A New BALLAD of the Three Merry BUTCHERS,
And Ten Highway 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 Ten Highway 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.
|
I'LL tell you of a Story of lovely Butchers three,
|
There's 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 Johns[o]n, we'll have a merry Jigg;
|
With a high ding, ding, with a ho ding, ding, with a high ding, ding a dee,
|
And God bless all good People from evil Company.
|
As they rid on the Road, Sir, as fa as they could hye:
|
Strike up your Hearts, says Johnson for I hear a Woman cry:
|
With that he steps into the Wood, and looks himself all round,
|
And there he spy'd a woman with her hair bound to the ground.
|
O Woman! O Woman! quoth Johnson, hast thou no evil Company.
|
O no, O no, says the Woman: And, alas! how can that be?
|
For there cam ten swaggering Blades by, and thus abused me;
|
For there came, etc.
|
Johnson being of a valiant Heart, he bore a valiant Mind,
|
He wrap his Cloak about her, for to keep her from the Wind:
|
With a hith ding, etc.
|
God blessg, etc.
|
Strike up your Hearts, says Johnson, for it's dark all in the Sky.
|
She put her Finger in her Ear, and gave a screeking cry;
|
With that there met Ten swaggering blades with their weapons ready drawn,
|
And they boldly came to Johnson, and boldy 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 I'll 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 paid it about so manfully, till Three more he had slain,
|
And paid it, etc.
|
Come off, come off says the othe[r] Two, and let us make our way,
|
For if we do then hold him to 't, our Lives he'll take away.
|
O no, O no quoth the Woman, alas! how can that be;
|
For if you do not hold him to 't, 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 kill'd 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 seiz'd her presently:
|
She was condemn'd for to be hang'd in Iron Chains so strong,
|
At the Place where she did Johnson that great and mighty Wrong.
|
|
|
|
|
|