Classic Poem

The Battel of Worcester

A L l you that be true to the King and the State,
Come listen, and Ile tell you what happen'd of late,
In a large field near Worcesters gate.
Which no body can deny .

Brave Sir John Byron , true to the Crown,
VVith forces too few, 'tis very well known,
VVent thither, 'tis said, to keep the Town ,
Which no body can deny .

But whether 'twas true, ye have learn'd to guess,
As for my own part I think no lesse,
To give you a taste of our Future successe,
Which no body can deny .

Thither came Fines with armes Complete,
The Town to take, and Byron defeat,
Provisions were made, but he staid not to eat,
Which no body can deny .

But as soon as he heard our great Guns play,
VVith a Flea in's ear, he ran quite away,
Like the lawfull begotten Son of Lord Say ,
Which no body &c .

Nay had the old Crop-ear'd his Father dar'd
To approach the walls, his design had bin marr'd,
For Byron would not have proved a VVard.
Which no body can deny .

Pox on him he keeps his Patent yet,
But I hope next Term he shall not sit,
'Twas but quam diu se bene Gesserit ,
Which no body, &c .

But now behold, increased in force,
Hee comes again with ten Troups of Horse,
Oh bloudy-Man he had no remorse,
Which no body, &c .

They marched up boldly, without any fear,
Little thinking Prince Rupert was come so near,
But alas poor souls it cost them dear,
Which no body, &c .

The Prince like a Gallant man of his trade,
Marcht out of the Town till this quarter was made,
Sir, the Enemies are near at hand it is said:
Which no body, &c .

Where, where are they? Prince Rupert cryes,
And looking about with fiery eyes,
Some thirty behind a hedge he spyes.
Which no body, &c .

This Forlorn-hope he no sooner saw,
But 4. or 5. more did towards them draw;
He asked, who's there? one answer'd him, haw,
Which no body, &c .

The man you'll say was rudely bred;
The Prince shot a Bullet into his head,
His haw had been better spared than said,
Which no body, &c .

Prince Maurice then, to second his Brother,
Discharg'd his Pistol, and down fell another,
'Twere pitty but news were sent to his Mother,
Which no body, &c .

Lord Digby slew one to his great fame,
So did Monsieur de Lisle , and Sir Rich. Crane ,
And another French man, with a harder name,
Which no body, &c .

Prince Rupert to his own Force retired,
And bad them not shoot till their Doublets were fired,
His Courage and Conduct were both admired,
Which no body, &c .

He Charged but twice, yet made them shrink,
'Twere hard to get off now one would think,
Yet both can do it as easie as drink.
Which no body, &c .

Then have amongst ye, quoth Sir Lewes Dives ,
For a good Cause you know alwayes thrives,
His heart in his shoulders cost many mens lives,
Which no body, &c .

John Byron did as bravely fight;
To the Prince of Wales his great delight,
He came home in safety and was made a Knight.
Which no body, &c .

My Friend David Walter in Doublet white,
Without any Armes either rusty or bright,
Charg'd through them twice like a little spright,
Which no body, &c .

But oh Prince Maurice , where was he?
Where one of us would be loath to be,
Surrounded with Butchers three times three,
Which no body, &c .

These men of East-cheap little said,
But all their blows at his head they made,
As if they had been at work at their Trade,
Which no body, &c .

Then came a French-man fiery and keen,
He broke the Ring and came in between,
Ere a man let a — not a Butcher was seen.
Which no body, &c .

Brave Lord Wilmot , by whose hands did fall
Many a Rebell stout and tall,
Came to him without any Armes at all,
Which no body, &c .

Their Horses then close up they spur'd,
The wounds they gave were all with the Sword,
Their Pistols proved not worth a —
Which no body, &c .

But the Parliament having quite forgot
To Vote that Sandys should not be shot
By the hand of a Mounsier he went to the pot.
Which no body, &c .

Douglas a Scotch-man of great fame
Was slain that day for want of the same:
The Houses in this were much to blame,
Which no body, &c .

Of all their chief Commanders that day,
I hold it fit I should something say,
His name was Brown , and he ran away,
Which no body, &c .

If a few more o'em should shew such a freak,
Both Houses surely would quickly break,
And honester men would have leave to speak,
Which no body, &c .

They fly, they fly, Prince Rupert cry'd,
No sooner said, but away they hy'd;
The force of his Armes they durst not abide,
Which no body, can deny .