Glenmoristonus junior, optimus bellator
Subito jam factus, hactenus venator,
Perduelles Whiggeos ut pecora prostravit,
Ense et fulmineo Mackaium fugavit.
Regibus et legibus, Scotici constantes,
Vos clypeis et gladiis pro principe pugnantes,
Vestra est victoria, vestra est et gloria,
In cantis et historia perpes est memoria!
THE BOYNE WATER.
This momentous battle was fought on the 1st of July, 1690. James had a strong position and thirty thousand men, two thirds of whom were a worthless rabble. William had thirty-six thousand splendid soldiers. The loss on neither side was great. Of James's troops there fell fifteen hundred, the flower of his army; of the conqueror's not more than five, but with them the great Duke of Schomberg. The present version of this ballad is from Croker's Historical Songs of Ireland, p. 60, given from a MS. copy in the editor's possession.
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 between5
The lines for to retire;
But King William threw his bomb-balls in,
And set them all on fire.
Thereat enraged, they vow'd 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
Retain'd 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.