No. 250: Henry Martyn [aka Henry Martin]
[Barry considers this ballad and 'Sir Andrew Barton', No. 167 to be the same and lists all versions of British Ballads from Maine under the "Sir Andrew" heading. The Roud Index also lumps the two together. US & Canadian versions are sometimes titled 'Andrew Barton' or similarly 'Andrew Bodee' (see Child D). The question is where to put the US or Canadian versions under 'Andrew Barton' or 'Henry Martin'?
I'm listing all US & Canadian versions here under 250. Henry Martin, a ballad that Child says "must have sprung from the ashes of 'Andrew Barton.' "
According to Coffin (1950):
Barry, Brit Bids Me, 253ff., argues that they are the same song. He bases his claim on the older American texts and points out that the Child Henry Martyn stories are all fragments of the Andrew Barton tale which leave the chase and the capture out. Any ballad that has a chase and capture is Sir Andrew Barton.
R. Matteson 2012]
CONTENTS:
1. Child's Narrative
2. Footnotes (There are no footnotes for this ballad)
3. Brief (Kittredge)
4. Child's Ballad Texts A-D (Changes to make A b, B b, and B c found in End-Notes. Another US text, 'Andrew Bartin,' which I've designated Child version E, appears in later edition in Additions and Corrections.)
5. End-notes
6. Additions and Corrections
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column): 1. Recordings & Info: 250. Henry Martyn [aka Henry Martin]
A. Roud No. : Henry Martyn [aka Henry Martin] ( Listings)
2. Sheet Music: 250. Henry Martyn [aka Henry Martin] (including Bronson's music examples and texts)
3. US & Canadian Versions- The versions are sometimes titled 'Andrew Barton' or similarly 'Andrew Bodee' (see child D). There are no versions of 'Andrew Barton' although they are titled after that ballad.
4. English and Other Versions (Including Child versions A-D)
Child's Narrative: 250. Henry Martyn [aka Henry Martin]
A. a. 'Henry Martyn;' taken down from recitation, by the Rev. S. Baring-Gould.
b. 'Henry Martyn;' taken down from recitation, by the Rev. S. Baring-Gould.
B. a. A broadside, Catnach, Seven Dials,
b. 'Henry Martin,' Kidson, Traditional Tunes, p. 31.
c. The same, p. 30.
C. 'Robin Hood,' Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 660.
D. ['Andrew Bodee'], from New Hampshire, U.S.A., communicated by Mr. George M. Richardson; two stanzas.
[E. 'Andrew Bartin,' communicated by Miss Louise Porter Haskell as derived from Gen. E. P. Alexander of South Carolina, and derived by him from the singing of a cadet at West Point Military Academy in the winter of 1856-7.]
A copy edited from A, B a, with the addition of one stanza for a "snapper," is printed in Baring-Gould and Sheppard's Songs and Ballads of the West, No 53. Four traditional versions were obtained by Mr. Baring-Gould.
Three brothers in Scotland cast lots to determine which of them shall rob on the sea to maintain them. The lot falls on the youngest, Henry Martyn, A, B; Robin Hood, C; Andrew Bodee, D. The pirate meets and stops an English ship the very first day (third, A b; fifth, B, C). There is a brisk fight, and the English ship is sunk by shot, A, B. She is plundered and then scuttled, C. In A a, Henry Martyn gets a deep wound and falls by the mast.
The ballad must have sprung from the ashes of 'Andrew Barton,' of which name Henry Martyn would be no extraordinary corruption. Only one copy, A a, preserves the trait of Barton's death, an incident not quite in keeping with the rest of the story of the new ballad.
Robin Hood, C, is always at the service of any ballad-monger who wants a name for his hero. But it will be remembered that he is credited with taking a French ship in 'The Noble Fisherman,' No 148, and that is enough to explain his appearance here. 'Andrew Bodee' may just conceivably be a corruption of Andrew Wood, who displaces Patrick Spens in two versions of No 58 (A b, D). Motherwell knew of a copy in which the hero was called Roberton: Manuscript, p. 660.
Brief Description by George Lyman Kittredge
This ballad must have sprung from the ashes of 'Sir Andrew Barton' (No. 167). E comes nearer than the others to the original, but sts. 11-13 are derived from No, 287, sts. 8, 10. Only one copy (A a) preserves the trait of Barton's death, an incident not quite in keeping with the rest of the story of the new ballad.
Child's Ballad Texts
'Henry Martyn'- Version A a; Child 250 Henry Martyn
Taken down by the Rev. S. Baring-Gould
a. From Matthew Baker, an old cripple, Lew Down, Devon,
1 In merry Scotland, in merry Scotland
There lived brothers three;
They all did cast lots which of them should go
A robbing upon the salt sea,
2 The lot it fell on Henry Martyn,
The youngest of the three;
That he should go rob on the salt, salt sea,
To maintain his brothers and he.
3 He had not a sailed a long winter's night,
Nor yet a short winter's day,
Before that he met with a lofty old ship,
Come sailing along that way.
4 O when she came by Henry Martyn,
'I prithee now, let us go!'
'O no! God wot, that, that will I not,
O that will I never do.
5 'Stand off! stand off!' said Henry Martyn,
'For you shall not pass by me;
For I am a robber all on the salt seas,
To maintain us brothers three.
6 'How far, how far,' cries Henry Martyn,
'How far do you make it?' said he;
'For I am a robber all on the salt seas,
To maintain us brothers three.'
7 For three long hours they merrily fought,
For hours they fought full three;
At last a deep wound got Henry Martyn,
And down by the mast fell he.
8 'Twas broadside to a broadside then,
And a rain and hail of blows,
But the salt sea ran in, ran in, ran in,
To the bottom them she goes.
9 Bad news, bad news for old England,
Bad news has come to the town,
For a rich merchant's vessel is cast away,
And all her brave seamen drown.
10 Bad news, bad news through London street,
Bad news has come to the king,
For all the brave lives of the mariners lost,
That are sunk in the watery main.
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['Henry Martyn']- Version B a;Child 250 Henry Martyn
a. A broadside, Catnach, Seven Dials,
1 There was three brothers in merry Scotland,
In merry Scotland there were three,
And each of these brothers they did cast lots,
To see which should rob the salt sea.
2 Then this lot did fall on young Henry Martyn,
The youngest of these brothers three,
So now he's turnd robber all on the salt seas,
To maintain his two brothers and he.
3 He had not saild one long winter's night,
One cold winter's night before day,
Before he espied a rich merchant-ship,
Come bearing straight down that way.
4 'Who are you? Who are you?' said Henry Martyn,
'Or how durst thou come so nigh?'
'I'm a rich merchant-ship for old England bound,
If you please, will you let me pass by.'
5 'O no! O no!' cried Henry Martyn,
'O no! that never can be,
Since I have turnd robber all on the salt seas,
To maintain my two brothers and me.
6 'Now lower your topsails, you alderman bold,
Come lower them under my lee;'
Saying, 'I am resolved to pirate you here,
To maintain my two brothers and me.'
7 Then broadside to broadside to battle they went
For two or three hours or more;
At last Henry Martyn gave her a death-wound,
And down to the bottom went she.
8 Bad news, bad news to England has come,
Bad news I will tell to you all,
'Twas a rich merchant-ship to England was bound,
And most of her merry men drownd.
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'Robin Hood'- Version C; Child 250 Henry Martyn
Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 660; from the recitation of Alexander Macdonald, coal-heaver, Barkip, parish of Dairy, Ayr; a song of his mother's, a native of Ireland.
1 There were three brothers in bonnie Scotland,
In bonnie Scotland lived they,
And they cuist kevels themsells amang,
Wha sould gae rob upon the salt sea.
2 The lot it fell upon bold Robin Hood,
The youngest brither of the hale three:
'O, I sall gae rob upon the salt sea,
And it's all to maintain my two brothers and me.'
3 They hadna sailed a lang winter night,
A lang winter night scarselie,
Till they were aware of a tall, tall ship,
Coming sailin down under the lee.
4 'O where are you bound for, my bonnie ship?'
Bold Robin Hood he did cry;
'O I'm a bold merchantman, for London bound,
And I pray you, good sir, let us by.'
5 'O no! O no!' said bold Robin Hood,
'O no such thing may be;
For I will gae in and plunder your ship,
And your fair bodies I'll drown in the sea.'
6 O he has gone in and plundered their ship,
And holes in her bottom bored three;
The water came in so thick and so fast
That down, down to the bottom gade she.
7 Bad news, bad news to old England is gone,
Bad news to our king, old Henrie,
That his merchant-goods were taken on board,
And thirty-five seamen drownd in the sea.
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['Andrew Bodee']- Version D; Child 250 Henry Martyn
Communicated by Mr. George M. Richardson, as learned by a lady in northern New Hampshire more than fifty years ago from an aged aunt.
1 Three loving brothers in Scotland dwelt,
Three loving brothers were they,
And they cast lots to see which of the three
Should go robbing all oer the salt sea, salt sea,
Should go robbing all oer the salt sea.
2 The lot it fell to Andrew Bodee,
The youngest of the three,
That he should leave the other two,
And go robbing all oer the salt sea.
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'Andrew Bartin'- Version E; Child 250 Henry Martyn
'Andrew Bartin,' communicated by Miss Louise Porter Haskell as derived from Gen. E.P. Alexander of South Carolina, and derived by him from the singing of a cadet at West Point Military Academy in the winter of 1856-7.
1 Three bold brothers of merrie Scotland,
And three bold brothers were they,
And they cast lots the one with the other,
To see who should go robbing all oer the salt sea;
And they cast lots the one with the other,
To see who should go robbing all oer the salt sea.
2 The lot it fell an Andrew Bartin,
The youngest of the three,
That he should go robbing all oer the salt sea,
To maintain his two brothers and he.
3 He had not sailed but one long summer night,
When daylight did appear;
He saw a ship sailing far off and far round,
At last she came sailing quite near.
4 'Who art? who art?' says Andrew Bartin,
'Who art thee comes sailing so nigh?'
'We are the rich merchants of merrie England,
Just please for to let us pass by.'
5 'Pass by? pass by?' says Andrew Bartin,
'No, no, that never can be;
Your ship and your cargo I will take away,
And your brave men drown in the sea.'
6 Now when this news reached merrie England,
King George he wore the crown;
That his ship and his cargo were taken away,
And his brave men they were all drowned.
7 'Go build me a ship,' says Captain Charles Stewart,
'A ship both stout and sure,
And if I dont fetch this Andrew Bartin,
My life shall no longer endure.'
8 He had not sailed but one long summer night,
When daylight did appear,
He saw a ship sailing far off and far round,
And then she came sailing quite near.
9 'Who art? who art?' says Captain Charles Stewart,
'Who art comes sailing so nigh?'
'We are the bold brothers of merrie Scotland,
Just please for to let us pass by.'
10 'Pass by? pass by?' says Captain Charles Stewart,
'No, no, that never can be;
Your ship and your cargo I will take away
And your brave men carry with me.'
11 'Come on! come on!' says Andrew Bartin,
'I value you not one pin;
And though you are lined with good brass without,
I'll show you I've fine steel within.'
12 Then they drew up a full broadside
And at each other let pour;
They had not fought for four hours or more,
When Captain Charles Stewart gave oer.
13 'Go home! go home!' says Andrew Bartin,
'And tell your king for me,
That he may reign king of the merry dry land,
But that I will be king of the sea.'
End-Notes
A. b. 31. a sailed three winter's nights.
32. When a little before the day.
33. He spied the king his gay gallant ship.
4. Wanting.
5. 'Stand off! Stand off!' the captain he cried,
'The life-guards they are aboard;
My cannons are loaden with powder and shot,
And every man hath a sword.'
7. They merrily fought for three long hours,
They fought for hours full three,
And many a blow dealt many a wound,
As they fought on the salt, salt sea.
8. 'T was a broadside to a broadside then,
And at it the which should win;
A shot in the gallant ship bored a hole,
And then did the water rush in.
9. Wanting.
103. of the life-guards.
104 . O the tidings be sad that I bring.
B. b. 1. In Scotland there lived three brothers of late,
In Scotland there lived brothers three;
Now the youngest cast lots with the other two,
Which should go rob on the salt sea.
2. The lot it did fall to bold Henry Martin,
The youngest of all the three,
And he had to turn robber all on the salt seas,
To maintain his two brothers and he.
3. He had not been sailing past a long winter's night,
Past a long winter's night before day,
Before he espied a lofty fine ship
Come sailing all on the salt sea.
4. 'O where are you bound for?' cried Henry Martin,
'O where are you bound for?' cried he;
'I 'm a rich-loaded ship bound for fair England,
I pray you to let me pass free.'
5. 'O no! O no!' cried Henry Martin,
'O no! that can never be,
Since I have turned robber all on the salt sea,
To maintain my two brothers and me.
6. 'Heave down your main tack, likewise your main tie,
And lig yourself under my lee;
For your rich glowing gold I will take it away,
And your fair bodies drown in the salt sea.'
7. Then broadside to broadside they merrily fought,
For fully two hours or three,
When by chance Henry Martin gave her a broadside,
And right down to the bottom went she.
8. Bad news, bad news unto old England,
Bad news I tell unto thee;
For your rich glowing gold is all wasted away,
And your mariners are drownd in the salt sea.
B c. 1. There lived three brothers in merry Scotland,
In merry Scotland lived brothers three,
And they did cast lots which should rob on the sea,
To maintain his two brothers and he.
2. And the lot it did light on Henry Martin,
The youngest of all the brothers three,
And he went a roaming on the salt sea,
To maintain his two brothers and he.
3. And when they had sailed five days and more
On a rich merchant-ship coming down they then bore,
As he went a roaming on the salt sea,
To maintain his two brothers and he.
4. The rich merchant-ship got wounded by he,
And right down to the bottom of the salt sea went she,
As he went a roaming on the salt sea,
To maintain his two brothers and he.
B. c. 12. three brothers.
C. 14. sould may possibly be wuld.
23, 41, 61. Oh.
Additions and Corrections
P. 393. [My E] 'Andrew Bartin,' communicated by Miss Louise Porter Haskell as derived from Gen. E. P. Alexander of South Carolina, and derived by him from the singing of a cadet at West Point Military Academy in the winter of 1856-7. Two or three slight corrections have been made by Mrs. A. C. Haskell, sister of Gen. Alexander. This copy comes nearer than the others to the original Andrew Barton; but sts 11-13 are derived from Captain Ward, No 287, 8, 10.
1 Three bold brothers of merrie Scotland,
And three bold brothers were they,
And they cast lots the one with the other,
To see who should go robbing all oer the salt sea;
And they cast lots the one with the other,
To see who should go robbing all oer the salt sea.
2 The lot it fell on Andrew Bartin,
The youngest of the three,
That he should go robbing all oer the salt sea,
To maintain his two brothers and he.
That he should go robbing all oer the salt sea,
To maintain his two brothers and he.
3 He had not sailed but one long summer night,
When daylight did appear;
He saw a ship sailing far off and far round,
At last she came sailing quite near.
He saw a ship sailing far off and far round,
At last she came sailing quite near.
4 'Who art? who art?' says Andrew Bartin,
'Who art thee comes sailing so nigh?'
'We are the rich merchants of merrie England,
Just please for to let us pass by.'
'We are the rich merchants of merrie England,
Just please for to let us pass by.'
5 'Pass by? pass by?' says Andrew Bartin,
'No, no, that never can be;
Your ship and your cargo I will take away,
And your brave men drown in the sea.'
Your ship and your cargo I will take away,
And your brave men drown in the sea.'
6 Now when this news reached merrie England
King George he wore the crown
That his ship and his cargo were taken away,
And his brave men they were all drowned.
That his ship and his cargo were taken away,
And his brave men they were all drowned.
7 'Go build me a ship,' says Captain Charles Stewart,
'A ship both stout and sure,
And if I dont fetch this Andrew Bartin,
My life shall no longer endure.'
And if I dont fetch this Andrew Bartin,
My life shall no longer endure.'
8 He had not sailed but one long summer night,
When daylight did appear,
He saw a ship sailing far off and far round,
And then she came sailing quite near.
He saw a ship sailing far off and far round,
And then she came sailing quite near.
9 'Who art? who art?' says Captain Charles Stewart,
'Who art comes sailing so nigh?'
'We are the bold brothers of merrie Scotland,
Just please for to let us pass by.'
'We are the bold brothers of merrie Scotland,
Just please for to let us pass by.'
10 'Pass by? pass by?' says Captain Charles Stewart,
'No, no, that never can be;
Your ship and your cargo I will take away,
And your brave men carry with me.'
Your ship and your cargo I will take away,
And your brave men carry with me.'
11 'Come on! come on!' says Andrew Bartin,
'I value you not one pin;
And though you are lined with good brass without,
I'll show you I've fine steel within.'
And though you are lined with good brass without,
I'll show you I've fine steel within.'
12 Then they drew up a full broadside
And at each other let pour;
They had not fought for four hours or more,
When Captain Charles Stewart gave oer.
They had not fought for four hours or more,
When Captain Charles Stewart gave oer.
13 'Go home! go home!' says Andrew Bartin,
'And tell your king for me,
That he may reign king of the merry dry land,
But that I will be king of the sea.'
That he may reign king of the merry dry land,
But that I will be king of the sea.'
21. etc. Bartyn. Gen. Alexander remarks that "the accent was on the last syllable."
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'Row tu me, row tu me,' says He-ne-ry Burgin,
'Row tu me, row tu me, I prah;
For I ha' tarn'd a Scotch robber across the salt seas,
Tu ma-i-nt'n my tew brothers and me.'
Fragment of a Suffolk Harvest Home song, remembered by an old Suffolk divine. Contributed by Edward Fitzgerald to Suffolk Notes and Queries in the 'Ipswich Journal,' 1877-78; where another stanza follows which has no connection with the above. See 'Two Suffolk Friends,' by Francis Hindes Groome, Edinburgh and London, 1895, p. 79 f.