Fire-ships have been employed since antiquity, but the purpose-built fire-ship, designed to be abandoned by its crew and to ram an enemy vessel, was an innovation of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). The song seems to have been inspired by English participation in the Nine Years' War (1688-1697), perhaps especially as a defiant response to the French victory over the English and Dutch at Beachy Head (July 10, 1690).
An Excellent New SONG, ENTITULED, A Hot Engagement Between A French Privateer, and an English Fire-Ship.
I'M a Prize for a Captain to fall on, my Name it is Sea faring Kate: My Sails they are Top and Top Gallon, a Friggot that's of the First Rate. With a fa la la, etc.
A French-Man came lately to Press me, which was not a very hard thing, And swore that he first wou'd embrace me, And Loaden me then for the King, With a fa la la, etc.
Last Summer he Saild from the Shannon, and long at an Anchor had red, [sic: “rode”? On his Mid Ship he had a good Cannon, which was all the great Guns that he had. With a fa la la, etc.
His Main Yard he hoized, and Steered his Course; and gave me a Broad Side: My Poop and my Starn Port sheered, betwixt the Wind, Water, and Tide. With a fa la la, etc.
Still under his Lee I did hover, with all the force I could affo[r]d, But as he had been a rank Rover, he briskly did lay me on Board. With a fa la la, etc.
He looked for some hidden Treasure, And fell to his doing of Feats, But found me a Fire-ship of Pleasure, When he enter'd the mouth of the Straits, With a fa la la, etc.
It was a high Tide, and the Weather With an easterly Gale it did blow: Our Frigats were foul of each other, And could not get off, nor ride to, With a fa la la, etc.
My Bottom was strongly well planked, My Deck could a Tempest endure, But ne'er was poor Dog in a Blanket So tossed, as was the Monsieur, With a fa la la, etc.
No near, than his Course he still steered, [sic and clap'd his hand down to his Sword; But as his Love ta[c]kle he cleard, I brought down his Main Top by the Board, With a fa la la, etc.
Then he feared to burn a Sea-Martyr, for my Gun-Room was all in a Fire, And I blew up my second Deck Quarter, just as he began to retire, With a fa la la, etc.
I pepper'd him off the Centre, Monsieur was ne'er serv'd so before; I burn his Main Yard at a venter, So that he will press me no more, With a fa la la, etc.
Then Monsieur got off, and was grieved, and cursed the English first Rates, But till then he could never believe it, That Strumbulo lay in the Straits, With a fa ca la, etc. [sic
Printed by T. Moore, for S. Green. 1691.
The meanings of most of the (mixed) metaphors are obvious; others are a little unclear.
"Strumbolo" is the Mediterranean island of Stromboli, known for an active volcano that is frequently in eruption.
Told unusually from the predatory female's point of view. The broadside unusually prints a tune, and you can hear it sung here: