The Seaman's Compass:  
OR 
A dainty new Ditty composed and penned,  
The deeds of brave Seamen to praise and commend  
'twas made by a Maid that to Gravesend did pass,  
Now mark and you quickly shall hear how it was.   
To the Tune of The Tyrant hath stolen.  
 
 

AS lately I traveled  
towards Gravesend,  
I heard a fair Damosel  
a Seamman commend  
And as in a Tilt-boat  
we passed along,  
In praise of brave Seamen  
she sung this new Song:  
Come Tradesmen or Merchant,  
whoever he be  

There's none but a Seaman  
shall marry with me.    

A Seaman in promise  
is faithful and just,  
〈◊〉 in carriage  
〈◊〉 true to his trust:  
Kind in behaviour  
and constant in love,  
Is firm in affection  
as the Turtle Dove,  
Valiant in action  
in every degree  

There's none, etc.    

The Seaman adventures  
their lives at the Seas  
Whilst Land-men on shore  
takes pleasure and ease,  
The Seaman at all times  
their business must ply  
In Winter and Summer  
in wet and in dry,  
From toil and painstaking  
they seldom are free,  

There's a one, etc.    

Moreover i'd have you  
for to understand  
That Seamen brings treasure  
and profit to Land  
Above and beneath ground  
so wealth they have sought  
And when they have found it  
to England 'tis brought  
With hazard of lives  
by experience we see  

there's none but a Seaman  
shall marry with me.    

Seamen from beyond Seas  
bring Silver & Gold  
With Pearls and rich jewels,  
most rare to behold  
With Silks and rich Velvets  
their credits to save,  
Or else you gay Ladies  
could not go so brave  
This makes my heart merry  
as merry may be  

There's none but a Seaman  
shall marry with me.    

The Seamen bring Spices,  
and sugar so fine  
Which serve the brave gallants,  
to drink with their wine  
With Lemons & Oranges  
all of the best,  
To relish their palates  
when ehey make a Feast,  
Sweet Figs Prunes & Raisins  
by them brought home be  

There's none, etc.    

To comfort poor people  
The Seamen do strive  
And brings in maintenance  
to keep them alive  
As row silk and Cotten wool  
to Card and to spin  
And so by their labours  
their livings comes in:  
Most men are beholding  
to Seamen we see  

With none but a Seaman  
I married will be,    

The Mercer's beholding  
we know well enough  
For Holland, Lawn, Cambric,  
and other gay stuff  
That's brought from beyond-seas  
by Seamen so bold  
The rarest that ever  
men's eyes did behold,  
God prosper the Seamen  
where ever they be  

There's none &c.    

The Merchants themselves  
are beholding also  
To honest Sea men  
that on purpose do go  
To bring them ho●e profit  
from other strange Lands  
Or else their fine daughters  
must work with their hands,  
The Nobles and Gentry  
in every degree  

Are also beholding etc.    

Thus for Rich and poor men  
the Seamen does good  
And sometimes comes off with  
loss of much blood:  
If they were not a guard  
and a defence for our Land  
Our Enemies soon will get  
the upper hand.  
And then in a woeful case  
strait should we be  

There's none &c.    

To draw to Conclusion  
and so make an end  
I hope that great Neptune  
my Love will befriend  
And send him home safely  
with health and with life,  
Then shall I with joyfulness  
soon be his wife  
You Maids, Wives & Widows  
that Seaman's Loves be  

With hearts and with voices  
join prayers with me.    

God bless all brave Seamen  
from Quicksands & Rocks  
From loss of their blood  
and from Enemy's Knocks  
From Lightning & Thunder  
and tempests so strong  
From Ship rack and drowning  
and all other wrong  
And they that to these words  
will not say Amen  

'tis pity that they should ever  
speak word again.    
L. P.   

Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere J. Wright, and J. Clark.