286. The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity) [Lowlands Low]
[This ballad was very popular in the United States and Canada and two early country recordings were made in the 1920s-1930s. Listen to: The Carter Family- Sinking in the Lonesome Sea; 1935. In the US the song was was published with music as a college/minstrel song as early as 1868 in Carmina Collegensia: a complete collection of the songs of the American colleges by Henry Randall Waite.
R. Matteson 2012]
CONTENTS:
1. Child's Narrative
2. Footnote (There is one footnote for this ballad)
3. Brief (Kittredge)
4. Child's Ballad Texts A-C (Changes for B b- B f and C b- C f found in End-Notes)
5. End-Notes
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column):
1. Recordings & Info: 286. The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)
A. Roud No. 122: The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity) (489 Listings)
2. Sheet Music: 286. The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity) (Bronson's music examples and texts)
3. English and Other Versions (Including Child versions A-C)
4. US & Canada Versions
Illustration by Pamela Colman Smith, 1899, from The Golden Vanity and The Green Bed
Then the boy bared his breast, and straightway leaped in,
And he held all in his hand, an augur sharp and thin,
And he swam until he came to the Spanish galleon,
As she lay by the Low-lands low.
Child's Narrative: 286. The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)
A. 'Sir Walter Raleigh sailing in the Low-lands,' etc., Pepys Ballads, IV, 196, No 189 (1682-85).
B. a.'The Goulden Vanitie,' Logan's Pedlar's Pack, p. 42; Mrs. Gordon's Memoir of John Wilson, II, 317.
b. As sung by Mr. G. Du Maurier, sent me by J.R. Lowell.
c. 'The French Galley,' Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 420.
d. Communicated by Mrs. Moncrieff, of London, Ontario.
e. 'The Lowlands Low,' Findlay Manuscripts, I, 161.
f. Sharpe's Ballad Book, 1880, p. 160, notes of Sir Walter Scott.
C. a. 'Golden Vanity, or, The Low Lands Low,' Pitts, Seven Dials, in Logan's Pedlar's Pack, p. 45; Ebsworth, Roxburghe Ballads, VI, 419.
b. 'The Lowlands Low,' Long, Dictionary of the Isle of Wight Dialect, p. 145.
c. 'Low in the Lowlands Low,' Christie, I, 238.
d. 'The Golden Vanity,' Baring-Gould and Sheppard, 'Songs of the West,' No 64.
e. 'The French Gallio,' 'The French Gallolee,' Buchan Manuscripts, II, 390, 414.
f. 'The Turkish Galley,' Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 392, and Note-Book, p. 50.
g. 'The Lowlands Low,' Macmath Manuscript, p. 80.
A also in Euing, No 334, Crawford, No 1073, Huth, II, No 134; all by the same printer, 1682-85.
Motherwell enters the first stanza of another copy of 'The Turkish Galley' in his Note-Book, p. 10, and refers to three copies more, besides B d, at p. 51.
There is a retouched copy of C in English County Songs, Lucy E. Broadwood and J. A. Fuller Maitland, p. 182.
B, C, are probably traditional variations of the broadside A. The conclusion of the broadside is sufficiently inadequate to impel almost any singer to attempt an improvement, and a rather more effective catastrophe is the only signal difference besides names. It is, however, not quite impossible that the ultimate source of the traditional copies may be as old as the broadside.
A. 'The Sweet Trinity,' a ship built by Sir Walter Raleigh, has been taken by a galley of a nationality not specified. The master of some English ship asks what seaman will take the galley and redeem The Sweet Trinity. A ship-boy asks what the reward shall be; the reward shall be gold and fee, and the master's eldest daughter. The ship-boy, who is possessed of an auger which bores fifteen holes at once, swims to the galley, sinks her, and releases The Sweet Trinity; then swims back to his ship and demands his pay. The master will give gold and fee, but not his daughter to wife. The ship-boy says, Farewell, since you are not so good as your word.
B. No ship has been taken by an enemy. The Golden Vanity, Golden Victorie, e, falls in with a French galley, which a cabin-boy undertakes to sink for a reward. The reward is to be, a, b, an estate in the North Country; c, half the captain's lands in the South Country, meat and fee, and the captain's eldest daughter; e, gold and fee, and the captain's daughter. The boy is rolled up in a bull-skin and thrown over the deck-board (a corruption, see C). He takes out an instrument, and bores thirty holes at twice, a; a gimlet, and bores sixty holes and thrice, b; he struck her with an instrument, bored thirty holes at twice, c; threescore holes he scuttled in a trice, d; struck her wi an auger, thirty three and thrice, e. After sinking the galley he calls to the Golden Vanity to throw him a rope, take him on board, and be as good as their word, all which is refused. He threatens to serve them as he has the galley, a, b, d; they take him up and prove better than their word, a, d, or as good, b. (Of f very little was remembered by Scott, and the ballad was besides confounded with 'The George Aloe.'[1])
C. The distinguishing feature is that the boy dies after he is taken up from the water, and is sewed up in a cow's hide and thrown overboard, 'to go down with the tide.' The Golden Vanity, a-d, The Gold Pinnatree, e, The Golden Trinitie, g, is in danger from a Turkish galleon, a, f, g, a Spanish, b, c (pirate Targalley), d, French, e. The captain of the English ship promises the cabin-boy gold, fee, and daughter, if he will sink the enemy. The boy has, and uses, an auger, to bore two holes at twice, a, that bores twenty holes in twice, b, to bore two holes at once, c; a case of instruments, C a's fifty holes and drives them a' at once, e; an instrument, and bores nine holes in her water-sluice, f; an auger fitted for the use, and bores in her bottom a watery sluice, g. The master will not take him on board, will kill him, shoot him, sink him, a-d; will not keep his bargain, 'for as you've done to her, so would you do to me,' e (compare the threat in B 13). The boy is taken up by his messmates and dies on the deck, a, c, d; is sewed in a cow-hide and thrown overboard, a, c-g; in b sinks from exhaustion and drowns.
Footnote:
1. Scott says at the end, "I will not swear to the accuracy of the above."
Brief Description by George Lyman Kittredge
B is probably a traditional variation of the broadside A. The conclusion of the broadside is sufficiently inadequate to impel almost any singer to attempt an improvement, and a rather more effective catastrophe is the only signal difference besides names. It is, however, not quite impossible that the ultimate source of the traditional copies may be as old as the broadside.
Child's Ballad Texts
'Sir Walter Raleigh sailing in the Low-lands,' etc.- Version A; Child 286 The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)
Pepys Ballads, IV, 196, No 189.
1 Sir Walter Rawleigh has built a ship,
In the Neatherlands
Sir Walter Rawleigh has built a ship,
In the Neather-lands
And it is called The Sweet Trinity,
And was taken by the false gallaly.
Sailing in the Low-lands
2 'Is there never a seaman bold
In the Neather-lands
Is there never a seaman bold
In the Neather-lands
That will go take this false gallaly,
And to redeem The Sweet Trinity?'
Sailing, etc.
3 Then spoke the little ship-boy;
In the Neather-lands
Then spoke the little ship-boy;
In the Neather-lands
'Master, master, what will you give me
And I will take this false gallaly,
And release The Sweet Trinity?'
Sailing, etc.
4 'I'll give thee gold, and I'le give thee fee,
In the Neather-lands
I'll give thee gold and I'le give thee fee,
In the Neather-lands
And my eldest daughter thy wife shall be.'
Sailing, etc.
5 He set his breast, and away he did swim,
Until he came to the false gallaly.
6 He had an augor fit for the [n]once,
The which will bore fifteen good holes at once.
7 Some ware at cards, and some at dice,
Until the salt water flashd in their eyes.
8 Some cut their hats, and some cuth their caps,
For to stop the salt-water gaps.
9 He set his breast, and away did swim,
Until he came to his own ship again.
10 'I have done the work I promised to do,
For I have sunk the false gallaly,
And released The Sweet Trinity.
11 'You promised me gold, and you promised me fee,
Your eldest daughter my wife she must be.'
12 'You shall have gold, and you shall have fee,
But my eldest daughter you wife shall never be.'
For sailing, etc.
13 'Then fare you well, you cozening lord,
Seeling you are not so good as your word.'
For sailing, etc.
14 And thus I shall conclude my song,
Of the sailing in the Low-lands
Wishing all happiness too all seamen both old and young.
In their sailing in the Low-lands.
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'The Goulden Vanitie'- Version B a; Child 286 The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)
a. Logan's Pedlar's Pack, p. 42, as sung about 1840 by Mr. P.S. Fraser, of Edinburgh, and obtained by him orally.
1 There was a gallant ship, and a gallant ship was she
Eck iddle du, and the Lowlands low
And she was called The Goulden Vanitie.
As she sailed to the Lowlands low.
2 She had not sailed a league, a league but only three,
Eck, etc.
When she came up with a French gallee.
As she sailed, etc.
3 Out spoke the little cabin-boy, out spoke he;
'What will you give me if I sink that French gallee?'
As ye sail, etc.
4 Out spoke the captain, out spoke he;
'We'll gie ye an estate in the North Countrie.'
As we sail, etc.
5 'Then row me up ticht in a black bull's skin,
And throw me oer deck-buird, sink I or swim.'
As ye sail, etc.
6 So they've rowed him up ticht in a black bull's skin,
And have thrown him oer deck-buird, sink he or soom.
As they sail, etc.
7 About, and about, and about went he,
Until he cam up with the French gallee,
As they sailed, etc.
8 O some were playing cards, and some were playing dice,
When he took out an instrument, bored thrity holes at twice.
As they sailed, etc.
9 Then some they ran with cloaks, and some they ran with caps,
To try if they could stap the saut-water draps.
As they sailed, etc.
10 About, and about, and about went he,
Until he cam back to The Goulden Vanitie.
As they sailed, etc.
11 'Now throw me oer a rope and pu me up on buird,
And prove unto me as guid as your word.'
As ye sail, etc.
12 'We'll no throw you oer a rope, nor pu you up on buird,
Nor prove unto you as guid as our word.'
As we sail, etc.
13 Out spoke the little cabin-boy, out spoke he;
Then hang me, I'll sink ye as I sunk the French gallee.
As ye sail, etc.
14 But they've thrown him oer a rope, and have pu'd him up on buird,
And have proved unto him far better than their word.
As they sailed, etc.
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'Golden Vanity, or, The Low Lands Low'- Version C a; Child 286 The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)
a. Stall-copy, Pitts, Seven Dials, Logan's Pedlar's Pack, p. 45.
1 'I have a ship in the North Countrie,
And she goes by the name of the The Golden Vanity;
I'm afraid she will be taken by some Turkish gallee,
As she sails on the Low Lands Low.'
2 Then up starts our little cabin-boy,
Saying, Master, what will you give me if I do them destroy?
'I will give you gold, I will give you store,
You shall have my daughter when I return on shore,
If ye sink them in the Low Lands Low.'
3 The boy bent his breast and away he jumpt in;
He swam till he came to this Turkish galleon,
As she laid on the Low Lands Low.
4 The boy he had an auger to bore holes two at twice;
While some were playing cards, and some were playing dice,
He let the water in, and it dazzled in their eyes,
And he sunk them in the Low Lands Low.
5 The boy he bent his breast and away he swam back again,
Saying, Master take me up, or I shall be slain,
For I have sunk them in the Low Lands Low.
6 'I'll not take you up,' the master he cried;
'I'll not take you up,' the master replied;
'I will kill you, I will shoot you, I will send you with the tide,
I will sink you in the Low Lands Low.'
7 The boy he swam round all by the starboardside;
They laid him on the deck, and it's there he soon died;
Then they sewed him up in an old cow's-hide,
And they threw him overboard, to go down with the tide,
And they sunk him in the Low Lands Low.
End-Notes
A. Sir Walter Raleigh sailing in the Low-lands: Shewing how the famous ship called The Sweet Trinity was taken by a false gaily, and how it was again restored by the craft of a little sea-boy, who sunk the galley: as the following song will declare. To the tune of The Sailing of the Low-land.
(End.) This may be printed. R. L. S. (Sir R. L'Estrange was licenser from 1663 to 1685.)
Printed for J. Conyers at the Black- Raven, the first shop in Fetter-Lane next Holborn. (J. Conyers, 1682-91. Chappell.)
a. 71. at somt dice.
B. a. 81. Oh.
b. The variations are but trifling.
7. And awa, and awa, and awa swam he,
Till he swam up to.
82. He just took out a gimlet and bored sixty holes and thrice.
92. But they couldna run awa from the salt-water drops.
10. Then awa, and awa, and awa swam he,
Till he swam back to.
121. I'll na: rope, I'llna.
122. I'll na: unto thee: my word.
13. An ye na throw me oer a rope an ye na pull me up aboard,
I'll just sink ye.
142. And they proved unto him as good as their word.
c. 1 There was an auncient ship, and an auncient ship was she,
Eee eedle ee, in the Lowlands so low
And the name of the ship was The Golden Vanitie.
As she sailed from the Lowlands so low
2 She had not sailed a league, no, not a league but three,
Eee eedle ee, in the Lowlands so low
Until that shee spied a French galley.
As she sailed from the Lowlands so low
3 'It's master, O master, what'll ye gie me,
Eee eedle ee, in the Lowlands so low
If I go and sink yon French galley?'
As she sailed from the Lowlands so low
4 O then said the master, I will gie till ye
Eee eedle ee, in the Lowlands so low
The half of my lands in the South Countrie.
As she sailed from the Lowlands so low
5 'It's I'll gie ye meat, and I'll gie ye fee,
Eee eedle ee, in the Lowlands so low
And my eldest daughter your bride for to be.'
As she sailed from the Lowlands so low
6 'It's wrap me up tight in a gude bull's-skin,
Eee eedle ee, in the Lowlands so low
And throw me over deck-board, sink I or swim.'
As she sailed from the Lowlands so low
7 So they wrapt him tight in a gude bull's-skin,
Eee eedle ee, in the Lowlands so low
And they've thrown him over deck-board, sink he or swim.
As she sailed from the Lowlands so low
8 And about, and about, and about went he,
Eee eedle ee, in the Lowlands so low
Until that he came to the French galley.
As she sailed from the Lowlands so low
9 It's some were playing at cards, and some were playing at dice,
Eee eedle ee, in the Lowlands so low
But he struck her with an instrument, bored thirty holes at twice.
As she sailed from the Lowlands so low
10 Some ran wi hats, and some ran wi caps,
Eee eedle ee, in the Lowlands so low
All for to stop the salt- waters draps.
As they sailed from the Lowlands so low
31, 41. oh, Oh.
d. 1 There was an ancient ship, and an ancient ship was she,
Italy and the Lowlands low
And her name it was The Golden Vanity.
As she sailed for the Lowlands low
2 She had not sailed a mile, a mile but barely three,
Italy and the Lowlands low
When she hove in sight of a French galley.
As she sailed for the Lowlands low
3 Up spak the prentice-boy; What'll ye gie me,
Italy and the Lowlands low
If I gang and sink yon French galley?
As she sails for the Lowlands low
4 Up spak the captain; What'll I gie ye,
Italy and the Lowlands low
. . .
As she sails for the Lowlands low
5 forgotten.
6 'It's row me up in a tough bull's-skin,
Italy and the Lowlands low
And throw me overboard, let me sink or swim.'
As we sail for the Lowlands low
7 They've rowed him up tight in a tough bull's-skin,
Italy and the Lowlands low
And they 've thrown him overboard, let him sink or swim.
As they sailed for the Lowlands low
8 Then about, and about, and about went he,
Italy and the Lowlands low
Until that he reached that French galley.
As she sailed for the Lowlands low
9 And three-score holes he scuttled in a trice.
Italy and the Lowlands low
As she sailed for the Lowlands low
10 'Now throw me owre a rope and pull me up on board,
Italy and the Lowlands low
And prove unto me as gude as yere word.'
As we sail for the Lowlands low
11 'I'll not throw ye owre a rope, nor pull ye up on board,
Italy and the Lowlands low
Nor prove unto ye as guid as my word.'
As we sail for the Lowlands low
12 'Throw me owre a rope and pull me up on board,
Italy and the Lowlands low
Or I'll do to ye as I did the French galley.'
As she sailed for the Lowlands low
13 Then they threw him owre a rope and pulled him up on board,
Italy and the Lowlands low
And proved unto him far better than then- word.
As they sailed for the Lowlands low
e. 1 O she was an English ship, an an English ship was she,
Hey diddie dee for the Lowlands low
And her name it was The Golden Victorie.
As she sailed for the Lowlands low.
2 . . .
Hey diddie dee for the Lowlands low
And she fell in wi a French galee.
As she sailed for the Lowlands low.
3 'O what'll ye gie me, captain, what'll ye gie me,
Hey diddie dee for the Lowlands low
If I go an sink yon French galee?'
As she sails for the Lowlands low.
4 'O I'll gie thee goud, an I'll gie thee fee,
Hey diddie dee for the Lowlands low
An my eldest daughter your wife shall be.'
As we sail for the Lowlands low.
5 Then wrap me up tight in tough bull-hide,
Hey diddie dee for the Lowlands low
An to sink or swim ye'll pitch me ower the side.'
As we sail for the Lowlands low.
6 They wrapt him up tight in tough bull-hide,
Hey diddie dee for the Lowlands low
An to sink or swim they pitchd him ower the side,
As they sailed for the Lowlands low.
7 He swam, an he swam, an he better swam,
Hey diddie dee for the Lowlands low
Until he to the French galley cam.
As she sailed for the Lowlands low.
8 O some were playin cards, an some were playin dice,
Hey diddie dee for the Lowlands low
But he struck her wi an auger thirty three and thrice.
As she sailed for the Lowlands low.
9 Aboot, an aboot, an aboot went she,
Hey diddie dee for the Lowlands low
Until she cam to the bottom of the sea.
As she sailed for the Lowlands low.
f. Sir Walter Scott's recollections here seem not trustworthy, and of this he was himself aware.
1 The George-a-Low came down the strait,
Hey low and the Lowlands so low
And she will be lost, both vessel and freight,
For the chasing of a French galerie O
5 'Row me in a good bull-skin,
And fling me overboard, for to sink or to swim,'
For the sinking of yon French galerie O
6 They row him, etc.
8 Some were playing at cards and dice,
When the sea came gushing in a trice.
For the sinking, etc.
C. b. 1 Our ship she was called The Golden Vanitie;
We had sailed from our port about miles fifty-three,
When up came with us a Spanish gallee,
To sink us in the Lowlands low.
2 Our master wrung his hands, but our little cabin-boy
Said, What will you give me, master, if I do them destroy?
'Oh I will give you gold, and my daughter too, with joy,
If you sink them in the Lowlands low.'
3 The boy gave a nod, and then jumped into the sea,
And he swam till he came to the Spanish gallee;
He climbed up aboard, and below to work went he,
To sink them in the Lowlands low.
4 For this boy he had an auger that bored twenty holes in twice,
And while some were playing cards, and some were playing dice,
Through the bottom of the ship he bored it in a trice,
And he sunk them in the Lowlands low.
5 The galley she went down, but the boy swam back again,
Crying, Master, pick me up, or I shall soon be slain;
Pray heave to me a rope, or I shall sink in the main;
For I 've sunk them in the Lowlands low.
6 'I will not pick you up,' the master loudly cried,
'I will not heave a rope,' the master he replied;
'I will kill you, I will sink you, I will leave you in the tide,
I will sink you in the Lowlands low.'
7 The boy he swam around the ship from side to side,
But he could not get aboard, so he sank, and he died,
And they left him where he was, to go down with the tide;
So they sunk him in the Lowlands low.
c. 1 There was a good ship from the North Countrie,
Sailing low in the Lowlands low
There was, etc.
And that ship's name was The Golden Vanity.
Sailing low in the Lowlands, low in the sea,
Sailing low in the Lowlands low
The master said, I fear for my good ship Vanity,
Oh, I fear for my good ship, The Golden Vanity,
That she will be taken by the pirate Targalley,
As she sails in, etc.
22. 'Oh, master, good master, what will you give me
If I sink yon Targalley low in the sea?'
10 stanzas.
d. 1 A ship I have got in the North Country,
And she goes by the name of The Golden Vanity;
O I fear she'll be taken by a Spanish Galalie,
As she sails by the Lowlands low.
8 stanzas.
e. Buchan; Manuscripts, II, 390.
1 Our ship sailed to the North Country,
Sing, How the Lowlands lo[w]
Our ship sailed on to the North Countrie,
And the name o her was The Gold Pinnatree,
She was as fine a vessel as ever sailed the sea,
And she sails by the Lowlands lo[w]
2 We hadna sailed leagues but only three,
Sing, How the Lowlands lo[w]
We hadna sailed leagues but only three,
Till the captain from the maindeck fixed an ee;
He spied a lofty frigate was sailing closely tee,
And her name was The French Gallic.
3 Then out it speaks the pilot, by the mainyard did stand,
Sing, How the Lowlands lo[w]
Then out it speaks the pilot, by the mainyard did stand,
Says, O my pretty boys, we are all undone;
We must prepare to fight or be sunk to the sand,
For yonder comes the French gallio.
4 Then spoke the little cabin-boy, [where stood he,]
Sing, How the Lowlands lo[w]
Then spoke the little cabin-boy, [where stood he,]
Said, O my loving master, what will ye gie me
And I will sink this proud Gallio in the sea,
And I will sink the French gallio?
5 'I will gie you gold, boy, and I will gie you fee,
Sing, How the Lowlands lo[w]
'I will gie you gold, boy, and I will gie you fee,
Besides a rarer gift that I will give thee;
Ye'se have my eldest daughter your wedded wife to be,
If ye will sink the French gallio.'
6 The boy bent his breast, and away swam he,
Sing, How the Lowlands lo[w]
The boy bent his breast, and away swam he,
And took a bold venture thro the stormy sea,
And cam close by his enemy, as sly as he could be,
It was to sink the French gallio.
7 Some there were at cards, and some there were at dice,
Sing, How the Lowlands lo[w]
Some there were at cards, and some there were at dice,
But the little cabin-boy was at the best device,
He was sinking the French gallio in the sea,
He was sinking the French gallio.
8 This boy had a case o fine instruments,
Sing, How the Lowlands lo[w]
This boy had a case o fine instruments,
He ca'd fifty holes, and drove them a' at once,
And he soon sank the French gallio in the sea,
And he soon sank the French gallio.
9 Then the boy bent his breast, and back swam he,
Sing, How the Lowlands lo[w]
Then the boy bent his breast, and back swam he,
Till that he cam to The Gold Pinnatree;
Says, Now, my loving master, what will ye gie me?
For I have sunk the French gallio.
10 'Now give to me my gold, master, [give to me my fee,]
Sing, How the Lowlands lo[w]
'Now give to me my gold, master, [give to me my fee,]
Or give to me the other rare gifts ye promised me;
It was your eldest daughter, my wedded wife to be;
For the sinking o the French gallio.'
11 'Ye shall have no gold, boy, ye shall have no fee;
Sing, How the Lowlands lo[w]
'Ye shall have no gold, boy, ye shall have no fee;
I wadna ware my daughter on ony such as thee;
For as you've done to her, boy, so wad you do to me,
By the sinking o the French [gallio].'
12 Then they put out their long-boat and catched him by the side,
Sing, How the Lowlands lo[w]
Then they put out their long-boat and catched him by the side,
And rowed him into ane auld cow's-hide,
And tossed him overboard, to float on the tide,
For sinking the French gallio.
Gallio may be surmised to be properly galley O.
The other copy in Buchan's Manuscripts, II, 414, is only the foregoing a little retouched or regulated. It has throughout Gallolee for Gallio. The first line of the burden is, Sing, Low, the Lowlands low.
41. where stood he.
63. could dee.
101. give to me my fee.
f. 1 I spied a ship, and a ship was she,
Sing, Oh, the low and the Lowlands low
And she was called the Turkish Galley,
She was sailing in the Lowlands, low, low, low,
She was sailing in the Lowlands low.
2 'Master, master, what wud ye gie me
Sing, Oh, the low and the Lowlands low
Gin I wud sink yon Turkish galley?
She's sailing in the Lowlands, low, low, low,
She's sailing in the Lowlands low.
3 'I'll gie you gold, I'll gie you fee,
Sing, Oh, the low and the Lowlands low
Gin ye wud sink yon Turkish galley,
That is sailing in the Lowlands, low, low, low,
That is sailing in the Lowlands low.
4 He bent his breast, and awa swam he,
Sing, Oh, the low and the Lowlands low
Till he cam to yon Turkish galley,
That's sailing in the Lowlands, low, low, low,
That's sailing in the Lowlands low.
5 He had an instrument, made for the use,
Sing, Oh, the low and the Lowlands low
He bored nine holes in her water-sluice,
Left her sinking in the Lowlands, low, low, low,
Left her sinking in the Lowlands low.
6 Some took their hats, and some took their caps,
Sing, Oh, the low and the Lowlands low
All for to stop her watery leaks.
She was sailing in the Lowlands, low, low, low,
She was sailing in the Lowlands low.
7 They took him up by their ship-side,
Sing, Oh, the low and the Lowlands low
They sewed him in an auld cow's-hide,
Left him sinking in the Lowlands, low, low, low,
Left him sinking in the Lowlands low.
Motherwell sent this copy to C. K. Sharpe in a letter dated October 8, 1825, in which he says: I also send rather a curious song, which perchance you may have seen, entitled 'The Turkish Galley,' the air of which pleased me much. But as I learn there are two other different sets of the words more complete than my copy, and with different airs, I shall defer sending the musick till I can send also that which belongs to the other copies.
g. 1 There was a ship of the North Countrie,
And the name of the ship was The Golden Trinitie.
She was sailing in the Lowlands low, low, low,
She was sailing in the Lowlands low.
2 . . .
And the name of the ship was The Turkish Gallee,
And she was sailing in the Lowlands low, low, low,
She was sailing in the Lowlands low.
3 'O captain, O captain,' said the young cabin-boy,
'What will you give me if yon ship I do destroy?
And sink her in the Lowlands low, low, low,
And sink her in the Lowlands low.
4 'I'll give you gold, and I'll give you fee,
And my eldest daughter your wedded wife shall be,
If you sink her in the Lowlands low, low, low,
If you sink her in the Lowlands low.
5 The boy bent his bow, and away swam he,
Until that he came to the Turkish gallee.
She was sailing in the Lowlands low, low, low,
She was sailing in the Lowlands low.
6 The boy had an auger, right fitted for the use,
And into her bottom he bored a watery sluice.
She is sinking in the Lowlands low, low, low,
She is sinking in the Lowlands low.
7 The boy bent his bow, and back swam he,
Until that he came to the Golden Trinitie.
She is sailing in the Lowlands low, low, low,
She is sailing in the Lowlands low.
8 'O captain, O captain, take me on board,
And O be as good, as good as your word,
For I've sunk her in the Lowlands low, low, low,
I've sunk her in the Lowlands low.
9 They threw him a rope oer the larboard side,
And sewed him up in an auld cow's-hide,
And threw him out to a fair wind and tide,
And sunk him in the Lowlands low.