To the Good Old Tune of " Green-sleeves "

The news from abroad does a secret reveal,
Which has been confirmed both at Dover and Deal,
That one Mr. Matthew, once called plain Mat,
Has been doing at Paris the Lord knows what.
But sure what they talk of his negotiation,
Is only intended to banter the nation:
For why have we spent so much treasure in vain.
If now at the last we must give up Spain,
If now we must give up Spain?

Why so many battles did Marlborough win?
So many strong towns why did he take in?
Why did he his army to Germany lead,
The crown to preserve on the emperor's head?
Why does he the honor of England advance?
And why has he humbled the monarch of France
By passing the lines and taking Bouchain,
If now at the last we must give up Spain,
If now we must give up Spain?

Our stocks were so high and our credit so good
(I mean all the while our late ministry stood),
That foreigners hither their money did send,
And bankers abroad took a pleasure to lend.
But though all the service was duly supplied,
And nought was embezzled or misapplied,
By all that wise management what shall we gain,
If now at the last we must give up Spain,
If now we must give up Spain?

We made this alliance, as well it is known,
That Austria's great house might recover their own:
King Charles is part of this kingdom possessed,
And Bouchain would quickly fright France from the rest.
For sure the whole nation by this time must know,
The way to Madrid is by Paris to go;
But why have we made such a glorious campaign,
If now at the last we must give up Spain,
If now we must give up Spain?

All treaties with France may be sung or be said,
Tomorrow they'll break what today they have made;
And therefore our senate did wisely address
That none should be made while they Spain did possess.
The queen too to them did last sessions declare,
That Spain ought to be their particular care:
But speeches, addresses and senates are vain,
If now at the last we must give up Spain,
If now we must give up Spain.
By giving up Spain, we give up all our trade;

In vain would they tell us a treaty is made
For yielding us forts in the distant South Seas,
To manage our traffic with safety and ease.
No lies are too gross for such impudent fellows,
Of forts in the moon as well they might tell us;
Since France at her pleasure may take them again,
If now at the last we must give up Spain,
If now we must give up Spain.

Some lords were impeached for a famous partition,
Which kept the allies in far better condition;
For then of raw silk we were only bereft,
But now neither silver nor gold will be left.
If that treaty then did impeachment require,
Sure this calls at least for the rope or the fire;
Since British had never such cause to complain,
If now at the last we must give up Spain,
If now we must give up Spain.

When Petticum to Paris did openly go,
What doubts and what jealousies did we not show:
How loudly did we against Holland exclaim,
Yet surely our statesmen are now more to blame.
For how can they think our allies will not fire
At privately sending that Machiavel Prior,
Who richly deserves to be whipped for his pain,
If now at the last we must give up Spain,
If now we must give up Spain?

Since matters stand thus, I am sorely afraid,
Whenever this scandalous peace shall be made,
Our senate for Cato will quickly decree
Some punishment worse than a sting of a bee.
Poor Mat in the pillory soon will be seen
For Mortimer too, Oh! well had it been
That he in his hole had been pleased to remain,
If now at the last we must give up Spain,
If now we must give up Spain.