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Rufford Park Poachers

Joseph Taylor sang Rufford Park Poachers on Unto Brigg Fair, from a cylinder recorded in 1908. The LP sleeve notes said:

This version is unique and must be possibly the finest tune that Joseph Taylor sang. Mr Patrick O'Shaughnessy had the good fortune to find a full account of this affray in the form of a poster and his notes to More Folk Songs from Lincolnshire should be consulted.

Martin Carthy sang Rufford Park Poachers on his 1982 album Out of the Cut. A BBC live recording from July 1987 was published on Martin Carthy's Kershaw Sessions and reissued in 2001 on The Carthy Chronicles. He also sang it live in studio in July 2006 for the DVD Guitar Maestros. Martin Carthy commented in his original recording's sleeve notes:

Rufford Park is not far from Mansfield, and in 1850 there was a showdown between local people and gamekeepers in the shape of a vicious and bitter fight, after which ringleaders were selected, tried and transported for up to 14 years. Patrick O'Shaughnessy of the Lincolnshire Society did a reconstruction job on the words, three versions of which were recorded by Percy Grainger from Joseph Taylor, himself a retired gamekeeper, who was a teenager at the time of the events in the song.

Coope Boyes & Simpson sang Rufford Park Poachers on their 1996 album Falling Slowly and John Roberts & Tony Barrand sang it in 1998 on Heartoutbursts: English Folksongs collected by Percy Grainger.

Lyrics

Joseph Taylor sings Rufford Park Poachers

They say that forty gallant poachers
They was in a mess;
They'd often been attack-ed
When the number it was less.

Chorus (after each verse):: So poacher bold, as I unfold,
Keep up your gallant heart,
And think about those poachers bold
That night in Rufford Park.

A buck or doe, believe it so,
A pheasant or an (h)are
Was sent on earth for everyone
Quite equal for to share

The keepers they begun the fight,
With stones and with the flails,
But when the poachers started, why,
They quickly turned their tails

Martin Carthy's version	Coope Boyes & Simpson's version
They say that forty gallant poachers They was in a mess They had often been attacked When the number it was less	A buck or doe believe it so A pheasant or a hare Were set on earth for everyone Quite equally to share
Chorus (after each verse): So poacher bold as I unfold Keep up your gallant heart And think about the poachers bold That night in Rufford Park	So poacher bold, as I unfold Keep up your gallant heart And think about those poachers bold That night in Rufford Park
A buck or doe believe it so A pheasant or a hare Was put on earth for everyone Quite equal for to share	They say that forty gallant poachers They were in distress They'd often been attacked when Their number it was less
All among the gorse to settle scores These forty gathered stones To make a fight for poor men's rights And break those keeper's bones	Among the gorse, to settle scores Those forty gathered stones To make a fight for poor men's rights And break the keepers' bones
The keepers come with flails Against poachers and their cause But no man there would dare To break the rich man's laws	The keepers went with flails against The poachers and their cause So no man there again would dare Defy the rich man's laws
The keepers they began the fight With stones and with their flails When the poachers started why They quickly turned their tails
All on the ground with a mortal wound Head keeper Roberts lay He never will rise up again Till the final judgement day	Upon the ground with mortal wound Head keeper Roberts lay He never will rise up until The final judgement day
Of all the band that made their stand That set a little snare Just four were brought before the court And tried for murder there	Of all that band who made a stand To set a net or snare The four men brought before the court Were tried for murder there
The judge said “For Roberts' death Transported you must be To serve a term of fourteen years In convict slavery”	The Judge he said “For Robert's death Transported you must be To serve a term of forty years In convict slavery”
A buck or doe believe it so A pheasant or a hare Was put on earth for everyone Quite equal for to share	So poacher bold, your tale is told Keep up your gallant heart And think about those poachers bold That night in Rufford Park

Acknowledgements

Joseph Taylor's version transcribed by Garry Gillard. Transcription of Martin Carthy's version begun by Wolfgang Hell, and continued by Garry Gillard.