Nancy’s Love

Printed and sold by J. Pitts, 14 Great (st.) Andrew-street Seven Dials.

You pretty maidens give attention,
Unto what I shall lay down,
I’ll tell you of a comely damsel,
Who lately dwelt in Plymouth town,
She fell in love with a handsome sergeant.
A gay light horseman as you shall know,
She says it is my inclination,
Abroad with you I mean to go,
He says my dear there is great danger,
Before we can cross the raging sea
If I should be slain in the field of battle,
To you great grief it will be
You will be left in a foreign country.
No friends perhaps you find at all.
Besides my dear there is great danger,
You may be slain by a cannon ball,
She said my dear pray let me go with you,
No foreign dangers will I fear,
I’ll dress myself in man’s apparel,
And boldly enter volunteer.
I am a girl that fears no danger
I’ll boldly fight with sword in hand,
And when engag’d in the field of battle,
I’ll always be at your command.
The seargeant then he gaz’d upon her.
To see her melting tears so free
My Nancy dear you shall go with me.
Because your love’s so true to me,
You shall then go plough the ocean,
While I have life I’ll be true to thee,
Pray God protect all valiant soldiers.
That fight for king and country,
So Nancy like a valiant soldier,
With her light horseman to plough the main
She has left her friends and all relations.
Behind her now for to complain
The regiment is bound for Holland,
To steer their course across the main,
He said sweet Nancy don’t be daunted,
For constant to you I’ll remain.

*Transcriber’s note: Dugaw’s catalogue contains multiple variants of this ballad; this is the first of the variants listed. To review other variants of this ballad, please consult the Dugaw catalogue.

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BBO Roud Numbers: 8841

ECCO Gale Document Number: CW3314329230,

ECCO Gale Document Number: CB3330619541

ESTC Citation Number: N30524

ESTC Citation Number: T39557

ESTC Citation Number: T188213