 | Songs for Sailors |  |
ROOKE IN THE BAY OF LA HOGUE.
May 23rd, 1693.
Boating's always been in vogue,
With us English since La Hogue;
Where no man-of war can float it,
There, to reach them we can boat it,
That by Nelson well was known.
Cochrane that was often showing;
'Tis our English knack, we own,
Slap, at batteries, to be going;
Cutting out just suits our book;
Firing Frenchmen's been in vogue
Ever since we learned from Rooke
How to warm them at La Hogue.
With us English since La Hogue;
Where no man-of war can float it,
There, to reach them we can boat it,
That by Nelson well was known.
Cochrane that was often showing;
'Tis our English knack, we own,
Slap, at batteries, to be going;
Cutting out just suits our book;
Firing Frenchmen's been in vogue
Ever since we learned from Rooke
How to warm them at La Hogue.
Four days we had fought and flogged
Tourville, though at times befogged;
Well had noble Russell fought it,
Badly hadthe Mounseers caught it,
Now, as dusked the twenty-second,
May, 'twas, sixteen ninety-three,
Crowding for La Hogue, they reckoned,
There at last secure they'd be.
So outside we lay all night,
Watching Frenchmen was in vogue
With us, and the dawning light
Showed them anchored in La Hogue.
Tourville, though at times befogged;
Well had noble Russell fought it,
Badly hadthe Mounseers caught it,
44
May, 'twas, sixteen ninety-three,
Crowding for La Hogue, they reckoned,
There at last secure they'd be.
So outside we lay all night,
Watching Frenchmen was in vogue
With us, and the dawning light
Showed them anchored in La Hogue.
Thirteen liners, there they lay,
Broadside to us, up the bay;
Round the shore their army lying,
Batteries all approach defying;
Risky work we'd have, 'twas clear,
Only boats 'twas plain, could do it;
Under Rooke, who had a fear
But we'd soon and well get through it?
He was not the one to doubt;
Weighing risks was not in vogue
With our Rooke who had the bout
With the French at famed La Hogue.
Broadside to us, up the bay;
Round the shore their army lying,
Batteries all approach defying;
Risky work we'd have, 'twas clear,
Only boats 'twas plain, could do it;
Under Rooke, who had a fear
But we'd soon and well get through it?
He was not the one to doubt;
Weighing risks was not in vogue
With our Rooke who had the bout
With the French at famed La Hogue.
From our oars the sunshine flashed,
For their broadsides straight we dashed;
In a hail of death we found us,
Shot and shattered boats around us.
On we strain, with not a cheer
Uttered, till their ports we're under;
Then our tongues we let them hear,
Shout and yell that drowned their thunder.
We were at it now all right,
At the work that was in vogue
With the men Rooke led to fight,
Led to conquer at La Hogue.
For their broadsides straight we dashed;
In a hail of death we found us,
Shot and shattered boats around us.
On we strain, with not a cheer
Uttered, till their ports we're under;
Then our tongues we let them hear,
Shout and yell that drowned their thunder.
We were at it now all right,
At the work that was in vogue
With the men Rooke led to fight,
Led to conquer at La Hogue.
Up their towering sides we swarmed,
‘Sacré Dieu!’ the Mounseers stormed,
But we safety found in daring;
Up we went, their thousands scaring;
All bewildered, panic-struck,
Soon their backs we saw them turning;
Soon we found we were in luck,
Through that night six sail were burning.
If a bonfire you desire
Such as with us was in vogue,
French two and three-deckers fire
As we fired them at La Hogue.
‘Sacré Dieu!’ the Mounseers stormed,
But we safety found in daring;
Up we went, their thousands scaring;
45
Soon their backs we saw them turning;
Soon we found we were in luck,
Through that night six sail were burning.
If a bonfire you desire
Such as with us was in vogue,
French two and three-deckers fire
As we fired them at La Hogue.
As day broke we didn't shirk
Quite to polish off our work;
As the six had burnt, the seven,
One by one, flamed up to heaven;
All that day we fought and fired
Ship on ship, not one sail sparing;
Not a transport; grimed and tired,
From the bay, with red flame flaring,
Then we rowed through lighted night;
Making clean work was in vogue
With our Rooke who fought that fight,
Fought and conquered at La Hogue.
Quite to polish off our work;
As the six had burnt, the seven,
One by one, flamed up to heaven;
All that day we fought and fired
Ship on ship, not one sail sparing;
Not a transport; grimed and tired,
From the bay, with red flame flaring,
Then we rowed through lighted night;
Making clean work was in vogue
With our Rooke who fought that fight,
Fought and conquered at La Hogue.
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