16 Henry Martin 3'11 (trad.) - voorzang Herman Hol

Van deze ballade, die minstens drie eeuwen oud is, bestaan vele versies. De tekst is gebaseerd op het waargebeurde verhaal van een familie die leefde tijdens het bewind van Henry VIII. Een Schotse officier, Sir Andrew Barton (Henry Martin is waarschijnlijk een verbastering van de naam Andrew Barton), werd aangevallen door de Portugezen. Aan twee van zijn zoons werden kaperbrieven uitgegeven. Omdat de Schotse broers onvoldoende Portugese schepen konden vinden, begonnen ze Engelse schepen lastig te vallen. Koning Henry VIII gaf de Graaf van Surrey opdracht om deze piraterij te beëindigen. Zijn twee zoons kregen twee schepen onder bevel. Hen lukte het de Barton-broers te overmeesteren. Op 2 augustus 1511 keerden zij triomfantelijk met hun Schotse gevangenen terug aan wal.

There were three brothers in merry Scotland,
In merry Scotland there were three',
And they did cast lots which of them should go, should go, should go.
And turn robber all on the salt see.

The lot it fell first upon Henry Martin,
the youngest of all the three,
That he should turn robber , all on the salt see, salt see, salt see.
For to maintain his two brothers and he.

He had not been sailing but a long winters night,
and a part of a short winters day,
Before he espied a stout lofty ship, lofty ship, lofty ship.
Come a-riding down on him straight-way.

"Hello, hello," cried Henry Martin,
"What makes you sail so nigh?"
"I"m a rich merchant ship bound for fair London town, London town, London town.
Will you please for to let me pass by?"

"Oh no, oh no," cried Henry Martin,
"That thing it never can be,
For I have turned robber all on the salt sea, salt sea, salt sea.
For to maintain my two brothers and me."

"Then lower your topsail and bow down your mizzen, Bow yourself under my lee,
Or I shall give you a fast flowing ball, flowing ball, flowing ball.
Cast your dear bodies down in the salt sea."

With broadside and broadside and at it they went,
For fully two hours or three,
'Til Henry Martin give to her the death shot, death shot, death shot.
And straight to the bottem went she

Bad news, bad news to old England came,
Bad news to fair London Town.
There's been a rich vessel and she's cast away, cast away, cast away.

And all of here merry men
drowned.