This was collected in The New Forest by Dr. George Gardiner....

Tim Radford

BOLD REYNARD,THE FOX. Roud 358 – Albert Doe – Bartley
(GG/1/21/1325) – Tune & Text – Doe – 17 Dec 1908

The Lord for the king’s hounds he did send
Jerry Balsam he swore I should die
But I’ve left three brothers behind
That loves young lambs better than I.

It was by Simon Stewart’s I run
When the keeper shot the hair of my thigh
It’s pardon dear huntsman and hounds
For this fatal wound I shall die.

It’s forty-five miles I have run
I’ve run it in three hours space
My strength it begins for to fail
And the hounds they got forward apace.

(I had many a times been surprised
With the hounds that could fly like a crow
- As song by Doe)
It’s often times I have been chased
By the dogs that run much like a cow
But in all the whole course of my life
I never had a breathing till now.

It’s down stony valleys I run
Where the bloodthirsty hounds did me follow
It made my old coat stand on end
For to hear the bold huntsmen Holloa.

It’s down stony fields where they catched him
Where they cause Bold Reynard to die
Good Lord how they racked him and tore him
And cause his old jacket to fly.

It’s now Bold Reynard he’s dead
They’ll turn to the Dolphin and dine
They’ll dip his fur paw in the bumper
And drink my lord’s health in good wine.