Tempest - Captain Ward

Come all you jolly mariners,
I love to talk a dr'm,
Let's go and seek for Captain Ward,
Who over the sea has come,
He is the greatest robber, as you shall quickly hear,
There's not been such a robber found,
These last six hundred years.

The King got a letter on the Sixth of January
Saying "Let's for Captain Ward come in with all his company."
If let you do let him in, until his tale is told
A ransom he will offer you a twenty tons of gold.

"Ah, no, no!" says the King. "That can never be
Captain Ward is a robber,
A robber on the sea."

Well the King he has provided, a ship of noble fame
Called the "Royal Rainbow", if you woldn't know her name
She was as well provided for, as any ship could be
With 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" crew did cry
"The same may I" said Captain Ward
Why shame on there will be
"If you were the Kings' best ship, you're welcome onto me."

"Ah, no, no!" says the King. "That can never be
Captain Ward is a robber,
A robber on the sea."

"For I never robbed an English ship,
Just Frances ships and Spains
And going back to Dutch-man as I met up on the main.
For I had got a letter through
Just two weeks past or three
I would spare Lord Essex' life
This pain me grievously."

Six O'Clock in the morning, they began to fight
So they did continue, to nine o'clock at night
"Fight on, fight on!" says Captain Ward
"So well it pleases me.
If you fight 'til tomorrow, your master I will be!"

Then the "Royal Rainbow", she fired all in vain
Til' four hundred of her crew
Upon the deck they slain
"Go home! Go home!" said Captain Ward " Tell your King from me..."
"He may ruled King of the land, but Ward is king of sea!"

"Ah, no, no!" says the King. "That can never be
Captain Ward is a robber,
A robber on the sea."

"Ah, no, no!" says the King. "That can never be
Captain Ward is a robber,
A robber on the sea."

"Ah, no, no!" says the King. "That can never be
Captain Ward is a robber,
A robber on the sea."