“The Holy Well”

Description

Mary sends Jesus out to play. He meets a group of noble children, who scorn him as poor. Jesus bitterly runs home to Mary. She urges him to curse/damn them. Jesus, as the worlds's savior, realizes he cannot do so

Supplemental text

Holy Well, The
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

From Ella Mary Leather, Folk-Lore of Herefordshire, pp. 186-187.
Apparently from the singing of Mr. J. Hancocks, Monnington, 1908.

As it fell out upon a day,
On a bright and a holy day,
Sweet Jesus asked of His dear mother
If He might go to play.

(12 additional stanzas)

Cross references

• cf. "The Bitter Withy" (plot)

Broadsides

• Bodleian, Johnson Ballads 1484, "The Holy Well" ("As it fell out one May morning"), T. Wood (Birmingham), 1806-1827; also Douce adds. 137(12), Harding B 7(10), "The Holy Well"

Recordings

• Wiggy Smith, "The High-Low Well" (on Voice11)

References

1. Leach, pp. 690-691, "The Holy Well" (1 text)
2. Leather, pp. 186-187, "The Holy Well" (1 text, 2 tunes)
3. OBB 110, "The Holy Well" (1 text)
4. OBC 56, "The Holy Well" (1 text, 2 tunes)
5. PBB 9, "The Holy Well" (1 text)
6. ST L690 (Partial)
7. Roud #1697
8. BI, L690