Sack of Southampton

©Rob Sibthorpe

In thirteen hundred and thirty-eight on the fourth day of October
There came a fleet of fifty galleys upon Southampton Water,
They landed at the Gravel, close by the western shore,
Came rushing up old Bull Street, into the town did pour.
 
So come you bold Southampton men, listen to the call,
 You'd better be quick when you build your walls
 Or you'll do no building at all.

They slew the children in the streets and the women in the houses,
They stabbed the holy congregation running from St Michael's;
They filled the town with fire, and filled the men with dread,
The burgesses, like cowards, to the countryside had fled.
 
So come you bold …..

All that day they wreaked their will with fire and sword and dagger,
While the men of old Southampton outside the town did gather;
Their numbers swelled by volunteers from the countryside all round,
"At dawn we'll be back and we'll take revenge for the sacking of our town."
 So come you bold ……

By dawn the French and Spaniards and the other bold invaders
Slept exhausted from a day and night of evil favours;
When suddenly the English came storming through the town,
They drove the pirates to the sea and they cut the stragglers down.
 
So come you bold …….

In thirteen hundred and thirty-eight on the fourth day of October
There came a fleet of fifty galleys upon Southampton Water;
And for a while they held the town, but gave the town away,
Leaving homes and lives destroyed that flourished yesterday.
 
So come you bold Southampton men, listen to the call,
 You'd better be quick when you build your walls
 Or you'll do no building, you'll do no building,
you'll do no building at all.