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I
WHEN captains couragious, whom death could not daunte, | |
| Did march to the siege of the citty of Gaunt, | |
| They muster’d their souldiers by two and by three, | |
| And the foremost in battle was Mary Ambree. | |
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II
When brave Sir John Major was slaine in her sight, | 5 |
| Who was her true lover, her joy, and delight, | |
| Because he was slaine most treacherouslie, | |
| She vow’d to revenge him, did Mary Ambree. | |
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III
She clothèd herselfe from the top to the toe | |
| In buffe of the bravest, most seemelye to showe; | 10 |
| A faire shirt of mail then slippèd on she; | |
| Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree? | |
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IV
A helmet of proofe she strait did provide, | |
| A strong arminge sword she girt by her side, | |
| And on each hand a goodly faire gauntlett put shee; | 15 |
| Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree? | |
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V
Then tooke she her sworde and her target in hand, | |
| Bidding all such as wo’ld to be sworn of her band; | |
| To wayte on her person came thousand and three: | |
| Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree? | 20 |
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VI
‘My soldiers,’ she saith, ‘soe valiant and bold, | |
| Nowe follow your captaine, whom you doe beholde; | |
| Still foremost in battel myself will I be’: | |
| Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree? | |
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VII
Then cry’d out her souldiers, and loude they did say, | 25 |
| ‘Soe well thou becomest this gallant array, | |
| Thy harte and thy weapons soe well do agree, | |
| There was none that was ever like Mary Ambree.’ | |
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VIII
She chearèd her souldiers, that foughten for life, | |
| With ancyent and standard, with drum and with fyfe, | 30 |
| With brave clanging trumpetts, that sounded so free; | |
| Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree? | |
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IX
‘Before I will see the worst of you all | |
| To come into danger of death or of thrall, | |
| This hand and this life I will venture so free’: | 35 |
| Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree? | |
| |
X
She led up her souldiers in battaile array | |
| Gainst three times theyr number by break of the daye; | |
| Seven howers in skirmish continuèd shee: | |
| Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree? | 40 |
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XI
She fillèd the skyes with the smoke of her shott, | |
| And her enemyes bodyes with bullets soe hott; | |
| For one of her owne men a score killèd shee: | |
| Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree? | |
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XII
And when her false gunner, to spoyle her intent, | 45 |
| Away all her pellets and powder had sent, | |
| Straight with her keen weapon she slasht him in three: | |
| Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree! | |
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XIII
Being falselye betrayèd for lucre of hyre, | |
| At length she was forcèd to make a retyre; | 50 |
| Then her souldiers into a strong castle drew she: | |
| Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree? | |
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XIV
Her foes they beset her on everye side, | |
| As thinking close siege shee co’ld never abide; | |
| To beate down the wallès they all did decree: | 55 |
| But stoutlye defyed them brave Mary Ambree. | |
| |
XV
Then tooke she her sword and her target in hand, | |
| And mounting the walls all undaunted did stand, | |
| There daring their captaines to match any three: | |
| O what a brave captaine was Mary Ambree! | 60 |
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XVI
‘Now saye, English captaine, what woldest thou give | |
| To ransome thy selfe, which else must not live? | |
| Come yield thy selfe quicklye, or slaine thou must bee.’— | |
| O then smilèd sweetlye brave Mary Ambree. | |
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XVII
‘Ye captaines couragious, of valour so bold, | 65 |
| Whom thinke you before you now you doe behold?’— | |
| ‘A knight, sir, of England, and captaine soe free, | |
| Who shortèlye with us a pris’ner must bee.’— | |
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XVIII
‘No captaine of England; behold in your sight | |
| Two brests in my bosome, and therfore no knight: | 70 |
| Noe knight, sirs, of England, nor captaine you see, | |
| But a poor simple lass, callèd Mary Ambree.’— | |
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XIX
‘But art thou a woman, as thou dost declare, | |
| Whose valor hath prov’d so undaunted in warre? | |
| If England doth yield such brave lasses as thee, | 75 |
| Full well may they conquer, faire Mary Ambree!’ | |
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XX
Then to her owne country shee backe did returne, | |
| Still holding the foes of faire England in scorne: | |
| Therfore, English captaines of every degree, | |
| Sing forth the brave valours of Mary Ambree! | 80 |
| | | GLOSS: Gaunt] Ghent. ancyent] ensign. |
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