The Noble Souldiers Advice
TO HIS
COMRADES:
OR,
The Red-coats Resolution.
Written by a Member of the Army.
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1
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WHen honest Red-Coats,
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Leave cutting of throats,
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And Swords in the Scabards are put.
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It then doth appear,
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Reformat' on draws neer,
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For that's th' way to come to't.
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2
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I have led the Van,
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As a Bandelier-Man,
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In Battel we've made the skie burn:
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W've brought our Masters,
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Through many Disasters,
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But now have left them at Tyburn.
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3
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True News there is sent,
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From the Good Parliament,
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That fighting no more we shall see:
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Such like Tidings we hear,
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With a very good chear,
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For our Army disbanded must be.
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4
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W've fought like Souldiers
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In blood to the shoulders,
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In Holland, in Flanders and Spain;
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And have likewise in France,
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Marched many a Dance;
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Yet to England com'd safe back again.
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5
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There's many of's in
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Cold Scotland have been,
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And Ireland too many a year;
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Nay, and some without spleen,
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Jamaicah have seen,
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But disbanded now must be here.
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6
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Many Dangerous times
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W've ventur'd our Limbs,
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W've Marcht both in Files and in Ranks;
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But now glad we must be,
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If Disbanded I see,
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With Pay, and a great many Thanks.
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7
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We have with a thump,
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Confounded the Rump,
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And set the King upon his Throne;
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We have lived to see,
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The Rump hang'd on a Tree,
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And ev'ry man now get his own.
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8
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Poor Souldiers now,
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Must starve, or to Plow,
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What course for to live will you take?
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There is many of you,
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Have no homes to go too,
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Pray tell me what shift will you make?
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9
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Sayes one, I've in fears
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Been seven long years,
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In Holland, in France, and in Spain;
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And if now I know not,
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How to find out a Plot,
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I know the way thither again.
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10
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'Nother sayes Brother,
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I ne'r could labour,
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Now to the Venetians I'le go,
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And there make it my work,
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To fight with the bold Turk,
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There can be no fitter a foe.
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11
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A third, without Strife,
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He'l home to his Wife;
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A fourth, his good Kindred will try,
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Seeing I have no home,
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Abroad I will go rome,
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For the devil a Wife have I.
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12
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Have I spent my years,
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In Dangers and Fears,
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And shall I go live with a Wife?
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Before I will do so,
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To the Wars I will go,
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And gallantly venture my Life.
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13
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The sixth, at a Word,
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He'l mount the Shop-Board,
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No more with a Musket he'l meddle;
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For he now can afford,
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To break's old rusty Sword,
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To make him a Bodkin and Needle.
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14
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A Shoomaker I,
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A seventh doth cry,
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Have been, and will follow my Trade,
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For since Fighting doth fall
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I do hope by the Aul,
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T' get more than I can by the Blade.
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15
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Fly brass quoth another,
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I tell the dear Brother,
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My Tinker-Trade now I intend;
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I'le leave off my pillage,
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And cry in each Village,
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Bowles, Treys, or Old Bellowes to mend.
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16
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But Sould'ers indeed,
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Take very good heed,
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All you that true Batchellours be,
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Your Hearts needs not to Throb,
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Nor your Hands need not to Rob,
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For far better dayes you shall see.
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17
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To one I'le lay ten,
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An Army of Men
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Goes over to France the next Spring;
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And if you will be
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Content, you shall see,
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We shall make the Mounsiers to wring.
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18
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Then lets with one Voice,
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Be Glad and Rejoyce,
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Since Fighting in England doth End;
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And let him that loves Peace
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Get him Home and Encrease,
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And tell his Sad Tales to his Friend.
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19
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God bless our KING then,
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And all the good Men
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That be of his Counsel and Court;
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And send he may never
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Use men that Endeavour
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To Ruine a Kingdome for Sport.
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20
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And without Rebuke
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Preserve the good Duke,
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Who bravely can lead up the Van;
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If ever I Fight
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For any Mans Right,
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Believe me King CHARLES is the Man:
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