Little Matha Grove- Williams (NS) 1950 Creighton A
[From Traditional Songs from Nova Scotia by Creighton and Senior, 1950, P. 43. Also Bronson 2. Compare Mackenzie.
R. Matteons 2015]
"Little Matha Grove" Sung by Stanley Williams, Ostrea Lake, N.S.
1. It was a day and a high old day
The very best day in the year,
When Little Matha Grove went up to church
Some holy words for to hear,
Some holy words for to hear.
2. O some came there in velvet green
And others came there in pearl, [1]
But among them was Lord Arnold's wife
The fairest of them all,
The fairest of them all.
3. O Little Matha Grove, being standing by
On him she cast an ye,
She says, "This very night Little Matha Grove
In bed with me you'll lie,
In bed with me you'll lie."
4. "If you are whom I take you to be
I would not for my life,
By the look of the ring on your finger
You are Lord Arnold's wife,
You are Lord Arnold's wife."
5. "If I am now Lord Arnold's wife
Whom you take me for to be,
Lord Arnold's gone to St. James's Castle
King Henery for to see,
King Hcncry for to see."
6. O the little foot page being standing by
And hearing what was said,
"I'll hie away to St. James's
Lord Arnold for to tell,
Lord Arnold for to tell."
7. He run till he came to the riverside,
He knelt to his breast and he swum,
He swam till he came to the other side
And he took to his heels and he run,
And he took to his heels and he run.
8. He run till he came to St. James's Castle,
He knock-ed at the ring,
There was no one as ready to arise
As Lord Arnold and let him in,
As Lord Arnold and let him in.
9. "What news? What news, my little foot page
What news do you bring unto me?"
"This very night Little Matha Grove
Is to lie with your wedded lady,
Is to lie with your wedded lady."
10. "O if this be a lie, a lie,
A lie you tell unto me,
I will have a gallows to be rigged
And hang-ed you shall be,
And hang-ed you shall be."
11. "If this be a tie, a lie,
A lie I tell unto thee,
You'll need no gallows to be rigged
For I'll hang all on a tree,
For I'll hang all on a tree."
12. "But if this be the truth, the truth,
The truth you tell unto me,
I have one only daughter dear
Your wedded wife she'll be,
Your wedded wife she'll be."
13. O Lord Arnold called his merry men all
And he placed them in a row,
He caused not one word to be spoke
Or yet for a horn to blow,
Or yet for a horn to blow.
14. But there was one among them all
Who loved Little Matha Grove full well,
He put his horn unto his mouth
And he blew it loud and shrill,
And he blew it loud and shrill.
15. He put his horn unto his mouth
As much as for to say,
Who's ever in bed with another man's wife
It's time to be jogging away,
It's time to be jogging away.
16. Little Matha Grove he heard this horn
And jumped out of bed,
He says, "By the sound now of that horn
It is Lord Arnold's horn,
It is Lord Arnold's horn."
17. "Come back, come back Little Matha Grove
And keep me from the cold,
It's only Lord Arnold's shepherd boy
A-calling his sheep to the fold,
A-calling his sheep to the fold."
18. 'Twas there they tossed and tumbled
Till they fell fast asleep,
They never knew no more until
Lord Arnold stood at their feet,
Till Lord Arnold stood at their feet.
19. "Get up, get up Little Matha Grove
And put your garments on,
I would nor have it to be said
I slew a naked man,
I slew a naked man."
20. "If I have now then to get up
And fight you for my life
When you have two swords by your side
And I have neither knife?
And I have neither knife?"
21. " If I have two swords by my side
They cost me deep in purse,
I'll give to you the best of them
And I will take the worse,
And I will take the worse,
22. "Now I'll give you the first good stroke
And I will take the other,
And fairer than that I would not do
If it was to my own born bother,
If it was to my own born brother."
23. Little Matha Grove took the first good stroke
And wounded Lord Arnold sore,
Lord Arnold took the next good stroke,
Little Matha could strike no more,
Little Matha could strike no more.
24. He took his fair lady by the hand,
And placed her on his knee,
Saying, "Which one do you love the best,
Little Matha Grove or me
Little Matha Grove or me?"
25 "O fine do I like Little Matha Grove
And fine do I like his chin,
And better do I like his malavering tongue
Than Lord Arnold and all his, kin,
Than Lord Arnold and all his kin."
26 He took his lady by the hand,
And laid her in the the hall
And neither one of them spoke one word
Till he split her head in twain,
Till he split her head in twain.
27. Now loud, loud sings the nightingale
Now loud, loud sings the sparrow,
Lord Arnold killed his fair lady
And he'll be hung to-morrow,
And he'll be hung to-momow.
1. for "pall"