This is actually one of Thomas Delone's songs. What's interesting about this particular song is that it deals with a rebellion against the legitimate king of England with the message that outright defiance is sometimes necessary to preserve ancient liberties.
The music is based on the score in Popular Music of the Olden Time (William Chapell, 1859) and sequenced by myself. The lyrics are from Thomas Delone's Strange Histories (1602), with the spelling somewhat modernized.
When as the Duke of Normandy With glistering spear and shield Had entered into fair England, And foiled his foes in field On Christmas day, in solemn sort Then was he crowned here, By Albert Archbishop of York With many a noble Peer. Which being done he changed quite The custom of the land And punished such as daily sought His statutes to withstand. And many cities he subdued Fair London with the Rest And Kent did still withstand his force Which did his laws detest. To Dover then he took his way The castle down to fling. Which Arviragus builded there, The noble Britain King Which when the brave Archbishop bold Of Canterbury knew, The Abbot of St. Austin's eke With all their gallant crew. They set themselves in armor bright These mischiefs to prevent With all the Yeoman brave and bold That were in fruitful kent. At Canterbury they did meet Upon a certain day With sword and spear, with bill and bow And stopped the Conqueror's way. Let us not live like Bondmen poor To Frenchmen in their pride But keep our ancient liberty What chance so ere betide And rather die in bloody field In manlike courage pressed Then to endure the servile yoke Which we so much detest. Thus did the Kentish commons cry Unto their leaders still And so marched forth in warlike sort And stood at Swanscomb hill. Where in the woods they did themselves Under the shady green, Thereby to get them vantage good Of all their foes unseen. And for the conqueror's coming there, They privily laid wait And thereby suddenly appalled His lofty high conceit, For when they spied his approach In place as they did stand Then marched they to hem him in, Each one a bough in hand. So that unto the conqueror's fight Amazed as he stood They seemed to be a walking grove, Or else a moving wood. The shape of men he could not see The boughs did hide them so. And now his heart with fear did quake To see a forest go. Before, behind, and on each side As he did cast his eye He spied the woods with sober pace Approach to him full nigh, But when the Kentishmen had thus Enclosed the Conqueror round, Most suddenly they drew their swords And threw their boughs to ground. Their banners they displayed in spite, Their trumpets sound a charge Their rattling drums strike up alarm, Their troops stretched out at large The conqueror with all his train Were hereat fore aghast And most in peril, when he thought All peril had been past. Unto the Kentishmen he sent The cause to understand. For what intent and for what cause They took this war in hand? To whom they made this short reply For liberty we fight, And to enjoy King Edwards Laws The which we hold our right. Then said the dreadful conqueror You shall have what you will Your ancient customs and your laws So that you will be still. And each thing else that you will crave With reason at my hand So you will but acknowledge me Chief king of fair England The Kentishmen agreed hereon And laid their arms aside And by this means, King Edwards's laws In Kent doth still abide And in no place in England else Those customs do remain Which they by manly policy Did of Duke William gain.