"Henry Martin" lyrics

There were three brothers in merry Scotland
In merry Scotland there were three
And they did cast lots which of them
Which of them, which of them
Should turn robber all on the salt sea

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

They had not been sailing but a long winter's night
And the part of a short winter's day
When he did espy a stout lofty ship
Lofty ship, lofty ship
Bearing down upon 'em straightway

"Hello, Hello," cried Henry Martin
"What makes you sail so nigh?"
"We're a rich merchant ship bound for fair London Town
London Town, London Town
Please for to let me pass by?"

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

So broadside and broadside and at it they went
For fully two hours or three
Till Henry Martin gave to her the death shot
The death shot, the death shot
And sent them down under the sea

The rich merchant vessel was wounded full sore
Straight to the bottom went she
And Henry Martin sailed away on the sea
The salt sea, the salt sea
For to maintain his two brothers and he

Sad news, sad news to old London Town
Sad news to fair London Town
There's been a rich merchant and she's cast away
Cast away, cast away
And all of her merry men drowned