Little Matha Grove- Gammon (NS) 1910 Mackenzie A
[From Ballads and Sea Songs from Nova Scotia; Mackenzie 1928. His notes follow.
R. Matteson 2015]
8. LITTLE MUSGRAVE AND LADY BARNARD
(Child, No. 81)
Two versions in oral circulation in Nova Scotia correspond, on the whole, to Child A. They exhibit, however, the inevitable list of omissions and changes: Little Musgrave has become Little Matha Grove, and Lord Barnard is Lord Arnold (A) or Lord Daniel (B and C); after the duel between the husband and the lover the tale comes more swiftly to its conclusion; A has a final stanza
which is an importation from "Lord Thomas and Fair Annet" (as in Child D, last stanza); in B, Little Matha Grove recognizes Lord Daniel's wife by the ring on her hand, a detail which is not in Child A, but which appears in Child: E. F, H, J, K, and L.
A composite text, made up from the following versions, was published by me in Journal, XXIII, 371-374 (additional stanzas in Journal, XXV, 182-183), and in Quest, pp. 14-18. For references to versions found in the United States Kittredge, Journal, xxx, 309; Cox, p. 94.
A. "Little Matha Grove." From the singing and recitation of Mrs. James Gammon, River John, Pictou County.
1 'T was on a day, a high holiday,
The best day of the old year,
When little Matha Grove he went to church
The holy word to hear.
2 Some came in in diamonds of gold,
And some came in in pearls,
And among them all was little Matha Grove,
The handsomest of them all.
3 Lord Arnold's wife was standing by.
On him she cast an eye,
Saying, "You little Matha Grove, this very night
I invite you to lie with me.
4 "Lord Arnold is away to the New Castle,
King Henry for to see,"
. . . .
. . .
5. So the little foot-page was standing by,
And he heard all that was said,
And he took to his heels to the river side,
And he bended his breast and he swum.
6. And when he came to Lord Arnold's bower
He knocked so hard at the ring;
There was none so ready as Lord Arnold
For to rise and let him in.
7. "What news, what news, my little foot page,
Do you bring unto me?"
"This very night little Matha Grove
Is in bed with Your wedded lady!"
8. "lf this be true, be true unto me,
Be true you bring unto me,
I have an only daughter dear
And your wedded lady she shall be."
9. "If this be a lie, a lie unto me,
A lie you bring unto me,
I'll cause a gallows to be rigged
And hang-ed You shall be."
10. So he put the bugle to his mouth,
And he sounded loud and shrill:
"If there's any man in bed with another man's wife,
It is time to be hastening away."
11. So Lord Arnold he ordered op all his men,
And he placed them in a row.
. . . .
. . . .
12. "What's that? what's that?" said little Matha Grove,
"For I know the sound so well.
It must be the sound of Lord Arnold's bugle,"
. . . .
13. "Lie still, lie still, you little Matha Grove,
And keep me from the cold.
It's only my father's shepherd boy,
That's driving the sheep down in the fold."
14. So they tossed and tumbled all that night
Till they both fell fast asleep,
And they never knew another word
Till Lord Arnold stood at their bed's feet.
15. "How do you like my bed?" said he,
"And how do you like my sheet?
And how do you like my wedded lady,
That lies in your arms and sleeps?"
16. "Well do I like your bed," said he,
"Well do I like your sheet,
Better do I like your wedded lady,
That lies in my arms and sleeps."
17. "Get up, get up, you little Matha Grove,
And some of your clothes put on,
That it can't be said after your death
That I slew a naked man."
18 "How can I get up," little Matha replied,
"And fight you for my life,
When you have two bright swords by your side,
And I have ne'er a knife?"
19 "If I have two bright swords by my side,
They cost me deep in purse,
And you shall have the best of them,
And I shall have the worst."
20 "And you shall have the very first blow,
And I shall have the other.
What more then could I do for you
If you were my own born brother?"
21 The very first blow that Matha Grove struck,
He wounded Lord Arnold sore.
The very first blow Lord Arnold struck,
Little Matha could strike no more.
22 "So curs-ed be my hand," said he,
"And curs-ed be my bride,
They have caused me to kill the handsomest man
That ever trod England's ground."
23. He took his lady by the hand,
He led her through the plain,
And he never spoke another word
Till he split her head in twain.
24 He put his sword against the ground,
The point against his heart.
There never was three lovers
That sooner did depart.