Songs of Action

[The French Army, including a part of the Irish Brigade, under Marshal Villeroy, held the fortified town of Cremona during the winter of 1702. Prince Eugène, with the Imperial Army, surprised it one morning, and, owing to the treachery of a priest, occupied the whole city before the alarm was given. Villeroy was captured, together with many of the French garrison. The Irish, however, consisting of the regiments of Dillon and of Burke, held a fort commanding the river gate, and defended themselves all day, in spite of Prince Eugène’s efforts to win them over to his cause. Eventually Eugène, being unable to take the post, was compelled to withdraw from the city.]

The Grenadiers of Austria are proper men and tall; The Grenadiers of Austria have scaled the city wall; They have marched from far away Ere the dawning of the day, And the morning saw them masters of Cremona.

There’s not a man to whisper, there’s not a horse to neigh; Of the footmen of Lorraine and the riders of Duprés, They have crept up every street, In the market-place they meet, They are holding every vantage in Cremona.

The Marshal Villeroy he has started from his bed; The Marshal Villeroy has no wig upon his head; ‘I have lost my men!’ quoth he, ‘And my men they have lost me, And I sorely fear we both have lost Cremona.’