"When I was a fair maid" and "Female Drummer" The latter is traditional coming originally from the North-East of England around the early 1700's, although there is an up-dated version complete with chorus relating to the Wars of the French Revolution (Ref Siege of Valenciennes 1795).

"When I was a Fair Maid" has too many inconsistencies and far too much of the Female Drummer to ring true, the song is a nonsense:

"I listed in the navy for to serve the queen," would have to have been Elizabeth I, or Queen Anne (Victoria is too late).

"Well, they sent me to bed and they sent me to bunk," No bunks in naval ships of that time, men either slept on the deck or in hammocks, officers in hammocks or cots that doubled up as coffins.

"But taking off my blue coat" Not until Revolutionary War/ Napoleonic war. A mistress of the Prince Regent decided on the colour of the Navy's uniform for officers - Dark blue coats, white breeches and gold lacing. What the men wore was up to the captain of individual ships

"Well they sent me up to London for to guard the Tower," There may have been an outside chance of that happening in Elizabethan times but not thereafter as the Navy Royal's guns were stored elsewhere. Besides at that time sailors had nothing to do with guns - not their part of ship - so why would they send a sailor to guard the Tower of London??

Women definitely did go to sea. The most celebrated of them was Hannah Snell who served for fifteen years and was fore-top-man onboard HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. When she was discharged (honourably) she was adjudged to be of good character and profficient in her rate and duties.

I know and sing both versions of the "Female Drummer", but I wouldn't even bother learning, "When I was a fair maid" there are better far funnier parody's to sing.