The Boy And Mantle

In the third month of May to Carleile did come

A gentle and a courteous child that knew much wisdom

A tunic and a mantle this young child had on

With broaches and ringers full richly bedone

He had a suit of eastern silk about his middle drawn

And if he lacked in courteousy, he thought of it much shame



God speed thee, King Arthur, sitting at thy meet

And the goodly Queen Guinevere, I cannot her forget



I have with me a mantle, no lady can resist

But it shall ne'er become that wife that hath once done amiss

For if she be unfaithful, in tatters it shall fall

And if she be but honest, she'll brighten any hall



And first there came Queen Guinevere, for she should lead the way

And she was surely in great doubt, although she would not say

And then she took the mantle as if she'd been a maid

And suddenly from top to toe, it loosely fell in shreds

And then it coloured brightest red, and then it coloured green

And then it coloured darkest black, so ill did her beseem



And then I've spoke King Arthur and angrier he grew

By all the knights of England, I think thou be not true

And she threw down the mantle for all the court to see

And blushed as red as roses and to her room did flee



Sir Kay called forth his lady and bade her to come near

And said if thou be guilty, I pray thee hold thee there

And so forth came his lady, so bold she did appear

And likewise was embarrassed and cried for all to hear

And likewise all the gentle knights who thought their wives most true

Commanded them to try it on and bitterly did rue



And then there came a faded knight, Sir Craddocke was his name

And all the knights of Arthurs court, of him had sport and game

And when this mantle lady and it shall all be thine

And if thou ever did amiss, the shame is there for mine



His lady took the mantle and cast it her about

Bow down to me good mantle and shame me not for nowt

For once I did part one amiss, I'll tell thee certainly

For once I lay in Craddockes bed before he married me



When she had made confession and all her sins are told

The mantle stood about her, in bright array she stood

So seemly of colour and glittering of gold

Then all the knights of Arthurs court, her beauty did behold

So Craddocke stood in glory, his lady groomed and true

And all the knights of Arthurs court, have surely got their due