As I walked over
Salisbury Plain,
Oh, there I met his campin' young blight.
He kissed me and enticed me so,
Till along with him I was forced for to go.
We came unto a public house at last,
And there for man and wife we did pass.
He called for ale and wine and strong beer,
Till at length we both to bed
did repair.
Undress yourself, my darling, says he.
Undress yourself and come
to bed with me.
Oh yes, that I will then, says she,
if you'll keep all those flash girls away.
Of those flash girls
you need have no fear,
For you will be safe -guarded, my dear.
I'll maintain you as some lady so gay,
For I'll go a -robbin' on the highway.
Early next mornin' my love he arose,
And so nimbly he put on his clothes,
Straight to the highway he set sail,
And t 'was there he robbed
the coaches of the mail.
Oh, it's now, my love,
in yuge jail do lie,
Expecting every moment to die,
The Lord have mercy on his poor soul,
For I think I hear the death bell toll.