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THE
United Empire Minstrel,
A SELECTION OF THE BEST
NATIONAL, CONSTITUTIONAL AND LOYAL
OKANGE SOIGS AMD POEMS;
WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF
TOASTS AND SENTIMENTS,
AND A
<£iu*ottoU>a*cal faille,
SHEWING THE PRINCIPAL INNOVATIONS AND APOSTACIES OF THE
ROMISH CHURCH — HER PERSECUTIONS OF OUR PROTESTANT
FOREFATHERS—AND THE MOST PARTICULAR ETENTS
CONNECTED WITH THE HISTORY OF THE
UNITED EMPIRE AND THE
ORANGE INSTITUTION.
BY WILLfAM SHANNON.
TORONTO:
HENRY ROWSELL.
1852.
TO
THE LOYAL ORANGEMEN,
OF THE UNITED EMPIRE,
THIS SELECTION OF SONGS AND POEMS
IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED,
WITH THE WARMEST TOSHES OP THE UNDERSIGNED THAT
IT MAT EE THE MEANS OF EXTENDING THE
PROSPERITY, HARMONY AND USEFULNESS
OF THAT RIGHT LOTAL BODT,
THE ORANGE INSTITUTION,
BY THEJB BROTHER, FOR PEACE, LAW AND ORDER,
WILLIAM SHANNON.
INTRODUCTION, AND AUTHORSHIP.
The title page of this work sufficiently explains itself.
At the request of a number of the most influential
Officers and Brethren of the Orange Institution, its pub-
lication has been taken in hand, and it is now presented
to all those who earnestly desire to maintain the existing
connexion between Great Britain, Ireland, and the
Colonies thereunto belonging.
The publisher abstains from making any personal
" Prefatory Remarks." As to himself, how far he has
done his duty will be best proved by the volume itself.
But, in justice to the authors from whose writings selec-
tions are made, a brief statement respecting each will,
no doubt, be found interesting, by those who seek to
know something of the Advocates who have so strongly
j urged their claims to the consideration of the truly good,
j great, and noble, as " The Saviours of Ireland," in
1798, 1848—and of Canada in 1837.
i
The Rev. John Graham, Rector of Magilligan, in
the Diocese of Deny, departed this life in the winter
of 1843-4. In his day and generation, he was Master
j of a subordinate Lodge, County Master for Deny,
! Chaplain to the G. 0. L. of Ireland, and First Grand
I Master of the G. 0. Lodge of Ulster. Besides a large
| volume of original " Songs and Poems," he wrote
a2
Vi PREFACE.
1
the " History of the Siege of Londonderry;" also, ,
" Annals of Irish Popery;" "History of Ireland, 1688
—1690;" " Ireland Preserved;" and at the period of
his death was engaged in publishing " Disiderata Curioso
Derriana." His history of the Siege of Londonderry
passed through six editions in Ireland; three in the
United States (by Graham, of Philadelphia); and one
in Canada (by Brewer, McPhail, and Co. Toronto).
Most of hi^ songs are sung in the family circle of almost
every Yeoman and Orangeman in Ireland, and in the
Orange Lodges of the United Empire. And, if we were
indebted to him for his pathetic and beautiful " Derry
Walls' Array''' only, his memory should everlastingly be
had in honour.
Robert Young, Esq., the " Fermanagh True
Blue," is at present a resident of the " Untaken
City." His first work, the " Orange Minstrel," had a I
very extensive and influential circulation. His second,
the " Ulster Harmonist," has twice been published. I
regret that I was unable to obtain a copy of either
before going to press.
Charlotte Elizabeth, through her works, is well
and widely known. For her the " Apprenticed Boys"
of Derry, under James William Gregg, Esq., waved the
stringent rules of their club, (which deny membership
to any but true and veritable descendants of the de-
fenders of Derry,) and presented her with the freedom
of their city. A valuable exception truly ! It is a
remarkable fact, that, loving " Religion and Loyalty—
PREFACE. Vii
i
j God and the Queen" as sincerely as she did, her death
' should have occurred at a season truly dear to her, viz.
—the Sabbath Day, and the commemoration of that ,
great event which secured the succession of the throne \
of England on the illustrious House of Brunswick. She j
j fell asleep in Jesus on Sunday, July 12th, 1846, at
i Ramsgate, in Kent.
I
Colonel Blackee, who resides on the Bann side
near Portadown, Co. Armagh, composed the thrilling
Poem, entitled " Oliver's Advice," which was originally !
published in the Dublin University Magazine for
1835. The gallant Colonel is one of the oldest Orange-
men in Ireland, and was a member of the Trinity Col-
lege Lodge when a Scholar in T. C. D. At a subse-
quent period he was the principal in seizing a numerous
band of Ribbon Conspirators, sitting in conclave and
conspiring against the Government of the country.
They attempted to swallow their treasonable docu-
J ments, but he forced them from their throats, and
I succeeded in lodging them in a place where ample time
was given to them for the most deliberate reflection !
Ogle Robert Gowan, Esq.. the father of the Orange
System in British North America, at present resides in
Toronto. His father, Captain John Hunter Gowan,
| and his god-father, the Right Hon. George Ogle, M.P.
distinguished themselves during the Rebellion of 1798.
Mr. Gowan was for many years Secretary for the
Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, and it was under his
auspices the present Grand Lodge of British North
viii PREFACE.
America was first formed. Besides being known as
the " Father of the System" here, Mr. Gowan is also
admitted to be the father of the Press in Canada.
His song, the " Crimson Banner," almost every Orange-
man knows. His " Annals of Orangeism," it is hoped,
he will republish, as it is the best work on the subject
ever got up.
Mrs. Hemans, the wife of a British Officer; Sir
Walter Scott, Bart, the Scottish Novelist; and T.
B. Macaulay, Esq.. M.P., the English Historian, are
too well-known to be noted here. The Poem of the
latter, entitled " The Battle of the League," is a con-
vincing proof that in France, as in the United Empire,
in open, honest wrarfare, our Protestant forefathers have
been more than a match for their Popish enemies.
Wm. McComb, Belfast, is a respectable Bookseller.
His verses on the death of Charlotte Elizabeth are
worthy alike of the poet and his theme. He is known
to the philanthropist as the chief spirit in getting up the
beautiful building used as an institution for the deaf,
dumb, and blind, at Belfast. It is one of the most
attractive edifices of the northern commercial metropolis.
Of the minor writers with whom we have to do, we
have little to say. Some we honour,—others we may
never know. The names quoted are already " house-
hold words," of which any people might justly be proud.
Let, then, those whom we have overlooked, owing
to time, or place, or ignorance, sympathise with the
PREFACE. IX j
I
publisher, who claims no merit to himself, but that of |
endeavouring to discharge his duty. Of " doggerel" j
songs, bearing on our society, but few are given ; and
even those, only by reason of their antiquity and popu-
larity, and at the request of parties whose good wishes
are desired. And now in conclusion:
" Britannia's sons lift up your voice,
Let all your hurps with joy be stiung,
Let every hill and plain rejoice, ,
And praises now employ each tongue.
j
Religious freedom still shall reign,
I
Through every part of your domain,
For William gave to Biitish laws,
The fair impress of Freedom's cause !"
THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen !
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the Queen !
O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall!
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On her our hopes we fix,
God save us all!
Thy choicest gifts in store,
Deign on our Queen to pour,
Long may she reign !
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart-applause,
God save the Queen !
I 12 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
O Lord, her Consort bless,
Grant him in happiness
With her to reign !
In virtues great and strong,
May Albert's name be long
The theme of Britain's song,
God save the Queen !
Oh ! whilst the nation hails
Our true-born Prince of Wales,
May it be seen,
On Brunswick's royal line,
That still thy light divine
Its radiance sheds benign,
God save the Queen!
&he jFtountCns if las ot ffif&ms-
The flaunting flag of liberty,
Of Gallia's sons the boast,
Oh ! never may a Briton see
Upon the British coast.
The only flag that "Freedom" rears,
Her emblem on the seas,
Is the flag that's braved a thousand years,
The battle and the breeze !
To aid the trampled rights of man,
And break oppression's chain ;
The foremost in the battle's van,
It never floats in vain.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 13
The mariner, where'er he steers,
In every clime he sees
The flag that's braved a thousand years,
The battle and the breeze!
If all unite, as once we did,
To keep our flag unfurled ;
Old England still shall fearless bid
Defiance to the world:
But fast will Jlow the nation's tears,
Should lawless hands e'er seize,
The flag that's braved a thousand years,
The battle and the breeze!
The following verse, entitled '' Campbell's Address to the
United States," may be sung as a finale to the foregoing :
United States ! your banner wears
Two emblems: one of fame ;
Alas! the other that it bears
Reminds us of your shame I
The white man's liberty in types,
Stands blazoned by your stars;
But what's the meaning of the stripes?
They mean the Negroes' scars!
Ye mariners of England !
That guard our native seas,
Whose flag has braved a thousand years,
The battle and the breeze !
B
THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
Your glorious standard launch again
To match another foe !
And sweep through the deep,
While the stormy tempests blow ;
While the battle rages loud and long,
And the stormy tempests blow.
The spirits of your fathers
Shall start from every wave !
For the deck it was their field of fame,
And the ocean was their grave !
Where Blake and mighty Nelson fell,
Your manly hearts shall glow,
As ye sweep through the deep,
While the stormy tempests blow 5
While the battle rages loud and long,
And the stormy tempests blow.
Britannia needs no bulwarks,
No towers along the steep ;
Her march is o'er the mountain waves,
Her home is on the deep.
With thunders from her native oak,
She quells the floods below,
As they roar on the shore,
When the stormy tempests blow j
When the battle rages loud and long,
And the stormy tempests blow.
The meteor flag of England,
Shall yet terrific burn ;
Till danger's troubled night depart,
And the star of peace return.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 15
Then, then, ye ocean-warriors !
Our song and feast shall flow,
To the fame, of your name,
When the storm has ceased to blow;
When the fiery fight is heard no more,
And the storm has ceased to blow.
Campbell.
MixU MvltunvLtx.
When Britain first, at Heav'n's command,
Arose from out the azure main,
This was the charter of the land,
And guardian angels sung the strain :
Rule Britannia—Britannia rules the waves,
Britons never shall be slaves !
The nations not so blest as thee
Must in their turn to tyrants fall,
While thou shalt flourish great and free,
The dread and envy of them all.
Rule, &c.
Still more majestic shalt thou rise,
More dreadful from each foreign stroke,
As the loud blast that rends the skies,
Serves but to root thy native oak.
Rule, &c.
Thee, haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame ;
All their attempts to bend thee down
Shall but arouse thy generous flame,
But wrork their woe and thy renown.
Rule, &c.
16 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
To thee belong the rural reign;
Thy cities shall with commerce shine.
All thine shall be the subject main,
And every shore it circles, thine.
Rule, &c.
The Muses still, with freedom found,
Shall to thy happy coasts repair;
Blest isle, with matchless beauty crowned
And manly hearts to guard the fair.
Rule, &c.
Thomson.
STfte i&aple ILzui.
Oh ! beauty glows in the island rose,
The fair sweet English flower;
And memory wears in her emblem leaves,
Proud legends of fame and power;
But the fair forest land, where our free hearths stand,
Though her annals be rough and brief j
O'er her fresh wild woods, and her thousand floods,
Rears for emblem the " Maple Leaf."
CJwrus.
Then hurrah for the leaf, the Maple Leaf,
Up Canadians, heart and hand;
High in Heaven's free air, waves your emblem fair,
The pride of our forest land.
The thistle nods forth, from the .hills of the north,
O'er Scotia free and fair;
And hearts warm and true, and bonnets of blue,
And prowess and faith are there.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 17
Green Erin's dell loves the shamrock well,
As it springs in the March-sun's smile;
Love, valour, wit, ever blend in it—
Bright type of the Emerald Isle.
Chorus.
But hurrah, &c
Rev. John McCaul, LL.D.
i^avft, the $ttu*ra Bells,
(FOR THE FOURTH OV NOVEMBER.')
Hark ! the merry bells are going,
Brethren, hail the glorious day ;
With hand and heart, and glasses flowing,
Drink the glorious memory.
To you, this day, a King was given,
The chain of slavery he broke ;
Ordained by God, and sent from heaven
To free us from the tyrant's yoke.
Ye faithful sons, then bless the hour,
The happy hour that gave him birth,
Adore the great Almighty power,
And with thanksgiving fill the earth.
*
Rejoice ! rejoice by love excited,
The Orange flag triumphant wave,
j
And drink with hand and heart united,
William the great ! the good ! the brave ! j
b2
18
THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
" Fear not, my Peggy, stormy winds,
Nor dread the exulting foe,
'Tis honour calls, our King commands,
And Colin now must go.
He goes, but soon shall come again,
Enriched with spoils and fame j
Nay, dry these tears, my bonny lass,
To weep it were a shame.
Chorus.
The anchor's weigh'd,
The crew's on board,
Our c'onq'ring flag's unfurl'd ;
And England's glory
Still shall be
The wonder of the world.
" Our gracious Prince, with one accord,
We '11 join with heart and hand,
To nerve his arm, whose gentle sway
Protects this happy land.
With filial love, and duty joined,
His cause we will defend j
For Europe finds, and owns in him,
A Father and a Friend.
" Where'er from coast to coast we sail,
Our praises fly before,
And British valour is renowned
From Ind' to Afric'3 shore.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 19
We shun no toil—no danger dread—
No vain alarms we feel,
Nor prize our lives, but as they may-
Promote our country's weal.
« We 've rescued Spain—invaded France—
At Leipsic raised a flame,
Where babes unborn, as years advance,
Shall bless the British name.
Then here's to Stewart, in court or camp,
Or wheresoe'r he roam ;
For those who fight for us abroad,
Should be revered at home.
" From Holland, 'tis remembered yet,
Our great King William came ;
To Holland now we pay the debt,
We go with conq'ring Graeme.
Barossa's field his deeds report,
Sebastian owns his fame,
And Frenchmen, buried in Belgian forts,
Shall find him still the same.
*' Then, fear not, Peggy—from the mast
The signals wave in air,
The boatswain pipes all hands on deck,
And Colin is not there.
My bonny lass, I love thee well,
But love my honour more."
In haste he kissed her blushing cheek—
The boat forsook the shore ;
20 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
And Peggy wiped the pearly drops
From eyes as black as sloes;
" May Heaven protect my Colin's life,"
She cried, " where'er he goes ;
For Heaven can turn the balls aside
When danger hovers near,
And trusting in its guardian care,
I '11 banish every fear."
Cliorus.
" Yet gladly shall I see again,
The conq'ring flag unfurled,
And hail our glorious fleet returned,
The wonder of the world."
When in War on the ^ceatt.
When in war on the ocean we meet the proud foe,
Tho' with ardour for conquest our bosoms may glow,
Let us see on their vessels old England's flag wave,
They shall find British sailors but conquer to save.
And now their pale ensigns we view from afar,
With three cheers they are welcomed by each British tar,
Whilst the genius of Britain still bids us advance,
And our guns hurl, in thunder, defiance to France,
But mark our last broadside—she sinks, down she goes!
Quickly man all our boats, they no longer are foes ;
To snatch a brave fellow from a watery grave,
Is worthy a Briton, who conquers to save.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 21
SThe ©hesapeafcc an* Shannon.
At Boston one day, as the Chesapeake lay,
The Captain his crew thus began on:—
" See that ship out at sea ! she our prize soon shall be ;
'Tis the tight little frigate the Shannon.
Oh ! twill be a good joke,
To take Commodore Broke,
And add to our navy the Shannon."
Then he made a great bluster, calling all hands to muster,
And said, " Now, boys, stand firm to you cannon ;
Let us get under weigh, without further delay,
And capture the insolent Shannon.
We soon shall bear down on the Shannon.
The Chesapeake's prize is the Shannon,
Within two hours' space,
We '11 return to this place,
And bring into harbour the Shannon !
Now alongside they range, and broadsides they exchange;
But the Yankees soon flinch from their cannon,
When the captain and crew, without further ado,
Are attacked sword in hand from the Shannon,
By the tight little tars of the Shannon.
The brave commodore of the Shannon,
Fir'd a deadly salute,
Just to end the dispute,
And the Chesapeake struck to the Shannon.
22 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
Let America kn'ow the respect she should show,
To our national flag and our cannon ;
And let her take heed, that the Thames and the Tweed,
Give us tars just as brave as the Shannon.
Here's to Commodore Broke of the Shannon ;
May the olive of peace
Soon bid enmity cease,
From the Chesapeake shore to the Shannon.
When order in the land commenced,
With Alfred's sacred laws,
Then sea-girt Britons,, closely fenced,
Joined in one common cause ;
The glorious name, an Englshman,
Struck terror to the foe,
And conquering William fix'd a fame,
That shall for ages grow !
On Albion's cliffs let commerce smile,
And cheering plenty bring,
Then sweet content shall bless the isle,
And George its gracious King !
Our Henrys and our Edwards too,
Framed once a Constitution,
Which Orange William did renew
By glorious revolution.
Mild Anne, with sceptre gently swayed
Ensured her people's love ;
And when her kingdom's peace she made,
Was called to realms above!
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 23
Hence British freedom, rights and laws,
From whence her glories spring,
The prayer of grateful Britain draws,
On George its gracious King.
Great George and Charlotte's happy reign,
In union binds the land,
And scatters blessings o'er the main
With a benignant hand :
The regal stock its royal fruit
Like ivy round it clings,
From whence its spreading branches shoot,
A race of future Kings.
Chorus.
Thence English, Scotch, and Irishmen,
With heart and voice shall sing,
While Brunswick's line adorns the throne,
God save our gracious King!
—♦■ ■■
Wxz ©ofte of Erftarttt-
Away, my brave boys, haste away to the shore,
Our foes, the vile French, boast they 're straight coming
o'er,
To murder and plunder, and ravish and burn !
Let them come—we '11 take care they shall never return:
For around the white cliffs, hark ! the notes loudly ring,
Brave Britons are ready,
Steady, boys, steady,
To fight for old England, our laws, and our Queen.
24 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
They know that united, we, sons of the waves,
Would ne'er bow to Frenchmen, nor grovel like slaves :
So before they durst venture to touch on our strand,
They stroye with sedition to poison our land.
But around the, &c.
They swore we were slaves, were all lost and undone,
That a Jacobin nostrum, as sure as a gun,
Would make us all equal, and happy and free;
'Twas only to dance round their liberty tree.
No, no, round the cliffs, &c.
But their note is now changed, and they threaten to
pour
Their hosts on our land, to lay waste and devour;
To drench our fair fields and our cities in gore,
Nor cease to destroy till Old England's no more.
Let them come, if they dare—hark! &c.
My sweet rosy Nan is a true British wife,
And loves her dear Dick as she loves her own life ;
Yet she ties on my knapsack, and smiles while I go
To meet the proud French, and to lay their heads low.
And chaunts round the, &c.
And Ned, my brave boy, with a true English heart,
Has entirely forsaken his plough and his cart:
His farm he has quitted to dig in a trench,
And all for the sake of a cut at the French.
While he sings all day long, let the notes, &c.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 25
Away, then, my boys, haste away to the shore,
Our foes, the vile French, boast they 're straight coming
o'er,
To murder, and plunder, and ravish, and burn,
They may come—but by-------! they shall never return.
For around the, &c.
We w&unt no lUjmWfc.
Ye brave loyal heroes who honour the Queen,
See the thistle, the rose, and the shamrock so green,
Twined firmly together despite " the Repeal."
Base traitors may preach up sedition and strife,
And demagogues cry out for " war to the knife ;"
They may try to dissever the shamrock and rose,
But remember such men are Hibernia's worst foes :
We want no Republic, we '11 have no Repeal.
Fair liberty, England has built thee a throne,
The laws of our country through Europe are known :
We want no Republic, we '11 have no Repeal!
The volatile Frenchmen may banish their King,
And the Prussians concession from Frederick may wring,
But Britain was first in the work of reform,
And freely bestowed what the French took by storm :
We want no Republic, we'll have no Repeal!
Ever dear to our hearts, chiefest blessing of Heaven,
Is the freedom we have in the land that we live in :
We want no Republic, we '11 have no Repeal!
c
26 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
To gain us this freedom our ancestors bled,
And we swear'by the blood which our forefathers shed
To fight to the last in fair liberty's cause,
And guard our religion, our Queen, and our laws:
We want no Republic, we '11 want no Repeal!
Should France e'er attempt, or by fraud, or by guile,
Her forces to land on our Emerald Isle,
To form a Republic, and force the Repeal,
We'll show to the world that we'll never be slaves,
And the French shall possess our green fields for their
graves.
Should the torrent of war ever burst on our land,
For our Queen and the|Union till death firm we'll stand :
We want no Republic, we '11 have no Repeal!
To William, wise, the good and great,
Old Europe owes a mighty debt;
Queen Bess maintained the Reformation,
But Nassau settled its foundation.
From France's yoke and Rome's false creed,
The Hollanders by him were freed,
And Britain's isles by him were saved,
From bigots cruel and depraved.
To him the Pope's weak minion owes
A blessing which he little knows,
Or now forgets, from terror freed,
The privilege to change his creed:
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 27
A liberty by thousands taken,
Who fraud and error have forsaken.
O'er Thomond's fields, O'Bryan's race
Think Popery a foul disgrace.
O'Neil, once deemed the Pope's right hand,
In True Blue ranks holds high command,
O'Sheridans, in Cavan famed,
The Popish creed have long disclaimed,
Of bulls, and beads, and mass ashamed.
An hundred years ago, O'Donnell
Renounced the " beast" in old Tyrconnell;
McMahon's race in fruitful Clare,
Abhor Priestcraft and Latin prayer:
Fitzgibbon on fair Limerick's plain,
The Monks and Masshouses disdain ;
The Rourks in Mayo, once renowned,
Among high Protestants are found.
Clawickard's Marquis in Galvvay own
No fealty, but to England's throne ;
To William's sword, as all men know,
The " Habeas Corpus" act we owe.
Our thanks to him we may express,
For all the freedom of our press ;
The lawyer, too, who now delights
In William's boon, the Bill of Rights.
Free from the bailiff, dun, and setter,
The Sabbath-day he gave the debtor;
His deeds by Addison were sung,
And gallant Wellesley, too, when young,
His harp in William's praises strung.
28 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
Then let us cherish, wise and free,
King William's glorious memory,
And never may that man grow older,
WTho flings the bumper o'er his shoulder.
Ssivtz of Wfllfam's (Klorfous lUffltt-
Genius of Erin's Emerald Isle,
In all thy ancient glory rise !
And teach thy sons at death to smile,
While this proud strain ascends the skies :
" Sires of William's glorious reign,
" Triumph in your sons again."
Awake, true sons of Erin, wake,
Attend your King and country's call,
Beneath your bands shall treason shake,
Beneath your arms shall treason fall!
" Sires of William's glorious reign,
" In their sons shall fight again."
Hark ! down the Boyne's immortal flood,
Flows this sublime triumphant sound,
Where, like yon column, firm they stood,
Till victory's self their virtues crowned:
" Sires of William's glorious reign,
" Bid their sons their right maintain,"
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 29
Hark ! how from Aughrim's blood-stained field—
Stained with the blood that warms your heart—
The shades of those who ne'er could yield,
Thus prompt the patriot's awful part:
*' Sires of William's glorious reign,
" Trust their sons to guard this plain."
And, hark ! from Derry's sacred walls,
That spurned The tyrant at their feet,
A guardian voice conspiring calls,
And Derry's sons the strains repeat:
" Sires of William's glorious reign,
" Guard in us, these walls again."
Again shall Enni&killen pour
Her heroes, for their rights to die;
Before them, as in days of yore,
Shall traitors, tyrants, Frenchmen, fly:
" Sires of William's glorious reign,
" Fought not for their sons in vain."
The men of Erin catch the flame,
The spirit of the Isle 's abroad ;
They pant to share their fathers' fame,
Like them, in war or death unawed:
" Sires of William's glorious reign,
" Ne'er can call their sons in vain."
While toattqufsftefc Etfn.
While vanquished Erin weeps beside
The Boyne's triumphant river,
The guardian spirits of its tide
This lesson still shall give her :
c2
30 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
In vain you speed your vengeful darts,
Though poisoned gall is on them,
For God (who shields his faithful hearts,)
Shall grant us still to shun them.
Oh! long shall Erin weep in vain,
As time so oft has taught her,
Though careless she returns again,
And hovers on that water,
And sounds with rancour'd, poisoned breath
Her shafts of defamation;
Still fraught with vengeance, hate and death,
As emblems of her station.
Each year as vanquish'd, she shall mourn,
By that immortal river,
Its faithful guardians still return,
This bitter draught to give her :
Propitious shine, ye powers of good,
And crown this day for ever j
And may the Boyne's triumphant flood
Resign its glories never.
Then proudly flow till time is o'er,
And sacred be thy water ;
For freedom gilds thy favoured shore,
And dearly have we bought her;
And while her bright and glorious ray,
Shall beam on us for ever,
The hearts that she has linked this day,
No fate or time shall sever.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 31
SThe 0range &Ub-
And did you go to see the show, each rose and pink-a-
dilly, 0 !
To feast your eyes, and view the prize, won by the
Orange Lily, O!
Heigho, the lily, 0 !
The royal, loyal lily, 0 !
Beneath the sky
What flower can vie
With Erin's Orange Lily, O !
The Viceroy there, so debonaire, just like a dafladilly, O,
With Lady Clarke, blithe as a lark, approached the
Orange Lily, O, Heigho> &c>
Then starting back, he cried, good lack! some say he
looked quite silly, 0 !
" Oh! deed of woe! must I bestow, the prize upon the
lily o '"
•" ' Heigho, &c.
Sir Charley, too, looked very blue, while laughed Horse-
Master Billy, 0,
To think his Ex------a flower should vex; and that an
Orange lily, O! Heigho, &c.
A fairer flower, throughout the bower, he sought but
willy, nilly, 0,
With moistened eyes, he gave the prize to Erin's
Orange Lily, 0! Heigho, &c.
32 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
The lowland field may roses yield, gay heaths the high.
land hilly, 0 ;
But high or low, no flower can show, like Erin's Orange
My>01 Heigho,&c.
Let dandies fine in Bond-street shine, gay nymphs in
Piccadilly, O,
But fine or gay must yield the day to Erin's Orange
^' ' Heigho, &c.
The elated muse, to hear the news, jumped like a Con-
naught filly, 0,
As gossip Fame did loud proclaim, the triumph of the
^' ' Heigho, &c.
Then come, brave boys, and sharp her joys, and toast
the health of Willy, 0,
Who bravely won on Boyne's red shore, the royal
Orange Lily, 0!
Heigho, the lily, 0!
The Royal Orange Lily, 0 !
Fair Freedom's flower!
May each kind power,
Protect the Orange Lily, 0 !
^tr the 5ieatH ot tiie 3&eb. ©reorfle OTalfeer.
Thou art gone to the grave, but we will not deplore thee,
Though sorrow and darkness encompass the tomb ;
The Saviour has passed through the portals before thee,
And the lamp of his love is thy guide through the gloom.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 33
Thou art gone to the grave—we no longer behold thee,
Nor tread the rough path of the world by thy side,
But the wide arms of mercy are spread to enfold thee,
And sinners may hope, since the sinless has died.
Thou art gone to the grave—and its mansions forsaking,
Perchance thy tired spirit in doubt lingered long ;
But the sunshine of heaven beamed bright on thy
waking,
And the song which thou heardst was the seraphim's
song.
Thou art gone to the grave, 'twere wrong to deplore thee,
When God was thy ransom, thy guardian, and guide;
He gave thee, and took thee, and soon will restore thee,
Where death hath no sting, since the Saviour has died.
Bishop Heber.
asttttfsttuiett.
Hail! Enniskillen, we explore—
But not without emotion—
The places which thy sires of yore,
Defended with devotion;
The ground on which they fought and bled,
Till the result was glorious;
On which—as if divinely led—
Through fear, they proved victorious.
But lo! the despot's hosts that came,
By hope illusive flattered,
In quest of honour, finding shame,
Were in a moment scattered.
34 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
Keep thy progenitors in sight,
By their example learning
How valour's daring may unite
With wisdom's sage discerning.
They knew their Maker's cause was sure,
On which their own depended ;
Their rights were therefore most secure]
When His were most defended.
Persuaded that the cause was God's
In which they were engaging,
They fearless met apparent odds,
With hell and havoc raging.
Heaven sent success; their banners bright,
Appeared as angel pinions ;
But damp and darkness, fear and fright,
Came o'er the tyrant's minions.
Preserve these banners, for they teach,
To every tongue and nation,
An element beyond the reach
Of bigots' penetration.
Then let thy sons in solemn state,
With these unfolded o'er them—
At seasons fit commemorate
The brave who went before them.
Then, Enniskillen, persevere,
Thy principles extending;
Night's course is waning, day is near,
And Erin's sun ascending.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 35
There was a time, when 'twas no crime,
To give the grateful thought its way ;—
When none need shrink, who wish to drink
To the deeds of many a glorious day.
But Popish power in evil hour,
Has o'er us flung his galling chain ;
Yet bide a wee, and you shall see,
How the Diamond will be trumps again.
The night is dark, no friendly spark
Is glimmering through its cheerless gloom,
Nor moon nor star beams forth from far,
The path of danger to illume;
Yet still the ray of kindling day
Once more will brighten hill and plain;
So bide a wee, and you shall see
How the Diamond will be trumps again.
Behold, before the billows roar,
Yon shattered bark is borne away :
The furious gale has rent each sail,
The yawning surges claim their prey :
Yet there's a power in that dread hour,
Will still the tempest, calm the main ;
Then bide a wee, and you shall see
How the Diamond will be trumps again.
Thick flew the balls round " Deny walls,"
Beleaguered by the ruthless foe ;
And famine pale bid stout hearts quail,
And death in every form of woe ;
36
THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
Yet still she clung to hope, and flung
Defiance forth—nor hoped in vain ;
Then bide a wee, and you shall see
How the Diamond will be trumps again.
But, away with care and dark despair,
Each thought of grief and suffering sore,
We'll put to flight this festive night,
That celebrates the days of yore ;
The glorious day is on its way—
The brightest in Victoria's reign—
The day of glee to the bold and free,
When the Diamond will be trumps again
&tttf*!Upetil Song.
Ye sons of loyalty, arise,
And fearlessly unite;
Delay not—see your enemies
Collecting all their might;
See how the wily traitors all,
With unremitting zeal,
Strive to advance, both great and small,
Rebellion or Repeal.
Then, Protestants arise, defend
The Union strenuously,
Remember that thereon depend
Your lives and liberty ;
Acting to Britain, lest you may
Too soon be taught to feel
The iron rod of Popish sway,
Should they obtain Repeal.
ORAXGE SONGS AND POEMS. 37
Let Parliament no more neglect
This treason to subdue;
Nor will mere threatening have effect—
They must be up and do:
Let them arrest the traitors, and
With firm and loyal zeal,
Have this proclaimed throughout the land—
" There shall be no Repeal."
Many were to the scaffold led
For treason, not so great
As that which they now, void of dread,
Spread 'gainst the Church and State.
Shall rebels with impunity
Oppose the empire's weal 1
Shall they from punishment be free
Who agitate Repeal ?
And let the end rebellion be—
Their threatenings we disdain ;
The Legislative Union we
Shall with our lives maintain.
Ye valiant loyal Northern men,
Shall die the bond to seal;
The well-shot guns of Ulster then
Shall thunder "No Repeal."
Then Protestants your country calls,
That you as brethren join j
Remember Derry's maiden walls,
And Aughrim and the Boyne.
And let your foes remember, too,
Tho' it their blood congeal,
We now as then will subdue them :
They '11 never get Repeal.
D
38 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
SI fierce to Bfc.
Where Bramhall ruled, where Great George
Walker taught,
Where King presided, and where Murray fought;
On classic ground, in station low or high—
There would I wish to live, and like to die:
There would I rest among the good and brave,
And find at last near Derry's Walls—a grave.
Graham.
—*—
White Britain's Sans tfictv jFmftow boast.
While Britain's sons their freedom boast—■
Their King, their laws, their nation—
The yeomanry now form an host
For mutual preservation.
For with disgust at blood-stained France,
Each Briton seeks a leader,
The ploughshare shines a polished lance,
T' repel the bold invader.
Chvriis.
Then rear the standard, grasp the lance,
Let's hail the great occasion—
Let's wield the scourge to punish France,
When she attempts invasion.
Ah ! who so false to nature's laws,
Would rend the strong connection,
Between the parent and her cause,
When she demands protection 1
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS.
Ierne's sons the summons hear,
Inspired with worth inherent,
And, dauntless, one and all they swear,
To die or save their parent.
Say, can the discontented few,
Whose only aim is plunder,
The cause of social love subdue,
Or rend her ties asunder ?
May they as noxious weeds appear,
Who choke the glebe that grows them—
Who serpent-hke are fostered here,
Yet sting their parent bosom.
On fair Britannia's faithful breast,
See Royal George reposing,
While murdered Louis sinks to I'est,
French cruelty exposing.
Go! drink the tears that monarchs weep
Ye regicides ! whose lust 'tis,
In guiltless breasts your poinards deep
T' implant, then call it justice !
Oh ! may each loyal British soul,
Find freedom and protection ;
By guarding one we guard the whole,
Against this French infection.
Our coasts well lined with walls of wood,
Our hearts with resolution,
In George's cause we'll shed our blood
To King and Constitution.
40 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
Buvial ot Siv John Woove-
Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note,
As his corse to the ramparts we hurried ;
Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot,
O'er the grave where our hero we buried.
We buried him darkly at dead of night,
The sods with our bayonets turning,
By the struggling moonbeams' misty light,
And our lanterns dimly burning.
No useless coffin enclosed his breast,
Nor in sheet nor in shroud we wound him,
But he lay like a warrior taking his rest,
With his martial cloak around him.
Few and short were the prayers we said,
And we spoke not a word of sorrow,
But we steadfastly gazed on the face of the dead,
And we bitterly thought on the morrow.
We thought as we hollowed his narrow bed,
And smoothed down his lonely pillow,
That the foe and the stranger would tread o'er his
And we far away on the billow. [head,
Lightly they 'II taik of the spirit that's gone,
And o'er his cold ashes upbraid him ;
But nothing he'll reck if they let him sleep on,
In the grave where a Briton has laid him.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 41
But half of our heavy task was done,
When the clock told the hour for retiring;
And we heard by the distant and random gun,
That the foe was suddenly firing.
Slowly and sadly we laid him down,
From the field of his fame fresh and gory !
We carved not a line, we raised not a stone.
But we left him alone in his glory.
Rev. C. Wolfe.
You Williamites so true, of the Orange and the Blue,
That dwell in this country all round, round, round,
O ! may they increase, and multiply in ev'ry place,
And join to keep Rebellion down, down, down.
And join to keep Rebellion down.
On the 23rd of May was to have been the fatal day,
To assassinate all friends of the crown, crown, crown,
But our kingly yeomen brave our couutry then did save,
By keeping the Rebellion down, down, down.
By keeping the Rebellion down.
Oh ! well may you remember, on the 4th of last
November,
The birthday of William, high in renown, nown, nown,
What a glorious sight was seen, that day in College.
green,
Of them that kept Rebellion down, down, down.
Of them that kept Rebellion down.
d 2
42 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
The Crops were so dismayed when our Orange was
displayed,
At our victory they were seen to frown, frown, frown,
They also stopped their ears, being much annoyed by
cheers,
And the band playing, " Croppies lie down," down,
down.
And the band playing " Croppies lie down."
So fill high your glares to him who made the Crops to
swing,
In villages, in cities, and in town, town, town ;
Lord Camden is his name, may he shortly come again,
To keep the d—d Rebellion down, clown, down.
To keep the d—d Rebellion down.
Graham,
JftatUenjfe's petition to 3$crgw-
To Payne in a dungeon, as he sat on his throne,
Some traitors in Canada prepared a petition ;
That he for his friends would Republican own,
And prefer them his favourite sons of sedition.
For this was their aim
Wherever they came,
To set all in confusion—the world in a flame,
And they begged he'd instruct them how best to
convey
Peace, freedom, and comfort from Canada away.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 43
My sons, says Tom Payne, you are welcome and well,
'Tis a jubilee here when the world's in trouble ;
Each demon rejoices when subjects rebel,
But when a kingdom's o'erturned our triumph is double,
Our dungeon doth ring,
Cui Malo we '11 sing ;
My sons, dip your hand in the blood of your King,
Join the " Central Committee," and quickly convey
Peace, freedom, and comfort from Canada away.
Great Sir, they replied, we approve of your plan,
Each virtue we'll banish, each truth we '11 disown;
With the " States"' in their fury we '11 join heart and
hand,
Hurl Colborne from York, and William dethrone.
Their backs we shall ply
In a transport of joy,
While " The Guardian" collects friends to help us
draw nigh,
With York 's '•' Central Committee" we '11 quickly
convey
Peace, freedom, and comfort from Canada away.
But Great Britain arose, with old Ireland to stand,
And said to repulse them, Canadians will join ;
Whilst William defends fair Albion 's dear land,
The conquest in Canada, Sir John, shall be thine r
Then let them draw near,
It soon shall appear
That Britons are ever still strangers to fear ;
We '11 soon trim those Radicals who strive to convey
Peace, freedom, and comfort from Canada away.
Ogle R. Gowan.
44 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTKEL.
&he ©fttovji ot tin &oyue-
When William rais 'd his flag on highr
Th' embattled host sent forth a cry,
That rather than they'd basely die,
They 'd fight for victory.
With this intent, they marched on,
Unto the reedy banks of Boyne,
Where James awaits his valiant son,
But lost the victory-
King James took post on high Donore,
And heard the distant cannons roar,
Which thundered through the fields of war,
And crown'd the victory.
But William led his forces on,—
Was ever present in the van,
Strictly exhorting every man
To push for victory.
A cannon ball grazed William *s arm,
Which caused among his men alarm,
But did his Majesty no harm,
Nor stayed the victory.
Full fifteen hundred men were lost,
The fiow'r of all the Irish host;
Five hundred British were the cost
Of this famed victory.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 45
Duke Schomberg's death o'er-balanced all,
Who met his fate by a musket ball—
King William mourn'd this hero's fall,
Who died midst victory.
Let Ryerson lead on his men,
McKenzie and the Yankees—then,
Canadians true,—we '11 fight again
For Boyne and victory.
Ogle R. Gowan.
Wxz Ithtg, Crofc bUsz l&tm.
A goblet of Burgundy, fill, fill for me,
Give those who prefer it Champagne ;
But whatever the wine, it a bumper shall be,
If I ne'er drink a bumper again !
Now, now, when the cares of the day are thrown by,
And all man's best feelings possess him,
And th£ soul lights her beacon of truth in the eye,
Here 's a health to the King ! God bless him !
The wealthy of Rome at their banquets of old,
When to those whom they honoured they quaff'd,
Threw pearls of great price in their goblets of gold,
More costly to render their draught.
I boasi not of gems, but my heart's in my glass,
Of its love nought can e'er dispossess him ;—
Upstanding—uncovered—round, round let it pass—
Here's a health to the King ! God bless him !
Chorus.
Hurrah ! hurrah ! hurrah !
Upstanding—uncovered—round, round let it pass—
Here's a health to the Kins ! God bless him !
46 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
STJur Contrast.
Written under Windsor Terrace, Feerc vry 17th 1S20.
I saw him last on this terrace proud,
Walking in health and gladness,
Begirt with his court, and in all the crowd
Not a single look of sadness.
Bright was the sun, and the leaves were green,
-Blithely the birds were singing;
The cymbals replied to the tambourine,
And the bells were merrily ringing.
I have stood by the crowd beside his bier,
When not a word was spoken ;
But every eye was dim with a tear,
And the silence by sobs was broken.
I have heard the earth on his coffin pour,
To the muiil'd drum's deep rolling;
Whilst the minute gun, with its solemn roar,
Drowned the death bell's tolling.
From the time when he walked in his glory thus,
To the grave till I saw him carried,
Was an age of the mightiest change to us,
But to him a night unvaried.
We have fought the fight; from his lofty throne
The foe of our land we have tumbled ;
And it gladdened each eye save his alone,
For whom that foe we humbled.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 47
A daughter beloved—a Queen—a son,
And a son's sole child have perished ;
And ;*ad was each heart save the only one,
By whom they were fondest cherished.
For iiis eyes were sealed, and his mind was dark,
And he sat in his age's lateness,
Like a vision throned as a solemn mark,
Of the frailty of human greatness.
His silver head o'er his bosom spread,
Unmoved by life's commotion ;
Like a yearly lengthening snowdrift shed,
O'er the calm of the frozen ocean.
Still o'er him oblivion's waters lay,
Though the stream of time was flowing :
When they spoke of our King, 'twas but to say—
" That the old man's strength was going."
At intervals thus the waves disgorge,
By weakness rent asunder ;
A piece of the wreck of the Royal George,
For the people's pity and wonder.
He is gone at length, he is laid in the dust,
Death's hand his slumbers breaking;
For the coffin'd sleep of the good and just
Is sure of a blissful waking.
His people's heart is his funeral urn ;
And should sculptured stone be denied him,
There will his name be found, wThen in turn
We lay our heads beside him.
48 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
ON THE DEATH OF HIS KOYAL HIGHNESS
iFnr&nlcfc TBukc of &ovK ittrt fitting.
Strike ! strike, the proud banners, that flaunted in glory,
Let them droop where they triumph'd o'er mountain
and wave;
While the death bell and muffle drum tell the sad story,
Of a chieftian gone down to the sleep of the grave.
If the splendors of ancestry, honours and power,
Could avert for a period mortality's doom,
Oh! distant indeed would have been the dark hour
That opened before him the steps to the tomb.
Ye spirits of Brunswick, the fearless, the glorious,
Whose deeds left a long track of glory behind;
Who rode through the storm of the battle victorious,
And your fame with the freedom of England entwined.
Receive him, whose heart was as brave as his sire's,
Who never the plume of his ancestry stained,
When the storm of fierce war flashed around him its
fires,
And the foeman the furies of battle unchained.
Receive him, whose spirit was gentle and mild,
When the war-cloud rolled far from the carnage-spread
plain,
To whom the poor orphan has looked up and smiled,
And the tears of the widow not pleaded in vain.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 49
Though stern when believing his country in danger,
Once the strife of the field or the senate was o'er,
His bosom to every dark feeling a stranger,
Remembered the foe he encountered no more.
Though his fame for a season by error was clouded,
Yet long years of virtue his memory shall save
From malice which, while its cold victim lay shrouded,
Crawled forth as a vampire to fret on his grave.
Yet, whenever the flag of his country unfurled,
The sign of the free floating grandly along;
Unfolding the red cross in light through the world,
That never can stoop to oppression and wrong :
There, there shall the proofs of his labour be shewn,
Who when the high fame of the land was o'ercast,
Somarshall'd thy chivalry, England! that none
Was left to contend with thy glory at last.
*****
Raise, raise the proud banners again in their glory,
Again let them float o'er the mountain and wave ;
For his name shall live on in his country's bright story,
While its people are free and its soldiers are brave.
(Stair Mm ft rate <£ttmfortetrtr.
God bless brave Cumberland !
Who made so great a stand
In William's cause,
When Welllington and Peel
Impiously did repeal
Our penal laws;
E
50 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
And from our regal crown,
Tore all her bulwarks down,
And prostrate to the ground
Trampled our laws.
When James usurped the throne,
Britain in chains did groan,
And slavery;
But the ALL-seeing eye
Saw from his throne on high
Our destiny;
And soon to our happy shore
William triumphant bore,
Who did our Church restore
From Popery.
Then for old Erin's Isle,
That fugitive exile,
James, sculking made;
And before Derry's wall,
Our renowned citadel,
There he displayed
A host of combined supplies,
Blackguards and French allies ;
But the Apprentice Boys
Stood undismayed.
Then came the trying hour,
When Rome's despotic power
Deluged the land ;
And our grandsires combined,
By a pass-word and sign,
To establish a plan,
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 51
That Protestants knew to try,
Friends from the enemy,
And in their last agony,
Breathed out " I am."
Let us now with equal zeal
Maintain our nation's weal,
And firmly stand;
And our most precious lives
Offer a sacrifice,
While Cumberland
Has raised William 's banner high,
And on to victor}'
Shall lead us triumphantly,
At his command!
Shannon.
—♦—
ittttg (ffinivae the arftfrfc*
Raise we his monument! what giant pile
Shall honour him to far posterity 1
His monument shall be his ocean-isle;
The voice of his redeeming thunders be
His epitaph upon the silver sea.
And million spirits from whose neck he bore
The fetter, and made soul and body free;
And unborn millions, from earth's farthest shore,
Shall bless the Christian King till the last sun is o'er.
Rev. George Croly.
52 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
mtt
When the war-trumpet sounded, and hostile alarms
Called Europe to battle, and Britain to arms,
'Tis sweet to remember how firmly she stood,
An island unstained 'mid an ocean of blood.
'Tis over, and Britain's illustrious name
Is written in gold in the temple of fame ;
Whilst her trumpet's shrill note causes Europe to ring
With praise for her sons, and with prayers for her King.
But dark was the hour when she stood to oppose
All Europe in arms, and all Europe as foes;
But she burned with a flame by a patriot lit
From the glory which shone from her guardian Pitt.
Full long had Britannia her war-spear to wield,
To strike with her arm, and to guard with her shield;
She triumph'd ! and oh ! may her sons never quit
The virtues, the firmness, the councils of Pitt.
The red cross of Britain has shone o'er the wave,
Has streamed in the field, and has lowered o'er the
grave;
Has roused up the Briton, but daunted the Gaul,
To the one " Glory's Robe"—to the other his Pall.
Till time has expired shall Pitt's glorious name
Be joined to his hero's—to Wellington's fame ;
Nay, written by glory, they never shall die,
By the beams of the sun on the arch of the sky.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 53
May our commerce, our fame, and our glory increase,
Made rich by a blessing—the blessing of peace ;
For 'twas purchased, as gratitude's tongue must admit,
By our Wellington's sword, through the councils of Pitt!
Wtt uttt prison.
(from the introduction to canto the first of marmion, by bcott.)
To*mute and to material things
New life revolving summer brings ;
The genial call dead nature hears,
And in her glory re-appears.
But oh ! my country's wintry state
What second spring shall renovate 1
What powerful call shall bid arise
The buried warlike and the wise ;
The mind that thought for Britain's weal,
The hand that grasped the victor's steel ?
The vernal sun new light bestows
Even on the meanest flower that blows ;
But vainly, vainly may he shine,
Where glory weeps o'er Nelson's shrine ;
And vainly pierce the solemn gloom,
That shrouds, O Pitt, thy hallowed tomb !
*****
Deep graved in every British heart,
O, never let those names depart!
Say to your sons,—Lo, here his grave,
Who victor died on Gadite wave j
e2
54 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
To him, as to the burning levin,
Short, bright, resistless course was given.
Where'er his country's foes were found,
Was heard the fated thunder's sound;
Till burst the bolt on yonder shore,
Rolled, blazed, destroyed,—and was no more.
*****
Nor mourn ye less his perished worth,
Who bade the conqueror go forth,
And launch'd that thunderbolt of war
On Egyyt, Haffina, Trafalgar:
Who, born to guide such high emprize,
For Britain's weal was early wise ;
Alas ! to whom the Almighty gave,
For Britain's sins an early grave.
*****
Had'st thou but liv'd, though stripp'd of power,
A watchman on the lonely tower,
Thy thrilling trump had roused the land,
When fraud or danger were at hand;
By thee, as by the beacon light,
Our pilots had kept course aright;
As some proud column, though alone,
Thy strength had propp'd the tottering throne.
Now is the stately column broke,
The beacon-light is quench'd in smoke,
The trumpet's silver sound is still,
The warder silent on the hill!
*****
Then while on Britain's thousand plains,
One unpolluted Church remains,
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 55
Whose peaceful bells ne'er sent around
The bloody tocsin's maddening sound,
But still upon the hallowed day,
Convoke the swains to praise and pray;
While faith and civil peace are dear,
Grace this cold marble with a tear,—
He who preserved them, PIT, lies here !
Ette <£iutvclt at our iFattovs.
Half screen'd by its trees in the Sabbath's calm smile,
The Church of our Fathers, how meekly it stands !
0 villagers, gaze on the old hallowed pile—
It was dear to their hearts, it was raised by their
hands.
Who loves not the ground where they worshipp'd their
God?
Who loves not the ground where their ashes repose ?
Dear even the daisy that blooms on the sod,
For dear is the dust out of which it arose !
Then say, shall the temple our forefathers built,
Which the storms of long ages have battered in vain,
Be abandoned by us from supineness or guilt,
O say, shall it fall by the rash and profane ?
Go, perish the impious hand that would take
One shred from its altar, one stone from its towers !
The pure blood of martyrs have flowed for its
sake
And its fall—if it fall—shall be reddened with ours!
56 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
When Trafalgar's tremendous fight was won,
And Freedom sacrificed her favourite son ;
Britannia, throned upon the heaving sea,
Stained with her tears the pomp of victory ;
And gladly would have flung a way the fame
Her hero gained, his spirit to reclaim !
As oft in life so in his last bequest,
The Patriot and the Papist stand confess'd ;
The worthless trunk reclaims its native home,
The heart is—where it ever was—at Rome.
An orange had a peel of yore,
So bright, so smooth, so fine of pore ;
So glossy, and so wondrous firm,
That England scarce could find a term
Of penegyric strong enough
Its essence and its fame to puff.
So much admired, it needs must go,
From hand to hand, from high to low ;
Till even by Majesty 'twas graced,
And in a Cabinet was placed.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 57
But, ah ! the hot polluted air,
Of foul corruption which was there;
And all its pent up rotten store,
Withered the Orange to its core;
Till now the once bright Peel is seen
By mildew turned to foulest green!
Hail sacred walls ! while circling years shall flow,
Or genial suns illume this vale below ;
While sparkling stars diffuse their distant light,
And cheer with fainter beams the sable night—
While yon blue arch with sun or stars shall shine,
Be thine the triumph as the woe was thine ;
May all thy citizens supremely blest,
Unite the hero's with the patriot's breast,
And like their sires unrivalled in renown,
Maintain our liberties, our church, and crown.
Leonidas.
Paris, August 24th, 1572.
St. Bartholomew's day ! we have noted the time,
So fearfully dark in the annals of crime,
When France saw her thousands who worshipp'd the
Lord,
Fall, hewn to the ground by Rome's treacherous sword:
58 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
When her bloodhounds raged fierce to unpeople the land,
When' a King on his flock turned his butchering hand ;
And the old and the young, and the timid and brave
Undistinguished were cast in one common grave.
Thou smilest proud harlot! perchance at the thought
Which Bartholomew's day to our memory hath brought;
And high on the throne of thy purple and pride,
The woes of our martyrs canst calmly deride.
But deep on thine head lies the guilt of that day;
The shrieks of the dying have not passed away,
The cry of their blood hath ascended to heaven,
And a day for dread vengeance will surely be given.
Thine eye glares with hatred, thy proud lip is curled
With a smile of contempt which defies the whole
world,
But mark it, thou drunken with holiest blood !
The day of thy plagues will come in as a flood ;
The year of the Lord's purchased people draws nigh,
And the light of his coming will flash on thine eye.
We look on the blood which thy right hand hath spilt;
We joy for our martyrs—we mourn for thy guilt;
Though thy brow is as brass, and thy heart is as steel,
Though thou laugh'st at our words, for thy woes we
can feel.
The smoke of thy flames to the sky will ascend,
The shrieks of thy tortures the deep hell will rend ;
While loud hallelujahs triumphant proclaim,
God hath punished thy guilt, and avenged his great name !
M. A. Stodart.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 59
London, November 5th, 1603.
Ye smile ! I catch those shouts of joy,
I hail the bonfire's blaze ;
And even love the ungainly toy*
That tells of other days :
I cannot look with eye of scorn,
As the rude image round is borne j
I muse awhile on love and power,
Which saved our land in darken 'd hour.
Yes, dark and deadly all was done—
The plotted train was laid f
And England by to-morrow's sun
Had seen a sight of dread ;
But He who pierces deepest night
Darted abroad a ray of light;
No glory, Lord! for man we claim—
All glory be to thy great name.
Years passed away—a kingly hand
Was stretched in league with Rome j
Oppression stalked throughout the land,
Invading hearth and home :
Silent and still her chain she wound
Round England's church and English ground;
Men started, trembling, from repose,
And the deep prayer to heaven arose.
* The Effigy of Guy Fawks.
60 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
The prayer was heard—a foreign fleet
On Britain's coast was moor 'd !
But who was there the Prince to greet *
As Britain's future Lord 1
With silent lip, with speaking eye,
And thoughtful brow, he looked on high j
His God was near, his cause to own,
And sent him to a bloodless throne.
Twice perill'd, and twice rescued, Lord
To thee we lift our prayer;
The things which from our sires we've heard
Thy truth and power declare.
A spirit works—dark, restless, proud ;
Rome's thunders roll—dread, deep, not loud j
The might displayed of old, we crave,
Our state, our church, to shield and save.
And smile not, friends, if with glad eye,
I see the village throng,
And watch the bonfire blazing high,
And list the good old song ;
I call to mind what God's right hand
Hath done for this our guilty land ;
And joy to think that he is near,
Danger to mark, and prayer to hear.
M. A. Stodart.
* When the Prince of Orange, afterwards King William III. landed in
England, he was for several days not joined by any one, the county of Devon
having been terrified by the executions which followed after Monmouth's
Rebellion.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 61
The stately homes of England !
How beautiful they stand
Amidst their tall ancestral trees,
O'er all the pleasant land.
The deer across the greensward bound,
Through shade and sunny gleam,
The swan glides past them with the sound
Of some rejoicing stream.
The merry homes of England !
Around their hearths by night,
"What gladsome looks of household love
Meet in the ruddy light!
There woman's voice flows forth in song,
Or childhood's tale is told,
Or lips move tunefully along
Some glorious page of old.
The blessed homes of England!
How softly on their bowers
Is laid the holy quietness
That breathes from Sabbath-hours !
Solemn, yet sweet, the church bell's chime
Floats through their woods at morn j
All other sounds, in that still time,
Of breeze and leaf are born.
The cottage homes of England !
By thousands on her plains,
They are smiling o'er her silvery brooks
And round the hamlet fanes.
F
62 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINbTREL.
Through glowing orchards forth they peep,
Each from its nook of leaves,
And fearless there they lowly bleep,
As the bird beneath the eaves
The free, fair homes of England !
Long, long in hut and hall,
May sons of valour there be reared
To guaid each hallowed wall '
And green for ever be the gtoves,
And bright the flowery sod,
Where first the child's glad spirit loves
Its country and its God ' ,«■ rj
J Mrs. Hemaiis.
OTallier's ftestfttumCal.
Here individual prowess peerless shone,
And courage in these modern days unkno \n;
By Giecian heioes only match'd of yore,
When Sparta's sons defied the Persian power,
And famed Leonida^, with his smill band,
Against three millions made a gallant stand.
Murray and Noble, ever at their post,
Were still victorious—in themselves a host,
And man) a hero gain'd a deathless name,
Whose deeds are blazoned in tne scroll of fame,
Vain was the steel-clad Gallic soldier's hope,
In combat with the Appre:ntice Boys to tope.
As Gaza's mightiest fell before the hand
Ol Sampson,—so the Gauls before our band.
God was to them a sword and buckler bright,
And they went forth and conquer'd in His might.
Ramsay.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS.
63
Wxz 3S attle til x\\z Scacgue.
The King is come to marshal us,
All in his armour dresr,
And he has bound a snow-white plume
Upon his gallant crest.
He look'd upon his people,
A tear was in his eye ;
He look'd upon the traitors,
And his glance was stern and high.
Right graciously he smiled on us,
As roll'd from wing to wing,
Down all our line, a deafening shout,
" God save our Lord the King!"
ie And if my standard-bearer fall,
As fall full well he may,
For never saw I promise yet
Of such a bloody fray,
Press where ye see my bright plume shine
Amidst the ranks of war,
And be your Oriflamme to day
The helmet of Navarre.
Hurrah ! the foes are coming:
Hark to the mingled din
Of fife, and steed, and trump, and drum,
And roaring culverin !
The fiery Duke is pricking fast
Across St. Andre's plain,
With all the hireling chivalry
Of Guelders and Almayne.
64
THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
Now by the lips of those we love,
Fair gentlemen of France,
Charge for the Grange lilies,
Upon them with the lance !
A thousand spears are striking deep,
A thousand spears in rest,
A thousand knights are pressing close
Behind the snow-white crest ;
And in they burst, and on they rush'd,
While, like a guiding star,
Amidst the thickest carnage blazed
The helmet of Navarre.
Now, God be praised, the day is ours!
Mayenne hath turned his rein,
D'Aumale hath cried for quarter,
The Flemish Count is slain.
Their ranks are breaking, like thin clouds
Before a Biscay gale ;
The field is heap'd with bleeding steeds,
And flags, and cloven mail.
And then we; thought on vengeance,
And all along our van,
" Remember St. Bartholomew's!"
Was passed from man to man:
But out spake gentle Henry,
" No Frenchman is my foe ;
Down, down with every foreigner !
But let your brethren go."
Oh! was there ever such a knight,
In friendship or in war,
As our Sovereign Lord King Henry,
The soldier of Navarre.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 65
Ho ! maidens of Vienna ;
Ho! matrons of Lucerne,
Weep, weep, and rend your hair for those
Who never shall return.
Ho ! Philip, send for charity
Thy Mexican pistoles,
That Antwerp monks may sing a mass
For thy poor spearmens' souls.
Ho ! gallant nobles of the League,
Look that your arms be bright,
Ho ! burghers of St. Genevieve,
Keep watch and ward to-night;
For our God hath crushed the tyrant,
Our God hath raised the slave,
And mock'd the counsel of the wise,
And the valor of the brave.
Then glory to His holy name,
From whom all glories are;
And glory to our Sovereign Lord
King Henry of Navarre !
Macaulat.
To celebrate thy praise, 0 Lord,
I will my heart prepare ;
To all the listening world thy works,
Thy wondrous works, declare.
* This " Song of Deliverance," being a portion of the 9th Psalm,
frequently sung at the anniversary commemoration of the Belief of
Derry.
v2
THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
Thou mad'st our haughty foes to turn
Their backs in shameful flight;
Struck with thy presence, down they fell,
They perish'd at thy sight.
Against insulting foes advanced,
Thou didst our cause maintain;
Our right, ascending from thy throne,
Where truth and justice reign.
Mistaken foes ! your haughty threats
Are to a period come;
Our city stands, which you design'd
To make our common tomb.
Sing praises, therefore, to the Lord,
From Sion, his abode ;
Proclaim his deeds, till all the world
Confess no other God.
Pray that Jerusalem may have
Peace and felicity;
Let them that love thee and thy peace
Have still prosperity.
Therefore I wish that peace may still
Within thy walls remain ;
And ever may thy palaces
Prosperity retain.
Now, for my friends and brethren's sake,
Peace be in thee, I'll say;
And for the house of God our Lord,
I '11 seek thy good alvvay.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 67
jFor tin jFxwertil of a Brother.
The death-shade dims the brightest eye,
And o'ercasts youth with gloom ;
And full of thoughts that cannot die,
The thoughtless leave the tomb ;
For, from the silent house they hear
A voice that thrills them through—•
" In doubt, in danger, persevere !
Be this the hour to do!"
That bosom, coffined, 'neath the sod,
Lives yet, in hearts that love,
In works of faith, in smiles of God,
With brother saints above !
He lives, and shall awake from sleep
When dawns eternal day ;
He lives, ye mourners cease to weep,
God wipes your tears away.
<©u the KnttfatCott of u Brother.
Welcome ! brother ! to our band !
Welcome ! brother ! heart and hand !
True, together we will stand
Or together fall!
By brave Schomberg's martyr-fame !
By great William's glorious name !
We are brethren still the same !
Brethren one and all!
68 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
Our good old English principles, I 've heard my father
say,
Have shap'd the country's destinies in many a stormy
day.
And thus it was, he answered, when I asked what they
were :—
" Go look into your Bible, boy, you'll find them written
there."
Now, let a man sit calmly down, his Bible on his knee,
And tell me what a country's creed, a country's code,
should be ;
What this should teach, or that forbid—and here I
pledge my troth,
Our good old English principles shall comprehend them
both.
First—England's Queen is bound to swear she will
maintain the cause
Of God and true religion as the basis of her laws ;
That to the humblest working man that toils within the
land
She '11 meet out equal justice with a free unsparing hand.
While all the Queen can look for, from her subjects is
that they
So long as she rules righteously like liegemen shall
obey.
Now if the Queen is faithful to her Coronation Oath,
I say that these are principles that must be right for
both.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 69
Next—there's the Church of England, where every
Sabbath-day
The poorest man in England is free to kneel and pray ;
May hear the Bible read aloud, his Maker's praises sung,
And have salvation preached to him—in his own native
tongue.
Yet every man in England to worship God is free,
Just as his conscience urges him, however that may be :
Though high and low to act on them too oft, alas! are
loth,
Yet these again are principles that'must be right for both.
Next—by the laws of England, a man is free to do,
To speak, to write, to print, whate'er is honest, just, or
true;
May choose his occupation, may have, and hold, his
own,
Against the proudest nobleman—ay, more, against the
throne—
While all that's ask'd in turn of him, all that the law
can claim,
Is tljat he leaves another man as free to do the same.
Tho' wealth and honors, like the rain, but on the few
may fall,
The principles that leads to them exist alike for all.
For every wrong a man may do, for every evil deed,
Those laws have framed some punishment, or some
redress decreed;
For all that may befall a man, age, sickness, or distress,
Those laws do all that laws can do, to make their suffer-
ings less.
70 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
Beneath them we have flourish'd, and have filled the
world with fame,
It is true that other nations have without them done the
same ;
But, one by one, the world have seen those nations
overthrown,
While we have stood triumphant, through our principles
alone.
King Solomon, the wisest man that on the earth e'er trod,
Declares that "all is vanity," except the fear of God.
As England loves the welfare of her people and her
crown,
Let her hold fast the maxim which King Solomon lays
down.
When far-fetched fine-spun theories, when diplomatic
skill,
When petty party politics, have wrought sufficient ill,
When a most vile expediency shall to the winds be
driven,
She'll know the worth of principles vvhjch have their
source in heaven.
SThe &£tu of Eruth.
Stand firm together! men of truth !
Throughout the land in strength combining,
And with the " might of men" stand forth,
Our hearts and hands in love entwining.
Should Britain hold the truth supreme,
And we be called on to defend her,
Our blood shall flow with every stream,
E'er we our lovely isle surrender.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 71
The vassals of a foreign slave
Have all our blood-bought rights invaded,
Our nation sunk in thraldom's grave,
.And all its pristine glorv faded !
Burns in your breasts our fathers' pride ?
Their voice was like a roar of thunder j
They toil'd and wept, and bled and died,
And tore th' enslaving chains asunder.
Oh ! with the chains our fathers burst,
Those tyrants now would foudly bind us j
But ne'er beneath the yoke that curst
And blights our native land they'll find us !
The despot's laws let slaves obey ;
Of freemen's sons who could command it?
Or bow before the tyrant's sway—
Oh, where 's the wretch that dare demand it?
By Derry's walls—on Aughrim's plains!
'Twas there the noble ranks assembled ;
No coward heart their mem'ry stains ;
No spirit faltered, fell, or trembled!
When called to tread the battle-field,
Their sons, with hearts and courage bolder—
Oh ! 'tis their fathers' power to wield,
Or with their fathers' bones to moulder !
The blood of martyrs fires your veins!
In freedom's cause your sword's unsheath'd!
To wipe away the blot that stains
The land our father's blood bequeathed ;
72 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
To win the rights, oh, luckless hour!
Of which perfidious Rome bereaved us;
To break the haughty tyrant's power,
And crush the traitors who deceived us !
Stand firm together ! men of truth !
Though weak and few may be the number ;
Gird on your loins the .strength of youth,
Not idly at your posts to slumber !
Should Britain hold the truth supreme,
And we be called on to defend her,
Our blood shall flow with every stream,
E'er we our lovely isle surrender.
% Smtcj (or the Yeomen.
A brave and jolly yeoman, long
Lived on the river Foyle,
When work was throng, a simple song
Beguiled his daily toil:
And still the burthen of his song,
For ever used to be,
" My King, though all the world goes wrong,
Shall find a friend in me."
In ninety-eight, when Erin's state
Was bad as bad could be;
When rebels rose, and England's foes
Cried loud for liberty :
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 73
The yeoman then, while other men
Shook in their shoes for fear,
Undaunted stood and shed his blood,
Triumphant through the year.
Oh where ! oh where ! while dull despair
Was stalking through the land,
Were all the prigs, the brainless Whigs,
Who now assume command ?
Some quailed at home, some fought for Rome,
And others ran away ;
While yeomen brave, the land to save,
Fought on, and gained the day.
And as the gallant yeoman then
Stood forward for the throne,
With loyal men he'll stand again
And slavery disown.
For truth and right undaunted fight,
While traitors bite the ground ;
To England's laws, and William's cause,
For ever faithful found.
Graham.
ON THE DEATII OF THE RIGHT HONORABLE
&he Earl of Eltuw.
Air,—"Roy's Wife."
Oh, Protestants ! lament with me
That Eldon from your view is riven ;
He has been called to meet his God,
And has ascended up to heaven.
G
74 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
Long will his loss be felt by us—
Britannia will forget him never;
His memory will claim a tie
That from our cause we ne'er can sever.
Let England shrouded be in grief,
Since he's been summoned up to glory;
And let his name be handed down
In future days in learned story.
When " George" passed from this vale of tears,
And loyal " York" was from us taken ;
When " Chatham" too, was called above,
Brave " Eldon" still remained unshaken.
Firm as a rock, he stood unmoved :
The Papal cry for 'mancipation
He strove, tho' vain, with might and main
To save the sinking British nation.
Oh hapless nation, to despise
The warnings of your great instructor ;
Who long maintained your sacred cause,
And proved himself your best conductor.
" My Lords," he said, " if ever you
Permit a Popish agitator
To sit in either house, or fill
The important post of legislator,
From that day forth the sun of Great
Britannia sets, and sets forever.
My Lords, beware ! Be wise in time,
Or rue it afterwards and ever."
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 75
His words proved vain, the " Bill" was pass'd,
Forgotten was his revelation j
Till scarce a vestige now remains
Of our unrivalled constitution.
A few short years have only fled
Since this sad change came o'er the nation;
Sore griev'd to see his words prove true,
And England brought to degradation.
He lived to see his perjured foes
From time to time in piecemeal sever
Britannia's blood-bought glories: then
Was valued Eldon's " now or never."
His duty done, he pass'd from earth,
Unawed by courtly state or splendour,
To where the seraphs swell their lays,
And praise their God with hymns of wonder.
He ever was the poor man's friend;
" Benign, compassionate, and tender,"—
When press'd by Popish enemies
His word was, Derry's—" No surrender !"
The scene has changed, and such a change
Has passed o'er us, tho' wide awaken,
We pause and ask—" Is't really true
That all our rights are from us taken ?"
Then Protestants lament with me
That Eldon from our cause is riven;
He has been called to meet his God,
And novv's enthron'd with saints in heaven.
Shannon.
THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
Whilst happy in our native land,
So great, so famed in story;
Let's join, my friends, with heart and hand,
To raise our country's glory :
When Britain calls, her valiant sons
Will rush in crowds to aid her—
Snatch, snatch your muskets, prime your guns,
And crush the fierce invader !
While every Briton's song shall be,
" O, give us death—or victory !"
Long had this favoured isle enjoy'd
True comforts past expressing,
When France her hellish arts employed
To rob us of each blessing:
These from our hearts by force to tear,
Which long we've learned to cherish ;
Our frantic foes shall vainly dare—
We'll keep them or we'll peijish :
And every day our song shall be,
" 0, give us death—or victory/!"
Let France in savage accents sing
Her bloody revolution ;
We prize our country, love our Queen,—
Adore our constitution;
For these we '11 every danger face,
And quit our rustic labours ;
Our ploughs to firelocks shall give place,
Our scythes be changed to sabres:
And glad in arms, our song shall be,
" O, give us death—or victory !"
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 11
Soon shall the proud invader learn,
When bent on blood and plunder,
That British bosoms nobly burn
To brave their cannons' thunder ;
Low lie those heads, whose wily arts
Have planned the world's undoing,
Our vengeful blades shall reach those hearts
Which seek our country's ruin:
And night and morn our song shall be,
" 0, give us death—or victory."
From Holland the eagles of France are all fled,
And the orange of Nassau replaced in their stead;
So we trust our good neighbours bought wisdom may learn
Their friends and allies from their foes to discern.
Then advance in full chorus my brave Orangemen,
The French we did beat, and we'll beat them again.
In* the Hollanders' cause we as cordially join,
As they did in ours on the banks of the Boyne ;
When under King William in one common league,
We planted an orange tree fresh from the Hague.
Then advance in full chorus, my brave Orangemen,
May that orange tree flourish for ever : Amen.
With their blood our brave ancestors moistened its root,
And from thence the rich flavour we taste in its fruit;
With ours, we will also repel each invader,
When the law is our guide, and a Brunswick our leader.
So advance in full chorus, my brave Orangemen,
Our foes we did beat, and we'll beat him again.
g 2
78 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
Here under its ample and wide spreading shade,
Our vows shall to loyalty ever be paid ;
It is now in full growth as well as full bearing,
The glory, the pride, aud the boast of green Erin.
So advance in full chorus, my brave Orangemen,
Ouv foes we did beat, and we'll beat them again.
There it prospers without any labour or toil,
Agrees with the clime, and unites with the soil,
And long shall its verdure remain in full force—
So long as King William bestrides his grey horse.
Then advance in full chorus, my brave Orangemen,
Our foes we did beat, and we'll beat them again.
And long shall the hero, our champion, be seen,
Bestriding that horse to adorn College-green ;
In orange and purple superbly arrayed,
While he smiles at his boys when they form on parade ;
And in their full chorus so cheerful advance,
The pride of green Erin—the terror of France.
So let those all know who against us petition,
Their impotent malice we hold in derision ;
No wonder that while their meek parliament sits,
That we frighten the upstarts quite out of their wits.
While in a full chorus we pray for success
To the manly and spirited Derry address.
Now, to put to due shame all affected vexation,
We report as at large in our first declaration,
That if men will be loyal and true to the laws,
Under one gracious King and in one noble cause,
Till our globe is dissolved and mortality ends,
We '11 advance in full chorus and hail them as friends.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 79
Ehe Etoetttft of Julg.
When William, fired with glory's cause,
Cross'd Boyne's silver flood,
He freed us from all Popish laws,
And nobly shed his blood.
For us he braved the raging sea,
'Twas in our cause he bled;
" Death, death," he cried, " or victory !"
And on his troops he led.
Then swift before his conquering arm
James and his legions flew :
Not Priest, nor Mass, nor Pope could harm
The hero of true True Blue.
He fought and conquered ; glorious day!
On which he set us free ;
Triumphant raise each Orange lay
And bless his memory.
Go, Fame ! thy golden trumpet sound,
Let angels join the theme,
And earth and sea, and sky resound
In praise of William's name.
Yes, Fame ! thy golden trumpet sound,
And all the nations fill;
From pole to pole the theme resound,
The Orange triumphs still.
80
THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
Itfttfl ZWiilium tiic SCfifrtr-
Wherefore is the name of William
Such a watchword to the free 1
Why do we still prize and honour
His immortal memory ]
Not because he was a hero,
Nor a statesman, nor a King;
But because the truth he honoured
More ;than every other thing.
Not because he was the leader
•"Of our fathers in the field,
Nor because to kingly traitors
He, more kingly, would not yield ;
But because for truth he battled,
And because for truth he bled ;
And because for truth he conquered
With the heroes he had led.
Therefore was the Prince of Orange
Honoured and beloved by those
Who defied Rome's usurpation,
And became her mightiest foes.
Therefore was his memory " Pious,
Glorious, and Immortal," too.
Would that all Great Britain's rulers
To the truth, like him, were true.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 81
JFar JFutttou toe mm not
For faction we meet not—leave that to the foes
Of religion and order and peace j
But when bad men combine to disturb our repose,
When the wiles of the wicked increase j
When in daylight unblushing Rome's minions unite
With pale Infidelity's band,
It is time for all good men to put forth their might
In defence of the laws of the land !
Arise, men of Britain ! respond to the call
Of your homes. Be your firmness revived ;
Awake ! it will prelude the demagogue's fall,—
From your slumber his strength is derived.
From cradle to crutch to extirpate our race,
Is the foeman's relentless command;
But he rages in vain if all true men embrace
In defence of the laws of the land !
To strengthen the throne, and our rights to proclaim,
Of the three old estates of the realm;
To encourage the loyal, the guilty restrain,
With confusion the traitor o'erwhelm ;
Be the bond of our friendship, and, oh ! may we long
Thus united for liberty stand;
Concede,—we're defeated ! Resist,—-we are strong,
In defence of the laws of our land !
82 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
$-0 Suvvetxttev-
Fill to the brim ! now drink to him
Of proud, immortal memory !
Who crossed the wave—the bold—the brave—
To make our fathers' country free !
Sons of the free, then drink with me,
In mem'ry of our brave defender !
Come, fill each glass, and let it pass—
Our toast shall still be "No Surrender."
Here are we met—we'll ne'er forget
The day our valiant sires assembled,
And stood in might, and fought for right,
While tyrants crouch'd and traitors trembled!
Then—from the heart—before we part,
We'll give—" Our valiant, brave defender!"
Come, fill each glass, and let it pass—
Our toast shall still be " No Surrender !"
Mo &uxxzvtozv.
Behold! the crimson banners float
O'er yonder turrets hoary !
They tell of days of matchless note,
And Derry's deathless glory;
When her brave sons undaunted stood
Embattled to defend her,
Indignant stemmed oppression's flood,
And sung out " No Surrender !"
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 83
Old Derry's walls were firm and strong,
Well fenced in every quarter,
Each frowning bastion, grim, along,
With culverin and mortar ;
But Derry had a surer guard
Than all that art could lend her,
Her 'prentice hearts, the gates who barred,
And sung out " No Surrender !"
On came the foe in bigot ire,
And fierce the assault was given ;
By shot and shell, 'mid streams of fire,
Her fated roof was riven.
But baffled was the tyrant's wrath,
And vain his hopes to bend her.
For still, 'mid famine, fire, and death,
She sung out " No Surrender !"
Again, when treason maddened round,
And rebel hordes were swarming,
Were Derry's sons the foremost found,
For King and country arming :
Forth, forth they rush'd at honor's call,
From age to boyhood tender,
Again to man their virgin wall
And sing out " No Surrender !"
Long may the crimson banner wave,
A meteor, streaming airy,
Portentous of the free and brave,
Who man the walls oi Derry.
And Derry's sons alike defy
Pope, traitor, or Pretender,
And peal to heaven their 'prentice cry,
Their patriot " No Surrender."
Ogle R. Gowan.
84 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
2Tiie ftrotiHtamt Bogs-
Tell me, my friends, why are we met here ?
Why thus assembled, ye Protestant boys ?
Do mirth and good liquor, good humour, good cheer,
Call us to share of festivity's joys 1
Oh, no ! 'tis the cause
Of King—Freedom—and Laws,
That calls loyal Protestants now to unite;
And Orange find Blue,
Ever faithful jand true,
Our King shall supportl, and sedition affright.
Great spirit of William^ from Heaven look down,
And breathe in our hearts our forefathers' fire ;
Teach us to rival their glorious renown,
From Papists or Frenchmen ne'er to retire.
Jacobine—Jacobite—
Against all to unite,
Who dare to assail our Sovereign's throne,
For Orange and Blue
Will be faithful and true,
And Protestant loyalty ever be shewn.
In that loyalty proud, let us ever remain,
Bound together in truth and religion's pure band ;
Nor honor's fair cause with foul bigotry stain,
Since in courage and justice supported we stand.
So Heaven shall smile
On our Emerald isle,
And lead us to conquest again and again ;
While Papists shall prove
Our brotherly love;
We hate them as masters—we love them as men.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 85 i
i
By the deeds of their fathers to glory inspired,
Our Protestant heroes shall combat the foe;
Hearts with true honor and loyalty fired,
Intrepid, undaunted, to conquest will go.
In Orange and Blue
Still faithful and true,
* The soul-stirring music of glory they'll singj
The shades of the Boyne
In the chorus will join,
And the welkin re-echo with " God save the King."
SThe Wnttren <£ftg.
Where Foyle her swelling waters
Rolls northward to the main,
Here, Queen of Erin's daughters,
Fair Derry fixed her reign ;
A holy temple crowned her,
While commerce graced her street,
A rampart wall was round her,
The river at her feet:
And here she sat alone, boys,
And looking from the hill,
Vow'd the maiden on her throne, boys,
Would be a maiden still.
From Antrim crossing over
In famous eighty-eight,
A plumed and belted lover
Came to the Ferry-gate.
H
j 86 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
She summon'd to defend her
Our sires—a beardless race—
They shouted,—No Surrender !
And slamm'd it in his face.
Then in a quiet tone, boys,
They told him 'twas their will,
That the maiden on her throne, boys,
Should be a maiden still.
Next—crushing all before him,
A kingly wooer came,
(The royal banner o'er him
Blushed crimson deep for shame ;)
He showed the Pope's commission,
Nor dream'd to be refused :
She pitied his condition,
But begged to stand excused.
In short the fact is known, boys,
She chased him from the hill,
For the maiden on her throne, boys,
Would be a maiden still.
On our brave sires descending,
'Twas then the tempest broke,
,. Their peaceful dwellings rending,
'Mid blood, and flame, and smoke.
That hallowed graveyard yonder
Swells with the slaughtered dead ;
Oh, brothers, pause and ponder,
It was for us they bled ;
And while their gift we own, boys—
The Church that tops our hill;
Oh! the maiden on her throne, boys,
Shall be a maiden still.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 87 ,
Nor wily tongue shall move us,
Nor tyrant arm affright,
We '11 look to One above us
Who ne'er forsook the right;
Who will may crouch, and tender
The birthright of the free,
But, brothers,—" No Surrender !"
No compromise for me !
We want no barrier stone, boys,
No gates to guard the hill;
Yet the maiden on her throne, boys,
Shall be a maiden still.
Charlotte Elizabeth.
—«—
We've furled the banner that waved so long
Its sunny folds around us;
We've still'd the voice of our ancient song,
And burst the tie that bound us.
No, no, that tie, that sacred tie,
Cannot be loos'd or broken ;
And thought will flash from eye to eye,
Though ne'er a word be spoken.
Go, raze old Derry's tell-tale wall—
Bid Enniskillen perish ;
Choke up the Boyne—abolish all
That we too fondly cherish ;
'Twill be but as the pruning knife
Used by a skilful master,
To concentrate the sap of life
And fix the strong root faster.
88 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
We love the throne—oh ! deep you plann'd
The hateful wile to prove us !
But firm in loyal truth we stand—
The Queen shall know and love us.
When William came to free our isle
From galling chains that bound her,
Our fathers built, beneath her smile,
This living rampart round her.
You've ta'en the outer crust away,
But, secret strength supplying,
A spirit shrined within the clay,
Lives quenchless and undying,—
A sparkle from the hallow'd flame
Of our insulted altars,
Pure as the source whence first it came,
Our love nor fades nor falters.
Our love to thee, dear injured land,
By mocking foes derided ;
Our duteous love to the royal hand,
By traitorous craft misguided.
Banner, and badge, and name alone,
At our monarch's call we tender;
The loyal truth that guards the throne
We'll keep, and "No Surrender."
Charlotte Elizabeth.
<®uv $n>testatttfsw.
An Ode used at tiie Meetings op the United States Protestant
Association.
We are a band of brothers, joined
By ties of purest love ;
Our aim, defence of that bright truth,
Transmitted from above.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 89
Our faith, the same dear sacred one
For which our fathers fought,
And with the life's-blood of their hearts
Full many a victory bought.
The same for which the Boyne is famed,
And Derry's walls are known ;
The same for which on Pentland hills,
True Scottish blood has flown.
Our motto, " God defends the right,"
Peace, to each brother near ;
While in each link that forms the band
Grows " law and order" dear.
Our end, destruction to the power
That holds its sway in Rome,
That would, ifit but had the will
Reign o'er the freeman's home.
But, trusting in the arm divine,
That rules and reigns in might,
We yet may crush the demon sway,
And stop its chilling blight:
And make the land to freedom dear,
From lake to circling sea,
Be Protestant in every part
And more than ever free.
George C. Leech.
h2
90 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
The night is gathering gloomily, the day is closing fast,
The tempest flaps her raven wings in loud and angry
blast;
The thunder-clouds are driving athwart the lurid sky,
But, " Put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your
powder dry."
There was a day when loyalty was hailed with honor due,
Our banner the protection waved to all the good and true;
And gallant hearts beneath its folds were linked in
honour's tie ;
We put our trust in God, my boys, and kept our
powder dry.
When treason bared her bloody arm, and maddened
round the land,
For King and laws, and order fair, we drew the ready
brand j
Our gathering spell was William's name, our cry was
« Do or die."
And still we put our trust in God, and kept our powder
dry.
But now, alas ! a wondrous change has come the nation
o'er,
And worth and gallant services remembered are no
more;
And crashed beneath oppression's weight, in chains of
grief we lie;
But put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your
powder dry.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEM*^ 91
Forth starts the spawn of treason, the 'scaped of ninety-
eight,
To bask in courtly favour, and seize the helm of state ;
Ev'n they whose hands are reeking yet with murder's
crimson dye—
But put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your
* powder dry.
They come, whose deeds incarnadined the Slaney's
silver wave,
They come, who to the foreign foe the hail of welcome
gave;
He comes, the open rebel fierce—he comes, the Jesuit
sly;
But put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your
powder dry.
They come, whose councils wrapped the land in foul
rebellious flame,
Their hearts unchastened by remorse, their cheeks un-
tinged by shame;
Be still, be still, indignant heart—be tearless, too, each
eye,
And ^put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your
powder dry.
The power that led his chosen by pillared cloud and
flame,
Through parted sea and desert waste, that power is
still the same;
He fails not; He, the loyal hearts that firm on him rely;
So put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your
powder dry.
92 TJ^ UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
The power that nerved the stalwart arms of Gideon's
chosen few,
The power that led Great William, Boyne's reddening
torrent through;
In His protecting aid confide, and every foe defy;
Then put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your
powder dry.
Already see the star of hope emits its orient blaze,
The cheering beacon of relief it glimmers through the haze;
It tells of better days to come, it tells of succour nigh;
Then put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your
powder dry.
See, see along the hills of Down its rising glories spread,
But brightest beams its radiance fromDonard's lofty head;
Clanbrassil's vales are kindling wide and " Roden" is
the cry;
Then put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your
powder dry.
Then cheer ye, hearts of loyalty, nor sink in dark despair,
Our banner shall again unfurl its glories to the air ;
The storm that raves the wildest the soonest passes by;
Then put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your
powder dry.
For " happy homes," for " altars free," we grasp the
ready sword,
For freedom, truth, and for our God's unmutilated word;
These, these the war-cry of our march our hope the
Lord on high ;
Then put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your
powder dry. Col. Blacker.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 93
&he #vanse JFias on the asvwje.
Suggested bt the Ke-orsamzation op the Obaxoe Institptiojt.
The Orange flag is reared again,
Too long in darkness hath it lain:
Yes! see, upon the breeze once more
'Tis waving as it waved of yore ;
Firm to their trust its followers stand,
The remnant of a gallant band ;
Unawed by mandates, frowns, and power,
They've kept it through the trying hour !
The Orange flag again is reared ;
Too long its light had disappeared.
Who fights for Israel 1 Prince and Peer
Beneath our banner muster here :
And prayers are now to heaven ascending
From faithful Christians knelt and bending;
And power is smiling on our deed—
Then forward ! join the cause with speed.
See that you be both firm and true,
Resolved your duty still to do:
See and uphold your system's might,
Knowing that " God defends the right"
On let the Orange flag be driven
Triumphant by the winds of heaven,
Till east and west, till north and south behold
Our Orange, purple, scarlet, blue and gold !
Shannon.
THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
5Trttth uxitt nibzvt&-
Behold sedition's florid light,
That erst for midnight murders shone—
Brethren awake, arise, unite,
To guard your homes, your church, your throne.
Let " No Surrender" be your cry,
Your motto " Truth and Liberty."
Together stand—together fall—
Together bend the knee in prayer,
That He who guides and governs all
Your country may from ruin spare;
But if she call on us to die,
We die for " Truth and Liberty."
Eventful times are stealing on,
And cast their threatening shadows round ;
Arouse, true hearts—your armour don—
Be ready for the conflict found--—
While o'er the tumult swells the cry,
" Our dwellings ! Truth and Liberty."
Sntts, Mxosz Stres toftft Wtlltam fclrtr.
Sons, whose sires with William bled,
Offspring of the mighty dead,
When the Popish tyrants fled,
And this fair land left free :
Yield not now to Popish guile,
Trust them least when most they smile,
Shun the crafty fowler's toil,
And keep your liberty ;
*
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 95
Loud and high their clamours rise
Of pretended miseries;
The Papist creed is only lies,
Which none but fools believe.
All the generous lion can,
That belongs of right to man,
Britain puts within their span,
And they ingrate receive.
Now they whine, as " bondsmen" poor ;
Now they boast their millions o'er,
And forth the Popish rent they pour—
For pike and murder given.
Firm, ye sons of Britain, firm,
Shrink not from the gathering storm,
Let it come in any form,
Our battle word is—Heaven.
die Sartrtes of ©crrjj.
No gen'rous toil declining,
The fair ones of Derry came,
Arousing and refining,
In bold hearts the patriot flame.
The soldier sternly pacing
Yon rampart, well their magic knew ;
His eye and thought embracing
Their homes, shrining souls so true.
96 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
But deeper darkness gathers,
And wilder raves the storm of death ;
Oh, then our gallant fathers,
Could tell more of woman's faith.
Their grasp the banners rending,
That martial prize had won in vain ;
But gentler hands defending,
Secured them within the fane.
Still reign such influence o'er us,
Confirming the good begun,
Till like our sires before us,
We hallow each trophy won.
While pious, pure, and tender,
Our lovely dames around us smile,
We'll make our "No Surrender"
Their safeguard through Erin's Isle.
Charlotte Elizabeth.
2To tfte Wemorg of Charlotte Hlfjatetft.
Bring flowers, lovely flowers,
The freshest, the fairest;
On mountain and moorland,
Go search for the rarest;
From mossy bank and lea,
Gather them plenteously ;
Strew them profusely, their fragrance to shed,
Where Charlotte Elizabeth sleeps with the dead !
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 97
She loved them when living;
How joyful the hours
She spent when entwining
Her chapters on flowers.
She loved them when dying,
Though dimly descrying
The tint of their beauty, the scent of their breath,
Reminded of Sharon and hallowed her death.
Now shall the happy mute
Gladly rejoice,
To hear her with seraphim
Lifting her voice.
There shall her opened ear,
With ransomed sinners hear,
Myriads of angels uniting to raise,
To the Lamb that was slain, loud anthems of praise.
Charlotte Elizabeth,
To Erin endeared ; *
Gifted of womankind,
Loved and revered:
Long as the harp shall sound,
Long shall thy name be found,
Deeply engraven on history's chart,
The " cusklamachree''' of the warm Irish heart.
Dear did our island harp,
Joy to thee prove;
Sent thee in friendship,
Accepted in love.
Now no sweet voice to sing,
No hand to touch the string;
Mute hangs the harp that thy genius awoke,
The spell of the lovely enchantress is broke.
98 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
The hills and the valleys
Of Erin's green isle,
Oft cheer'd thy dark hours
With sunshine and smile ;
There first thy bosom wrought
With high and holy thought,
There on thy smitten heart shone from above,
The light, and the life, and the spirit of love.
Long time a stricken deer,
Following the flock ;
A wounded dove, hidden
In cleft of the rock ;
In all thy sorrows here,
Faith, hope, and love were near:
To Tabor when smitten, thou loved'st to repair,
And found it was good, for thy Saviour was there.
Oity of Eighty-eight!
Keep of the brave!
Wave thy proud relic flag
Over her grave.
Toll thy cathedral bell,
With sad and solemn knell,
Mourn, Derry mourn, for the woman who told,
The deeds of thy Protestant fathers of old.
W. McComb.
Men of England, who inherit
Rights that cost your sires some blood!
Men whose unregenerate spirit
Has been proved on land and flood!
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 99
By the foes ye've fought uncounted,
By ihe glorious deeds ye've done,
Trophies captured,—breaches mounted,—
Navies conquered,—kingdoms won.
Yet, remember, England gathers
Hence but fruitless wreaths of fame,
If the patriotism of fathers
Glow not in your hearts the same.
What are monuments of bravery,
Where no public virtues bloom 1
What avail, in bands of slavery,
Trophied temples, ark and tomb 1
We're the sons of sires that baffled
Crowned and mitred tyranny j
They defied the field and scaffold
For their birthright—so will we.
ItetolUctUm of the Past-
While joy and gladness make our Ulster ring,
And smiling faces hail the honored day;
Be mine to grasp the minstrel's sacred string,
And strike vibrations to my solemn lay.
Thousands shall hear, nor hear the sound in vain,
But in the theme with grateful accents join,
To celebrate the fall of James's reign,
King William's glorious conquest of the Boyne !
100 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
Shall we forget that memorable fight,
With all the Revolution's scenes of blood?
Shall we return to darkness, and the light
Put out, for which our martyr'd fathers stood ?
No ! in our ears their dying groans still ring,
Our mothers' woes; their children's shrieks, and o'er
Their burning homes, upsentto Israel's King,
Their last confession dying in the gore.
Lo ! at the Boyne meet the contending foes;
Great William leads the van, devoid of fear ;
Soon with the stream the crimson current flows,
And horse and foot in conflict fierce appear.
Dauntless and firm, the Orange " few" advance,
Ascend the bank, and onward charge amain ;
King James in panic flies: the sons of France
Retreat, pursued; and Nassau rules the plain !
Next—on the field of Aughrim do they meet
In awful order. 'Mid the cannons' roar
Th' unequal fight begins ; soon all's complete—
Those run ; these win the day, and all is o'er!
Thus did the " God of battles" shield the few
Who chose the better part, and loved his word ;
And kept them unpolluted, brave and true,
And peace and freedom to our land restored !
Ye Protestants, who love so well the throne,
(And loyal are,) whilst others cry it down j
Go to your God in prayer, and there disown
All that would tarnish virtue and renown.
Commemorate with heart and will the day [laws ;
Which brought your freedom and your chartered
Nor ever let their memory decay,
Who risk'd their lives to save your holy cause.
————------------------------------------------------------------------------■---------------------------------------------------------------------------■—"-------------------------------------------'-----------------———1
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 101
Think then, oh think, how myrmidons of Rome,
Seek for ascendancy o'er this fair isle ;
But shall the sons of freedom slaves become,
And yield to bigots and Repealers vile"?
No! for the truth unbending, still as steel
Together band, and let your zeal be known:
Then soon you '11 triumph (for your nation's weal,)
And from the wiles of traitors shield the throne.
Shannon.
—«.—.
Jf 01 the SpailUfttfl GfoftUt
Fill the sparkling goblet high,
George's cause inspires us,
Wheel the circling bowl around,
William's mem'ry fires us.
Chorus.
Live and love, the proverb says,
Life is but a feather;
Sworn to love while life remains,
We 're Orangemen all together.
The mystic tie that binds our hearts,
No ages can dissever j
The ray divine that lights our souls
Shall beam in us for ever.
Chorus.—Live and love, &c.
George and William's royal names,
With glory still we crown them ;
And care and strife, like Pharoah's host,
In a true red sea we drown them.
Chorus.—Live and love, &c.
i 2
102
THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
&tft tJo ouv Kvfsh Protestants.
And do our Irish Protestants
Forget their former spirit 1
And do they not their fathers' zeal
And loyalty inherit 1
Oh, yes ! to guard Victoria's throne
That loyal spirit rises,
And all the haughty threats of Rome
And Popery despises.
Our Orange banner, waved on high,
Appals the band of treason ;
In dauntless courage firm we stand—
In honour, truth, and reason !
No canting knaves our loyal hearts
Shall from our Queen dissever;
And though they once thought to get tip,
We '11 keep them down for ever.
At Orange William's god-like name,
Let Rome and Popery tremble ;
For summon'd by the magic sound,
Do Protestants assemble;
And by that glorious Orange swear,
In steadfast resolution,
With heart and hand btill to defend
Our happy constitution.
Then, brothers, come, the chorus join—
For each to each is brother;
One Revolution to defend,
We will oppose another.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 103
And do our Irish Protestants
Forget their former spirit 1
And do they not their fathers zeal
And loyalty inherit!
Xtfeft ^totestatttjsT Appeal to JBmluntf.
Protestants, awake, assemble,
Or for ever fallen lie !
Is it not a time to tremble
When the fatal blow is nigh 1
When the foe's unhallowed finger,
Rests on God's eternal word,
Shall his faithful servants linger,
Will they then desert their Lord 1
Shame to this most favoured nation,
Shame and sorrow be their meed !
If the ark of her salvation
Be abandoned in her need ?
Brightly on the page of story
Deeds of other days may shine,
But the sun of England's glory
Will 'mid scorn and woe decline.
Sworn to keep the faith of Jesus,
Can we perjured traitors prove ?
Lo ! from under heaven he sees us,
With a look of anxious love.
Oh ! with such a look to chide us,
Such a quenchless love to cheer,
With our martyr'd sires to guide us,
Can we bow to sloth or fear ?
104 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
Hark ! your sister Ireland, weeping,
Calls to you across the wave—
" Christian brothers ! are you sleeping 1
I am wounded—come and save !
Think, if ye refuse assistance—
Who will pity or deplore,
Should the light that gilds existence
Sink ere long on England's shore ?"
Yes ! ye come !—the spell is broken !
'Tis the summons of the Lord!
Protestants the vow have spoken,
Hear it, earth ! and heaven record !
Like our fathers we may perish
On the glorious battle field,
But what they could die to cherish,
We will never live to yield !
&fie 3Jogue Water-
July the first, in Old bridge town,
There was a grievous battle,
Where many a man lay on the ground
By the cannons that did raitle :
King James he pitched his tents between
The lines, for to retire;
But King William threw his bomb balls in
And set them all on fire.
Thereat enraged, they vowed revenge
Upon King William's forces;
And often cried vehemently,
That they would stop their courses.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 105
A bullet from the Irish came,
Which grazed King William's arm ;
They thought his majesty was slain,—
Yet it did him little harm.
Duke Schomberg then in friendly care,
His King would often caution,
To shun the spot where bullets hot,
Retain'd their rapid motion j
But William said, " He don't deserve
The name of Faith's Defender,
That would not venture life and limb
To make a foe surrender."
When we the Boyne began to cross,
The enemy descended ;
But few of our brave men were lost
So stoutly we defended:
The horse were the first that marched o'er,
The foot soon followed after;
But brave Duke Schomberg was no more,
By venturing over the water.
When valiant Schomberg he was slain,
King William then accosted
His warlike men for to march on,
And he would be the foremost;
" Brave boys," he said, " be not dismayed,
For the losing of one commander,
For God will be our King this day,
And I'll be the general under."
Then stoutly we the Boyne did cross,
To give our enemies battle;
Our cannon, to our foes' great cost,
Like thunder-claps did rattle :
106 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
In majestic mien our Prince rode o'er,
His .men soon followed after,'—
Then blows and shouts put foes to route
The day we crossed the water.
Then said King William to his men,
After the French departed,
" I'm glad, indeed, that none of ye
Seemed to be faint-hearted ;
So sheath your swords and rest awhile,
In time we 'II follow after."
These words he uttered with a smile
The day he crossed the water.
The cunning French near to Duleek
Had taken up their quarters,
And fenced themselves on every side,
Awaiting for new orders ;
But in the dead time of the night,
They set the fields on fire ;
And long'before the morning light
To Dublin did retire.
The Px'otestants of Drogheda
Have reason to be thankful
That they were not to bondage brought,
They being but a handful:
First to the Tholsel they were brought,
And tried at the Millmount after ;
But brave King William set them free,
By venturing over the water.
Come, let us all with heart and voice
Applaud our lives' defender;
Who at the Boyne his valour shew'd,
And made his foes surrender.
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 107
To God above the praise we'll give,
Both now and ever after ;
And bless the glorious mem'ry
Of William that crossed the water.
STfte Shutting of the ©ates of 23mg.
Full many a long wild winter's night,
And sultry summer's day,
Are past and gone since James took flight
From Derry walls away;
Cold are the hands that closed that gate
Against the wily foe ;
But here, to time's remotest date,
Their spirit still shall glow.
So here's a health to all good men,
Now fearless friends are few,
But when we close our gates again,
We'll then be all true blue.
Lord Antrim's men came down the glen,
With drums and trumpets gay ;%
Our 'prentice boys just heard the noise,
'And then prepared for play :
While some opposed, the gates they closed,
And joining hand in hand,
Before the wall resolved to fall,
Or for their freedom stand.
When honor calls^to Derry walls
The noble and the brave,
Oh ! he that in the battle falls
Must find a hero's grave.
108 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
Then came the hot and doubtful fray,
With many a mortal wound ;
While thousands in wild war's array
Stood marshalled all around.
Each hill and plain was strewed with slain,
The Foyle ran red with blood 5
But all was vain the town to gain,
While William's standard stood.
Renowned are those who faced their foes
As men and heroes should ;
And let the slave steal to his grave,
Who fears to shed his blood.
The matchless deeds of those who here
Defied the tyrant's frown,
On history's bright rolls appear
Emblazoned in renown :
Here deathless Walker's faithful word
Sent hosts against the foe ;
And gallant Murray's bloody sword,
The Gallic chief laid low.
We honor those heroic dead,
Their glorious memory;
May we, who stand here in their stead,
As wise and valiant be.
Oh ! sure a heart of stone would melt, *
The scenes once here to see ;
And witness all our fathers felt,
To make their country free.
They saw the lovely matron's cheek
With want and terror pale;
They heard the child's expiring shriek
Float on the passing gale !
ORANGE SONGS AND POEMS. 109
Yet here they stood 'mid fire and blood,
As battle raged around ;
Resolved to die, till victory
Their purple standard crowned.
The sacred rights these heroes gained
In many a hard-fought day,
Shall they by us be still maintained,
Or basely cast away 1
Shall rebels vile rule o'er our isle,
And call it all their own ?
Oh, surely no ! the faithless foe
Must bend before the throne.
Then here's a health to all good men,
To all good men and true ;
And when we close our gates again,
We '11 then be all true blue.
Graham.
mse, Sows of wmfarw.
Rise, sons of William, rise,
'Tis Nassau hails you from the skies;
Why close your slumbering eyes
While treason stalks around 1
Hark! I hear
Accents clear, ' ,
Bursting on my ravished ear;
" To arms away !"
Methinks they say,
While drums and trumpets sound.
Rise, sons of William, rise,
'Tis Nassau hails you from the skies:
Why close your slumbering eyes
While treason stalks around ?
110 THE UNITED EMPIRE MINSTREL.
See! from his crimson bed,
Encircled with the mighty dead,
Boyne heaves his azure head,
And gazing, turns around;
Ah, me ! he cries,
What glories rise,
And crowd upon mine aching eyes.
Lo ! weapons gleam,—
See ! banners stream,
While drums and trumpets sound.
Rise, &c.
Strike Erin, strike thy lyre,
Catch, oh ! catch the gen'rous fire ;
'Tis a Wil
