ADMIRAL BENBOW

Come all ye seamen bold, and draw near
And draw near
Come all ye seamen bold, and draw near
It is of an admiral's fame
O brave Benbow was his name
How he fought all on the main
You shall hear, you shall hear.

Brave Benbow he set sail, for to fight
For to fight
Brave Benbow he set sail, for to fight.
Brave Benbow he set sail,
With a fine and pleasant gale
But his captains they turn'd tail
In a fright, in a fright.

Says Kirby unto Wade, "We will run,
We will run."
Says Kirby unto Wade, "We will run.
For I value no disgrace
Or the losing of my place
But the enemy I won't face
Nor his guns, nor his guns."

Then Ruby and Benbow fought the French
Fought the French,
Then Ruby and Benbow fought the French.
They fought them up and down
'Til the blood came trickling down
'Til the blood came trickling down
Where they lay, where they lay.

Brave Benbow lost his legs by chain shot
By chain shot,
Brave Benbow lost his legs by chain shot.
Brave Benbow lost his legs
And all on his stumps he begs
Fight on, my English lads
'Tis our lot, 'tis our lot.

The surgeon dress'd his wounds, cries Benbow
Cries Benbow,
The surgeon dress'd his wounds, cries Benbow.
"Let a cradle now in haste
On the quarterdeck be placed,
That the enemy I may face
'Til I die, 'til I die.

Admiral John Benbow died in 1702. He was the son of a tanner in Shropshire
who became an admiral. During the battle with the French in the West Indies,
all but one of his captains refused to purseue the French as ordered.
Captain Walton of the Ruby pursued with Benbow until the Ruby was disabled.
Benbow was woulnded and his captains pursuaded him to give up the chase.
However, when they returned to Jamaica he had two of the captains court
martialed (another had died before the trial) and shot. Tweo were suspended.
Benbow later died of his wounds [Contemplator].

From English Folk Songs, Sharp
@navy @battle @English
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