An Excellent New Song Composed by Eighteen Greenlandmen

On board the noble Ann, 27th. of March, from Shields to Greenland we set sail,
The wind it blowing fair with a sweet and pleasant gale.
We had not sailed many days when Fair Isle we did see,
But on the next day morning in with a privateer fell we,
We'll go, etc.

She bore down upon us, and upon our quarter she did come ;
She hoisted French colours and to windward fired a gun;
This greatly did surprize us, and to quarters we did go.
It never shall be said, my boys, but the noble Ann will face the foe.
Will go, etc.

All hands being at quarters to work we did begin;
The first broadside she gave us down our topsailyards did come.
Our captain call'd, ' Don't be afraid, but fight away, like men;
It never shall be said, my boys, that we will run from them.'
We'll go, etc.

Our guns being few in number, the number being but five,
To fire them it is needless till we can him espy.
He play'd upon our bow and quarter; the shot it came like hail:
To get our guns to bear upon him made us both curse and rail.
We'll go, etc.

Our guns set for the best advantage alongside they did come.
We said we need not fire till execution [could] be done ;
As soon as they bore upon him we immediately let drive,
And wounded three of his Irishmen. 'Tis a pity we left them alive.
We'II go, etc.

Our captain walked the quarterdeck like a lion stout,
Cry'd, ' Don't let it be said, my boys, we cowardly give it out.'
Our running ropes, sails, and rigging being all shot away,
Our ship in this condition could neither wear nor stay.
We'II go, etc.

We fought them five glasses, but found it all in vain ;
You see she carries 18 guns and we're sure for to be taken;
Our captain cry'd, ' What must we do ? To strike it will be best;
The cutter never will leave us until they see us lost.'
We'll go, etc.

Then seeing us an inferior force they unto us did shout,
Saying, ' You poor English dogs, why don't you give it out ?'
We found it was in vain to fight; down colours we did hawl;
'Hoist out your boat and come aboard' [unto] us, they did call.
We'll go, etc.

O then our captain went aboard, and part of our noble crew.
They beat the captain on the head and swore they would run him through;
Now into their hold they put us, bound into irons strong,
And for twelve days they kept us where we were thick and throng.
We'll go, etc.

The first meal that they gave us was calavances and salt beef,
Which made us curse fortune and wish for some relief;
We lying in this condition, for Ireland Captain Ray in did push
Unto the Irish Channel, where he was bound to cruise.
We'II go, etc.

They had not cruised many days, but only four or five,
Until they spied the Friends brig and soon made her a prize;
But cruising two days longer in breast of Boron Head,
Which proved to our advantage, they took the Jenny brig.
We'II go, etc.

Ransom being made for her, it being all agreed
For to knock off our irons and put us aboard with speed,
We're now on board the Jenny. To Glasgow she is bound,
And to secure us from the press we landed in a Highland sound.
We'II go, etc.

Now to our joy and comfort we're landed all on shore,
And to Newcastle we are bound, to see our friends once more.
But travelling thro' the Highlands, the people, very poor,
They scarce would admit us to come within their door.
We'll go, etc.

We being in this condition we travelled long and sore,
But as we came to the southward more pity they did show,
At last meeting with one John Robson, who proved very kind,
And for three days he kept us and maintained us like a friend.
We'II go, etc.

After this refreshment on our journey we do proceed,
But coming near to Edinburgh we met a rogue indeed,
Who pretended to be our friend, but [with] an evil eye,
For then he did deceive us, as we in the barns did lie.
We'II go, etc.

Next morning after two o'clock 50 of Neper's gang
Came with sword and pistol to take 10 naked men.
They finding us able seamen, as we knew very well,
They gave us such an offer as is a shame to tell.
etc,

Now we are all taken, and to Leith we do come
Before Captain Neper to receive our doom.
We were that night in two barns as we were ne'er before,
Or we had broke some of these ruffians' heads and made them for to roar.
We'II go, etc.

He told us we might enter if that we would pay
Forty shillings a man to the rogue that did us betray ;
But Neper's high offer we rejected with disdain,
But we'll fight for our King against France and against Spain.
We'll go, etc,

But I hope in short time sweet peace will be restor'd,
And the Devil will have Neper tho' we're in the hold.
When peace is restor'd to Leith we will come,
To pay Neper and his men for what they have done.
We'll go, etc.

Come, all you jolly seamen that to Greenland do go,
We wish you good success, alltho' we go no more,
For we are forced to serve the King on board of a man-o-war ;
But expects to return with gold and silver store.