Sir Charles Gavan Duffy July the First, of a morning clear one thousand six hundred and ninety, King William did his men prepare-of thousands he had thirty- To fight King James and all his foes, encamped near the Boyne Water He little feared,though two to one their multitudes to scatter King William called his officers saying: Gentlemen, mind your station, And let your valor her be shown before this Irish nation; My brazen walls let no man break, and your subtle foes you ll scatter Be sure you show them good English play as you go over the water. Both foot and horse they marched on ,intending them to batter But the brave Duke Schomberg he was shot as he crossed over the water When that King William did observe the brave Duke Schomberg falling, He reined his horse with a heavy heart, on the Enniskilleners calling What will you do for me , brave boy-see yonder men retreating?" Our enemies encouraged are,and English drums are beating. He says My boys, feel no dismay at the losing of one commander, For Good shall be our king this day, and I ll be general under.. Within four yards of our forefront before a shot was fired A sudden snuff they got that day which little they desired For horse and man fell to the ground and some hung in their saddle Others turned up their forked ends which we call coup de ladle Prince Eugene s regiment was the next, on our right hand advantaged Into a field of standing wheat where Irish horses pranced- But the brandy run so in their heads, their senses all did scatter They little thought to leave their bones that day at the Boyne water. This ws the third assault they made, thinking their foes to scatter But here they got a dismal stroke and their bones left at the water The Irish they ran fast away the French they soon did follow And he that got the farthest away was aye the happiest fellow They threw away both fife and drum and firelocks from their shoulder King William's men pushed very hard to let them small their powder But aye the faster that we shot the faster they And now the ford is all myde clear and you may cross the water Had Enniskillen men at leave when they their foes defeated For to pursue the victory in honor they had gained Ten thoushand brougeineers and more they ne'er had bred much cumber Nor Jame's men mad head again by the third part of their number Now, praise God all true Protestants and heaven's and earth's Creator For the deliverance that He sent our enemies to scatter... The Churches foes will pine away, like churlish hearted Nabal For our deliverer came this day like the great Zerubbobel So praise God all true Protestants, and I will say no further But had the Papists gained the day, there would have been open murder. Although King James and many more were ne erthat way inclined It was not in their power to stop what the rabble they designed. from - Street songs and Ballads ,Irish Literature.,pp.3271-2,Justin McCarthy Editor,John Hand, author. CB
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