Between 1680 and 1682 there appeared "The Seaman's Frolick, or A Cooler for the Captain." Despite the raucous choruses This is explicitly advertised as a morally instructive tale for sailors: You Seamen bold that plough the Ocean Main To read this Song do not at all disdain: But rather learn thereby how to avoid, The whores increase which many hath destroy’d. To a New Tune; Or, Come no more there, etc. "Increase" means increase in numbers, and a "cooler" is anything that dampens one's ardor. The elaborate refrains suggest a stage or street performance origin. Stanza 1 in full (all spelling sic): Captain Robert is gone to Sea And I lov’d him well, and I lov’d him well, With all his merry, merry company Ther’s them can sing and say Captain Robert is gone to Sea, The Girls for his return doth pray : And shall we never, never while we live come no more there, We’l come no more there brave boys we’l come no more there : And we shall never, never, while we live come no more there. The most relevant lines are: Our Captain did a small pinnace board... While we his merry men sung and Roar'd.... She did abide him many a shot... But under deck she proved too hot.... It prov'd to him a sad mishap... For by report he got a clap.... Therefore brave Seamen all beware... All that you meddle with such ware.... When as as [sic] you desire to range,... Cast Anchor in no harbor strange.... To be continued.
|