Guest
The Irish Highwayman by Stephen Dunford, (Merlin Publishing 2000) devotes a chapter to Captain Freney-i refers to French's opera
Below is the text; I can e-mail you the printed tune if you give me a contact address
THe book carries similar information and songs on another 14 Irish highwaymen - well worth seeking out
Jim Carroll

Bold Captain Freney

One morning fair, being free from care,
I rode a- broad to take the air,
'Twas my fortune for to spy
A jolly Quaker riding by;

Chorus
And it's oh, bold Captain Freney!
Oh, bold Freney, oh!

Said the Quaker - “I’m very glad
That I have met with such a lad;
There is a robber on the way,
Captain Freney, I hear them say”

Chorus:
And it’s oh, bold Captain Freney!
Oh, bold Freney, oh!

'Captain Freney I disregard,
Although about me I carry my charge;
Because I being so cunning and cute,
It’s where I hide, it’s within my boot.”

Says the Quaker - “It is a friend
His secret unto me would lend;
1 tell you now where my gold does lie –
I have it sewed beneath my thigh.”
Chorus

As we rode down towards Thomastown,
Bold Freney bid me to ’light down.
Kind sir, your breeches you must resign;
Come, quick, strip off, and put on mine,

For I am bold Captain Freney, etc.

Says the Quaker, “I did not think
That you’d play me such a roguish trick
As my breeches I must resign,
I think you are no friend of mine.”
Chorus

As we rode a little on the way,
We met a tailor dressed most gay;
I boldly bid him for to stand,
Thinking he was some gentleman.
Chorus

Upon his pockets I laid hold –
The first thing I got was a purse of gold;
The next thing I found, which did me surprise,
Was a needle, thimble and chalk likewise.
Chorus

“Your dirty trifle I disdain.”
With that I return’d him his gold again.
“I’ll rob no tailor if I can –
I’d rather ten times rob a man.”
Chorus

It’s time for me to look about;
There’s a proclamation just gone out;
There’s fifty pounds bid on my head,
To bring me in alive or dead.
Chorus