Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard

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Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard is Child ballad 81, existing in several variants.

[edit] Synopsis

Lady Barnard arranges a tryst with Little Musgrove, but a foot-page hears them planning and warns Lord Barnard. The lord promises reward if he is telling the truth -- to make him his heir, or marry him to his eldest daughter -- and execution if he is lying. He sets out and finds the lovers. The death may be put off by Musgrove arguing for a weapon, but both lovers end up dead. The ballad may end there, or with the lord's death, by suicide or execution.

[edit] See also

• The Bonny Birdy
• Old Robin of Portingale

[edit] External links

• Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard
• Mattie Groves a variant