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 seaman commend  
And as in a Tilt-boat  
we passed along  
In praise of brave seamen  
she sung this new Song  
Come Tradesman or Merchant,  
whoever he be  

There's none but a seaman  
shall marry with me,    

A seaman in promise  
is faithful and just  
Honest in carriage  
and true to his trust  
Kind in behaviour  
and constant in love  
As firm in affection  
as the Turtle-Dove,  
Valiant in action  
in every degree  

There's none but a seaman, etc,    

The seamen adventures  
their lives at the Seas  
Whilst land men on shore  
takes pleasure and ease  
The seamen at all times  
their business must ply  
In Winter and Summer  
in wet and in dry  
From toil and pains taking  
they seldom are free  

There's none but a seaman, etc,    

Moreover I'd have you  
for to understand  
That seamen brings treasure  
and profit to land  
Above and beneath ground  
for 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, &c.    

Seamen from beyond Seas  
bring silver and 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 second Part  
to the same Tune,  
 

THe seamen brings Spices  
and Sugar so fine  
Which serve the brave gallants  
to drink with their wine  
With lemond's and oranges  
all of the best  
To relish their palates  
when they make a feast  
Sweet Figs, Prunes & raisins  
by them brought home be  

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

To comfort poor people,  
the seamen do strive  
And brings in maintenance  
to keep them alive  
As raw silk and cotton 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 but a seaman  
shall marry with me.    

The Merchants themselves  
are beholding also  
To honest seamen  
that on purpose do go  
To bring them home profit  
from other strange lands,  
Or else their fine daughters  
must work with their hands  
The Nobles and Gentry  
of every degree  

Are also beholding  
to seamen we see.    

Thus for rich men & poor men,  
the seamen does good  
And sometimes comes off with  
loss of much blood  
If they were not a guard  
and defence for our land  
Our enemiee soon would get  
the upper hand  
And then in a woeful case  
straight we should be  

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

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, and widows  
that sea-mens' loves be  

With hearts and with voices  
join Prayers with me.    

God bless all brave Sea men  
from quicksands and rocks  
From loss of their blood  
and from enemies knocks  
From lightning and thunder.  
and tempests so strong  
From ship wrack and drowning  
and all other wrong  
And they that to these words  
will not say, Amen.  

'Tis pity that they should ever  
speak words again.     
L. P.  
Finis.   

London printed for F. G. on Snow-hill: entered according to order.