Henry Martyn by Sabine Baring-Gould
The narrative follows the exploits of a young man named Henry Martyn, one of three brothers from Scotland. The brothers decide to cast lots to determine who will venture out to sea as a robber to support them. Henry, being the youngest, draws the short straw and sets sail. Shortly after embarking, he encounters a King's ship. Despite the captain's warnings and the presence of armed guards, Henry challenges the ship, declaring his intent to rob. A fierce battle ensues, lasting three hours, with both sides inflicting significant damage. Ultimately, Henry's crew manages to breach the King's ship, causing it to take on water and sink. The news of the shipwreck reaches England, causing alarm and sorrow among the populace and the King, who learns of the loss of his vessel and soldiers. The narrative conveys themes of bravery, conflict, and the consequences of piracy, culminating in a sense of foreboding regarding Henry's fate and the repercussions of his actions on his brothers and himself.
By Sabine Baring-Gould · First published 1892 · Genre: Ballad, Folk Literature, Adventure · 456 words
First lines
C. J. S. [Music]
1. In merry Scotland, in merry Scotland, / There lived brothers three, / They all did cast lots which of them should go, / A robbing upon the salt sea.
2. The lot it fell upon Henry Martyn, / The youngest of the three, / That he should go rob on the salt, salt sea, / To maintain his brothers and he.
3. He had not a sailed a long winter's night, / Nor yet a short winter's day, / Before he espied the King's gallant ship, / Come sailing along that way.
What this Textopian page supports
Henry Martyn is listed on Textopian as a short story by Sabine Baring-Gould, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Sabine Baring-Gould
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Ballad, Folk Literature, Adventure, Historical Fiction, Tragedy
- Length: 456 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Henry Martyn by Sabine Baring-Gould
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Ballad — The work is structured as a narrative poem that tells a story, characteristic of the ballad genre.
- Folk Literature — The themes and style reflect traditional storytelling methods found in folk literature.
- Adventure — The plot involves elements of adventure, including sea battles and robbery.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and events are rooted in a historical context, reflecting the maritime culture of the time.
Tags
Henry Martyn · Sabine Baring-Gould · poetry · ballad · Scotland · brothers · robbery · sea · adventure · conflict · naval battle · loss