The GOSPORT Tragedy:
Or, The Perjur'd Ship-Carpenter.
Tune of Peggy's gone over Sea, etc.
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IN Gosport of late there a Damsel did dwell,
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For wit and for beauty did many excel;
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A young Man to court her to be his dear,
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And he by his Trade was a Sh[i]p-carpenter.
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He said, Oh! dear Molly, if you will agree,
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And will consent to marry me;
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My love you will ease me of sorrow and care,
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If you will but wed a Ship carpenter.
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With Blushes more charming than Roses in June,
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She answer'd sweet William, To wed I'm too young.
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Young Men are so fickle I see very plain.
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If a Maid is not coy they will her disdain.
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They flatter and swear their charms they adore,
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When gain'd their consent, they care for no more;
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The handsomest creature that ever was born,
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When Man has enjoy'd, he will hold in scorn.
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My charming Molly what makes you say so?
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Thy Beauty's the Haven to which I would go.
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If into that Country I chance for to steer,
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I there will cast Anchor, and stay with my dear.
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I ne'er shall be cloy'd with the Charms of my Love,
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My love is as true as the Turtle Dove;
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And all I crave is to wed with my dear,
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And when thou art mine no danger I fear.
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The life of a Virgin, sweet William, I prize,
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For Marriage brings Sorrows and Troubles likewise;
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I am loth to venture, and therefore forbear,
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For I will not wed a Ship-carpenter.
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For in Time of War to the Sea you must go,
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And leave Wife and Children in Sorrow and Woe!
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The Seas they are perilous, therefore forbear,
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For I will not wed with a Ship carpenter.
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But yet all in vain, she his Suit did deny,
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Though he still did press to make her comply;
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At length with his cunning he did her betray,
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And to lewd Desires he led her away.
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But when with Child this young Damsel were,
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The Tydings she instantly sent to her dear;
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And by the good Heaven he swore to be true,
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Saying, I will wed no other but you.
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This passed on till at length we hear,
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The King wants Sailors, to Sea he repairs,
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Which grieved the Damsel unto the Heart,
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To think she so soon with her Lover must part.
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She said, my dear William e'er thou go'st to Sea,
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Remember the Vow that thou madest to me;
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But if you forsake me I never shall rest,
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Oh! why dost thou leave me with Sorrow opprest?
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Then with kind Embraces to her he did say,
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I'll wed thee, dear Molly, e'er I go away;
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And if To-morrow to me thou dost come,
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A License I'll buy, and it shall be done.
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So with kind Embraces be parted that Night,
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She went to meet him in the Morning light;
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He said dear Charmer thou must go with me,
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Before we are wedded, a Friend to see.
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He led her through Valleys and Groves so deep,
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At length this Maiden began to weep;
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Saying, William, I fancy thou lead'st me astray,
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On purpose my innocent Life to betray.
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He said that is true, and none can you save,
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For I all this Night have been digging a Grave;
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Poor innocent Soul when she heard him say so,
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Her Eyes like a Fountain began for to flow.
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O perjur'd Creature, the worst of all Men,
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Heavens reward thee when Im dead and gone;
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O pity the Infant, and spare my life,
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Let me go distressed, if Im not thy Wife.
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Her Hands white as lillies in Sorrow she wrung,
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Beseaching for Mercy, saying, what have I done?
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To you my dear William, what makes you severe?
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For to murder one that loves you so dear.
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He said here's no Time disputing to stand,
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And instantly taking the Knife in his Hand;
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He pierced her Body till the Blood it did flow,
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Then into the Grave her Body did throw.
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He cover'd her Body, then Home he did run,
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Leaving none but Birds her Death to mourn;
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On Board the Bedford he enter'd straitway,
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Which lay at Portsmouth out bound for the Sea.
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For Carpenter's Mate he was enter'd we hear,
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Fitted for his Voyage away he did steer;
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But as in his Cabin one Night he did lie,
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The Voice of his Sweetheart he heard to cry;
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O perjur'd Villain, awake now and hear,
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The Voice of your love that lov'd you so dear;
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This Ship out of Portsmouth never shall go,
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Till I am revenged for this Overthrow.
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She afterwards vanish'd with Shrieks and Cries,
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Flashes of lightning did dart from her Eyes;
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Which put the Ship's Crew into great fear,
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None saw the Ghost, but the Voice all did hear.
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Charles Steuart, a Man of Courage so bold,
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One Night was going into the Hold;
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A beautiful Creature to him did appear,
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And she in her Arms had a Daughter most fair.
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The Charms of this so glorious a Face,
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Being merry in Drink, he goes to Embrace,
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But to his Surprize it vanish'd away,
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So he goes to the Captain without more Delay.
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And told him the Story, which when he did hear,
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The Captain said, some of my Men I do fear;
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Have done some Murder, and if it be so,
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Our Ship in great Danger to the Sea must go.
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One at a Time then his merry Men all,
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Into his Cabin he did them strait call?
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And said, my lad, the News I do bear,
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Doth much surprize me with Sorrow and Care.
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This Ghost which appear'd in the dead of the Night,
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Which all my Seamen so sadly did fright;
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I fear has been wronged by some of the Crew,
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And therefore the Person I fain would know.
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Then William affrighted did tremble in fear,
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And began by the Powers above to swear;
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He nothing at all of the Matter did know,
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But as from the Captain he went to go.
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Unto his Surprize his true love did see,
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With that he immediately fell on his Knee;
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And said here's my true love where shall I run t
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O save me, or else I am surely undone,
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Now he the Murder confessed out of Hand,
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And said, before me my Molly doth stand,
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Sweet injur'd Ghost thy Pardon I crave,
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And soon I will seek thee in the silent Grave.
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No one but this Wretch did see this sad Sight.
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Then raving distracted he dy'd in the Night;
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As soon as her Parents these Tydings did hear,
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They sought for the Body of their Daughter dear.
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Near a Place call'd Southampton in a Valley deep,
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The Body was found, while many did weep;
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At the Fall of the Damsel and her Daughter dear,
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In Gosport Church they bury'd her there.
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I hope that this may be a Warning to all
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Young Men how innocent Maids do enthral;
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Young Men be constant and true to your love,
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Then a Blessing indeed will attend you above.
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