The Sweet Trinity

1. Sir Walter Raleigh has built a ship, In the Netherlands; Sir Walter Raleigh has built a ship, In the Netherlands; And it is called the Sweet Trinity, And was taken by the false gallaly. Sailing in the Lowlands.

2. ‘Is there never a Seaman bold In the Netherlands; Is there never a Seaman bold In the Netherlands; That will go take this false gallaly, And to redeem the Sweet Trinity? Sailing in the Lowlands.

3. Then spoke the little Ship-boy, In the Netherlands; Then spoke the little Ship-boy, In the Netherlands; ‘Master, master, what will you give me, And I will take this false gallaly, And release the Sweet Trinity? Sailing in the Lowlands.

4. ‘I’ll give thee gold, and I’ll give thee fee, In the Netherlands; I’ll give thee gold, and I’ll give thee fee, In the Netherlands; And my eldest daughter, thy wife shall be. Sailing in the Lowlands.’

5. He set his breast, and away he did swim, Until he came to the false gallaly.

6. He had an augur fit for the nonce, The which will bore fifteen good holes at once.

7. Some were at cards, and some at dice, Until the salt water flashed in their eyes.

8. Some cut their hats, and some cut 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, 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 your wife shall never be.’

13. ‘Then fare you well, you cozening Lord, Seeing you are not so good as your word.’

14. And thus I shall conclude my song, Of the sailing in the Lowlands, Wishing all happiness to all seamen both old and young, In their sailing in the Lowlands.

[Annotations: 5.1: ‘set his breast’: perhaps this simply means he breasted the water; but see Glossary of Ballad Commonplaces, First Series, xlvi.]

INDEX OF TITLES Page

Adam Bell, Clym of the Clough and William of Cloudesly

Captain Ward and the Rainbow

Gest of Robyn Hode, A

Henry Martyn

John Dory Johnny o’ Cockley’s Well

Outlaw Murray, The

Robin and Gandeleyn Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne Robin Hood and the Monk Robin Hood and the Potter Robin Hood’s Death

Sir Andrew Barton Sweet Trinity, The

INDEX OF FIRST LINES Page

As it befell in midsummer-time As it fell on a holy-day

Ettrick Forest is a fair forest

I heard a carping of a clerk In merry Scotland, in merry Scotland In summer, when the leavës spring In summer, when the shaws be sheen I will never eat nor drink, Robin Hood said

Johnny he has risen up i’ the morn

Lythe and listin, gentilmen

Mery it was in grene forest

Sir Walter Raleigh has built a ship Strike up, you lusty gallants

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