The George Aloe and the Sweepstake

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The George Aloe and the Sweepstake or The Coasts of High Barbary is Child ballad 285.

In 1595, a ballad was entered into the Stationers' Register with the note that it was to be sung to the tune of The George Aloe and the Sweepstake.

[edit] Synopsis

The George Aloe and the Sweepstake were merchant ships bound for Safee. The Sweepstake went ahead and, after an exchange of hails, was taken by a French ship. The George Aloe received the news, followed, exchanged the same hails, and defeated the ship.

The American variant The Coasts of High Barbary includes only one ship: it exchanges hails with a Barbary pirate and fights it, winning, as the George Aloe does with the French one.

[edit] External links

• The George Aloe and the Sweepstake
• The Coasts of High Barbary, with history on the variants