Child Morris

Child Maurice stood in the good green wood
With red gold shined his weed
By him stood a little page boy
Dressed in the milk-white steed
I fear for you my master
For your fav'rite wax is white
It is not for your rich rich gold
Nor for your mickle pride
But all is for another lord's lady
That lives on the island side

Oh, here's to you, my bonny wee boy
That I pay meet and fee

Run you an errand to the island side
And run straight home to me
If you make me this errand run
It's all against my will
If you make me this errand run
I shall do your errand ill
But I fear no ill of you, bonny boy
I fear no ill of you
I fear no ill of my bonny boy
For a good bonny boy are you

Take you here this green mantle
It's all lined with the frieze
Bid her come to the good green wood
For to talk to Child Maurice
And take you here this shirt of silk
Her own hand sewed the sleeve
Bid her come to the good green wood
And ask not Bernard's leave

But when he got to the castle wall
They were playing at the ball
Four and twenty ladies gay
Looked over the castle wall
God make you safe, you ladies all
God make you safe and sure
But Bernard's lady among you all
My errand is to her

Oh, take you here this green mantle
It's all lined with the frieze
Come you down to the good green wood
For to talk to Child Maurice
Take you here this shirt of silk
Your own hand sewed the sleeve
Come you down to the good green wood
And ask not Bernard's leave

Well, up there spoke a little nurse
She winked all with her eye
Oh, welcome, welcome, bonny boy
With love tidings to me
You lie, you lie, you false nurse
So loud I hear you lie
Bernard's lady among you all
I'm sure you are not she

Well, up there spoke Lord Bernard
Behind the door stood he
Oh, I shall go to the good green wood
And I'll see who he might be
Go fetch to me your gowns of silk
And your petticoats so small
I will ride to the good green wood
And I'll try with him a fall

Child Maurice stood in the good green wood
And he whistled and he sang
I think I see the lady come
That I have loved so long
He's ridden in through the good green wood
For to help her from her horse
Oh no, oh no, cried Child Maurice
No maid was e'er so gross

How now, how now, Child Maurice
How now and how do you?
How long have you my lady loved
This night come tell to me

When first that I your lady loved
In greenwood among the thyme
Then she was my first fair love
Before that she was thine
When first that I your lady loved
In greenwood among the flowers
Then she was my first fair love
Before that she was yours

Lord Bernard's taken a long broadsword
That he was used to wear
And he's cut off Child Maurice's head
And he's put it on a spear
He's cut off Child Maurice's head
And he's put it on a spear
The soulest boy in all the court
Child Maurice's head did bear

And he's put it in a broad basin
And he's carried it through the hall
He's taken it to his lady's bower
Saying, lady, play at ball

Play you, play you, my lady gay
Play you from here to the bower
Play you with Child Maurice's head
For he was your paramour

Oh, he was not my paramour
He was my son indeed
I got him in my mother's bower
All in my maiden weed
I got him in my mother's bower
With mickle sin and shame
I brought him up in the good green wood
All beneath the wind and rain

Now I will kiss his bloody cheek
And I will kiss his chin
I'll make a vow and I'll keep it true
I'll never kiss man again

Oft times I by his cradle sat
And fond to see him sleep
Now I'll lie upon his grave
The salt tears for to weep

Bring pillows for my lady
She looks so pale and wan
Oh, none of your pillows, Lord Bernard
But lay me on a stone

And pox on you, my lady gay
That would not tell it to me
If I'd have known that he was your son
He had not have been killed by me