The City Caper:
OR
The WHETSTONES-PARK Privateer.
Being a true relation how a small she Pickaroon lately sail'd from the park, and Crusing abroad in
the night, seiz'd on a rich Marchant-man, whom she tempted to board her, and then she disabl'd
his Ship, took all his Cargo, spoil'd his Tackle, and burnt his Rudder, etc.
Tune of, Captain Digby's farewel.
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THe Jenny a small Pickaroon in the Park
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Last night went a Crusing abroad in the dark,
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Her impudence was her commander in chief,
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Her haven is Lust, and her Pilot a Thief:
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As swift as a Fish she did glide by the Strand,
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well rig'd, and well trim'd but she lackt to be man'd
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In her mouth a whole teer of Damme's there lies,
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Granadoes were shot out of her rowling eyes.
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The ruffling silk of her Petticoat Sails,
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The wind had full blown with it's wantoning gales
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that windwhich their meeting with contrary wind
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Sometiemes doth create hurricanes behind:
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Carreen'd and new pained most curiously,
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Her upermost Deck did appear to the eye,
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The curls of her Tower so like streamers do wave
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Men of War to engage her they seem for to brave
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But look on her Stem, she is right for the trade,
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Her Lading betwixt wind and water was laid,
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A Loof, and a Loof and most stedy she steard,
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Yet often to alter her courses apear'd,
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To Star-board and Lar-board, abaft and before,
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She glances an eye aud she creeps by the shore,
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To look what unconveyed Vessels there came,
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That might help to add to her pilfering game.
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AT length from her main-top she gladly espies
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A merchant-man far a head passing her by,
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Or'efraighted was he, and ready to sinck,
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His Hull was so much over-stowed with drink:
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She strait makes all Sails she was able, and plies
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Her Oars to come up to so welcome a prize,
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Though's head was so light, she was lighter then he
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And had in an instant brought him by the Lee.
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Her mobled hood she turn'd up for a Flag,
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Sometimes she shears off & sometimes she doth lag
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She hauld him with hums, hut the dulpated Owl,
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Would not understand her, unless she fell foul:
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At last a salute with a Gun, in she poures,
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Your servant she cry'd and he answering yours:
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She boldly bore up, and for sometime they ride,
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Yard-arm to Yard-arm, and each side by each side.
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The battlel between them now warmer was grown,
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And the grapling Irons were mutually thrown,
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She gave him her broad-side of kisses so strong,
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There was no hope left of his holding out long:
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Yet on her design better colour to lay,
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She pretended to tack, as if stearing away,
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Then seeming disabled to bear up again,
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She offers herself unto him to be tane.
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He sees her lye by, and then grows the more bold,
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To venture aboard, and to rumidge her hold,
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She freely receives him astern and invites,
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Him for to taste of her Cabin delights:
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From prow unto poop he did grope her all o're,
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And finding her Gun to be full Cannon bore,
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For his Amunition he swore was as large,
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And threatned to give her forth with a due charge,
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She flung off her Glove as a Flag of defiance,
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And scorn'd to accept of his terms of complyance,
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Come bully, quoth she, I will stand thy fierce shot
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For already I've taken full many a knock:
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With that below Deck then he thundred in,
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And she for to tumble and toss did begin,
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As if that a tempest had rocked her pillow,
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And danced her vessel aloft on a billow.
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A calm then succeedeth this storming her honour,
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He soon had unladed his Cargo upon her,
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Before, hand he gave her his contracted Guinies,
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And thought he ne'r sail'd in so pleasant a Pinace,
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But quickly that fancy he curst when he found,
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How damnable deep she had run him on ground,
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For just in the fury and heat of the job,
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He ransackt Placket, she rifled his, Fob.
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With Watch, Gold, and jewels she slipt out of door
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Poor Voyager ne'r was so jilted before,
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His Cargo was lost, and his main-mast was torn
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His Tackling she spoil'd, and his Rudder did burn
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Hence learn you young gallants that venture to see
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The danger of such Pickaroons for to flee,
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For vessels rich guilded with proud Silken Sails,
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Oft Fire ships do prove & bear death in their tails.
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