While we're on the subject I might as well put Fred Weatherly's song on Mudcat. The story about the broom was true I believe, but the whip part was presumably added later to make it a better story.

The Admiral's Broom.
FRED. E. WEATHERLY.


Van Tromp was an Admiral brave and bold,
The Dutchman's pride was he,
And he cried "I'll reign on the rolling main,
As I do on the Zuyder Zee!"
And as he paced his quarter-deck
And looked o'er the misty tide,
He saw old England like a speck,
And he shook his fist and cried:
"I've a broom at the mast!" said he,
"For a broom is the sign for me,
That wherever I go the world may know
I sweep the mighty sea."
"I've a broom at the mast!" said he,
"For a broom is the sign for me,
That wherever I go the world may know
I sweep the mighty sea."

Now Blake was an Admiral true as gold,
And he walked by the English sea;
And when he was told of that Dutchman bold,
A merry laugh laugh'd he.
He cried "Ho! Ho! And away we'll go,
Come aboard merry men, with me;
And we'll drive this Dutchman down below,
To the bottom of his Zuyder Zee,
His broom may be trim and gay,
But we'll haul it down today;
When he says he'll sweep the mighty deep,
'Tis a game that two can play!" (Rpt last four lines)

Then he cried, "Come here you Dutchman queer,
Today you must fight with me,
For while I ride the rolling tide,
I'll be second to none," said he,
So he blazed away at the Dutchman gay,
Till he made Mynheer to fall,
Then he hoisted a Whip to the mast of his ship,
And cried to his merry men all:
"I've a Whip at the fore," said he,
"For a whip is the sign for me,
That the world may know, wherever we go,
We ride and rule the sea!" (Rpt last four lines)

This song is available on 78 sung by Peter Dawson, and also appears on an early LP of sea songs by the same singer.