Lyr Add: Neptune's Raging Fury

Subject: Lyr Add: Neptune's Raging Fury
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Jul 08 - 06:40 PM

NEPTUNE'S RAGING FURY; or The Gallant Seaman's Sufferings
(Martin Parker)

Being a Relation of the Perils and Dangers, and of the extraordinary
Hazards they undergo in their noble Adventures. Together with their undaunted Valour and rare Constancy in all their Extremities: and the manner of their Rejoycing on shore, at their return home. Tune of, When the Stormy Winds do blow, &c.

1
You Gentlemen of England,
that lives at home at ease,
Full little do you think upon
the Dangers of the Seas;
Give ear unto the Marriners,
and they will plainly show,
The cares and the fears
When the stormy winds do blow.
2
All you that would be Seamen,
must bear a valiant heart,
For when you come upon the Seas,
you must not think to start:
Not once to be faint hearted,
in hail, rain, or snow,
Nor to shrink, nor to shrink,
When the stormy winds do blow.
3
The bitter storms and tempests
poor Seamen must endure,
Both day and night, with many a fright,
we seldom rest secure;
Our sleep it is disturbed
with visions strange to know,
And with dreams, on the Streams,
When the stormy winds do blow.
4
In claps of roaring thunder,
which darkness doth enforce,
We often find our Ships to stray
beyond our wonted course;
Which causeth great distractions,
and sinks our hearts full low,
'Tis in vain to complain
When the stormy winds do blow.
5
Sonetimes on Neptune's bosom,
Our Ship is lost in waves,
And every man expecting
the Sea to be their graves;
Then, up aloft she mounteth,
and down again so low,
'Tis with waves, O with waves,
When the stormy winds do blow.
6
Then down again we fall to prayer;
with all our might and thought,
When refuge all doth fail us,
'tis that must bear us out;
To God we call for succour,
for He it is we know,
That must aid us and save us,
When the stormy winds do blow.
7
The Lawyer and the Usurer,
that sits in gowns of Fur,
In closets warm, can take no harm,
abroad they need not stir;
When winter fierce, with cold doth pierce,
and beats with hail and snow,
We are sure to endure
When the stormy winds do blow.
8
We bring home costly merchandize,
and Jewels of great price,
To serve our English Gallantry
with many a rare device;
To please the English Gallantry
our pains we freely show,
For we toyl, and we moile
When the stormy winds do blow.
9
We sometimes sail to the Indies
to fetch home spices rare,
Sometimes 'gain, to France and Spain
for wines beyond compare;
While gallants are carrousing
in Taverns on a row,
Then we sweep o'er the deep,
When the stormy winds do blow.
10
When tempests are blown over,
and greatest fears are past,
Ay, weather fair and temperate air,
we straight lye down to rest;
But, when the billows tumble,
and waves do furious grow,
Then we rouse, up we rouse,
When the stormy winds do blow.
11
If enemies oppose us,
when England is at wars
With any foreign Nations,
we fear not wounds and scars;
Our roaring guns shall teach 'em
our Valour for to know,
Whilst they reel, in the Keel,
When the stormy winds do blow.
12
We are no cowardly shrinkers,
but Englishmen true bred,
We'll play our parts like valiant hearts,
and never fly for dread;
We'll ply our business nimbly,
where'er we come or go,
With our Mates to the Straights,
When the stormy winds do blow.
13
Then courage, all brave Marriners,
and never be dismaid,
Whilst we have bold adventures,
we ne'er shall want a trade;
Our Merchants will imploy us
To etch them wealth, I know,
Then be bold, work for gold,
When the stormy winds do blow.
14
When we return in safety,
with wages for our pains,
The Tapster and the Vintner
will help to share our gains;
We'll call for liquor roundly,
and pay before we go,
Then we'll roar, on the shore,
When the stormy winds do blow.

From "Sea Songs and Ballads," selected by Christopher Stone, with an Introduction by Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge, G. C. B. Oxford, 1906.

The introduction at the beginning is from a broadside, printed by C. Brown and T. Norris, London, c. 1695-1707; Douce Ballads 2(167b), Bodleian Collection, with the same lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Neptune's Raging Fury
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Jul 08 - 06:44 PM

Sorry- Full title is "Neptune's Raging Fury; or, The Gallant Seaman's Sufferings," by Martin Parker.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Neptune's Raging Fury
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Jul 08 - 07:58 PM

Q-

You have run across another treasure chest of songs!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Neptune's Raging Fury
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Jul 08 - 08:07 PM

Martin Parker (1600-, in 1632, composed "The Nightingale warbling forth her own disaster," or the "Rape of Philomena, and other poems best forgotten.

He wrote "Sailors for My Money," another poem which covers the same ground, verses mostly end with the line "Howe'er the wind doth blow" and titled "Sailors for My Money."

Is "Neptune's Raging Fury" a poem written by someone familiar with "Sailors for My Money," or is it an attempt by Martin Parker to improve on a first effort?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Neptune's Raging Fury
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Jul 08 - 08:58 PM

The above got sent before I checked it over. Poetry compilations credit Martin Parker with "Sailors for My Money," which begins
Country men of England,
Who live at home with ease,...
and goes on for some 120 lines, saying essentially the same as "Neptune's Raging Fury," which may be a revision by him or by someone else. I haven't found the truth of it yet.
http://allpoetry.com/oauthor/show/Martin_Parker

Hyder E. Rollins, 1919, in Modern Philology, vol. 16, no. 9, says "some unknown writer under the title of "Neptune's Raging Fury" the exemplars...We appoint John Taylor, Martin Parker, and Herbert, all three English Caroline writers. Not sure if the article picks these three as possibles, because it is one of those online references, courtesy jstor.org, and I don't have permission.

The Pepys Collection includes Parker's "Saylors for My Money," c. 1630, and in Pepys 4, 201, "Martin Parker, "Neptune's Raging Fury," no date given, exactly the same text I quote, and same introduction as in the 1695 broadside. Printed for J. Clarke, W. Thackeray and T. Passinger- it is a 'facsimile,' so I am not sure it is the actual poem listed for Pepys.
http://emc.english.ucsb.edu/pfumer/eng231_Ballads_W07/index.asp

Another rather well known Christmas poem by Parker is "The Old Cap," or, "Time's Alteration," some 13 eight-line verses, found at:
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Poetry/old_cap.htm

William Chappell, in his "Popular Music of the Olden Time...." considered Martin Parker (1600-1652?) an undervalued poet.

Child, in "The English and Scottish Popular Ballads," discusses Parker's "A True Tale of Robin Hood," and includes it as No. 154.
------------------------------------------------------------

Charley, I strongly recommend "Sea Songs and Ballads," Christopher Stone. I got it from Abebooks, and it was not expensive as I remember.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Neptune's Raging Fury
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 02:12 AM

The edition of 'Neptune's Raging Fury' printed by Richard Burton (Euing Collection 239; likely c.1660) is probably the earliest extant: it is signed 'By J.P.' and the late Bruce Olson took this to be probably John Phillips. Both the Bodleian and Pepys Collection websites credit Martin Parker, but this may only be because he is known to have written the earlier form, 'Saylors for my money'. That in turn seems to have been based on an earlier piece printed by John Wright between 1605 and 1632, 'The praise of Sailors, heere set forth' (which Bruce considered also ancestral to Child 289).

See Bruce Olson's website for more information:  http://www.csufresno.edu/folklore/Olson/SONGTXT2.HTM#MERMAID

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Neptune's Raging Fury
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 12:15 PM

Probably the John Phillips, 1631-1707, nephew of Milton, known for his peculiar version of Don Quijote, in which the adventures were moved to English sites. "In 1656, he was summoned before the Privy Council for his share in a book of licentious poems, "Sportive Wit," which was supressed... but almost immediately replaced by a similar collection "Wit and Drollery."" (Encyc. Brit., 11th ed., article on Edward Phillips (his brother), p. 406 of vol. XXI)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Neptune's Raging Fury
From: Snuffy
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 08:49 AM

The many versions of SHEPHERD'S SONG would appear to be land-based adaptations of this song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Praise of Sailors
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 09:31 PM

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."