Gilchrist and Hotham's Bravery

On their taking a large French ship of forty guns
after a bloody engagement of three hours, and
bringing her into Yarmouth.

You heroes of England, I pray you attend
Unto these new verses, which lately were penn'd ;
It's of a bloody battle, I tell you plain,
Fought by Captain Hotham on the raging main.

His ship she is called Melampe by name,
Of thirty-six guns, a fine frigate of fame ;
As he was a cruising one day by great chance,
He espied a frigate belonging to France

Who many rich prizes from England had ta'en,
When Hotham espied her on the raging main.
'I'm glad that I've found her,' he then did reply;
'Thou shalt go to England, or else by thee I'll die.'

The wind being fair, we soon her overtook,
She was full of men, and boldly they look ;
She turned then upon us, with abundance of pride,
And instantly gave us a thundering broadside.

We gave them another, as good as they sent;
To take, or be taken, was our full intent.
Their metal was heavy, yet we did not care,
But stood to our quarters, and did them not fear.

Like true British heroes our guns we did play,
'Fight boldly,' says Hotham, ' we shall win the day.
When as she is ta'en, for your valour so rare,
Ev'ry man in the ship shall have his just share.'

The Southampton she then triumphant did ride,
Brave Gilchrist he gave them a warming broadside.
With true British courage our guns we did load,
Which brought down her masts close by the board.

Upon Gilchrist's shoulder a ball did graze;
But the wound was not fatal, the Lord be prais'd;
And tho' he was so wounded, he smiling did say,
'She is so disabled, she can't run away.'

She struck to us quickly, we boarded her then,
We killed her more than an hundred men;
The father and son they both captains were,
And dy'd of their wounds, for truth we do hear.

Sure valianter captains never drew breath,
Than Gilchrist and Hotham, unless it was Death.
God prosper them both unto their lives end;