%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The GOSPORT Tragedy: / Or, The Perjur'd Ship-Carpenter. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA) Director Patricia Fumerton Associate Director Carl G Stahmer ?-? Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 06/26/2014 33259

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

T35754 1 Peggy's gone over Sea, &c Peg and the Soldier; Peggy's Gone Over Sea with the Soldier Peggy's gone over Sea, &c IN Gosport of late there a damsel did dwell, / For wit and for beauty did many excel; Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 655 The GOSPORT Tragedy: / Or, The Perjur'd Ship-Carpenter. The GOSPORT Tragedy: Or, The Perjur’d Ship-Carpenter. The GOSPORT Tragedy: Or, The Perjured Ship Carpenter. ?-?

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol Americas animals/ nature Bible/ biblical figures buildings/ architecture catastrophe children class clothing/ appearance country/ nation crime death economics/ commerce entertainments family Featured folklore gender holidays/ seasons infidelity labor/ craft law London love maritime marriage military/ war monstrosity mythology/ Classical news nobility/ court politics/ government procreation punishment race/ ethnicity religious concepts religious figures religious groups royalty rural life servitude sex/ sexuality supernatural/ magic travel trickery/ deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgar humor youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 6/26/2014 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America crime death maritime procreation sex/ sexuality supernatural/ magic violence Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 6/26/2014 9:29:29 AM XBallad Cortes, Phillip Created XML Version of Ballad 6/26/2014 9:29:29 AM Transcription Supervisor Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/26/2014 9:29:29 AM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Palmer Browne, Megan Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/26/2014 9:29:29 AM Transcriptionist Two Pedersen, Emily Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/26/2014 9:29:29 AM Transcriptionist One Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 2/7/2013 Checker William Hildalgo Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 10/8/2013 Checker Megan Palmer Browne Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 10/31/2012 Bibliographer Shannon Meyer Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The GOSPORT Tragedy:</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">Or, The</hi> Perjur'd Ship-Carpenter.</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Tune of <hi rend="bold">Peggy's gone over Sea,</hi> etc.</hi></seg>
IN Gosport of late there a Damsel did dwell, For wit and for beauty did many excel; A young Man to court her to be his dear, And he by his Trade was a Sh[i]p-carpenter. He said, Oh! dear Molly, if you will agree, And will consent to marry me; My love you will ease me of sorrow and care, If you will but wed a Ship carpenter. With Blushes more charming than Roses in June, She answer'd sweet William, To wed I'm too young. Young Men are so fickle I see very plain. If a Maid is not coy they will her disdain. They flatter and swear their charms they adore, When gain'd their consent, they care for no more; The handsomest creature that ever was born, When Man has enjoy'd, he will hold in scorn. My charming Molly what makes you say so? Thy Beauty's the Haven to which I would go.
If into that Country I chance for to steer, I there will cast Anchor, and stay with my dear. I ne'er shall be cloy'd with the Charms of my Love, My love is as true as the Turtle Dove; And all I crave is to wed with my dear, And when thou art mine no danger I fear. The life of a Virgin, sweet William, I prize, For Marriage brings Sorrows and Troubles likewise; I am loth to venture, and therefore forbear, For I will not wed a Ship-carpenter. For in Time of War to the Sea you must go, And leave Wife and Children in Sorrow and Woe! The Seas they are perilous, therefore forbear, For I will not wed with a Ship carpenter. But yet all in vain, she his Suit did deny, Though he still did press to make her comply; At length with his cunning he did her betray, And to lewd Desires he led her away.
But when with Child this young Damsel were, The Tydings she instantly sent to her dear; And by the good Heaven he swore to be true, Saying, I will wed no other but you. This passed on till at length we hear, The King wants Sailors, to Sea he repairs, Which grieved the Damsel unto the Heart, To think she so soon with her Lover must part. She said, my dear William e'er thou go'st to Sea, Remember the Vow that thou madest to me; But if you forsake me I never shall rest, Oh! why dost thou leave me with Sorrow opprest? Then with kind Embraces to her he did say, I'll wed thee, dear Molly, e'er I go away; And if To-morrow to me thou dost come, A License I'll buy, and it shall be done. So with kind Embraces be parted that Night, She went to meet him in the Morning light; He said dear Charmer thou must go with me, Before we are wedded, a Friend to see. He led her through Valleys and Groves so deep, At length this Maiden began to weep; Saying, William, I fancy thou lead'st me astray, On purpose my innocent Life to betray. He said that is true, and none can you save, For I all this Night have been digging a Grave; Poor innocent Soul when she heard him say so, Her Eyes like a Fountain began for to flow. O perjur'd Creature, the worst of all Men, Heavens reward thee when Im dead and gone; O pity the Infant, and spare my life, Let me go distressed, if Im not thy Wife. Her Hands white as lillies in Sorrow she wrung, Beseaching for Mercy, saying, what have I done? To you my dear William, what makes you severe? For to murder one that loves you so dear. He said here's no Time disputing to stand, And instantly taking the Knife in his Hand; He pierced her Body till the Blood it did flow, Then into the Grave her Body did throw. He cover'd her Body, then Home he did run, Leaving none but Birds her Death to mourn; On Board the Bedford he enter'd straitway, Which lay at Portsmouth out bound for the Sea. For Carpenter's Mate he was enter'd we hear, Fitted for his Voyage away he did steer; But as in his Cabin one Night he did lie, The Voice of his Sweetheart he heard to cry; O perjur'd Villain, awake now and hear, The Voice of your love that lov'd you so dear;
This Ship out of Portsmouth never shall go, Till I am revenged for this Overthrow. She afterwards vanish'd with Shrieks and Cries, Flashes of lightning did dart from her Eyes; Which put the Ship's Crew into great fear, None saw the Ghost, but the Voice all did hear. Charles Steuart, a Man of Courage so bold, One Night was going into the Hold; A beautiful Creature to him did appear, And she in her Arms had a Daughter most fair. The Charms of this so glorious a Face, Being merry in Drink, he goes to Embrace, But to his Surprize it vanish'd away, So he goes to the Captain without more Delay. And told him the Story, which when he did hear, The Captain said, some of my Men I do fear; Have done some Murder, and if it be so, Our Ship in great Danger to the Sea must go. One at a Time then his merry Men all, Into his Cabin he did them strait call? And said, my lad, the News I do bear, Doth much surprize me with Sorrow and Care. This Ghost which appear'd in the dead of the Night, Which all my Seamen so sadly did fright; I fear has been wronged by some of the Crew, And therefore the Person I fain would know. Then William affrighted did tremble in fear, And began by the Powers above to swear; He nothing at all of the Matter did know, But as from the Captain he went to go. Unto his Surprize his true love did see, With that he immediately fell on his Knee; And said here's my true love where shall I run t O save me, or else I am surely undone, Now he the Murder confessed out of Hand, And said, before me my Molly doth stand, Sweet injur'd Ghost thy Pardon I crave, And soon I will seek thee in the silent Grave. No one but this Wretch did see this sad Sight. Then raving distracted he dy'd in the Night; As soon as her Parents these Tydings did hear, They sought for the Body of their Daughter dear. Near a Place call'd Southampton in a Valley deep, The Body was found, while many did weep; At the Fall of the Damsel and her Daughter dear, In Gosport Church they bury'd her there. I hope that this may be a Warning to all Young Men how innocent Maids do enthral; Young Men be constant and true to your love, Then a Blessing indeed will attend you above.
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