The following ballad was published as a broadside (complete with heroic woodcut of the armoured and mounted king) in London in 1590, after Henri IV's victory at the battle of Ivry. Our thanks to Alessandro il Racontore for finding it in the microfilm archive of the British museum and entering it for us. Some sections are unreadable, these are indicated by ellipses (...) and enclosed in brackets ( [ ] ).
To the tune of the new Tantara.
God save the King.
Triumph good Christians and reioyce,
This wondrous newes no heare:
Wherein the power of mightie Ioue,
So greatly doth appeare.
God is the stay and strength of those
That in him puts his trust:
And what he ever promiste them,
He keepeth firme and iust.
Let canons rore and Muskets shoote,
Let Fife and Ensignes play:
Let Trumpets shrill and dubbing drums,
Sound forth this ioyfull day.
Who knows not how the Duke de Maine,
By title from the Gwize,
Hath fought to rule as king in Fraunce,
And caus[...
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Let canons rore and Muskets shoote &c.
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All joined themselues in battaile ray,
Vpon firme land in Fraunce,
Entending to haue slaine the king,
Yet had a worser chaunce.
Let canons rore and Muskets shoote &c.
Whereby the enemy was that time,
Full thirtie thousand strong:
The king his power was but weake,
To right his open wrong.
He had not past ten thousand men,
In his defence to fighte,
Which was great ods as all men knowes,
To put all these to flight.
Let canons rore and Muskets shoote &c.
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Let canons rore and Muskets shoote &c. ]
In valiaunt sorte he cheerd his men,
And louingly he saide:
God is with vs, our quarrels good,
Be therefore not dismaide.
My trust is still that as the Lord,
Hath me before defended:
So he will fighte against my foes,
That haue my death pretended.
Let canons rore and Muskets shoote &c.
My quarrell doth pertaine to God,
In whom I put my trust:
And in the promise he hath made,
I know he will be iust.
Be valiaunt now and fight like men,
And God will bee your guide:
And I with you will spend my blood,
And not once step aside.
Let canons rore and Muskets shoote &c.
Together then the Armies went,
Which made a wondrous shoe:
On either side they fought full fierce,
Ech sought the others woe.
The Canons roard and Muskets shotte,
And made a warlike noies:
Their Trumpets sound and dubbing drums,
Gave [... ech?] souldiers ioies.
Let canons rore and Muskets shoote &c.
The Fife made warlike melody,
The ensignes were displaied:
On either side they couredge cried,
The king was not dismaied.
But like a Souldier and a king,
A standard he did take:
And slew the man that bare the same,
Which made his enemies quake.
Let canons rore and Muskets shoote &c.
The Duke de Maine for all his power,
Was forste from field to flie:
His heeles were better than his hands,
He fought so valiauntly.
His power was stricken with such feare,
That they did flie in haste:
Whereby the king did win the field,
His enemies were disgraste.
Let canons rore and Muskets shoote &c.
He and his power did follow them,
Full five howres in the chase:
From eight at morne til toward night,
He fought in the enemies face.
This victory he did obtaine,
Such was his good succes,
And many thousand enimies slaine,
Report saieth sure no les.
Let canons rore and Muskets shoote &c.
What tents and furniture for warre,
What treasure and iewels rich:
Hereby the king and soldiours got,
You may suppose was miche.
And prisoners taken on account
As you shall shortly heere,
Who for their treason to their king,
I thinke will pay full deere.
Let canons rore and Muskets shoote &c.
See here the handyworke of God,
Who harmles saude the king.
And sent him treasure in great store,
And euery warlike thing.
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Let canons rore and Muskets shoote &c.]
FINIS
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