Henry Martin (Traditional)

There were three brothers in merry Scotland
In Scotland there lived brothers three
And they did cast lots which of them should go,
For to turn robber all on the salt sea.

The lot it fell upon Henry Martin,
The youngest of all the three,
That he should turn robber all on the salt sea, etc.,
For to maintain his two brothers and he.

He had not been sailing but a long winter's night,
Part of a short winter's day,
Before he espied a stout lofty ship, etc.,
Come a-riding down on him straightway.

"Hello, hello" cried Henry Martin,
"What makes you sail so nigh?"
"I'm a rich merchant ship bound for fair London town, etc.,
Will you please for to let me pass by?"

"Oh no, oh no" cried Henry Martin,
"That thing it never can be.
For I have turned robber all on the salt sea, etc.,
For to maintain my two brothers and me."

"Then lower your tops'l and bow down your mizz'n,
Bow yourselves under my lee,
Or I shall give to you a fast-flowing ball, etc.,
And cast your dear bodies down in the salt sea."

With broadside and broadside and at it they went,
For fully two hours or three,
Till Henry Martin gave to her the death shot, etc.,
And straight to the bottom went she.

Bad news, bad news to old England came,
Bad news to old London town;
There's been a rich vessel and she's cast away, etc.,
And all of her merry men drowned.