There were three brothers in merry Scotland,
In merry Scotland there were three
And they did cast lots which of them should go

And turn robber all on the salt sea.

The lot it fell first upon Henry Martin,

The youngest of all of the three
That he should turn robber all on the salt sea
For to maintain his two brothers and he.


They had not been sailing but a long winter's night
And part of a short winter's day,

When he spied a stout lofty ship
Come biding down on them straightway.


Hello, hello cried Henry Martin,
What makes you sail so nigh
We're a rich merchant ship bound for fair London Town,

Would you please for to let us pass by.

Henry Martin,

This thing it never can be.
For I have turned robber all on the salt sea,
For to maintain my two brothers and me.


So lower your topsail and bra up your mizzen,
Bow your ship under my lee,

Or I will give to you a full cannon ball,
And all your bodies drown in the salt sea.


Oh no, we won't lower our lofty topsail,
Nor bow our ship under your lee,
And you'll not give to us a full cannon ball,

No, nor point our bold guns to the sea.

So broadside, and broadside, and at it they went,

For fully two hours or three,
Until Henry Martin gave them the death shot,
And straight to the bottom went she.


Sad news, bad news, to old England came,
Sad news to fair London town,

There's a rich merchant vessel and she's cast away,
And all of her merry men drowned.