The wreck of the Ramillies Song/ Website

Subject: The wreck of the Ramillies Song/ Website
From: Nick Dow
Date: 19 Oct 24 - 06:57 PM

Some people have been very kind and expressed an interest in the version of this song I have recently started singing. It is 90% from Jumbo Brightwell (Songs from the Eels Foot).
I have researched the truth behind the song and was surprised to find some of the wreckage exists to this day. The whole story, with photos of the wreckage and an artist's impression is pasted below. There is even a post from a descendant of one who sailed aboard her.

https://www.submerged.co.uk/ramillies/

Subject: ADD: The Loss of the Ramillies
From: RTim
Date: 19 Oct 24 - 07:12 PM

Here is the version of the song I recorded on my - "From Spithead Roads" CD - collected from Frederick White in Southampton Workhouse Infirmary by DR. George Gardiner in 1906..I think!! I don't have an audio to post, but I maybe able to post one soon....
Tim Radford

The Loss of the Ramillies - Frederick White - H384.
Roud 523

It was on one day, one certain day,
When the Ramillies at her anchor lay,
That very night a gale came on,
And our ship from her anchorage away did run.

The rain poured down in terrible drops,
The sea broke open our fore-top,
Our yards and our canvas neatly spread,
We were thinking to weather the Old Ram’s Head.

Our bo’sun cries, my good fellows all,
Listen unto me while I blow my call,
Launch out your boats your lives to save,
Or the sea this night will be our grave.

Then overboard our boats we tossed,
Oh, some got in but some were lost,
There was some in one place, or, some in another,
The watch down below, they all were smothered.

When this sad news to Plymouth came,
That the Ramillies was lost and all of her men,
Excepting two that told the tale,
How the ship behaved in that dreadful gale.

Come all you pretty maids and weep along with me,
For the loss of your true lovers in the Ramillies,
All Plymouth Town it flowed with tears,
When they heard the news of that sad affair.

Lost in February 1760
Over 700 men lost.

Subject: RE: The wreck of the Ramillies Song/ Website
From: RTim
Date: 19 Oct 24 - 07:21 PM

I think I have managed to update the song on my Reverbnation page...

I am joined in singing the song by John Roberts..

Lets hope this works...Tim Radforde

https://www.reverbnation.com/timradford/song/34706516-loss-ramillies-traditional

Subject: RE: The wreck of the Ramillies Song/ Website
From: Nick Dow
Date: 20 Oct 24 - 05:15 AM

Thanks Tim, Jumbo Brightwell had a couple of extra verses dealing with the effects of the gale and attempting to weather the storm. Mainly Norfolk website publishes them.

Subject: RE: The wreck of the Ramillies Song/ Website
From: Reinhard
Date: 20 Oct 24 - 05:46 AM

The Mainly Norfolk page for The Loss of the Ramillies was quite short. I've added the lyrics as sung by Tim, Sam Larner and Roy Harris, and listed a few more recordings.

Subject: RE: The wreck of the Ramillies Song/ Website
From: Nick Dow
Date: 20 Oct 24 - 05:47 AM

That's good news.

Subject: RE: The wreck of the Ramillies Song/ Website
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 21 Oct 24 - 09:38 PM

Here's a version from Maine. It apears in our book "Bygone Ballads of Maine- Songs of Ships & Sailors"

THE FATED RENA LEE
Text from the Kneeland Miscellany 1914 / James Kneeland Searsport, ME
Tune as sung by his son Frank Kneeland Recorded Oct 1941
Helen Hartness Flanders, Middlebury VT

The miscellany transcript says "fated", Frank sings "fate of" and pronounces Rena as "renna"

1
Come ye bold seamen, pray now attend
To read these few lines that have lately been penned
Concerning the dangers of the salt sea
And the sad destruction of the Rena Lee
-Oh, the fate of Rena Lee

2
Seven hundred and seventy bold seamen had we
And ninety brass cannon to bear us company
And as we were a sailing to our sad surprise
A most terrible storm did begin to arise
-Oh, the fate of Rena Lee

3
The waves looked like fire and rolled mountains high
While over the rigging the salt seas did fly
Bear away, said our captain, and do the best you can
For if the storm increases, we're lost, every man
-Oh, the fate of Rena Lee

4
A few moments later, to our sad shock
Our good ship, the Rena Lee, she struck upon a rock
Had you heart like a Turk, I am sure you'd lament
To have heard the sighs and groans as to bottom she went
-Oh, the fate of Rena Lee

Subject: RE: The wreck of the Ramillies Song/ Website
From: Nick Dow
Date: 22 Oct 24 - 11:34 AM

That is fascinating. I'll get back to you when I've checked but there were three songs on street literature I think, concerning the wreck of the Ramillies. There are a couple of lines in Frank Kneeland's version in common with the UK version as sung and published on 'Mainly Norfolk'. I'm a touch busy so I may not find time for a day or two. I'm not too busy to say thank you Julia for taking the time to type out the text. I might contact the Ramillies website (with due credits) and pass on the results of any research.

Subject: RE: The wreck of the Ramillies Song/ Website
From: Robert B. Waltz
Date: 22 Oct 24 - 12:06 PM

Nick Dow wrote: I'll get back to you when I've checked but there were three songs on street literature I think, concerning the wreck of the Ramillies.

Only two that had much traditional currency, though. The big one is "The Loss of the Ramilles" (Laws K1; Roud #523) -- that appears to have been collected from 26 different people, assuming I'm correctly identifying informants (e.g. I would assume that "Mr. Crisp" and "Mr. Crist," both of Norfolk, are the same guy).

"The Fatal Ramillies" (Roud #1266) also shows up in tradition four or five times (there is a husband/wife confusion on that one), but it's mostly from broadsides.

There are other broadsides on the topic ("On the Loss of the Ramilies", Roud V27884, and doubtless others), but I can't find any other traditional songs.

There are a few traditional songs and broadsides about the Battle of Ramillies, which makes title searches tough.

Subject: RE: The wreck of the Ramillies Song/ Website
From: Nick Dow
Date: 22 Oct 24 - 07:39 PM

Brilliant Robert! Once again you have come up with the goods and saved me a lot of work. Thank you. As soon as time allows I will compare texts with Julia's post. By the way, I've just purchased your book 'The Geste of Robyn Hode' and I am looking forward to reading it.