As we lay in Providence so neat and so clean, With scraping and painting we did take great pains; With scraping and scouring from morning ’till night, It was swabbing, dum-scraping that was their delight. We ranged them Bahamas by night and by day, Every creek and every island like a lion for his prey; In search of those slave ships it was our intent, ’Till at last came to Nassaw, where our relief was sent. Very soon for Port Royal we then did make sail, Favoured by Neptune and a sweet, pleasant gale; When we arrived there, what grieved us full sore, We were ordered on the Spanish main for two months or more. But now we are arrived in England once more, How our spirits did rise, glad to see our own shore; Our friends and relations they came in our sight, For fear of them entering, their look-out was bright. But now my song is ended, I have no more to say, But our saucy little _Scylla_ she carried the sway; For in reefing and furling she was always the best, Throughout the West Indies, for we had scarce any rest. _THE VANGUARD._ Come, all you seamen, stout and bold, and listen to my song, It’s worth your whole attention, I’ll not detain you long. CHORUS. _Then let us sing the Vanguard’s praise, proclaim her valiant name, Cruel usage I have met with since I sail’d in the same._ Concerning of the _Vanguard_, a ship of noble fame, With her r---- commander, Mickey Walker call’d by name. At four o’clock you must turn out, the decks to holystone; One and all you must go down upon your marrow bones. Then Mr. Croycraft comes on deck, and he’ll begin to curse and swear; Both watches of gunners send up on deck to see your lashings are all square. At eight o’clock it’s up top-gallant yards, to the mast-head you must run, And if you are not the first ship, your name is taken down. Then down from the mast-head to the gangway you must repair, And there is the gratings rigged ready to punish you there. And when on shore by leave you go, if beyond your time you stay, Then you are put on the stage party for the space of sixty days. Then next you’re put in chokey, boys, you get both thin and white; And if you break your liberty, scrub copper from morning till night. But if you are in the black list, as true as I’m a sinner, Then you must polish brass-work while the crew are at their dinner. But if a fighting you do go, you’ll never get any rest; They will drive you off the lower deck, in the galley for to mess. And when you are in the galley mess, your heart is fill’d with woe; Your monthly money it is stopt, on shore you must not go. Now, you seamen of the _Vanguard_, you had better not get drunk; You will be laid upon your back, and they’ll use the stomach pump.