Chapter I: Introduction

The present collection of patriotic songs will, I think, accord with the imperial spirit of the day; for they are representative of the whole British Empire.

It is needless to dwell upon the inspiring energy of song. Since the age of Tyrtæus it has everywhere been recognised as a powerful incentive to valour. A nation can scarcely exist without a national anthem. How characteristic are the anthems of the nations! It may almost be said that the difference of the English and the French nations is expressed by the contrast between _God Save the King_ and the _Marseillaise_. What an influence songs have exercised upon the life of nations! The debt of Scotland to Burns, the debt of Ireland to Moore, is greater than words can tell. Fletcher of Saltoun was perhaps not wrong in his estimate of the songs, as compared with the laws, of a nation.

I am not responsible for the present collection; perhaps, if I had made it, I should have left out some few songs which find a place in it, and should have inserted some few others which do not, but the purpose of it I heartily approve. To consolidate the Empire, and to animate it as a whole with noble ideas, is one of the greatest needs and duties of the present day; and an empire, like an individual, lives not by bread alone, but by its sentiments, its ambitions, its ideals.

J. E. C. CALCUTTA.

_October 1901._

ERRATUM

Page xii, line 6, _for_ ‘an admiral’ _read_ ‘an individual.’

CONTENTS

I.--ENGLAND
PAGE
ANONYMOUS (_c._ 1580).
I. SONG OF THE ENGLISH BOWMEN 3

GEORGE PEELE (1558?-1592?).
II. FAREWELL TO DRAKE AND NORRIS 4

MICHAEL DRAYTON (1563-1631).
III. BALLAD OF AGINCOURT 5
IV. THE VIRGINIAN VOYAGE 8

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564-1616).
V. A PICTURE OF ENGLAND 11
VI. ENGLAND INVINCIBLE 11
VII. ENGLAND AT WAR 12
VIII. WOLSEY TO CROMWELL 17

BALLADS.
IX. BRAVE LORD WILLOUGHBY (_c._ 1590) 18
X. THE HONOUR OF BRISTOL (_c._ 1626) 21

JOHN MILTON (1608-1674).
XI. TO THE LORD GENERAL 24
XII. DELIVERANCE 24

ANDREW MARVELL (1620-1678).
XIII. HORATIAN ODE UPON CROMWELL’S RETURN FROM IRELAND 25
XIV. SONG OF THE EMIGRANTS IN BERMUDA 28

MARTIN PARKER (_ob._ 1656?).
XV. THE KING’S EXILE 30

ANONYMOUS (_c._ 1667).
XVI. HERE’S A HEALTH UNTO HIS MAJESTY 31

JOHN DRYDEN (1631-1701).
XVII. A SONG OF KING ARTHUR 31
XVIII. LONDON IN 1666 32

JAMES THOMSON (1700-1748).
XIX. RULE BRITANNIA 33

JOHN DYER (_c._ 1708).
XX. DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN 34

ANONYMOUS (_c._ 1740).
XXI. GOD SAVE THE KING 34

DAVID GARRICK (1717-1779).
XXII. HEARTS OF OAK 35

WILLIAM COLLINS (1721-1759).
XXIII. THE SLEEP OF THE BRAVE 36

WILLIAM COWPER (1731-1800).
XXIV. BOADICEA 36
XXV. THE _ROYAL GEORGE_ 38

CHARLES DIBDIN (1745-1814).
XXVI. TOM BOWLING 39
XXVII. THE TRUE ENGLISH SAILOR 40
XXVIII. TOM TOUGH 41

ANONYMOUS (_c._ 1750).
XXIX. THE BRITISH GRENADIERS 42

ANONYMOUS (_c._ 1758).
XXX. THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME 43

PRINCE HOARE (1755-1834).
XXXI. THE _ARETHUSA_ 44

WILLIAM BLAKE (1757-1827).
XXXII. JERUSALEM IN ENGLAND 45

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH (1770-1850).
XXXIII. ON LANDING IN ENGLAND 46
XXXIV. DESTINY 47
XXXV. THE MOTHERLAND 47
XXXVI. TO THE MEN OF KENT 48
XXXVII. THE HAPPY WARRIOR 48
XXXVIII. AFTER WATERLOO 50
XXXIX. MERRY ENGLAND 50
XL. HOPE 51

SIR WALTER SCOTT (1771-1832).
XLI. IN MEMORIAM 51

THOMAS DIBDIN (1771-1841).
XLII. THE SNUG LITTLE ISLAND 55
XLIII. THE MERRY SOLDIER 57

ROBERT SOUTHEY (1774-1843).
XLIV. THE STANDARD-BEARER OF THE BUFFS 58

THOMAS CAMPBELL (1777-1844).
XLV. YE MARINERS OF ENGLAND 59
XLVI. THE BATTLE OF THE BALTIC 60
XLVII. MEN OF ENGLAND 62

ALLAN CUNNINGHAM (1785-1842).
XLVIII. THE BRITISH SAILOR’S SONG 63

GEORGE GORDON, LORD BYRON (1788-1824).
XLIX. ON LEAVING ENGLAND 64
L. THE ISLES OF GREECE 65
LI. THE EVE OF WATERLOO 67

CHARLES WOLFE (1791-1823).
LII. THE BURIAL OF SIR JOHN MOORE 69

FELICIA HEMANS (1793-1835).
LIII. THE BENDED BOW 71
LIV. ENGLAND’S DEAD 72

THOMAS BABINGTON, LORD MACAULAY (1800-1859).
LV. THE ARMADA 74
LVI. A JACOBITE’S EPITAPH 77

RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH (1807-1886).
LVII. THE TASK 78
LVIII. THE UNFORGOTTEN 78

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING (1809-1861).
LIX. THE FORCED RECRUIT 80

ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON (1809-1892).
LX. THE ANSWER 81
LXI. FREEDOM 82
LXII. BATTLE SONG 83
LXIII. VICTORIA’S REIGN 83
LXIV. HANDS ALL ROUND 84
LXV. BRITONS, HOLD YOUR OWN! 85
LXVI. WELLINGTON AT ST. PAUL’S 85
LXVII. THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE 87
LXVIII. THE USE OF WAR 89

SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS DOYLE (1810-1888).
LXIX. THE PRIVATE OF THE BUFFS 90

ROBERT BROWNING (1812-1889).
LXX. HOME THOUGHTS, FROM ABROAD 91
LXXI. HOME THOUGHTS, FROM THE SEA 92

CHARLES MACKAY (1814-1889).
LXXII. A SONG OF ENGLAND 92

ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH (1819-1861).
LXXIII. GREEN FIELDS OF ENGLAND 93
LXXIV. THE RALLY 94

CHARLES KINGSLEY (1819-1875).
LXXV. ODE TO THE NORTH-EAST WIND 94

SIR HENRY YULE (1820-1889).
LXXVI. THE _BIRKENHEAD_ 96

WILLIAM CORY (1823-1892).
LXXVII. SCHOOL FENCIBLES 97

WILLIAM WALSHAM HOW (1823-1897).
LXXVIII. A NATIONAL HYMN 99

JOHN KELLS INGRAM (_b._ 1823).
LXXIX. A NATION’S WEALTH 99

SIR FRANKLIN LUSHINGTON (_b._ 1823).
LXXX. THE MUSTER OF THE GUARDS 100

FRANCIS TURNER PALGRAVE (1824-1897).
LXXXI. ALFRED THE GREAT 103
LXXXII. TRAFALGAR 104

SYDNEY DOBELL (1824-1874).
LXXXIII. A SEA ADVENTURE 108

WILLIAM ALEXANDER, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH (_b._ 1824).
LXXXIV. WAR 109

ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER (1825-1864).
LXXXV. THE LESSON OF THE WAR 112

GERALD MASSEY (_b._ 1828).
LXXXVI. SIR RICHARD GRENVILLE’S LAST FIGHT 113

THOMAS EDWARD BROWN (1830-1897).
LXXXVII. LAND, HO! 117

BENN WILKES JONES TREVALDWYN (_b._ 1830).
LXXXVIII. THE _GEORGE_ OF LOOE 118

SIR EDWIN ARNOLD (_b._ 1832).
LXXXIX. THE FIRST DISTRIBUTION OF THE VICTORIA CROSS 120

RICHARD GARNETT (_b._ 1835).
XC. ABROAD 121

WILLIAM SCHWENK GILBERT (_b._ 1836).
XCI. THE ENGLISH GIRL 122

THEODORE WATTS-DUNTON (_b._ 1836).
XCII. THE BREATH OF AVON 123
XCIII. ENGLAND STANDS ALONE 124

ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE (_b._ 1837).
XCIV. ENGLAND 125
XCV. A JACOBITE’S EXILE 126
XCVI. NEW YEAR’S DAY 129
XCVII. TO WILLIAM MORRIS 129

THOMAS HARDY (_b._ 1840).
XCVIII. THE GOING OF THE BATTERY 131

AUSTIN DOBSON (_b._ 1840).
XCIX. BALLAD OF THE ARMADA 132
C. RANK AND FILE 133

ROBERT BRIDGES (_b._ 1844).
CI. THE FAIR BRASS 133

JOHN HUNTLEY SKRINE (_b._ 1848).
CII. THE GENTLE 134
CIII. THE MOTHER AND THE SONS 136

WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY (_b._ 1849).
CIV. ENGLAND, MY ENGLAND 137

ERIC MACKAY (1851-1898).
CV. A SONG OF THE SEA 139

WILLIAM SHARP (_b._ 1856).
CVI. THE BALLAD OF THE RAM 141

SIR RENNELL RODD (_b._ 1858).
CVII. SPRING THOUGHTS 141

WILLIAM WATSON (_b._ 1858).
CVIII. ENGLAND AND HER COLONIES 143

ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE (_b._ 1859).
CIX. THE SONG OF THE BOW 143
CX. A BALLAD OF THE RANKS 144

BARRY PAIN (_b._ 1860).
CXI. OUR DEAD 147

HENRY NEWBOLT (_b._ 1862).
CXII. ADMIRALS ALL 147
CXIII. DRAKE’S DRUM 149
CXIV. A TOAST 150

RUDYARD KIPLING (_b._ 1865).
CXV. THE FLAG OF ENGLAND 150
CXVI. RECESSIONAL 154

LAUCHLAN MACLEAN WATT (_b._ 1867).
CXVII. THE GREY MOTHER 155

GEORGE FREDERIC STEWART BOWLES (_b._ 1877).
CXVIII. THE SONG OF THE SNOTTIES 157

II.--WALES

THOMAS GRAY (1716-1771).
CXIX. THE BARD 161

JAMES HENRY LEIGH HUNT (1784-1859).
CXX. BODRYDDAN 165

FELICIA HEMANS (1793-1835).
CXXI. THE HARP OF WALES 166
CXXII. PRINCE MADOG’S FAREWELL 166

JOHN JONES (1810-1869).
CXXIII. THE MARCH OF THE MEN OF HARLECH 167

SIR LEWIS MORRIS (_b._ 1833).
CXXIV. LLEWELYN AP GRUFFYDD 168

RICHARD BELLIS JONES (1837-1900).
CXXV. RHUDDLAN MARSH 171

EDMUND OSBORNE JONES (_b._ 1858).
CXXVI. LIBERTY 172
CXXVII. THE POETS OF WALES 173

III.--SCOTLAND

ALLAN RAMSAY (1686-1758).
CXXVIII. FAREWELL TO LOCHABER 177

JEAN ELLIOT (1727-1805).
CXXIX. THE FLOWERS OF THE FOREST 177

ANNE MACIVAR GRANT (1755-1838).
CXXX. THE HIGHLAND LADDIE 178

ROBERT BURNS (1759-1796).
CXXXI. MY HEART’S IN THE HIGHLANDS 180
CXXXII. BRUCE TO HIS MEN AT BANNOCKBUR 180
CXXXIII. THE DUMFRIES VOLUNTEERS 181
CXXXIV. THEIR GROVES O’ SWEET MYRTLE 182

SIR WALTER SCOTT (1771-1832).
CXXXV. THE OUTCAST 183
CXXXVI. FLODDEN FIELD 183
CXXXVII. GATHERING-SONG OF DONALD THE BLACK 185
CXXXVIII. OVER THE BORDER 186
CXXXIX. BONNIE DUNDEE 187
CXL. WAR-SONG 189

JOHN LEYDEN (1775-1811).
CXLI. ODE ON VISITING FLODDEN 190

ALLAN CUNNINGHAM (1785-1842).
CXLII. LOYALTY 193

ANONYMOUS (_c._ 1790).
CXLIII. THE CAMPBELLS ARE COMIN’ 193

ROBERT GILFILLAN (1798-1850).
CXLIV. MY AIN COUNTRIE 194

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON (1850-1894).
CXLV. IN THE HIGHLANDS 195
CXLVI. EXILED 196

NEIL MUNRO (_b._ 1864).
CXLVII. TO EXILES 196

JACOBITE SONGS

ANONYMOUS.
CXLVIII. THE KING OVER THE WATER 198
CXLIX. WELCOME, ROYAL CHARLIE! 199
CL. CAM’ YE BY ATHOL? 199
CLI. LADY KEITH’S LAMENT 200

ROBERT BURNS (1759-1796).
CLII. O’ER THE WATER TO CHARLIE 201
CLIII. A SONG OF EXILE 202
CLIV. KENMURE’S MARCH 202
CLV. A JACOBITE’S FAREWELL 203

CAROLINA, BARONESS NAIRN (1766-1845).
CLVI. CHARLIE IS MY DARLING 204
CLVII. WHA’LL BE KING BUT CHARLIE? 205

WILLIAM GLEN (1789-1826).
CLVIII. WAE’S ME FOR PRINCE CHARLIE 205

HAROLD BOULTON (_b._ 1859).
CLIX. SKYE BOAT-SONG 207

SARAH ROBERTSON MATHESON.
CLX. A KISS OF THE KING’S HAND 207

IV.--IRELAND

OLIVER GOLDSMITH (1725-1774).
CLXI. HOME 211

ANONYMOUS (_c._ 1798).
CLXII. THE WEARIN’ O’ THE GREEN 211

THOMAS MOORE (1779-1852).
CLXIII. THE MINSTREL BOY 212
CLXIV. A SONG OF THE IRISH 213
CLXV. DEPARTED GLORY 213
CLXVI. THE CHOICE 214
CLXVII. A SONG OF TRUE LOVE 215
CLXVIII. TO ERIN 215
CLXIX. THE MINSTREL TO HIS HARP 216

CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH TONNA (1790-1846).
CLXX. THE MAIDEN CITY 216

JAMES CLARENCE MANGAN (1803-1849).
CLXXI. KINCORA 218
CLXXII. DARK ROSALEEN 219

HELEN, LADY DUFFERIN (1807-1867).
CLXXIII. THE BAY OF DUBLIN 222
CLXXIV. LAMENT OF THE IRISH EMIGRANT 222

SIR SAMUEL FERGUSON (1810-1886).
CLXXV. O’BYRNE’S BARD TO THE CLANS OF WICKLOW 224
CLXXVI. THE HILLS OF IRELAND 225

THOMAS DAVIS (1814-1845).
CLXXVII. MY LAND 226
CLXXVIII. THE DEAD CHIEF 227

AUBREY DE VERE (_b._ 1814).
CLXXIX. THE LITTLE BLACK ROSE 229

JOHN KELLS INGRAM (_b._ 1823).
CLXXX. THE MEMORY OF THE DEAD 229
CLXXXI. NATIONAL PRESAGE 231

GEORGE SIGERSON (_b._ 1839).
CLXXXII. THE FLIGHT OF THE EARLS 231
CLXXXIII. LAMENT FOR EOGHAN RUA O’NEILL 232

GEORGE FRANCIS SAVAGE-ARMSTRONG (_b._ 1845).
CLXXXIV. THE OLD COUNTRY 233

ALFRED PERCEVAL GRAVES (_b._ 1846).
CLXXXV. THE SONGS OF ERIN 234

JOHN KEEGAN CASEY (1846-1870).
CLXXXVI. THE RISING OF THE MOON 235

THOMAS WILLIAM ROLLESTON (_b._ 1857).
CLXXXVII. THE DEAD AT CLONMACNOIS 236

KATHARINE TYNAN HINKSON (_b._ 1861).
CLXXXVIII. SHAMROCK SONG 237

LIONEL JOHNSON (_b._ 1867).
CLXXXIX. WAYS OF WAR 239

V.--CANADA

WILLIAM WYE SMITH (_b._ 1827).
CXC. THE CANADIANS ON THE NILE 243

DUNCAN ANDERSON (_b._ 1828).
CXCI. THE DEATH OF WOLFE 244

SARAH ANNE CURZON (1833-1898).
CXCII. THE LOYALISTS 246

THEODORE HARDING RAND (1835-1900).
CXCIII. THE WHITETHROAT 247

ANNIE ROTHWELL CHRISTIE (_b._ 1837).
CXCIV. WELCOME HOME 248

CLIVE PHILLIPPS-WOLLEY (_b._ 1855).
CXCV. THEIR TESTAMENT 249

CHARLES GEORGE DOUGLAS ROBERTS (_b._ 1860).
CXCVI. CANADA 250

WILLIAM WILFRED CAMPBELL (_b._ 1861).
CXCVII. ENGLAND 252
CXCVIII. THE WORLD-MOTHER 254

FREDERICK GEORGE SCOTT (_b._ 1861).
CXCIX. QUEBEC 258
CC. IN MEMORIAM 258

FRANCIS SHERMAN (_b._ 1871).
CCI. A WORD FROM CANADA 260

ARTHUR STRINGER (_b._ 1874).
CCII. CANADA TO ENGLAND 262

STUART LIVINGSTON (_b._ 1876).
CCIII. THE CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS 262

VI.--INDIA

SHOSHEE CHUNDER DUTT (1824-1883).
CCIV. THE HINDU’S ADDRESS TO THE GANGES 267

SIR ALFRED LYALL (_b._ 1835).
CCV. THEOLOGY IN EXTREMIS 268

WILLIAM TREGO WEBB (_b._ 1847).
CCVI. THE RESIDENCY CHURCHYARD 272
CCVII. THE MEMORIAL WELL 273
CCVIII. SPRING IN CALCUTTA 274

JOHN RENTON DENNING (_b._ 1858).
CCIX. THE LUCKNOW GARRISON 275
CCX. SOLDIERS OF IND 276
CCXI. SARANSAR 278

RUDYARD KIPLING (_b._ 1865).
CCXII. THE GALLEY-SLAVE 280

VII.--SOUTH AFRICA

THOMAS PRINGLE (1789-1834).
CCXIII. THE DESOLATE VALLEY 285

WILLIAM JOHN COURTHOPE (_b._ 1842).
CCXIV. ENGLAND IN SOUTH AFRICA 286

WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY (_b._ 1849).
CCXV. FOR A GRAVE IN SOUTH AFRICA 286

ARTHUR VINE HALL (_b._ 1862).
CCXVI. ON LEAVING TABLE BAY 286

HILDA MARY AGNES COOK (_b._ 1865).
CCXVII. THE RELIEF OF MAFEKING 287

ROBERT RUSSELL (_b._ 1867).
CCXVIII. THE VANGUARD 288

VIII.--AUSTRALIA

GERALD HENRY SUPPLE (1822-1898).
CCXIX. DAMPIER’S DREAM 293

ADAM LINDSAY GORDON (1833-1870).
CCXX. BY FLOOD AND FIELD 295

JAMES BRUNTON STEPHENS (_b._ 1835).
CCXXI. FULFILMENT 297

PERCY RUSSELL (_b._ 1847).
CCXXII. THE BIRTH OF AUSTRALIA 299

HENRY LAWSON (_b._ 1867).
CCXXIII. THE WAR OF THE FUTURE 300

ARTHUR MAQUARIE (_b._ 1876).
CCXXIV. A FAMILY MATTER 302

ARTHUR ADAMS.
CCXXV. THE DWELLINGS OF OUR DEAD 303

WILLIAM OGILVIE.
CCXXVI. THE BUSH, MY LOVER 305

GEORGE ESSEX EVANS.
CCXXVII. A FEDERAL SONG 307

JOHN BERNARD O’HARA.
CCXXVIII. FLINDERS 308
CCXXIX. THE AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH 309

IX.--NEW ZEALAND

THOMAS BRACKEN (_b._ 1843).
CCXXX. NEW ZEALAND HYMN 315

ALEXANDER BATHGATE (_b._ 1845).
CCXXXI. OUR HERITAGE 316

ELEANOR ELIZABETH MONTGOMERY.
CCXXXII. TO ONE IN ENGLAND 317
CCXXXIII. A VOICE FROM NEW ZEALAND 318

NOTES 323

INDEX OF FIRST LINES 357

I

ENGLAND

ANONYMOUS