Name: The Bold Princess Royal
Duration: P00H04M07S
Description: A close encounter with a pirate and a narrow escape. Set to a great tune from the same company as Flash Company. Mostly learned from the singing of Velvet Brightwell, a traditional singer from Suffolk, born in 1865 and recorded by the BBC at the Eel's Foot Inn, Eastbridge, Suffolk, England in 1938.

The Bold Princess Royal

from Traces by Chris Foster

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about

A close encounter with a pirate and a narrow escape. Set to a great tune from the same company as Flash Company. Mostly learned from the singing of Velvet Brightwell, a traditional singer from Suffolk, born in 1865 and recorded by the BBC at the Eel's Foot Inn, Eastbridge, Suffolk, England in 1938.

lyrics

On the 14th of February we sailed from the land,
on the bold Princess Royal, bound for Newfoundland.
With forty brave seamen in our ship’s company.
From the eastwards to the westwards and so sailed we.

And on the 18th of February so fair blew the sky.
When a man from our masthead a sail he did spy.
It come bearing down upon us just to see what we were
and under its mizzen peak black colours it wore.

Well “Good lord!” cries our captain “what shall we do now?
For here comes a bold pirate to rob us I know.”
“Oh no” cries our chief mate, “that never shall be so.
For we will shake out our reef my boys and from her we will go.”

Well in time this bold pirate, he hove alongside.
Through a loud speaking trumpet “Whence come you?” he cried.
Our captain being aft me boys he answered him so.
“We are come from fair London and are bound for Kero.”

“Then back your main topsail and heave your ship to
because I’ve got some letters I want to send home with you.”
“Alright I’ll back my main topsail and I’ll heave my ship to.
But it‘ll be in some harbour, not alongside of you.”

Well they chased us to the windward. They chased us all that day.
They chased us to the windward but they could not make way.
And so they fired shots after us but none could prevail.
And the Bold Princess Royal soon showed them her tail.

Oh “Thank God!” cries our captain, “now the pirates are gone.
Go you down to your grog boys, go down everyone.
Go you down to your grog me boys and be of a good cheer.
For while we’ve got sea room brave boys never fear.
Go you down to your grog me boys and be of a good cheer.
For while we’ve got sea room brave boys never fear.”

credits

from Traces, track released January 1, 1999
Chris Foster - vocal and guitar.
Mick Strode - slide guitar.

Arranged and produced by Chris Foster. Recorded by Ken Macpherson at Track Station Recording, Burton upon Trent.

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about

Chris Foster Reykjavik, Iceland

Chris Foster grew up in the south west of England. A master of his trade, he was recently described as “one of the finest singers and most inventive guitar accompanists of English folk songs, meriting legend status.” Over the past 40 years, he has toured throughout the UK, Europe, Canada and the USA. He has recorded six solo albums as well as working on many collaborative projects. ... more

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