The following was just posted to "Ishmailites", the Melville Studies Google Group I run — the thread title there is "Red Flag Flies Again" — and I'm posting it here because there may be Mudcatters who can answers Ffrangcon's query (though I don't see this particular chantey in the DT or Forum so far):

Dear Ishmailites,

I came across this sea-chantey today in an elderly book of poems for children, under the title of 'The Salcombe Ship'. Looking unsuccessfully for its date and authorship (if any), I found this version on the net, with a slightly fuller title. I include it for your consideration only because it is new to me, you might be able to date it for me, and because it offers an image of the red flag in defiant extremis, which prompted me to remember Gordon Poole's interest in the red flag at the end of 'Moby-Dick':

THE SALCOMBE SEAMAN'S FLAUNT TO THE PROUD PIRATE

A lofty ship from Salcombe came,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
She had golden trucks, that shone like flame,
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.

"Masthead, masthead," the captains hail,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
"Look out and round, d'ye see a sail?"
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.

"There's a ship that looms like Beachy Head,"
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
"Her banner aloft it blows out red,"
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.

"Oh, ship ahoy, and where do you steer?"
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
"Are you man-of-war, or privateer?"
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.

"I am neither one of the two," said she,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
"I'm a pirate, looking for my fee,"
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.

"I 'm a jolly pirate, out for gold:"
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
"I will rummage through your after hold,"
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.

The grumbling guns they flashed and roared,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
Till the pirate's masts went overboard,
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.

They fired shots till the pirate's deck,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
Was blood and spars and broken wreck,
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.

"O do not haul the red flag down,"
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
"O keep all fast until we drown,"
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.

They called for cans of wine, and drank,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
They sang their songs until she sank,
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.

Now let us brew good cans of flip,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
And drink a bowl to the Salcombe ship,
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.

And drink a bowl to the lad of fame,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
Who put the pirate ship to shame,
On the bonny coasts of Barbary.
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Yours, for what it is worth,

Ffrangcon Lewis

Haruo