Broadsheet ballad titled 'Rodney's Glory'.

Printer John Pitts (1765-1844)

Date1802 - 1844

Object number00031088

NameBroadsheet

MediumWoodcut and printed text on paper mounted on card

DimensionsOverall: 263 x 92 mm, 0.024 kg

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionA ballad titled 'Rodney's Glory'. The ballad refers to the victory of the British fleet, under Admiral Rodney, over the French fleet, commanded by Comte de Grasse in April 1782 known as the Battle of the Saintes. The battle was off Dominica in West Indies and was part of the American War Independence.HistoryRODNEY'S GLORY. Give ear you British Hearts of gold I ha(?) do disdain to be controul'd Good news to you I will unfold This of Brave Rodney's Glory Whom always born with noble hearts And from his colours never did start But boldly takes our Country's part Against all foes that dare oppose To blast the bloom of our English Rose, But now observe my story--- It was in the year of Eighty two The Frenchman knows full well it is true They thought our fleet for to subdue, Not far from Old Port Royal, Full early by the morning light. The prouds of grass appear'd in sight And thought brave Rodney to affright With colours spread at each mast head Long pennants flying black white and Red As a signal for engaging. Our Admiral then gave command Every man to his quarters stand All for the sake of old England, We will shew them British valour Then our British Flag display No tortures could our heart dismay Both sides began to cannonade Their weighty shot we valued not We play'd our English pills so hot We set them in confusion Its then the French they did combine To draw their shipping in a line To sink our fleet was their design But they were far mistaken Cannons roar and smoke did rise Clouds of sulphur filled (?) the skies That set the grassing great surprise Brave Rodney's guns and Paddy's sons Make Echo shock where e'er they come They fear no French nor Spaniards They Formidable acted well Commanded by our brave Admiral The Old Belfire none could excell, Our shipping all including, Broadside for broadside we let fly Where thousands of our men did die (?) were of a crimson die Full deep we stood in human blood Surrounded by a scarlet flood We kept such constant (?) Loud loud cannons they did roar Which echoed round the Indian shore Both ship and rigging suffered sore Not far from Old Port Royal Here is a health unto our officers Seamen bold and jolly tars That takes delight for to fight They would sooner for to sink or fight All for the cause of Old England tight (?) Or to die for Rodney's glory. Broadsides were issued by a number of London publishers for selling by hawkers on the street and were a popular form of entertainment in 18th and 19th century England. By their very nature they are extremely fragile and ephemeral ;as a result they are notably scarce in good condition . They were also known as 'roadsheet’, 'broadsheet', ‘stall’, ‘vulgar’ or ‘come all ye’ ballads'. In the 19th century many ballads were written about people emigrating. A large number to escape the difficult economic conditions they faced or to try and make their fortunes to bring home.The ballads reflect a deep love of their home place and in many cases the hero - usually male – is pining for a loved one he had to leave behind. SignificanceBroadsheets were designed as printed ephemera to be published and distributed rapidly. This also meant they were quickly disposed of with many of them not surviving the test of time. The museum's broadsheet collection is therefore a rare and valuable example of how maritime history was communicated to a wide audience, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries. They vibrantly illustrate many of the themes and myths surrounding life at sea. Some of them also detail stories about transportation, migration.