The Female Lieutenant

William was a youthful lover,
William lov'd a lady fair ;
Bells did ring and birds did sing,
As to the church they did repair.

Then came twenty brisk young sailors,
Brest in grand and rich array;
Instead of William being married,
Prest he was and sent away.

Soon his true love follow'd after,
By the name of William Carr ;
Her soft hands and milk-white fingers,
All were smear'd with pitch and tar.

Now behold the first engagement,
Bold she fought among the rest;
Her jacket open, void of danger,
All expos'd her snow-white breast.

When the captain came to hear it,
He said, ' What wind has brought you here ? '
'Kind sir, I came to find my true love,
Him you prest I love so dear.'

'If that you came to find your true love,
Tell to me his name, I pray ?'
'Brave sir, they call him William Taylor,
Him you prest and forc'd away.'

'If William Taylor is your true love
He is both cruel and severe,
For rise up early in the morning,
You shall see him and his lady fair.

' For he some days ago was wedded
And lives upon the Isle of Man,
And with his beauteous bride has bedded
A truth that none deny it can.'

Then she rose early in the morning,
Early by the break of day,
There she saw sweet William Taylor
Walking with his lady gay.

She call'd quickly for a pistol,
It was brought at her command;
Strait she shot sweet William Taylor,
With the same soon out of hand.

When the captain saw the wonder
Which the maiden fair had done,
He instantly made her lieutenant
Of the gallant Thunder Bomb.