Hi,

By the late 1700s early 1800s several print versions of "Bold Keeeper" appeared which eliminated the wooing dialogue of the earlier 1670 and 1695 prints:

The Light Dragoon: To which are added, the orange and blue, and the humours of Smithfield. Publisher: Glasgow: Printed by J. & M. Robertson, Saltmarket, 1800 and also combined with other songs in a Robertson chapbook dated 1808.

It is a pretty story,
A story you shall hear,
Of a jolly light dragoon,
As plainly doth appear;
He courted a rich Lady,
Of honor, birth and fame,
and thought to gain her favour,
But it was all in vain.

Her father was a noble knight,
A man of high renown,
And for to marry a soldier,
'Twould pull her honour down:
For your birth and his birth
They never will agree,
So pray young man take your answer,
And so begone from me.

For an answer is more
Than ever I would take,
For I would lay down my life,
All for the Lady's sake.
Soon as the lady heard this,
Her heart began to bleed;
Then straight the Lady and Dragoon,
Were married with speed.

When ever they were married,
And coming back again,
This you lady espy'd her Father,
And seven well armed men.
Aloud, aloud, the Lady cry'd,
I'm afraid we'll all be slain,
Never fear, said the jolly Dragoon,
We'll rife and fight again.

Then he said, My dearest dear,
we have no time to prattle,
For you see they are all armed,
And ready for the battle.
He drew his sword and pistol
and his coutrements did rattle,
And the Lady held the horse,
Till the Dragoon fought the battle.

Hold your hand, hold your hand,
Her father did cry,
And you shall have my Daughter,
And twenty thousand pound.
Fight on, fight on, my jolly Dragoon,
We will overcome them all.

Come all you pretty maidens,
That soldiers do admire,
O do not slight a soldier,
Let him be ne'er so poor.
For they are men of honour,
Belonging to the crown,
Here's a health to George our king,
And to this light Dragoon.

Richie