The Bold Benjamin, first printed in the 1680's, Sailing In The Lowlands or The Golden Vanity appeared around the same time. Leaping another 40 yrs ahead you'd hear Captain Kidd, with the same tune came Admiral Benbow around the end of 1700's. The Bold Princess Royal (J.Colcord claims) comes from around the time of the American Revolution or right after, the song Jack Tar coming on the scene just before that. Fare Ye Well, Lovely Nancy in one form or another goes back as far as the 1680's. Predating that is Sir Francis Drake, Captain Mansfield's Fight With The Turks At Sea a version of The Royal Oak would come a little later, in the 1760's William Taylor & Spanish Ladies were humming they're way about, with The Ship In Distress not far behind. The tunes to some of these are probly in the DT. Barry