Only one other version of this song has turned up: Cecil Sharp collected the song, with a tune and more verses, from William Bennett of Bridgewater in 1906.  Sharp, rather uncharitably, called the song “The Coward”.  Alfred Williams wrote of the song ‘This quaint old song seems to have been penned about the time of the wars of William of Orange, in the Netherlands, 1690. I obtained it of John Pillinger, the wooden legged veteran of Sevastopol, formerly of Lechlade.’

Notes by Gwilym Davies 7 April 2016
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