Background: The Albany Freeholder, an anti-rent newspaper, was published between 1845-1854. No page numbers were used.

The identity of the Forest Minstrel is unknown; he/she gave his/her address as Middletown in one poem.  It is possible he/she was inspired by James Hogg (1770 - 1835), a Scottish poet and novelist who wrote a collection of songs entitled "The Forest Minstrel".

(For the Freeholder.)

THE FARMING MEN.

Down rent your glorious watchword be,

Freedom is in the sound;

Proclaim with trumpet loud and free

The welcome tidings round.

Long have you stood with hat in hand

And borne your landlord’s frown;

And seen your property distrain’d—

Your freedom trampled down.

Now in the cause of justice rise;

United firmly stand.

No other landlord ever fear,

But the Lord of every land.

Highly your noble standard rise;

Unfold your banner fair;

Down rent in characters of gold,

Be boldly graven there.

Let cringing slaves embrace their chains,

And talk of dangers near;

But souls instinct with freedom’s flame,

Should never yield to fear.

Yes, let the abject vassals crawl,

And choose the serpent’s meat;

Let them approach with trembling awe,

And kiss their masters feet.

But heaven forbid, our workingmen

Should ever bend the knee,

Or bow to any other power

Than that which form’d them free.

But stately as the mountain fir,

Firm as the forest oak,

Stand fearless for their native right

Till the last bond is broke.

THE FOREST MINSTREL.

Transcribed for this website by Terri Nan Ahrens.