Lord WILLOUGHBY: OR, A true Relation of a famous and bloody Battel fought in Flanders, by the Noble and valient Lord Willoughby with 1500 English, against forty thousand Spa- niards, where the English obtained a notable Victory, for the glory and renown of our Nation. To the Tune of, Lord Willoughby.
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THe fifteenth day of July,
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with glistering spear and shield,
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A famous fight in Flanders,
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was foughten in the field:
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The most couragious Officers,
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was English Captains three,
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But the bravest Man in battel,
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was brave Lord Willoughby.
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The next was Captain Norris,
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a valiant Man was he,
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The other Captain Turner,
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that frm field would never flee:
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With fifteen hundred fighting men,
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alas there was no more,
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They fought with forty thousand then,
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upon the bloody shore.
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Stand to it noble Pikemen,
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and look you round about,
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And shoot you right you Bow-men,
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and we will keep them out:
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You Musquet and Cilliver men,
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do you prove true to me,
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I'le be the formost man in fight,
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says brave Lord Willoughby.
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And then the bloody enemy,
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they fiercely did assail,
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And fought it out most valiently,
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not doubting to prevail:
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The wounded Men on both sides fell
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most pitious for to see,
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Yet nothing could the courage quell,
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of brave Lord Willoughby.
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For seven hours to all mens view,
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this fight endured sore,
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Until our men so feeble grew,
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that they could fight no more:
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And then upon dead horses,
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full savourly they eat,
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And drank the puddle water,
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for no better could they get.
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WHen they had fed so freely,
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they kneeled on the ground,
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And praised God devoutly,
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for the favour they had found:
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And bearing up their Colours,
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the fight they did renew,
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And turning towars the Spaniard,
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five thousand more they slew.
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The sharp steel pointed arrows,
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and Bullets thick did flye,
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Then did our valiant Souldiers,
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charge on most furiously,
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Which made the Spaniards waver,
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they thought it best to flee,
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They fear'd the stout behaviour,
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of brave Lord Willoughby.
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Then quoth the Spanish General,
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come let us march away,
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I fear we shall be spoiled all,
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if that we longer stay:
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For yonder comes Lord Willoughby,
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with courage fierce and fell,
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He will not give one inch of way,
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for all the Devils in Hell.
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And then the fearful enemy,
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was quickly put to flight,
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Our men persuid couragiously,
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and rout their forces quite:
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But at last they gave a shout,
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which ecchoed through the sky,
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God and St. George for England,
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the Conquerers did cry.
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This news was brought to England,
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with all the speed might be,
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And told unto our gracious Queen,
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of this same victory:
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O this is brave Lord Willoughby,
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my love hath ever won,
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Of all the Lords of honour,
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'tis he great deeds hath done,
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For Souldiers that were maimed,,
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and wounded in the fray,
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The Queen allow'd a pension,
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of Eighteen-pence a day:
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Besides all cost and charges,
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she quit and set them free,
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And this she did all for the sake,
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of brave Lord Willoughby.
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Then courage noble English men,
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and never be dismai'd,
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If that we be but one to ten,
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we will not be afraid.
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To fight with forraign Enemies,
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and set our Nation free,
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And thus I end the bloody bout,
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of brave Lord Willoughby.
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