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| JULY the first, in Oldbridge town, | |
| There was a grievous battle, | |
| Where many a man lay on the ground, | |
| By the cannons that did rattle. | |
| King James he pitched his tents between | 5 |
| 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; | 10 |
| And often did cry vehemently | |
| That they would stop their courses. | |
| A bullet from the Irish came, | |
| Which grazed King William’s arm; | |
| They thought his Majesty was slain, | 15 |
| Yet it did him little harm. | |
| |
| Duke Schomberg then, in friendly care, | |
| His king would often caution | |
| To shun the spot where bullets hot | |
| Retained their rapid motion. | 20 |
| 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, | 25 |
| The enemy they descended; | |
| But few of our brave men were lost, | |
| So stoutly we defended. | |
| The horse was the first that marchéd o’er, | |
| The foot soon followed a’ter, | 30 |
| But brave Duke Schomberg was no more, | |
| By venturing over the water. | |
| |
| When valiant Schomberg he was slain, | |
| King William thus accosted | |
| His warlike men for to march on, | 35 |
| 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 general under.” | 40 |
| |
| Then stoutly we the Boyne did cross, | |
| To give our enemies battle; | |
| Our cannon, to our foes’ great cost, | |
| Like thundering claps did rattle. | |
| In majestic mien our prince rode o’er, | 45 |
| His men soon followed a’ter; | |
| With blows and shouts put our foes to the rout, | |
| The day we crossed the water. | |
| |
| The Protestants of Drogheda | |
| Have reasons to be thankful | 50 |
| That they were not to bondage brought, | |
| They being but a handful. | |
| First to the Tholsel they were brought, | |
| And tied at Milmount a’ter, | |
| But brave King William set them free, | 55 |
| By venturing over the water. | |
| |
| The cunning French near to Duleek | |
| Had taken up their quarters, | |
| And fenced themselves on every side, | |
| Still waiting for new orders. | 60 |
| But in the dead time of the night | |
| They set the field on fire, | |
| And long before the morning light, | |
| To Dublin they did retire. | |
| |
| Then said King William to his men, | 65 |
| After the French departed, | |
| “I ’m glad,” said he, “that none of ye | |
| Seeméd to be faint-hearted, | |
| So sheathe your swords, and rest awhile, | |
| In time we ’ll follow a’ter”: | 70 |
| These words he uttered with a smile, | |
| The day he crossed the water. | |
| |
| Come, let us all, with heart and voice, | |
| Applaud our lives’ defender, | |
| Who at the Boyne his valor showed, | 75 |
| And made his foes surrender. | |
| To God above the praise we ’ll give, | |
| Both now and ever a’ter, | |
| And bless the glorious memory | |
| Of King William that crossed the Boyne water. | 80 |
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