Rodney's Glory
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GIVE ear you British Hearts of gold
That do disdain to be controul'd,
Good news to you I will unfold
It is of Brave Rodney's Glory.
   Whom always was born with noble hearts
And from his colours never did start,
But boldly takes our Country's part
Against all foes that dare oppose
To blast the bloom of our English Rose,
But now observe my Story---
   It was in the year of Eighty two,
The Frenchman knows full well it is true
They thought our fleet for to subdue,
Not far from Old Port Royal.
Full early by the morning light
The prouds of grass appeared in sight
They thought brave Rodney to affright
With colours spread at each mast head
Long pennants flying black white and Red
As a signal for engaging
   Our Admiral then gave command
Every man to his quarters stand
All for the sake of Old England,
We will shew them British valour
   Then our British Flag display
No tortures could our hearts dismay
Both sides began to cannonade
Their weighty shot we valued not
We played our English pills so hot
We set them in confusion
   Its then the French they did combine
To draw their shipping in a line
To sink our fleet was their design
But they were far mistaken
   Cannons roar and smoak did rise
Clouds of sulphur filled the skies
That set the grass in great surprise
Brave Rodney's guns and Paddy's sons
Make Keno shake where'er they come
They fear no French nor Spaniards
The Formidable acted well
Commanded by our Admiral
The Old Belfire none could excell,
Our shipping all including
Broadside for broadside we let fly
Where thousands of our men did lie
The seas were of a crimson die
Full deep we stood in human blood
Surrounded by a scarlet flood
We kept such constant firing.
Loud loud cannons they did roar
Which echoed round the Indian shore
Both ship and rigging suffered sore
Not far from Old Port Royal,
   Here is a health unto our officers
Seamen bold and jolly tars
That takes delight for to fight
They would sooner for to sink or fight
All for the cause of Old England right
And die for Rodney's glory.

From the Bodleian Allegro Catalogue of Broadside Ballads
Harding B 25(1641)
Johnson Ballads 975
Firth c.12(24)