The verse you quote is from the version of the Deserter sung by Gloucestershire traveller Wiggy Smith and available on the album "Band of Gold". See
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/records.htm and scroll down the page to Wiggy Smith. The words he sang are:

I was once young and foolish like many who is here
I've been fond of night rambling and I am fond of my beer.
Sure if I had my own home and my sweet liberty
I would do no more soldiering by land or by sea.

Sure, the first time I deserted, I thought myself free
I was quick-lie followed after and brought back by speed
I was quick-lie followed after and brought back by speed
And put in the Queen's guardroom
With heavy irons put on me.

You take off the heavy irons and you let him go free
For he'd make a bright soldier for his queen and countery
You take off the heavy irons and you let him go free
For he'd make a brave soldier for his king and countery.

And he sometimes repeated lines 3-4 of the first verse. Can't help with chords as to my ear it sounds best unaccompanied.

Tradsinger