Day of feasting, day of rest,
of good will, and good cheer.
Lord Ardel’s wife came down to court,
the scriptures for to hear.
And when the reading it was done,
she looked around the hall.
Her eye was caught by Maddy Groves,
most handsome of them all.

Hay downe, hay downe,
Most handsome of them all!

Come home with me young Maddy Groves.
Come home with me tonight.
And let us keep each other warm,
until the morning light.
My Lady, I’d love nothing more,
but o! to think the strife!
The rings upon your fingers say
you are my liege’s wife.

Hay downe, hay downe,
You are my liege's wife!

And what if I am your Liege’s wife?
Your liege is not at home.
He is out a-hunting stag,
and I pray he’ll ne’er come home.
And she told the servants of the house,
if you my secret keep,
My gold and silver and my lace,
and more besides you’ll reap.

Hay downe, hay downe,
And more besides you'll reap!

And none thought twice to take her gold,
besides one lowly page.
Thought he no treasure man could count
was worth Lord Ardel’s rage.
So he met his liege as he rode home.
Lord, I’d ne’er lie to you.
If you approach most quietly,
you’ll see your wife’s untrue.

Hay downe, hay downe,
You'll see your wife's untrue!

And so the lord slipped through the door,
and lifted up the sheets.
The lovers they awoke to see
him standing at their feet.
What's this my wife, it vexed me so,
But now I understand.
All the years you've spurned my touch.
You prefer a woman's hand.

Hay downe, hay downe,
And more besides you'll reap!

Man or woman, all the same.
I must now take your life.
You've dragged my honor through the mud.
And ta'en to bed my wife.
Kill me if you wish, my Lord.
And curse me far and near.
It’s plain to see your Lady wife
has made her choice most clear.

Hay downe, hay downe,
Has made her choice most clear!

And if honor, Sir, you wish to claim,
you’ll have to spare my life.
For you have two fine steel broadswords,
and I but a pocket-knife.
It’s true I have two fine steel swords,
and dear they cost my purse.
But you shall have the best of them,
and I shall take the worse.

Hay downe, hay downe,
And I shall take the worse!

So Maddy struck the very first blow,
but little did it do.
When Ardel raised his arm to strike,
it seemed Maddy was through.
But then a blow came from behind,
that neither one foresaw.
The lady stuck her lover’s knife
beneath her husband’s jaw.

Hay downe, hay downe,
Beneath her husband's jaw!

And as Lord Ardel’s blood ran out,
so boldly spake his wife.
You’d have stole the soul from me,
had I not stole your life.
And yes it's women I prefer,
And yes your touch I've vexed.
But your cruel heart repulses me.
So far more than your sex.

Hay downe, hay downe,
So far more than your sex!

The undertaker, fetch him quick.
I smile to pay his toll.
My husband was of noble blood,
but Maddy’s of noble soul.

Hay downe, hay downe,
Maddy's of noble soul.