The Princess Royal's Escape from the Goodwin Sands

Come all you jolly sailors that to the seas are bent,
I'll tell you of a story that shall make your hearts relent,
It's of the Princess Royal, that gallant ship of fame,
Commanded by bold Captain Lee by name.

On the seventh of February from the Nore we did sail,
Our topsails a flying with a fine and pleasant gale,
But no further then the Gun-fleet that night could we go
Where we lost our pinnance and three men in her also,

So then for the Gun-fleet we quickly did sail,
All for the Downs with a fine and pleasant gale,
And when we came down there our orders were so,
No further then the Downs our ship was to go,

And there for to wait to join our fleet,
All with Sir John Norris the French fleet to meet.
On the seventh day our fleet they came in,
Expecting at Dungeness the French fleet to trim.

So then from the Downs we quickly did sail,
All for Dungeness the French to prevail,
But then off Folkstone we was forc'd to bring to,
Where the French fleet did appear in our view.

Our captain on board the admiral he went,
To let him know our losses it was our full intent,
The admiral he order'd us to Spithead with speed,
But our thiler being broke we turn'd back again.

Four anchors we lost which grieved us full sore,
To think we had but one anchor and cable more,
So we stear'd for the Downs and when we came there
We let go our last anchor in despair.

Right on the Goodwin Sands O the wind it did blow,
Which fill'd our whole ship's company all full of woe.
But thanks be to God our cable it did hold,
Which saved the lives of so many sailors bold.

So now my lads since the danger it is o'er,
How merry we will be boys if e'er we get on shore,
With full flowing bowls the bumpers shall go round
With our lasses upon our knees our sorrows to drown.

So now to conclude and end my song,
It was a brisk young sailor unto the ship belong'd
It was a brisk young sailor that these lines did make,
And o'er a can of flip his heart would never ake.