"The subject of this ballad (which is printed from an old black-letter copy, with some conjectural emendations) may possibly receive illustration from what Chapman says in the dedication to his version of Homer's Frogs and Mice, concerning the brave and
memorable retreat of Sir John Norris, with only 1000 men, through the whole Spanish army, under the Duke of Parma, for three miles together." Percy.
Lord Willoughby was son of that Duchess of Suffolk, whose extraordinary adventures, while in exile on the continent during the reign of Queen Mary, are the subject of an often-printed ballad called the [Duchess of Suffolk's Calamity]. See Strange Histories, Percy Society, iii. 17, and the Appendix to this volume.
The fifteenth day of July,
With glistering spear and shield,
A famous fight in Flanders
Was foughten in the field:
The most couragious officers5
Were English captains three;
But the bravest man in battel
Was brave Lord Willoughbèy.
The next was Captain Norris,
A valiant man was hee;10
The other Captain Turner,
From field would never flee.
With fifteen hundred fighting men,
Alas! there were no more,
They fought with fourteen thousand then,15
Upon the bloody shore.
"Stand to it, noble pikemen,
And look you round about:
And shoot you right, you bow-men,
And we will keep them out.20
You musquet and calìver men,
Do you prove true to me:
I'le be the formost man in fight,"
Says brave Lord Willoughbèy.
And then the bloody enemy25
They fiercely did assail,
And fought it out most furiously,
Not doubting to prevail.
The wounded men on both sides fell,
Most pitious for to see,30
Yet nothing could the courage quell
Of brave Lord Willoughbèy.
For seven hours, to all mens view,
This fight endured sore,
Until our men so feeble grew35
That they could fight no more;
And then upon dead horses,
Full savourly they eat,
And drank the puddle water,
They could no better get.40
When they had fed so freely,
They kneeled on the ground,
And praised God devoutly
For the favour they had found;