No. 83: Child Maurice
CONTENTS:
1. Child's Narrative
2. Footnotes (Added at the end of Child's Narrative)
3. Brief (Kittredge)
4. Child's Ballad Texts A-G (An edition of 1755 of F was given to Child by Macmath and was to replace F a. Changes found in End-Notes)
5. Endnotes
6. Additions and Corrections
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column):
1. Recordings & Info: Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard
A. Roud No. 53: Child Maurice (47 Listings)
2. Sheet Music: Child Maurice (See Bronson)
3. US & Canadian Versions (Collected in Canada)
4. English and Other Versions (Including Child versions A-G with additional notes)]
Child Narrative: Child Maurice
A. 'Childe Maurice,' Percy Manuscript, p. 346; Hales and Furnivall, II, 502.
B. 'Child Noryce,' Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 255; Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 282.
C. 'Bob Norice,' Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 510.
D. 'Gill Morice,' Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 480.
E. 'Chield Morice,' Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 165; Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 269.
F. a.'Gil Morrice,' Percy's Reliques, III, 93, 1765.
b. Letter of T. Gray, June, 1757 (?).
G. Jamieson's Popular Ballads, I, 18, three stanzas; Jamieson, in The Scots Magazine, 1803, LXV, 698, two stanzas.
A was printed from the Percy manuscript by Jamieson, in his Popular Ballads, I, 8. Of B Motherwell says, 1827: "By testimony of a most unexceptionable description, but which it would be tedious here to detail, the editor can distinctly trace this ballad as existing in its present shape at least a century ago."
In his preface to the copy of the ballad in the Reliques of Ancient Poetry (F), Percy remarks: "The following piece has lately run through two editions in Scotland, the second printed at Glasgow in 1755, 8vo. Prefixed to them both is an advertisement, setting forth that the preservation of this poem was owing 'to a lady, who favored the printers with a copy as it was carefully collected from the mouths of old women and nurses;' and 'any reader that can render it more correct or complete' is desired to oblige the public with such improvements. In consequence of this advertisement sixteen additional verses have been produced and handed about in manuscript, which are here inserted in their proper places." The copy printed in 1755[1] and earlier had already "received very considerable modern improvements," as Percy goes on to say, the most noticeable of which is a conclusion of eight stanzas, in the taste of the middle of the last century. These, as also the four stanzas which had been handed about in man uscript, are omitted from this reprint.
Home's tragedy of Douglas, produced in Edinburgh in 1756, was founded upon the story of Gil Morice, and the popularity of the play seems to have given vogue to the ballad.[2] The sophisticated copy passed into recitation, and may very likely have more or less infected those which were repeated from earlier tradition. An old woman (Mrs. Thomson, the reciter of B), who was born about the time when the ballad was printed, told Motherwell that she had learned 'Chield Morice' in her infancy from her grandmother, but at a later period of her life committed to memory 'Gil Morice,' "which began, with young lasses like her, to be a greater favorite and more fashionable than the set which her grand mother and old folks used to sing."[3]
Gray writes to Mason, June, 1757 (?): "I have got the old Scotch ballad on which Douglas was founded; it is divine, and as long as from hence [Cambridge] to Aston."[4] He cites the first fifteen lines.
The copy in Smith's Scottish Minstrel, III, 106, is Herd's (Percy's), with omissions and changes. 'Child Nourice,' a fragment, in Buchan's Manuscripts, I, 143, is of recent make.
The name of Barnard, a name, says Aytoun, quite foreign to Scotland, may have been adopted from 'Little Musgrave.' There is a marked similarity in the conclusion of the two ballads.
Aytoun, in his compilation, J, 147, 149, rejects the two stanzas, F 13, 14, beginning, "And when he came to broken brigue," as taken from 'Lady Maisry.' These stanzas are the most favorite of all commonplaces, and belong as much to one ballad as another. They occur in one version or another of 'Lord Ingram,' 'Little Musgrave,' 'The Clerk's Twa Sons,' etc., and wearisomely often in the ballads in Buchan's collection.
The popularity of 'Gil Morice' since the middle of the last century has caused the story to be localized. The green wood, says Motherwell, was believed to be "the ancient forest of Dundaff, in Stirlingshire, and Lord Barnard's castle to have occupied a precipitous cliff overhanging the Water of Carron, on the lands of Halbertshire." Gil Morice, "according to the unvarying traditions of the country, was remarkable for the extreme length and loveliness of his yellow hair." Motherwell considers that the embellishments of the ballad may have been suggested by these traditions. But why should not these traditions have been derived from the embellished ballad? There had already been nearly four score years for them to grow up at the date of the publication of his Minstrelsy.
B is translated by Wolff, Halle der Völker, I, 11, Hausscbatz, p. 222; P by Loève-Veimars, p. 316, with some retrenchment; Allingham's copy by Knortz, Lieder u. Romanzen Alt-Englands, No 31.
Footnotes:
1. The edition of 1755 is not known now to exist. Mr. David Laing showed Motherwell a copy, without place or date, with the title: Gill Morice, An Ancient Scots Poem. The foundation of the tragedy called Douglas, as it is now acted in the Concert-Hall, Canonjjate. There was no material difference between this edition and that which was reprinted in the Reliqiies, except that it lacked the four stanzas which Percy introduced. Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 259, note.
In Herd's Manuscripts, I, 7, II, 70, there are half a dozen more stanzas, from The Weekly Magazine, August 13, 1772, which continue the story still further. My lady flings herself over a craig, my lord seeks death in battle. But, as Sir Walter Scott notes in the margin, these verses are "formed on the conclusion of Douglas, which tragedy is founded on the original ballad." These stanzas are printed by Jamieson, I, 21.
Mr. Macmath has communicated to me an early copy of 'Gil Morice,' without place or date, in conjunction with a parody, entitled The Seven Champions of the Stage, printed in 1757, which satirizes Parson Home's efforts to get his Agis and his Douglas acted by Garrick. This copy of 'Gil Morice' might be another edition of that which Mr. Laing possessed. Its variations, which are of slight consequence, will be given in the notes to F.
2. The name of the heroine in the tragedy of Douglas was originally Lady Barnard, as in the ballad; it was altered to Lady Randolph when the play was produced in London. Motherwell, p. 257, note.
Already cited in The Ballad Minstrelsy of Scotland, Glasgow, 1871, p. 316.
3. Minstrelsy, p. 269, note. Mr. Aytoun considers that E is only the copy printed in the middle of the last century purged, in the process of oral transmission, of what was not to the popular taste, "and altered more." There is no doubt that a copy learned from print may be transformed in this way, but it is certain that old tradition does not come to a stop when a ballad gets into print. Mrs. Thomson's account of the matter Aytoun does not heed. It is difficult to understand why Aytonn printed the stanzas from Percy's Reliques, at I, 149 f, 2d cd., except as a simple courtesy to his correspondent.
4. The name of the heroine in the tragedy of Douglas was originally Lady Barnard, as in the ballad; it was altered to Lady Randolph when the play was produced in London. Motherwell, p. 257, note.
Already cited in The Ballad Minstrelsy of Scotland, Glasgow, 1871, p. 316.
Brief Description by George Lyman Kittredge
A is from the Percy Manuscript of B Motherwell says (1827): "By testimony of a most unexceptionable description, but which it would be tedious here to detail, the editor can distinctly trace this ballad as existing in its present shape at least a century ago." The ballad was printed at Glasgow by Foulis in 1755 (and in an earlier edition, now lost), with considerable modern improvements. Hume's tragedy of Douglas, produced in Edinburgh in 1756, was founded upon the story, and the popularity of the play seems to have given vogue to the ballad. The sophisticated copy passed into recitation, and may very likely have more or less infected those which were repeated from earlier tradition. The poet Gray writes to Mason, June, 1757 (?): "I have got the old Scottish ballad on which Douglas was founded; it is divine, and as long as from here [Cambridge] to Aston." He quotes the first fifteen lines, substantially as in Foulis. Percy's version in the Reliques, 1765 (in, 93), is that of Foulis with further "improvements."
Child's Ballad Texts A-G
'Childe Maurice'- Version A; Child 83 Child Maurice
Percy Manuscript, p. 346; Hales and Furnivall, II, 502.
1 Childe Maurice hunted ithe siluer wood,
He hunted itt round about,
And noebodye that he found therin,
Nor none there was with-out.
2 . . . . . .
. . . . .
And he tooke his siluer combe in his hand,
To kembe his yellow lockes.
3 He sayes, Come hither, thou litle foot-page,
That runneth lowlye by my knee,
Ffor thou shalt goe to Iohn Stewards wiffe
And pray her speake with mee.
4 '. . . . . .
. . . . .
I, and greete thou doe that ladye well,
Euer soe well froe mee.
5 'And, as itt falls, as many times
As knotts beene knitt on a kell,
Or merchant men gone to leeue London,
Either to buy ware or sell.
6 'And, as itt falles, as many times
As any hart can thinke,
Or schoole-masters are in any schoole-house,
Writting with pen and inke:
Ffor if I might, as well as shee may,
This night I wold with her speake.
7 'And heere I send her a mantle of greene,
As greene as any grasse,
And bidd her come to the siluer wood,
To hunt with Child Maurice.
8 'And there I send her a ring of gold,
A ring of precyous stone,
And bidd her come to the siluer wood,
Let for no kind of man.'
9 One while this litle boy he yode,
Another while he ran,
Vntill he came to Iohn Stewards hall,
I-wis he neuer blan.
10 And of nurture the child had good,
Hee ran vp hall and bower free,
And when he came to this lady faire,
Sayes, God you saue and see!
And when he came to this lady faire,
Sayes, God you saue and see!
And when he came to this lady faire,
Sayes, God you saue and see!
11 'I am come from Ch[i]ld Maurice,
A message vnto thee;
And Child Maurice, he greetes you well,
And euer soe well from mee.
12 'And, as itt falls, as oftentimes
As knotts beene knitt on a kell,
Or marchant-men gone to leeue London,
Either for to buy ware or sell.
13 'And as oftentimes he greetes you well
As any hart can thinke,
Or schoolemasters [are] in any schoole,
Wryting with pen and inke.
14 'And heere he sends a mantle of greene,
As greene as any grasse,
And he bidds you come to the siluer wood,
To hunt with Child Maurice.
15 'And heere he sends you a ring of gold,
A ring of the precyous stone;
He prayes you to come to the siluer wood,
Let for no kind of man.'
16 'Now peace, now peace, thou litle foot-page,
Ffor Christes sake, I pray thee!
Ffor if my lord heare one of these words,
Thou must be hanged hye!'
17 Iohn Steward stood vnder the castle-wall,
And he wrote the words euerye one,
. . . . . .
. . . . .
18 And he called vnto his hors-keeper,
'Make readye you my steede!'
I, and soe hee did to his chamberlaine,
'Make readye thou my weede!'
19 And he cast a lease vpon his backe,
And he rode to the siluer wood,
And there he sought all about,
About the siluer wood.
20 And there he found him Child Maurice
Sitting vpon a blocke,
With a siluer combe in his hand,
Kembing his yellow locke[s.]
* * * * *
21 But then stood vp him Child Maurice,
And sayd these words trulye:
'I doe not know your ladye,' he said,
'If that I doe her see.'
22 He sayes, How now, how now, Child Maurice?
Alacke, how may this bee?
Ffor thou hast sent her loue-tokens,
More now then two or three.
23 'Ffor thou hast sent her a mantle of greene,
As greene as any grasse,
And bade her come to the siluer woode,
To hunt with Child Maurice.
24 'And thou [hast] sent her a ring of gold,
A ring of the precyous stone,
And bade her come to the siluer wood,
Let for no kind of man.'
25 'And by my faith, now, Child Maurice,
The tone of vs shall dye!'
'Now be my troth,' sayd Child Maurice,
'And that shall not be I.'
And soe fast he smote att Iohn Steward,
26 But hee pulled forth a bright browne sword,
And dryed itt on the grasse,
And the first good stroke Iohn Stewart stroke,
I-wisse he neuer [did] rest.
27 Then hee pulled forth his bright browne sword,
And dryed itt on his sleeue,
And the first good stroke Iohn Stewart stroke,
Child Maurice head he did cleeue.
28 And he pricked itt on his swords poynt,
Went singing there beside,
And he rode till he came to that ladye faire,
Wheras this ladye lyed.
29 And sayes, Dost thou know Child Maurice head,
If that thou dost itt see?
And lapp itt soft, and kisse itt offt,
Ffor thou louedst him better than mee.'
30 But when shee looked on Child Maurice head,
Shee neuer spake words but three:
'I neuer beare no child but one,
And you haue slaine him trulye.'
31 Sayes, Wicked be my merrymen all,
I gaue meate, drinke, and clothe!
But cold they not haue holden me
When I was in all that wrath!
32 'Ffor I haue slaine one of the curteousest knights
That euer bestrode a steed,
Soe haue I done one [of] the fairest ladyes
That euer bestrode a steed,
Soe haue I done one [of] the fairest ladyes
That euer ware womans weede!'
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'Child Noryce'- Version B; Child 83 Child Maurice
Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 255; Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 282. From the singing of Widow McCormick, Paisley, January 19, 1825. Learned by her of an old woman in Dumbarton: Motherwell's Note Book, fol. 4.
1 Child Noryce is a clever young man,
He wavers wi the wind;
His horse was silver-shod before,
With the beaten gold behind.
2 He called to his little man John,
Saying, You don't see what I see;
For O yonder I see the very first woman
That ever loved me.
3 'Here is a glove, a glove,' he said,
'Lined with the silver grey;
You may tell her to come to the merry greenwood,
To speak to Child Nory.
4 'Here is a ring, a ring,' he says,
'It's all gold but the stane;
You may tell her to come to the merry greenwood,
And ask the leave o nane.'
5 'So well do I love your errand, my master,
But far better do I love my life;
O would ye have me go to Lord Barnard's castle,
To betray away his wife?'
6 'O don't I give you meat,' he says,
'And don't I pay you fee?
How dare you stop my errand?' he says;
'My orders you must obey.'
7 O when he came to Lord Bernard's castle,
He tinkled at the ring;
Who was as ready as Lord Barnard himself
To let this little boy in?
8 'Here is a glove, a glove,' he says,
'Lined with the silver grey;
You are bidden to come to the merry greenwood,
To speak to Child Nory.
9 'Here is a ring, a ring,' he says,
'It's all gold but the stane;
You are bidden to come to the merry greenwood,
And ask the leave o nane.'
10 Lord Barnard he was standing by,
And an angry man was he:
'O little did I think there was a lord in the world
My lady loved but me!'
11 O he dressed himself in the holland smock,
And garments that was gay,
And he is away to the merry green-wood,
To speak to Child Nory.
12 Child Noryce sits on yonder tree,
He whistles and he sings:
'O wae be to me,' says Child Noryce,
'Yonder my mother comes!'
13 Child Noryce he came off the tree,
His mother to take off the horse:
'Och alace, alace,' says Child Noryce,
'My mother was neer so gross!'
14 Lord Barnard he had a little small sword,
That hung low down by his knee;
He cut the head off Child Noryce,
And put the body on a tree.
15 And when he came home to his castell,
And to his ladie's hall,
He threw the head into her lap,
Saying, Lady, there's a ball!
16 She turned up the bloody head,
She kissed it frae cheek to chin:
'Far better do I love this bloody head
Than all my royal kin.
17 'When I was in my father's castel,
In my virginity,
There came a lord into the North,
Gat Child Noryce with me.'
18 'O wae be to thee, Lady Margaret,' he sayd,
'And an ill death may you die;
For if you had told me he was your son,
He had neer been slain by me.'
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'Bob Norice'- Version C; Child 83 Child Maurice
Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 510, from the singing of Mrs. Storic, wife of William Storie, laborer, Lochwinnoch. A song of Mrs. Storie's grandmother.
1 Bob Norice is to the grein-wud gane,
He is awa wi the wind;
His horse is siller-shod afore,
In the shynand gowd ahind.
2 He said unto his wee boy John,
I sie what ye dinna sie;
I see the [first] woman that I eer luvit,
Or ever luvit me.
3 'Gae tak to hir this pair o gluvis,
They're o the siller-gray,
And tell her to cum to the merrie grein-wud
An speik to Bob Norice.
4 'Gae tak to her this gay gowd ring,
And it's aw gowd but the stane,
And tell her to cum to the merrie grein-wud,
And ask the leive o nane.
5 'Gae tak to her this braw manteil,
It's a' silk but the sleive,
And tell her to cum to the merrie green-wud,
And ax nae bauld Barnet's leive.'
6 'I daurna gang to Lord Barnet's castel,
I daurna gang for my lyfe;
I daurna gang to Lord Barnet's castell,
To twyne him o his wife.'
7 'Do I nae pay you gowd?' he said,
'Do I nae pay you fee?
How daur you stand my bidding, Sir,
Whan I bid you to flee?'
8 'Gif I maun gang to Lord Barnet's castel,
Sae sair agane my will,
I vow a vow, and I do protest,
It sall be dune for ill.'
9 But whan he came to Lord Barnet's castel
He tinklet at the ring;
Tha war nane sae ready as Lord Barnet himsell
To let the wee calland in.
10 'What news, what news, my bonnie wee boy?
What news hae ye to me?'
'Nae news, nae news, Lord Barnet,' he said,
'But you ladie I fain would see.
11 'Here is a pair o gluves to her,
Thay'r o the silver gray;
And tell her to cum to the merrie green-wud,
And speik to Bob Norice.
12 'Here is a gay gowd ring to her,
It's aw gowd but the stane;
And she maun cum to the merrie green-wud,
And speir the leive o nane.
13 'Here is a gay manteil to her,
It's aw silk but the sleive;
And she maun cum to the merrie grein-wud,
And ask not bauld Barnet's leive.'
14 Then out bespack the yellow nurse,
Wi the babie on her knee,
Sayand, Gif thay be cum frae Bob Norice,
They are welcum to me.
15 'O haud your tung, ye yellow nurse,
Aloud an I heir ye lie;
For they're to Lord Barnet's lady,
I trew that this be she.'
16 Lord Barnet's to a dressing-room,
And buskt him in woman's array,
And he's awa to the merrie green-wud,
To speik to Bob Norrice.
17 Bob Norrice he sits on a tree,
He is whissland and singand;
Says, Merrie, merrie may my hert be,
I see my mither cumand.
18 Bob Norice he cam doun frae the trie,
To help his mother to licht fra her horss;
'Och alace, alace,' says Bob Norice,
'My mither was neer sae gross!'
19 Lord Barnet had a not-brown sword,
That hung down by his knee,
And he has cut Bob Norice heid
Aff frae his fair bodie.
20 He tuke the bluidy head in his hand,
And he brocht it to the ha,
And flang it into his lady's lap,
Sayand, Lady, there is a ba!
21 She took the bluidy heid in her hand,
And kisst it frae cheik to chin,
Sayand, Better I lyke that weil faurit face
Nor aw my royal kin.
22 'Whan I was in my father's bour,
A' in my dignity,
An Englis lord a visit came,
Gat Bob Norice wi me.'
23 Then out bespak Lord Barnet syne,
And a wae, wae man was he,
Sayand, Gif I had kent he was your son,
He wuld neer been killit be me.
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'Gill Morice' - Version D; Child 83 Child Maurice
Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 480, from the recitation of Widow Michael, a very old woman, as learned by her in Banffshire seventy years before. August, 1826.
1 Gill Morice stood in stable-door,
With red gold shined his weed;
A bonnie boy him behind,
Dressing a milk-white steed.
2 'Woe's me for you, maister,
Your name it waxes wide;
It is not for your rich, rich robes,
Nor for your meikle pride,
But all is for yon lord's ladie,
She lives on Ithan side.'
3 'Here's to thee, my bonnie wee boy,
That I pay meat and fee;
You will run on to Ithan side
An errand unto me.'
4 'If ye gar me that errand run,
Sae sair against my will,
I'll make a vow, and keep it true,
I'll do your errand ill.'
5 'I fear nae ill of thee, boy,
I fear nae ill of thee;
I fearna ill of my bonnie boy,
My sister's son are ye.
6 'Ye'll tak here this green manteel,
It's lined with the frieze;
Ye'll bid her come to gude green-wood,
To talk with Gill Morice.
7 'Ye'll tak here this sark o silk,
Her ain hand sewed the sleeve;
Ye'll bid her come to gude green-wood,
And ask not Burnard's leave.'
8 When he gade to Ithan side
They were hailing at the ba,
And four and twenty gay ladyes
They lookd ower castle wa.
And four and twenty gay ladyes
They lookd ower castle wa.
9 'God mak you safe, you ladies all,
God mak you safe and sure;
But Burnard's lady amang you all,
My errand is to her.
10 'Ye'll tak here this green manteel,
It's a' lined wi the frieze;
Ye're bidden come to gude green-wood
And speak to Gill Morice.
11 'Ye'll tak here this sark of silk,
Your ain hand sewed the sleeve;
Ye're bidden come to gude green-wood,
And ask not Burnard's leave.'
12 Up it stood the little nurice,
She winked with her ee:
'Welcome, welcome, bonnie boy,
With luve-tidings to me.
13 'Ye lie, ye lie, ye false nurice,
Sae loud's I hear ye lie;
It's to the lady of the house,
I'm sure ye are not shee.'
14 Then out and spoke him bold Burnard,
Behind the door stood he:
'I'll go unto gude green-wood,
And see what he may be.
15 'Come, bring to me the gowns of silk,
Your petticoats so small,
And I'll go on to gude green-wood,
I'll try with him a fall.'
16 Gill Morice stood in gude green-wood,
He whistled and he sang:
'I think I see the woman come
That I have loved lang.'
17 'What now, what now, ye Gill Morice,
What now, and how do ye?
How lang hae ye my lady luved?
This day come tell to me.'
18 'First when I your lady loved,
In green-wood amang the thyme,
I wot she was my first fair love
Or ever she was thine.
19 'First when I your lady loved,
In green-wood amang the flouirs,
I wot she was my first fair love
Or ever she was yours.'
20 He's taen out a lang, lang brand
That he was used to wear,
And he's taen aff Gill Morice head,
And put it on a spear:
The soberest boy in a' the court
Gill Morice head did bear.
21 He's put it in a braid basin,
And brocht it in the ha,
And laid it in his lady's lap;
Said, Lady, tak a ba!
22 'Play ye, play ye, my lady,' he said,
'Play ye frae ha to bower;
Play ye wi Gill Morice head,
He was your paramour!
23 'He was not my paramour,
He was my son indeed;
I got him in my mother's bower,
And in my maiden -weed.
24 'I got him in my mother's bower,
Wi meikle sin and shame;
I brocht him up in good green-wood,
Got mony a shower o rain.
25 'But I will kiss his bluidy head,
And I will clap his chin;
I'll make a vow, and keep it true,
I'll never kiss man again.
26 'Oftimes I by his cradle sat,
And fond to see him sleep;
But I may walk about his grave,
And fond to see him sleep;
But I may walk about his grave,
The saut tears for to weep.'
27 'Bring cods, bring cods to my ladye,
Her heart is full of wae;'
'None of your cods, Burnet,' she says,
'But lay me on the strae.'
28 'Pox on you, my lady fair,
That wudna telled it me;
If I had known he was your son,
He had not been slain by me;
And for ae penny ye wud hae gien
I wud hae gien him three.'
And for ae penny ye wud hae gien
I wud hae gien him three.'
29 'Keep weel your land, Burnet,' she said,
'Your land and white monie;
There's land eneuch in Norroway
Lies heirless I wot the day.'
30 The one was killed in the mornin air,
His mother died at een,
And or the mornin bells was rung
The threesome were a' gane.
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'Chield Morice'- Version E; Child 83 Child Maurice
Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 165; Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 269. From the recitation of Mrs. Thomson, Kilbarchan, seventy years of age, as learned from her mother at the Water of Leven, Dumbarton, when she was ten years old. March, 1825.
1 Chield Morrice was an earl's son,
His name it waxed wide;
It was nae for his parentage,
Nor yet his meikle pride,
But it was for a lady gay,
That lived on Carron side.
2 'O Willie, my man, my errand gang,
And you maun rin wi speed;
When other boys run on their feet,
On horseback ye shall ride.
3 'O master dear, I love you weel,
And I love you as my life,
But I will not go to Lord Barnard's ha,
For to tryst forth his wife.
4 'For the baron he's a man of might,
He neer could bide a taunt,
And ye shall see or it be late
How meikle ye'll hae to vaunt.'
5 'O you must rin my errand, Willie,
And you must rin wi speed,
And if you don't obey my high command
I'll gar your body bleed.
6 'And here it is a gay manteel,
It's a' gowd but the hem;
Bid her come speak to Chield Morice,
Bring naebody but her lane.
7 'And here it is a holland smock,
her own hand sewed the sleeve;
Bid her come speak to Chield Morice,
Ask not the baron's leave.'
8 'Since I must run this errand for you,
So sore against my will,
I've made a vow, and I'll keep it true,
It shall be done for ill.'
9 For he did not ask the porter's leave,
Tho he stood at the gate,
But straight he ran to the big hall,
Where great folk sat at meat.
10 'Good hallow, gentle sir and dame,
My errand canno wait;
Dame, ye must go speak to Chield Morice,
Before it be too late.
11 'And here it is a gay manteel,
It's a' goud but the hem;
Ye must come speak to Child Morice,
Bring nae body but your lane.
12 'And here it is a holland smock,
Your ain hand sewed the sleeve;
You must come speak to Chield Morice,
Ask not the baron's leave.'
13 O aye she stamped wi her foot,
And winked wi her ee,
But a' that she could say or do,
Forbidden he wad na be.
14 'It's surely to my bouir-woman,
It canna be to me:'
'I brocht it to Lord Barnard's lady,
And I trow that thou art she.'
15 Out then spak the wylie nurse,
Wi the bairn just on her knee:
'If this be come fra Chield Morice,
It's dear welcome to me.'
16 'Thou lies, thou lies, thou wylie nurse,
Sae loud's I hear thee lie;
I brought it to Lord Barnard's lady,
And I trow thou binna she.'
I brought it to Lord Barnard's lady,
And I trow thou binna she.'
17 Then up and rose him the bold baron,
And an angry man was he;
He took the table wi his foot,
And keppd it wi his knee,
Till silver cup and ezar dish
In flinders they did flee.
18 'Go gring me one of thy cleeding,
That hings upon the pin,
And I'll awa to the good green-wood,
And crack wi your leman.'
19 'I would have you stay at home, Lord Barnard,
I would have you stay at home;
Never wyte a man for violence douce
That never thought you wrong.'
20 And when he to the green-wood went,
No body saw he there
But Chield Morice, on a milk-white steed,
Combing down his yellow hair.
21 Chield Morice sat in the gay green-wood,
He whistled and he sang:
'O what means a' thir folks coming?
My mother tarries lang.'
22 'No wonder, no wonder, Chield Morice,' he said,
'My lady loved thee weel;
For the whitest bit of my body
Is blacker than thy heel.
23 'But nevertheless now, Chield Morice,
For a' thy gay beautie,
O nevertheless, Chield Morice,
Thy head shall go with me.'
24 He had a rapier by his side,
Hung low down by his knee;
He struck Chield Morrice on the neck,
Till aff his head did flee.
25 Then he's taen up that bloody head,
And stuck it on a spear,
And the meanest man in a' his train
Gat Chield Morice head to bear.
26 The lady looked owre the castle-wa,
Wi meikle dool and down,
And there she saw Chield Morice head,
Coming trailing to the town.
27 But he's taen up this bluidy head,
And dashed it gainst the wa:
'Come down, come down, you ladies fair,
And play at this foot-ba.'
28 Then she's taen up this bluidy head,
And an ill deid may thou die!
And she kissed it both cheek and chin:
'I would rather hae a kiss o that bluidy head
Than a' thy earldom.
'I would rather hae a kiss o that bluidy head
Than a' thy earldom.
'I would rather hae a kiss o that bluidy head
Than a' thy earldom.
29 'I got him in my father's bouir,
Wi meikle sin and shame,
And I brought him up in gay green-wood,
Beneath the heavy rain.
30 'Many a day have I rockd thy cradle,
And fondly seen thee sleep,
But now I'll go about thy grave,
And sore, sore will I weep.'
31 'O woe be to thee, thou wild woman,
And an ill deid may thou die!
For if ye had tauld me he was your son,
He should hae ridden and gane wi me.'
32 'O hold your tongue, you bold baron,
And an ill death may ye die!
He had lands and rents enew of his ain,
He needed nane fra thee.'
33 'Then I'll curse the hand that did the deed,
The heart that thought him ill,
The feet that carried me speedilie
This comely youth to kill.'
34 This lady she died gin ten o'clock,
Lord Barnard died gin twall,
And bonnie boy now, Sweet Willie,
What's come o him I canna tell.
What's come o him I canna tell.
-----------
'Gil Morrice'- Version F; Child 83 Child Maurice
a. Percy's Reliques, III, 93, 1765.
b. Letter of T. Gray to Mason, June, 1757 (?): Gray's Works, ed. Gosse, II, 316.
1 Gil Morrice was an erles son,
His name it waxed wide;
It was nae for his great riches,
Nor yet his mickle pride,
Bot it was for a lady gay,
That livd on Carron side.
2 'Whair sall I get a bonny boy,
That will win hose and shoen,
That will gae to Lord Barnard's ha,
And bid his lady cum?
3 'And ye maun rin errand, Willie,
And ye may rin wi pride;
When other boys gae on their foot,
On horseback ye sall ride.'
4 'O no! Oh no! my master dear,
I dare nae for my life;
I'll no gae to the bauld baron's,
For to triest furth his wife.'
5 'My bird Willie, my boy Willie,
My dear Willie,' he sayd,
'How can ye strive against the stream?
For I sall be obeyd.'
6 'Bot, O my master dear,' he cry'd,
'In grene-wod ye're your lain;
Gi owre sic thochts, I walde ye rede,
For fear ye should be tain.'
Gi owre sic thochts, I walde ye rede,
For fear ye should be tain.'
7 'Haste, haste, I say, gae to the ha,
Bid hir cum here wi speid;
If ye refuse my heigh command,
I'll gar your body bleid.
8 'Gae bid hir take this gay mantel,
'Tis a' gowd but the hem;
Bid hir cum to the gude grene-wode,
And bring nane bot hir lain.
9 'And there it is, a silken sarke,
Hir ain hand sewd the sleive;
And bid her cum to Gill Morice,
Speir nae bauld baron's leave.'
10 'Yes, I will gae your black errand,
Though it be to your cost;
Sen ye by me will nae be warnd,
In it ye sall find frost.
11 'The baron he's a man of might,
He neir could bide to taunt;
As ye will see, before it's nicht,
How sma ye hae to vaunt.
12 'And sen I maun your errand rin,
Sae sair against my will,
I'se mak a vow, and keip it trow,
It sall be done for ill.'
13 And when he came to broken brigue,
He bent his bow and swam;
And when [he] came to grass growing,
Set down his feet and ran.
14 And when he came to Barnard's ha,
Would neither chap nor ca,
Bot set his bent bow to his breist,
And lichtly lap the wa.
15 He wauld nae tell the man his errand,
Though he stude at the gait;
Bot straiht into the ha he cam,
Whair they were set at meit.
16 'Hail! hail! my gentle sire and dame,
My message winna waite;
Dame, ye maun to the gude grene-wod,
Before that it be late.
17 'Ye're bidden tak this gay mantel,
'Tis a' gowd bot the hem;
You maun gae to the gude grene-wode,
Evn by your sel alane.
18 'And there it is, a silken sarke,
Your ain hand sewd the sleive;
Ye maun gae speik to Gill Morice,
Speir nae bauld baron's leave.'
19 The lady stamped wi hir foot,
And winked wi hir ee;
But a' that she coud say or do,
Forbidden he wad nae bee.
20 'It's surely to my bowr-woman;
It neir could be to me:'
'I brocht it to Lord Barnard's lady;
I trow that ye be she.'
21 Then up and spack the wylie nurse,
The bairn upon hir knee:
'If it be cum frae Gill Morice,
It's deir welcum to mee.'
22 'Ye leid, ye leid, ye filthy nurse,
Sae loud's I heire ye lee;
I brocht it to Lord Barnard's lady;
I trow ye be nae shee.'
23 Then up and spack the bauld baron,
An angry man was hee;
He's tain the table wi his foot,
Sae has he wi his knee,
Till siller cup and ezar dish
In flinders he gard flee.
24 'Gae bring a robe of your cliding,
That hings upon the pin,
And I'll gae to the gude grene-wode,
And speik wi your lemman.'
25 'O bide at hame, now, Lord Barnard,
I warde ye bide at hame;
Neir wyte a man for violence
That neir wate ye wi nane.'
26 Gil Morice sate in gude grene-wode,
He whistled and he sang:
'O what mean a' the folk coming?
My mother tarries lang.'
27 The baron came to the grene-wode,
Wi mickle dule and care,
And there he first spied Gill Morice,
Kameing his yellow hair.
28 'Nae wonder, nae wonder, Gill Morice,
My lady loed thee weel;
The fairest part of my body
Is blacker than thy heel.
29 'Yet neir the less now, Gill Morice,
For a' thy great bewty,
Ye's rew the day ye eir was born;
That head sall gae wi me.'
30 Now he has drawn his trusty brand,
And slaited on the strae,
And thro Gill Morice fair body
He's gard cauld iron gae.
31 And he has tain Gill Morice head,
And set it on a speir;
The meanest man in a' his train
Has gotten that head to bear.
32 And he has tain Gill Morice up,
Laid him across his steid,
And brocht him to his painted bowr,
And laid him on a bed.
33 The lady sat on castil-wa,
Beheld baith dale and doun,
And there she saw Gill Morice head
Cum trailing to the toun.
34 'Far better I loe that bluidy head,
Bot and that yellow hair,
Than Lord Barnard, and a' his lands,
As they lig here and thair.'
35 And she has tain hir Gill Morice,
And kissd baith mouth and chin:
'I was once as fow of Gill Morice
As the hip is o the stean.
36 'I got ye in my father's house,
Wi mickle sin and shame;
I brocht thee up in gude green-wode,
Under the heavy rain.
37 'Oft have I by thy cradle sitten,
And fondly seen thee sleip;
Bot now I gae about thy grave,
The saut tears for to weip.'
38 And syne she kissd his bluidy cheik,
And syne his bluidy chin:
'O better I loe my Gill Morice
Than a' my kith and kin!'
39 'Away, away, ye ill woman,
And an il deith mait ye dee!
Gin I had kend he'd bin your son,
He'd neir bin slain for mee.'
----------
['Gil Morrice'] Version G; Child 83 Child Maurice
Jamieson's Popular Ballads, I, 18; Jamieson, in The Scots Magazine, 1803, LXV, 698, stanzas 1, 3.
1 Gil Morrice sat in silver wood,
He whistled and he sang:
'Whar sall I get a bonny boy
My errand for to gang?'
2 He ca'd his foster-brither Willie:
'Come, win ye hose and shoon,
And gae unto Lord Barnard's ha,
And bid his lady come.'
* * * * *
3 And she has taen the bloody head,
And cast it i the brim,
Syne gathered up her robes o green,
And fast she followed him.
End-Notes
A. 11, siluen: compare 73, 83, 143, 153, etc.
23,4. In the Manuscript, these go with 3: compare 20.
32. rumeth.
41,4. These precede what is printed as 6.
51, 61, 121. out many.
63. as schoole masters: compare 133.
65,6. These lines may be the last half of a stanza. There is nothing corresponding in the page's repetition of his master's message.
171,2. Joined in the Manuscript with 18.
184. then my.
21. At least one stanza must be lost after 20.
221,2 precede 21, and 223,4 make a stanza with 213,4: the order being 221,2, 21, 223,4.
224. 2 or 3.
261. Only half the n in the Manuscript. Furnivall.
302. but 3.
321. curteouset.
And for & throughout.
B. 23. For is a later insertion.
23, 61. Oh.
61,2. Originally, do I not, And do I not.
93. to go to: come written over go.
132, 143. of.
142. That is a later insertion.
182. And is a later insertion.
184. Originally, He should neer have been.
C. "This ballad was forwarded to me by my good friend Andrew Crawfurd, of John's Hill, Lochwinnoch. He wrote it from the recitation of Mrs. Storie, wife of William Storie, laborer, in Lochwinnoch. It was a song of Mrs. Storie's grandmother. It is queried if this should not be Babe Norice... The interlineary corrections were made in consequence of Mrs. Storie singing the ballad over to myself." Motherwell. The interlineary corrections have been adopted. The earlier readings follow.
Barnard for Barnet.
54. speir nae bauld baron's.
61. Barnard's ha.
83. and I doubly vow.
101. wee lad.
121. gay wanting.
131. braw manteil.
134. nae bauld baron's.
161. to a busking gane.
162. drest him.
191. Barnard liftit his.
193. has sneddit.
194. And aff frae his bodie.
204. lady wanting.
The affected spelling I suppose to be Crawfurd's.
74, 91. quhan.
In the Appendix to his Minstrelsy, p. xvii, Motherwell adopts the reading Babe Norice in 11, and prints burning gowd in 14.
D. "This copy is from the recitation of Margaret Paterson, alias widow Michael, a very old woman residing at Dovecote Ha, Barhead. She is a native of Banffshire, and learned the ballad there in her infancy. She mentions that she has heard it sung with many variations, but this copy was considered to be the right way. It is seventy years since she committed it to her memory. 4th August, 1826." Motherwell.
E. In his Minstrelsy, p. 269, Motherwell says that the reciter learned the ballad from her grandmother. He goes on to say: She mentions that at a later period of her life she also committed to memory 'Gill Morice,' which began with young lasses like her to be a greater favorite and more fashionable than the set which her grandmother and other old folks used to sing, under the title of 'Chield Morice.'
176. Written and dezar dish, the d of and being carried on to the word following.
198. douce makes no apparent sense. Motherwell prints done.
201. Stood originally And when he came to the green wood.
262. No doubt a corruption of the familiar Beheld baith dale and down.
294. heaviy, perhaps representing the actual sound. Motherwell prints heavy.
F. a. In eight-line stanzas, Wh and y are substituted for the initial quh and z cherished by ballad imitators.
54. shall.
304. He 's gar.
b. 12, fame it wexed.
14. Nae for.
16. Carron's.
31. Ye maun rin this.
32. maun rin.
33. feet.
41. Ah na, ah na.
The four stanzas which follow, "produced and handed about in manuscript," in consequence of an advertisement, were introduced into his copy by Percy.
After 26:
His hair was like the threeds of gold,
Drawne frae Minerva's loome;
His lipps like roses drapping dew,
His breath was a' perfume.
His brow was like the mountain snae,
Gilt by the morning beam;
His cheeks like living roses glow,
His een like azure stream.
The boy was clad in robes of grene,
Sweete as the infant spring,
And like the mavis on the bush
He gart the vallies ring.
After 27:
That sweetly wavd around his face,
That face beyond compare;
He sang sae sweet, it might dispel
A' rage but fell dispair.
The following stanzas were appended to the ballad in the edition reprinted by Percy:
'Obraid me not, my Lord Barnard,
Obraid me not for shame!
With that saim speir O pierce my heart,
And put me out o pain.
'Since nothing bot Gill Morice head
Thy jelous rage could quell,
Let that saim hand now tak hir life
That neir to thee did ill.
'To me nae after days nor nichts
Will eir be saft or kind;
I'll fill the air with heavy sighs,
And greet till I am blind.'
Enouch of blood by me 's bin spilt,
Seek not your death frae mee;
I rather lourd it had been my sel
Than eather him or thee.
'With waefo wae I hear your plaint;
Sair, sair I rew the deid,
That eir this cursed hand of mine
Had gard his body bleid.
'Dry up your tears, my winsom dame,
Ye neir can heal the wound;
Ye see his head upon the speir,
His heart's blude on the ground.
'I curse the hand that did the deid,
The heart that thocht the ill,
The feet that bore me wi sik speid
The comely youth to kill.
'I'll ay lament for Gill Morice,
As gin he were my ain;
I'll neir forget the dreiry day
On which the youth was slain.'
The copy lent me by Mr. Macmath lacks the four stanzas inserted by Percy, but has the eight given immediately above. The following are the variations from F.
21. will I.
74. thy body.
102. thy cost.
183. maun cum.
261. sits.
263. means a' these folks.
264. she tarrys.
271. And whan he cam to guid.
273. first saw.
274. Kemeing down.
282. Than my, misprint.
304. gard.
344. they lay.
354. hip was.
The eight stanzas follow which are printed immediately above.
Additions and Corrections
P. 272. F. Mr. Macmath has found the edition of 1755, and has favored me with a copy. Substitute for F. a., p. 263: Gill Morice, An Ancient Scottish Poem. Second Edition. Glasgow, Printed and sold by Robert and Andrew Foulis, 1755. (Small 40, 15 pages.) The copy mentioned p. 263 b, note, is a reprint of this or of the first edition; it has but two variations of reading. The deviations from the text of 1755 will be put in the list of things to be corrected in the print.
To be Corrected in the Print.
272 f. Read (according to the text of 1755):
21. will I.
74. gar thy.
102. to thy.
183. maun cum.
221. Note: "perhaps fetchie" nurse.
234. hes he.
261. sits.
263. means a' those folks.
264. mother she.
271. And when he cam to gude grene wod.
273. first saw.
274. Kemeing down.
282. Than, misprint for That.
344. they lay.
354. hip was.
392. ill deed.
275 b. Read, v 17, You see his heid upon my. v. 20, that did, apparently a misprint for that thocht.
The only variations in the other copy are:
263, these for those; thocht for did, in v. 20 of p. 275 b.
The following are mostly trivial variations from the spelling of the text.
272 f. Read (ed. 1755): 11. Gill Morice.
52. said.
63. red.
83, 163, 173, 243, 261, 363. guid grene wod.
92, 182. slive.
102, 152. Tho.
111. micht.
112. near.
112, 202. coud.
123. I's.
133. whar he.
142. woud.
153. stracht.
174. Even.
214. welcom.
214, 394. me.
222. lie.
224. she.
232. he.
244. with.
261. Gill.
262. whistld.
264. tarrys.
272, 362. miekle.
272. cair.
282. well.
294, 311, 314, 333, 341. heid.
303. bodie.
334. town.
344. there.
353. ance.
371. credle.
392. die.
275 a, last line but three. Read Wi, pearce.
L. 1. but one, naithing, heid.
Last line, coud.
b, v. 3. day[s].
7. been.
8. me.
15. teirs, wensom.
18. bluid.
22. comly.
25. driry.
P. 266. B. Motherwell sent 'Child Noryce' to Sir Walter Scott in a letter dated 28 April, 1825 (Letters, XIV, No 94, Abbotsford). He changed several readings (as, orders to errand, in 64), and in three cases went back to original readings which he has altered in his manuscript. I am now convinced that the alterations made in the manuscript are not in general, if ever, corrections derived from the reciters, but Motherwell's own improvements, and that the original readings should be adhered to.
To be Corrected in the Print.
266, B 53. Read you.