West gallantly charg’d in the van, sir, Without dismay or fear; But Byng, who would not risk a man, sir, Kept cautiously snug in the rear. _Sing, sing, great Rear-Admiral Byng._ At length the French run away, sir, As Frenchmen are apt to do: But he scorn’d to give them foul play, sir, So _he_ civilly run away too. _Sing, sing, generous Admiral Byng._ For behaving so well in the ocean, At least he deserves well a string; And if he wou’d sue for promotion, I hope they will give him his swing. _Swing, swing, O rare Admiral Byng!_ _ADMIRAL BYNG AND BRAVE WEST._ I said unto brave West, ‘Take the van, take the van,’ I said unto brave West, ‘Take the van.’ I said unto brave West, ‘As you like fighting best, I in the rear will rest, Take the van.’ Brave West did boldly act in the van, in the van, Brave West did boldly act in the van; As he did boldly act, I call’d my own ships back; Else he’d put the French to wrack Near Mahon. Oh! woe to cursed gold! ohon! ohon! Oh! woe to cursed gold! ohon! Oh! woe to cursed gold; For Minorca I have sold, That gallant place of old, With Mahon! It’s decreed by the King, I do hear, I do hear, He’s decreed it the nation to please, It’s decreed by the King, I’ll be shot by my marines, For the misdeed I have deen On the seas. _A NEW SONG WRITTEN ON THE ISLE OF AIX._ Tune of _Every Man keep his own Room_. I am a sailor bold, and press’d to served the King, I am sent upon an errand some laurels home to bring: I am now on the coast, boys, where they are to be had, But alas! I dare not gather them, which makes me raving mad. _Mad, boys, mad. Alas! I dare not gather them, which makes me raving mad._ It’s enough to make a dog mad, to see a pudding creep. If he could not get at it, he’d bark and howl and weep; Methinks I see the laurels grow and easy to be had, Alas! I dare not gather them, which makes me raving mad. _Mad, boys, mad, etc._ My master has a nosegay, but it is not compleat, Tho’ the royal rose of England is excellently sweet; The laurel and French lilly in plenty may be had: Alas! I dare not gather them, which makes me raving mad. _Mad, boys, mad, etc._