"Packington's Pound" is an English broadside ballad that dates back, roughly, to the last quarter of the 16th century.
Due to the tune's overwhelming popularity, it is difficult to pinpoint a specific plot about which the ballad centers.
[3] The tune "Packington's Pound" is often attributed to lutenist, Francis Cutting—though, his name is not found on any of the extant ballads.
"[6] "Packington's Pound," the tune, has been incorporated into many historical plays by many well-established playwrights--John Gay's "The Beggar's Opera", Ben Jonson's "Bartholomew Fair," and Edward Phillips's "The Mock Lawyer," to name a few.
The tune has, in recent years, been co-opted by several guitarists, which have produced renditions available on YouTube and various sheet music sets.