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tarianism which are so universally adopted at the present day, when applied to subjects of historical interest and curiosity, will readily seize hold of any apparent defect in the system, and will be used as an argument against the value of any collateral researches.

The Editor's thanks are preeminently due to Mr. E. F. Rimbault, the zealous Secretary of the Percy Society, who has supplied him with several of the ballads here printed, and other important communications. The Editor having been absent from London while this little volume was passing through the press, Mr. Rimbault has also kindly executed the task of correcting the proof-sheets, and collating the ballads with the original copies.

28.

A Song on the Victory over the Turks

29. The Young Seaman's Misfortune

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33.

A pleasant new Song betwixt a Saylor and his Love

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34.

A Ballad by the late Lord Dorset, when at Sea

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38. England's Triumph at Sea

39. Admiral Russel's Scowering the French Fleet

40. The Saylor's Song

41. Admiral Keppel Triumphant

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54.

A new Song, addressed to the Crew of the Prince Edward

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EARLY NAVAL BALLADS.

THE EARLIEST SEA SONG.

THE following curious ballad, which is by far the earliest yet discovered on this subject, was first pointed out by Mr. Wright, in a manuscript of the time of Henry VI. in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge, R. iii. 19. The key to the subject of it may be found in a singular letter printed in Sir Henry Ellis's Original Letters, Second Series, vol. i. p. 110, from which it appears that ships were every year fitted out from different ports, with cargoes of pilgrims, to the shrine of St. James of Compostella; for, strange as it may seem, pilgrims at this time were really, as Sir Henry Ellis observes, articles of exportation.

MEN may leve all gamys,
That saylen to Seynt Jamys;
For many a man hit gramys;

When they begyn to sayle.

For when they have take the see,
At Sandwyche, or at Wynchylsee,
At Brystow, or where that hit bee,
Theyr herts begyn to fayle.

Anone the mastyr commaundeth fast
To hys shyp-men in all the hast,
To dresse hem sone about the mast,
Theyr takelyng to make.

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