Lyr Add: Russell's Triumph (Sam Ackroyde)

Subject: Lyr Add: RUSSELL'S TRIUMPH - Sam Ackroyde
From: Ged Fox
Date: 19 May 16 - 09:43 AM

Song "Russell's Triumph" or "The Sea Fight in Ninety-Two" by Samuel Ackeroyde commemorating the battle of Barfleur/Cap La Hogue, May 1692


Thursday in the morn, the nineteenth of May,
Recorded for ever the famous Ninety-two,
Brave Russell did discern by break of day,
The lofty sails of France advancing to.
All hands aloft, they cry,
Let British valour shine,
Let fly the culverin, the signal of the line,
Let ev'ry man supply his gun.
Follow me! You shall see that the battle it shall soon be won

Tourville on the main triumphant roll'd
To meet gallant Russell in combat on the deep;
He led a noble train of heroes bold,
To sink the English Admiral and all his fleet.
Now ev'ry valiant mind to vict'ry doth aspire,
The bloody fight's begun, the sea is all on fire
And mighty Fate stood looking on
Whilst a flood, all of blood, filled the scuppers of the Rising Sun.

Sulphur smoke and fire, disturbing the air,
with thunder and wonder affright the Gallic shore;
Their regulated bands stood trembling near,
To see their lofty streamers now no more.
At six o'clock the red, the smiling victors led,
To give a second blow, the fatal overthrow;
Now death and horror equal reign!
Now they cry, run and die; British colours ride the vanquish'd main.

The Sea Fight in Ninety-Two

Subject: Lyr Add: 'Thursday in the morn, the nineteenth...'
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Jan 19 - 11:19 PM

From The Blackbird, Containing One Hundred and Twenty-four Songs, Scots and English (Edinburgh: William Coke, 1771), page 44:

[No title is given; no writer is credited.]

Thursday in the morn, the nineteenth of May,
Recorded for ever the famous ninety-two,
Brave Russell did discern, by dawn of day,
The lofty sails of France advancing now:
All hands aloft, aloft, let English valour shine;
Let fly a culverin, the signal for the line;
Let every hand supply his gun.
Follow me, and you’ll see
That the battle it will be soon begun.

Tourville on the main triumphant roll'd,
To meet the gallant Russell in combat on the deep.
He led a noble train of heroes bold,
To sink the English admiral and his fleet.
Now ev'ry gallant mind to victory doth aspire;
The bloody fight's begun; the sea is all on fire:
And mighty Fate stood looking on;
Whilst a flood, all of blood,
Fill’d the scuppers of the Rising Sun.

Sulphur, smoke, and fire, disturb the air;
With thunder and wonder affright the Gallic shore;
Their regulated bands stood trembling near,
To see the lofty streamers now no more;
At six o'clock, the red the smiling victors led,
To give a second blow, the total overthrow;
And death and horror equal reign.
Now they cry, run or die,
British colours ride the vanquish'd main.

See they fly amaz’d through rocks and sands;
One danger they grasp at, to shun the greater fate.
In vain they cry for aid to weeping lands;
The nymphs and sea-gods mourn their lost estate;
For evermore adieu, thou dazzling Rising Sun,
Form thy untimely end they master’s fate began;
Enough thou mighty God of war!
Now we sing, bless the king,
Let us drink to every British tar.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Russell's Triumph (Sam Ackroyde)
From: Ged Fox
Date: 03 Jan 19 - 12:27 PM

Interesting.

I should have mentioned my source, namely "The Minstrelsy of England," edited by Alfred Moffat with notes by Frank Kidson. My copy is undated, but has an inscription dated 1913.

The note for the song states:
"An early sea song which for over a hundred years enjoyed great popularity. It relates to a victory of the English (under Admiral Russell), combined with the Dutch, over a large French fleet, off Cap La Hogue, on May 19th 1692. The victory was celebrated by Queen Mary by the giving up of her palace at Greenwich for the use of disabled seamen, and by the foundation of the present Greenwich hospital. The song and tune, under the title, "The Sea Fight in '92, 'set by Mr Ackroyde,'" appear in "Pills [to purge melancholy]" iv, 1719, and later on half-sheets and in many song books. Copies of the air vary considerably, especially in the first four bars of the second strain; the earliest and best is here used. In regards to the words, very early versions begin "Early in the morn, the Ides of May." Samuel Ackroyde was a Yorkshireman, whose compositions figure largely in the later publications of Henry Playford and D'Urfey."


How are the mighty fallen! In his heyday, I believe, Ackroyde enjoyed respect only exceeded by that given to Purcell. When I posted my rendering of this song on YouTube I could find on the internet no other recording of any of Ackroyde's compositions.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Russell's Triumph (Sam Ackroyde)
From: Newport Boy
Date: 04 Jan 19 - 01:11 PM

The only thing I knew about Admiral Russell came from an old book of drinks recipes. This had a recipe for Admiral Russell's Punch, reputedly served to the fleet after the battle.

I don't remember the full recipe, but it started:

4 hogsheads brandy!