HENRY MARTIN

There were three brothers in merry Scotland,
In Scotland there lived brothers three;
And lots they did cast which should rob on the sea,
To maintain his two brothers and he.

The lot it did fall upon Henry Martin,
The youngest of all the three,
All for to turn robber upon the salt sea,
To maintain his two brothers and he.

He had not been sailing a long winter's night
And a part of a short winter's day,
Before he espi-ed a lofty stout ship
Come a-bibbing down on him straightway.

How far are you bound for? Cried Henry Martin;
O where are you bound for? Cried he.
I'm a rich merchant ship bound for merry England
And I will you to let me pass free.

O no! O no! Cried Henry Martin,
That thing it never could be;
For I've turned a robber all on the salt sea,
To maintain my two brothers and me.

Come lower your topsail and brail-up your mizzen,
And bring your ship under my lee,
Or a full flowing ball I will fire at your tail,
And your bodies drown in the salt sea.

With broadside and broadside and at it they went.
For fully two hours or three,
When Henry Martin gave to her the death shot,
And listing to starboard went she.

The rich merchant ship was wounded full sore;
Right down to the bottom went she.
And Henry Martin sailed away, sailed away,
To maintain his two brothers and he.

Bad news! Bad news! Unto fair London town,
Bad news I will tell unto thee;
They've robbed a rich vessel and she's cast away;
All the sailors drowned in the salt sea.

NP

Having searched for this by both title, and distinctive line. This version appears not to be in the DT
This version is from:
"English Folk-Songs for Schools" (Curwen Edition 6051)
collected and arranged by S Baring Gould, M.A. and Cecil J. Sharp, B.A.