Dutchman's Call
They had seized the only longboat
When the 'Gelderland' veered round,
As the flames leapt the topgallant,
And then brought the rigging down,
There was panic on the foredeck,
There was panic at the bridge,
When the Royal Charles raked salvoes
She began to roll and pitch.
While the shrapnel from the cannons
Shrieked and tore good men apart,
There were those not so heroic
Who were thinking to desert,
They were Dutch from West Terschelling
Who had never learnt to shoot,
Until the English came to call
On Hans, and Jan de Groot.
They'd left not empty-handed for
The cook, Hans Vandeveer
Had already made provision
For them sailing, free and clear,
With a gallon cask of Advocaat,
Another one of rum,
He called the gunner, Jan de Groot
And said - 'Ve vill be gone! '
They launched the heavy longboat
In the mighty, storm-tossed bay
While the 'Gelderland' went down
With every hand aboard that day,
And they set the only sail to take
Them home to Terschelling,
But Robert Holmes had got there as
The storm was lessening.
The fire ships were many, and
They spread their flames about,
One hundred thirty merchantmen
Went down, without a shout,
The English sacked the little town
The island they called home,
While fleeing, they rowed out to sea
With nowhere left to roam.
The town they'd always called naar huis
Was burning to the ground,
They watched the hated Engelsman
And said: 'Ve'll do zem down! '
They watched their houses burning
[...] Read more
poem by David Lewis Paget
Added by Poetry Lover
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