The Maiden Sailor:
BEING
A true Relation of a young Damsel, who was Press'd
on Board the Edgar Man of War, being taken up in Seamans Ha-
bit; after being known, she was discharged, and at her examinati-
on, she declared she would serve the King at Sea, as long as her
Sweet-heart continued in Flanders.
Tune of Guinea wins her: Or, Farewel my dearest Nancey.
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GOOD people e'ery one Sir,
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come listen to my ditty
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The like was never known Sir,
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a Jest both true and pretty;
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Which hear I come for to declare,
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Of a very pretty Damsel fair,
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who chang'd her cloaths, indeed,
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and put on Seamans weed,
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and then she did appear
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a Youth, both fair and clear,
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like to a seaman rare,
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So that you, would swear that she'd been a sai-lor too,
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This Maiden she was press'd, Sir,
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and so was many more,
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And she, among the rest, Sir,
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was brought down to the Nore,
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Where ev'ry one did think they had
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Prest a very pritty Colliers Lad;
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but yet it prov'd not so,
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when they the truth did know,
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they search'd her well below,
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and see how things did go,
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and found her so and so,
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And then swore, the like was never known be-fore.
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But at length a sailor bold, Sir,
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that us'd to sport and play, Sir,
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Did chance for to behold, Sir,
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where this young Damsel lay, Sir,
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Who thought she like a Maid did speak,
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When he felt, she did begin to squeak,
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by which, he found that she
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could not a sailor be,
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he strove to feel her knee,
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but she would not agree,
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but strove from him to flee,
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And he said, that she was certainly a Maid.
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But when the truth was known, Sir,
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and ev'ry one did hear it,
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She examin'd was alone, Sir,
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and then she did declare it,
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That she this thing did undertake,
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For a very loving sweet-heart's sake,
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who does in Field remain,
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within the King's Campaigne,
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expecting night and day,
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to fight the Enemy,
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which made her go to sea,
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So that she, might serve the King as well as he.
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'Twas done on board the Edgar,
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as you may understand, Sir,
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Where noble Captain Pedder
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does bear the chief Command, Sir,
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Who set this woman sailor free,
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And then gave to her her liberty
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to go to Maiden-head,
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where she was born and bred,
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for wars will not agree
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with such a one as she,
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it's better for to be
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On the shore, to drive the trade she did before.
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You Damsels far and near, when
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you hear this true Relation,
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See how this Damsel fair, then
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did venture for her Nation,
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Who like a sailor bold and true,
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Never fearing what the French could do,
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but for to serve her King,
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would venture life and limb,
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and I do make no doubt,
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had not she been found out,
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but she'd have prov'd as stout
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As all they, that longer time had been at Sea.
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