Retribution (part I) Contact

The raiders sail was sighted,
three days sailing north of Brest.
It was the French ship-o-the-line,
that had invaded Englands west.

They'd sent the 70 gun two-decker
to land a force at Fishgard Bay.
A Black Legion that killed some townfolk,
and forced the women so they say.

Forenoon watch, six bells were sounded,
the men mustered for their rum.
Then the Frigate beat to quarters
to the cadence of a drum.

It was Burard-Neale's fifth rate Frigate,
although out gunned, took-up the chase.
They would force the French to come about,
and fight them face to face.

They harried the fancy French stern
with the forward swivel gun.
Firing canister and grapeshot,
they tried to halt her windward run.

The British Frigate had come close enough
to spoil the Frenchies air.
So They were forced to tack away
which brought the British guns to bear.