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
 The first to come down was dressed in red
 And the second dressed in pall
 The third to come down
 was the Lady Barnard
 The fairest of them all
 She's tripped up to 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 spend the night with me
 I dare not for my lands, lady
 I dare not for my life
 For the ring on your white finger says
 You are Lord Barnard's wife
 What if I am Lord Barnard's wife
 Lord Barnard's not at home
 You shall slip into his bed
 And keep his lady warm
 You nothing have to fear Musgrave
 You nothing have to fear
 I'll set the page outside my door
 To watch til morning clear
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 And it's woe be to the little footpage
 And an ill death may he die
 For he's away to the green woodside
 As fast as he could fly
 And when he came to the broke down bridge
 He bent to his breast and he swam
 And when he came to the other side
 He took to his heels and ran
 And when he came to the green woodside
 'Twas dark as dark can be
 And he found Lord Barnard and his men
 Asleep beneath the trees
 Arise arise Master he said
 Arise and speak to me
 Your wife's in bed with Little Musgrave
 Arise right speedily
 If this be truth you tell to me
 Gold shall be your fee
 But if it be false you tell to me
 Hanged you shall be
 Go and saddle me the black he said
 Go and saddle me the grey
 But sound you not the horn said he
 Lest our coming it should betray
 But there was one in Lord Barnard's train
 He loved the Little Musgrave
 And he blew his horn so loud and shrill
 Away Musgrave Away
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 Oh 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 down, lie down, you little Musgrave
 And keep my back from the cold
 It's only Lord Barnard's shepherds horn
 Calling his sheep from the fold
 Is not your hawk upon its perch
 Your steed it's oats and 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
 Then it's how do you like my bed he says
 And how do you like my sheets
 And how do you like my lady gay
 That lies in your arms in sleep
 It's very well I like your bed
 And better I like your sheets
 And better I like your lady gay
 That lies in my arms in sleep
 Get up, get up Musgrave he cries
 Get up as quick as you can
 In England it shall never be said
 I slew a naked man
 And slowly, slowly he got up
 And slowly he put on
 And slowly down the stairs he come
 Thinking to be slain
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 And the very first blow 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
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 As it fell out upon a day
 As many in the year
 Musgrave to the church did go
 To see fair ladies there