Here's the version from Logan. The song was recorded by Ewan MacColl on Solo Flight and I imagine that was the version you heard. Perhaps if someone has that they could post his version. Logan gives no tune, so I assume MacColl wrote his own tune or possibly adapted a tune from one of the other versions of the song.

Mick

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^^
The Maid Of Rygate

Near Rygate there lived a farmer,
Whose daughter to market would go,
Not fearing that any would harm her,
For often she rode to and fro.

It fell one time amongst many,
A great store of corn she sold,
She having received the penny
In shillings, and guineas, and gold.

She rode a little way farther,
But, dreading some danger to find,
She sewed it up in her saddle,
Which was with the leather well lined.

She riding a little way farther,
She met a thief on the highway,
A robber apparelled, well mounted,
Who soon did oblige her to stay.

Three blows then he presently gave her,
Load pistold he held to her breast,
Your money this moment deliver,
Or else you shall die I protest.

This maiden was sorely affrighted,
And so was poor Doby the steed,
When down off his back she alighted
He quickly ran home with great speed.

Then this damsel he stripped nearly naked,
And he gave her some sorrowful blows,
Says, "girl you must patiently take it;
I'll have both your money and clothes."

The thief up his bundle was making,
His horse he obliged her to hold;
The poor girl stood trembling and shaking,
As though she would perish with cold.

The thief up his bundle was making
And being rejoiced at his prize,
Says, "Yourself I shall shortly be taking,
As part of my baggage likewise."

The girl while she held fast the bridle,
Was beginning to grow more afraid.
Says she, "it's in vain to be idle,
I'll show you the trick of a maid."

Then up on the saddle she mounted,
Just as if she had beeen a young man,
As while on his money she counted,
"Pray follow me, Sir, if you can."

The rogue in a passion he flew,
He cursed her, he swears, and he blows,
At length his words were, "hallo!
Stay girl! and I'll give you your clothes."

She says, "that's not so much matter,
You make keep them, kind sir, if you please;"
He runs but he could not get at her,
His boots they so hampered his knees.

She rode over hedges and ditches,
The way home she knew very well,
She left his a parcel of farthings,
The sum of five shillings to tell.

This maiden was sorely benighted
From seven till twelve of the clock,
Her father was sorely affrighted
To see her come stripped to her smock.

"O daughter, the matter come tell me,
And how you have tarried so long?"
She says, "some hard fortune befel me,
But I have received no wrong."

They ended their sorrow with joy,
When in his portmanteau was found,
In a bundle a great sum of money,
In all about eight hundred pound.

O! was not this rare of a maiden,
Who was in great danger of life?
With riches she's now overladen,
No doubt she will make a good wife.


Source: Logan: A Pedlar's Pack of Ballads and Songs, 1869.


His notes say: The chief incident in this ballad is similar to that of the two preceding. It appears to have been exceedingly popular throughout England long after the time when the school of romantic Highwaymen had ceased to exist. While on the subject, it may be observed that probably the best drawn portraiture of a Highwayman of that class which has been depicted, either in Play or Romance, will be found in the character called Colonel Lutwych, in G.P.R.James' excellent novel of Sir Theodore Broughton.

(The two preceding were The Crafty Farmer and The Yorkshire Bite - MCP)