There is a copy identical in the Pepys Collection printed by 'Coles, Vere, Wright, Clarke, Thackeray and Passinger who were printing 1679-81. It gives the author as J.P. and although his initials appear on several ballads he is one of the few who remain unidentified. The ballad continued to be printed in songsters. I have one dated 1735. The tune is given in Chappell and the text is reprinted in The Common Muse and the later Oxford Book of Ballads by Kinsley.

Do you know if the ballad was included in earlier editions of Pills?

Jim,
I'm sure we'd both be interested in seeing what you recorded.