5
Whilst I relate a battle
Which was lately fought at sea,
So fierce and hot upon each side,
As plainly doth appear,
There's not been such a battle,
No, not these many years.
Brave Neilson and brave Collinwood,
Off Cadiz harbour lay,
Watching the French and Spaniards,
To show them British play.
The Nineteenth of October,
From the bay they did set sail,
Brave Neilson got intelligence,
And soon was at their tail.
It was on the twenty-first, my boys
We had them clear in sight,
And on that very day at noon,
Began that bloody fight.
Our fleet into two columns form’d,
We soon broke through their line,
То spare the use of signals,
Was Neilson's bold design.
But now the noise of thunder
Is heard on every side;
The briny waves like crimson,
With human blood was dy'd,
The French and Spanish heroes,
Their courage well did shew,
