Battle of the Boyn, or, King William crossing the Boyn Water (1)/Battle of the Boyn, or, King William crossing the Boyn Water

For other versions of this work, see The Boyne Water (song).

The BATTLE of the BOYN.

J ULY the firſt in Old Bridge-town,
there ought to be a pattern,
As its recorded in each church-book,
throughout all the nation.

Now let us all kneel down and pray,
both now and ever after,
And let us ne'er forget the day,
King William croſs'd over the water.

On July the firſt in Old Bridge-town,
there was a grievous battle,
Where many men'lay on the ground,
while cannons they did rattle.

The Iriſh then they vow'd revenge,
againſt King William's forces,
And ſolemnly they did proteſt,
that they would ſtop his courſes.

In Old Bridge-town, ſtrong guards were
and more at the Boyn-water, (kept,
King James began five days too ſoon,
with drums and cannons rattling.

He pitch'd his camp, ſecur'd his ground,
thinking not to retire,
But King William threw his bomballs in,
and ſet their tents on fire.

A bullet from the Iriſh came,
which graz'd King William's arm:
They thought his Majeſty was lain,
but he receiv'd no harm.

His General in friendſhip came,
his King wou'd often caution,
To ſhun the ſpot where bullets hot,
did fly in rapid motion.

He doeſn't deſerve, King William ſaid,
the name of Faith's Defender,
That will not venture life and limb,
to make his ſoes ſurrender.

Now let us all kneel down and pray,
both now and ever after,
And let us never forget the day,
King William croſs'd over Boyn water.

Then ſaid King William to his men,
brave boys we are well armed,
And if you'll all couragious be,
we'll venture and take the water:

The horſe were ord'red to march on firſt,
and the foot did ſoon follow after,
But brave Duke Schomberg loſt his life,
by venturing over the water.

Be not diſmay'd, King William ſaid,
for the loſs of one commander,
For God this day ſhall be your King,
and I'll be Gen'ral under.

The brave Duke Schomberg being lain,
King William he accoſted,
His warlike men for to march on,
and he would march the foremoſt.

In princely mein the King march'd on,
his men ſoon follow'd after,
With ſhells and ſhot the Iriſh ſmote,
and made a grievous ſlaughter.

King James eſpy'd the Engliſh then,
King William he governed,
He thought it better for to retreat,
than ſtand and be diſarmed.

The Proteſtants of Drogheda,
have reaſon to be thankful,
That they were not to bondage brought,
altho' they're but a handful.

Firſt to the Tholſel they were brought,
and try'd at Mill Mount-ater,
But brave King William ſet them free,
by venturing over the water.

Nigh to Dundalk the ſubtile French,
had taken up their quarters,
And on the plain in ambuſh lay.
a waiting for freſh orders;

But in the deed time of the night,
they ſet their tents on fire;
And long before the break of day,
to Dublin did retire.

King William as our General,
no martial e'er was braver,
With hat in hand his valiant men,
he thank'd for their behaviour.

We'll ſheath our ſwords and reſt a while,
in time we'll follow after, (ſmile,
Theſe words King William ſpoke with a
that day we croſs'd the water.

That pattern day proved too hot,
for King James and all his army,
He would rather chooſe for to retreat,
than to ſtand and be diſarm'd.

We'll give our pray'ers both night and day,
both now and ever after,
And let us never forget the day,
King James ran from the water.