The Unhappy Voyage of Captain Glen/Captain Glen

There was a ship, and a ship of fame,
Launched off the stocks, bound to the main,
With a hundred and fifty brisk young men,
Was pick'd and chosen every one.

William Glen was their captains name,
He was a brisk and a tall young man,
As bold a sailor as went to sea,
And he was bound for New Barbary,

The first of April we did set sail,
Blest with a pleasant and prosp'rous gale;
For we were bound to New Barbary,
With all our whole ship's company.

We had not sailed a league but two,
Till all our whole ship's jovial crew,
They all fell sick but sixty-three,
As we went to New Barbary.

One night the captain he did dream,
There came a voice which said to him,
Prepare you and your company.
Tomorrow's night you must lodge with me

This wak'd the captain in a fright.
It being the third watch of the night,
Then for his boatswain he did call,
And told to him his secrets all.

When I in England did remain,
The holy Sabbath I did profane,
In drunkenness I took delight,
Which does my trembling soul affright.

There's one thing more I do rehearse,
Which I shall mention in this verse,
A Squire I slew in Staffordshire,
All for the love of a Lady fair.

Now 'tis the ghost, I am afraid,
That hath to me such terror bred;
Altho' the King hath pardon'd me,
He's daily in my company.

O worthy captain, since 'tis so,
No mortal of it e'er shall know;
So keep this secret in your breast,
And pray to God to give you rest.

We had not sailed a league but three,
Till raging grew the roaring sea!
There rose a tempest in the skies,
Which fill'd our hearts with great surprise!

Our mainmast sprung by break of day,
Which made our rigging all give way,
And did our seamen sore aff ight,
The terrors of that fatal night!

Up then spoke our foremast man,
As he did by the foreyard stand,
fie cried, the Lord receive my soul!
So to the bottom he did fall.

The sea did wash both fore and aft,
'Till scarce one sail aboard was left;
Our yards were split and our ringing tore,
The like you never saw before!

The boatswain then he did declare,
The captain was a murderer!
Which so enrage the whole ship's crew.
The captain overboard they threw!

Our treach'rous captain being gone,
Immediately there was a calm;
The winds did calm, and the raging sea,
As we went to New Barbary.

Now when we came to the Spanish shore,
Our goodly ship far to repair,
Tho people all were amaz'd to see
Our dismal case and misery!

So when our ship was in repair,
To fair England our coarse did steer;
And when we came to London town,
Our dismal case we then made known!

For many wifes their husbands lost,
Whom they lamented to their cost;
Which caused them weep bitterly
These tidings from New Barbary.

A hundred and fifty brisk young men,
Did to our goodly ship belong;
Of all ou whole ship's company,
There now remain'd but sixty-three:

Now seamen all where'er you be,
I pray a warning take by me;
As you love your life still have a care,
You never sail with a murderer.

O never more I do intend
⟨For⟩ to cross o'er the raging main,
But live in peace in my own country,
⟨And⟩ so I end my tragedy.