The Dutch-men's Reasons
[...]a Dutch Sunday to be observ'd once a Month, &c. [...]ith their last Pra [...]er, and final Resolution (if it prove ineffectual) [...]ainst the Excessive Power of FRANCE.
To the Tune of the
City Gulls.
[...]L
Dutch and
English that are left
[...]live within this Land,
[...] their Senses not-bereft,
[...] now understand
[...]easons why we have thought fit
[...] proclaim a Fast;
[...] is, that Heaven wou'd us permit
[...]at the
French at last.
[...]e our Arms their Aim have mist
[...] three Campaigns in
Flanders,
[...] makes us fear Heaven does assist
[...]
French King's brave Commanders:
[...]uxenburgh, as if inspir'd,
[...]ct with that Decorum,
[...] when our Troops against his Fir'd
[...]ove all strait before him.
[...]hen they came with Sword in hand
[...] other to attack,
French as firm as Rocks did stand,
[...] made us all give back:
[...]an't they brag nor boast too much
[...] intire Defeat;
[...] though no
English, yet the
Dutch
[...]ake a brave Retreat.
[...] who is able to withstand
[...]
Excessive Power of FRANCE,
[...]
Aesop does lead on the Van,
[...] his Conqu'ring Troops advance?
[...] on him, he's a Witch we fear,
[...] so Brave and Stout;
[...]et him Charge in Front, or Rear,
[...] does our Armies Rout.
[...] 'tis madness we confess
[...] with
France to Fight;
[...] let our Force be more or less
[...]e Cause been't Just and Right.
[...]
English Men, when they ingage,
[...]y scorn to Flinch, or Waver;
[...]y only wish for a clear Stage,
[...] from the Foe no Favour.
Witness at
Steenkirk where they stood
'Till Thousands lost their Lives,
And spent their Blood for th' publick Good,
And to preserve our Wives
And Children all, from being Slaves
To
France, and made a Prey;
They'd rather like Fools dig their Graves,
Then like us run away.
But what if Mounsieur's Maggot bite,
And he should take a freak,
To put us all into a fright
By besieging of
Mast
[...]eick.
There's but one way that can be good
To obstruct his marching thither,
To pray with all our hearts Heaven wou'd
Send some Confederate Weather.
But those Designs of Hell, and
France,
Great
William will prevent
With
English Troops, which he'll advance,
And make a great Descent:
In Person he has Vow'd to go,
Therefore we need not fear,
The Descent will miscarry so,
As it did the last Year.
Since
England has Five Millions rais'd
In order to Recrute
Our Troops this Year, kind Heaven be prais'd,
We will once more Dispute;
Whether
William, Lewis, or King
James,
Their Right can best maintain:
For if we don't the Man it seems
Will have his Mare again.
And having quite repair'd our Loss
We'll Fast and Pray once more;
But should the Fates prove half so cross
As at
Mons and
Namure,
We do protest we'll never Fast,
Nor Pray; but for the future
We'll only beg that Heaven at last
Wou'd act fair, and stand neuter.
Printed at AMSTERDAM in the Year 1693.