174 A BUCKINGHAMSHIRE BALLAD 



Three keepers' housen stood three-square, 

 About a mile from each other they were, 

 Ordained were they to keep the deer, 

 Eight-fal-ooral-ee. 



' There was three lads o' cunnin' an 5 skill, 



Right-fal-ooral-ooral-ee, 

 There was three lads o' cunnin' an' skill, 



Right-fal-ooral-ee ; 



And they swore as how they'd have their will 

 Upon the deer in Butson's Hill, 

 And as many as e'er they pleased they 'd kill, 



Right-fal-ooral-ee. 



' The night were dark, the wind were low, 

 Right-fal-ooral-ooral-ee, 



The night were dark, the wind were low, 

 Right-fal-ooral-ee ; 



And these three lads full well did know 



The tracks whereon the deer did go ; 



And they made a fat bouck cry " Hullo ! ' 

 Right-fal-ooral-ee. 



' The yoongest of them were Bill Smail, 



Right-fal-ooral-ooral-ee, 

 The youngest of them were Bill Smail, 



Right-fal-ooral-ee ; 

 And just as he hopped o'er the pale 

 The keeper he cotched 'un without fail, 

 And carried 'un off to Bookenham jail, 

 Right-fal-ooral-ee. 



' Now Sessions was o'er and 'Sizes near, 

 Right-fal-ooral-ooral-ee, 



Now Sessions was o'er and 'Sizes near, 

 Right-fal-ooral-ee. 



The keepers they did roundly swear 



Bill were the lad as stole the deer. 



Says he, " My Lord, I never were there ! ' 

 Right-fal-ooral-ee. 



