Martin Carthy - Rufford Park Poachers lyrics

They say that forty gallant poachers They was in a mess They had often been attacked When the number it was less So poacher bold as I unfold Keep up your gallant heart And think about the poachers bold That night in Rufford Park A buck or doe believe it so A pheasant or a hare Was put on earth for everyone Quite equal for to share So poacher bold as I unfold Keep up your gallant heart And think about the poachers bold That night in Rufford Park All among the gorse to settle scores These forty gathered stones To make a fight for poor men's rights And break those keeper's bones So poacher bold as I unfold Keep up your gallant heart And think about the poachers bold That night in Rufford Park The keepers come with flails Against poachers and their cause But no man there would dare To break the rich man's laws So poacher bold as I unfold Keep up your gallant heart And think about the poachers bold That night in Rufford Park The keepers they began the fight With stones and with their flails When the poachers started why They quickly turned their tails So poacher bold as I unfold Keep up your gallant heart And think about the poachers bold That night in Rufford Park All on the ground with a mortal wound Head keeper Roberts lay He never will rise up again Till the final judgement day So poacher bold as I unfold Keep up your gallant heart And think about the poachers bold That night in Rufford Park Of all the band that made their stand That set a little snare Just four were brought before the court And tried for murder there So poacher bold as I unfold Keep up your gallant heart And think about the poachers bold That night in Rufford Park The judge said "For Roberts' d**h Transported you must be To serve a term of fourteen years In convict slavery" So poacher bold as I unfold Keep up your gallant heart And think about the poachers bold That night in Rufford Park A buck or doe believe it so A pheasant or a hare Was put on earth for everyone Quite equal for to share So poacher bold as I unfold Keep up your gallant heart And think about the poachers bold That night in Rufford Park