Bold Benjamin

A singer, Mr Taunton of Corscombe in Devon, learnt this from a Man-O-War's man in 1850.  It is thought to be a latter day remake of a black letter ballad published in 1670, called "Benjamin's Lamentation for their Sad Loss at Sea" which begins "Captain Chilver's Gone To Sea".  Two editions are in the Bodleian Library broadside collection, one dated between 1674 and 1679 and the other between 1689 and 1709. The early broadside versions indicate that the ship was caught in a terrible storm rather than a battle. No one has been able to confirm the existence of a ship called the "Bold Benjamin."

Bold Benjamin

 
Brave Admiral Cole he's gone to sea, oh, my boys, oh!
Brave Admiral Cole he's gone to sea, oh!
Brave Admiral Cole he's gone to sea,
Along of our ship's company,
On board the bold Benjamin, oh!
 
We sailed our course away for Spain, oh, my boys, oh!
We sailed our course away for Spain, oh!
We sailed our course away for Spain,
Our silver and gold for to gain,
On board the bold Benjamin, oh!
 
We sailed out five hundred men, oh, my boys, oh!
We sailed out five hundred men, oh!
We sailed out five hundred men,
And brought back but sixty one.
They were lost in bold Benjamin, oh!
 
And when we came to Blackwall, oh, my boys, oh!
And when we came to Blackwall, oh!
And when we came to Blackwall,
Our captain so loudly did call:
'Here comes the bold Benjamin, oh!'
 
Here's the mothers crying for their sons, oh ,my boys, oh!
Here's the mothers crying for their sons, oh!
Here's the mothers crying for their sons,
And the widows for their husbands
That were lost in bold Benjamin, oh!
That were lost in bold Benjamin, oh!