1640
| Tune: | Let's To The Wars Again |
| Lyrics: | Martin Parker |
[Two and a half verses missing]
How shall we dare to trust them now,
Unlesse old time hath tane a course,
To make them better and us wors?
Then let not faire words, make fooles faine,
But let us beate the Scots againe.
However they for their owne ends,
Count some their foes, & some their friends,
If we into their hands should fall,
The sword no difference makes at all,
Deare Countrymen then credit not,
The promise of a flattering Scot.
Then let not faire words, &c.
They are you see already come,
To seeke us at our native home,
But sure (unlesse my wishes fayles)
They’le ne’r returne to tell more tales,
If God knit English hearts in one,
Jocky will wish that he were gone.
Then let not faire words, &c.
New-Castle they surprized have,
Where certaine of our gallants brave,
Both horse and foote yielding their breath,
Have (with their dying) conquered death,
Others likewise they prisoners tooke,
For a reward they soone must looke.
Then let not faire words, &c.
THe illustrious vizcount Conway stout,
Did what man could to keepe them out,
His sword up to the hilts he ran,
In a Scots heart (some noted man,)
Yet he came off with little harme,
Only a little hurt i’th Arme.
Then let not faire words, &c.
That valorous and worthy Knight,
(Whose fame through Christendome shines bright,
Bold S. John Digby’s horse dead shot
Became a prisoner to the Scot,
The noble Colonell Willmot shard,
With brave sir John; both kept in ward.
Then let not faire words, &c.
That hopefull bud of chevalry,
Valiant Charles Porter manfully,
Being Cornet of a warlike troupe,
Ne’r yielded till death made him stoope,
He seal’d his honor with his blood,
Dying for’s King and countries good,
Then let not faire words, &c.
His broken sword in’s hand was found,
(When he lay grovelling on the ground)
His Cornet colors ’twixt his thighes,
Thus yielded he in sacrifice,
His life and blood in’s Countries right,
Making his fame in’s death shine bright.
Then let not faire words, &c.
Some other of our Cavaleirs,
Were slaine and hurt, as it appears,
About six hundred men outright,
(Of horse and foote) were kil’d i’th fight,
And of the Scots ’tis justify’d,
As many if not more then dy’d;
Then let not faire words, &c.
When they surprized had the Towne,
(Wherein their minds to us is knowne,)
Three thousand men in Garison:
They left the Towne to luke upon,
They seas’d and seal’d th’warehouses all,
Is this the thing you friendship call?
Then let not faire words, &c.
The Country must the Army finde,
Such charge the Scots have left behind,)
With bread, cheese, butter, drink, and smoke,
All this to doe they did provoke;
At their returne they will pay all,
But that I trust they never shall.
Then let not faire words, &c.
Our Lord protect King Charles; and send,
This war may bring a peacefull end,
Let palms of victory deck his brow,
And having made his foes to bow,
Bring him in safety home againe,
Alwayes in peace heere to remaine,
Then let not faire words, &c.
In August 1640, short of men and money, Charles I’s second war against the Presbyterian Scots ‘Covenanters’ was going badly. Martin Parker, a well-known ballad-writer, was part of a Royalist circle of cheap-print authors. His song (perhaps sponsored by the government) attempts to persuade the nation to support the king’s cause, in person or with money. It admonishes ‘all English men’ to ‘abandon the fond opinion (which too many doe conceave) of the Scots good meaning to England’.
| Cause: | Royalist | Interventionist |
| Theme: | Political Process | War and Peace |
| Addressed to: | English | Taxpayers |
| Target of Protest: | Ethnic/National group |