A battell of Birds Most strangly fought in Ireland, vpon the eight day of September last, 1621. where neere vnto the Citty of Corke, by the riuer Le [...], weare gathered together such a multytude of Stares, or Starlings, as the like for number, was neuer seene in any age.
To the tune of Sheres wife. Or to the tune of Bonny Nell.
MArke well, Gods wonderous workes, and see,
what things therein declared be,
Such things as may with trembling feare,
fright all the world, the same to heare:
for like to these, which héere I tell,
no man aliue remembreth well.
The eight day of September last,
which made all Ireland much agast:
Were séene (neere Corke) such flights of Birds,
whose numbers, cannot well by words,
acounted be: for greater store,
was neuer seene, nor knowne before.
The Rights, so many legions séem'd,
as thousand thousands they were déem'd,
All soaring vp, along the skye,
as if the battle were on hie:
in muultytudes, without compare,
which like black clouds, made dim the are.
First from the easterne skyes apeared,
a flight o [...] Stares, which greatly feared,
The p [...]op [...]e there, the same to see,
as like cou [...]d not remembred be:
for they in wardl [...]ke squadroun flew,
as if they others wou [...]d persue.
And as this flight, thus houering lay,
prepared all in battle ray:
From out the west, another came,
as great in number as the same,
and there opposed in warlike might,
themselues against the other flight.
Whereas these Stares, or starling Birds,
for want of Helmetts, Glauess, and Swords,
They vsed their Tallents, Bills, and Be [...]a [...]s
and such a battle vndertakes:
that trembling feare and terror brought,
to all which saw this battle fought.
For first, the Easterne flight sat downe,
with chattering noyes vpon the ground,
As if they challenged, all the rest,
to meete and fight euen brest to brest,
where presently was heard from farre,
the same like chattering sound of warre,
And there vpon the inesterne flight,
doinne by the easterne Birds did light
Where after they a while had set,
together in their Bird like chat,
they all vpon a sudain [...] rose,
and each the other did oppose.
The second part,
to the same tune.
ANd filling thus the Azure skie
with these their troupes vp mounted hie,
They seem'd more thick, then moats ith Sunne,
a dreadfull battle there begun:
and in their kind more strongly fought,
then can immagen'd be by thought.
Thousands of thousands, on a heape,
vpon the others backes did leape,
With all their forced strengths and might,
to put their Bird-like foes to flight:
and as it were in battle ray,
long time they kept them, thus in play.
To fight this battle in the ayre,
their bills and beakes their weapons were,
Which they performed in such a sort,
as makes me doubtfull to report:
that silly Birds should thus arise,
and fight so fircely in the skyes.
But so it was and strange withall.
that Birds should thus at discord fall,
And neuer cease, till they had slaine,
thousands, starke dead vpon the plaine:
where people tooke them vp in feare,
a thing most strange to sée and heare.
With broken wings, some fell to ground,
and some poore silly Birds were found,
With eyes pickt out, struck downe halfe dead,
and some no braines left in their head;
but battered forth, and kil'd out right,
most strangly in this ayery fight.
Yet long with loud and chattering cryes,
each company gainst other flyes:
With bloody beakes, remorselesse still,
their fethered foes to maine or kill,
where whilst this battle did remaine
their bodies fell like dropes of raine.
Thousands were to the Citty borne,
with wounded limbes, and bodies torne:
For all the fields were ouerspread,
with mangled starlings that lay dead.
in bloud and feathers strange to se,
which men tooke vp aboundantly.
It was a wonder to explaine,
the number of them hurt and slaine,
And being a wonder let it rest,
the Lord aboue he knoweth best:
what these poore creatures did intend,
when thus to battle they did bend.
But such a battle nere was fought,
by silly Birds which haue no thought:
In doing ill, nor any mind,
to worke contrary to their kind,
but yet as nature gaue them life,
so here they strangly fell at strife.
What now for trueth is publisht forth
esteeme it as a newes of worth:
And by the wonder of these dayes,
learne to leaue off all wicked wayes,
for sure it is that God it sent,
that of our sinnes we should repent.
FINIS.