It reads almost like a newspaper report of the event but the writer has obvious sympathy with the poachers and it was very likely written by an Irish immigrant as someone has remarked. This triple rhyming (overkill) is rarely found this side of the Irish Sea but is common on Irish printed broadsides.

Wiggy Smith can be heard singing a version on Topic TSCD668 'To catch a fine Buck was my delight' and on the Musical Traditions MTCD307 'Band of Gold'.

The event is described in great detail at

www.rutlandhistory.org/HRW/chapter-007

The ballad was quite widely printed on broadsides.