Scottish Pirates?

[Woodsheal]

Thousands of 17th and 18th C. Scottish seamen, many of whom found their way into pirate crews. But, kilts did NOT form any part of seaman's garb of that period (or any other)....

[jhockin]

Thousands of 17th and 18th C. Scottish seamen, many of whom found their way into pirate crews. But, kilts did NOT form any part of seaman's garb of that period (or any other)....

I'm not disputing anyone's claims, but what would the MacDonalds, sailing from the Isles in their galleys, have worn, if not kilts?

[gilmore]

Since the OP asked about legends as well as facts, I submit this, from Wikipedia.
"Henry Martin (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Henry Martin" (also "Henry Martyn" or "The Lofty Tall Ship") is a traditional Scottish folk song about Henry Martin, a seafarer who turns to piracy to support his two older brothers.
Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Notable recordings
3 References
4 External links
[edit]History

The first known printed version dates from the early 17th century and consisted of 82 verses describing the exploits of Sir Andrew Barton and his two brothers, Robert and John. Barton was a privateer who carried a letter of marque issued by James IV, king of Scotland, giving him the right to arrest and seize Portuguese ships. He is alleged, however, to have exceeded his licence, engaging more generally in piracy. On 2 August 1511, he was killed, and his ship The Lion captured, after a fierce battle with Sir Edward Howard and his brother Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, who were acting on the authority of the English king Henry VIII.
The story of Andrew Bartin, based on the original ballad, was included in Francis James Child's collection of The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (Child's Ballads), as Child Ballad 167.[1] However, over the years, through oral tradition, the song had been significantly shortened and the name of the protagonist changed from Andrew Barton to Henry Martin (or Henry Martyn).[2] In this form, the tale also appears in Child's Ballads as Child Ballad 250.[3]
[edit]Notable recordings

Musician and folklorist A. L. Lloyd described Henry Martin as "one of the most-sung ballads of our time."[2] It has been recorded, amongst others, by:
Phil Tanner (1937)[4]
Burl Ives on Wayfaring Stranger (1944)
A.L. Lloyd on The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, Volume IV (1956)
Sam Larner (1958-60)[4]
Joan Baez on Joan Baez (1960)
A.L. Lloyd and Alf Edwards on English and Scottish Popular Ballads (Topic 1964, 1996)[4]
Bert Jansch on Jack Orion (1966)
Figgy Duff on Weather Out the Storm (1989)
Broadside Electric on Black-edged Visiting Card (1992)
Andreas Scholl on Wayfaring Stranger: Folksongs (2001)
Sherwood on "The Favourite Songs of Henry VIII" (2008)
[edit]References

^ Child, Francis James. "Andrew Bartin, no. 167". The English and Scottish Popular Ballads. WikiSource. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
^ a b A. L. Lloyd, Folk Song in England, Paladin, 1975. p.259
^ Child, Francis James. "Henry Martin". The English and Scottish Popular Ballads. WikiSource. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
^ a b c Zierke, Reinhard. "Henry Martin / The Lofty Tall Ship". Retrieved 8 October 2012.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Martin_(song)

Here is the song, as recorded by Joan Baez. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcrNySdHKDQ

And here is the Wikipedia article on Sir Andrew Barton, the privateer and sometime pirate upon whom "Henry Martin" is based.

Andrew Barton (privateer)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sir Andrew Barton (c. 1466 – 2 August 1511), Scottish sailor from Leith, served as High Admiral of the Kingdom of Scotland.
Contents [hide]
1 Career
2 Last battle
3 Ballads of Andrew Barton
4 References
5 External links
[edit]Career

Some of Andrew Barton's trading voyages to Flanders ports in the 1490s are recorded in the Ledger of Andrew Halyburton.[1] He was the oldest of three brothers, a younger brother Robert Barton of Over Barnton became Lord High Treasurer of Scotland.
Andrew became notorious in England and Portugal as a 'pirate', though as a seaman who operated under the aegis of a letter of marque on behalf of the Scottish crown, he may be described as a privateer. The letter of marque against Portuguese shipping was originally granted to his father John Barton by James III of Scotland before 1485. John's ships had been attacked by Portuguese vessels when he was trading at Sluis in Flanders.[2]
James IV revived the letters in July 1507.[3] When Andrew Barton, sailing in the Lion tried to take reprisals against Portuguese ships in 1508, he was detained by Dutch authorities at Veere. James IV had to write to Maximilian, the Holy Roman Emperor, and others to get him released in 1509. Andrew then took a Portuguese ship which carried an English cargo, leading to more difficulties, and James IV had to suspend the letter of marque for a year.[4] Andrew captured a ship of Antwerp in 1509, the Fasterinsevin (the Shrove Tuesday), which did not come within his letter of marque. James IV ordered him to recompense the captain Peter Lempson and his officers for her cargo of woad and canvas.[5]
The Bartons were in demand to support John, King of Denmark, and were allowed by him to harrass the shipping of Lübeck. In return for this service, John of Denmark sent James IV timber for the masts of his ships from Flensburg. Andrew joined John's service briefly in the spring of 1511, but sailed away without permission, also taking a ship that James IV had given to John.[6]
[edit]Last battle

Later in 1511, Andrew Barton was cruising the English coast looking for Portuguese prizes when he and his ships the Lion and Jenny Pirwyn were captured after a fierce battle with Sir Edward Howard and his brother Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk off Kent at the Downs. According to the story told in ballads, Andrew was subsequently beheaded. The action against him was perhaps illegal because Barton possessed a letter of marque. Later English and Scottish chronicle accounts agree that Andrew died of wounds received in the fight.
The incident was recalled two years later in the exchange of rhetoric at the battle of Flodden.[7] The story of the sea-battle was told by Raphael Holinshed and in other 16th-century English chronicles. In Holinshed's story the Howards at first pretended only to approach and salute Andrew Barton, but then engaged in battle, Barton's ship was the Unicorn and he died from his wounds. The Scottish survivors were taken to London and kept prisoner in the Bishop of York's lodging, York Place at Whitehall.[8] Edward Hall wrote that Andrew encouraged his men during the fight with his whistle. Hall mentions that the two ships were brought to Blackwall on 2 August 1511, and the prisoners were freed after an interview with the Bishop of Winchester, after acknowledging their piracy.[9]

The Scottish bishop John Lesley gave a similar account of the battle in his chronicle.[10] George Buchanan has the detail that Andrew Barton continued fighting after his leg was broken by a gunshot, and encouraged his sailors by beating a drum before he died from his wounds. Buchanan emphasises that the Howards sailed on the instruction of Henry VIII following a representation by a Portuguese ambassador.[11] Hall wrote that Henry VIII was at Leicester when he ordered the Howards to chase the Scottish ships.[12]
[edit]Ballads of Andrew Barton

He is the subject of an English folk song entitled Sir Andrew Barton or Andrew Bartin, which is Child ballad number 167.
The most famous lines of this ballad are:
'I am hurt but I am not slain.
I'll lay me down and bleed awhile,
Then I'll rise and fight again.'
His story is also told in a Scottish Child ballad called Henry Martin (Child ballad number 250). Rudyard Kipling wrote a short story connected with Barton in his Puck of Pook's Hill series.
[edit]References

Claire Jowitt. (ed.), Pirates? The Politics of Plunder, 1550–1650, Ashgate (2010), pp. xii. 244, ISBN 978-1-4094-0044-8
^ Ledger of Andrew Halyburton, HM Register House (1867)
^ Murdoch, Steve, Scotland's Maritime Warfare, Brill (2010), p.81: Letters of James IV, SHS (1953), p.81 no.125
^ Hay, Denys, Letters of James V, HMSO (1954), 401.
^ Murdoch, Steve, Scotland's Maritime Warfare, Brill (2010), p.81
^ Protocol Book of John Foular, 1503-1513, vol.1, SRS (1941) p.105 no.569, 19 July 1509
^ Hannay, Mackie, Spilman, ed., Letters of James IV, SHS (1953), p.xlii, p.212-3 no.387, p.226 no.412
^ Calendar of State Papers Milan, vol.1 (1912), p.406 no.660, Brian Tuke to Richard Pace, 22 September 1513
^ Holinshed, Raphael, The Scottish Chronicle, vol. 2, Arbroath (1805), pp.132-3 (double volume on googlebooks)
^ Hall, Edward, Chronicle of England, (1809), p.525
^ Thomson, Thomas, ed., John Lesley's History of Scotland, from the death of King James I. in the year M.CCCC.XXXVI to the year M.D.LXI, Bannatyne Club (1830), p.82-83
^ Aikman, James, trans., George Buchanan's History of Scotland, vol.2 (1827), pp.247-8,
^ Hall, Edward, Chronicle of England, (1809), p.525
[edit]External links

Andrew Bartin, two variants on the ballad
[1], Story of the Bartons on Electric Scotland

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Barton_(privateer)

[gilmore]

Ooops. Moderator, Please delete one of these duplicate posts of mine

Here are "Henry Martin's" lyrics.

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 sea.

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

He had not been sailing but a long winter's night
And a part of a short winter's day,
Before he espied a stout lofty ship,
lofty ship, lofty ship,
Come abibbing down on him straight way.

Hullo! Hullo! cried Henry Martin,
What makes you sail so nigh?
I'm a rich merchant ship bound for fair London Town,
London Town, London Town
Would you please for to let me pass by?

Oh no! Oh no! cried Henry Martin,
This thing it never could be,
For I have turned robber all on the salt sea
Salt sea, salt sea.
For to maintain my two brothers and me.

Come lower your tops'l and brail up your mizz'n
And bring your ship under my lee,
Or I will give you a full cannon ball,
cannon ball, cannon ball,
And your dear bodies drown in the salt sea.

Oh no! we won't lower our lofty topsail,
Nor bring our ship under your lee,
And you shan't take from us our rich merchant goods,
merchant goods, merchant goods
Nor point our bold guns to the sea.

Then broadside and broadside and at it they went
For fully two hours or three,
Till Henry Martin gave to her the deathshot,
the deathshot, the deathshot,
And straight to the bottom 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 her merry men drown'd.

[Woodsheal]

I'm not disputing anyone's claims, but what would the MacDonalds, sailing from the Isles in their galleys, have worn, if not kilts?

Plaids and kilts were worn for cross-country purposes, not seafaring. Highlanders were never averse to wearing trousers and breeches when called for, regardless of our modern romantic image of them....