Hi ho, Hi ho, on a holiday,
The best day of the year.
Little Madegroves went to church,
God's holy word to hear,
God's holy word to hear.
First to come in was a lady gay,
And next to come in was a girl.
And last to come in was Lord Arlinn's wife,
Flower of all the world,
Flower of all the world.
Last to come was Lord Arlinn's wife,
Flower of all the land,
Who asked "How would ye like to come home with me,
All night with me to spend,
All with me to spend?"
"I won't go, I shan't go,
For I fear 'twould cost my life,
For I see by the ring on your hand,
You be Lord Arlinn's wife,
You be Lord Arlinn's wife."
"'Tis true I am Lord Arlinn's wife,
I won't deny it at all,
But he is gone, far away,
To see the king at Whitehall.
To see the king at Whitehall."
There was little footpage who was nearby,
He heard what had been said,
So without a moment's thought,
He took to his heels and fled.
He took to his heels and fled.
The little footpage who was nearby,
He took to his heels and ran.
And when he got to the broken bridge,
He flung on his breast and swam.
He flung on his breast and swam.
"What news? What news, my little footpage?
What news do ye bring to me?
My castle burned? My tenants robbed?
My wife with baby?
My wife wih baby?"
"'Tis none," said the little footpage,
"'Tis none of these I send.
Madegroves has gone home with your wife,
All night with her to spend.
All night with ger to spend."
"If this be a lie, my little footpage,
A lie ye tell to me,
I'll bid the gallows to be built,
And see you hang from a tree.
And see you hang from a tree."
"If this be a lie," said the little footpage,
"A lie told man to man.
No need for the gallows to be built,
Just kill me where I stand.
Just kill me where I stand."
Lord Arlinn took his merry men,
And set them in a row,
And bade them not a word to speak,
Nor a horn to blow.
Nor a horn to blow.
There was one among Lord Arlinn's merry men,
Who owed Madegroves goodwill,
So he set his horn to his lips,
And blew both loud and shrill.
And blew both loud and shrill.
"What's that?!" cried Madegroves,
Awakening from sleep.
"'Tis nothing but my father's men,
A-calling for the sheep.
A-calling for the sheep."
"'Tis nothing but my father's men,
A-calling the sheep to fold.
Now lay back down with me,
And keep my back from cold.
And keep my back from cold."
To that, they fell to a-hugging and kissing,
And then they fell asleep,
And when they woke once again,
Lord Arlinn was at their feet.
Lord Arlinn was at their feet.
"It's how do ye like my fine-feather beds,
And how do ye like my sheets,
And how do ye like my lady-wife,
Who lies in your arms asleep?
Who lies in your arms asleep?"
"Very much do I like your fine-feather beds,
And very much do I like your sheets,
But I like your lady-wife, most of all,
Who lies but not asleep.
Who lies but not asleep."
"Get up! Get up, little Madegroves,
And all your clothes put on.
I won't have it said,
I slew a naked man.
I slew a naked man."
"I won't get up. I shan't get up,
For I fear 'twould cost my life,
For ye have two bitter swords,
And I've not wee penknife.
I've not a wee penknife."
"'Tis true I have two bitter swords,
And much did they cost of purse.
But the better of the two, ye shall have,
And I'll take the worst.
I'll take the worst."
"And they very first blow shall be yours,
And strike it like a man,
For very first blow I will strike,
I'll kill ye where ye stand.
I'll kill you where ye stand."
The very first blow Madegroves struck,
He hurt Lord Arlinn sore,
But the very first blow Lord Arlinn struck,
Madegroves struck no more.
Madegroves struck no more.
Lord Arlinn took his lady-wife,
And set her on his knee,
And asked "Who would ye have, if ye could chose,
Little Madegroves or me?
Little Madegroves or me?
Lady Arlinn ran to Madegroves
And kissed him cheek and chin,
And said "I'd rather have this bloody corpse,
Than ye and all your kin!
Than ye and all your kin!"
Lord Arlinn took his lady-wife,
And led her down the hall,
And struck her head from her neck,
And threw it against the wall,
And threw it against the wall.
Lord Arlinn took his merry men,
And kept them close at hand,
And said "I have killed my lady-wife,
Flower of all the land.
Flower of all the land."
"Hearark, here cries the nightengale,
As it flies across the sky.
Today I have killed my lady-wife,
Tomorrow I must die.
Tomorrow I must die."