Alexander Brome: Collected Lyrics
45 / 77
Public-domain lyrics

The French Report

Alexander Brome

“The French Report” as printed in Rump Songs (1662).

Alexander Brome: Collected Lyrics Text 45 1662 · historical text
Public domainPolitical songHistorical song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from Rump Songs, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Me have of late been in England

Vere me have seen much sport,

De raising of de Parliament,

Have quite pull’d down de Court,

De King and Queen dey seperate,

And rule in Ignorance,

Pray judge ye Gentlemen, if dis

Be a la mode de France.

Verse 2

A vise man dere is like a Ship

Dat strikes upon de shelves,

Dey Prison all, Behead and Whip

All viser den demselves,

Dey send out men to fetch deyr King,

Who may come home perchance,

Oh fye, fye, fye, it is be Gar

Not a la mode de France.

Verse 3

Dey raise deyr Valiant Prentices,

To guard deyr Cause with Clubs,

Dey root deyr Bishops out of doors,

And Presh demselves in Tubs,

De Cobler and de Tinker too,

Dey will in time advance,

Pox take dem all, it is (Mort Dieu)

Not a la mode de France.

Verse 4

Instead of bowing to deyr King,

Dey vex him with Epistles,

Dey furnish all deyr Souldiers out

With Bodkins, Spoons, and Whistles,

Dey bring deyr Gold and Silver in,

De Brownists to advance,

But if dey be cheat of it all,

’Tiz a la mode de France.

Verse 5

But if when all deyr wealth is gone,

Dey turn unto deyr King,

Dey will make all amends again,

Den merrily we will sing,

Vive le roy, vive le roy,

Vee’le Sing, Carouse and Dance,

De English men have done fort Bon,

And a la mode de France.

Credits

Written by Alexander Brome

Words by Alexander Brome. Historical text published in Rump Songs (1662); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

Rump Songs (1662), “The French Report”

This 1662 collection (Rump: or an Exact Collection of the Choycest Poems and Songs Relating to the Late Times, 1639-1661) is credited to Alexander Brome (died 1666); every contributor died more than 330 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide, and the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-26. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
Keep tracing

More from Alexander Brome: Collected Lyrics.

01A CommitteePublic-domain lyrics02A Curtain LecturePublic-domain lyrics03A Dialogue between two Zealots upon the &c. in the OathPublic-domain lyrics04A Loyal Subjects OathPublic-domain lyrics