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.
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 Wilson, 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 di]ng ding, with a ho ding ding, with high ding,
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[Ding doo, 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 hye.
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strike up your hearts, says Johnson, for I hear a woman cry,
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With that he stept into the Wood and looks his self 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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Fot there came ten swaggering blades by, and thus abused me
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Johnson being of a valiant heart, he bore a valient mind,
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He wr[a]p[t] 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 high ding
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ding dee, and God bless all good pleople 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 gave a screeking 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 pistoIs they flew off till five of them was slain,
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and then he drew his hanger out with all his might and 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 brave[st Butcher that ever England won.]
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Just as she had kille[d him there came one riding by,]
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And saw the deed [that she had done, and seized her presently,]
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she was condem[ned for to be hung in Iron chains so strong,]
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At the pla[ce where she did Johnson that great and mighty wrong.]
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