G'day DT Polishers all,

In a helpful reply on a totally different song, Malcolm Douglas' link had an early copy of this song, which has *asterisks* indicating doubtful words to the person who transcribed it from the singing of Fairport Convention. The broadside The Dke of Marlborough fills in a few of these and I have shown them in bold in the version below.

There are differences in the version, but these might solve some of the worriesome words.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

LORD MARLBOROUGH (The Duke of Marlborough, fron a broadside (` 1830? printed by H. Disley, St Giles)

You generals all and champions bold that takes delight in the field
That knocks down churches and castle walls but now to death must yield
We must go and face our daring foes and sword and with shield
I often fought with my merry men but now to death must yield.

I am an Englishman by birth, Lord Marlborough is my name
And I was brought up in London town, a place of noted fame
I was beloved by all my men, kings and princes likewise
And then all the towns we took to all the world's surprise

King Charles the Second I did serve to face our foes in France
And at the battle of Ramilies we boldly did advance
The sun was down, the earth did quake, so loudly did he cry
"Fight on, my boys, for old England's sake, we'll conquer or we'll die"

But now we gain for victory and bravely kept the field
We took great numbers of prisoners and forced them all to yield
That very day my horse got shot, 'twas by a musket ball
And as I mounted up again, my aide-de-camp did fall

Now I on a bed of sickness lie, I am resigned to die
You generals all and champions bold stand true as well as I
Take no bribes, stand true to your men and fight with courage bold"
I led my men through smoke and fire but never was bribed with gold