Notes. After the failure of the English assault on the citadel of St. Martin on 27 October 1627, the expeditionary force had little option but to leave the island. The 29 October retreat was a disaster. French troops attacking from the rear slaughtered many English soldiers and officers as they tried to make their way across a poorly defended narrow bridge to the ships. Among the dead was one of Buckingham’s colonels, Sir John Radcliffe, who is mourned, at Buckingham’s expense, in this poem.

One askte me, why I mournde?

because I walkt in blacke?

I answered; for a Duke:

Yett did not crye alacke;

hath death, quoth he, and smilde,

done us soe good a tourne?

But then I cryde, alas

noe: that’s the cause I mourne;

For noble Ratclyffs loss

Fallen; with our aunciente glorie

I truly mourne; and for his lyffe,

could wishe Dukes Fatall storye.

Source. CCRO MS CR 63/2/19, fol. 60r

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