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188 SONGS AND BALLADS
The French captain came up, and said,' You English dog, strike.' ' Not so,' said brave Hornsby, ' I first chuse to fight, To strike to a Frenchman I hold it so base, That I rather chuse to die in this place.'
The Frenchmen then boarded his vessel straightway, And brave Captain Hornsby did shew them fine play ; He fought them five hours, five hours or more, 'Till thirty-six Frenchmen lay dead in their gore.
All the men that he had on his ship were but eight, And yet to a Frenchman he scorn'd for to strike; Tho' he had but one man for the Frenchman's ten, He both burnt his vessel and drown'd all his men.
Come, all ye brave sailors that plough on the main, Remember the brave Captain Hornsby, by name; And if that a Frenchman commands you to strike, Give answer like Hornsby, you first chuse to fight.
If you take a good courage, and have a strong faith, Trust in your Creator, he'll ne'er you forsake; If you have but one man for the Frenchman's ten, You may both sink his vessel and drown all his men.
Now brave Captain Hornsby, as I have been told, Has got as a present a medal of gold; Besides a fine chain of gold so bright, Because the proud French he so bravely did fight.
Likewise every man in his ship, as we hear, Has had five pounds paid him down for his share; The boys forty shillings a piece they have got For standing so bravely against the French shot.
Now all you brave heroes that heareth this song, I beg you excuse if anything be wrong; For I am no poet, nor scholar I swear, But I love loyal subjects I vow and declare.
So let's all in the praise of Hornsby now sing,
For whom bonfires did blaze, and bells they did ring ;
To hear of this battle so gallantly got,
And he and his men so preserved from the shot. |
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