Editing Heart of Oak (section)

==New lyrics==
A new version was presented on 16 April 1809 and published by Reverend Rylance.<ref>Rylance, Reverence (1809). ''Spirit of the public Journals,'' vol. XIII, p.&nbsp;75.</ref>
<blockquote>
When [[Alfred the Great|Alfred]], our King, drove the Dane from this land,<br />
He planted an oak<ref>The reference is to an oak which stood close to the Water Walk, the  [[Magdalen College, Oxford]], and by tradition was planted by King Alfred. However the oak collapsed in 1778 and a chair for the college President was made from it.</ref> with his own royal hand;<br />
And he pray'd for Heaven's blessing to hallow the tree,<br />
As a sceptre for England, the queen of the sea.

Chorus:
:Heart of oak<ref>Reference to the [[rift sawing]] of [[hardwood]]s used in boat and ship construction. This produces timber less susceptible to warping and shrinkage and lumber of great stability. Contemporary opinions were that the British sailors were more steady in combat than the French, who were prone to over-excitement and, therefore, more difficult to command in combat.</ref> are our ships,
:Hearts of oak are our men,
:We always are ready, steady boys, steady,
:To charge and to conquer again and again.

The sapling shot up and stuck firm to the ground;<br />
It defied every tempest that bellow'd around;<br />
And still was it seen with fresh vigour to shoot,<br />
When the blood of our martyrs had moisten'd its root.

(Chorus)

But the worms of corruption had eaten their way<br />
Through its bark; till a Wardle<ref>The name Wardle is said to be derived from "Ward Hill", connoting a "fortified place", as a reference to the [[ship of the line]], described as "wooden walls".</ref> has swept them away,<br />
He has sworn, no such reptiles our tree shall infest,<br />
And our patriots soon shall extirpate the nest.

(Chorus)

Yon tyrant, whose rule abject Europe bemoans&nbsp;—<br />
Yon brood of usurpers who sit on her thrones&nbsp;—<br />
Shall look on our country, and tremble with awe,<br />
''Where a son of the Monarch has bow'd to the law'',

(Chorus)

Now long live the ''Briton'', who dar'd to revive<br />
The spirit which Britons scarce felt was alive;<br />
His name shall be {{not a typo|carv'd}}, while of freedom we sing,<br />
On the oak that was planted by Alfred our King.

(Chorus)
</blockquote>