Frank Harte - Valentine o'hara

I am a valliant highway man, called Valentine O'Hara I come of poor but honest folk nigh to the Hills of Tara For getting of a maid with child, to England I sailed over I left my parents and became a wild and daring rover Well straight to London I did go where I became a soldier Resolved to fight Britannia's foes; no champion could be bolder They sent me to a foreign land where the cannon loud did rattle And believe me, boys, I do not boast how I behaved in battle Well many's the battle I have seen, in Holland and French Flanders I always fought with courage keen, led on by brave commanders But a cruel ensign found me out and I was flogged and carted Cruel the usage they gave me, and so I soon deserted And straight to England I did sail as fast as wind could drive me Resolved that of my liberty no man should e'er deprive me I slept out in the fields at night, by all my friends forsaken I dared not walk the roads by day for fear I should be taken But I being of a courage keen and likewise able bodied I robbed Lord Nelson on the King's Highway with my pistols heavy loaded I placed my pistols to his breast which caused his heart to quiver Five hundred pound in ready gold to me he did deliver With part of my new store of gold I bought a famous gelding That could leap o'er a five-bar gate, I bought it from Ned Fielding Lord Arkinstone in his fine coach I robbed at Covent Garden And two hours later that same night I robbed the Earl of Warren At Turnham Green I next did rob a revenue collector And what I took from him I gave to a widow to protect her I always robbed the rich and great, to rob the poor I scorned And now in iron chains I'm bound and do I now lie borned It's straight in Newgate I have come and by the law convicted To hang upon the Tyburn tree of which I'm much affrighted Farewell, my friends and comrades all and my native Hills of Tara Kind providence may test the soul of Valentine O'Hara