A New BALLAD
Of the Three Merry Butchers,
[A]nd 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.
Licensed according to Order.
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I'LL tell you of a Story of lovely Butchers three,
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There's wison, Gibson, Johnson, mark well what I shall say,
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For they took Five Hundred Pounds, Sir, to pay it all away,
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For they took Five Hundred Pounds, Sir, to pay it all away,
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As they rid on the Road, and as fast as they could trig,
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Strike up your hearts, says Johnson, we'll have a merry jigg,
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with a high ding ding, with a ho ding ding, with a high ding,
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[ding dee, and God bless all] good people from evil Company[.]
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As they rid on the Road, sir, as fast as they could hie,
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Strike up your hearts, says Johnson, for I hear a woman cry,
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With that he steps into the wood and looks himself all round,
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And there he spy'd a woman with her hair bound to the ground:
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O woman, O woman, quod Johnson, hast thou no evil company?
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O no, O no, says the woman, and alas how can that be,
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For there came ten swaggering blades by, and thus abused me,
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For there came ten swaggering blades by, and thus abused me.
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Johnson being of a valient heart, and bore a valient mind,
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He wrapt his Cloak about her for to keep her from the wind:
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with a high ding ding, with a ho ding ding, with a high ding
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ding dee, and God bless all good people from evil company.
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Strike up your hearts says Johnson for it's dark all in the sky,
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She put her finger in her ear and she gave a skreeking cry;
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With that there came ten swaggering blades with their wea-pons ready drawn,
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And they boldly came to Johnson, and bolder bid him stand.
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I will not fight, says wilson, for I had rather die;
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Or I to fight; says gibson, for I had rather fly,
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Come on, come on, says Johnson, and fight a man so free,
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Or stand you still behind my back, and i'll win the Victory,
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Then Johnsons pistols they flew off till five of them were slain,
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And then he drew his hanger out with all his might & main,
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And plaid it about so manfully, till three more he had slain,
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And plaid it, etc.
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Come on come on (says the other two) and let us make away,
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For if we do not hold him too't our lives he takes away;
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O no, O no (quoth the woman) and alas how can that be,
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For if you do not hold him too't then hanged you shall be.
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Johnson fighting these two thieves before, the woman he did not mind,
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And fighting these two thieves before, she knockt him down behind,
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O woman, O woman, quoth Johnson, alas what have you done?
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You have kill'd the bravest Butcher that ever England won.
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Just as she had killed him there came one Riding by,
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And saw the deed that she dad done, and seiz'd her presently,
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She was condemn'd for to be hang'd in Iron chains so strong,
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At the place where she did Johnson that great & mighty wrong.
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