After this proud foe subduing,
When your patriot friends you see,
Think on vengeance for my ruin,

And for England sham'd in me.

BRAVE NEWS FROM ADMIRAL VERNON

(1740)

COME, loyal Britons all, rejoice, with joyful acclamation,
And join with one united voice upon this just occasion,
To Admiral Vernon drink a health, likewise to each brave
fellow

Who with that noble Admiral was, at the taking of Porto
Bello.

From Jamaica he did sail, with Commodore Brown to attend him,

Against the Spaniards to prevail, for which we must commend him,

At Porto Bello he arrived, where each brave gallant fellow With Admiral Vernon bravely fought at the taking of Porto Bello.

Two men-of-war of twenty guns, likewise five guarda costa,

They in the harbour quickly took, to surrender they were forced, sir,

And then the town he summoned straight, to surrender to his will, O,

Which they refusing, he did shake the town of Porto Bello.

He did bombard it above two days, and they again returned it,

The bombs and mortars they did play, he vowed that he would burn it,

Which, when they came to understand he was so brave a fellow,

They did surrender, out of hand, the town of Porto Bello.

Then with his men he went on shore, who straight began to plunder,

'Tis as they served our ships before, and therefore 'tis no wonder;

With plenty of rum and good strong wine, our men did soon get mellow,

They swore that never a house should stand in the town of Porto Bello.

The governor to the Admiral sent, and to him made an offer,

And thirty thousand pieces of eight, the houses to save did proffer;

The which the Admiral did accept with a right and good free will, O,

And therefore let the houses stand, in the town of Porto Bello.

The Iron Castle he destroyed, and all the guns he seized, The Spaniards ne'er were more annoyed, he did just what he pleased.

The Southsea, snow, he did release, and many an English fellow

From plundering these could not be kept, in the town of Porto Bello.

Besides, brave Vernon freely gave, amongst his men as

follows,

Who bravely did themselves behave, full thirty thousand dollars;

This must their courage animate, each Tar is a rich fellow, And this is good encouragement, for the taking of Porto Bello.

While trumpets they did loudly sound, and colours were displaying,

The prizes he did bring away, while sailors were huzzaying; And then they to Jamaica came, a glorious tale to tell, O, Of the noble actions they had done in the taking of Porto Bello.

To our good King, now loudly sing, may Providence attend him.

To Admiral Vernon, toss a glass, may Heaven aye defend him,

To Commodore Brown, toss another down, and to each gallant fellow

Who did so bravely play his part at the taking of Porto Bello.

BOLD SAWYER

(1758)

COME all ye jolly sailors, with courage stout and bold,
Come enter with bold Sawyer, he'll clothe you all in gold,
Repair on board the old Nassau,

We'll make the French to stand in awe,
She's manned with British boys.

Commodore Keppel with his good design,
Commanded the squadron, five sail of the line,
The Prince Edward of forty guns,
The Firedrake and Furnace bombs,
To take Goree, it must be done,
By true British boys.

The 29th of October, from Spithead we set sail,

Kind Neptune convey'd us with a sweet and pleasant gale,

So, steering on the Barbary shore,
Distance about ten leagues or more,
The wind, at West, aloud did roar.
Stand by, ye British boys.

So, steering on the lee shore until the break of day,
We spy'd a lofty sail on the Barbary shore to lay,

In great distress she seem'd to be,

Her guns

all overboard threw she,

Which prov'd the Litchfield for to be,
With all her British boys.

The wind blowing hard we could give them no relief,
A stretching on the lee shore, we touch'd at Teneriff,
So watering the ships at Santa Cruz,
Taking good wine for our ship's use,

We sold our cloaths good wine to booze,
Like brave British boys.

Our ship being water'd, and plenty of good wine,
We hoisted up our topsails and crost the tropic line,
The wind at West the leading gale,
Our gallant ship did sweetly sail,
Steady along, she ne'er will fail,
With all her British boys.

Steady a port! don't bring her by the lee!
Yonder is the flag staff at Goree, I do see,
We brought the city within our sight,
Anchored in Goree Bay that night,
Clear'd our ships ready to fight,
Like brave British boys.

Early the next morning the Prince Edward of forty guns,
Was station'd off the Island, to cover our two bombs,
The old Nassau she led the van,
With all her jovial fighting men,

The drums did beat; to quarters stand,
Like brave British boys.

We sail'd up to their batteries as close as we could lay,
Our guns from the top and poop aloud did play,

Which made the French cry,

Diable! what shall we do?"

"Morbleu !

Here comes bold Sawyer, and all his crew,
They're all British boys.

Then follow'd the Dunkirk and Torbay,

The guns aloud did rattle, the shells aloud did play,
Which made the French their batteries shun,
And from their trenches for to run,

The flag was struck, the fight was done,

Oh, huzza, my British boys.

Boast not of Frenchmen, nor yet of Maclome,
Sawyer's as big a hero as ever you did hear,
Whilst the shot around him did flee,
In engaging twice the Isle of Goree,
As valiant men as ever you see,
They are all British boys.

Here's a health to King George, our sovereign majesty,
Likewise to Bold Sawyer, that fought the French so free,
Our officers and all our crew,

Are valiant men as e'er you knew,
So here's a health to all true blue,
My brave British boys.

HEART OF OAK

COME, cheer up, my lads! 'tis to glory we steer,
To add something more to this wonderful year :
To honour we call you, not press you like slaves;
For who are so free as the sons of the waves?
Heart of oak are our ships,
Heart of oak are our men,
We always are ready:

Steady, boys, steady!

We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.

We ne'er see our foes but we wish them to stay,
They never see us but they wish us away;
If they run, why, we follow, or run them ashore;
For if they won't fight us we cannot do more.
Heart of oak, etc.

They swear they'll invade us, these terrible foes!
They frighten our women, our children and beaux ;
But should their flat bottoms in darkness get o'er,
Still Britons they'll find to receive them on shore.
Heart of oak, etc.