Song Meaning
The lyrics open with a chilling observation: "The death of Steven dyd Saule comfort." This isn't just a historical note; it's a stark declaration of perverse satisfaction. Saul, the narrator suggests, found solace in the violent end of "the godlye sort." This immediate tension sets a grim, unsettling tone.
The central conflict hinges on this violent persecution. Saul's agreement with those "That would have slayne" highlights a deliberate, organized effort against a specific group. The scene is set "at Jerusalem," grounding this conflict in a specific, historically resonant location. The comfort Saul finds underscores a deep divide and a prevailing atmosphere of hostility.
The second stanza vividly portrays the aftermath, as the persecuted "Scattred... far and nye." The choice of "crept" for their movement through "Judye and of Samarye" paints a picture of fear and forced stealth, not confident migration. This widespread dispersal is then sharply contrasted by a single, defiant detail: "The twelve onely except." This final phrase suggests a core group's unwavering presence amidst the chaos, a quiet refusal to yield that resonates powerfully.
These lyrics are effective precisely because of their stark, almost reportage-like quality, elevated by archaic phrasing. The unsettling comfort Saul derives from death, juxtaposed with the fearful scattering of the many, creates a potent emotional landscape. The final image of the steadfast "twelve" provides a crucial counterpoint, suggesting resilience or a different kind of resolve that hits hard against the backdrop of widespread flight.
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