Hare of Howden
10 06 2009In Howdentown as I have heard ‘em tell
Once there was a white hare, she used to there to dwell
She’s been hunted by the greyhounds and the beagle-dogs did fare
And there’s not a one amongst’em could keep up with that white hare
She’s faster than the black, and she’s bonnier than the brown
And there’s not a dog in England as’ll ever bring her down
So says Jimmy The Bold Huntsman to Tom The Whipper-In
‘Go look in yonder fernside and see if she lies in’
And with that she gave a jump, boys, as fast away she ran
And its yonder that she’s going as fast as ere she can
When they came unto the place where this white hare did lie
The beagles they uncoupled, they began to try
Then the crafty greyhounds did beat the bush around around
And there never was a white hare in that field to be found
By horse and foot they did then unto this place draw neigh
All thinking that the white hare was going for to die
But she slipped out of the bush, boys, and over Howden Hill
And the beagles and the greyhounds there was one shot in the kill.