Little Musgrave

[Verse 1]
One day, one day, one fine holiday
As many there be in a year
We all went down to the old church house
Some glorious words to hear
We all went down to the old church house
Some glorious words to hear

[Verse 2]
Little Musgrave stood by the old church door
The priest was at private mass
But he had more mind of the fair women
Than he had for Our Lady’s grace
But he had more mind of the fair women
Than he had for Our Lady’s grace

[Verse 3]
The first come in was a-clad in green
The next was a-clad in pall
And then come in Lord Arnol's wife
She's the fairest one of them all
And the next come in Lord Arnol's wife
She's the fairest one of them all

[Verse 4]
She cast her eye on Little Musgrave
As bright as the summer sun
And then bethought this Little Musgrave
"This lady's heart have I won"
And then bethought this Little Musgrave
"This lady's heart have I won"

[Verse 5]
Quoth she, "I have loved thee, Little Musgrave
Full long and many a day"
Quoth he, "I have loved you, fair lady
Yet never one word durst I say"
Quoth he, "I have loved you, fair lady
Yet never one word durst I say"

[Verse 6]
"I have a bower at the Bucklesfordberry
It's dainty and it's nice
If you go in a-thither, my Little Musgrave
You can sleep in my arms all night
If you go in a-thither, my Little Musgrave
You can sleep in my arms all night"

[Verse 7]
"I cannot go in a-thither," said Little Musgrave
"I cannot for my life
For I know by the rings on your little fingers
You are Lord Arnol's wife
For I know by the rings on your little fingers
You are Lord Arnol's wife"

[Verse 8]
"But if I am Lord Arnol's wife
Lord Arnol he is not home
He is gone unto the academy
Some language for to learn
He is gone unto the academy
Some language for to learn"

[Verse 9]
Quoth he, "I thank you, fair lady
For this kindness you show to me
And whether it be to my weal or my woe
This night I will lodge with thee
And whether it be to my weal or my woe
This night will I lodge with thee"

[Verse 10]
All this was heard by a little foot page
By his lady's coach as he ran
Says he, "I am my lady's foot page
I will be Lord Arnol's man"
Says he, "I am my lady's foot page
But I will be Lord Arnol's man"

[Verse 11]
Then he cast off his hose and shoes
Set down his feet and he run
And where the bridges were broken down
He smote his breast and he swum
And where the bridges were broken down
He smote his breast and he swum

[Verse 12]
"Awake, awake now, Lord Arnol
As thou art a man of life
Little Musgrave is at the Bucklesfordberry
Along with your wedded wife
Little Musgrave is at the Bucklesfordberry
Along with your wedded wife"

[Verse 13]
"If this be true, my little foot page
This thing thou tellest to me
Then all the land in the Bucklesfordberry
I freely will give it to thee
Then all the land in the Bucklesfordberry
I freely will give it to thee

[Verse 14]
"But if it be a lie, thou little foot page
This thing thou tellest to me
On the highest tree in the Bucklesfordberry
It's a-hanged thou shalt be
On the highest tree in the Bucklesfordberry
It's a-hanged thou shalt be"

[Verse 15]
He called up his merry men all
"Come saddle to me my steed
This night I am away to the Bucklesfordberry
For I never had greater need
This night I am away to the Bucklesfordberry
For I never had greater need"

[Verse 16]
Some men they whistled and some they sung
And some of them did say
"Whenever Lord Arnol's horn doth blow
Away, Musgrave, away
Whenever Lord Arnol's horn doth blow
Away, Musgrave, away"

[Verse 17]
"I think I hear the noisy cock
I think I hear the jay
I think I hear Lord Arnol's horn
Away, Musgrave, away
I think I hear Lord Arnol's horn
Away, Musgrave, away"

[Verse 18]
"Lie still, lie still, my Little Musgrave
Lie still with me till morn
'Tis but my father's shepherd boy
A-calling his sheep with his horn
It is my father's shepherd boy
A-calling his sheep with his horn"

[Verse 19]
He hugged her up all in his arms
And soon they fell asleep
And when they awoke at early dawn
Lord Arnol stood at the bed feet
And when they awoke at early dawn
Lord Arnol stood at the bed feet

[Verse 20]
"Oh, how do you like my coverlet?
Oh, how do you like my sheet?
Oh, how do you like my fair lady
Who lies in your arms so sweet?
Oh, how do you like my fair lady
Who lies in your arms so sweet?"

[Verse 21]
"Oh, I like your handsome coverlet
Likewise your silken sheet
But best of all your fair lady
Who lies in my arms so sweet
But best of all your fair lady
Who lies in my arms so sweet"

[Verse 22]
"Arise, arise now, Little Musgrave
And dress soon as you can
It shall not be said in my country
I killed a naked man
It shall not be said in my country
I killed a naked man"

[Verse 23]
"I cannot arise," said Little Musgrave
"I cannot for my life
For you have two broadswords by your side
And I have got nary a knife
For you've got two broadswords by your side
And I've got nary a knife"

[Verse 24]
"I have two swords down by my side
They both ring sweet and clear
You take the best, I'll keep the worst
Let's end this matter here
You take the best, I'll keep the worst
Let's end this matter here"

[Verse 25]
The first stroke that Little Musgrave struck
He wounded Lord Arnol full sore
The first stroke that Lord Arnol struck
Musgrave lay dead in his gore
The first stroke that Lord Arnol struck
Musgrave lay dead in his gore

[Verse 26]
Then up and spoke this fair lady
In bed where as she lay
"Although you are dead, my Little Musgrave
Yet for your sake will I pray
Although you are dead, my Little Musgrave
Yet for your sake will I pray"

[Verse 27]
Lord Arnol stepped up to the bedside
Whereon these lovers had lain
He took his sword in his right hand
And split her head in twain
He took his sword in his right hand
And split her head in twain