Lord WILLOUGHBY:
Being a true Relation of a famous and bloody BATTEL fought in Flanders,
by the Noble and Valiant Lord Willoughby, with1500 English, against 40000 Spa-
niards, where the English obtain'd a notable Victory, to the Glory and Renown of one
Nation. To the Tune of, Lord Willoughby, etc.
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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 contagious 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 from 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 Pike-men,
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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 Musket and Cavaller Men,
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do you prove true to me,
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I'll be the foremost 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 valiantly,
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not doubting to prevail:
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The wounded men on both sides fell,
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most piteously to see,
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Yet nothing could the courage que[ll]
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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 indured 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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A[nd] turning towards the Spaniards,
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the 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 spoyled 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 w[i]ll 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 pursu'd couragiously,
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and [r]out their Forces quite:
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But at the 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 Conquerors 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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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 dismay'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 forreign 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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