[1] The king sends a ship, the Rainbow, after Captain Ward.
"[2] In many variants, Ward claims to have never harmed an English ship.
Come all you gallant seamen bold, All you that march to drum, Let's go and look for Captain Ward, Far on the sea he roams; He is the biggest robber That ever you did hear, There's not been such a robber found For above this hundred year.
A ship was sailing from the east And going to the west, Loaded with silks and satins And velvets of the best, But meeting there with Captain Ward, It proved a bad meeting; He robbèd them of all their wealth And bid them tell their king.
O then the king provided a ship of noble fame, She's call'd the "Royal Rainbow," If you would know her name; She was as well provided for As any ship could be, Full thirteen hundred men on board To bear her company.