THE LATE Bloody Fight in Flanders: With an Account of the Numbers slain on both sides; ours scarce being ten Thousand, and the French twenty five Thousand. As also the taking seve- ral Prisoners of note, amongst which was the Duke de Maine, the French King's Son, the Duke of Barwick, and likewise the Son of Luxemburgh the French General. Together with a second Encounter by fresh Forces, who falling on the French routed them, seizing on their Baggage and Sixty Pieces of Cannon; to the great Satisfaction of our Royal Army. To the Tune of, Let Mary live long.
|
A Captain of fame,
|
A valiant brave souldier,
|
True honour's upholder,
|
From Flanders he came
|
with news to the Queen,
|
That she plainly might know
|
How causes did go,
|
We have it at length,
|
The French have been slaughter'd,
|
The French have been slaughter'd,
|
though double our strength.
|
Old Luxemburgh knew
|
Our army divided,
|
By policy guided,
|
His forces he drew
|
together with speed;
|
Straight he march'd them away,
|
To the camp where we lay,
|
to ruin us all;
|
But them we saluted,
|
But them we saluted,
|
with powder and ball.
|
The cannon did play,
|
Which roaring like thunder,
|
Did tear them in sunder,
|
A long summer's day
|
this battle did last;
|
It was bloody and hot,
|
While thundering shot
|
on both sides did fly,
|
Where noble commanders,
|
Where noble commanders,
|
did valiantly dye.
|
Through bodies of smoke
|
We charg'd and gave fire,
|
And made them retire;
|
A desperate stroke
|
did fall on both sides:
|
At length we gave ground,
|
Which seemed to wound
|
our honour almost;
|
Yet France has no reason,
|
Yet France has no reason,
|
to vapour or boast.
|
We ply'd them so warm,
|
In heat of the battle
|
Our guns they did rattle,
|
It flew like a storm
|
upon them all day;
|
They cannot proclaim
|
Their triumph and fame;
|
we slaughter'd their men,
|
Five and twenty thousand,
|
Five and twenty thousand,
|
we hardly lost ten.
|
Now this being done,
|
A further relation
|
Brings joy to the nation:
|
Bold Luxemburgh's son
|
was prisoner made,
|
And the French Duke de Maine
|
We did likewise obtain,
|
to our share they fall,
|
And likewise bold Barwick,
|
And likewise bold Barwick,
|
are prisoners all.
|
Then after the fight,
|
A brave Alexander,
|
A valiant commander,
|
He happen'd to light
|
of Monsieur again,
|
He had a fresh armed band
|
Under his command,
|
he fell on a main,
|
Where he on their forces,
|
Where he on their forces,
|
did victory gain.
|
Now thus by surprize
|
He seiz'd on their baggage,
|
Their cannon and luggage,
|
Nay, waggons likewise,
|
and put them to flight:
|
The action was fine,
|
A glorious design,
|
the conquering game,
|
Which does double honour,
|
Which does double honour,
|
and triumph proclaim.
|
King WILLIAM e're long
|
Will follow such courses,
|
With valiant fresh forces,
|
Stout hardy and strong,
|
brave thundering boys
|
That shall make them to yield,
|
Or fly from the field,
|
and then he'll pursue;
|
If France is for fighting,
|
If France is for fighting,
|
he'll give them their due.
|
|
|
|
|
|