The Oxford Book of Ballads :: 131. The 'George-Aloe'

131. The 'George-Aloe'

I

The George-Aloe, and the Sweepstake, too,
With hey, with hoe, for and a nony no,
O, there were two Merchant-men, a sailing for Safee
And alongst the Coast of Barbarye.

II

The George-Aloe came to anchor in the bay,
With hey, &c.
But the jolly Sweepstake kept on her way,
And alongst, &c.

III

They had not sayl’d but leagues two or three,
With hey, &c.
But they met with a French Man-of-War upon the Sea,
And alongst, &c.

IV

‘All haile, all haile, you lusty Gallants all!
With hey, &c.
Of whence is your fair Ship, and whither do ye call?’
And alongst, &c.

V

‘We are Englishmen, and bound for Safee,’—
With hey, &c.
‘Ay, and we are Frenchmen, and war upon the sea,
And alongst, &c.

VI

‘Amaine, Amaine, you English dogs, hail!’—
With, hey, &c.
‘Come aboard you French swads[1154], and strike down your sayle,’
And alongst, &c.

VII

They laid us aboard on the Starboard side,
With hey, &c.
And they threw us into the Sea so wide,
And alongst, &c.

VIII

When tidings to the George-Aloe came,
With hey, &c.
That the jolly Sweepstake by a Frenchman was ta’en,
And alongst, &c.

IX

‘To top, to top, thou little Cabin-boy,
With hey, &c.
And see if this French Man-of-War thou canst descry,’—
And alongst, &c.

X

‘A Sayle, a Sayle, under our lee!
With hey, &c.
Yea, and another that is under her obey!’
And alongst, &c.

XI

‘Weigh anchor, weigh anchor, O jolly Boat-swain!
With hey, &c.
We will take this Frenchman, if we can,’
And alongst, &c.

XII

We had not sayl’d leagues two or three,
With hey, &c.
But we met the French Man-of-War upon the Sea,
And alongst, &c.

XIII

‘All haile, All haile, you lusty Gallants hail!
With hey, &c.
Of whence is your faire Ship, and whither do ye sayl?’
And alongst, &c.

XIV

‘O, we are Merchant-men and bound for Safee,’—
With hey, &c.
‘Ay, and we are Frenchmen, and war upon the sea,
And alongst, &c.

XV

‘Amaine, Amaine, you English Dogges, hail!’—
With hey, &c.
‘Come aboard, you French rogues, and strike down your sayl!’
And alongst, &c.

XVI

The first good shot that the George-Aloe shot,
With hey, &c.
He made the Frenchman’s heart sore afraid,
And alongst, &c.

XVII

The second shot the George-Aloe did afford,
With hey, &c.
He struck their main-mast over the board,
And alongst, &c.

XVIII

‘Have mercy, have mercy, you brave English Men!’—
With hey, &c.
‘O, what have you done with our merry Brethren?’—
As they sayl’d in Barbarye?

XIX

‘We laid them aboard the starboard side,
With hey, &c.
And we threw them into the Sea so wide,’—
And alongst, &c.

XX

‘Such mercy as you have shewed unto them,
With hey, &c.
Then the like mercy shall you have again,’—
And alongst, &c.

XXI

We laid them aboard the larboard side,
With hey, &c.
And we threw them into the Sea so wide,
And alongst, &c.

XXII

Lord, how it grieved our hearts full Sore,
With hey, &c.
To see the drowned Frenchmen to swim along the shore!
And alongst, &c.

XXIII

Now gallant Seamen I bid you all adieu,
With hey, &c.
This is the last Newes I can write to you,
To England’s Coast from Barbarye.

FOOTNOTES:

[1154] swads = peascods, a cant term for soldiers.

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