Little Musgrave

As it fell out upon a day

As many in the year

Musgrave to the church did go

To see fair ladies there

And some came down in red velvet

And some came down in Pall

And the last to come down was the Lady Barnard

The fairest of them all

She's cast a look on the Little Musgrave

As bright as the summer sun

And then bethought this Little Musgrave

This lady's love I've won

Good day good day you handsome youth

God make you safe and free

What would you give this day Musgrave

To lie one night with me

I dare not for my lands, lady

I dare not for my life

For the ring on your white finger shows

You are Lord Barnard's wife

Lord Barnard's to the hunting gone

And I hope he'll never return

And you shall slip into his bed

And keep his lady warm

There's nothing for to fear Musgrave

You nothing have to fear

I'll set a page outside the gate

To watch til morning clear

And woe be to the little footpage

And an ill death may he die

For he's away to the green wood

As fast as he could fly

And when he came to the wide water

He fell on his belly and swam

And when he came to the other side

He took to his heels and ran

And when he came to the green wood

'Twas dark as dark can be

And he found Lord Barnard and his men

Asleep beneath the trees

Rise up Rise up Master he said

Rise up and speak to me

Your wife's in bed with Little Musgrave

Rise up right speedily

If this be truth you tell to me

Then gold shall be your fee

And if it be false you tell to me

Then hanged you shall be

Go saddle me the black he said

Go saddle me the grey

And sound you not the horn said he

Lest our coming it would betray

Now there was a man in Lord Barnard's train

Who loved the Little Musgrave

And 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 horn

Away Musgrave Away

Lie still, lie still, you little Musgrave

And keep me from the cold

It's nothing but a shepherd boy

Driving his flock to the fold

Is not your hawk upon its perch

Your steed is eating hay

And you a gay lady in your arms

And yet you would away

So he's turned him right and round about

And he fell fast asleep

And when he woke Lord Barnard's men

Were standing at his feet

And how do you like my bed Musgrave

And how do you like my sheets

And how do you like my fair lady

That lies in your arms asleep

It's well I like your bed he said

And well I like your sheets

But better I like your fair lady

That lies in my arms asleep

Get up, get up young man he said

Get up as swift as you can

For it never will be said in my country

I slew an unarmed man

I have two swords in one scabbard

Full dear they cost my purse

And you shall have the best of them

I shall have the worst

So slowly, so slowly he rose up

And slowly he put on

And slowly down the stairs he goes

Thinking to be slain

And the first stroke Little Musgrave took

It was both deep and sore

And down he fell at Barnard's feet

And word he never spoke more

And how do you like his cheeks, lady

And how do you like his chin

And how do you like his fair body

Now there's no life within

It's well I like his cheeks she said

And well I like his chin

And better I like his fair body

Than all your kith and kin

And he's taken up his long long sword

To strike a mortal blow

And through and through the Lady's heart

The cold steel it did go

As it fell out upon a day

As many in the year

Musgrave to the church did go

To see fair ladies there