And away to Spithead, boys, we went. And now, my lads, we’re come to an harbour, We can go to rest with great content. So all young men that row in the lighters Keep yourselves free from a press-gang, And when ever you come athwart old W----d For my sake give him a hearty damn. _BRITAIN’S RESOLUTION TO FIGHT THE FRENCH._ (? 1756) Come join with me, you Britons bold, Ne’er let your country be sold; We’ll let the French to understand, We’ll fight them both by sea or land, With hearts of steel and sword in hand, _Like Britons bold_. Brave Prince George shall command Our English [army], boys, by land; And when we meet our enemy, We’ll let them know we’ll fight or die, And quickly make them for to fly _From Britons bold_. Brave Anson and Hawke, brave Mostyn and West, They are all admirals of the best; And brave Boscawen we’ll not pass by, For he will either fight or dy, And from the French he’ll never fly, _He is a Briton bold_. In brave Plymouth Harbour near the main, There’s a hundred sail of French ships we’ve ta’en; Already, boys, they have a drench, We have many thousands of the French, Confin’d in close imprisonment, _By Britons bold_. Our Parliament they do agree That all these ships shall prizes be. There’s many a thousand pound in gold, For many a jolly sailor bold, Who did his enemies controul, _Like Britons bold_. Proud Lewis says, we understand, That he will invade our British land; But if he dare to show his face Before Prince George’s royal grace, We’ll make them glad to quit the place, _Like Britons bold_. Come, my boy, and let us go To fight the proud, insulting foe; Come, let us finish what’s begun, And see what is for to be done, We have oft-times beat them four to one, _Like Britons bold_. May God protect us in the field, Against our enemies’ sword and shield; Then fear not Charley’s Highland plods, Nor yet proud Lewis’s wooden gods, But scourge them with good English rods, _Like Britons bold_. God bless great George upon the throne, And may he now enjoy his own; May God preserve him day and night, And let him long enjoy his right, He is all loyal souls’ delight. [_Like Britons bold._] _THE TERRIBLE PRIVATEER._ You sailors all of courage bold, Now a true story I will unfold; How we behaved you soon shall hear, On board the _Terrible_ privateer. We touch’d at Plymouth, it was for men, Unto the seas we went again, And being blest with a pleasant gale, Hop’d with our enemies to prevail.