BALLADPAGE
54.[The Cherry-Tree Carol]1
(Additions and Corrections: II, [509]; V, 220.)
55.[The Carnal and the Crane]7
(Additions and Corrections: II, [509]; III, 507; IV, 462; V, 220.)
56.[Dives and Lazarus]10
(Additions and Corrections: II, [510]; III, 507; IV, 462; V, 220, 292.)
57.[Brown Robyn's Confession]13
(Additions and Corrections: II, [510]; III, 508; IV, 462; V, 220, 292.)
58.[Sir Patrick Spens]17
(Additions and Corrections: II, [510]; V, 220.)
59.[Sir Aldingar]33
(Additions and Corrections: II, [510]; III, 508; IV, 463; V, 292.)
60.[King Estmere]49
(Additions and Corrections: II, [510]; III, 508; IV, 463.)
61.[Sir Cawline]56
(Additions and Corrections: II, [511]; III, 508; IV, 463.)
62.[Fair Annie]63
(Additions and Corrections: II, [511]; IV, 463; V, 220.)
63.[Child Waters]83
(Additions and Corrections: II, [511]; III, 508; IV, 463; V, 220.)
64.[Fair Janet]100
(Additions and Corrections: III, 508; IV, 464; V, 222, 292.)
65.[Lady Maisry]112
(Additions and Corrections: III, 508; IV, 466; V, 222, 292.)
66.[Lord Ingram and Chiel Wyet]126
(Additions and Corrections: II, [511]; III, 508; V, 223, 292.)
67.[Glasgerion]136
(Additions and Corrections: II, [511]; III, 509; IV, 468; V, 293.)
68.[Young Hunting]142
(Additions and Corrections: II, [512]; III, 509; IV, 468; V, 223.)
69.[Clerk Saunders]156
(Additions and Corrections: II, [512]; III, 509; IV, 468; V, 223, 293.)
70.[Willie and Lady Maisry]167
71.[The Bent Sae Brown]170
(Additions and Corrections: III, 509; IV, 469; V, 223.)
72.[The Clerk's Twa Sons o Owsenford]173
(Additions and Corrections: II, [512]; III, 509; IV, 469; V, 293.)
73.[Lord Thomas and Fair Annet]179
(Additions and Corrections: II, [512]; III, 509; IV, 469; V, 223, 293.)
74.[Fair Margaret and Sweet William]199
(Additions and Corrections: V, 224, 293.)
75.[Lord Lovel]204
(Additions and Corrections: II, [512]; III, 510; IV, 471; V, 225, 294.)
76.[The Lass of Roch Royal]213
(Additions and Corrections: III, 510; IV, 471; V, 225, 294.)
77.[Sweet William's Ghost]226
(Additions and Corrections: II, [512]; IV, 474; V, 225, 294.)
78.[The Unquiet Grave]234
(Additions and Corrections: II, [512]; III, 512; IV, 474; V, 225, 294.)
79.[The Wife of Usher's Well]238
(Additions and Corrections: III, 513; V, 294.)
80.[Old Robin of Portingale]240
(Additions and Corrections: II, [513]; III, 514; IV, 476; V, 225, 295.)
81.[Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard]242
(Additions and Corrections: II, [513]; IV, 476; V, 225.)
82.[The Bonny Birdy]260
83.[Child Maurice]263
(Additions and Corrections: III, 514; IV, 478.)
84.[Bonny Barbara Allan]276
(additions and Corrections: III, 514.)
85.[Lady Alice]279
(Additions and Corrections: III, 514; V, 225.)
86.[Young Benjie]281
(Additions and Corrections: IV, 478.)
87.[Prince Robert]284
(Additions and Corrections: V, 295.)
88.[Young Johnstone]288
89.[Fause Foodrage]296
(Additions and Corrections: II, [513]; III, 515; IV, 479.)
90.[Jellon Grame]302
(Additions and Corrections: II, [513]; III, 515; IV, 479; V, 226, 295.)
91.[Fair Mary of Wallington]309
(Additions and Corrections: II, [513]; III, 515; IV, 479; V, 227.)
92.[Bonny Bee Hom]317
(Additions and Corrections: V, 229.)
93.[Lamkin]320
(Additions and Corrections: II, [513]; III, 515; IV, 480; V, 229, 295.)
94.[Young Waters]342
(Additions and Corrections: III, 516.)
95.[The Maid Freed from the Gallows]346
(Additions and Corrections: II, [514]; III, 516; IV, 481; V, 231, 296.)
96.[The Gay Goshawk]355
(Additions and Corrections: III, 517; IV, 482; V, 234, 296.)
97.[Brown Robin]368
98.[Brown Adam]373
99.[Johnie Scot]377
(Additions and Corrections: IV, 486; V, 234.)
100.[Willie o Winsbury]398
(Additions and Corrections: II, [514]; III, 517; IV, 491; V, 296.)
101.[Willie o Douglas Dale]406
(Additions and Corrections: III, 517; V, 235.)
102.[Willie and Earl Richard's Daughter]412
(Additions and Corrections: III, 518.)
103.[Rose the Red and White Lily]415
104.[Prince Heathen]424
(Additions and Corrections: V, 296.)
105.[The Bailiff's Daughter of Islington]426
(Additions and Corrections: III, 518; V, 237.)
106.[The Famous Flower of Serving-Men]428
(Additions and Corrections: III, 518; IV, 492.)
107.[Will Stewart and John]432
(Additions and Corrections: V, 237.)
108.[Christopher White]439
109.[Tom Potts]441
(Additions and Corrections: III, 518.)
110.[The Knight and Shepherd's Daughter]457
(Additions and Corrections: IV, 492; V, 237.)
111.[Crow and Pie]478
112.[The Baffled Knight]479
(Additions and Corrections: III, 518; IV, 495; V, 239, 296.)
113.[The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry]494
(Additions and Corrections: III, 518; IV, 495.)
[Additions and Corrections]495

[54]
THE CHERRY-TREE CAROL

[A]. a. 'Joseph was an old man,' Sandys, Christmas Carols, p. 123. b. Sandys, Christmastide, p. 241.

[B]. a. 'The Cherry-Tree Carol,' Husk, Songs of the Nativity, p. 59. b. Hone's Ancient Mysteries, p. 90. c. 'The Cherry-Tree Carol,' Sylvester, A Garland of Christmas Carols, p. 45. d. 'The Cherry-Tree,' Birmingham chap-book, of about 1843, in B. Harris Cowper's Apocryphal Gospels, p. xxxviii.

[C]. 'The Cherry-Tree Carol,' Bramley and Stainer, Christmas Carols, p. 60.

[D]. Notes and Queries, Fourth Series, XII, 461.

The proper story of this highly popular carol is derived from the Pseudo-Matthew's gospel, chapter xx; Tischendorf, Evangelia Apocrypha, p. 82; Thilo, Codex Apocryphus Novi Testamenti, Historia de Nativitate Mariæ et de Infantia Salvatoris, p. 395. What succeeds, after A 9, B 8, C 7, D 6, is probably founded on the angel's words to the shepherds in Luke ii, and on Jesus's predictions in the authentic gospels. This latter portion is sometimes printed as an independent carol, under the title of 'Joseph and the Angel.'[1]

On the third day of the flight into Egypt, Mary, feeling the heat to be oppressive, tells Joseph that she will rest for a while under a palm-tree. Joseph helps her to light from her beast, and Mary, looking up from under the tree, and seeing it full of fruit, asks for some. Joseph somewhat testily expresses his surprise that she should think of such a thing, considering the height of the tree: he is much more concerned to get a supply of water. Then Jesus, sitting on his mother's lap, bids the palm to bow down and refresh his mother with its fruit. The palm instantly bends its top to Mary's feet.