This traditional carol originated in medieval England and achieved widespread popularity. The carol collectors in the nineteenth century found it in many parts of England. The original story is a popular apocryphal legend of one of Christ's prenatal miracles. Like so many folk songs, this one had verses added to it in the course of its passage through many hands. Thus it starts as a pre-Christmas carol but continues with predictions of Christ's birth and crucifixion.

Joseph was an old man,
And an old man was he,
When he wedded Mary
In the land of Galilee.

Joseph and Mary
Walked through an orchard good,
Where was cherries and berries
So red as any blood.

Joseph and Mary
Walked through an orchard green,
Where was berries and cherries
As thick as might be seen.

O then bespoke Mary
With words so meek and mild,
"Pluck me one cherry, Joseph,
For I am with child."

O then bespoke Joseph
With answer most unkind,
"Let him pluck thee a cherry
That brought thee now with child."

O then bespoke the baby
Within his mother's womb—
"Bow down then the tallest tree
For my mother to have some."

Then bowed down the highest tree,
Unto his mother's hand.
Then she cried, "See, Joseph,
I have cherries at command."

O then bespoke Joseph—
"I have done Mary wrong;
But now cheer up, my dearest,
And do not be cast down.

"O eat your cherries, Mary,
O eat your cherries now,
O eat your cherries, Mary,
That grow upon the bough."

Then Mary plucked a cherry,
As red as any blood;
Then Mary she went homewards
All with her heavy load.

As Joseph was awalking,
He heard an angel sing:
"This night there shall be born
On earth our heav'nly King;

"He neither shall be born,
In housen nor in hall,
Nor in the place of Paradise,
But in an ox's stall.

"He neither shall be clothed
In purple nor in pall,
But all in fair linen
As wear the babies all.

"He neither shall be rocked
In silver nor in gold,
But in a wooden cradle
That rocks upon the mould.

(FYI, the only recored version of this that I'm aware of is on the Chieftans "Bells of Dublin" CD. There may be others I'm not aware of, and I suspect the Chieftans version is not medieval.)