26. Henry Martin (Folk-Songs of the South- 1925.)
26. HENRY MARTIN (Child, No. 250)
The only version found in West Virginia goes under the title: "Three Brothers of Scotland." It is practically identical with the American version printed by Child, v, 302, with the exception of stanza 8, which is not found in Child. For references to American texts and recent English tradition, see Journal, xxx,
327. "Three Brothers of Scotland." Communicated by Mr. George Paugh, Thomas, Tucker County, January 10, 1916; written down by Mrs. Stella Thomas, Ben Bush, who had learned it about twenty years before from her mother. Reported by Cox, xlv, 160.
1 Three loving brothers in Scotland did dwell,
Three loving brothers were they;
They each cast lots to see who must go
To maintain his two brothers and he.
2 The lot it fell on Andrew Bar dun,
The youngest of the three,
That he should go roving around the salt sea
To maintain his two brothers and he.
3 They had not sailed scarce three winter's nights,
Till a ship they did espy,
A-sailing far off and a-sailing far off,
And at last they came sailing along side.
4 " Who's there? Who's there?" cried Andrew Bardun,
" Who's there that sails so nigh?"
"We are the rich merchants from old England,
And be pleased if you'd let us pass by."
5 a O no! O no!" cried Andrew Bardun,
"That thing can never be;
Your ship and your cargo I have, my brave boys,
And your body I'll drown in the sea."
6 And when the men reached old England,
It caused the king to frown,
To think that his ship and his cargo had [been] taken,
And many a man had been drowned.
7 "Go build me a ship," cried Captain Charles Stewart,
"Go build it strong and sure;
If I don't bring you in Andrew Bardun,
My life will no longer endure."
8 The ship was built at his command,
'T was built both strong and sure;
And Captain Charles Stewart was placed thereon,
For to maintain his crew.
9 They had not sailed scarce three winter's nights,
Till the ship they did espy,
A-sailing far off and a-sailing far off,
And at last they came sailing long side.
10 "Who's there? Who's there?" cried Captain Charles Stewart,
"Who's there that sails so nigh?"
"We are the bold robbers from old Scotland,
And be pleased if you'd let us pass by."
11 "O no! O no!" cried Captain Charles Stewart,
"That thing can never be;
Your ship and your cargo I have, my brave boys,
And your bodies I carry with me."
12 "Come on! Come on!" cried Andrew Bardun,
"I'll value not one pin;
If you can but show me bright brasses without,
I'll show you good steel within."
13 Now the battle had begun,
Loud the cannons roared;
They had not fought scarcely a half hour,
Till Captain Charles gave o'er.
14 "Go home! Go home!" cried Andrew Bardun,
"Go home and tell your king,
That he can reign king o'er all the dry land,
I'll reign king over the sea."