{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch083.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch083.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch083.htm","text":"Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends & Sagas\u00a0\n England\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n \n 83A: Child Maurice\n \n \n 83A.1\tCHILDE MAURICE hunted ithe siluer wood,\n He hunted itt round about,\n And noebodye that he found therin,\n Nor none there was with-out.\n 83A.2\t. . . . . .\n . . . . .\n And he tooke his siluer combe in his hand,\n To kembe his yellow lockes.\n 83A.3\tHe sayes, Come hither, thou litle foot-page,\n That runneth lowlye by my knee,\n Ffor thou shalt goe to Iohn Stewards wiffe\n And pray her speake with mee.\n 83A.4\t\u2019. . . . . .\n . . . . .\n I, and greete thou doe that ladye well,\n Euer soe well froe mee.\n 83A.5\t\u2018And, as itt falls, as many times\n As knotts beene knitt on a kell,\n Or merchant men gone to leeue London,\n Either to buy ware or sell.\n 83A.6\t\u2018And, as itt falles, as many times\n As any hart can thinke,\n Or schoole-masters are in any schoole-house,\n Writting with pen and inke:\n Ffor if I might, as well as shee may,\n This night I wold with her speake.\n 83A.7\t\u2018And heere I send her a mantle of greene,\n As greene as any grasse,\n And bidd her come to the siluer wood,\n To hunt with Child Maurice.\n 83A.8\t\u2018And there I send her a ring of gold,\n A ring of precyous stone,\n And bidd her come to the siluer wood,\n Let for no kind of man.\u2019\n 83A.9\tOne while this litle boy he yode,\n Another while he ran,\n Vntill he came to Iohn Stewards hall,\n I-wis he neuer blan.\n 83A.10\tAnd of nurture the child had good,\n Hee ran vp hall and bower free,\n And when he came to this lady faire,\n Sayes, God you saue and see!\n And when he came to this lady faire,\n Sayes, God you saue and see!\n And when he came to this lady faire,\n Sayes, God you saue and see!\n 83A.11\t\u2018I am come from Ch[i]ld Maurice,\n A message vnto thee;\n And Child Maurice, he greetes you well,\n And euer soe well from mee.\n 83A.12\t\u2018And, as itt falls, as oftentimes\n As knotts beene knitt on a kell,\n Or marchant-men gone to leeue London,\n Either for to buy ware or sell.\n 83A.13\t\u2018And as oftentimes he greetes you well\n As any hart can thinke,\n Or schoolemasters [are] in any schoole,\n Wryting with pen and inke.\n 83A.14\t\u2018And heere he sends a mantle of greene,\n As greene as any grasse,\n And he bidds you come to the siluer wood,\n To hunt with Child Maurice.\n 83A.15\t\u2018And heere he sends you a ring of gold,\n A ring of the precyous stone;\n He prayes you to come to the siluer wood,\n Let for no kind of man.\u2019\n 83A.16\t\u2018Now peace, now peace, thou litle foot-page,\n Ffor Christes sake, I pray thee!\n Ffor if my lord heare one of these words,\n Thou must be hanged hye!\u2019\n 83A.17\tIohn Steward stood vnder the castle-wall,\n And he wrote the words euerye one,\n . . . . . .\n . . . . .\n 83A.18\tAnd he called vnto his hors-keeper,\n \u2018Make readye you my steede!\u2019\n I, and soe hee did to his chamberlaine,\n \u2018Make readye thou my weede!\u2019\n 83A.19\tAnd he cast a lease vpon his backe,\n And he rode to the siluer wood,\n And there he sought all about,\n About the siluer wood.\n 83A.20\tAnd there he found him Child Maurice\n Sitting vpon a blocke,\n With a siluer combe in his hand,\n Kembing his yellow locke[s.]\n * * * * *\n 83A.21\tBut then stood vp him Child Maurice,\n And sayd these words trulye:\n \u2018I doe not know your ladye,\u2019 he said,\n \u2018If that I doe her see.\u2019\n 83A.22\tthat I doe her see.\u2019\n 83A.22\tHe sayes, How now, how now, Child Maurice?\n Alacke, how may this bee?\n Ffor thou hast sent her loue-tokens,\n More now then two or three.\n 83A.23\t\u2018Ffor thou hast sent her a mantle of greene,\n As greene as any grasse,\n And bade her come to the siluer woode,\n To hunt with Child Maurice.\n 83A.24\t\u2018And thou [hast] sent her a ring of gold,\n A ring of the precyous stone,\n And bade her come to the siluer wood,\n Let for no kind of man.\u2019\n 83A.25\t\u2018And by my faith, now, Child Maurice,\n The tone of vs shall dye!\u2019\n \u2018Now be my troth,\u2019 sayd Child Maurice,\n \u2018And that shall not be I.\u2019\n And soe fast he smote att Iohn Steward,\n 83A.26\tBut hee pulled forth a bright browne sword,\n And dryed itt on the grasse,\n And the first good stroke Iohn Stewart stroke,\n I-wisse he neuer [did] rest.\n 83A.27\tThen hee pulled forth his bright browne sword,\n And dryed itt on his sleeue,\n And the first good stroke Iohn Stewart stroke,\n Child Maurice head he did cleeue.\n 83A.28\tAnd he pricked itt on his swords poynt,\n Went singing there beside,\n And he rode till he came to that ladye faire,\n Wheras this ladye lyed.\n 83A.29\tAnd sayes, Dost thou know Child Maurice head,\n If that thou dost itt see?\n And lapp itt soft, and kisse itt offt,\n Ffor thou louedst him better than mee.\u2019\n 83A.30\tBut when shee looked on Child Maurice head,\n Shee neuer spake words but three:\n \u2018I neuer beare no child but one,\n And you haue slaine him trulye.\u2019\n 83A.31\tSayes, Wicked be my merrymen all,\n I gaue meate, drinke, and clothe!\n But cold they not haue holden me\n When I was in all that wrath!\n 83A.32\t\u2018Ffor I haue slaine one of the curteousest knights\n That\teuer bestrode a steed,\n Soe haue I done one [of] the fairest ladyes\n That\teuer bestrode a steed,\n Soe haue I done one [of] the fairest ladyes\n That\teuer ware womans weede!\u2019\n \n \n \n 83B: Child Maurice\n \n \n 83B.Tharrt\teuer ware womans weede!\u2019\n \n \n \n 83B: Child Maurice\n \n \n 83B.1\tCHILD NORYCE is a clever young man,\n He wavers wi the wind;\n His horse was silver-shod before,\n With the beaten gold behind.\n 83B.2\tHe called to his little man John,\n Saying, You don\u2019t see what I see;\n For O yonder I see the very first woman\n That ever loved me.\n 83B.3\t\u2018Here is a glove, a glove,\u2019 he said,\n \u2018Lined with the silver grey;\n You may tell her to come to the merry greenwood,\n To speak to Child Nory.\n 83B.4\t\u2018Here is a ring, a ring,\u2019 he says,\n \u2018It\u2019s all gold but the stane;\n You may tell her to come to the merry greenwood,\n And ask the leave o nane.\u2019\n 83B.5\t\u2018So well do I love your errand, my master,\n But far better do I love my life;\n O would ye have me go to Lord Barnard\u2019s castle,\n To betray away his wife?\u2019\n 83B.6\t\u2018O don\u2019t I give you meat,\u2019 he says,\n \u2018And don\u2019t I pay you fee?\n How dare you stop my errand?\u2019 he says;\n \u2018My orders you must obey.\u2019\n 83B.7\tO when he came to Lord Bernard\u2019s castle,\n He tinkled at the ring;\n Who was as ready as Lord Barnard himself\n To let this little boy in?\n 83B.8\t\u2018Here is a glove, a glove,\u2019 he says,\n \u2018Lined with the silver grey;\n You are bidden to come to the merry greenwood,\n To speak to Child Nory.\n 83B.9\t\u2018Here is a ring, a ring,\u2019 he says,\n \u2018It\u2019s all gold but the stane;\n You are bidden to come to the merry greenwood,\n And ask the leave o nane.\u2019\n 83B.10\tLord Barnard he was standing by,\n And an angry man was he:\n \u2018O little did I think there was a lord in the world\n My lady loved but me!\u2019\n 83B.11\tO he dressed himself in the holland smock,\n And garments that was gay,\n And he is away to the merry green-wood,\n To speak to Child Nory.\n 83B.12\tChild Noryce sits on yonder tree,\n He whistles and he sings:\n \u2018O wae be to me,\u2019 says Child Noryce,\n \u2018Yonder my mother comes!\u2019\n 83B.13\tChild Noryce he came off the tree,\n His mother to take off the horse:\n \u2018Och alace, alace,\u2019 says Child Noryce,\n \u2018My mother was neer so gross!\u2019\n 83B.14\tLord Barnard he had a little small sword,\n That hung low down by his knee;\n He cut the head off Child Noryce,\n And put the body on a tree.\n 83B.15\tAnd when he came home to his castell,\n And to his ladie\u2019s hall,\n He threw the head into her lap,\n Saying, Lady, there\u2019s a ball!\n 83B.16\tShe turned up the bloody head,\n She kissed it frae cheek to chin:\n \u2018Far better do I love this bloody head\n Than all my royal kin.\n 83B.17\t\u2018When I was in my father\u2019s castel,\n In my virginity,\n There came a lord into the North,\n Gat Child Noryce with me.\u2019\n 83B.18\t\u2018O wae be to thee, Lady Margaret,\u2019 he sayd,\n \u2018And an ill death may you die;\n For if you had told me he was your son,\n He had neer been slain by me.\u2019\n \n \n \n 83C: Child Maurice\n \n \n 83C.1\tBOB NORICE is to the grein-wud gane,\n He is awa wi the wind;\n His horse is siller-shod afore,\n In the shynand gowd ahind.\n 83C.2\tHe said unto his wee boy John,\n I sie what ye dinna sie;\n I see the [first] woman that I eer luvit,\n Or ever luvit me.\n 83C.3\t\u2018Gae tak to hir this pair o gluvis,\n They\u2019re o the siller-gray,\n And tell her to cum to the merrie grein-wud\n An speik to Bob Norice.\n 83C.4\t\u2018Gae tak to her this gay gowd ring,\n And it\u2019s aw gowd but the stane,\n And tell her to cum to the merrie grein-wud,\n And ask the leive o nane.\n 83C.5\t\u2018Gae tak to her this braw manteil,\n It\u2019s a\u2019 silk but the sleive,\n And tell her to cum to the merrie green-wud,\n And ax nae bauld Barnet\u2019s leive.\u2019\n 83C.6\t\u2018I daurna gang to Lord Barnet\u2019s castel,\n I daurna gang for my lyfe;\n I daurna gang to Lord Barnet\u2019s castell,\n To twyne him o his wife.\u2019\n 83C.7\t\u2018Do I nae pay you gowd?\u2019 he said,\n \u2018Do I nae pay you fee?\n How daur you stand my bidding, Sir,\n Whan I bid you to flee?\u2019\n 83C.8\t\u2018Gif I maun gang to Lord Barnet\u2019s castel,\n Sae sair agane my will,\n I vow a vow, and I do protest,\n It sall be dune for ill.\u2019\n 83C.9\tBut whan he came to Lord Barnet\u2019s castel\n He tinklet at the ring;\n Tha war nane sae ready as Lord Barnet himsell\n To let the wee calland in.\n 83C.10\t\u2018What news, what news, my bonnie wee boy?\n What news hae ye to me?\u2019\n \u2018Nae news, nae news, Lord Barnet,\u2019 he said,\n \u2018But you ladie I fain would see.\n 83C.11\t\u2018Here is a pair o gluves to her,\n Thay\u2019r o the silver gray;\n And tell her to cum to the merrie green-wud,\n And speik to Bob Norice.\n 83C.12\t\u2018Here is a gay gowd ring to her,\n It\u2019s aw gowd but the stane;\n And she maun cum to the merrie green-wud,\n And speir the leive o nane.\n 83C.13\t\u2018Here is a gay manteil to her,\n It\u2019s aw silk but the sleive;\n And she maun cum to the merrie grein-wud,\n And ask not bauld Barnet\u2019s leive.\u2019\n 83C.14\tThen out bespack the yellow nurse,\n Wi the babie on her knee,\n Sayand, Gif thay be cum frae Bob Norice,\n They are welcum to me.\n 83C.15\t\u2018O haud your tung, ye yellow nurse,\n Aloud an I heir ye lie;\n For they\u2019re to Lord Barnet\u2019s lady,\n I trew that this be she.\u2019\n 83C.16\tLord Barnet\u2019s to a dressing-room,\n And buskt him in woman\u2019s array,\n And he\u2019s awa to the merrie green-wud,\n To speik to Bob Norrice.\n 83C.17\tBob Norrice he sits on a tree,\n He is whissland and singand;\n Says, Merrie, merrie may my hert be,\n I see my mither cumand.\n 83C.18\tBob Norice he cam doun frae the trie,\n To help his mother to licht fra her horss;\n \u2018Och alace, alace,\u2019 says Bob Norice,\n \u2018My mither was neer sae gross!\u2019\n 83C.19\tmither was neer sae gross!\u2019\n 83C.19\tLord Barnet had a not-brown sword,\n That hung down by his knee,\n And he has cut Bob Norice heid\n Aff frae his fair bodie.\n 83C.20\tHe tuke the bluidy head in his hand,\n And he brocht it to the ha,\n And flang it into his lady\u2019s lap,\n Sayand, Lady, there is a ba!\n 83C.21\tShe took the bluidy heid in her hand,\n And kisst it frae cheik to chin,\n Sayand, Better I lyke that weil faurit face\n Nor aw my royal kin.\n 83C.22\t\u2018Whan I was in my father\u2019s bour,\n A\u2019 in my dignity,\n An Englis lord a visit came,\n Gat Bob Norice wi me.\u2019\n 83C.23\tThen out bespak Lord Barnet syne,\n And a wae, wae man was he,\n Sayand, Gif I had kent he was your son,\n He wuld neer been killit be me.\n \n \n \n 83D: Child Maurice\n \n \n 83D.1\tGILL MORICE stood in stable-door,\n With red gold shined his weed;\n A bonnie boy him behind,\n Dressing a milk-white steed.\n 83D.2\t\u2018Woe\u2019s me for you, maister,\n Your name it waxes wide;\n It is not for your rich, rich robes,\n Nor for your meikle pride,\n But all is for yon lord\u2019s ladie,\n She lives on Ithan side.\u2019\n 83D.3\t\u2018Here\u2019s to thee, my bonnie wee boy,\n That I pay meat and fee;\n You will run on to Ithan side\n An errand unto me.\u2019\n 83D.4\t\u2018If ye gar me that errand run,\n Sae sair against my will,\n I\u2019ll make a vow, and keep it true,\n I\u2019ll do your errand ill.\u2019\n 83D.5\t\u2018I fear nae ill of thee, boy,\n I fear nae ill of thee;\n I fearna ill of my bonnie boy,\n My sister\u2019s son are ye.\n 83D.6\t\u2018Ye\u2019ll tak here this green manteel,\n It\u2019s lined with the frieze;\n Ye\u2019ll bid her come to gude green-wood,\n To talk with Gill Morice.\n 83D.7\t\u2018Ye\u2019ll tak here this sark o silk,\n Her ain hand sewed the sleeve;\n Ye\u2019ll bid her come to gude green-wood,\n And ask not Burnard\u2019s leave.\u2019\n 83D.8\tWhen he gade to Ithan side\n They were hailing at the ba,\n And four and twenty gay ladyes\n They lookd ower castle wa.\n And four and twenty gay ladyes\n They lookd ower castle wa.\n 83D.9\t\u2018God mak you safe, you ladies all,\n God mak you safe and sure;\n But Burnard\u2019s lady amang you all,\n My errand is to her.\n 83D.10\t\u2018Ye\u2019ll tak here this green manteel,\n It\u2019s a\u2019 lined wi the frieze;\n Ye\u2019re bidden come to gude green-wood\n And speak to Gill Morice.\n 83D.11\t\u2018Ye\u2019ll tak here this sark of silk,\n Your ain hand sewed the sleeve;\n Ye\u2019re bidden come to gude green-wood,\n And ask not Burnard\u2019s leave.\u2019\n 83D.12\tUp it stood the little nurice,\n She winked with her ee:\n \u2018Welcome, welcome, bonnie boy,\n With luve-tidings to me.\n 83D.13\t\u2018Ye lie, ye lie, ye false nurice,\n Sae loud\u2019s I hear ye lie;\n It\u2019s to the lady of the house,\n I\u2019m sure ye are not shee.\u2019\n 83D.14\tThen out and spoke him bold Burnard,\n Behind the door stood he:\n \u2018I\u2019ll go unto gude green-wood,\n And see what he may be.\n 83D.15\t\u2018Come, bring to me the gowns of silk,\n Your petticoats so small,\n And I\u2019ll go on to gude green-wood,\n I\u2019ll try with him a fall.\u2019\n 83D.16\tGill Morice stood in gude green-wood,\n He whistled and he sang:\n \u2018I think I see the woman come\n That I have loved lang.\u2019\n 83D.17\t\u2018What now, what now, ye Gill Morice,\n What now, and how do ye?\n How lang hae ye my lady luved?\n This day come tell to me.\u2019\n 83D.18\t\u2018First when I your lady loved,\n In green-wood amang the thyme,\n I wot she was my first fair love\n Or ever she was thine.\n 83D.19\t\u2018First when I your lady loved,\n In green-wood amang the flouirs,\n I wot she was my first fair love\n Or ever she was yours.\u2019\n 83D.20\tHe\u2019s taen out a lang, lang brand\n That he was used to wear,\n And he\u2019s taen aff Gill Morice head,\n And put it on a spear:\n The soberest boy in a\u2019 the court\n Gill Morice head did bear.\n 83D.21\tHe\u2019s put it in a braid basin,\n And brocht it in the ha,\n And laid it in his lady\u2019s lap;\n Said, Lady, tak a ba!\n 83D.22\t\u2018Play ye, play ye, my lady,\u2019 he said,\n \u2018Play ye frae ha to bower;\n Play ye wi Gill Morice head,\n He was your paramour!\n 83D.23\t\u2018He was not my paramour,\n He was my son indeed;\n I got him in my mother\u2019s bower,\n And in my maiden -weed.\n 83D.24\t\u2018I got him in my mother\u2019s bower,\n Wi meikle sin and shame;\n I brocht him up in good green-wood,\n Got mony a shower o rain.\n 83D.25\t\u2018But I will kiss his bluidy head,\n And I will clap his chin;\n I\u2019ll make a vow, and keep it true,\n I\u2019ll never kiss man again.\n 83D.26\t\u2018Oftimes I by his cradle sat,\n And fond to see him sleep;\n But I may walk about his grave,\n And fond to see him sleep;\n But I may walk about his grave,\n The saut tears for to weep.\u2019\n 83D.27\t\u2018Bring cods, bring cods to my ladye,\n Her heart is full of wae;\u2019\n \u2018None of your cods, Burnet,\u2019 she says,\n \u2018But lay me on the strae.\u2019\n 83D.28\t\u2018Pox on you, my lady fair,\n That wudna telled it me;\n If I had known he was your son,\n He had not been slain by me;\n And for ae penny ye wud hae gien\n I wud hae gien him three.\u2019\n And for ae penny ye wud hae gien\n I wud hae gien him three.\u2019\n 83D.29\t\u2018Keep weel your land, Burnet,\u2019 she said,\n \u2018Your land and white monie;\n There\u2019s land eneuch in Norroway\n Lies heirless I wot the day.\u2019\n 83D.30\tThe one was killed in the mornin air,\n His mother died at een,\n And or the mornin bells was rung\n The threesome were a\u2019 gane.\n \n \n \n 83E: Child Maurice\n \n \n 83E.1\tCHIELD MORRICE was an earl\u2019s son,\n His name it waxed wide;\n It was nae for his parentage,\n Nor yet his meikle pride,\n But it was for a lady gay,\n That lived on Carron side.\n 83E.2\t\u2018O Willie, my man, my errand gang,\n And you maun rin wi speed;\n When other boys run on their feet,\n On horseback ye shall ride.\n 83E.3\t\u2018O master dear, I love you weel,\n And I love you as my life,\n But I will not go to Lord Barnard\u2019s ha,\n For to tryst forth his wife.\n 83E.4\t\u2018For the baron he\u2019s a man of might,\n He neer could bide a taunt,\n And ye shall see or it be late\n How meikle ye\u2019ll hae to vaunt.\u2019\n 83E.5\t\u2018O you must rin my errand, Willie,\n And you must rin wi speed,\n And if you don\u2019t obey my high command\n I\u2019ll gar your body bleed.\n 83E.6\t\u2018And here it is a gay manteel,\n It\u2019s a\u2019 gowd but the hem;\n Bid her come speak to Chield Morice,\n Bring naebody but her lane.\n 83E.7\t\u2018And here it is a holland smock,\n her own hand sewed the sleeve;\n Bid her come speak to Chield Morice,\n Ask not the baron\u2019s leave.\u2019\n 83E.8\t\u2018Since I must run this errand for you,\n So sore against my will,\n I\u2019ve made a vow, and I\u2019ll keep it true,\n It shall be done for ill.\u2019\n 83E.9\tFor he did not ask the porter\u2019s leave,\n Tho he stood at the gate,\n But straight he ran to the big hall,\n Where great folk sat at meat.\n 83E.10\t\u2018Good hallow, gentle sir and dame,\n My errand canno wait;\n Dame, ye must go speak to Chield Morice,\n Before it be too late.\n 83E.11\t\u2018And here it is a gay manteel,\n It\u2019s a\u2019 goud but the hem;\n Ye must come speak to Child Morice,\n Bring nae body but your lane.\n 83E.12\t\u2018And here it is a holland smock,\n Your ain hand sewed the sleeve;\n You must come speak to Chield Morice,\n Ask not the baron\u2019s leave.\u2019\n 83E.13\tO aye she stamped wi her foot,\n And winked wi her ee,\n But a\u2019 that she could say or do,\n Forbidden he wad na be.\n 83E.14\t\u2018It\u2019s surely to my bouir-woman,\n It canna be to me:\u2019\n \u2018I brocht it to Lord Barnard\u2019s lady,\n And I trow that thou art she.\u2019\n 83E.15\tOut then spak the wylie nurse,\n Wi the bairn just on her knee:\n \u2018If this be come fra Chield Morice,\n It\u2019s dear welcome to me.\u2019\n 83E.16\t\u2018Thou lies, thou lies, thou wylie nurse,\n Sae loud\u2019s I hear thee lie;\n I brought it to Lord Barnard\u2019s lady,\n And I trow thou binna she.\u2019\n I brought it to Lord Barnard\u2019s lady,\n And I trow thou binna she.\u2019\n 83E.17\tThen up and rose him the bold baron,\n And an angry man was he;\n He took the table wi his foot,\n And keppd it wi his knee,\n Till silver cup and ezar dish\n In flinders they did flee.\n 83E.18\t\u2018Go gring me one of thy cleeding,\n That hings upon the pin,\n And I\u2019ll awa to the good green-wood,\n And crack wi your leman.\u2019\n 83E.19\t\u2018I would have you stay at home, Lord Barnard,\n I would have you stay at home;\n Never wyte a man for violence douce\n That never thought you wrong.\u2019\n 83E.20\tAnd when he to the green-wood went,\n No body saw he there\n But Chield Morice, on a milk-white steed,\n Combing down his yellow hair.\n 83E.21\tChield Morice sat in the gay green-wood,\n He whistled and he sang:\n \u2018O what means a\u2019 thir folks coming?\n My mother tarries lang.\u2019\n 83E.22\tmother tarries lang.\u2019\n 83E.22\t\u2018No wonder, no wonder, Chield Morice,\u2019 he said,\n \u2018My lady loved thee weel;\n For the whitest bit of my body\n Is blacker than thy heel.\n 83E.23\t\u2018But nevertheless now, Chield Morice,\n For a\u2019 thy gay beautie,\n O nevertheless, Chield Morice,\n Thy head shall go with me.\u2019\n 83E.24\tHe had a rapier by his side,\n Hung low down by his knee;\n He struck Chield Morrice on the neck,\n Till aff his head did flee.\n 83E.25\tThen he\u2019s taen up that bloody head,\n And stuck it on a spear,\n And the meanest man in a\u2019 his train\n Gat Chield Morice head to bear.\n 83E.26\tThe lady looked owre the castle-wa,\n Wi meikle dool and down,\n And there she saw Chield Morice head,\n Coming trailing to the town.\n 83E.27\tBut he\u2019s taen up this bluidy head,\n And dashed it gainst the wa:\n \u2018Come down, come down, you ladies fair,\n And play at this foot-ba.\u2019\n 83E.28\tThen she\u2019s taen up this bluidy head,\n And an ill deid may thou die!\n And she kissed it both cheek and chin:\n \u2018I would rather hae a kiss o that bluidy head\n Than a\u2019 thy earldom.\n \u2018I would rather hae a kiss o that bluidy head\n Than a\u2019 thy earldom.\n \u2018I would rather hae a kiss o that bluidy head\n Than a\u2019 thy earldom.\n 83E.29\t\u2018I got him in my father\u2019s bouir,\n Wi meikle sin and shame,\n And I brought him up in gay green-wood,\n Beneath the heavy rain.\n 83E.30\t\u2018Many a day have I rockd thy cradle,\n And fondly seen thee sleep,\n But now I\u2019ll go about thy grave,\n And sore, sore will I weep.\u2019\n 83E.31\t\u2018O woe be to thee, thou wild woman,\n And an ill deid may thou die!\n For if ye had tauld me he was your son,\n He should hae ridden and gane wi me.\u2019\n 83E.32\t\u2018O hold your tongue, you bold baron,\n And an ill death may ye die!\n He had lands and rents enew of his ain,\n He needed nane fra thee.\u2019\n 83E.33\t\u2018Then I\u2019ll curse the hand that did the deed,\n The heart that thought him ill,\n The feet that carried me speedilie\n This comely youth to kill.\u2019\n 83E.34\tThis lady she died gin ten o\u2019clock,\n Lord Barnard died gin twall,\n And bonnie boy now, Sweet Willie,\n What\u2019s come o him I canna tell.\n \n \n \n 83F: Child Maurice\n \n \n 83F.at\u2019s\tcome o him I canna tell.\n \n \n \n 83F: Child Maurice\n \n \n 83F.1\tGIL MORRICE was an erles son,\n His name it waxed wide;\n It was nae for his great riches,\n Nor yet his mickle pride,\n Bot it was for a lady gay,\n That livd on Carron side.\n 83F.2\t\u2018Whair sall I get a bonny boy,\n That will win hose and shoen,\n That will gae to Lord Barnard\u2019s ha,\n And bid his lady cum?\n 83F.3\t\u2018And ye maun rin errand, Willie,\n And ye may rin wi pride;\n When other boys gae on their foot,\n On horseback ye sall ride.\u2019\n 83F.4\t\u2018O no! Oh no! my master dear,\n I dare nae for my life;\n I\u2019ll no gae to the bauld baron\u2019s,\n For to triest furth his wife.\u2019\n 83F.5\t\u2018My bird Willie, my boy Willie,\n My dear Willie,\u2019 he sayd,\n \u2018How can ye strive against the stream?\n For I sall be obeyd.\u2019\n 83F.6\t\u2018Bot, O my master dear,\u2019 he cry\u2019d,\n \u2018In grene-wod ye\u2019re your lain;\n Gi owre sic thochts, I walde ye rede,\n For fear ye should be tain.\u2019\n Gi owre sic thochts, I walde ye rede,\n For fear ye should be tain.\u2019\n 83F.7\tfear ye should be tain.\u2019\n 83F.7\tfear ye should be tain.\u2019\n 83F.7\t\u2018Haste, haste, I say, gae to the ha,\n Bid hir cum here wi speid;\n If ye refuse my heigh command,\n I\u2019ll gar your body bleid.\n 83F.8\t\u2018Gae bid hir take this gay mantel,\n \u2019Tis a\u2019 gowd but the hem;\n Bid hir cum to the gude grene-wode,\n And bring nane bot hir lain.\n 83F.9\t\u2018And there it is, a silken sarke,\n Hir ain hand sewd the sleive;\n And bid her cum to Gill Morice,\n Speir nae bauld baron\u2019s leave.\u2019\n 83F.10\t\u2018Yes, I will gae your black errand,\n Though it be to your cost;\n Sen ye by me will nae be warnd,\n In it ye sall find frost.\n 83F.11\t\u2018The baron he\u2019s a man of might,\n He neir could bide to taunt;\n As ye will see, before it\u2019s nicht,\n How sma ye hae to vaunt.\n 83F.12\t\u2018And sen I maun your errand rin,\n Sae sair against my will,\n I\u2019se mak a vow, and keip it trow,\n It sall be done for ill.\u2019\n 83F.13\tAnd when he came to broken brigue,\n He bent his bow and swam;\n And when [he] came to grass growing,\n Set down his feet and ran.\n 83F.14\tAnd when he came to Barnard\u2019s ha,\n Would neither chap nor ca,\n Bot set his bent bow to his breist,\n And lichtly lap the wa.\n 83F.15\tHe wauld nae tell the man his errand,\n Though he stude at the gait;\n Bot straiht into the ha he cam,\n Whair they were set at meit.\n 83F.16\t\u2018Hail! hail! my gentle sire and dame,\n My message winna waite;\n Dame, ye maun to the gude grene-wod,\n Before that it be late.\n 83F.17\t\u2018Ye\u2019re bidden tak this gay mantel,\n \u2019Tis a\u2019 gowd bot the hem;\n You maun gae to the gude grene-wode,\n Evn by your sel alane.\n 83F.18\t\u2018And there it is, a silken sarke,\n Your ain hand sewd the sleive;\n Ye maun gae speik to Gill Morice,\n Speir nae bauld baron\u2019s leave.\u2019\n 83F.19\tThe lady stamped wi hir foot,\n And winked wi hir ee;\n But a\u2019 that she coud say or do,\n Forbidden he wad nae bee.\n 83F.20\t\u2018It\u2019s surely to my bowr-woman;\n It neir could be to me:\u2019\n \u2018I brocht it to Lord Barnard\u2019s lady;\n I trow that ye be she.\u2019\n 83F.21\tThen up and spack the wylie nurse,\n The bairn upon hir knee:\n \u2018If it be cum frae Gill Morice,\n It\u2019s deir welcum to mee.\u2019\n 83F.22\t\u2018Ye leid, ye leid, ye filthy nurse,\n Sae loud\u2019s I heire ye lee;\n I brocht it to Lord Barnard\u2019s lady;\n I trow ye be nae shee.\u2019\n 83F.23\tThen up and spack the bauld baron,\n An angry man was hee;\n He\u2019s tain the table wi his foot,\n Sae has he wi his knee,\n Till siller cup and ezar dish\n In flinders he gard flee.\n 83F.24\t\u2018Gae bring a robe of your cliding,\n That hings upon the pin,\n And I\u2019ll gae to the gude grene-wode,\n And speik wi your lemman.\u2019\n 83F.25\t\u2018O bide at hame, now, Lord Barnard,\n I warde ye bide at hame;\n Neir wyte a man for violence\n That neir wate ye wi nane.\u2019\n 83F.26\tGil Morice sate in gude grene-wode,\n He whistled and he sang:\n \u2018O what mean a\u2019 the folk coming?\n My mother tarries lang.\u2019\n 83F.27\tThe baron came to the grene-wode,\n Wi mickle dule and care,\n And there he first spied Gill Morice,\n Kameing his yellow hair.\n 83F.28\t\u2018Nae wonder, nae wonder, Gill Morice,\n My lady loed thee weel;\n The fairest part of my body\n Is blacker than thy heel.\n 83F.29\t\u2018Yet neir the less now, Gill Morice,\n For a\u2019 thy great bewty,\n Ye\u2019s rew the day ye eir was born;\n That head sall gae wi me.\u2019\n 83F.30\tNow he has drawn his trusty brand,\n And slaited on the strae,\n And thro Gill Morice fair body\n He\u2019s gard cauld iron gae.\n 83F.31\tAnd he has tain Gill Morice head,\n And set it on a speir;\n The meanest man in a\u2019 his train\n Has gotten that head to bear.\n 83F.32\tAnd he has tain Gill Morice up,\n Laid him across his steid,\n And brocht him to his painted bowr,\n And laid him on a bed.\n 83F.33\tThe lady sat on castil-wa,\n Beheld baith dale and doun,\n And there she saw Gill Morice head\n Cum trailing to the toun.\n 83F.34\t\u2018Far better I loe that bluidy head,\n Bot and that yellow hair,\n Than Lord Barnard, and a\u2019 his lands,\n As they lig here and thair.\u2019\n 83F.35\tAnd she has tain hir Gill Morice,\n And kissd baith mouth and chin:\n \u2018I was once as fow of Gill Morice\n As the hip is o the stean.\n 83F.36\t\u2018I got ye in my father\u2019s house,\n Wi mickle sin and shame;\n I brocht thee up in gude green-wode,\n Under the heavy rain.\n 83F.37\t\u2018Oft have I by thy cradle sitten,\n And fondly seen thee sleip;\n Bot now I gae about thy grave,\n The saut tears for to weip.\u2019\n 83F.38\tAnd syne she kissd his bluidy cheik,\n And syne his bluidy chin:\n \u2018O better I loe my Gill Morice\n Than a\u2019 my kith and kin!\u2019\n 83F.39\t\u2018Away, away, ye ill woman,\n And an il deith mait ye dee!\n Gin I had kend he\u2019d bin your son,\n He\u2019d neir bin slain for mee.\u2019\n \n \n \n 83G: Child Maurice\n \n \n 83G.1\tGIL MORRICE sat in silver wood,\n He whistled and he sang:\n \u2018Whar sall I get a bonny boy\n My errand for to gang?\u2019\n 83G.2\tHe ca\u2019d his foster-brither Willie:\n \u2018Come, win ye hose and shoon,\n And gae unto Lord Barnard\u2019s ha,\n And bid his lady come.\u2019\n * * * * *\n 83G.3\tAnd she has taen the bloody head,\n And cast it i the brim,\n Syne gathered up her robes o green,\n And fast she followed him.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Next: 84. Bonny Barbara Allen","title":"The Child Ballads: 83. Child Maurice","type":"page"}