The three Merry Butchers and ten
HIGHWAYMEN.
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I'LL tell you of a Story,
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Of lovely Butchers three;
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There's Wilson, Gibson, Johnson,
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Mark well what I shall say:
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For they took five hundred Pounds Sir,
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To pay it all away;
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For they took five hundred Pounds Sir,
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To pay it all away.
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As they rid on the Road,
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And as fast as they could trig;
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Strike up your Hearts say Johnson,
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We'll have a merry Jig:
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With a high ding ding, with a ho ding ding,
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With a high ding ding ding die;
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And God bless all good People,
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From evil Company.
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As they rid on the Road Sir,
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As fast as they cou'd hi[e]
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Strike up your Hearts says Johnson,
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For I hear a Woman cry:
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With that he stept into the Wood,
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And lookt himself all round;
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And there he spy'd a Woman,
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With her Hair bound to the Ground.
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O Woman O Woman quoth Johnson,
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Hast thou no evil Company:
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O no O no says the Woman,
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Alas how can that be:
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For there came ten swaggering Blades,
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And thus abused me;
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For there came, &c.
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Johnson being of a Valiant Heart,
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And bore a Valiant Mind;
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He wrapt his Cloak about her,
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For to keep her from the Wind:
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With a high ding ding, with a ho ding ding,
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With a high ding ding ding die;
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And God bless all good People,
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From evil Company.
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Strike up your Hearts says Johnson,
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For its dark all in the Sky;
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She put her Finger in her Ear,
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And gave a squeaking cry:
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With that there came ten swaggering Blades,
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With their Weapons ready drawn;
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And they boldly came to Johnson,
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And bolder bid him stand.
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I will not fight says Wilson,
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For I had rather die;
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Or I to fight says Gibson,
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For I had rather fly:
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Come or come on, says Johnson,
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And fight a Man so free;
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Or stand you still behind my Back,
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And I'll win the Victory.
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Then Johnson's Pistols they flew off,
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Till five of them were slain;
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And then he drew his Hanger out,
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With all his Might and Main:
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And play'd it about so Manfully,
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Till three more he had slain;
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And play'd it about so Manfully,
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Till three more he had slain.
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Come on, come on, says the other two,
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And let us make away;
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For if that we do hold him to't,
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Our Lives he'll take away:
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O no, O no, quoth the Woman,
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And alas how can that be;
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For if you do not hold him to't,
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Then hanged you shall be.
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Johnson fighting these two Thieves before,
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She knockt him down behind;
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O Woman, O Woman, quoth Johnson,
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Alas what have you done:
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You killed the bravest Butcher,
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That ever England won.
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Just as she had killed him,
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There came one riding by;
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And saw the Deed that she had done,
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And seized her presently:
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She was condemn'd for to be hang'd,
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In Iron Chains so strong;
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At the Place where she did Johnson,
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That great and mighty wrong.
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