The royal victory, obtained, with the providence of almighty God, against the Dutch-fleet, June the second 1665
(Tune: Packington's Pound)
TYPE | 3 - Complex Melody |
TOPIC | Military Victory |
TUNE STRUCTURE | A8 B8 C8 |
VERSE STRUCTURE | 11v 7l + 21 ch |
TIME SIGNATURE | 34 |
KEY SIGNATURE | ♭ |
TONAL CENTRE | D |
INCIPIT | GAB♭AF♯DGAB♭AF♯D |
GENRE | Ballad |
TEXT SOURCE | 'The royal victory, obtained, with the providence of almighty God, against the Dutch-fleet' (Dublin, 1665). National Library of Ireland LO Folder 7/36. National Library of Ireland LO Folder 7/36 |
TUNE SOURCE | William Barley, A new book of tablature for the orpharion (London, 1596), Part II C4v. British Library K.1.c.18. British Library K.1.c.18. [second section] |
FIRST LINE | Let England, and Ireland, and Scotland rejoyce |
NOTATED INCIPIT | |
This 1665 song celebrates the famous naval victory of the Battle of Lowestoft, with James, Duke of York, as Lord High Admiral. Its first line appeals to a sense of national unity – ‘Let England, and Ireland, and Scotland rejoyce’ – which explains its Dublin reprinting. The earliest source for the tune ‘Packington’s Pound’ is from William Barley’s A New Booke of Tablature (1596). The tune would become the most popular ballad tune of the seventeenth century. Claude Simpson explains its popularity in writing: ‘Like “Lilliburlero”, it calls for a long stanza, but the anapaestic rhythm is fluid and the movement rapid, even when the tune is sung slowly’ (The British Broadside Ballad and its Music, 1966, p.565). This is the first known Dublin-printed song to this tune. Subsequent Dublin printings of songs to this tune include: • 'Ireland’s Warning, being an excellent new Song, upon Wood’s base half-pence. To the Tune of Packington’s Pound' (Dublin: J. Harding, [1724]). • 'Blue-Skin’s Ballad. To the tune of Packington’s Pound' (Dublin, 1724-5). • 'A new Norfolk ballad. By Sir Francis Walsingham’s ghost. To the tune of Packington’s Pound' ([Dublin:] 1730). • The pall-Mall miscellany. Containing many curious pieces in prose and verse; with variety of new songs, adapted to old ballad tunes and country dances. Amongst about 20 others are the following. […] Rich Heiress. A Ballad. To the Tune of, Packington’s Pound ([Dublin]: London printed and Dublin: reprinted Christopher Dickson, 1732). • Jonathan Swift, 'An Excellent New Song on a seditious Pamphlet. To the Tune of Packington’s Pound. Written in the Year 1720', published in The Works of Jonathan Swift D.D., D.S.P.D. in four volumes (Dublin: George Faulkner, 1735), II, p.358. Text Facsimile reproduced with permission of the National Library of Ireland. |