"Sporting Hero, or, Whiskey in the Bar [sic]" ca1852: http://ballads.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/static/images/sheets/05000/01871.gif "Patrick Flemming," from Holloway and Black. (The oldest available text, apparently from the 18th century): Patrick Flemming was a Vallient Soldier, He carried his Blunderbuss upon his shoulder He cockt his Pistol and drew his Rapier, Stand and deliver for I am the taker fal, lal, If you're Patrick Flemming as I suppose you be, We are three Pedlars a ganging so free sir, We are three Pedlars a ganging to Dublin, Nothing at all in our Pockets but our loading. Says Patrick Flemming prithe don't trifle, For I am resolved Your packs for to rifle, Here is a bank on which they must rest on, To search them all I have a Commission. Loath they were to do as he commanded, But knowing Patrick charg'd double-handed, Searching their packs most carefully round, There did he find four Hundred pound. Oh! I have two brothers they're both in the army The one is at Cork and the other at Kilkenny, If they were here both blyth and bonny, I'd rather see them than any one dear honey. As I was going over Ruberry mountain, Gold and silver there was counting He thought it little I thought it better, I took the Gold from Colonel Pepper. My Whore she proved false and that is the reason Or else Patrick Flemming had never been taken, When I was asleep and knew nothing of the matter Then she loaded my arms with Water: Oh Patrick Flemming how often have I told you With Swords with Pistols we would surround You, For kissing of other mens wives brisk and merry, as You was going to Londonderry. Now my dear brothers i must leave You, For of my Life they will bereave me But when he set foot upon the Ladder He briskly called for his hat and Feather. Now You pretty Wives of fair London City E'er it is long I sure shall be with Ye, So bold and so Gallant i'lle gane to ye That halters not made that [are] can undo me. [e'er? [All spellings as printed. The only "Rubery / Ruberry" I'm aware of is now a suburb of Birmingham.]
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