THE SEA FIGHT (May 19, 1692).1 THURSDAY in the morn, the Ides of May, Recorded for ever "the famous ninety-two," The lofty sails of France advancing: Now Follow me, And you'll see That the battle will be soon begun. Tourville on the main triumphant roll'd, To meet the gallant Russell in combat on the deep; He led a noble train of heroes bold, To sink the English seamen to their sleep. Whilst a flood, All of blood, Fills the scuppers of the Royal Sun! 4 Sulphur, smoke and fire, disturbing the air, With thunder and wonder affright the Gallic shore, Their regulated bands stand trembling near, To see the lofty streamers now no more. 1 The battle of La Hogue. It was here that Russell and Rooke, aided by the Dutch, put an end to Louis XIV's effort to invade England on behalf of James II. For his victory Russell was created Earl of Orford. 2 An eighteen-pounder. 3 Count de Tourville, who overcame the English and Dutch allies, under the Earl of Torrington, off Beachy Head, June 30, 1690. He was an admiral of whom Louis, and France generally, thought so highly as to believe that he would wipe the English and the Dutch from the seas. Besides, on this occasion Louis had an understanding with Russell that the latter would not use his fleet to prevent an invasion of England; this was because Russell was a Jacobite. (See the second stanza of "A Song on Russell's Triumph," next page.) But Louis, thinking that the part must be as well played as it was dressed, ordered Tourville to attack Russell; and the first shot from under French colours carried Russell's Jacobitism by the board, he being an Englishman first and an adherent of James II afterwards. Tourville's flagship; she was named after Louis's beloved emblem, the rising sun, and bore the reputation of being the superDreadnought of her day. At six o'clock the Red the smiling victors led, Now they cry, "Run or die British colours ride the azure main ! See, they fly, amazed, o'er rocks and sands! One danger they grasp at to shun the greater fate : In vain they cry for aid to weeping lands, The nymphs and sea-gods mourn their lost estate. For ever more adieu, thou dazzling Royal Sun; From thine untimely end thy master's fate begun : Enough, thou mighty god of war ! Now we sing— Let us drink to every English tar! A SONG ON RUSSELL'S TRIUMPH.2 (Air: "The King's going to Bulloign," with variations.) COME, brave Protestant boys, And triumph now brought from the ocean!` For the mighty French fleet Now is shattered and beat, And destruction, destruction, boys, will be their portion! Here's the Jacobite crew 3 Now believe me, 'tis true— Invited Monsieurs to this nation; Who was crossing the seas, With the Teague Rapparees, True cut-throats, true cut-throats, upon my salvation! 1 Kitchener and Ashton have other versions of this song with two additional stanzas, both of which are so obviously by a later hand and are such an anti-climax to the song that they are not included here. 2 As the foregone piece seems to have been intended for a somewhat more developed class of mind, this song, and some inferior ones on the same subject, were no doubt designed for tavern and street-side entertainment. 3 See notes to "The Sea Fight," p. 268. But, ho-ho! they did find A true Protestant wind, Which five weeks or longer did last 'em; With the Dutchmen compleat, Did with thunder, with thunder, go blast 'em! On the nineteenth of May The French fleet got under weigh, They s'poss'd we shouldn't fight; 1 For we show'd 'em, we show'd 'em our metal was loyal! Our admirals bold, With their brave hearts of gold, They fell on like great sons of thunder; As the French they drew nigh, Their chain-shot they let fly, Which did tear 'em, and rend 'em, and tear 'em asunder! Our squadron, true blue, Till fast in Lob's pound,2 boys, we got 'em, Where we gave the proud French Such a fiery drench, That we sent 'em, we sent 'em, pell mell to the bottom! Such a slaughter we made, While the loud cannons play'd, Which laid the poor Monsieurs a-bleeding, And their high admirál We did terribly maul, And did teach him, did teach him, I hope, better breeding! Our brave admiràl, Being stout Delavall,3 Whose actions all men may admire, 1 Russell's undertaking to Louis to allow England to be invaded. See note 3, "The Sea Fight.' 2 A prison, stocks, or any particularly 3 Sir tight corner; in Ireland it is called Pook's (Puck's) poundfold. Ralph, of the Delavalls of Northumberland. He was vice-admiral of the Red on this occasion. For the French Rising Sun 1 Was not able to run, Which with seven, with seven more ships he did fire! Valiant Rook 2 sail'd straightway, Close in by the rocks there for shelter; But we fell on gillore 3 And we fired twelve more, Thus we fired and burn'd the French fleet helter-skelter! Being sunk, took, and burn'd, Was this not a mighty disaster? How they far'd on our coast Let 'em sail home and boast 4 To old Lewis, old Lewis, their fistula-master ! When he hears how they sped Losing what he so long has been gettin'; But we'll have him to know That we'll still keep him low: He shall never, no never, boys, conquer Great Britain! ANONYMOUS. TO THE DUKE OF ORMOND'S HEALTH. FROWN, Old Neptune; Boreas, roar; Let your thunder bellow! Noble Ormond's 5 now come o'er With each gallant English fellow. 1 There is much conflict of opinion as to whether the name was Roya Sun, or Rising Sun. 2 Sir George Rooke, Rear-Admiral of the Red. He held the same rank under Torrington. See note 3, "The Sea Fight." For his share in this victory he was made a Vice-Admiral, and was given a knighthood and a pension of £1000 a year. 3 Galore -with much force. 4 Louis, by far the most powerful monarch in Europe at the time, was supposed to have paid the piper by wholesale bribery and other expenditure in the cause of James II. 5 This was James, second Duke of Ormonde, who, although a Jacobite, acted as lord high constable at the coronation of William and Mary. He commanded the troops in Sir George Rooke's abortive Then to welcome him ashore Remembering Rodondello; Remembering, remembering Rodondello- Tho' at Cales they 'scap'd our guns 1 Civil jars and plundering Dons— As late at Rodondello. Chorus. Monsieur and petite Anjou,2 Take new Marshall Château-Regnault,3 And, new glory to advance, Sing Te Deum all thro' France, Pour la victoire at Vigo! Chorus. We meanwhile, to crown our joy, To their health full bowls employ, Who have cur'd our melancholy, expedition to Cadiz (Cales) in 1702, soon after which they fell on the French in Vigo Bay and gained a victory. This was the same Rooke who led the Red division, May 19, 1692. In 1711 Ormonde was commander-in-chief of the British forces against France and Spain, and this song appears to relate to his victories on that occasion, Rodondello being one of them. 1 It would seem that bribery was one of the causes of failure in the Cadiz affair. 2 An honorary title of princes of the French royal family. Louis XIV's grandson was Prince of Anjou, afterwards Philip V of Spain. 3 The Marshal was convoying a richly laden Plate fleet to Spain when Rooke fell on him and captured it in Vigo Bay. (See note on Ormonde.) Queen Anne had been nine years on the throne when Ormonde was sent against the French and Spanish. |