Captain Ward - Tempest

Come all ye jolly mariners

That love to take a dram

Let’s go and seek for Captain Ward

Who over the seas has come

He is the greatest robber

As you shall quickly hear

There’s not been such a robber found

The last six hundred years

The King he got a letter

On the sixth of January

Saying — Let bold Captain Ward come in With all his company

If that you do let him in Until his tale is told

For ransom he will offer you

A twenty tons of gold

No, no — says the King

That can never be Captain Ward is a roober

A robber on the sea

Well, the King he has provided

A ship of noble fame

Called the Royal Rainbow

If you would know her name

She was as well provided for

As any ship could be Full five hundred men on board

To bear her company

When the Royal Rainbow came

Where Captain Ward did lie

Who is the master of this ship

The Rainbow’s crew did cry

The same am I — says Captain Ward

Why, ashamed I never will be If you were the King’s fair ship

You’re welcome unto me No, no — says the King

That can never be Captain Ward is a roober

A robber on the sea

For I never robbed an English ship

Just France’s ships or Spain’s

Likewise the blackguard Dutchman

That met upon the main

Had I got a letter through

This two weeks past, or three

I would’ve spared Lord Essex’s life

This pains me grievously

Six o' clock in the morning

They began to fight

So they did continue

Till nine o' clock at night

Fight on, fight on — says Captain Ward

So well it pleases me If you fight a month or more

Your master I will be Then the Royal Rainbow

She fired on in vain

Till full four hundred of her crew

Upon the decks lay slain

Go home, go home — says Captain Ward

And tell your King from me He may rule King o’er all the land

But Ward’s the King on sea

No, no — says the King

That can never be Captain Ward is a roober

A robber on the sea