A New BALLAD
Of the Three Merry Butchers,
And ten High-way Men, how three Butchers went to pay Five Hundred Pounds away, and hearing a Woman crying in
the Wood, went to Relieve her, and was there set upon by these ten High-way Men; and how only stout Johnson
fought with them all, who killed eight of the ten; and at last was killed by the Woman he went to save in the Wood.
To an Excellent New Tune.
|
ILL tell you of a Story of lovely Butchers three,
|
Theres Wilson, Gibson, Johnson, mark well what I shall say,
|
For they took Five Hundred Pounds, Sir, to pay it all away,
|
for they took Five Hundred Pounds, sir, to pay it all away.
|
As they rid on the road, and as fast as they could trig,
|
Strike up your hearts, says Johnson, well have a merry jigg:
|
With a high ding ding, with a ho ding ding, with a high ding,
|
Ding dee, and God bless all good People from evil Company.
|
As they rid on the Road, Sir, as fast as they could hye,
|
Strike up your hearts, says Johnson, for I hear a Woman c[ry]
|
With that he stept into the Wood and looks himself all rou[nd]
|
And there he spyd a Woman with her hair bound to the gro[und.]
|
O Woman, O Woman, quod Johnson, hast thou no evil Comp[any]
|
O no, O no, says the Woman and alas, how can that be?
|
For there came ten swaggering Blades by, and thus abused [me,]
|
For there came ten swaggering Blades by, and thus abused [me.]
|
Johnson being of a valient heart, he bore a valiant mind.
|
He wrapt his Cloak about her for to keep her from the wind,
|
With a high ding ding, with a ho ding ding, with high ding,
|
Ding dee, and God bless all good People from evil Company.
|
Strike up your hearts, says Johnson, for its dark all in the sky,
|
she put her finger in her Ear and gave a screeching cry;
|
with that there came ten swaggering blades with their weapons ready drawn,
|
And they boldly came to Johnson, and bolder bid him stand.
|
I will not fight, says Wilson, for I had rather die;
|
Or I to fight, says Gibson, for I had rather fly,
|
Come on, come on, says Johnson, and fight a man so free,
|
Or stand you still behind my back and ill win the victory.
|
then Johnsons pistols they flew off till five of them was slain,
|
and then he drew his hanger out with all his might and main,
|
And plaid it about so manfully, till three more he had slain,
|
And plaid it, etc.
|
Come on, come on, says the other two, and let us make away,
|
For if we do not hold him tot our lives he takes away,
|
O no, O no, quoth the Woman and alas, how can that be,
|
for if you do not hold him tot then hanged you shall be
|
Johnson fighting these two thieves before, the woman he did not mind,
|
And fighting these two thieves before, she knockt him down behind,
|
O woman, O woman, quoth Johnson, alas, what have you done;
|
You have killd the bravest Butcher that ever England won.
|
Just as she had killed him there came one Riding by,
|
and saw the deed that she had done, and seizd her presently,
|
she was condemnd for to be hangd in Iron chains so strong,
|
at the place where she did Johnson that great and mighty wrong.
|
|
|
|
|
|