From Mrs Oliver

Collected by Francis Collinson, Bethersden

Francis Collinson Collection COL/4/32

Roud 815

From Mrs Oliver

Collected by Francis Collinson, Bethersden

Francis Collinson Collection COL/3/17

Roud 495

From Mrs Oliver

Collected by Francis Collinson, Bethersden, 30^th April 1945

Francis Collinson Collection COL/2/36

Roud 21862

From Mrs Oliver

Collected by Francis Collinson, Bethersden

Francis Collinson Collection COL/2/7

Roud 21868

This is a fragment of a song usually known as ‘Hal the Woodman’, which appeared on nineteenth century broadsides by printers including Catnach, Fortey, Harkness and Pitts – see for example this broadsheet from the Frank Kidson collection https://archives.vwml.org/records/FK/10/126/3.

According to the Monthly Supplement to the Musical Library, August 1834, the words were written by dramatist William Pearce, the music by singer, musician and composer Thomas Linley (1733-1795).

The full words are:

1. Stay, traveller, tarry here to-night,
   The rain yet beats, the wind is loud;
   The moon, too, has withdrawn her light,
   And gone to sleep behind a cloud.
2. ‘Tis seven long miles across the moor,
   And should you chance to go astray,
   You’ll meet, I fear, no friendly door,
   Nor soul to tell the ready way.
3. Come, dearest Kate, our meal prepare,
   This stranger shall partake our best,
   A cake and rasher be his fare,
   With ale that makes the weary blest.
4. Approach the hearth, there take a place,
   And till the hour of rest draws nigh,
   Of Robin Hood and Chevy-Chace.
   We’ll sing, then to our pallets hie.
5. Had I the means, I’d use you well;
   ‘Tis little that I have to boast:
   Yet should you of this cottage tell,
   Say Hal the Woodman was your host.

My thanks to Steve Gardham who identified this as the source of Kate Oliver’s words.

Mrs Oliver

Collected by Francis Collinson, Bethersden

Francis Collinson Collection COL/1/22

Roud 418

From Mrs Oliver

Collected by Francis Collinson, Bethersden

Francis Collinson Collection COL/5/33A

Roud 21897

From Mrs Oliver

Collected by Francis Collinson, Bethersden

Francis Collinson Collection COL/5/33B

Roud 21886

From Mrs Oliver

Collected by Francis Collinson, Bethersden, 30^th April 1945

Francis Collinson Collection COL/6/6

Roud 608