7
And after two or three broadsides,
fool of yard and yard we came.
Being broadside to broadside,
our cannon loud did roar,
While ninety five seamen and marines
lay bleeding in their gore.
Which causes many a widow
in Scotia for to mourn,
And many disconsolate mothers,
lamenting the first of June.
For the space of fifteen minutes,
this action it did hold,
All on the briny ocean,
men never fought more bold.
The Americans we must confess,
they did their valor shew,
But, we remainder of our ship's company,
soon brought their colours low.
Great rejoicings were made in Boston
their bells did loudly ring,
Expecting our commander and crew
prisoners to be brought in.
But into their misfortune,
we soon did let them know,
That the Chesapeake (illegible text) the Shannon,
her colours had laid low.
