XIX. MARY AM BREE. In the year 1584, the Spaniards, under the command of Alexander Farnefe prince of Parma, began to gain great advantages in Flanders and Brabant, by recovering many frong holds and cities from the Hollanders, as Ghent, (called then by the English GAUNT,) Antwerp, Mechlin, &c. See Stow's Annals, p 711. Some attempt made with the affiftance of English volunteers to retrieve the former of thofe places probably gave occafion to this ballad I can find no mention of our heroine in history, but the following rhymes rendered her famous among our poets. Ben Jonson often mentions her, and calls any remarkable virago by her name. See his Epicane, firft acted in 1609, A&t 4, sc. 2. His Tale of a Tub, A&t v, fc. 1. And his mafque intitled the Fortunate Ifles, 1626, where he quotes the very words of the ballad, MARY AMBREE, (Who marched fo free Were a braver wight, &c. She is alfo mentioned in Fletcher's Scornful Lady, AЯ 5, fub finem. "My large gentlewoman, my MARY AMBREE, "had I but feen into you, you should have had another bed. fellow.' 66 It is likewife evident, that he is the virago intended by Butler in Hudibras (P. 1, c. 3, v. 36;.), by her being coupled with Joan d'Arc, the celebrated Pucelle d'Orleans. A bold virago ftout and tall As Joan of France, or English Mall, This ballad is printed from a black letter copy in the Pepys Collection, improved from the Editor's folio MS. and by conjecture. The full title is, "The valerous acts performed at Gaunt by the brave bonnie lafs Mary Ambree, "who in revenge of her lovers death did play her part moft "gallantly. The tune is, The blind beggar, &c." 66 WHEN WHEN captaines couragious, whom death cold Did march to the fiege of the citty of Gaunt, When brave Sir John Major * was flaine in her fight, 5 She clothed herselfe from the top to the toe A helmett of proofe flee frait did provide, 10 On her hand a goodly faire gauntlett put shee; Sa MS. Serjeant Major in PC. + A peculiar kind of armour, compofed of small rings of iron, and worn under the cloaths. It is mentioned by Spencer, who speaks of the Irish Gallowglafs or Foot-foldier as armed in a long Shirt of Mayl." (View of the State of Ireland.) Then Then tooke thee her fworde and her targett in hand, My foldiers, fhe faith, foe valiant and bold, Was not this a brave bonny laffe, Mary Ambree? Then cryed out her fouldiers, and loude they did fay, 25 Thy harte and thy weapons foe well do agree, Shee cheared her fouldiers, that foughten for life, Before I will fee the worst of you all To come into danger of death, or of thrall, This hand and this life I will venture fo free: 35 Was not this a brave bonny laffe, Mary Ambree? Shee led upp her souldiers in battaile array, Gainst three times theyr number by breake of the daye; Seven howers in fkirmish continued shee: Was not this a brave bonny laffe, Mary Ambree ? 40 She She filled the fkyes with the fmoke of her fhott, And when her falfe gunner, to fpoyle her intent, 45 Away all her pellets and powder had fent, Straight with her keen weapon fee flafht him in three: Was not this a brave bonny laffe, Mary Ambree ? Being falfelye betrayed for lucre of hyre, At length she was forced to make a retyre; 5° Her foes they befett her on everye side, 55 Then tocke fhee her fword and her targett in hand, 60 Now faye, English captaine, what woldeft thou give Ye Ye captaines couragious, of valour fo bold, 65 No captaine of England; behold in your fight But art thou a woman, as thou dost declare, The prince of Great Parma heard of her renowne, But this virtuous mayden defpifed them all, The whore of a monarcke, quoth Mary Ambree. 75 80 Then to her owne country shee backe did returne, 85 XX. BRAVE |