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The winter at their ease.
But to Sir Mac. we now return,
From whom we’ve strayed too long;
This verse, I think, will just conclude
The middle of my song.
Mackenzie and his rebel gang
In Doel’s brewery met,
“A bung-hole pack,” Jim Dalton calls
This mischief-brewing set.
And there they laid down all their plans
Of this great revolution,
And destined Rolph to be the head
Of their new Constitution.
At length unto this crew the Knight
A flaming speech addressed,
And told the plan which after all
Did unto him seem best.
Said he: “My true and trusty friends,
Though we have promised been
Reform these many years, yet we
Reform have never seen.
“So now, my lads, no longer we
In anxious doubt must wait,
The time has come for pulling down
The Church, the Queen, and State.
“For vote by ballot we must have,
And stars and garters too,
And we must hang Sir Francis Head,
With all his Tory crew.
“I’ve written round to all my friends
That they should ready be,
And as of them we are now sure
We’ll gain the victory.
“The Tories all securely sleep,
And dream they’ve naught to fear,
Nor little think that to their end
They now are drawing near.
“John Strachan now is quite at rest,
And Robinson likewise;
But soon at Freedom’s shrine of them
We’ll make a sacrifice.
“The red-coats, too, are far away,
Removed from every station,
And now it is our time to burst
From ‘hateful domination.’
“The Yankees also are prepared
To lend a helping hand
To breed confusion and dismay
Throughout this happy land.
“And now, my friends, in right good truth,
We’ve little time to spare,
Go quick, collect your several bands
And arm them with great care.”
When he had done, all gave a shout
To show their courage high,
And then obedient to his words
In various paths they fly.
The blacksmith Lount, he active was
Both spears and swords to make,
And General Duncombe hoped that soon
Fort Malden he might take.
Mackenzie to mail-robbing took—
A most delightful trade
For one who every blackguard art
Erstwhile had well essayed.
And when he got three hundred men,
All brave ones as himself,
He then marched to Toronto town
To see and gain some pelf.
Their gallant deeds and gallant acts
I’m sure I need not tell,
How full four hundred armed men
Ran from the College bell.
Nor how full thirty men at least
Did one old man attack,
Nor dared to fight him face to face,
But shot him in the back.
How good Sir Frank a flag of truce
With Rolph and Baldwin sent
Unto the rebel camp, to ask
Them what was their intent;
And how they (prompted by the twain)
Declared ’twas their intention
To settle all the State affairs
By General Convention.
And then Toronto in a blaze
They threatened for to set,
But nearer than Montgomery’s
They ne’er to it could get.
’Twas on the seventh of that month
Which we do call December,
Sir Francis Head led out his men—
That day we’ll long remember.
And then ’twas glorious fun to see
What rabble rout could do—
They every man took to his heels,
The word was, Sauve qui peut.
Some hundred taken prisoners were
On that eventful day;
Sir Francis with too kind a heart
He let them all away.
But “Which way did the leaders run?”
I think I hear you ask;
To tell which way they took, I ween,
Would be an arduous task.
Soon as the news of this outbreak
Had gone the country through,
It was a glorious sight to see
How quick to arms they flew;
And ’mongst the foremost in the ranks
To quell the rebel band,
Old Erin’s dauntless shamrock stood
A guardian of the land.
And then was seen old England’s rose
In all its pride and glory;
And Scotland’s thistle, which is known
In many a deathless story.
And with them joined thy valiant sons,
My own adopted land,
To form around the Queen and laws
A glorious valiant band.
MacNab his gallant volunteers
Led anxious to the fight,
And all the west poured in her troops
To stand in freedom’s right.
Newcastle, too, her quota sent
Of men both good and true;
In truth it was a cheering sight
Their bearing high to view.
Of Cobourg, too, I needs must sing,
Which on that trying
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