The Seaman's Compass:
OR
A dainty new Ditty composed and pend,
The deeds of brave Seamen to praise and commend
Twas made by a Maid that to Gravesend did pass,
Now mark and you quickly shall hear how it was.
To the Tune of The Tyrant hath stolen.
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AS lately I travelled
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towards Gravesend,
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I heard a fair Damosel
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a Seamman commend
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And as in a Tilt-boat
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we passed along,
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In praise of brave Sea-men
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she sung this new Song:
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Come Tradesmen or Merchant,
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whoever he be
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Theres none but a Seaman
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shall marry with me.
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A Sea-man in promise
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is faithful and just,
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Honest in carriage
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and true to his trust:
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Kinde in behaviour
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and constant in love,
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Is firm in affection
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as the Turtle Dove,
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Valiant in action
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in every degree
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There's none, etc.
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The Sea-man adventures
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their lives at the Seas
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Whilst Land-men on shore
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takes pleasure and ease,
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The Sea-man at all times
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their business must ply
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In Winter and Summer
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in wet and in dry.
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From toyl and pains-taking
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they seldome are free,
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There's aone etc.
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Moreover i'de have you
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for to understand
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That Sea-men brings treasure
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and profit to Land
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Above and beneath ground
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for wealth they have sought
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And when they have found it
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to England 'tis brought
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With hazard of lives
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by experience we see
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There's none but a Sea-man
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shall marry with me.
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SEa-men from beyond Seas
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bring Silver & Gold
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With Pearls and rich jewals,
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most rare to behold
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With Silks and rich Velvets
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their credits to save,
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Or else you gay Ladies
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could not go so brave
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This makes my heart merry
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as merry may be
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There's none but a Sea-man
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shall marry with me.
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The Sea-men bring Spices,
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and sugar so fine
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Which serve the brave gallants,
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to drink with their wine
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With Lemmons & Oranges
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all of the best,
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To relish their pallats
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when ehey make a Feast,
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Sweet Figs, Prunes & Raysins
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by them brought home be
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There's none, etc.
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To comfort poor people
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The Seamen do strive
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And brings in maintenance
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to keep them alive
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As row silk and Cotten wooll
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to Card and to spin
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And so by their labours
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their livings comes in:
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Most men are beholding
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to Sea-men we see
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With none but a Sea-man
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I married will be.
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The Mercer's beholding
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we know well enough
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For Holland, Lawn, Cambrick,
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and other gay stuff
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That's brought from beyond-seas
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by Sea-men so bold
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The rarest that ever
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mens eyes did behold,
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God prosper the Sea-men
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where ever they be
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There's none etc.
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The Merchants themselves
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are beholding also
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To honest Sea-men
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that on purpose do go
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To bring them home profit
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from other strange Lands
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Or else their fine daughters
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must work with their hands,
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The Nobles and Gentry
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in every degree
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Are also beholding etc.
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Thus for Rich and poor men
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the Seamen does good
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And sometimes comes off with
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loss of much blood:
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If they were not a guard
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and a defence for our Land
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Our Enemies soon will get
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the upper hand.
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And then in a woful case
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straight should we be
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There's none etc.
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To draw to Conclusion
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and so make an end
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I hope that great Neptune
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my Love will befriend
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And send him home safely
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with health and with life,
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Then shall I with joyfulness
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soon be his wife
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You Maids, Wives & Widdowes
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that Sea-mens Loves be
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With hearts and with voices
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joyn prayers with me.
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God blesse all brave Seamen
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from Quick-sands & Rocks
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From losse of their blood
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and from Enemies Knocks
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From Lightning & Thunder
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and tempests so strong
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From Shipwrack and drowning
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and all other wrong
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And they that to these words
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will not say Amen
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Tis pitty that they should ever
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speak word agen.
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