Henry Burt Doyle- Scott (NS) pre1950 Creighton A
[From: Traditional Songs from Nova Scotia by Creighton and Senior; 1950.
R. Matteson 2013]
A. Henry Burt Doyle- Sung by Mr. Andrew Scott, Enfeld, (NS) pre1950 Creighton A
1. There were three brothers in fair London Town,
In fair London town lived three;
And they cast their lots to see which one of them
Would go robbing all on the salt sea, salt sea, salt sea,
And they cast lots for to see which of them
Would go robbing all on the salt sea.
2. The lot it fell to Henry Burt Doyle
The youngest of the three
That he should go robbing all on the salt sea
To maintain his two brothers and he. etc.
3. "He had not sailed many cold winter's nights
Not many cold winter's nights sailed he
Till he spied a fair lofty ship coming in
A-bearing down on his lee. etc.
4. "Who's there? Who's there?" then said Henry Burt Doyle,
"Who's there? Who's there?" cried he,
"'Tis a rich merchant ship for fair London bound,
Will you please to let me pass by?" etc.
5. "Pass by? Pass by?" said Henry Burt Doyle,
"Such a thing as that couldn't be,
Since I been sent roving upon the salt sea
To maintain my two brothers and me." etc.
6. "Pull down your top mainsail and square your fore yard
And bring your ship under my lee,
And I will take from you your rich flowing gold
And your mariners sink in the sea." etc.
7. "I'll not pull down my top mainsail or square my fore yard
Or bring my ship under your lee,
But I will fight you for my rich flowing gold
And my mariners safe on the sea." etc.
8. Broadside to broadside those two ships did fight
For the space of two hours or three
Till Henry Martyn gave his death wound
And his mariners sank in the sea. etc.
9. Bad news, bad news for old Engaland,
Bad news as there could be,
A rich merchant ship is robbed of her gold
And her mariners sank in the sea. etc.