THE
Imprison'd COMMANDER:
CONTAINING
The Substance of a Letter,
Written by his own Hand, at the City of Namur, in Flanders,
TO HIS
Honoured Lady in England.
To the Tune of, If Love's a sweet Passion.
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FAir beautiful Lady my love and delight,
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Here's a Letter which I in a Prison did write;
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Yet my Jewel, although I am bar'd and c[o]nfin'd,
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Let it never once grieve thee, or trouble thy mind:
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To the Foes of our Nation I'll never comply,
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Though at Namur's fair City in Prision I lye.
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It is not a Prision I value or fear,
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Since the Fortune of War has oblig'd me, my Dear,
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Though my Body's Confin'd, yet my Soul is at large,
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And while life shall remain I'll my conscience discharge.
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To the Foes of our Nation I'll never comply,
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Though at Namur's fair City in Prison I lye.
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Thy Souldier with Sorrow can ne'r be opprest,
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While a Heart of true Courage here reigns in my breast,
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Which will raise my great Soul above trouble and care,
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They are Cowards and Fools that will seem to despair.
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To the Foes of our Nation I'll never comply,
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Though at Namur's fair City in Prison I lye.
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My Freedom once more I do hope to regain
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For to mount with our Forces, and fall on amain;
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We are not so much daunted as they may suppose,
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Having Courage and Conduct to follow our Foes:
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And I make no great question but to see them fly,
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Though at present in Namur a Prisoner I lye.
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It is not one Swallow a Summer can make,
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Neither can one lost Battel, Love, totally shake
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The invincible courage of Brittain, my Dear,
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We will charge them again fram the Front to the Rear;
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Till the force of our Arms shall compel them to fly,
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Though at present in Namur a Prisoner I lye.
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Though double our Strength the French Army was found,
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Yet the true English Forces did scorn to g[i]ve ground;
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But like Hero's they charg'd them through fire and smoke,
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Till they gave them a sharp and a desperate stroak,
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Which our Enemy's Forces will never deny;
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I have heard them in Namur, since here I did lye.
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Begar, said Monsieur, your bold Englatiers,
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Dey did make such a thundering noise in our ears:
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First dey hallow'd, and then dey did fire amain
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Till some thousands amongst us, was slaughter'd and slain:
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I am pleased to hear them still make this reply,
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As in Namur's fair City in Prison I lye.
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O never be daunted my Lady and Love,
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For I hope by the Blessing of Heaven above,
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When the Summer is ended to see thee once more,
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Whom I ever shall honour and dearly adore.
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From my Vows loving Lady I never will flye,
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Though in Namur's fair City I Prisoner lye.
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This Letter in private sweet Lady I send,
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By the Hand of a Merchant, my intimate Friend;
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For no better a way, Dearest, could I contrive,
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To inform you that I was in Flanders alive:
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From my Vows loving Lady I never will flye,
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Though in Namur's fair City I Prisoner lye.
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FINIS.
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