On the fourteenth of February we sailed from the strand
On the Bold Princess Royal bound for Newfoundland.
We had forty bold seamen for our ship's company,
And right boldly from Yarmouth to the westward sailed we.

We had not been sailing but days two or three
When a man from the masthead strange sails he did see,
Come bearing down after us for to see what we were
And under her mizzen black colors she bore.

"oh Lord!" cried our captain, "What shall we do now?
For here comes a bold pirate to rob us, I vow."
"Oh no" cried the first mate, "That shall never be so.
We will open our reefs, boys, and from her we'll go."

And then this old pirate he hoved alongside.
Through a loud-speaking trumpet, "Who are you?" he cried,
Our captain walked the quarter deck and this he did say:
"We are the Bold Princess Royal and we're bound far away"

"Oh well, " cried the pirate, "Then heave yourself to;
For I've got a long letter to send on by you."
"Oh no," cried our captain, "I'll heave our ship to,
But it will be in some old harbour, not alongside of you."

They chased us to windward three nights and four days.
They chased us to windward but could not make way.
They chased us to windward but could not prevail,
For the Bold Princess Royal soon showed them her tail.

"Oh well," cried the captain, "Now the pirate has gone,
Go=et down to your grog, boys, get you down everyone.
Get you down to your grog, my boys, and be of good cheer
For while the Princess have sea-room, brave boys, never fear."