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SONGS AND BALLADS |
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Next day, to decoy us, he cunningly sent A fawning excuse and a complement, And said he would try to dispatch us that day And send us in peace and in safety away ;
But he had no design in the thing
But writing letters unto our King,
Which a messenger, he said, should bring
Before the sun was near setting.
Our top-sails were loose, and the sheats were haul'd home,
We waited all day, but no messenger come.
We saw on the shoar the friars so gay,
And some were in black, but most were in grey ;
To ev'ry fort and castle they went;
But the Lord in heav'n knowes what they meant,
Unless (that it might be their intent)
To bless e'ry man, gun, and battlement.
No sooner the fryars were gone to their home But we heard an alarm beat by the drum, And then a command was sent us agen To furl our top-sails and warp further in ;
And if we didn't immediately
With what the governour said comply,
From all his forts he'd let the guns fly,
And batter us most confoundedly.
Then straight from the city we plainly could see, The souldiers were marching most hastily, And headed they were by their fat general, To every fort and each castle wall:
But we were quite careless all the while,
And at their grand folly did only smile,
Resolving the Spaniards to beguile
And leave 'em without their wish't-for spoil.
By this time thejbusie old sun was gone down, And candles were lighting about the town ; The commander then cheared his men so brave, And the word for cutting the cable gave,
Which was done ith' twinkling of an eye,
And the sails were set as suddenly,
Which as soon as e're they could espy
A volley of small shott did let fly. |
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