And the rest of them that was left alive, their arms we took from them; And stowed them close down in their hold, till to England we came. We began at four in the afternoon, and fought while eight at night; And before we had fired at her larboard side on her we ’spyed a light. No sooner [had] we fired at her, no more of her we could see, God knows whether we sunk her, or whether she run away. The Heavens above alone did us love, o’er our enemies to prevail; So we set sail and away we came, with a fine and pleasant gale. When to old England we come, and our merchants do hear of the same, I hope they will some kindness shew, and reward us for our pains. If every Englishman like us would fight upon the sea, They need not fear to sail the seas, nor to face the enemy. _THE PRINCESS ROYAL’S ESCAPE FROM THE GOODWIN SANDS._ Come all you jolly sailors that to the seas are bent, I’ll tell you of a story that shall make your hearts relent, It’s of the _Princess Royal_, that gallant ship of fame, Commanded by bold Captain Lee by name. On the seventh of February from the Nore we did sail, Our topsails a flying with a fine and pleasant gale, But no further then the Gun-fleet that night could we go Where we lost our pinnace and three men in her also. So then for the Gun-fleet we quickly did sail, All for the Downs with a fine and pleasant gale, And when we came down there our orders were so, No further then the Downs our ship was to go, And there for to wait to join our fleet, All with Sir John Norris the French fleet to meet. On the seventh day our fleet they came in, Expecting at Dungeness the French fleet to trim. So then from the Downs we quickly did sail, All for Dungeness the French to prevail, But then off Folkstone we was forc’d to bring to, Where the French fleet did appear in our view. Our captain on board the admiral he went, To let him know our losses it was our full intent, The admiral he order’d us to Spithead with speed, But our thiler being broke we turn’d back again. Four anchors we lost which grieved us full sore, To think we had but one anchor and cable more, So we stear’d for the Downs and when we came there We let go our last anchor in despair. Right on the Goodwin Sands O the wind it did blow, Which fill’d our whole ship’s company all full of woe. But thanks be to God our cable it did hold, Which saved the lives of so many sailors bold. So now my lads since the danger it is o’er, How merry we will be boys if e’er we get on shore, With full flowing bowls the bumpers shall go round With our lasses upon our knees our sorrows to drown.