The Maiden Sailor:

Being a true Relation of a young Damsel, who was Press’d on Board the Edgar Man of War, being taken up in Seamans Habit; after being known, she was discharged, and at her examination, she declared she would serve the King at Sea, as long as her Sweetheart continue in Flanders.

Good people e’ery one Sir,
come listen to my ditty
The like was never known Sir,
a Jest both true and pretty;
Which hear I come for to declare,
Of a very pretty Damsel fair,
who chang’d her cloaths, indeed,
and put on Seamans weed,
and then she did appear
a Youth, both fair and clear,
like to a Seaman rare,
So that you, would swear that she’d been a sailor too.

This Maiden she was press’d, Sir,
and so was many more,
And she, among the rest, Sir,
was brought down to the Nore,
Where ev’ry one did think they had
Prest a very pritty Colliers Lad;
but yet it prov’d not so,
when they the truth did know,
they search’d her well below,
and see how things did go,
and found her so and so,
And then swore, the like was never known before.

But at length a sailor bold, Sir,
that us’d to sport and play, Sir,
Did chance for to behold, Sir,
where this young Damsel lay, Sir,
Who though she like a Maid did speak,
When he felt, she did begin to squeak,
by which, he found that she
could not a sailor be.
he strove to feel he knee,
but she would not agree,
but strove from him to flee,
And he said, that she was certainly a Maid.

But when the truth was known, Sir,
and ev’ry one did hear it,
She examin’d was alone, Sir,
and then she did declare it,
That she this thing did undertake,
For a very loving sweet-heart’s sake,
who does in Field remain,
within the King’s Campaigne,
expecting night and day,
to fight the Enemy,
which made her go to sea,
So that she, might serve the King as well as he.

‘Twas done on board the Edgar,
as you may understand, Sir,
Where noble Captain Pedder
does bear the chief Command, Sir,
Who set this woman sailor free,
And then gave to her her liberty
to go to Maiden-head,
where she was born and bred,
for wars will not agree
with such a one as she,
it’s better for to be
On the shore, to drive the trade she did before.

You Damsels far and near, when
you hear this true Relation,
See how this Damsel fair, then
did venture for her Nation,
Who like a sailor bold and true,
Never fearing what the French could do,
but for to serve her King,
would venture Life and limb,
and I do make no doubt,
had not she been found out,
but she’d have prov’d as stout
As all they, that longer time had been at Sea.

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EBBA ID Number: 22190

ESTC Citation Number: R174468