What price will England pay for it if England holds the sea?
For neither earth, nor air, nor sea is given duty-free.
If English ships would stay then English men must pay—
Think well before you ask of God the Kingdom of the Sea!

What price did England pay for it three hundred years ago,
When Philip's Great Armada came driving huge and slow,
In arrogance and pride, red tyrants of the tide,
To blight the North Sea Islands with their bigotry and woe?

'Twas but a flock of privateers that sank the fleet that day.
'Twas but a crew of city clerks that left their shops to pay
For their red-cheeked English wives and their peaceful English lives
And the right to cut their broadcloth in the same old English way.

What price did God demand of her at Nile and Trafalgar,
When all the seas about her coast were thundering with war;
When the Man of Destiny set claim upon the sea,
Swearing the Lord had deeded him the waves for evermore?

'Twas but a little one-armed man who went to pay the debt.
He ran a string of flags aloft lest any man forget
The bill that he must meet that day with England's fleet—
And all who read of Trafalgar will know how it was met!

O Admirals of England, the debt is due to-day!
God makes demand of England—have you the price to pay?
Does the coin that He demands still lie in British hands?
If so then England's glory will not be swept away!

What price will England pay for it if England holds the sea?
For neither earth, nor air, nor sea is given duty-free.
If English ships would stay, then English men must pay,
As Englishmen have always paid since England held the sea!