Hi, alison - Peter Kennedy's book has it in 3/2. It is kind of a strange tune, but I like it. Here 'tis:

SYLVIA

Sylvia, Sylvia, Sylvia one day
She dressed herself in men's array
With a loaded pistol down by her side
To rob her true-love
To rob her true-love
Sylvia did ride

As she rode up to him and she bid him stand
Stand and deliver all the gold that you have
Stand and deliver all your gold and store
Or else this moment
Or else this moment
Your life's no more

He delivered up all his gold and store
But yet, she said, there is one thing more
There's a diamond ring that I know you wear
Deliver it
Deliver it
And your life I'll spare

Now this diamond ring being a token, give o'er
This ring I'll keep or I'll lose my life
She was tender-hearted just like a dove
She rode away
She rode away
From her own true-love

Now as they were walking the garden green
He spied his watch hanging from her chain
He spied his watch hanging through her cloak
Which made her blush
Which made her blush
Like any rose

What makes you blush at such a silly thing?
I fain would have had your diamond ring
For 'twas I that robbed you on the plain
So take your watch
So take your watch
And gold again

Now why did you enter such a silly plot?
Suppose that pistol you did have shot
If you had shot me upon that plain
For ever after
For ever after
You'd be put to shame

I only did it for to know
Whether you were a true-lover or no
But now I've a contented mind
My heart and all
My heart and all
My dear, are thine

The match was made without delay
And soon they fixed the wedding day
And now they live in joy and content
In happiness
In happiness
Their days are spent

Source: Folksongs of Britain and Ireland, edited by Peter Kennedy. Kennedy says this song is usually classified as The Female Highwayman since the young lady's name varies from Sylvia to Sovie, Sovay, Shillo, Sally, Silvery, and so on; on broadside copies the title is sometimes given as Sylvia's Request and William's Denial.

DT #451 Laws N21

JRO

MIDI file: SYLVIA.MID

Timebase: 192

Name: Sylvia
Text: By traditional
Copyright: From "Folksongs of Britain & Ireland," by Peter Kennedy
Key: G
TimeSig: 3/2 24 8
Start
0000 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 67 110 1008 0 67 000 0048 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 66 110 0336 0 66 000 0048 1 67 110 0096 0 67 000 0000 1 66 110 0094 0 66 000 0002 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 59 110 0528 0 59 000 0048 1 59 110 0160 0 59 000 0032 1 59 110 0160 0 59 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 67 110 0192 0 67 000 0000 1 66 110 0336 0 66 000 0048 1 64 110 0096 0 64 000 0000 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 59 110 0528 0 59 000 0048 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 71 110 0336 0 71 000 0048 1 71 110 0096 0 71 000 0000 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0256 0 67 000 0032 1 66 110 0094 0 66 000 0002 1 66 110 0528 0 66 000 0048 1 59 110 0160 0 59 000 0032 1 59 110 0160 0 59 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 66 110 0336 0 66 000 0048 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 71 110 0288 0 71 000 0000 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 66 110 0160 0 66 000 0032 1 64 110 0256 0 64 000 0032 1 63 110 0094 0 63 000 0002 1 64 110 1104 0 64 000
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Sylvia
M:3/2
Q:1/4=120
K:G
EG11|G2F4GFE2E2|B,6B,2B,2E2|G2F4E^DE2E2|B,6GAB2B2|
G2B4BAG3F|F6B,2B,2E2|G2F4E2E2E2|B3AG2F2E3^D|
E23/2||