It's a very important song to some - being the first-in- type (well, the 1st fully developed & with tune) of the female warrior-sailor. The prime of all the female warrior/soldier/sailor songs. (See Dugaw) Not totally the first song & not by 100 years the first well-recorded event but prime.

I've been seeking historical details for some time & would much appreciate it if any have any.

We know of the extensive warfare at that place & time - largely of the Spanish trying to maintain its hold on the low countries. Not only is Ambree's name unknown, I haven't really been able to confirm English & especially English naval action there. (They would have been on the Defence team.)

We know the Spaniard Farnese of Parma lay siege to Ghent in 1584 but I can't find the exact date.

I have this e-mail response from the Official Tourist Service of Gent, 20 Jan 1997:

We have got a letter of the Archives of the City. The Reconciliation was on 17 August 1585. No British armee was there, exept some Scottisch who fighted at Lillo. All the others were Italians, Spanish, French.

Paul Cornelis.