A BUCKINGHAMSHIRE BALLAD 215 



Three keepers' housen stood three-square, 

 About a mile from each other they were, 

 Ordained were they to keep the deer, 

 Right-fal-ooral-ee. 



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



Kight-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, 



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 yoongest 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. 



