Lyr. Add: THE PRAISE OF SAILORS, HERE SET FORTH
To a pleasant new tune

As I lay musing* in my bed,
Full warme and well at ease,
I thought upon the lodging hard
poore Sailors have at Seas.
2
They bide it out with hunger and cold
and many a bitter blast,
And many a time constrain'd they are
for to cut down their Mast.
3
Their victuals and their Ordinance,
and ought else they have,
They throw it over-boord with speed,
and seeke their lives to save.
4
When as the raging Seas do fome,
and loftie winds do blow,
The Saylors they go to the top,
when Land-men stay below.
5
Our Masters Mate takes Helme in hand,
his Course he steeres full well,
When as the loftie winds doe blow,
and raging Seas doe swell.
6
Our Master to his Compasse goes,
so well he plies his charge:
He sends a Youth to the Top amaine,
for to unsling the Yeards.
7
The Boatson hee's under the Deck,
a man of courage bold;
To th'top to the top, my lively Lads,
Hold fast my hearts of gold.
8
The Pilot he stands on the Claine***,
with Live and Lead to sound,
To see how farre and neere they are
from any dangerous ground.
9
It is a testimoniall good,
we are not farre from land,
There sits a Mermaid on the Rocke,
with Combe and Glasse in hand.
10
Our captaine he is on the Poope,
a man of might and power,
And lookes when raging Seas doe gape
our bodies to devoure.
11
Our royall Ship is runne to racke,
that was so stout and trim,
And some are put unto their shifts,
either to sinke or swim.
12
Our Ship that was before so good,
and eke likewise so trim,
Is now with raging Seas growne leakt,
and water fast comes in.
13
The Quarter Master is a man,
so well his charge plies he,
He calls them to the Pumpe amaine,
to keepe their leake-ship free.
14
And many dangers likewise they
doe many times endure,
When as they meet their enemies,
that come with might and power.
15
And seeke likewise from them to take
their lives and eke their goods,
Thus Saylors they sometimes endure,
upon the surging floods.
16
But when as they doe come to Land,
and homewards safe returne,
They are most kinde good fellowes all,
ans scorne ever to mourne.
17
And likewise they will all for Wine,
and score it on the post;
For Sailors they are honest men,
and will pay well their ****Oast.
18
For Saylors they be honest men,
and they doe take great paines,
When landed men and rusling(1) lads,
doe rob them of their gains.**
19
Our Saylors they work hard night and day,
their manhood for to try,
When landed men and rustling Jacks,
doe in their Cabines lye.
20
Therefore let all good minded men,
give care unto my Song,
And say also as well as I,
Saylors deserve no wrong.
21
This have I done for Saylors sakes,
in token of good will;
If ever I can doe them good,
I will be ready still.
22
God bless them eke by Sea and land,
and also other men;
And as my Song beginning had,
so must it have an end.

* mussing? 'ss' in the broadside, the meaning essentially messing the bed, or loafing. **games in the UCSB transcription. ***Chain in the later broadside in the Bodleian Collection, printed by Coles, Vere and Wright, London. ****Host. (1) robbers, housebreakers.

Printed for I. Wright. Pepys 1.418-419, Ballad and transcription at English Broadside Ballad Archive, University of California Santa Barbara.
http://www.english.ucsb.edu/emc/ballad_project/ballad_image.asp?id=20196

A later copy, c. 1790, in the Bodleian collection, 4o Rawl. 566(157), a word here and there different.

See note by Malcolm Douglas, posted above, about this broadside printed for Wright, "between 1605-1632."