The three Worthy Butchers of the North.
I weep, I wail, and travel much in pain;
Now all my youthful days are spent, they'l never come again:
Once I was a Man, but now alas am none,
For all my Companions are from me fled, and gone,
To a pleasant New Tune.
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DId you never hear of worthy Butchers three?
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And how they spent their days in mirth and jollity?
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There was Kitson, Wilson, and Johnson, mark me what I say,
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They took three hundred pounds worth of Goods upon a day.
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When as the day of payment began for to draw near,
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Their money to their Creditors intended for to bear;
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And riding throw Blankly-Lane as fast as they could trig,
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Be merry my hearts, said Johnson, let us sing up a jigg.
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With a hey down, down, with a down derry dee,
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God bless all true men out of thieves Company;
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Riding then up Blankny-Lane as fast as they could hie,
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Be merry my hearts, said Johnson, I hear a woman cry,
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O help, help, help, O help, or else I dye,
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O help me some good Christians; for my torments they draw nigh
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O hark, O hark, said Johnson, I hear a woman cry,
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Sure I came of a woman, and shall I see her dye?
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Don't ride on neighbour Johnson, now Kitson he did say,
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For that is some lewd woman, will cast us all away:
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If you had but rid on this way as oft as we have done,
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You would hove heard this cry before, and now let us be gon.
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Then Johnson whipt into the wood with all might and main,
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Whereas he found the woman with Cords fast ty'd in twain
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With Cords fast ty'd in twain, and hand and [f]oot was bound
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And found her there stark naked, with her hair pin'd to the gound.
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Alas, said Johnson, what man has us'd thee so?
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He came not of a woman, that would work a womans woe:
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Hast thou no lewd Company? now Johnson he did say,
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For here we are come to save thy life, thou mayst cast us all away.
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No I have no lewd Company, the woman she did say,
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Three Ruffians came riding by, and rob[']d me by the way:
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They took my Clooths from me, and hand and foot me bound
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And left me here in woful sort, with my hair pin'd on the ground.
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So Johnson he whipt out his sword with all his might & main
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And presently the womans Cords, Johnson he cut in twain:
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A Shirt out of his Cloak-bag presently plucked he,
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And put it on the woman to cover her secresie.
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I have neither wife nor Children, Johnson he did say,
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And thou shalt be Lady of all till death take life away:
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Johnson being a loving man, and bore a careful mind,
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He put his Cloak about her to keep her from the wind.
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Straight upon Horse-back presently went he,
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And they rid all out of the wood, and rid on gallant[l]y:
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Riding then up Blankly-Lane as fast as they could trig,
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Be merry my hearts said Johnson, let us sing up a Jigg.
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With a hey down down, with a hey down derry dee,
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What if here were ten thieves so we are true men three,
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Riding then up Blankly-Lane as fast as they could hye,
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Be merry my hearts, said Johnson, the Lands end draweth nigh
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The woman hearing him say so, presently by and by,
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She put her finger to her ear, and gave a squeaking cry,
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Ten thieves then with weapons drawn in hand,
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They stept before Johnson, and quickly bid him stand.
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What is it so? said Johnson, since 'twill no better be,
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I vow that some of you shall before I killed be:
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Stand fast, fight men, Fie that you be not idle,
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For I vow his hand shall off that lays hold on my Bridle.
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Alas, said Kitson, to fight no heart have I,
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No more have I said Wilson, in faith i'de rather dye:
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Here is three hundred pound that we are bound to pay,
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And you shall have it all, and let's scape with life away.
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WHat is it so, said Johnson, Fight men, and be free,
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And stand but at my back, keep the back blows from me:
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Stand fast, fight men, fight men and be free,
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And by the help of God we shall win the victory.
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Five of these thieves and the women they did go,
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To Kitson and to Wilson and bound them fast in woe:
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As these ten Thieves playd before him and playd upon the ground
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For Johnson had five Pistols with Bullets charged sound.
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With Bullets charged sound, presently he let flye,
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Till five of these Thieves upon the ground did lye:
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Put up, said the other five, put up without delay,
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For if that he gets charged, he will kill us all this day.
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Fight on, said the Woman, fight on I say to ye,
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For if you five dont kill him, I vow your Priest to be:
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So Johnson he whipt out his sword with all his might and main,
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And play'd about him gallantly till three more of them were slain
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Put up, said the other two, put up without delay,
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For if that he continue fight he'l kill us all this day:
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Fight on, said the woman, fight on I say to ye,
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For if you two dont kill him, I vow your Priest to be.
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As these two Thieves play'd before him, alas he did not mind,
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For presantly the woman knockt him down behind:
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Oh wretched woman, wickedly hast thou done,
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Thou hast kill'd the bravest Butcher that ever England won
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For had but my fellows, had they prov'd true to me;
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They were cowards, said the woman and as cowards they shall dyy,
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Two of these thieves and the Woman they did go
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To Kitson and to Wilson where they lay hound in woe:
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A Club in her hand, as she got all the gains,
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Went to Kitson and to Wilson and dasht out both their brains:
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How this murder was discovered, list and you shall hear,
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It was by a silly Shepherd, hid in the hedge for fear,
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A Gentleman and his man as they came riding by,
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Seeing this woful murder straight sent forth hue and cry,
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Ay, but do what e're they could, taken they could not be,
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For they got Ship at Yarmouh, and so went over Sea,
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This is the trick of Tiheves when they have murder done,
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When they have committed Roguery, full fast away they run.
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God bless our royal King and Queen, and send them long to reign,
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In health, wealth, and prosperity, true justice to maintain,
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God bless all true men that travel by Land or Sea,
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And keep all true men out of Thieves Company,
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