But for the moment popular feeling was in favour of impressment. So at all events the ballad called _The Maiden’s Frolic_ seems to prove, which relates how ‘six lusty lasses pressed fourteen tailors.’ Another ballad, _The Undaunted Seaman_, describes a sailor resolving to venture his life ‘to subdue the pride of France’ in spite of ‘his love’s sorrowful lamentation.’ A fourth relates a maid’s attempt to buy her lover’s discharge for ten pounds. ‘Not ten pounds or twenty will buy his discharge, Fair maid, you must patiently bear; He shall go to sea for his King to engage, And he must bid adieu to his dear.’ Thus the captain answers, and the maid is convinced, and resigns herself to the parting (pp. 97-106). The first task the navy took part in was the reconquest of Ireland. Unfortunately there seem to be no ballads extant either on the relief of Londonderry or the fight in Bantry Bay. Crofton Croker’s _Historical Songs of Ireland_, published by the Percy Society in 1841, contains half a dozen ballads on military operations in Ireland under William III., but none on naval. But the Pepysian collection supplies a ballad on the capture of the Pelican frigate in Dublin Bay, under the eyes of ‘Old James and his Teagues,’ by Sir Clowdisley Shovell (see p. 107). This took place in April 1690, and the account of the exploit given is so detailed that it looks as if it were written by some one who served under Shovell (see Luttrell’s _Diary_, ii. 35). Next month came a rumour that Admiral Henry Killigrew with a squadron in the Mediterranean had beaten the French fleet under Chateau Renault, sinking two ships and taking three (Luttrell’s _Diary_, ii. 47, 57, 61). The rumour was untrue, for his attempt to bring them to an engagement was unsuccessful (Burchett, _Transactions at Sea_, pp. 37-43). Nevertheless the fictitious triumph was embodied in a ballad called _The Seaman’s Victory_ (see p. 108). On June 30, 1690, Torrington was worsted by de Tourville at Beachy Head. ‘Both the admirals,’ says Burnet, ‘were equally blamed--ours for not fighting and the French for not pursuing.’ Torrington was sent to the Tower, and accused by the popular voice of want of courage as well as of want of conduct. Of this feeling the ballad called _Torringtonia, or a New Copy of Verses on the late Sea Engagement_, is the expression (p. 110). Another incident which occurred in the same month is related in an elegy, _In the memory of the truly Loyal and Valiant Captain John George, late Commander of their Majesties Frigate the Rose, being a full and true Relation of a bloody Fight between the said Frigate and a French man-of-war to the eastward of Cape Sables on Saturday the 24th of May, 1690_. John George was in charge of a convoy when he sighted the French ship, which was superior in force to his own. The enemy