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REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE TO GEOJRGE II. |
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The first we came up with was a brigantine sloop, And we ask'd if the others were big as they look'd; But turning to windward as near as we could lie, We found there were ten men of war cruizing by.
Oh ! we drew up our squadron in very nice line, And boldly we fought them for full four hours' time ; But the day being spent, boys, and the night coming on, We let them alone till the very next morn.
The very next morning the engagement prov'd hot, * And brave Admiral Benbow receiv'd a chain shot; And when he was wounded, to his merry men he did say, " Take me up in your arms, boys, and carry me away."
Oh the guns they did rattle, and the bullets did fly, But Admiral Benbow for help would not cry ; Take me down to the cockpit, there is ease for my smarts, If my merry men see me it will sure break their hearts.
The very next morning, by break of the day,
They hoisted their topsails, and so bore away;
We bore to Port Royal, where the people flock'd much
To see Admiral Benbow carried to Kingston Church.
Come all you brave fellows, wherever you've been, Let us drink to the health of our King and our Queen, And another good health to the girls that we know, And a third in remembrance of brave Admiral Benbow.
I suspect that this was originally a much longer ballad, and that the last stanza was substituted for the remaining verses at a later date. The story is only half told, all notice of the treachery of the four captains is omitted, as well as of their trial, and the death of the Admiral. Perhaps the ballad was thus curtailed to be suDg upon the stage.
DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN. This tune is in the third volume of The Dancing Master printed by Pearson and Young, Playford's successors, and in the third volume of Walsh's Dancing Muster.
There are many half-sheet copies of the song with music; and one that I conÂceive to be the earliest, commences, "Here's a health to the Queen and a lasting peace."
In one of the volumes of half-sheet songs in the British Museum (H. 1601, p. 205), is "Ahealth to the memory of Queen Anne," to the tune of Down among the dead men. It commences—
" Here's a health to the mem'ry of Queen Anne, Come pledge me ev'ry English man, For, though her body's in the dust, Her memory shall live, and must. And they that Anna's health deny, Down among the dead men let them lie," &e. In the same volume is " a song sung by Mr. Dyer, at Mr. Bullock's booth in Southwark Fair." This is a George I. copy of "Down among the dead men;" |
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