The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #136851   Message #3128749
Posted By: Joe Offer
05-Apr-11 - 02:52 AM
Thread Name: Royal Oak/Turkish Man of War/Cpt Mansfield's Fight
Subject: Add Version: Captain Mansfield's Fight
Here's a fragment from Naval Songs & Ballads, published by The Council of the Navy Records Society, 1907-1908

CAPTAIN MANSFIELD'S FIGHT WITH THE TURKES AT SEA.

Our goodly ship was loaded deep,
   with anchors three beneath her bow;
'Twas east-north-east we steer'd our course,
   and as near the wind as we could stow.
We had not sailed glasses three,
   nor yet ten leagues from our loading port,
Before we spyed ten Turkish men-of-war,
   and after us they did resort.

* O hail! O hail! you English dogs,
O hail! and strike your sails quickly,
For you shall go with us this night,
   and ever after into slavery.

O then bespoke our captain bold,
   and a well bespoken man was he,
If you must have my topsails down,
   come on board and strike them for me.