DEATH OF THE FOX
Harding B 25(492)

Some gentlemen take great delight.
In hunting bold Reynard the fox,
Near yon stony common he lived,
and fed upon fat geese and ducks.
He fed upon all the good thigns
Nor thinking so soon he should die,
But was chased by a pack of fresh hounds,
And made from his country to fly.

through the wild country he ranbled
And liv'd at an extravagant rate,
Young lambs he picked up for his living,
the farmers they all did him hate;
The lord for the king's hounds did send,
Jerry Bislon swore she should die,
But he left two brothers behind him,
That loved young lambs better than he.

Through the wild country he ran,
The blood thirsty hounds did him follow,
It made his old coat stand an end,
To hear how the hunstman (sic) did hallo.
Oftimes has he been surprised.
By dogs that would run like a cow,
but of all the times in his life,
He ne'er got a breathing till now.

Forty five miles he ran them,
All in five hours space,
O pardon dear huntsman and hounds,
So swiftly you follow the chace.
It was near Simon Stewards he ran,
The game keeper shot through the thigh,
O pardon dear huntsman and hounds,
By this fatal wound he will die.

In the stoney fields they killed
there he was forced to die,
The hounds tore him all to pieces,
The made his old coat for to fly
since they bold reynard have kill'd
They may go the the dolphin and dine,
And put his foot in a full bumper,
Do drink you Lords health in wood wine.


DEATH OF THE FOX
Firth c.19(102)
Some gentlemen take great delight
In huntin bold Reynard the fox
Near yon stony common I lived,
And fed upon fat geese and ducks.
I fed upon fat geese and ducks,
Not thinking so soon I should die,
I was chased by a pack of fresh hounds,
which caused me my country to fly.

As through the wild country I rambled,
I lived at an extravagant rate;
Young lambs I pick'd up for my living;
the farmers they all did me hate.
The lords for the hing's hounds did send;
Jerry Balsom he swore I should die;
But I left two brothers behind me,
Who love young lambs better than I.

As through the wild country I ran,
The blood-thirsty hounds did me follow;
It made my old coat stand on end,
to hear how the huntsmen did halloo.
Ofttimes have I been sore surprised
By dogs that would run like a cow;
But in all the dire times of my life
I e'er got a breathing till now.

Full forty-five miles I did run;
I ran it in five hours' space.
O pradon, dear huntsmen and hounds,
so sweetly you followed the chase.
It was near Simon Stewart's I ran,
The gamekeeper shot thorugh my thigh;
O pardon dear huntsmen and hounds,
by this fatal wound I must die.

Twas in the fields stony they kill'd
O there I was forced to die;
The hounds they all tore me to pieces
they made my old Jacket to fly
Now since you bold Reynard have kill'd
You may go to the Dolphin and dine,
And dip my foot in a full bumper,
And drink your lord's health in good wine.