'He is either himsell a devil frae hell,
Or else his mother a witch maun be;
I wadna have ridden that wan water
For a' the gowd in Christentie.'
XXX
THE HONOUR OF BRISTOL
Attend you, and give ear awhile,
And you shall understand
Of a battle fought upon the seas
By a ship of brave command.
The fight it was so glorious
Men's hearts it did ful-fill,
And it made them cry, 'To sea, to sea,
With the Angel Gabriel!'
This lusty ship of Bristol
Sailed out adventurously
Against the foes of England,
Her strength with them to try;
Well victualled, rigged, and manned she was,
With good provision still,
Which made men cry, 'To sea, to sea,
With the Angel Gabriel!'
The Captain, famous Netherway
(That was his noble name):
The Master--he was called John Mines--
A mariner of fame:
The Gunner, Thomas Watson,
A man of perfect skill:
With many another valiant heart
In the Angel Gabriel.
They waving up and down the seas
Upon the ocean main,
'It is not long ago,' quoth they,
'That England fought with Spain:
O would the Spaniard we might meet
Our stomachs to fulfil!
We would play him fair a noble bout
With our Angel Gabriel!'
They had no sooner spoken
But straight appeared in sight
Three lusty Spanish vessels
Of warlike trim and might;
With bloody resolution
They thought our men to spill,
And they vowed that they would make a prize
Of our Angel Gabriel.
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