As we was sailing all on the salt sea, We hadn't been gone months but two or three. When we saw ten sail, ten sail of Turk, All men-o'-war full as big as we.
“Pull down your colours, you English dogs! Pull down your colours, do not refuse. Pull down your colours, you English dogs, Or else your precious life's you'll lose!”
And our captain being a valiant man, And a well-bespoken a man was he: “Let if never be said that we died like dogs, But we shall fight them manfully!”
“Go up, you lofty cabin boys, And mount the mainmast topsail high, To spread the news of King's Henry's fleet And we'll run the risk or else we'll die!”
Well the fight begun 'bout six in the morning And unto the setting of the sun. And at the rising of the next dawn, Well wo so ten ships could not see but one.
The three we sank and three we burned, Three we caused to run away, But one we brought back to Portsmouth harbour Or to let them know we had won the day.
If anyone then should enquire As to or gallend our captain's name, Well Captain Wellfounder is our commander, But the Royal Oak is our ship of name.