Henry Edward Denison Hammond, the son of a clergyman, was born in 1866 in Somerset. On leaving Corpus Christi College, Oxford, he joined the staff of the Edinburgh Academy. Here he met Dr. George Gardiner, a slightly older man, who had been educated at Edinburgh University, and the two men, sharing many interests in common, became firm friends.
In 1899, Hammond was appointed Director of Education in Rhodesia,but after only twelve months at this post he suffered a breakdown in health which necessitated his return to England, and which left him unable to undertake any further regular work. Meanwhile Dr.Gardiner had become interested in traditional songs and had done a little collecting in Scotland. Hammond followed his friend's interest and, on the advice of the Folk Song Society secretary Lucy Broadwood, began looking for songs in Somerset with the help of his brother, Robert, before transferring his activities to Dorset. They cycled round Dorset villages between 1905 and the end of 1907. With Henry noting the tunes and Robert the words, they collected nearly 6OO songs and fragments in twenty-two months. By the end of 1907, however, Henry's health had become too uncertain for him to continue. He died on 16th June 1910.
In January and February 1906, the Hammond brothers were staying at Bath in Somerset, and lodged with Mrs Webb, who came originally from King's Norton, then part of Worcestershire. She was able to give them 17 songs which she had learned in her home county.
1. Adieu, adieu, hard was my fate,
I was brought up in a tender state,
Bad company did me entice,
I left off work, and took bad advice.
(Chorus) Which makes me now to lament and say,
Pity the fates of young fellows all.
2. At seventeen I took a wife,
I loved her dear as I loved my life;
And to maintain her both fine and gay
I went a-robbing on the highway.
3. But when my money it did grow low,
On the high road I was forced to go,
Where I robbed lords and some ladies bright,
Brought home the gold to my heart's delight.
4. I robbed Lord Goldwin I do declare
And Lady Mansfield of Grosvenor Square,
I shut the shutters and bid them goodnight
And away I went to my heart's delight.
5. Through Covent Garden I took my way,
With my pretty blowen to see the play,
Till the Fielding's gang did me pursue,
Taken I was by the cursed crew.
6. Before Judge Hall then I was took,
Before Judge Hall then I was tried,
Then, "Harry Jones, this will not do,
My iron chest you have broke through."
7. But when I'm dead and going to my grave,
A pleasant funeral pray let me have,
Six highwaymen to carry me,
Give them broadswords and sweet liberty.
8. Six blooming girls to bear up my pall,
Give them white gloves and pink ribbons all,
When I'm dead they may tell the truth,
There goes a wild undaunted youth.
1. My mammy and daddy they lived in a cot,
They bought me a horse that could amble and trot,
And each market day it fell to my share,
To go to the market with eggs and such ware,
With eggs and such ware,
To go to the market with eggs and such ware.
2. Scarce seventeen summers were over my head,
When over and around our gay village was spread,
There was not a lane for a mile at the most,
Was haunted by something they said was a ghost.
3. My mammy she never once scrupled to swear,
She'd often seen ghosts and she knew what they were,
So she spoke to my father, for he ruled the roast,
To go in my place lest I should meet the ghost.
4. Being baulked of my ride. I was vexed in my mind,
And being resolved was the secret to find,
So I peeped out of doors and saw a clear coast,
Then off down the lane to discover the ghost.
5. Then who should I meet come sauntering along,
But Colin, the shepherd, a-singing a song,
He sung it so sweet an he leaned on the post,
He beckoned, I went, for I knew him no ghost.
6. With his arms round my waist he so eagerly pressed,
I thought my poor heart would leap out of my breast,
He kissed my sweet lips till as warm as a toast,
And so eagerly there I was pressed by the ghost.
7. Being pleased with my fancy I got home with speed.
My mamrny she never once missed me indeed,
Now instead of my supper, my tea and my toast,
I nightly attend, well pleased with my ghost.
1. In Thornaby woods in Nottinghamshire, Right fa-la-ra,
right fa-lad-dity,
In Thornaby woods In Nottinghamshire, Fa-the-ra-la-ra lee,
Three keepers' houses stood three square,
About a mile from each other they were,
Their orders were to look after the deer,
Right fa-the-ra-la-the-ra-lee.
2. Me and my dogs went out one night.
The moon and stars was shining bright,
Over hedges, ditches. fields and stiles,
With my three dogs all at my heels,
To catch a fat buck in Thonaby fields.
3. That very first night I had bad luck.
For one of my very best dogs got shot.
He came to me both bloody and lame,
Sorry was I for to see the same,
Him not being able to follow the game.
4. I looked at his wounds and found them slight,
'Twas done by some keeper out of spite,
I'll take my pike-staff in my hand.
And I'll search the woods till I find that man,
I'll tan his old hide right well if I can.
5. Then I went home and went to bed,
And limping Jack went out In my stead.
He searched the woods all round and round,
Till he found a fat buck lying dead on the ground,
'Twas my little dog gave him his death wound.
6. He took his knife and cut the buck's throat,
Then he took some string and tied the buck's legs,
You would ha' laughed to see limping Jack,
Go hopping along with the buck on his back,
He carried it like some Yorkshireman's pack.
7. We got a butcher to skin the game,
Likewise another to sell the same,
The very first joint we offered for sale,
Was to an old woman who sold bad ale,
She had us all up to Nottingham gaol.
8. Now Nottingham 'sizes are drawing nigh,
Where us three chaps have got to be tried,
The gentlemen laughed them all to scorn.
That such an old bugger should be foresworn,
All into little pieces she ought to a-been torn.
9. Now Nottingham 'sizes are over and past,
And us three chaps got clear at last.
Now the bucks and does shall never go free,
For a poaching life is the life for me,
And a poacher I will always be.
1. Ye generals all and champions bold,
That takes delight in the field,
That knocks down palaces and castle walls,
But now to death must yield:
I am an Englishman by birth,
Lord Marlborough is my name,
In Devonshire I drew my breath,
That place of noted fame.
2. I was beloved by all my men,
Kings and princes likewise;
It's many a town I've often took,
I did the world surprise.
King Charles the second I did serve,
To face our foes in France,
And at the battle of Ramillies
We boldly did advance.
(Or: His cause I did advance.)
3. The sun was down, the earth did shake,
So loudly did I cry:
"Fight on, my boys, for England's sake,
We'II conquer or we'II die!''
That very day my horse was shot,
'Twas by a musket ball,
And as I mounted up again,
My aide-de-camp did fall.
4. Now I on a bed of sickness lie,
I am resigned to die;
You generals all and champions bold,
Stand true as well as I.
Stand true, my lads, and take no bribe,
But fight with courage bold,
I led my men through smoke and fire,
But never was bribed by gold.
1. "Sweet Moll, sweet Moll, where art thou going,
So early and so soon?
I've got something to say to thee,
Sweet Moll if thou can'st stay."
2. "What hast thou got to say to me?
Pray tell it to me now,
For I am spending all my time
And that I cannot tell how."
3. "Thy folks and mine could well agree
That married we should be,
So pray pull down thy lofty looks
And fix thy love on me."
4. "Think I would wed with thee, thou clown,
And lose my maidenhead,
When I could get a handsome man
To lie with me in bed?"
5. "Ain't I as handsome as you, sweet Moll,
With my dandy leathern breeches,
And a band all round my middle so small?
Pray give me a few more twitches."
6. "I must have a tweeking page
That speaks a peevish tongue,
And a pair of silver buckled shoes
Which ladies oft have on."
7. "Sweet Moll, sweet Moll, thou hast no need
To talk o' suchlike things,
As never was bred up in a palace
Among the dukes and kings.
8. "The little thou hast learnt thereof,
Thou hast almost forgot,
And if thou wilt not marry me
Then thou shalt go and rot."
1. As I walked o'er the Highland hills
To a farmer's house I came
The night being wet and very dark,
I entered in the same
There I became a courter and a bonny girl I spied
She asked me if I had a wife,
But my marriage I denied.
2. The supper being over,
And all things gone to rest,
Said the gude man to the guidwife,
"Be kind unto our guest,
For the courter is an Irishman,
An Irishman so brave,
And if he'll stay in our country,
Our daughter he shall have."
3. I courted her the livelong night
And part of the next day,
When smiling she said unto me
"Along with thee I'll gae
For Ireland is a bonny place
And bonny men therein
And I will gang along with thee
The world for to begin."
4. The night being past and the day being come,
To the parlour I was ta'en,
And the guidman kindly asked me,
Would I marry his daughter Jane?
Full fifty marks he would give me,
Besides a piece of land,
No sooner had he said the word
Than I thought of Peggy Band.
5. I took off my hat and kindly
Saluted them every one,
Especially that pretty girl
Who was left to make her moan,
"And I cannot be your son-in-law,
Till I see Irish ground,"
I took off my hat and came away,
And my mind still on her ran.
6. Peggy Band she is my jewel,
My heart lies in her breast,
Although we are at a distance,
I still love her the best.
Although we are at a distance,
And the seas between us roar,
I'll be constant to my Peggy,
And so adieu for evermore.