The first come down was dressed in red The next come down in blue The next come down Lord Daniel's wife The fairest of the two (2x)
She cast her eyes around and about Little Mathie she did see She said, "Come along little Mathie Grove And lie this night with me" (2x)
"O, this I can't," little Mathie said "I dare not for my life I can see by the gold ring that you wear You are Lord Daniel's wife." (2x)
"If I am Lord Daniel's wife I'm sure you take me to be He has gone to London Town King Harry for to see" (2x)
A little foot page was standing by To see what he could hear Straight way went down to London town Lord Daniel the news to bear (2x)
"What news, what news, my little foot page? What news do bring to me? "Your wife's in bed with little Mathie Groves Bad news, bad news," said he (2x)
"If this be the truth that you tell unto me O, this that you tell unto me I have one daughter of my own Your wedded wife shall be" (2x)
"But if this be a lie that you tell One this that you tell unto me I'll bring some gallows strong and high And hanged you shall be" (2x)
He called his soldiers round to him And marched them in a row And gave them orders then and there Not a sound from bugles to blow (2x)
But just as they were almost there One who wished little Mathie well He put his bugle to his mouth And blew it loud and shrill (2x)
"What's that, what's that," little Mathie said "Isn't that Lord Daniel's horn?" "It's nothing but my father's horn Just a-blowing his sheep to corn" (2x)
They hugged and kissed as lovers do Then fell off to sleep And the next thing either of them knew Lord Daniel was at their feet (2x)
"How do you like my well made bed? How do like my sheet? How do you like my darling wife That lies in your arms asleep?" (2x)
"Very well I like your well made bed Much better I like your sheet Much better I like this fair, gay lady That lies in my arms asleep" (2x)
"Put on your clothes little Mathie Grove And fight me while you can No man shall say when I am gone That I slew a naked man" (2x)
"I must get up at your request And fight you for my life And you shall use your two broadswords But I will take a knife" (2x)
"These swords are made by finest steel And cost me deep in purse But you may have the sharpest sword And I will take the worst" (2x)
The very first lick little Mathie struck He wounded Lord Daniel sore The very first blow Lord Daniel struck Little Mathie could fight no more (2x)
He took his darling by the hand And he sat her on his knee And said, "Which one do you love the best Little Mathie Grove or me?" (2x)
"Very well I like your rosy cheek Much better I like your chin Much better I love little Mathie Grove Than you or any of your kin" (2x)
He took his darling by the hand And led her across the plain He took those two broad swords of his And split her head in twain (2x)
So sweet then sang the nightingale So sad the sparrow's cry "There's been two lives I've taken today And tomorrow I must die" (2x)
Source: Mary Lomax, GA (2007); Art of Field Recording vol.1, recorded by Art Rosenbaum. Mary (no relation to Alan or John) learned this from her father.
Well, I'm not sure whether there's any point is getting angry at fictional characters in ballads, but OK I'll play along and give my two cents on who's to blame . . .
Lord Daniel's wife clearly enjoys toying with little Mathie Groves (I see him in my mind as meek and unassuming) and has no qualms at all about cheating on her husband. Mathie should have known better, but heck a chance like this doesn't come along every day. Yeah, the footpage was a fink, a traitor to his own class, presumably. Lord Daniel was more concerned with his own reputation when he told Mathie to get dressed and fight him (this scene gets more ridiculous the more I think of it), but his offer of a sword probably wasn't as noble as it seems. Think about it, Mathie was accustomed to fighting with a knife. Wielding a broadsword was likely cumbersome, and put him at a disadvantage. But isn't it funny, Lord Daniel doesn't get away with murder in the end. He clearly expects to executed for his crimes. So they're all to blame, and they all pay with their lives. Except for that little rat footpage. I wonder if he ever got to marry the Lord's daughter? Maybe he in turn got murdered by one of his fellow servants. One can only speculate . . .