So when sail they will, they will leave us at home A brood of young sailors for ages to come, Who will ’list volunteers at the sound of a drum, _Which, etc._ On this score alone the expense were well made, For sailors are wanting for war both and trade, So the scheme for the public was very well laid, _Which, etc._ _THE ENGLISH SAILOR’S RESOLUTION TO FIGHT THE SPANIARDS._ Come all you jolly sailors bold, Who always scorn to be controul’d; But freely us’d to range the seas, And plow the ocean where they please; But now are oppos’d and plundered by those Guarda Coastas belonging to Spain; But this I can tell, would we thump them but well, Our merchants might have their own again. Our merchants have been long abus’d, Our ships have been taken, our men misus’d; And tho’ we often did complain, No restoration e’er could gain; But still are put by, with some fallacy, Altho’ we’re masters of the main; But this I can tell; wou’d we thump them but well, Our merchants might have their own again. ’Cause Captain Jenkins did them oppose, They cut off his ears and slit his nose, And then his hands together bound, And to the yard arm drew him up and down; Then with a jear, they gave him his ear, Saying ‘Take it to your master’ in disdain. But our King I can tell, loves his subjects so well, That he’ll curb the haughty pride of Spain. So insolent they did behave, They of our sailors did make slaves, And work’d all day hard as they cou’d. With musty horse beans for their food, Or else a little dish of stinking stock-fish; Not fitting unto the dogs to throw, These men would delight to do themselves right, If to war with the Spaniards we go. Fifty-two sail of ships (they say) In nine years time they’ve took away. A very tragical account, To what great sums must this amount; Our rights to in[v]ade and spoil our trade, High time for our merchants to complain. I hope to see the day this long score they must pay, And make them refund it all again. For these vile crimes they’ve an excuse, And say they suffer great abuse; [line missing] And bring their pieces of eight away, This I must own by some has been done, But let them only have the blame; ’Tis hard to condemn all the rest for them, For rogues will be rogues while the world remains. Our gracious King and parliament To right our merchants are fully bent; For they have been too long abus’d, And by false pretences have been amus’d. But now I’m glad to find our Government so kind. To redress our merchants who complain, For this I can, etc.