For plunder, my boys, did crown our joys
After that strong place we had won:

We did revel and roar and booze it on shore,
And forgot all the dangers we had run.

In the king's store-house we found
The value of several thousand pounds,
Which with great joy we brought away,
And did on board our ships convey:

Our success was crown'd with plunder we found,
While the cowardly Spaniards from us fled;

So great was their fear, they would not us come near,
For Vernon had fill'd them all with dread.

When we had all their treasure seiz'd,
And freely plunder'd where we pleas'd,
And none but rubbish did remain,
Their store-houses we set on flames :

Thus we burnt them down quite unto the ground :
A heap of ashes for to view;

Let the cowards know, tho' they did insult us so,
What noble Admiral Vernon can do.

Our jolly tars, brave, noble hearts,

And the brave marines did play their parts;
The officers their orders gave,

Which the men performed as brave.

They never did flinch, nor gave back an inch,
But sweet revenge was all their cry:

They scorn'd for to run from the mouth of a gun,
But with Vernon and Ogle would conquer or die.

For the proud Queen of Spain we care not a fart ! For Carthageen she may break her heart;

Of Don Blass, that cowardly tool,

Brave Vernon did make an April fool:

For 'twas upon that day we made him run away,
Unto our noble admiral's fame :

Then fill a brimming glass, and round let it pass,
To Admiral Vernon and Ogle's name.

Come, brave boys, a health begin,
And fill your glasses to the brim;
A health to Admiral Vernon brave;

To Sir Chaloner Ogle another we'll have;

To each jolly tar and marine that was there,
Whose courage then was bravely seen;

To Lestock, Commodore, and many thousands more,
Who assisted at taking of Carthageen.

THE SAPHIRAH [sic] IN TRIUMPH: OR, BRITISH VALOR DISPLAY D.

Compos'd by James Craft, who lost his arm in the

action.

Come you jovial British fellows, listen, pray, to what I write,
Honour jolly English sailors, for their nation they do fight;
It was with courage most undaunted from Port Rhode the Sapphire
sail'd,

By mishap our cable parted, but we soon the Spaniards quell'd.

A full intent to batter Vigo, our full force was only forty guns, Which to them does plainly show, sir, what courage in the English

runs ;

With spreading sails we plough'd the ocean, the seas indeed ran mountains high,

Not fearing death to gain promotion, with proud Spain our valour try.

All along their coast we sailed, the wind it blowed very hard;
Our main-top-sail yard it failed, but we it did not regard.
We did soon their harbour enter, they prepared for us were,
And we boldly in did venture without any dread or fear.

As soon as ever we came nigh them they did fire at us first ;
We not wanting to pass by them immediately our anchor cast.
And up went our bloody pennant and defy'd their cannon-ball,
We made to run both landlord and tenant, and behind to leave
their all.

No quarters from them we requir'd, they did see us boldly bent;
Kill or be kill'd we designed, that indeed was our intent.
Then our cannon roar'd like thunder, sweeter musick who could
hear?

They did make our foes to wonder, fill'd their hearts with dread and fear.

Their privateers at anchor lying we did sink before their face; Women with their children crying from the town did run a-pace. By us their prison was confounded: to some it proved a happy day;

Such as were not kill'd or wounded took to their heels and run away.

Their nunnery did feel our fury, their blind zeal could not them

save:

Some in confusion and great hurry were sent by us to their grave.

About their ears their houses tumbled, which no doubt did grieve them sore;

Was ever haughty Spain so humbled by one small ship as now before?

Two thousand shot and more we fir'd at their churches, forts, and town,

It made us laugh till we were tir'd to see their houses tumble down :

Seventeen hundred and forty-four, sir, January the fifteenth day, That we made the Spaniards rue, sir, our most noble British play.

We had in this bold action one man killed, and no more; Which I think was enough to vex 'em, they having many in their gore.

Had the day but longer lasted, and our ship not damnify'd, We'd made them surrender, we protested, or would all have surely dy'd.

We then soon for Lisbon sailed, where we got wine our hearts to cheer.

At Vigo widows their fates bewailed, and curst the time that we came there.

I wish that all our brave commanders, who sail the seas for Britain's right,

May like bold Holmes prove Alexanders, not fearing death when they do fight.

May he meet with a just treatment from our nation for the

same,

For so bold and brave defeatment none but cowards can him

blame.

Little Laughton, our third lieutenant, did at that time great valour show;

King and country's bold defendant, beloved by all that does him know.

Bring us wine, let it be sherry, fill the glass up to the brink; Drown all sorrows and be merry; to our noble captain drink. Pray God send our royal master George the Second long to reign,

For to meet with no disaster, but the victory always gain.

ADMIRAL MATTHEWS ENGAGEMENT AGAINST THE COMBINED FLEETS OF FRANCE AND SPAIN.

Brave Admiral Matthews has been on the main,
With a true British heart, against France and Spain;
Resolving to fight for old England once more,
And make them knock under before he gives o'er;
For there never was such a bold fleet, as they say,
Sent out by Old England this many a day.

He had not long been on the sea, it is true,
Before [that] in sight there appear'd in his view
Twenty-eight sail of the French and proud Spain,
Who swiftly w[ere] sailing along the salt main.

Then he cry'd, 'My brave boys, look, see how they ride!
I hope in small time we shall soon cool their pride.'

We hoisted our sails, and away then we went,
With our guns all ready, and hearts likewise bent,
Until that we come to the view of them all ;
Then strait our brave admiral unto us did call,
At the word of command to make ready with speed,
'For I think the proud Dons will fight us indeed.'

But the wind prov'd contrary, we could not pursue,
Altho' that we had them so full in our view;
And for to deceive us they did lay in wait,
Thinking we should follow them up to the Straits:
Though our good God was pleas'd to alter the wind,
Yet fortune unto us it proved unkind.

There is an old proverb I've lately thought on,
'When you think of a friend you're sure to find none';
For when that I thought to see Lestock come by,
He was five miles a distance, and would not come nigh;
But for all that misfortune, we never could start,
We pursued after them with a true British heart.

A mile's distance next day, they at us did fire,
But in half an hour we to them drew nigher,
Until that we came within pistol-shot,

Then we did let fly; and why should we not?
As we sent 'em one broadside, another did come,
Which made our cannons [to] play, bomb! bomb!

Our admiral then took his glass in his hand,
To espy what he could, as you shall understand;
A double shot came unto him so nigh,

That it took off the place where his arm did lye.
But for that misfortune, and all that foul play,
He held 'em six hours in hot battle that day.

The night being come, they straightway gave o'er,
And went off with their cripples; we see 'em no more.
But now that the war is proclaim'd against France,
When we see them again we'll make 'em to prance;
And if ever they into our presence do come,

We'll make our cannons play Britons, strike home.'

Then straightway we left them in grief to complain,
Whilst we are carousing along the salt main.

Pray God bless our fleet, and his Majesty too,
And grant them success wherever they go.

Concluding as this, and my song to end,

In Matthews' brave ship these verses were penn'd.

A NEW SONG IN PRAISE OF BRAVE CAPTAIN

HORNSBY.

Come all you brave sailors that plough on the main,
And hear of the brave Captain Hornsby by name;

How bravely he acted and play'd his own part,

That he made the proud Frenchmen to quake in their hearts.