Little Musgrave

It fell upon a holy day as many are in the year

Musgrave to the church did go to see fine ladies there.

Some were dressed in velvet red and some in velvet pale,

Then in came Lord Barnard's wife the fairest among them all.

She cast an eye on Little Musgrave as bright as the summer's sun,

Said Musgrave unto himself this lady's heart I've won.

"I have loved you Fair Lady full long and many's the day."

"And I have loved you Little Musgrave and never a word did say.

I have a bower in Bucklesfordberry its my heart's delight

I'll take you back there with me and lie in your arms all night."

Standing by was a little foot page, from the Lady's coach he ran

"Although I am a lady's page I am Lord Barnard's man.

My Lord Barnard shall hear of this whether I sink or swim."

And every where the bridge was broken he'd enter the water and swim.

"My Lord Barnard! My Lord Barnard! You are a man of life,

But Musgrave is at Bucklesfordberry asleep with your wedded wife."

"If this be true my little foot page, this thing that you tell me,

All the gold in Bucklesfordberry I gladly will give to thee.

But if this be a lie my little foot page this thing that you tell me

From the highest tree in Bucklesfordberry hanged you will be.

Go saddle me the black!" he said, "Go saddle me the grey!

Sound you not your horns," he said, "lest our coming it betray!"

But there was a man in Lord Barnard's train who loved the Little Musgrave

He blew his horn both loud and shrill. Away Musgrave, away!

"I think I hear the morning cock, I think I hear the jay,

I think I hear Lord Barnard's men, I wish I was away."

"Lie still, lie still, my Little Musgrave, and hug me from the cold,

it's nothing but a shepherd lad a bringing his flock to fold.

Is not your hawk upon its perch? Your steed eats oats and hay.

You a woman in your arms, why would you go away?"

So they turned around and they kissed twice and then they fell asleep.

When they awoke Lord Barnard's men were standing at their feet.

"How do you like my bed?" he said, "and how do you like my sheets?

How do you like my fair Lady that lies in your arms asleep?"

"It's well I like your bed he said. Great it gives me pain.

I'd gladly give a hundred pounds to be on yonder plain!"

"Rise up rise up, Little Musgrave, rise up and then put on.

It'll not be said in this country I slayed a naked man."

So slowly, slowly he got up and slowly he put on,

Slowly he went down the stairs thinking he'd be slain.

"There are two swords by my side, dear they cost my purse,

You can take the best of them and I will take the worst."

And the first stroke Little Musgrave struck it hurt Lord Barnard sore

But the next stroke Lord Barnard struck Little Musgrave ne'er struck more.

Then up spoke the lady fair from the bed whereon she lay,

"Although you're dead Little Musgrave, still for you I'll pray."

"How do you like his cheeks?" he said, "How do you like his chin?

How do you like his dead body now there's no life within?"

"It's well I like those cheeks she cried and well I love that chin.

It's more I want that dead body than all your kith and kin!"

He's taken out his long, long sword to strike the mortal blow.

Through and through the Lady's heart the cold steel it did go.

"A grave! A grave!" Lord Barnard cried, "to put these lovers in!

With my lady on the upper hand, for she came from better kin.

For I've just killed the finest knight that ever rode a steed,

And I've just killed the finest woman that ever did a woman's deed!"

It fell upon a holy day as many are in the year

That Musgrave to the church did go to see fine ladies there.