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God bless all true men out of Thieves company.
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Riding then on Blankly-lane as fast as they could hie,
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Be merry my hearts, said Johnson, I hear a woman cry;
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O help, help, help, O help, or else I dye,
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O help me some good Christians for my torments they draw nigh.
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O hark, O hark, said Johnson, I hear a woman cry,
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Sure I came of a woman, and shall I see her dye?
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No ride on neighbor Johnson, now Kitson he did say,
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For that is some lewd woman will cast us all away.
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If you had but rid on this way as oft as we have done,
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You would have heard this cry before, & now let us be gone,
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Then Johnson whipt into the wood with all his might & main,
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Whereas he found the woman with cords fast tyd in twain
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With cords was tyd in twain, & hand & foot was bound,
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And found her there stark naked, with her hair pind to the ground.
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Alas, said Johnson, what man hath usd thee so,
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He came not of a woman that would work a womans woe:
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Hast thou no lewd Company now Johnson he did say,
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For here we are come to save thy life, thou mayst cast us all away.
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No I have no lewd company the woman she did say,
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Three Ruffians came riding by, and robd me by the way;
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They took my cloaths from me, & hand and foot me bound
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& left me here in woful sort, with my hair pind to the ground
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so Johnson he whipt out his sword with all his might & main
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And presently the womans cords, Johnson he cut in twain,
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A Shirt out of his Cloak-bag presently plucked he,
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And put it on the woman to cover her secresie.
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I have neither wife nor Children, Johnson he did say,
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And thou shalt be the Lady of all till death take life away:
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Johnson being a loving man, and bore a careful mind,
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He put his Cloak about her to keep her from the wind.
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Straight upon Horse-back presently got he,
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And they rode all out of the wood, and rid on gallantly:
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Riding then on Blankly-lane as fast as they could trig,
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Be merry my hearts, said Johnson, let us sing up a Jigg;
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With a hey down down, with a hey down derry dee,
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What if here were 10 thieves so we are true Men three.
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Riding then on Blankly-lane as fast as they could hye,
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be merry my hearts, said Johnson, the land end draweth nigh
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The woman hearing him say so, presently by and by,
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She put her finger to her ear, and gave a squeaking cry.
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Ten Thieves then with weapons drawn in hand,
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They stepd before Johnson, and quickly bid him stand;
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What is it so, said Johnson, since twill no better be,
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I vow that some of you shall dye before I killed be:
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Stand fast, fight men, see that ye be not idle,
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For I vow his hand shall off that lays hold on my Bridle.
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Alas, said Kitson, to Fight no heart have I,
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No more have I said Wilson, in faith Ide rather dye:
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Here is three hundred pound that we are bound to pay,
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And you shall have it all, and lets scape with life away.
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The Second part, to the same Tune.
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What is it so, said Johnson Fight men, and be free,
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And stand but at my back, keep the back-blows from me:
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Stand fast, Fight men, Fight me and be free,
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And by the help of God we shall win the Victory.
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Five of these Thieves and the woman they did go
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To Kitson and to Wilson, and bound them fast in woe:
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As these 10 thieves play before him, & playd upon the ground
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For Johnson had 5 Pistols with bullets charged sound;
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With Bullets charged sound, presently he let fly,
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Till Five of these Thieves upon the ground did lye.
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Put up, said the other Five, put up without delay,
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For if that he gets charged, he will kill us all this day.
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Fight on, said the Woman, Fight on I say to ye,
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For if you Five dont kill him, I vow your Priest to be.
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so Johnson he whipt out his Sword with all his might & main,
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And playd about him gallantly till 3 more of them were slain,
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Put up, said the other two, put up without delay,
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For if that we continue fight, hel kill us all this day.
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Fight on, said the woman, Fight on I say to ye,
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For if you two dont kill him, I vow your Priest to be;
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As these 2 thieves playd before him, alas he did not mind,
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For presently the Woman knockd him down behind;
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Oh wicked woman, wickedly hast thou done,
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thou hast killd the bravest Butcher that ever England won,
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For had but my fellows, had they provd true to me,
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they were cowards, said the woman, & as cowards they shall dye.
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Two of these thieves and the woman they did go
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To Kitson and to Wilson where they lay bound in woe:
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A Club into her hand, as she got all the gains,
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went to Kitson & to Wilson & dasht out both their brains.
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How this murder was discovered, list and you shall hear,
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It was by a silly Shepherd hid in the Hedge for fear;
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A Gentleman and his man as they came riding by,
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Seeing this woful murder straight sent forth hue and cry.
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I but do what ere they could, taken they could not be,
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For they got Ship at Yarmouth, and so went over Sea;
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This is the trick of thieves when they have Murder done,
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when they have commited roguery, full fast away they run.
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God bless our royal King & Queen, & send them long to reign
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In health, wealth & prosperity, true Justice to maintain,
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God bless all true men that travel by Land or Sea,
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And keep all true men out of Thieves Company.
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