The Battle of the Boyn, or, King William crossing the Boyn Water/The Battle of the Boyn, or, King William crossing the Boyn Water
BATTLE OF THE BOYN.
JULY the first in Old Bridge-town,
There ought to be a pattern,
As it's 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 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 kept
And more at the ⟨Boyn-water⟩;
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 arms.
They thought his Majesty was slain,
But he receiv'd no harm.
His General in friendship came,
His King would 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 foes surrender.
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 Boyn water.
Then said King William to his men,
Brave boys we are all armed,
And if you'll all couragious be,
We'll venture through the water.
The horse were order'd to march first,
The foot soon follow'd after;
But brave Duke Schomberg lost his life
By venturing o'er 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 slain,
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 to retreat,
Than stand and be disarmed.
The Protestants of Drogheda,
Have reason to be thankful,
That they were not to bondage brought,
Though they were but a ⟨handful⟩.
First to the Thoisal they were brought,
And try'd at Mill Mount-water,
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,
Awaiting for fresh orders.
But in the dead 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 marshal 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,
These words King William spoke with a smile,
That day he cross'd the water.
That pattern day proved too hot,
For King James and his army,
He would rather chose for to retreat,
Than stand and be disarmed.
We'll give our pray'rs both night and day,
Both now and ever after,
And let us ⟨ne'er forget⟩ the day,
King James ran from the water.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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