I liked the song so much, I recorded it on my CD "Going Up the Missouri: Songs & Dance Tunes from Old Fort Osage." As soon as I had the final mixing done and had the recording sent off to be manufactured, I came accross another variant
In good old colony days
When we lived under the King
Three roguish chaps fell into mishaps
Because they would not sing
Because they would not sing
Becaise they would not sing
Three roguish chaps fell into mishaps
Because they would not sing

Then the rest of the story picks up with the miller, the weaver, and the wee tailor.