Little Musgrave

It fell upon a holy day as many's in the year

Musgrave to the church did go to see fine ladies there

And 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 if you lie in your arms all night

But standing by was a little footpage 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

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 footpage, 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 footpage, 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 you'd 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 his perch your steed eats oats and hay

And you a lady in your arms and yet you go away

So he turned her round and he turned her round 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 and full 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, so slowly he got up and slowly he put on

So slowly down the stairs thinking he'd be slain

There are 2 swords down by my side, full dear they cost my purse

You can have the best of them and I will have 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 my little Musgrave, still for you I'll pray

How do you like his cheeks, he said, and how do you like his chin

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

It's well I like his cheeks, she said, don't well I like his chin

It's more I like his dead body then all your kith and kin

So 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 slayed the finest night that ever rode a steed

And I've slayed the finest lady that ever did a woman's deed

It fell upon a holy day as many's in the year

Musgrave to the church did go to see fine ladies there