The Gosport TRAGEDY:
OR,
The perjur'd Ship-Carpenter.
Tune of Peggy's gone over Sea.
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IN Gosport of late there a Damsel did dwell,
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For wit and for beauty did many excell.
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A young Man did Court her for to be his Dear,
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And he by his Trade was a Ship Carpenter.
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He cry'd my dear Molly if you will agree,
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And will consent, Love, for to marry me,
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Your love it will ease me of Sorrow and care,
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If you will but marry 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 they are fickle i see very plain.
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If a Maid she is kind they will quickly disdain.
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They flatter and how they their charms do adore,
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If they gain their consents they care for no more,
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The beautifullest Woman that ever was born,
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When a Man has enjoy'd her her Beauty he'll scorn,
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My charming sweet Molly why do you say so,
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Thy Beauty's the Heaven to where i would go,
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If in that fair Harbour 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 sweet Turtle Dove,
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And all that I crave is to marry my Dear,
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And when you're my own then no danger i'll fear.
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The life of a Virgin sweet William i prize,
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For Marriage brings Sorrow and Trouble likewise,
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I am loath for to venture and therefore forbear,
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For i will not marry a Ship Carpenter,
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For in time of Wars to sea you must go,
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And leave Wife and Child in sorrow and woe,
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The Seas they are perilous therefore forbear,
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For I will not, etc,
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But yet all in vain she his Suit did deny,
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For still he did press her to love to comply,
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At length with his cunning he her heart did betray,
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And to lewd desires he led her astray,
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But when that with Child the young damsel did prove
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The tidings immediately she sent to her love,
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And by the kind Heavens he swore to be true,
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Saying i will not marry no other but you,
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This past on a while at length as we hear,
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The King he wants Sailors to sea he must steer,
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Which grieved the young Damsel indeed to the heart
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To think with sweet William so soon she must part.
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She said my dear William e'er you go to sea,
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Remember your Vows you made unto me,
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But if you forsake me i never shall rest,
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And why will you leave me with sorrow opprest.
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With the kindest expressions he to her did say,
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I'll marry dear Molly e'er i go away,
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And if that to Morrow to me you will come,
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The Licence i'll bring, love, and all shall be done.
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With the kindest embraces they parted that Night,
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She went for to meet him next morning by light,
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He said, my dear charmer, you must go with me,
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Before we are marry'd a Friend for to see.
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He led her thro' Groves and Vallies so deep,
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At length this fair Damsel began for to weep,
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Saying William I fancy you lead me astray,
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On purpose my Innocent life to betray.
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He said that is true and there's none can you save,
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For i all this night have been digging your Grave,
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Poor harmless Creature when she heard him say so,
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Her Eyes like the Fountains began for to flow.
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A Grave and Spade standing by she did see,
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She said must this Grave be a bride-bed to me,
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Oh perjured Creature and worst of all Men,
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Heaven sure will reward you when i'm dead & gone,
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O pity my Infant and spare my sweet life,
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Let me go distressed if i'm not your Wife,
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O take not my Life least my soul you betray,
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Must i in my Bloom be thus hurry'd away?
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Hands white as Lilles in sorrow she wrung,
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Intreating for Mercy crying what have i done,
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To you my Dear William that makes you severe.
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To Murder your true Love that Loves you so dear.
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He said here's no time now dispuring to stand,
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And instantly taking the Knife in his hand,
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He pierced her heart while the blood it did flow,
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Then into the Grave her fair Body did throw.
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He cover'd her Body, then Home he did come,
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Leaving none but small Birds her Death to bemoan;
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On board of the Bedford he enter'd straitway,
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Which now lies at Portsmouth bound out for the Sea.
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For Carpenter's Mate he was enter'd, as we hear,
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Fitted for his Voyage, he away then did steer;
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But as in his Cabbin one Night he did lie,
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The Voice of his True Love he heard for to cry.
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O! perjured William, awake now and hear
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The Words of your Love who lov'd you so dear;
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This Ship out of Portsmouth it never shall go
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'Till I am reveng'd for this sad overthrow.
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Thus spoke, she vanish'd with Shrieks and Cries,
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And flashes of Lightning did dart from her Eyes,
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Which put the Ships Crew in a trembling fear,
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There was none saw the Ghost, but the Noise did hear.
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Charles Steward, a Young Man of Courage so bold,
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One Night he was going down 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 Baby so fair.
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Being merry in Drink, he goes to Embrace
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The Charms of that so lovely beautiful Face;
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But to his surpriz[e], she did vanish 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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Has done some Murder, and if it be so,
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Our Ship in great Danger to sea it will go.
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One at a Time, then his merry Men all,
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Into the great Cabbin to him he did call.
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Saying my brave Sailors, this News I do hear,
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Does really surprize me with Horror and Fear.
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This Ghost which appear'd in dead of the Night,
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Which all our brave Sailors does sorely affright,
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I fear has been wrong'd by some of the Ships Crew,
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And therefore the Person I fain now would know.
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Then William affrighted did tremble with fear,
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And began by the Powers above for 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 for to go,
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Unto his surprize, he his True Love did see,
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With that he immediately fell on his Knee,
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Saying, here is my True Love, Oh! where shall I run,
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O! save me, or else my poor Soul is undone.
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The Murder he then did confess out of Hand,
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Crying, now before me my Molly does stand;
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Dear injured Ghost, your Pardon I crave,
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And soon I will follow the down to thee Grave.
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No one but this Wretch did behold 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 so dear.
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Near a Place call'd Southampton, a Valley so deep,
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The Body was found, while a many did weep
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At the Fate of the Damsel, and her Baby fair,
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And in Gosport Church they did bury her there.
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I hope that this may be a warning to all
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Young Men how poor Innocent Maids they enthrall;
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You young Men be constant, and true to your Love,
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Then Blessings indeed will attend from above.
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