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EBBA 20751

Magdalene College - Pepys
Ballad XSLT Template
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.

THe fifteenth day of July,
with glistering spear and shield,
A famous fight in Flanders,
was foughten in the field:
The most couragious Officers,
was English Captains three,
But the bravest Man in battel,
was brave Lord Willoughby.

The next was Captain Norris,
a valiant Man was he,
The other Captain Turner,
that frm field would never flee:
With fifteen hundred fighting men,
alas there was no more,
They fought with forty thousand then,
upon the bloody shore.

Stand to it noble Pikemen,
and look you round about,
And shoot you right you Bow-men,
and we will keep them out:

You Musquet and Cilliver men,
do you prove true to me,
I'le be the formost man in fight,
says brave Lord Willoughby.

And then the bloody enemy,
they fiercely did assail,
And fought it out most valiently,
not doubting to prevail:
The wounded Men on both sides fell
most pitious for to see,
Yet nothing could the courage quell,
of brave Lord Willoughby.

For seven hours to all mens view,
this fight endured sore,
Until our men so feeble grew,
that they could fight no more:
And then upon dead horses,
full savourly they eat,
And drank the puddle water,
for no better could they get.

WHen they had fed so freely,
they kneeled on the ground,
And praised God devoutly,
for the favour they had found:
And bearing up their Colours,
the fight they did renew,
And turning towars the Spaniard,
five thousand more they slew.

The sharp steel pointed arrows,
and Bullets thick did flye,
Then did our valiant Souldiers,
charge on most furiously,
Which made the Spaniards waver,
they thought it best to flee,
They fear'd the stout behaviour,
of brave Lord Willoughby.

Then quoth the Spanish General,
come let us march away,
I fear we shall be spoiled all,
if that we longer stay:
For yonder comes Lord Willoughby,
with courage fierce and fell,
He will not give one inch of way,
for all the Devils in Hell.

And then the fearful enemy,
was quickly put to flight,
Our men persuid couragiously,
and rout their forces quite:

But at last they gave a shout,
which ecchoed through the sky,
God and St. George for England,
the Conquerers did cry.

This news was brought to England,
with all the speed might be,
And told unto our gracious Queen,
of this same victory:
O this is brave Lord Willoughby,
my love hath ever won,
Of all the Lords of honour,
'tis he great deeds hath done,

For Souldiers that were maimed,,
and wounded in the fray,
The Queen allow'd a pension,
of Eighteen-pence a day:
Besides all cost and charges,
she quit and set them free,
And this she did all for the sake,
of brave Lord Willoughby.

Then courage noble English men,
and never be dismai'd,
If that we be but one to ten,
we will not be afraid.
To fight with forraign Enemies,
and set our Nation free,
And thus I end the bloody bout,
of brave Lord Willoughby.


Printed for W. Thackeray, and T. Passinger.

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