Cromwell’s Ironsides

Cromwell’s Ironsides

Where in War’s annals doth old records show

An army like the Ironsides? They were
Brave stalwart yeomanry, who could both pray
And fight for the good cause; expound a text,
Or handle sword or carbine dextrously, 5
No mere hirelings they, battling for lucre
Or for martial fame; truest heroes they,
Who wish’d for Peace to their loved native Land
With Civil and Religious Liberty,
Which lacking these can be no home for Peace; 10
For she can only dwell with Liberty.
On every battle plain they proved their might;
Whene’er they charged, the foeman soon gave way,
Falling or fleeing at their bold attack;
And never was an army half so free 15
From vices which too oft defile a camp.
What wonder, when they went to fight abroad,
That the luxurious King of France should take
A journey to behold such matchless men,
Which put to shame e’en his grand soldiery. 20
And when, betray’d by Monk and traitors vile,
Their darling Cromwell to heaven gone, but left
No fitting arm to gather up the reins
Which he so well had held; they saw once more
The worthless debauchees of royalty 25
Foisted upon their country—Milton then,
And other patriots, for a time compell’d
To hide themselves; and scaffolds freely raised
To brutally butcher, with gross cruelty,
Many of England’s wisest, truest sons; 30
And even the graves of good men were defiled,
To please the malice of the roistering crew.
How their brave hearts would sicken at the wrong
That fell upon their country! Not in vain
Was their devotion. Never once in vain 35
Was ever true word spoken or action done;
And for all time Cromwell’s brave “Ironsides”
Are helping on the progress of the world.
Blank verse [in M/S], p. 65-66.

George Markham Tweddell