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| JULY the first, of a morning clear, one thousand six hundred and ninety, | |
| King William did his men prepare—of thousands he had thirty— | |
| To fight King James and all his foes, encamped near the Boyne Water; | |
| He little feared, though two to one, their multitude to scatter. | |
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| King William called his officers, saying: “Gentlemen, mind your station, | 5 |
| And let your valour here be shown before this Irish nation; | |
| My brazen walls let no man break, and your subtle foes you’ll scatter, | |
| Be sure you show them good English play as you go over the water.” | |
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| Both foot and horse they marched on, intending them to batter, | |
| But the brave Duke Schomberg he was shot as he crossed over the water. | 10 |
| When that King William did observe the brave Duke Schomberg falling, | |
| He reined his horse with a heavy heart, on the Enniskillenes calling: | |
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| “What will you do for me, brave boys—see yonder men retreating? | |
| Our enemies encouraged are, and English drums are beating.” | |
| He says, “My boys feel no dismay at the losing of one commander, | 15 |
| For God shall be our King this day, and I’ll be general under.” | |
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| Within four yards of our fore-front, before a shot was fired, | |
| A sudden snuff they got that day, which little they desired; | |
| For horse and man fell to the ground, and some hung on their saddle: | |
| Others turned up their forked ends, which we call coup de ladle. | 20 |
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| Prince Eugene’s regiment was the next, on our right hand advanced | |
| Into a field of standing wheat, where Irish horses pranced; | |
| But the brandy ran so in their heads, their senses all did scatter, | |
| They little thought to leave their bones that day at the Boyne Water. | |
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| Both men and horse lay on the ground, and many there lay bleeding, | 25 |
| I saw no sickles there that day—but, sure, there was sharp shearing. | |
| Now, praise God, all true Protestants, and heaven’s and earth’s Creator, | |
| For the deliverance he sent our enemies to scatter. | |
| The Church’s foes will pine away, like churlish-hearted Nabal, | |
| For our deliverer came this day like the great Zorobabal. | 30 |
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| So praise God, all true Protestants, and I will say no further, | |
| But had the Papists gained that day, there would have been open murder. | |
| Although King James and many more were ne’er that way inclined, | |
| It was not in their power to stop what the rabble they designed. | |
