Words and Music: English Traditional
Rickert cites Christmas Carolles by Wynkyn de Worde

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), p. 139. Rickert identifies this as one of several "carols not related to Christmas."

As I came by a green forest-side
I met with a forester that bade me abide,
With "Hey go bet,¹ hey go bet, hey go howe!"
Underneath a tree I did me set,
And with a great hart anon I met.
I bad let slip, and said, "Hey go bet!"
With "Hey go bet, hey go bet, howe!"
I had not stood there but a while,
For the maintenance of a mile,
There came a great hart, without guile:
"There he goeth, there he goeth, hey go howe!
We shall have game and sport ynow."
Talbot my hound with a merry taste
All about the green wood he gan cast.
I took my horn and blew him a blast,
With "Tro-ro-ro-ro,, Tro-ro-ro-ro!"
With "Hey go bet, hey go bet, hey go howe!
There he goeth, there he goeth, hey go howe!
We shall have sport and game ynow!"

Note from Rickert:

1. Better or beat? Hey go bet is a hunting cry. Return