The lamentable Ditty of Little Mousgroue, and the Lady Barnet (H. Gosson)

by Anonymous

For other versions of this work, see Little Musgrove and the Lady Barnet.

The lamentable Ditty of Little Mousgroue,
and the Lady Barnet.
To an excellent tune.

As it fell on a light Holyday,
 as many more does in the yeere,
Little Mousgroue would to the Church and pray
 to see the faire Ladyes there,
Gallants there were of good degree,
 for beauty exceeding faire,
Most wonderous louely to the eie,
 that did to that Church repaire.

Some came downe in red Veluet,
 and others came downe in Pall,
But next came downe my Lady Barnet,
 the fairest amongst them all,
She cast a looke upon Little Mousgroue,
 as bright as the Summers Sunne,
Full well perceiued then Little Mousgroue,
 Lady Barnets Loue he had wonne.

Then Lady Barnet most meeke and mild,
 saluted this Little Mousgroue,
Who did repay her kinde courtesie,
 with fauour, and Gentle Loue,
I haue a bower in merry Barnet,
 bestrowed with Cowslips sweet,
If that it please you, Little Mousgroue,
 in loue me there to meete,

Within my Armes one night to sleepe,
 for you my heart haue wonne,
You need not feare my suspicious Lord,
 for he from home is gone.
Betide me life, betide me death,
 this night I will sleepe with thee,
And for thy sake Ile hazzard my breath,
 so deare is my loue to thee.

What shall wee doe with our little Foot-Page,
 our Counsell for to keepe,
And watch for feare Lord Barnet comes,
 whilest wee together doe sleepe?
Red Gold shall be his hier, quoth he,
 and Siluer shall be his fee,
If he our Counsell safely doe keepe,
 that I may sleepe with thee.

I will haue none of your Gold, said he,
 nor none of your Siluer fee,
If I should keepe your Counsell, sir,
 twere great disloyaltie.
I will not be false unto my Lord,
 for house nor yet for land,
But if my Lady doe proue untrue,
 Lord Barnet shall understand.

Then swiftly runnes the little Foot-Page,
 unto his Lord with speed,
Who then was feasting with his deare friends,
 not dreaming of this ill deede:
Most speedily the Page did haste,
 most swiftly did he runne,
And when he came to the broken Bridge,
 he lay on his brest and swumme.

The Page did make no stay at all,
 but went to his Lord with speed,
That he the truth might lay to him,
 concerning this wicked deed.
He found his Lord at supper then,
 great merriment there they did keepe.
My Lord, quoth he, this night on my word
 Mousgroue with your Lady does sleepe.

The second part; To the same tune.

If this be true, my little Foot-Page.
 and true as thou tellest to me,
My eldest daughter Ile giue to thee,
 and wedded shalt thou be.
If this be a lye, my little Foot-Page,
 and a lye as thou tellest to mee:
A new paire of Gallowes shall straight be set,
 and hanged shalt thou be.

If this be a lye, my Lord, said he,
 a lye that you heare from me,
Then neuer stay a Gallowes to make,
 but hang me upon the next tree.
Lord Barnet then cald up his merry men,
 away with speed he would goe,
His heart was sore perplext with griefe,
 the truth of this he must know.

Saddle your horses with speed, quoth he,
 and saddle me my white Steed,
If this be true as the Page hath said,
 Mousgroue shall repent this deed.
He charg’d his men no noise to make,
 as they rode all along on the way,
Nor winde no hornes, quoth he, on your life,
 lest our comming it should betray.

But one of the men that Mousgroue did loue,
 and respected his friendship most deare,
To giue him knowledge Lord Barnet was neere,
 did winde his Bugle most cleere,
And euermore as he did blow,
 away Mousgroue and away:
For if I take thee with my lady,
 then slaine thou shalt be this day.

O harke, faire Lady, your Lord is neere,
 I heare his little horne blow,
And if he finde me in your Armes thus,
 then slaine I shall be, I know.
O lye still, lye still, little Mousgroue,
 and keepe my backe from the cold.
I know it is my Fathers shepheard,
 driuing sheepe to the Pinfold.

Mousgroue did turne him round about,
 sweete slumber his eyes did greet.
When he did wake, he then espied
 Lord Barnet at his beds feete.
O rise up, rise up, little Mousgroue,
 and put thy Clothes on,
It shall neuer be said in faire England,
 I slew a naked man.

Here’s two good swords, Lord Barnet said,
 thy choice Mousgroue thou shalt make,
The best of them thy selfe shalt haue,
 and I the worst will take;
The first good blow that Mousgroue did strike,
 he wounded Lord Barnet sore,
The second blow that Lord Barnet gaue,
 Mousgroue could strike no more.

He tooke his Lady by the white hand,
 all loue to rage did conuert,
That with his sword in most furious sort,
 he pierst her tender heart,
A graue, a graue, Lord Barnet cryde,
 prepare to lay us in,
My Lady shall lie on the upper side,
 ’cause she’s of the better kin.

Then suddenly he slue himselfe,
 which grieues his friends full sore:
The deaths of these three worthy wights,
 with teares they did deplore.
This sad mischance by lust was wrought.
 Then let us call for grace,
That we may shun this wicked uice,
 and mend our liues apace.

Finis.

London Printed for H. Gosson.