Hoist the stars and stripes mateys

Aha there lads, here we are on the high seas, and there is a ship over yonder that is having a right old party, what with a few sailors and their concertinas, and that ship, saving your pardon as I am looking down me telescope, yes that ships is the Fair old English Rose, the Royal and V&A, where the shipmates are all partying on brandy and rum. Grand old time, ship drifting but at least the ship's company is having a great old craic. Martyrs Day, we are told. Or some such old English festival, probably from the time when the country was catholic, and the diktator Napoleon hadn't turned up, seized the imperial French crown from the bishops of Paris and ordained himself!!