The Battle of the Boyne (chapbook)/The Battle of the Boyne

by anon

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

THE BATTLE OF THE BOYNE.

July the first in Old Bridge-town,
 there aught 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 Boyne water.

On July the first in Old Bridge-town,
 there was a grievous battle,
Where many a man lay on the ground,
 where 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.

Inn Old Bridge-town strong guards were kept,
 and more at the Boyne water;
King James began five days too soon,
 with guns and cannons rattling.

He pitch'd his camp, secured his ground,
 thinking not to retire,
But King William threw his hot balls in,
 and set his tents on fire.

A bullet from the Irish came,
 which graz'd King William's arm,
They thought his majesty was slain,
 but he received no harm.

His general in friendship came,
 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 over the water.

Then said King William to his men,
 brave boys we are well armed,
And if you'll all courageous be,
 we'll yet sure and take the water.

The horse were ordered to march on first,
 and the foot soon followed after
But brave Duke Schomberg test his life,
 by venturing over the water.

Be not dismayed, King William said,
 for the loss of one commander:
For God this day shall be our King,
 and I'll be General 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 mien the King marched on,
 his men soon followed after,
With shell 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 Drogheds,
 have reason to be thankful,
That they were not to bondage brought,
 although they were 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 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 marshall 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 James and all his army,
He would rather chase for to retreat,
 than to stand and be disarmed.

We'll give our prayers both night and day,
 both now and ever after,
And let us ne'er forget the day,
 King James ran from the water.