For what it's worth: I think I too encountered this song in Oxford in the 60s, a little later than McGrath of Harlow and from a friend who had only very recently moved there from London.

Although folk songs in general don't have "right" or "wrong" versions, one word in the DT version is definitely wrong. "Struck down like a hawk" does not make sense. johnp's 16 Jan 00 - 08:38 PM wording "Struck down like a hart" is what I remember.

In the line "The cunning old bastard has fitted a yale" I recall the singer hesitating at "ba..." as if going to sing "bastard" and then instead singing "baron".