War raged around, each British tar was press’d
To serve his king, and John among the rest;
Oft had he fought and bled, and ’twas his fate
In that same ship to grow to man’s estate.
Again ’twas war: of France a ship appear’d 640
Of greater force, but neither shunn’d nor fear’d;
’Twas in the Indian Sea, the land was nigh,
When all prepared to fight, and some to die;
Man after man was in the ocean thrown, }
Limb after limb was to the surgeon shown, }