From Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads, Harding B 11(3744).

THE SILK MERCHANT'S DAUGHTER

As I was a-walking up New London Street,
A handsome young lady I chanced to meet.
"Where are you going, sailor, o sailor?" said she.
"I'm bound for New England, New England," said he.

"It's unto New England, love, I fain would go,
But how to get over I do not well know.
But amongst all your sailors, if you want a man,
I will work my passage and do all I can."

Our ship being well rigged and ready to sail,
We sailed away with a prosperous gale.
We sailed away with our hearts content,
But our ship sprung a leak and to the bottom she went.

Forty-five of our seamen got to the long boat,
And on the wide ocean were forced to float.
Provisions being scarce and pale death drawing nigh,
They'd try to cast lots to see who should die.

The lots they went round, and all cast about,
And every young seaman his lot he drew out;
But amongst all those lots, I vow and protest,
It fell on this young female for to feed all the rest.

The lots they went round by one, two and three,
For to see who among us the butcher should be;
But amongst all those lots, it fell upon he.
The man whom she loved, her butcher must be.

"O young man, o young man, can you thus cruel be,
To murder an innocent victim like me?
I'm a rich merchant's daughter in London," said she.
"You see what I'm brought to by the loving of thee."

He says, "My dear jewel, now, since you have been just,
In hopes of your long life, my dear, I'll die first.
Be quick in your motion. Let business go on."
A stroke was not given till we heard a gun.

"Hold your hand, butcher!" the captain did cry.
"Some light I do see and a harbour were nigh."
So we sailed away with a full flowing tide
Till we came to a harbour down by the side.

So now this young couple has got married, we hear,
And the sailor lives happy along with his dear;
And for ought that we know, she's his own dearest wife,
And the sailor he loves her as dear as his life.