They laid us aboord on the Star-boord side, with hey, &c.

And they overthrew us into the Sea so wide, and alongst, &c.

When tidings to the George-Aloe came, with hey, &c.

That the jolly Sweepstake by a Frenchman was tane, and alongst, &c.

To top, To top, thou little Ship-boy, with hey, &c.

And see if this Frenchman of war thou canst descry, and alongst, &c.

A Sayl, a Sayl, under our Lee, with hey, &c.

Yea, and another under her obey, and alongst, &c.

Weigh anchor, Weigh anchor, O jolly Boat-swain, with hey, &c.

We will take this Frenchman, if we can,

and alongst, &c.

We had not sayled leagues two or three, with hey, &c.

But we met the Frenchman of war upon the Sea, and alongst, &c.

All hayl, All hayl, you lusty Gallants,

with hey, &c.

Of whence is your faire Ship, and whether is it bound?

and alongst, &c.

O, we are Merchant-men and bound for Safee, with hey, &c.

I, and we are French-men, and war upon the Sea, and alongst, &c.

Amain, Amain, you English Dogs, with hey, &c.

Come aboord, you French rogues, and strike down your sayls,

and alongst, &c.

The first good shot that the George-Aloe shot, with hey, &c.

He made the Frenchmen's hearts sore afraid, and alongst, &c.

The second shot the George-Aloe did afford, with hey, &c.

He strook their Main-mast over the board, and alongst, &c.

Have mercy, have mercy, you brave English men, with hey, &c.

O what have you done with our Brethren on shore, as they sayled into Barbarie?

We laid them aboord on the Star-boord side, with hey, &c.

And we threw them into the Sea so wide, and alongst, &c.

Such mercy as you have shewed unto them, with hey, &c.

Even the like mercy shall you have againe,

and alongst, &c.

We laid them aboord on the Lardboord side, with hey, &c.

And we threw them into the Sea so wide, and alongst, &c.

Lord, how it grieves our hearts full Sore, with hey, &c.

To see the drowned Frenchmen swim along the shore, and alongst, &c.

Now gallant Seamen all, adieu,

with hey, &c.

This is the last news that I can write to you, to England's Coast from Barbarie.

XLII

Andrew Barton

A true Relation of the Life and Death of
Sir Andrew Barton, a Pirate and
Rover on the Seas

To the tune of, 'Come, follow me, Love.'
WHEN Flora with her fragrant flowers
bedeckt the earth so trim and gay,
And Neptune with his dainty showers,
came to present the month of May:
King Henry would a progresse ride,

over the River Thames past he,
Unto a Mountaines top also,

did walke some pleasure for to see.

Where forty Merchants he espied,
with swiftest saile came towards him,
Who then no sooner were arrived,

but on their knees did thus complaine: And 't like your Grace, we cannot saile, to France no voyage to be sure,

But Sir Andrew Barton makes us quaile, and robs us of our Merchants ware.

Vext was the King, and turned him,
said to his Lords of best degree,
Have I nere a Lord in all my Realme,
dare fetch that Traitor unto me:
To him repli'd Lord Charles Howard,
I will, my Liege, with heart and hand;
If it please you grant me leave, he said,
I will performe what you command.
To him then spake King Henry,

I feare my Lord you are too young:
No whit at all my Liege, quoth he,
I hope to proove in valour strong:
The Scottish Knight I vow to seeke,
in place wheresoever that he be,
And bring on shore with all his might,
or into Scotland he shall carry me.

A hundred men, the King then said,
out of my Realme shall chosen be,
Besides Saylors, and Ship-boys,
to guide a great Ship on the Sea.
Bow-men and Gunners of good skill,
shall for this service chosen be,
And they at thy command and will,
in all affaires shall waite on thee.

Lord Howard cald a Gunner then,
who was the best of all the Realme,
His age was threescore yeares and ten,
one Peter Simon was his name.
My Lord cald then a Bow-man rare,
whose active hands had gained fame,
A Gentleman borne in Yorkeshire
and William Horsly was his name.
Horsly, quoth he, I must to sea,
to seeke a Traytor with great speed,
Of an hundred bow-men brave, quoth he,
I have chosen thee to be my head:
If you, my Lord, have chosen me,

of an hundred men to be the head, Upon maine Mast Ile hanged be,

if twelve score I misse one shilling breadth.

Lord Howard then of courage bold,

went to the sea with pleasant cheere, Not curb'd with winters piercing cold, though it was the stormy time of the yeare. Not long had he beene on the seas, no more then dayes in number three, Till one Henry Hunt he then espied, a Merchant of New-castle was he. To him Lord Howard cald out amaine, and strictly charged him to stand, Demanding then from whence he came, and where he did intend to land. The Merchant then made answer soone with heavy heart and carefull minde: My Lord, my ship it doth belong unto New-Castle upon Tine.