MARY AMBREE

When captains courageous, whom death could not daunt,
Did march to the siege of the city of Gaunt,
They muster'd their soldiers by two and by three,
And the formost in battle was Mary Ambree.

When brave Sir John Major was slain in her sight,
Who was her true lover, her joy, and delight,
Because he was slain most treacherously,
She vow'd to revenge him, did Mary Ambree

She clothed herself from the top to the toe
, In buff of the bravest, more seemly to show;
A fair shirt of mail then slipped on she,
Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree?

A helmet of proof she straight did provide,
A strong arming sword she girt by her side,
And on each hand a goodly fair gauntlet put she;
Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree?

Then took she her sword and her target in hand,
Bidding all such as would to be sworn of her hand;
To wait on her person came thousand and three:
Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree?

"My soldiers," she saith, "So valiant and bold,
Now follow your captain, whom you do behold;
Still foremost in battle myself will I be";
Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree?

Then cry'd out her soldiers, and loud they did say,
"So well thou becomest this gallant array,
Thy heart and thy weapons so well do agree
There was none that was ever like Mary Ambree."

She cheered her soldiers who foughten for life,
With ensign and standard, with drum and with fyfe,
With brave clanging trumpets, that sounded so free;
Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree?

"Before I will see the worst of you all
To come into danger of death or a thrall,
This hand and this life I will venture so free":
Was not this a brave bonny las, Mary Ambree?

She led up her soldiers in battle array
Gainst three times their number by break of the day;
Seven hours in skirmish continued she:
Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree?

She filled the skies with the smoke of her shot,
And her enemies' bodies with bullets so hot;
For one of her own men a score killed she:
Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree?

And when her false gunner, to spoil her intent,
Away all her pellets and powder had sent,
Straight with her keen weapon she slashed him in three;
Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree?

Being falsely betrayed for lucre of hire,
At length she was forced to make a retire;
Then her soldiers into a strong castle drew she:
Was not this a brave bonny lass, Mary Ambree?

Her foes they beset her on every side,
As thinking close siege she could never abide;
To beat down the walls they all did decree:
But stoutly defied them brave Mary Ambree.

Then took she her sword and her target in hand,
And mounting the walls all undaunted did stand,
There daring their captains to match any three:
O what a brave captain was Mary Ambree!

"Now say English captain, what wouldest thou give
To ransom thyself, which else must not live?
Come yeild thyself quickly, or slain thou must be."
O then smiled sweetly brave Mary Ambree.

"Ye captains courageous, of valor so bold,
Whom think you before you now you do behold?"-
"A knight, sir, of England, and captain so free,
Who shortly with us a prisoner must be."-

"No captain of England; behold in your sight
Two breasts in my bosom, and therefore no knight:
No knight, sirs, of England, nor captain you see,
But a poor simple lass, called Mary Ambree."

"But art though a woman, as thou dost declare,
Whose valor hath prov'd so undaunted in war?
If England doth yield such brave lasses as thee,
Full well may they conquer, fair Mary Ambree!"

Then to her own country she back did return,
Still holding the foes of fair England in scorn:
Therefore English captains of every degree,
Sing forth the brave valors of Mary Ambree!

Found in the Delphian Text, 1929 Edition, volume 17, pages 82-85.