Pettitt's Poetry Corner: Happy Birthday, Black Tom

(17 January 1612 – 12 November 1671)

SOME LINES ON THE OCCASION OF THE BIRTHDAY OF SIR THOMAS FAIRFAX, BART.

Black Tom! Thou most honoured of men

'Tis now of thee we sing

Of all thy famed exploits in war

And other likewise things -

For on this day we celebrate

Th' anniversary off thy birth

The day on which thy wond'ring eyes

Were opened on this earth.

                       

For lo! Sir Thomas Fairfax

Most generous, even-handed

Of all the brave and noble souls

This unworthy troop commanded

Thou led us on to vict'ry

Brave Tom, at Marston Moor

And overthrew the tyrant KING

In sixteen forty-four

At Naseby, then, in forty-five

Thou pulled it off again

For we did outnumber them

By twice th'amount of men.

But we must also celebrate

Thy other marv'llous gifts

Of poetry and discourse

Of wit both sharp and swift

We celebrate your birthday

O worthy Thomas Fairfax

We hope your cake is full of plums

And your gifts all come in sacks
For as the Lord commandeth

We must not e'er forget it

And so I sing these humble lines

Thy servant, LUCEY PETTITT.