[Note 612.1]

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Johhny Doughty sings : http://sounds.bl.uk/View.aspx?item=025M-C1047X0033XX-0500V0.xml

Now come listen all ye feeling people
While this sad story I'll relate
It's about a vessel called the Northfleet
That met with such an awful fate
Five hundred souls she had aboard her
Lay anchored there off Dungeoness
Bound for Australia was the vessel
They bid farewell with fond caress

Now it was a big and foreign vessel
Came drifting with the channel tide
Down upon the helpless Northfleet
And crashed into her timbered side
Nor did she stop and give assistance
Or repair the damage she had made
While everyone aboard the Northfleet
Went down upon their knees and prayed

God bless those widows and those orphans
Comfort them where ere they be
May God in heaven above protect them
From all the perils of the sea

Now the captain sent down for his first mate
And bade him try and save his life
And gave into his trustful keeping
His young but newly wedded wife
"No let me stay with you dear husband"
"No! No! my wife that cannot be"
She stayed aboard that sinking vessel
With him went to eternity

The captain said "now to the lifeboats
Stand back you men, the women first
I'll shoot the first that disobeys me"
They did not heed but madly rushed
The Captain found his shot was fatal
And one poor fellas life was slain
While everyone aboard the Northfleet
Went down on thier knees and prayed

God bless those widows and those orphans
Comfort them where ere they be
May God in heaven above protect them
From all the perils of the sea