The Standard-Bearer

“How can I tell,” Sir Edmund said,
  “Who has the right or the wrong o’ this thing?
  Cromwell stands for the people’s cause,
  Charles is crowned by the ancient laws;
English meadows are sopping red,
Englishmen striking each other dead⁠—
  Times are black as a raven’s wing.
Out of the ruck and the murk I see
    Only one thing!
The King has trusted his banner to me,
  And I must fight for the King.”

Into the thick of the Edgehill fight
  Sir Edmund rode with a shout; and the ring
  Of grim-faced, hard-hitting Parliament men
  Swallowed him up⁠—it was one against ten!
He fought for the standard with all his might,
Never again did he come to sight⁠—
  Victor, hid by the raven’s wing!
After the battle had passed we found
    Only one thing⁠—
The hand of Sir Edmund gripped around
  The banner-staff of his King.