The Boy And The 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.