A New BALLAD of
St. GEORGE and the DRAGON.
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WHY should we boast of Arthur and his Knights,
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Knowing how many Men have performed fights?
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Or why should we speak of Sir Launcelot du Lake?
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Or Sir Tristam du Leon, that fought for ladies sake?
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Read old stories, and there you will see
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How St. George, St. George, he made the Dragon flee.
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St George he was for England, St. Dennis for France,
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Sing HONI SOIT QUI MALY PENSE.
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To speak much of Monarchs it were too long to tell,
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And likewise of the Romans how far they did excell
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Hannibal and Scipio in many a fight
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Orlando Turtoso he was a valiant Knight;
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Romulous and Remus were those that Rome did build,
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But St. George, St. George the Dragon he hath killd.
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St. George he was for England, etc.
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Jepthah and Gideon they led their Men to fight;
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The Gibeonites and Ammonites they put all to flight;
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Hercules his labour was in the Vale of Bass;
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And Sampson slew a thousand with the jaw-bone of an ass;
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And when he was blind pulld the Temple to the ground,
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But St. George, St. George the Dragon did confound.
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St. George he was for England, etc.
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Valentine and Orson came of Pepins blood,
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Alfred and Alarick they were brave Knights and good;
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The four sons of Ammon that fought with Charlemain,
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Sir Hugh de Bourdeaux, and Godfrey de Bulloign;
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These were all French Knights that Pagans did convert:
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But St. George, St. George he pulld out the Dragons heart.
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St. George he was for England, etc.
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Henry the Fifth he conquored all France,
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He quarterd their arms, his honour to advance;
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He razed their walls, and pulld their cities down,
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And he garnishd his head with a double triple crown;
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He thumped the French, and after home he came,
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But St. George, St. George he made the Dragon tame.
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St. George he was for England, etc.
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St. David he lovd leeks and toasted cheese,
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And Jason was the Man that brought home the Golden Fleece
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And Patrick you know was St. Georges boy,
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Seven years he kept his horse, and then stele him away,
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For which knavish act a slave he doth remain;
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But St. George, St. George he hath the Dragon slain.
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St. Geotge he was for England, etc.
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Tamerlain the Emperor in iron cage did crown,
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With his bloody flags displayd before the town,
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Scanderbeg magnanimous Mahomets Bashaws did dread,
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Whose victorious bones was borne when he was dead.
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Old William so famd, the Conqueror he was calld;
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But St. George, St. George, he hath the Dragon mauld.
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St. George he was for England, etc.
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Ottoman the Tartar he came of Persias race,
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The Great Mogul with his chest full of cloves and mace;
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The Grecian youth Bucephalus did manfully bestride,
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But these with their Worthies nine St. George did deride;
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Gustavus Adolphus was Swedens warlike King,
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But St. George, St. George he pulld out the Dragons sting.
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St. George he was for England, etc.
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Pendragon and Cadwallader of British blood do boast,
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Tho John of Gaunt his foes did daunt, St. George shall rule
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the roast;
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Agamemnon and Cleomedes and Macedon did feats,
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But compared to our champion, they are but merely cheats;
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Brave Malta Knights in Turkish fights their brandishd swords
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outdrew;
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But St. George, St. George met the Dragon, and thrust him
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thro and thro.
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St. George he was for England, etc.
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Bedia the Amazon Poet overthrew,
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As fierce as either Vandal, Goth, Saracen, or Jew;
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The potent Hol[a]ferness, as he lay in bed,
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In came wise Judith and stole away his head;
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With Jove the Cyclops, altho she showerd down thunder,
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But St. George the Dragon killd, and was not that a wonder?
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St. George he was for England, etc.
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Mark Anthony Ill warrant ye, playd feats with Egypts queen,
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Sir Eglemore that valiant Knight, the like was never seen;
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Grim Gorgons might was known in fight; old Bevis most
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Men frighted;
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The Mirmdons and Prester Johns, why were not these men
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knighted?
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Brave Spinola took in Breda, Nassau did it recover;
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But St. George, St. George, turnd the Dragon over and over
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St. George he was for England, etc.
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