Martin Carthy - A Ship To Old England Came lyrics

There was a ship to Old England came, Launched from the stocks unto the main. Her sides were oak and her keel was box, She's a gallant ship launched from the stocks. Launched from the stocks bound to the main. Fifty big guns on her deck lay plain. Beside five hundred brisk young men, Who were picked and choosed by everyone. We weighed our anchor to the bows, Through the wide ocean we did plough. As we were ploughing all on the deep, Five French men-of-war we did meet. It being late when we did meet, Night drawing on; our lives were sweet. We waited until the break of day; Then we began the bloody fray. Then up did speak our chief mate bold Unto the little cabin boy: "Go up aloft and see what you spy; Come down again immediately." "I spy three ships coming from the east, They're bowling down, they make great haste. These three ships' names to you I mist let know." There was one the Oak and the other the Sloe, The third that came was the Unity, Which quickly made the Frenchmen flee. Now, some said God had a hand is this. Our little boy all danger missed, Our little boy on the top mast high Where powder and shot so thick did fly.