The Bold Princess Royal

Words and music are in The Copper Family Song Book, but not in Bob Copper's book A Song for Every Season.

On the fourteenth of February we sailed from the land
The bold Princess Royal bound for Newfoundland,
We had forty bright seamen our ship's company,
So boldly from the east'ard to the west'ard bore we.

We had not been sailing scarce days two or three
When a man from our top-mast a sail he did see,
Come bearing down on us to see where we bore
And under her mizzen black colours she wore.

Great God, cried our captain, what shall we do now?
Here comes a bold pirate to rob us I know.
Oh no, cried our chief mate, that shall not be so
We will shake out our reef, my boys, and away from him

It was the next morning at the dawning of day,
This lofty, large pirate shot under our lee.
Whence came you, cried the pirate, we answered him so,
We are out of fair London bound for Callao.

Then back your main top-sails and heave your ship to
For I have a letter to send down to you.
If I back my main topsails and heave my ship to,
It will be for some pilot - not alongside of you.

He chased us to the east'ard all that live long day,
He chased us to the west'ard but he couldn't make no way.
He fired shots after us but none did prevail
And the bold Princess Royal soon showed him her tail.

Oh, now, cried our captain, that pirate is gone,
Go down for your grog, my boys, go down every one.
Go down for your grog, my boys, and be of good cheer,
For while we've got sea room bold lads never fear.

See also the version collected by Bob Copper from Ned "Wintry"Adams in Hastings around 1954.