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Klirtetes 


THE  NEW 
MEDIEVAL  LIBRARY 


THE  NEW  MEDIEVAL  LIBRARY 

THE  CHATELAINE  OF  VERGI. 

Translated  by  ALICE  KEMP- 
WELCH.  With  Introduction  by 
L.  BRANDIN. 

THE  BOOK  OF  THE  DUKE  OF 
TRUE  LOVERS.  Translated 
and  edited  by  ALICE  KEMP- 
WELCH. 

OF  THE  TUMBLER  OF  OUR 
LADY.  Translated  and  edited 
by  ALICE  KEMP-WELCH. 

THE  LEGEND  OF  THE  HOLY 
FINA,  VIRGIN  OF  SANTO 
GEMINIANO.  Translated  and 
edited  by  M.  MANSFIELD. 


THE  BABEES'  BOOK  :  Medieval 
Manners  for  the  Young.  Modern 
ised  and  edited  by  EDITH 

RlCKERT. 

THE  BOOK  OF  THE  DIVINE 
CONSOLATION  OF  SAINT 
ANGELA  DA  FOLIGNO. 
Translated  by  MARY  G.  STEECJ- 
MANN.  With  an  Introduction  by 
ALGAR  THOROLD. 

EARLY  ENGLISH  ROMANCES 
OF  LOVE.  Edited  by  EDITH 

RlCKERT. 

EARLY  ENGLISH  ROMANCES 
OF  FRIENDSHIP.  Edited  by 
EDITH  RICKERT. 

THE  CELL  OF  SELF-KNOW 
LEDGE  :  Seven  Early  English 
Mystical  Treatises.  Edited  by 
EDMUND  G.  GARDNER,  M.A. 


ANCIENT  ENGLISH 
CHRISTMAS  CAROLS 
MCCCC  TO  MDCC 

COLLECTED  &  ARRANGED 
BY  EDITH  RICKERT 


CHATTO    &"    WINDUS  :   LONDON 

NEW  YORK  :  DUFFIELD    6f  CO. 

1910 


r, 


TO 
E.Q.R.   and  F.E.R. 

MY    SISTERS 

FOR   WHOSE    UNWEARIED   ASSISTANCE 

IN    THE    PREPARATION    OF    THIS    LITTLE    VOLUME 

I    AM    DEEPLY    GRATEFUL 


CONTENTS 
PART  I 

CAROLS    OF    THE    NATIVITY 


PAGE 


VIRGO  ROSA  VIRGINUM 3 

ECCE  ANCILLA  DOMINI 28 

IN  DIE  NATIVITATIS 41 

O  JESU  PARVULE 59 

GLORIA  IN  EXCELSIS  DEO    ......  96 

REGES  DE  SABA  VENIENT no 

NUNC  GAUDET  ECCLESIA 121 

APPENDIX  I 131 

APPENDIX  II 139 

NOTES 149 

PART  II 

CAROLS    OF    THE    DIVINE    MYSTERY 

MlRABILE   MlSTERIUM 159 

IN  DULCI  IUBILO         .....                 .  203 

ix 


CONTENTS 


PART   III 

CAROLS    OF   YULETIDE   FESTIVITY 

PAGE 

PROFACE 217 

WASSAIL 243 

CAPUT  APRI  DEFERO  256 

VENI  CORONABERIS 262 

APPENDIX  I 269 

APPENDIX  II 287 

NOTES 299 

GLOSSARY 303 

INDEX  TO  FIRST  LINES         .         .        .        .         .         .311 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

ECCE  ANCILLA  DOMINI       ....  Frontispiece 
JOSEPH  BEING  AN  AGED  MAN      .        .        .To  face  page  25 

IN  DIE  NATIVITATIS „            41 

PUER  NATUS  EST „            96 

NUNC  GAUDET  ECCLESIA     .        .        .        .  „           121 

SALVE  REGINA „          159 

MAKE  WE  MERRY „           203 

THE  BOAR  is  DEAD  260 


INTRODUCTION 


ANTIQUITY  OF  CAROL  SINGING 

"  I  pray  you,  sirs,  both  more  and  less, 
Sing  these  carols  in  Christemas." 

So  wrote  John  Awdlay,  the  blind  and  deaf  chaplain  of 
Haughmond  Abbey  in  Shropshire,  about  the  year  1426, 
showing  that  by  this  time  the  custom  was  well  established 
in  England.  But  indeed  praise  of  "  Dan  Noel "  can  be 
traced  back  at  least  two  centuries  earlier.  There  is  an 
Anglo-Norman  carol,  which  was  perhaps  sung  in  the  days  of 
King  John,  in  which  Noel,  after  enjoining  upon  every  man  to 
keep  open  house  and  to  furnish  his  neighbour  drink  "  until 
he  nods  his  head  and  sleeps  by  day,"  concludes  with  the  old 
Saxon  exchange  of  healths  "  Wesseyl  "  and  "  Drinc-heyl."  * 
This  carol  then  suggests  the  probability  that  there  were 
Yule  songs,  at  least  of  the  wassail  type,  among  the  Anglo- 
Saxons  ;  and  it  is  almost  certain  that  customs  originally 
pagan,  such  as  the  procession  of  the  boar's  head  and  the  holly 
and  ivy  contests,  would  have  been  accompanied  by  some 
kind  of  song-dance. 

1  The  carol  is  printed  on  p.  132. 
xiij 


xiv  INTRODUCTION 

THE  WORD  CAROL 

The  word  carol,  whatever  its  origin,1  is  clearly  associated 
at  first  with  the  idea  of  choric  song.  In  French  it  is  used 
regularly,  as  early  as  the  beginning  of  the  twelfth  century, 
to  describe  the  song-dance  of  spring  and  love  that  was  in 
itself  still  almost  a  rite  at  that  time.2  In  England  the  French 
word  carole  had  been  taken  over  before  the  beginning  of  the 
fourteenth  century,  and  at  first  was  used  commonly  in 
the  secular  sense  ;  but  by  some  freak  in  philology  it  came 
later  to  be  applied  almost  entirely  to  Christmas  songs,  alike 
to  those  of  a  sacred  character,  such  as  in  French  have  always 
been  called  noels?  and  to  songs  of  revelry.  Even  as  late 
as  the  seventeenth  century,  however,  we  find  traces  of  its 
primitive  significance,  as  in  the  title  :  Clod's  Carol,  or  a 
Proper  New  Jig.  But  at  the  same  period  another  title, 
A  Mournful  Carol,  or  an  Elegy,  &c.,  shows  how  loosely  the 
term  was  used. 

ORIGIN  OF  SACRED  CAROLS 

The  history  of  carol  singing  is  one  phase  of  the  struggle  of 
the  Church  with  the  pagan  instincts  in  man.  Undoubtedly 
the  feast  of  Yule4 — the  turn  of  the  year  at  the  winter 

1  French  carole,  according  to  Diez  from  Romance  corolar  cr  coreiar 
—  choreas  ducere  ;  Jeanroy,  from  Greek  choraulein  =  to  accompany  with 
a  flute;  Faidit,  Latin  corolla-^  little  ring. 

2  Aucassin  and  Nicolete  (§  33,  1,7),  for  example. 

3  From  Latin  ndtdlem= birthday. 

4  The  origin  of  the  word   Yule  is  uncertain.     It  has  been  derived 
from  various  roots,  including  the  Germanic  jehwela  —  Latin  ioculus— 
•mirth;  or  the  Germanic  jeu  la = snow- storm. 


INTRODUCTION  xv 

solstice  x — is  of  immemorial  antiquity  ;  and  it  was  celebrated 
with  a  blending  of  riot  and  sacrifice  to  tribal  divinities,  such 
as  is  still  found  among  barbaric  races.  Very  early  the  Church 
issued  a  series  of  repressive  decrees  which  indicate  somewhat 
the  character  of  the  revels.  In  408,  stage  plays  were  for 
bidden  on  the  Lord's  Day  and  other  solemn  festivals ;  in 
425,  on  the  Nativity  and  other  Church  feasts ;  in  578,  dis- 
guisings  were  condemned  on  these  occasions ;  in  614,  "  filthy 
plays  "  were  prohibited  on  the  Kalends  of  January. 

With  the  era  of  St.  Augustine,  in  England,  came  the 
policy  of  substitution  in  place  of  prohibition,  and  so  gradu 
ally  the  theory  was  evolved  :  if  the  people  must  have  plays 
for  Christmas,  let  them  be  plays  of  divine  mystery  and 
miracle  ;  if  they  must  have  songs,  let  them  sing  musig  of  the 
Church. 

How  far  this  theory  became  explicit  I  do  not  know  ;  it 
was  certainly  acted  upon.  The  drama  grew  up  within  the 
Church,  outgrew  its  bounds,  and  by  a  curious  sort  of  com 
promise,  when  it  reached  the  streets  and  market-places, 
took  on  much  of  the  secular  character  that  centuries  before 
had  led  to  decrees  against  it.  Similarly,  the  carols  that  de 
veloped  out  of  the  Latin  festival  hymns,  after  they  had  grown 
somewhat  away  from  their  models,  were  presently  found  in 
the  same  manuscripts  with  songs  of  purely  pagan  origin. 

The  relationship  of  the  early  carols  to  the  Latin  hymns 
is  unmistakable.  They  are  at  first  macaronic,  like  the 
thirteenth  century  Mater  Salutaris?  the  Latin  element 

1  In  the  Saxon  Chronicle,  as  late  as  1154,  Christmas  is  called  "  mid- 
wintermas."  2  P.  3. 


xvi  INTRODUCTION 

being  gradually  reduced  to  a  refrain  and  at  last  disappearing. 
The  Latin  phrases,  which  recur  frequently,  are  all  common 
in  medieval  hymnology.  The  verse  is  very  often  at  first 
modelled  upon  the  form  of  the  hymns,  in  lines  of  four  and 
three  beats  alternately.  The  sentiments  of  the  early  carols 
differ  scarcely  at  all  from  those  of  the  hymns.  In  all  pro 
bability  both  were  written  by  clerics,  the  carols  representing 
an  attempt,  whether  formulated  or  not,  to  bring  the  meaning 
of  Christmas  nearer  home  to  the  people. 

It  is  to  be  noted  that  most  of  the  great  carol  manuscripts 
belong  to  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries ;  indeed, 
they  may  almost  be  said  to  be  included  between  the  reigns 
of  Henry  VI.  and  Henry  VIII.  There  are,  however,  grounds 
for  believing  that  some  of  the  poems  themselves  go  back  to 
the  days  of  Henry  IV.  and  Richard  II.,  possibly  even  of 
Edward  III.  This  date  would  seem  to  show  that  carol 
writing  was  a  part  of  the  great  fourteenth-century  movement 
of  the  middle  classes  in  England,  of  the  stir  towards  demo 
cracy,  of  the  conquest  of  the  people's  English  over  the  Latia 
of  the  clergy,  over  the  French  of  the  court. 

In  this  connection  it  is  interesting  to  point  out  certain 
coincidences  in  theme  and  treatment  which  suggest  that  the 
carols  and  the  mystery  plays  are  but  two  phases  of  the  same 
tendency  towards  the  popularisation  of  religion.  Not  only 
were  carols  sung  on  the  stage,  as  in  the  Second  Shepherds1 
Play  (Towneley  Plays)  and  the  Pageant  of  the  Shearmen  and 
Tailors  (Coventry  Plays),  but  the  carols  as  a  class  are  strongly 
dramatic,  especially  the  Annunciation  and  Shepherd  Carols 


INTRODUCTION  xvii 

and  the  lullabies ;  the  last  two  groups  indeed,  in  their  real 
istic  details  and  homely  treatment,  are  strongly  suggestive  of 
scenes  in  the  religious  drama,  to  which  they  may  owe  their 
inspiration. 

PRE-REFORMATION  CAROLS 

These  are  found  almost  entirely  as  collections,  in  less  than 
a  dozen  great  manuscripts  which  represent  alike  the  taste 
of  the  court,  the  clergy,  and  the  citizens.  While  the  practice 
of  carol-making  undoubtedly  arose  among  clerics,  it  soon 
spread  widely  among  all  classes  of  people,  as  is  shown  by 
the  range  of  themes  and  treatment.  Even  the  kings  of 
this  period  fostered  music  :  Henry  VI.  had  a  court  musician 
famous  over  Europe,  John  Dunstable,  who  wrote  carols ; 3 
Edward  IV.  was  a  great  lover  of  pageantry ;  Henry  VII. 
was  a  patron  of  musicians,  and  Henry  VIII.  himself  was 
versed  in  song-making  2  and  had  a  chapel  full  of  composers, 
some  of  whom  at  least  were  probably  their  own  poets. 

Some  day  we  may  be  able  to  identify  to  a  much  larger 
extent  than  at  present  the  work  of  these  court  singers. 
Although  names  are  often  attached  to  the  songs,  we  cannot 
be  certain  whether  the  attribution  is  for  the  words  as  well 
as  for  the  music.  When  in  1504  William  Cornish  was  paid 
for  "  setting  of  "  a  carol  at  Christmas,  it  would  seem  that 

1  A  fine  manuscript  in  Trinity  College,  Cambridge  (0.3.  58)  is  be 
lieved  to  contain  thirteen   carols  of  his   composition.     It  was   pub 
lished   by  Fuller-Maitland    and   Rockstro,    under  the    title  English 
Carols  of  the  Fifteenth  Century,  1891. 

2  MS.   31,922  in  the  British  Museum,  which  contains  various  com 
positions  by  Henry  VIII.,  has  his  name  on  the  flyleaf,  and  is  believed 
to  have  belonged  to  him. 

b 


xviii  INTRODUCTION 

he  furnished  the  music  only,  although  he  is  known  to  have 
been  something  of  a  writer.  When  two  names  are  attached 
to  one  short  lyric,  as  often  happens  in  the  case  of  Richard 
Smart  (Smert)  and  John  Truelove  (Trouluife),  we  know 
that  they  collaborated  but  cannot  tell  the  share  of  each. 
And  again,  while  we  have  a  long  list  of  names  of  composers 1 
during  the  early  part  of  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  we  can 
never  be  sure,  in  an  age  when  authorship  was  rarely  looked 
upon  as  a  private  right,  how  often  the  work  is  original  and 
how  often  merely  the  setting,  or  possibly  the  adaptation  of 
an  old  song,  to  music.  For  example,  John  Gwynneth,  who 
is  given  credit  for  the  Easter  carol  beginning,  "  And  I 
mankind,"  was  evidently  adapting  an  old  love-song,  the 
refrain  of  which,  "  My  love  that  mourneth  for  me,"  he 
retained.  On  the  other  hand,  the  composer  Pygott,  whose 
name  is  signed  to  the  highly  original  song,  "  Quid  petis,  O 
Fili  ?  "  2  in  all  probability  wrote  the  words  as  well.  The 
author  of  so  unusual  a  poem,  even  in  those  days,  would 
scarcely  have  been  overlooked. 

Aside  from  the  court  carols  there  are  many  of  a  more 
strictly  ecclesiastical  stamp,  showing  all  degrees  of  poetic 
ability.  They  agree  in  a  general  tendency  to  interpret  the 
great  event  in  its  relation  to  the  soul  of  man  ;  hence  they 
often  include  a  brief  outline  of  the  life  of  Christ  and  the 
Crucifixion.  Some  few  are  strongly  mystical  in  character. 
The  best  are  rather  elaborate  in  structure  and  artificial  in 

1  William  and  John  Cornish,   Banister,  Sturges,   Newark,    Davy, 
Sheringham,  Fairfax,  Mower,  Peter,  Hawte,  Pakke,  and  others. 

2  P.  63. 


INTRODUCTION  xix 

treatment,  even  extravagant,  as,  for  example,  "  A  blessed  bird, 
as  I  you  say."  l  The  worst  carols  of  this  class  are  scarcely 
distinguishable  from  those  of  popular  origin. 

The  usual  mark  of  the  carol  made  among  the  people  and 
sung  by  them  is  its  recurrence  in  several  slightly  different 
versions.  Sometimes  stanzas  are  added  or  omitted  or  dis 
placed  ;  sometimes  the  sense  is  confused  by  forgetfulness 
or  misunderstanding  or  mishearing  ;  sometimes  whole  lines 
or  groups  of  lines  are  lost  except  their  rhyme-schemes, 
which  are  then  filled  out,  either  to  the  same  general 
purport,  or  with  quite  a  different  meaning. 

All  these  changes  are  due  to  oral  transmission  extending 
over  a  considerable  period  of  time.  It  is  probable  that 
some  of  the  carols  were  gradually  altered  out  of  all  resem 
blance  to  their  original  form ;  for  instance,  "  Joseph  was 
an  Old  Man,"  which  in  its  present  state  cannot  be  older 
than  the  seventeenth  century,  is  based  upon  a  legend  that 
was  familiar  in  the  fourteenth,  and  in  the  fifteenth  was  sung 
in  a  carol  very  similar  in  substance  but  totally  different  in 
structure  and  wording  from  the  later  version.2  Again,  the 
story  of  the  eighteenth-century  "  Cherry-Tree  Carol,"  3  is 
to  be  found  in  a  fifteenth-century  mystery  play ;  while  the 
fifteenth-century  "  The  Falcon  hath  Borne  my  Make  Away  " 
has  survived  until  to-day  in  a  form  singularly  altered  but 
quite  recognisable.4 

In  content  these  popular  carols  are  for  the  most  part 

1  P.  1 86.     It  is  perhaps  better  classified  as  an  Easter  carol. 

2  Cf.  pp.  24-25,  below.  3  Cf.  p.  88,  and  note  on  p.  153. 
4  Cf.  pp.  193,  194. 


xx  INTRODUCTION 

religious ;  but  they  are  more  concerned  with  the  story  of 
the  Nativity  than  with  any  subtleties  of  interpretation. 
Comparatively  few  of  a  secular  type  were  written  or  have  sur 
vived.  These  have  to  do  with  the  immemorial  customs  of 
the  revels  in  the  hall,  and  include  further  a  few  wassail  and 
drinking  songs.  Sometimes  even  in  these  the  religious  element 
was  dragged  in  in  a  curious  fashion,  as  when  the  boar  was 
used  as  a  symbol  for  Christ,  or  "  Bring  us  in  Good  Ale,"  was 
sung  to  the  tune  of  an  Annunciation  carol. 

POST-REFORMATION  CAROLS 

The  Reformation  removed  several  of  the  chief  sources  of 
inspiration  of  the  older  carol-writers.  It  was  no  longer 
possible  to  sing  "  Regina  celi,  letare,"  or  to  turn  rapturous 
love-songs,  such  as  "  Who  shall  have  my  Fair  Lady  ?  "  or 
"  True  Love,  you  do  me  Right,"  to  worship  of  the  Virgin  ; 
or  to  glorify  the  Divine  Motherhood  with  lullabies,  unless 
these  were  understood  to  be  spiritual  Balulalows.  There 
could  be  no  more  carols  for  saints'  days,  and  even  the  Nativity 
itself  had  to  be  viewed  less  from  a  dramatic  standpoint  and 
more  as  a  scheme  of  salvation.  The  religious  elements  were, 
so  to  speak,  strained  out  from  the  popular  accretions  with 
which  they  had  been  mingled,  consequently  reduced  as  well 
as  purified. 

On  the  other  hand,  more  stress  than  ever  was  laid  on  the 
old  customs  of  Christmas  mirth,  and  carols  on  this  theme 
become  increasingly'  numerous  during  the  seventeenth  cen 
tury.  Ben  Jonson  in  "  Christmas  his  Masque,"  presented 
at  court  in  1616,  introduces  a  thoroughly  secular  "  Carol, 


INTRODUCTION  xxi 

in  a  long  tawny  coat,  with  a  red  cap  and  a  flute  at  his  girdle, 
his  torch-bearer  carrying  a  song-book  open  ;  and  Wassail, 
like  a  neat  sempster  and  songster,  her  page  bearing  a  brown 
bowl  dressed  with  ribands  and  rosemary  before  her."  Again, 
Nicholas  Breton  in  his  Fantasticks  in  1626  gives  a  picture 
of  Christmas  revels  in  which  the  Christian  element  has 
become  pretty  well  an  appendix  :  "  It  is  now  Christmas, 
and  not  a  cup  of  drink  must  pass  without  a  carol ;  the  beasts, 
fowl  and  fish  come  to  a  general  execution,  and  the  corn  is 
ground  to  dust  for  the  bakehouse  and  the  pastry ;  cards 
and  dice  purge  many  a  purse,  and  the  youth  show  their 
agility  in  shoeing  of  the  wild  mare  ;  now  good  cheer  and 
welcome,  and  God  be  with  you — and  against  the  New  Year 
provide  for  the  presents — the  Lord  of  Misrule  is  no  mean 
man  for  his  time,  and  the  guests  of  the  high  table  must  lack 
no  wine ;  the  lusty  bloods  must  look  about  them  like  men, 
and  piping  and  dancing  puts  away  much  melancholy,  stolen 
venison  is  sweet,  and  a  fat  coney  is  worth  money,  pitfalls 
are  now  set  for  small  birds,  and  a  woodcock  hangs  himself 
in  a  gin,  a  good  fire  heats  all  the  house,  and  a  full  alms-basket 
makes  the  beggar's  prayers :  the  maskers  and  the  mummers 
make  the  merry  sport,  but  if  they  lose  their  money  their 
drum  goes  dead ;  swearers  and  swaggerers  are  sent  away  to 
the  alehouse,  and  unruly  wenches  go  in  danger  of  judgment ; 
musicians  now  make  their  instruments  speak  out,  and  a  good 
song  is  worth  the  hearing.  In  sum,  it  is  holy  time,  a  duty  in 
Christians  in  remembrance  of  Christ  and  customs  among 
friends  for  the  maintenance  of  good  fellowship.  In  brief, 
I  thus  conclude  it :  I  hold  it  a  memory  of  the  Heaven's  love 


nai  INTRODUCTION 

and  the  world's  peace,  the  mirth  of  the  honest,  and  the 
meeting  of  the  friendly.  Farewell." 

This  is  the  aspect  of  Christmas  voiced  chiefly  in  the 
popular  carols  of  the  late  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries ; 
it  finds  expression  also  in  the  work  of  the  poets  Herrick  and 
Wither,  and  continues  until  the  gradual  spread  of  Puritanism 
left  Christmas  stripped  and  shorn  of  its  old  customs,  conse 
quently  of  the  songs  in  which  these  were  perpetuated. 

As  the  stream  of  religion  by  the  Reformation  was  turned  into 
half-a-dozen  channels,  so  Christmas  lyrics  came  to  be  a  per 
sonal  matter  in  which  each  writer  expressed  his  own  attitude 
and  experience.  The  earlier  Calvinists  were  represented  by 
Coverdale  and  the  Wedderburns ;  the  Roman  Catholics  by 
Southwell  and  Crashaw ;  the  orthodox  Churchmen  by  Bishop 
Hall,  Giles  Fletcher,  Herbert,  and  Jeremy  Taylor,  and  from 
the  lay  point  of  view,  by  Ben  Jonson,  Drummond  of  Haw- 
thornden,  Francis  Quarles,  and  others. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  story  of  the  shepherds, 
doubtless  because  of  the  fashion  for  pastorals  at  that  time, 
was  the  aspect  of  the  Nativity  most  often  treated. 

These  compositions  of  Elizabethan  and  early  Stuart  days 
include  very  few  real  carols.  Sometimes  they  keep  so  rigidly 
within  the  bounds  of  ecclesiastical  matter  that  they  are 
hymns.  More  often  they  are  so  elaborate  in  form  and 
metaphysical  in  tone  that  they  could  never  have  been  in 
tended  to  be  sung. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  Puritanism  is  to  blame  for  the 
extinction  of  the  practice  of  carol-singing,  both  in  that  it 
discouraged  the  excesses  of  Christmas  revelry  and  in  that  it 


INTRODUCTION  xxiii 

made  but  scant  use  of  music  as  a  means  of  religious  experience. 
I  doubt  whether  any  good  carols,  either  religious  or  secular, 
originated  between  the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century  and 
the  middle  of  the  nineteenth. 

The  eighteenth  and  early  nineteenth  centuries,  it  is  true, 
were  the  great  days  of  broadsheet  publication,  in  which  much 
old  traditional  matter  was  preserved,  but  the  new  carols 
produced  during  this  period  are  scarcely  worth  preservation. 

Within  the  last  fifty  years  various  attempts  have  been 
made  to  write  carols  in  the  medieval  manner ;  and  as 
deliberate  imitations  of  old  forms  from  which  the  living 
inspiration  has  nearly  vanished,  some  of  these  are  very  good. 

PRINTED  COLLECTIONS  OF  CAROLS 

The  oldest  known  printed  carols  consist  of  two  leaves  of 
a  collection  issued  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde  in  1521.  The  title 
New  Christmas  Carols  suggests  that  earlier  editions  had 
preceded  this.  A  unique  little  black  song-book  in  the 
British  Museum,  dated  I53O,1  contains  several  carols ;  while 
another  set  of  Christmas  Carols,  Newly  Imprinted,  issued  by 
Richard  Kele,  between  1546  and  1552,  now  known  only  by 
extracts  in  Bliss's  Bibliographical  Miscellanies  in  1813,  is  the 
source  of  several  others.  During  the  second  half  of  the  six 
teenth  century  many  other  collections  were  made,  since  lost 
and  known  only  by  name.  The  Wedderburns'  Compendious 
Book  of  Godly  Songs  and  Ballads,  in  several  editions,  of 
which  the  first  is  as  old  as  1567,  perhaps  older,  and  several 
books  by  the  musician,  William  Byrd,  contain  a  few  carols. 
1  Catalogued  as  Bassus,  K.  i.e.  i. 


xxiv  INTRODUCTION 

From  the  seventeenth  century  (1642,  1661,  1682  and 
undated)  there  are  several  collections  of  popular  carols ;  and 
others  were  printed  from  time  to  time  in  Poor  Robin's 
Almanac. 

But  the  oldest  carols  continued  to  exist  in  manuscript 
until  Ritson,1  Wright,2  and  Sandys  3  did  pioneer  work  in 
printing  and  collecting  them,  the  process  being  continued  by 
Fehr,4  Fliigel,5  Bullen,6  Chambers  and  Sidgwick,7  and 
Dyboski  8  ;  and  from  a  musical  standpoint  first  by  J.  Stafford 
Smith,9  afterwards  by  Nicholson  and  Stainer,10  and  Fuller- 
Maitland  and  Rockstro.11  I  have  mentioned  only  the  most 
important  works,  fuller  bibliographies  being  given  in  the 
volume  of  Chambers  and  Sidgwick,  and  in  the  Cambridge 
History  of  English  Literature,  vol.  ii.  Information  in  regard  to 
the  manuscripts,  published  and  unpublished,  is  to  be  found 
in  Hughes  Hughes'  Catalogue  of  Early  English  Music  (Sacred). 

PLAN  OF  THE  PRESENT  EDITION 

In  the  present  edition  I  have  attempted  to  classify  the 
carols  according  to  their  subject-matter ;  and  within  the 
various  groups  to  arrange  them,  as  far  as  may  be,  chrono- 

1  Ancient  Songs  and  Ballads,  1790;  ed.  Hazlitt,  1877. 

2  Percy  Society  publications,  vols.  iv.  and  Ixxiii.  ;    Warton  Club, 
vol.  iv. 

3  Percy  Society  publications,   vol.   iv.  ;    Christmas   Carols,    1833 ; 
Christmastide,  1852. 

4  Archivfiir  das  Studium  der  neueren  Spraclien  und  Literaturen, 
cvi. ,  cvii. ,  cix. 

5  Anglia,  xii.,  xxvi.  ;  Neuenglisches  Lesebuch,  1895. 

6  A  Christmas  Garland,  1885.  7  Early  English  Lyrics,  1907. 

5,  CI. 


Early  English  Text  Society,  Extra  Series 
»  Old  English  Songs,  1780.  10  Eary  Bo 

11  English  Carols  of  the  Fifteenth  Century,  1891. 


INTRODUCTION  xxv 

logically,  except  where  it  seemed  advisable  to  show  some 
special  relationship.  To  the  left  of  each  carol  I  have  put 
the  date  of  its  first  appearance  in  manuscript  or  in  print,  or, 
failing  that,  the  nearest  approximation  possible  to  the  date  of 
the  oldest  manuscript,  or  the  time  when  the  author  flourished. 

While  the  collection  is  far  from  complete,  owing  to  limita 
tions  of  space,  I  have  endeavoured  to  include  (i)  all  the  best, 
and  (2)  all  the  most  characteristic  and  representative  speci 
mens  of  this  form  of  writing.  The  second  group  necessarily 
contains  some  of  inferior  poetic  quality. 

My  original  plan  was  to  allow  equal  space  to  sacred 
carols  and  to  secular ;  but  the  former  so  greatly  outnumber 
the  latter  as  to  run  into  nearly  half  of  the  second  part.  Ac 
cordingly  I  have  divided  the  sacred  carols  into  two  groups  : — 

I.  Carols  of  the  Nativity. 

II.  Carols  of  the  Divine  Mystery. 

The  distinction,  which  is  perhaps  not  very  well  expressed 
by  the  titles,  is  between  the  carols  which  emphasize  the 
Nativity  as  an  historical  and  dramatic  event,  and  those  that 
dwell  upon  the  meaning  of  the  Incarnation.  The  two  groups 
approach  each  other  so  that  there  might  be  difference  of 
opinion  as  to  how  a  few  carols  should  be  classified  ;  but  as  it 
was  necessary  to  make  some  sort  of  division,  and  a  great  many 
carols  show  a  strong  theological  element,  this  arrangement 
seemed  to  be  the  most  satisfactory. 

The  Nativity  Carols  are  subdivided  into  seven  groups  : — 

I.  Carols  of  the  Virgin  :   Fir  go  Rosa  Firginum. 

II.  Carols  of  the  Annunciation  :  Ecce  Ancilla  Domini. 

III.  Carols  of  the  Nativity  :  In  Die  Nativitatis. 


xxvi  INTRODUCTION 

IV.  Carols  of  the  Childhood  of  Jesus :   O  Jem  Parvule. 

V.  Carols  of  the  Shepherds :   Gloria  in  Excelsis  Deo. 

VI.  Carols  of  the  Three  Kings :  Reges  de  Saba  Venient. 

VII.  Carols    of    the    Christmas    Saints :     Nunc    Gaudet 
Ecclesia. 

I  have  added  also  in  Appendix  I.  a  few  examples  of  Latin 
Christmas  hymns  and  of  Anglo-Norman  and  French  carols ; 
and  in  Appendix  II.,  specimens  of  carols  not  related  in  sub 
ject-matter  to  Christmas. 

In  dealing  with  the  individual  texts,  I  have  tried  to  pre 
serve  as  far  as  possible  the  effect  of  the  original ;  and  to  this 
end  have  allowed  quaint,  obsolete,  and  even  ungrammatical 
expressions  to  stand,  when  they  did  not  obscure  the  meaning, 
or  could  easily  be  explained  in  a  footnote.  With  the  metre 
I  have  tampered  as  little  as  possible,  wishing  to  show  the 
range  of  skill  in  different  authors  from  barbaric  roughness 
to  exquisite  melody. 

In  the  case  of  French  and  Latin  phrases  I  have  retained 
the  old  forms,  correcting  obvious  errors.  They  afford  no 
difficulty  to  readers  of  these  languages,  and  heighten  the 
quaintness  of  the  effect.  A  glossary,  however,  of  these  phrases 
is  given  at  the  end  of  Part  III.  My  original  plan  of 
translating  these  in  the  footnotes  was  abandoned  because  of 
the  numerous  repetitions  of  familiar  Church  phrases. 

A  special  difficulty  arose  in  the  case  of  carols  that  exist  in 
several  versions.  As  exact  texts  were  out  of  the  question 
here,  both  because  of  the  exigencies  of  translation,  and 
because  their  establishment  would  have  required  constant 
return  from  the  printed  editions  to  the  manuscripts,  and 


INTRODUCTION  xxvii 

frequent  repetitions  of  parallel  versions,  the  best  plan 
seemed  to  be  to  use  the  different  forms  of  one  poem  to 
elucidate  a  corrupt  or  an  obscure  passage,  and  otherwise  to 
choose  what  seemed  the  most  interesting  text  and  give  only 
important  variants  in  the  footnotes.  Sometimes  choice 
was  almost  impossible  among  several  versions  identical  in 
thought  and  differing  only  in  a  multitude  of  details. 

Carols  of  the  Divine  Mystery  are  subdivided  into  the  very 
large  group  in  which  the  event  of  the  Nativity  is  subordinated 
to  the  meaning  of  the  Incarnation,  Mirabile  Misterium,  and 
into  a  small  group,  In  Dulci  lubilo,  in  which  the  spiritual  joy 
of  Christmas  is  sung,  as  over  against  the  riotous  mirth  handed 
down  as  customary  from  the  days  of  pagan  Yule. 

In  Part  III.  I  have  included  Carols  of  Yuletide  Festivity, 
subdividing  them  into  four  groups  that  represent  four 
aspects  of  Christmas  celebrations : 

I.  Carols  of  Welcome  and  Christmas  Cheer  :  Prof  ace. 

II.  Carols  of  Health-drinking  :   Wassail. 

III.  Carols  of  the  Boar's  Head  :   Caput  Apri  Defero. 

IV.  Carols  of  Holly  and  Ivy  :  Veni  Coronaberis. 
Appendix  I.  contains  Christmas  poems  of  the  sixteenth  and 

seventeenth  centuries  which  can  scarcely  be  called  carols ; 
and  Appendix  II.,  a  few  modern  carols  in  imitation  of  the 
medieval  manner. 

LITERARY  VALUE  OF  THE  CAROLS 

In  literary  value  the  carols  range  from  gems  of  religious 
inspiration  to  jogging  tavern  ditties.  In  some  subjects  they 
are  over-bound  to  the  Biblical  material ;  in  others  they 


xxviii  INTRODUCTION 

show  vivid  imagination  and  tender  feeling.  As  a  class  the 
lullabies  are  the  most  beautiful,  being  as  exquisite  in  form 
as  in  essence  ;  and  next  to  these,  perhaps,  come  the  carols 
of  Mary.  Out  of  something  like  two  hundred  anonymous 
carols  there  are  very  few  that  lack  some  beauty  or  quaintness 
or  charm  ;  and  there  are  perhaps  twenty  or  more  that  may 
be  counted  among  those  best  songs  that  spring  perfect  out 
of  the  hearts  of  men. 

The  illustrations  are  reproduced  from  missals  as  follows : 

MS.  18,850  (the  Bedford  Missal).  1420-30.  "Puer  natus 
est,"  p.  96.  "  Nunc  gaudet  Ecclesia,"  p.  121. 

MS.  20,694.    Fifteenth  century.    "  Salve  Regina,"  p.  159. 

MS.  17,280.     1506.    "  Joseph  being  an  aged  man,"  p.  25. 

MS.  25,695.  Fifteenth  century.  "  In  Die  Nativitatis," 
p.  41. 

MS.  Egerton,  1070.  Fifteenth  century.  "  Ecce  Ancilla 
Domini,"  Frontispiece. 

MS.  18,855.  Sixteenth  century.  "The  Boar  is  Dead," 
p.  260. 

MS.  24,098.  Sixteenth  century.  "  Make  we  merry," 
p.  203. 

The  two  last  named  are  attributed  to  the  Flemish  artist, 
Gerhard  Hoornbach. 


PART   I 
CAROLS  OF  THE  NATIVITY 


VIRGO    ROSA  VIRGINUM1 

Mater  Salutaris 

Thirteenth  Century. 

SAINT  Mary,  mother  mild, 

Mater  salutaris, 
Fairest  flower  of  any  field, 

Fere  nvncitparis, 

Through  Jesu  Christ  thou  wert  with  child, 
Thou  bring  me  of  my  thoughtes  wild, 

Pottntt, 
That  maketh  me  to  death  [to]  go 

Repente. 
My  thought  is  wild  as  is  the  roe, 

Luto  gratulante, 
She  worketh  me  full  muchel  woe, 

Illaque  favente  ; 
But  if  He  wille  wend  me  fro 
I  ween  my  heart  breaketh  a-two, 

Fervor e  ; 
I  tamed  2  am  both  day  and  night, 

Dolore. 
Jesu,  through  Thy  muchel  might 

Omnia  fecisti. 

1  See  note.  2  Text:  am  ifaiht. 

3 


CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

The  Holy  Ghost  in  Mary  light 

Sicut  voluisti, 

Therefore  He  is  yclept  our  Driht ; 1 
Jesu,  bring  my  thought  to  Christ 

Constanter, 
That  it  be  stable  and  not  changeable, 

Fraudenter. 
Jesu  Christ,  Thou  art  on  loft,2 

Digno  Tu  scandente, 
Heaven  and  earth  Thou  havest  ywrought, 

Victor e  triumph  ante, 
Mankind  with  Thy  body  a-bought, 
Thou  wouldst  not  him  have  lost  for  nought, 

Nee  dare  ; 
And  gave  the  blood  that  was  so  good, 

Tarn  gnare. 
Sweete  lady,  flower  of  all, 

Fere  consolatrix, 
Thou  be  mine  help  that  I  ne  3  fall, 

Cunctis  reparatrix. 
Mildest  queen  and  best  ycorn,4 
Night  and  day  thou  be  me  forn  5 

Precantis. 
Give  me  grace  to  see  thy  face, 

Infantis, 
That  I  through  thy  sweete  bene,6 

Tutrix  orphanorum, 
May  leave  all  this  worldes  teen,7 

Solamen  miserorum. 
And  to  thee,  Lady,  may  I  take 

i  Lord.  2  On  high.  3  Not.' 

4  Chosen.  5  Be  for  me.  6  Prayer. 

7  Trouble. 


VIRGO   ROSA  VIRGINUM 

And  my  sins  [may]  all  forsake, 

Volente, 
That  I  ne  misse  of  thy  bliss, 

PosctnU. 


Enixa  est  Puerpera 

1425-50. 

A  LADY  that  was  so  fair  and  bright, 

Velut  marts  Stella, 
Brought  forth  Jesu  full  of  might, 

Parens  et  puella. 

Lady,  flower  of  alle  thing, 

Rosa  sine  spina, 
That  barest  Jesu,  Heaven-King, 

Gracia  Divina. 

All  this  worlde  was  forlore, 

Eva  'peccatrice, 
Till  that  Jesu  was  ybore, 

De  te,  genetrice. 

Of  all  women  thou  art  best, 

Felix  fecundata, 
To  all  weary  thou  art  rest, 

Mater  honorata. 

Well  I  wot  He  is  thy  Son, 
Venire  quern  portasti  ; 

There  will  He  grant  thee  thy  boon, 
Infans  quern  lactasti. 


6  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

How  sweet  He  is,  how  meek  He  is 

Nullus  memoravit ; 
In  heaven  He  is  and  heaven[ly]  bliss 

Nobis  preparavit. 

Of  all  women  thou  bearest  the  prize, 

Mater  gratiosa, 
Grant  us  alle  Paradise, 

Virgo  gloriosa. 

As  Dew  in  April 

Fifteenth  Century. 

I  SING  of  a  maiden 

That  is  makeless ; l 
King  of  all  kings 

To  her  Son  she  ches.2 
He  came  all  so  still 

Where  His  mother  was, 
As  dew  in  April 

That  falleth  on  the  grass. 
He  came  all  so  still 

To  His  mother's  bower, 
As  dew  in  April 

That  falleth  on  the  flower. 
He  came  all  so  still 

Where  His  mother  lay, 
As  dew  in  April 

That  falleth  on  the  spray. 
Mother  and  maiden 

Was  never  none  but  she ; 
Well  may  such  a  lady 

Codes  mother  be. 
1  Matchless.  2  Chose. 


VIRGO   ROSA   VIRGINUM 


M  and  A  and  R  and  71 

Fifteenth  Century. 

M  and,  A  and,  R  and  /, 
Singen  I  will  a  new  song. 

OF  these  four  letters  purpose  I, 
M  and  A  and,  R  and  I ; 
They  betoken  maid  Mary, 
All  our  joy  of  her  sprang. 

Withouten  sin  of  her  body, 
— M  and  A  and  R  and  I — 
Of  her  was  born  a  king  truly, 
The  Jews  did  to  death  with  wrong. 

Upon  the  mount  of  Calvary, 

— M  and  A  and  R  and  I — 

There  they  beat  His  bare  body, 

With  scourges  that  were  sharp  and  long. 

Our  dear  Lady  she  stood  Him  by, 
— M  and  A  and  R  and  I — 
And  wept  water  full  bitterly  ; 
Tears  of  blood  followed  ever  among. 

God  that  sitteth  above  the  sky, 
With  M  and  A  and  R  and  /, 
Save  now  all  this  company, 
And  send  us  joy  and  bliss  among ! 

i  See  note. 


8  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Ave  Marts  Stella 

Fifteenth  Century. 

Ave  marts  Stella, 

The  star  on  the  sea, 
Dei  mater  alma 

Blessed  may  she  be  ! 

Atque  semper  vtrgo, 
Pray  thy  Son  for  me, 

Felix  celi  porta, 

That  I  may  come  to  thee. 

Gabriel,  that  archangel, 
He  was  messenger, 

So  fair  he  greeted  our  Lady, 
With  an  ave  so  clear. 

Hail  be  thou,  Mary, 

Be  thou,  Mary, 
Full  of  Codes  grace, 

And  queen  of  mercy  ! 

All  that  are  to  greet 
Withouten  deadly  sin, 

Forty  days  of  pardon 
God  granteth  him. 

There  is  no  Rose  of  such    Virtue 

Fifteenth  Century. 

THERE  is  no  rose  of  such  virtue, 
As  is  the  rose  that  bare  Jesu, 
Alleluia  ! 

i  See  note. 


VIRGO   ROSA   VIRGINUM 

For  in  this  rose  contained  was 
Heaven  and  earth  in  little  space, 
Res  miranda  ! 

By  that  rose  we  may  well  see, 
There  be  one  God  in  Persons  Three, 
Pares  forma. 

The  angels  sungen  the  shepherds  to, 
Gloria  in  excelsis  Deo, 
Gaudeamus  ! 

Leave  we  all  this  worldly  mirth, 
And  follow  we  this  joyful  birth, 
Transeamus. 


Of  a  rose}  a  lovely  rose,1 
And  of  a  rose  I  sing  a  songz 

Fifteenth  Century. 

HEARKEN  to  me,  both  old  and  ying, 
How  a  rose  began  to  spring ; 
A  fairer  rose  to  my  liking 

Sprang  there  never  in  kinge's  land. 

Six  branches  are  on  that  rose  beam, 
They  be  both  bright  and  sheen  ; 
The  rose  is  called  Mary,  heaven's  queen, 
Of  her  bosom  a  Blossom  sprang. 


1  See  note. 

2  Where    I  have  used  the  MS.  heading,   sometimes    as    here 
couplet,  as  a  title,  it  is  printed  without  capitals. 


io  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

The  first  branch  was  of  great  might, 

That  sprang  on  Christmas  night. 

The  star  x  shone  over  Bethlehem  bright. 

That  men  might  see  both  broad  and  long. 

The  second  branch  was  of  great  honour, 
That  was  sent  from  heaven's  tower ; 
Blessed  be  that  fair  flower, 

Break  it  shall  the  fiendes  bonds. 

The  third  branch  wide  spread, 
Where  Mary  lay  in  her  bed ; 
The  bright  star  three  kinge's  led 

To  Bethlehem,  where  that  branch  they  found. 

The  fourth  branch  sprang  into  hell, 
The  fiendes  boast  for  to  fell, 
There  might  no  soule  therein  dwell, 

Blessed  be  that  time  that  branch  sprang. 

The  fifth  branch  was  fair  in  foot, 
It  sprang  to  heaven,  top  and  root, 
There  to  dwell  and  be  our  bote  2 

And  yet  is  seen  in  priestes  hands. 

The  sixth  branch  by  and  by, 
It  is  the  five  joys  of  mild  Mary. 
Now  Christ  save  all  this  company, 
And  send  us  good  life  and  long ! 

1  MS.  str«ne= sterne?  Help. 


VIRGO   ROSA   VIRGINUM  n 

This  Rose  is  Railed^  on  a  Ryse2 

About  1450. 

Of  a  rose  singe  we  : 
Misterium  mirabile. 

THIS  rose  is  railed  on  a  ryse, 
He  hath  bought  the  Prince  of  price, 
And  in  this  time  sooth  it  is, 
Viri  sine  semine. 

This  rose  is  red  of  colour  bright, 
Through  whom  our  joy  began  alight, 
Upon  a  Christes  mass  night, 
Claro  David  germine. 

Of  this  rose  was  Christ  ybore, 
To  save  mankind  that  was  forlore, 
And  us  all  from  sin  its  sore, 
Prophetarum  carmine. 

This  rose,  of  flowers  she  is  the  flower, 
She  will  not  fade  for  no  shower, 
To  sinful  men  she  sent  succour, 
Mira  plenitudine. 

This  rose  is  so  fair  of  hue, 
In  maid  Mary  that  is  so  true, 
Yborne  was  Lord  of  [all]  virtue, 
Salvator  sine  crimine. 

i  Set.  2  Branch. 


12  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 


Hail  Mary,  full  of  grace,  mother  in  virginity 

Fifteenth  Century. 

THE  Holy  Ghost  is  to  thee  sent 

From  the  Father  Omnipotent, 

Now  is  God  within  thee  went, 

The  angel  said  "Ave." 

When  the  angel  ave  began, 
Flesh  and  blood  together  ran  ; 
Mary  bare  both  God  and  man, 

Through  virtue  and  pure  dignity. 

So  saith  the  gospel  of  Saint  John : 
God  and  man  is  made  but  one, 
In  flesh  and  blood,  body  and  bone, 
One  God  in  Persons  Three. 

And  the  Prophet  Jeremy 
Told  in  his  prophecy 
That  the  Son  of  Mary 

Should  die  for  us  on  the  Rood-tree. 

He  to  us  much  joy  did  grant 
And  of  peace  on  earth  no  want, 
Since  the  birth  of  this  Infant 
In  the  land  of  Galilee. 

Mary  grant  to  us  thy  bliss 
Where  thy  Son  His  dwelling  is ; 
For  what  we  have  done  amiss 

Pray  for  grace  for  charity.     Amen. 


VIRGO   ROSA  VIRGINUM  13 


Novell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell, 
Mary  was  greeted  by  Gabriel 

Fifteenth  Century. 

MARY  mother,  meek  and  mild, 
Fro  shame  and  sin  that  ye  us  shield, 
For  great  on  ground  ye  go  with  child, 
Gabriele  nuncio. 

Mary  mother,  be  not  adread, 
Jesu  is  in  your  body  bred, 
And  of  your  breast  He  will  be  fed, 
Cum  pudoris  lilio. 

Mary  mother,  the  fruit  of  thee 
For  us  was  nailed  on  a  tree, 
In  heaven  is  now  His  majesty, 
Fulget  Resurreccio. 

;        Mary  mother,  the  thirde  day 
Up  He  rose,  as  I  you  say, 
To  hell  He  took  the  righte  way, 
Motu  fertur  proprio. 

Mary  mother,  after  thy  Son, 
Up  thou  styest *  with  him  to  wone  ; 2 
The  angels  were  glad  when  thou  wert  come, 
In  celi  palacio. 

1  Ascendest,  2  Dwell. 


CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 


Alma  Redemptoris  Mater1 

Fifteenth  Century. 

As  I  lay  upon  a  night, 

My  thought  was  on  a  bird  2  so  bright  (Alleluia  !) 
That  men  call  Mary  full  of  might, 
Redemptoris  Mater. 

To  her  came  Gabriel  with  light, 
And  said,  "  Hail  be  thou,  blissful  wight  (Alleluia  !), 
To  be  called  now  art  thou  dight3 
Redemptoris  Mater." 

At  that  word  that  lady  bright 
Anon  conceived  God  full  of  might  (Alleluia  !)*; 
Then  men  wist  well  that  she  hight 
Redemptoris  Mater. 

When  Jesus  on  the  Rood  was  pight,4 
Mary  was  doleful  of  that  sight  (Alleluia  !) 
Till  she  saw  Him  rise  upright, 
Redemptoris  Mater. 

Jesu,  that  sittest  in  heaven  light, 
Grant  us  to  come  before  Thy  sight  [Alleluia !] 
With  that  bird  that  is  so  bright, 
Redemptoris  Mater. 

i  See  note,  2  Lady.  "  Ready.  4  Placed. 


VIRGO   ROSA  VIRGINUM  15 


Salve  reginaj  mater  misericordie 

Fifteenth  Century. 

O  BLESSEDFUL  bird,  full  of  grace, 
To  all  mankind  thou  art  solace, 
Queen  of  heaven  in  every  place, 
Salve. 

To  our  health  thou  bare  a  Child, 
And  yet  with  sin  wert  never  [dejfiled, 
Mary  mother,  meek  and  mild, 
Salve. 

From  the  fiend  thou  us  defend, 
And  of  sin  thou  us  amend  ; 
Mary,  thy  mercy  thou  to  us  send, 
'Salve. 

O  worthy  wight,  we  worship  thee, 
Full  of  mercy  and  of  pity ; 
Wherefore  we  sing  in  each  degree, 
Salve. 

And  let  us  not  from  thee  fall, 
And  thereto  we  cry  and  also  call, 
Both  young  and  old,  great  and  small, 
Salve. 

And  bring  us  to  thy  Son's  bliss, 
Where  that  thy  dwelling  is, 
Of  that  we  pray  thee  that  we  not  miss, 
Salve, 


16  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 


A,  a,  a,  a, 

Nunc  gaudet  Maria 

Fifteenth  Century. 

MARY  is  a  lady  bright, 
She  hath  a  Son  of  mickle  might, 
Over  all  this  world  she  is  light, 
Bono,  natalicia. 

Mary  is  so  fair  of  face, 
And  her  Son  so  full  of  grace, 
In  heaven  [may]  He  make  us  a  place, 
Cum  sua  potencia. 

Mary  is  so  fair  and  bright,1 
And  her  Son  so  full  of  might,1 
Over  all  this  world  He  is  light,1 
Bona  voluntaria. 

Mary  is  both  good  and  kind, 
Ever  on  us  she  hath  mind, 
That  the  fiend  shall  us  not  bind  2 
Cum  sua  malicia. 

Mary  is  queen  of  every  thing, 
And  her  Son  a  lovely  king ; 
God  grant  us  all  [a]  good  ending ; 
Regnat  Dei  gracia. 

1  Text:  swote— boot— boot.  2  Text:  shend  =  hurt. 


VIRGO   ROSA   VIRGINUM  17 


Novus  Sol  de  virgine 
Reluxit  nobis  odie 

About  1450. 

THOU  holy  daughter  of  Sion, 

Princess  of  Jerusalem, 
To-day  sprang  of  thee  alone 

The  grain  x  of  Jesse  in  Bethlehem. 

This  day  also  the  bright  star 
That  Balaam  gan  so  to  magnify 

Arose  of  thee  to  stint 2  our  war, 
And  in  darkness  us  to  gye.3 

Thou  art  also  above  each  one 
A  mother  and  a  maiden  true, 

And  the  yard  eke  of  Aaron 

That  bore  this  day  a  bourgeon  new. 

The  orient  light  of  Nazareth 

Thou  art  also,  to  stint  2  our  strife, 

That  broughtest  forth  against  death 
This  day  the  soothfast  Man  of  Life. 

Thou  art  eke  the  fleece  of  Gideon 
Ydewed  with  the  Holy  Ghost, 

The  chaste  temple  of  Solomon, 
Clear  as  crystal  in  every  coast.4 

i  Seed.  2  Stop.  »  Guide.  •*  Side. 

B 


1 8  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Thou  art  eke  the  joy  of  Israel, 

To  stint  all  our  olde  sorrow, 
The  gate  the  which  Ezekiel 

Saw  always  closed,  both  eve  and  morrow. 

And  thou  art  eke  the  purple  rose 

That  whilom  grew  in  Jericho ; 
The  Father's  wisdom  to  enclose 

Thou  were  the  temple  and  tower  also. 

Singe  we,  singe  we, 
Regina  celi,  letare 

Fifteenth  Century. 

HOLY  maiden,  blessed  thou  be, 
Godes  Son  is  born  of  thee  ; 
The  Father  of  heaven  worship  we, 
Regina  celi,  letare. 

Hail,  wife  !     Hail,  maiden  !     Hail,  bright  of  blee  ! 1 
Hail,  daughter  !     Hail,  mater  !     Hail,  full  of  pity  ! 
Hail,  chosen  to  the  Persons  Three ! 
Regina  celi^  letare. 

Thou  art  empress  of  heaven  so  free, 
Worthy  maiden  in  majesty  ; 
Now  worship  we  the  Trinity, 
Regina  celi^  letare. 

Lady  so  lovely,  so  goodly  to  see, 
So  buxom  2  in  thy  body  to  be, 
Thou  art  His  mother  for  humility, 
Regina  celi,  letare. 

1  Face.  2  Obedient. 


VIRGO   ROSA   VIRGINUM  19 

These  been  courteous  kings  of  solemnity,1 
They  worshipped  thy  Son  with  humility ; 
Milde  Mary,  thus  rede  2  we, 
Regina  celi,  letare. 

So  gracious,  so  precious  in  royalty, 
Thus  gentle,  thus  good,  thus  finde  we 
There  is  none  such  in  no  country, 
Regina  celi,  letare. 

And  therefore  kneel  we  down  on  our  knee, 
This  blessed  birth  worship  we  ; 
This  is  a  song  of  humility, 
Regina  celt,  letare. 


Sing  we  to  this  merry  company, 
Regina  celi,  letare 

Before  1529.3 

O  QUEEN  of  heaven,  thou  sittest  in  thy  see,4 
O  comfort  of  all  captivity, 
Right  causeth  us  all  to  sing  to  thee, 
Regina  celi,  letare. 

O  blessed  branch  of  humility, 
O  causer  of  all  felicity, 
With  joy  and  gladness  sing  we  to  thee, 
Regina  celi,  letare. 

1   Text:  solunte.  2  Counsel. 

3  See  note.  *  Domain. 


20  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Benign  lady,  blessed  may  thou  be, 
That  barest  God  in  virginity ; 
Therefore  sing  we  unto  thee, 
Regina  cell,  letare. 


A  song  upon.  Now  must  I  sing,  &c. T 

Fifteenth  Century. 

Nozvell,  nowell,  no-well,  sing  we  with  mirth, 
Christ  is  come  well,  with  us  to  dwell, 
By  His  most  noble  birth. 

UNDER  a  tree,  in  sporting  me 

Alone  by  a  wood-side, 
I  heard  a  maid  that  sweetly  said, 
"  I  am  with  child  this  tide." 

Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  sing  we  with  mirth, 
Christ  is  come  well,  with  us  to  dwell, 
By  His  most  noble  birth. 

"  Graciously  conceived  have  I 
The  Son  of  God  so  sweet ; 
His  gracious  will  I  put  me  till,2 
As  mother  Him  to  keep." 

Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  sing  we  with  mirth, 
Christ  is  come  well,  with  us  to  dwell, 
By  His  most  noble  birth. 

"  Both  night  and  day,  I  will  Him  pray, 

And  hear  His  laws  ytaught, 
And  every  deal  His  true  gospel 

In  His  apostles  fraught." 

i  See  note.  2  To. 


VIRGO   ROSA   VIRGINUM  21 

Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  sing  we  with  mirth, 
Christ  is  come  well,  with  us  to  dwell, 
By  His  most  noble  birth. 

"  This  ghostly  case  doth  me  embrace, 

Without  despite  or  mock, 
With  my  darling,  lullay  to  sing, 
And  lovely  Him  to  rock." 

Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  sing  we  with  mirth, 
Christ  is  come  well,  with  us  to  dwell, 
By  His  most  noble  birth. 

"  Without  distress,  in  great  lightness, 

I  am  both  night  and  day ; 
This  heavenly  Fode,1  in  His  childhood, 
Shall  daily  with  me  play." 

Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  sing  we  with  mirth, 
Christ  is  come  well,  with  us  to  dwell, 
By  His  most  noble  birth. 

"  Soon  must  I  sing,  with  rejoicing, 

For  the  time  is  all  run, 
That  I  shall  child,  all  undenled, 
The  King  of  heaven's  Son." 

Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  sing  we  with  mirth, 
Christ  is  come  well,  with  us  to  dwell, 
By  His  most  noble  birth. 

1  Nursling,  creature. 


22  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Puer  nobis  natus  est, 
De  virgine  Maria 

About  1456. 

BE  glad,  lordings,  be  ye  more  and  less, 
I  bring  you  tidings  of  gladness, 
As  Gabriel  me  beareth  witness, 
Dicam  vobis  quia. 

I  bring  you  tidings  that  be  good, 
Mary  hath  borne  a  blissful  Fode, 
That  bought  us  all  upon  the  Rood, 
Sua  morte  pia. 

For  the  trespass  of  Adam, 
Fro  the  Father  of  heaven  He  came, 
Hereto  to  myrthe  us  began, 
Teste  profecia. 

Mary,  mother  and  lief  virgin, 
That  bare  a  child  withouten  sin, 
Keep  us  all  fro  helle  pain, 
De  virgine  Maria. 

She  may  be  called  a  Sovereign  Lady^ 
1530. 

She  may  be  called  a  sovereign  lady, 
That  is  a  maid  and  bearetb  a  baby. 

A  MAID  peerless  hath  born  God's  Son ; 
Nature  gave  place 

i  Printed  in  the  book  known  as  Bassus,  in  the   British  Museum, 
K.  i,  e.  i,  which  contains  the  bass  part  of  a  song-book. 


VIRGO   ROSA   VIRGINUM  23 

When  ghostly  grace 

Subdued  reason. 

She  may  be  called  a  sovereign  lady, 
That  is  a  maid  and  beareth  a  baby. 

As  for  beauty  or  high  gentry,  she  is  the  flower, 

By  God  elect, 

For  this  effect, 

Man  to  succour. 

She  may  be  called  a  sovereign  lady, 
That  is  a  maid  and  beareth  a  baby. 

Of  virgins  queen,  lodestar  of  light, 

Whom  to  honour 

We  ought  endeavour 
Us  day  and  night. 
She  may  be  called  a  sovereign  lady, 
That  is  a  maid.  and.  beareth  a  baby. 


Virgo,  rosa  virginum,   Tzium  precor  Filium 

Before  1536. 

QUEEN  of  heaven,  blessed  may  thou  be, 
For  Godes  Son  born  He  was  of  thee, 
For  to  make  us  free. 

Gloria  Tibi,  Domine  ! 

Jesu,  God's  Son,  born  He  was 
In  a  crib  with  hay  and  grass, 
And  died  for  us  on  the  Cross. 
Gloria  Tibi,  Domine  ! 


24  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

To  our  Lady  make  we  our  moan, 
That  she  may  pray  to  her  dear  Son, 
That  we  may  to  His  bliss  come. 
Gloria  Tihi,  Domine  ! 

"Marvel  not,  Joseph,  on  Mary  mild;1 
Forsake  her  not  though  she  be  with  child" 

Temp.  Henry  VII.  or  VIII. 

"  I,  JOSEPH,  wonder  how  this  may  be, 
That  Mary  waxed  great  when  I  and  she 
Ever  have  lived  in  chastity  ; 
If  she  be  with  child,  it  is  not  by  me." 
"  Marvel  not,  Joseph" 

"  The  Holy  Ghost,  with  merciful  distense,2 
In  her  hath  entered  without  offense, 
God  and  man  conceived  by  His  presence, 
And  she  virgin  pure  without  violence. 
Marvel  not,  Joseph" 

"  What  the  angel  of  God  to  me  doth  say, 
I,  Joseph,  must  and  will  humble  obey, 
Else  privily  I  would  have  stolen  away ; 
But  now  will  I  serve  her  till  I  die." 
"  Marvel  not,  Joseph. 

Joseph,  thou  shalt  her  maid  and  mother  find, 
Her  Son  Redemptor  of  all  mankind, 
Thy  forefathers  of  pains  to  unbind  ; 
Therefore  muse  not  this  matter  in  thy  mind. 
Marvel  not,  Joseph" 

1  See  note.  2  Seemingly  a  unique  form  for  distension. 


VIRGO   ROSA  VIRGINUM  25 

Joseph  being  an  Aged  Man1 

Traditional. 

JOSEPH  being  an  aged  man  truly, 
He  married  a  virgin  fair  and  free ; 
A  purer  virgin  could  no  man  see 

Than  he  chose  for  his  wife  and  dearest  dear. 

The  Virgin  was  pure,  there  was  no  nay, 
The  Angel  Gabriel  to  her  did  say, 
"  Thou  shalt  conceive  a  Child  this  day, 
The  which  shall  be  our  dearest  dear." 

The  Angel  no  sooner  this  message  said 
But  all  in  heart  she  was  afraid  : 
"  How  may  this  be,  and  I  a  pure  maid  ? 
Say  then  to  me,  my  dearest  dear." 

"  The  Holy  Ghost,  Mary,  shall  come  unto  thee, 
The  power  of  it  shall  overshadow  thee, 
And  thou  shalt  bear  a  Son  truly, 

The  which  shall  be  our  dearest  dear." 

Joseph  being  a  perfect  mild  man, 
Perceiving  that  Mary  with  child  was  gone, 
Said,  "  Tell  to  me,  Mary,  and  do  not  frown, 
Who  hath  done  this,  my  dearest  dear  ?  " 

Then  answered  Mary  meek  and  mild  : 
"  I  know  no  father  unto  my  child 
But  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  I  undefiled ; 

That  hath  done  this,  my  dearest  dear." 

i  See  note. 


26  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

But  Joseph  thinking  her  most  unjust, 
Yielding  her  body  to  unlawful  lust, 
Out  of  his  house  he  thought  for  to  thrust 
His  own  true  love,  his  dearest  dear. 

But  whilst  in  heart  he  thought  the  same, 
The  Angel  Gabriel  to  him  came, 
As  he  lay  sleeping  on  a  frame, 

Still  dreaming  on  his  dearest  dear, 

Who  said,  "  Fear  not  to  take  to  thee 
Thy  true  and  faithful  wife  Mary ; 
Most  true  and  faithful  is  she  to  thee, 

Then  turn  not  away  thy  dearest  dear." 

When  Joseph  arose  from  his  sleep  so  sound, 
His  love  to  Mary  did  more  abound, 
He  would  not  for  ten  thousand  pound 
Forsake  his  love  and  dearest  dear. 

They  lived  both  in  joy  and  bliss ; 
But  now  a  strict  commandment  is, 
In  Jewry  land  no  man  should  miss 

To  go  along  with  his  dearest  dear, 

Unto  the  place  where  He  was  born, 

Unto  the  emperor  to  be  sworn, 

To  pay  a  tribute  that  is  duly  known, 

Both  for  himself  and  his  dearest  dear. 

And  when  they  were  to  Bethlehem  come, 
The  inns  were  filled,  both  all  and  some, 
For  Joseph  entreated  them  every  one, 

But  could  get  no  bed  for  his  dearest  dear. 


VIRGO   ROSA   VIRGINUM  27 

Then  were  they  constrained  presently 
Within  a  stable  all  night  to  lie, 
Where  they  did  oxen  and  asses  tie 

With  his  true  love  and  dearest  dear. 

The  Virgin  pure  thought  it  no  scorn 
To  lie  in  such  a  place  forlorn ; 

But  against  the  next  morning  our  Saviour  was  born, 
Even  Jesus  Christ,  our  dearest  dear. 

The  King  of  all  power  in  Bethlehem  born, 
Who  wore  for  our  sakes  a  crown  of  thorn ; 
Then  God  preserve  us  both  even  and  morn, 
For  Jesus'  sake,  our  dearest  dear ! 


ECCE   ANCILLA  DOMINI1 

Nowell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell, 
ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell 

Fifteenth  Century. 

NOWELL,  ell,  both  old  and  ying,2 
Nowell,  ell,  now  may  we  sing 
In  worship  of  our  heavenfly]  King, 
Almighty  God  in  Trinity. 

Listen,  lordings,  both  lief  and  dear, 
Listen,  ladies,  with  glad  cheer, 
A  song  of  mirth  now  may  ye  hear, 

How  Christ  our  brother  He  would  be. 

An  angel  from  heaven  was  sent  full  s-nell,3 
His  name  is  clepe'd  Gabriel, 
His  errand  he  did  full  snell, 

He  sat  on  knee  and  said  "  Ave." 

And  he  said  :  "  Mary,  full  of  grace, 
Heaven  and  earth  in  every  place, 
Within  the  time  of  little  space, 
Reconciled  it  should  be." 

1  See  note.  2  Young.  3  Quickly. 

28 


ECCE   ANCILLA   DOMINI  29 

Mary  stood  still  as  any  stone, 
And  to  the  angel  she  said  anon  : 
"  Then  heard  I  never  of  man  [his]  moan, 
Methinketh  wonder  thou  sayest  to  me." 

The  angel  answered  anon  full  well : 
"  Mary  dread  thee  never  a  deal, 
Thou  shalt  conceive  a  child  full  well, 
The  Holy  Ghost  shall  shadow  thee." 

Mary  on  breast  her  hand  she  laid,  .  ; 

Still  she  stood  and  thus  she  said  : 
"  Lo  me  here,  God's  own  handmaid, 
With  heart  and  will  and  body  free." 

Mary  mother,  maiden  mild, 
For  the  love  all  of  thy  Child, 
Fro  Helle  pit  thou  us  shield ; 
Amen,  amen,  now  singe  we. 


Regina  celt,  letare 

Fifteenth  Century. 

GABRIEL,  that  angel  bright, 
Brighter  than  the  sun  is  light, 
From  heaven  to  earth  he  took  his  flight. 
Letare. 

In  Nazareth,  that  great  city, 
Before  a  maiden  he  kneeled  on  knee, 
And  said,  "  Mary,  God  is  with  thee. 
Letare." 


30  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

"  Hail,  Mary,  full  of  grace, 
God  is  with  thee  and  ever  was ; 
He  hath  in  thee  chosen  a  place. 
Letare." 

Mary  was  afraid  of  that  sight, 
That  came  to  her  with  so  great  light. 
Then  said  the  angel  that  was  so  bright, 
"  Letare." 

"  Be  not  aghast  of  least  nor  most, 
In  thee  is  conceived  the  Holy  Ghost, 
To  save  the  souls  that  were  for-lost. 
Letare." 


Nova,  nova :  A  ve  fit  ex  Eva 

Fifteenth  Century. 

GABRIEL  of  high  degree, 
He  came  down  from  the  Trinity, 
From  Nazareth  to  Galilee,1 
Ut  nova. 

He  met  a  maiden  in  a  place ; 
He  kneeled  down  before  her  face ; 
He  said  :  "  Hail,  Mary,  full  of  grace  !  " 
Ut  nova. 

When  the  maiden  saw  all  this, 
She  was  sore  abashed,  ywis, 
Lest  that  she  had  done  amiss. 

Ut  nova. 
1  Cf.  the  carol  on  p.  35  for  the  same  geographical  error. 


ECCE   ANCILLA  DOMINI  31 

Then  said  the  angel :   "  Dread  not  you, 
Ye  shall  conceive  in  all  virtue 
A  child  whose  name  shall  be  Jesu." 
Ut  nova. 

Then  said  the  maid  :   "  How  may  this  be, 
Codes  Son  to  be  born  of  me  ? 
I  know  not  of  man's  carnality." 
Ut  nova. 

Then  said  the  angel  anon  right : 
"  The  Holy  Ghost  is  on  thee  alight ; 
There  is  no  thing  unpossible  to  God  Almight." 
Ut  nova. 

Then  said  the  angel  anon  : 
"  It  is  not  fully  six  month  agone, 
Since  Saint  Elizabeth  conceived  Saint  John." 
Ut  nova. 

Then  said  the  maid  anon  quickly  : 
"  I  am  Codes  own  truly, 
Ecce  ancilla  Domini." 
Ut  nova. 


Make  we  merry  this  neiv  year, 
Thanking  God  with  hearty  cheer 

Before  1529. 

GABRIEL,  brighter  than  the  sun, 
Graciously  greeted  that  maiden  free  ; 
Through  her  meekness  Christ  have  we  found, 
Ecce  ancilla  Domini. 


32  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Ave  Maria,  virgin  bright, 
We  joyeth  of  thy  virginity ; 
The  Holy  Ghost  is  on  thee  light, 
Thou  hast  conceived  thy  Son  so  free. 

Now  is  that  maide  great  with  child, 
Herself  alone  also  credibly ; 
Fro  the  fiend  she  shall  us  shield  ; 
So  sayeth  books  in  their  story. 


Now  we  should  sing  and  say  nowell, 
Quia  missus  est  angelus  Gabriel 

Before  1536. 

FROM  heaven  was  sent  an  angel  of  light, 
Unto  a  city  that  Nazareth  hight, 
Unto  a  maid,  a  bride  so  bright, 

And  full  of  bliss  ; 

Nomen  Maria  virginis. 

The  angel  went  forth  and  naught  he  ceased, 
Before  that  maiden  he  him  soon  dressed, 
He  said  :   "  All  hail,  thou  art  full  blessed, 

And  gracious, 

Quia  tecum  est  Dominus  !  " 

When  Mary  this  heard,  astonied  was  she, 
And  thought  what  this  greeting  might  be. 
The  angel  her  showed  of  grace  plenty 

And  great  solace, 

Et  dixit :  "  Maria,  ne  timeas" 


ECCE   ANCILLA   DOMINI  33 

The  angel  said  :  "  Thou  maiden  mild, 
Thou  shalt  conceive  and  bear  a  child  ; 
Thy  maidenhood  shall  be  never  denied  ; 

Call  Him  Jesus, 

Hie  [erif\  Altissimi  Filius" 

When  Mary,  as  bright  as  crystal  stone, 
These  wordes  heard,  [she]  answered  anon, 
And  asked  how  all  this  might  be  done, 

And  said  :  "  How  so  ? 

Quia  virum  non  cognosce" 

The  angel  said  :  "  Thou  maiden  still, 
The  Holy  Ghost  shall  thee  fulfill." 
The  maid  answered  with  voice  so  shrill, 

And  said  meekly  : 

"  Ecce  ancilla  Domini." 


Soon  after  this,  this  Child  was  born, 
In  Bethlehem,  in  a  winter's  morn. 
Now  make  we  merry  Him  beforn, 

And  sing  nowell, 

Quia  missus  est  angelus  Gabriel ! 


34  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

What,  heard  ye  not,  the  King  of  Jerusalem 
Is  now  born  in  Bethlehem  ? 

Before  1536. 

I  SHALL  you  tell  a  great  marvel, 

How  an  angel,  for  our  avail, 

Came  to  a  maid,  and  said  :   "  All  hail !  " 

What,  heard  ye  not,  the  King  of  Jerusalem 

Is  now  born  in  Bethlehem  ? 

"  All  hail,"  he  said,  "  and  full  of  grace, 
God  is  with  thee  now  in  this  place, 
A  child  thou  shalt  bear  in  little  space." 

What,  heard  ye  not,  the  King  of  Jerusalem 

Is  now  born  in  Bethlehem  ? 

"  A  child  !  "  she  said.  "  How  may  that  be  ? 
There  had  never  no  man  knowledge  of  me." 
"  The  Holy  Ghost,"  he  said,  "  shall  light  in  thee." 

What,  heard  ye  not,  the  King  of  Jerusalem 

Is  now  born  in  Bethlehem  ? 

"  And  as  thou  art,  so  shalt  thou  be," 
The  angel  said,  "  in  virginity, 
Before  and  after  in  every  degree." 

What,  heard  ye  not,  the  King  of  Jerusalem 

Is  now  born  in  Bethlehem  ? 

The  maid  answered  the  angel  again  : 
"  If  God  will  that  this  be  sayn,1 
The  wordes  be  to  me  full  fain." 

i  Said. 


ECCE   ANCILLA   DOMINI 

What,  heard  ye  not,  the  King  of  Jerusalem 
Is  now  born  in  Bethlehem  ? 

Now  will  we  all,  in  rejoicing 
That  we  have  heard  this  good  tiding, 
To  that  Child  ?e  Deum  sing : 
Te  Deum  laudamus. 


Newell,  nowell,  nowell,  nowell, 
This  is  the  salutation  of  Gabriel 

Before  1536. 

TIDINGS  true,  there  be  come  new, 
Sent  from  the  Trinity 

By  Gabriel  from  Nazareth  to  a  city  of  Galilee 
"  A  clean  maiden,  a  pure  virgin, 

By  her  humility 

Hath  born  the  Person  Second  in  Divinity." 
Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  nowell, 
This  is  the  salutation  of  Gabriel. 

When  that  he  presented  was 

Before  her  fair  visage, 
In  most  demure  and  goodly  wise 

He  did  to  her  homage, 
And  said  :  "  Lady,  from  heaven  so  high, 

That  Lord's  [own]  heritage, 
For  He  of  thee  will  born  now  be, 

I  am  sent  on  the  message." 

Nowell,  nozvell,  nowell,  nowell, 
This  is  the  salutation  of  Gabriel. 


36  CAROLS    OF   THE    NATIVITY 

"  Hail,  virgin  celestial, 

The  meekest  that  ever  was ! 
Hail,  temple  of  the  Deity  ! 

Hail,  mirror  of  all  grace  ! 
Hail,  virgin  pure  !     I  thee  ensure, 

Within  a  little  space 
Thou  shalt  conceive  and  Him  receive 

That  shall  bring  great  solace." 
No-well,  nowell,  nowell,  nowell, 
This  is  the  salutation  of  Gabriel. 

Then  bespake  the  virgin  again, 

And  answered  womanly  : 
"  Whatsoever  my  Lord  commandeth  me, 
I  will  obey  truly. 

Ecce  sum  bumilima  ancilla  Domini  : 
Secundum  verbum  Tuum  fiat  michi." 
Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  nowell, 
This  is  the  salutation  of  Gabriel. 


A  New  Carol  of  Our  Lady1 
1546-52. 

LORDS  and  ladies  all  bydene,2 

For  your  goodness  and  honour, 
I  will  you  sing  all  of  a  queen  ; 
Of  all  women  she  is  the  flower. 
Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  nowell, 
This  said  the  angel  Gabriel. 

1  Richard    Kele's    Christmas   Carols,    in    Bliss's   Bibliographical 
Miscellanies,  1813. 

2  Together. 


ECCE   ANCILLA   DOMINI  37 

Of  Jesse  there  sprang  a  wight, 

Isaiah  said  by  prophecy, 
Of  whom  shall  come  a  man  of  might, 
From  death  to  life  He  will  us  buy. 
Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  nowell, 
This  said  the  angel  Gabriel. 

There  came  an  angel  bright  of  face, 

Flying  from  heaven  with  full  great  light, 
And  said,  "  Hail !   Mary,  full  of  grace, 
For  thou  shalt  bear  a  man  of  might." 
Nowell,  nowell)  nowell,  nowell, 
This  said  the  angel  Gabriel. 

Astonied  was  that  lady  free, 

And  had  marvel  of  that  greeting. 
"  Angel,"  she  said,  "  how  may  that  be  ? 

For  never  of  man  I  had  knowing." 

Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  nowell, 
This  said  the  angel  Gabriel. 

"  Dread  thou  nothing,  Mary  mild, 

Thou  art  fulfilled  with  great  virtue ; 
Thou  shalt  conceive  and  bear  a  child 
That  shall  be  named  sweet  Jesu." 
Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  nowell, 
This  said  the  angel  Gabriel. 

She  kneeled  down  upon  her  knee, 

With  heart,  thought,  and  mild  cheer : 
"  As  thou  hast  said,  so  may  it  be, 
God's  handmaid  I  am  here." 

Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  nowell, 
This  said  the  angel  Gabriel. 


38  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Then  began  her  womb  to  spring, 

She  went  with  child  without  man, 
He  that  is  lord  over  all  thing, 

His  flesh  and  blood  of  her  had  then. 
Nowell,  nozvell,  notvell,  nowell, 
This  said  the  angel  Gabriel. 

Of  her  was  born  our  Heaven-King, 

And  she  a  maid  nevertheless ; 
Therefore  be  merry  and  let  us  sing, 
For  this  new  lord  of  Christmas. 
Notvell,  nowellj  nozvell,  nozuell, 
This  said,  the  angel  Gabriel. 


The  Conception  of  Christ1 

Before  1567. 

LET  us  rejoice  and  sing 
And  praise  that  michty  King, 
Whilk  sent  His  Son  of  a  virgin  bricht. 
La-lay-la. 

And  on  Him  tuke  our  vile  nature, 
Our  deadly  woundes  to  cure, 
Mankind  to  hold  in  richt. 
La-lay-la. 

Saint  Luke  writes  in  his  gospel, 
God  sent  His  angel  Gabriel 
Unto  that  virgin  but 2  defame, 
La-lay-la. 

1  Ane  Compendious  Buik  of  Godlie  and  SpirituallSangis.     See  note. 

2  Without. 


ECCE   ANCILLA   DOMINI  39 

For  to  fulfil  the  prophecy, 
Was  spousit  with  Joseph  free  ; 
Marie  she  had  to  name. 
La-lay-la. 

Thir  words  to  her  he  did  rehearse, 
"  Hail,  Marie,  full  of  grace, 
The  Lord  God  is  with  thee  !  " 
La-lay-la. 

"  Thou  blessed  virgin  mild, 
Thou  sail  conceive  ane  Child, 
The  people  redeem  sail  He." 
La-lay-la. 

"  Whose  power  and  great  micht 
Sail  be  in  Codes  sicht, 
Whilk  from  the  Fader  of  micht  is  sent." 
La-lay-la. 

"  Jesus  His  name  ye  call 
Whilk  sail  be  prince  over  all, 
His  kingdom  sail  have  nane  end." 
La-lay-la. 

Than  spake  that  virgin  free, 
"  Behold,  how  sail  this  be, 
Seeing  I  know  na  man  ?  " 
La-lay-la. 

Than  said  the  angel  chaste, 
"  By  the  power  of  the  Haly  Ghaist, 
Whilk  all  thing  work  He  can." 
La-lay-la. 


4o  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

"  Elizabeth  thy  cousin  also, 
Six  moneth  with  child  can  go, 
At  whose  birth  great  joy  sail  be." 
La-lay-la. 

"  Call  him  John,"  says  the  angel  bricht, 
Whilk  is  sent  by  Codes  micht, 
The  Lorde's  way  prepare  sail  he." 
La-lay-la. 


tontwt  mm 
^mtmttGDQ 


pp:< 


IN   DIE   NATIVITATIS1 

Blessed  be  that  lady  bright, 
That  bare  a  child  of  great  might, 
Withouten  pain,  as  it  was  right, 
Maid  mother  Mary. 

Fifteenth  Century. 

GOD'S  Son  is  born,  His  mother  is  a  maid 
Both  after  and  beforn,  as  the  prophecy  said, 

With  ay ; 

A  wonder-thing  it  is  to  see, 
How  maiden  and  mother  one  may  be  ; 
Was  there  never  none  but  she, 
Maid  mother  Mary. 

This  great  Lord  of  heaven  our  servant  is  become, 
Through  Gabriel's  Steven,2  our  kind  hath  taken  on. 

With  ay ; 

A  wonder-thing  it  is  to  see, 
How  lord  and  servant  one  may  be ; 
Was  there  never  none  but  He, 
Born  of  maid  Mary. 

Two  suns  together  they  ought  to  shine  bright ; 
So  did  that  fair  lady  when  Jesu  in  her  light,3 
With  ay ; 

i  See  note.  ^  Voice.  3  Alighted. 

41 


42  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

A  wonder-thing  doth  befall : 
The  Lord  that  boughte  free  and  thrall, 
Is  found  in  an  ass's  stall, 
By  His  mother  Mary. 

The  shepherds  in  their  region  they  looked  into  heaven, 
They  see  an  angel  coming  down,  that  said  with  milde  Steven, 

With  ay : 

"  Joy  be  to  God  Almight, 
And  peace  in  earth  to  man  is  dight,1 
For  God  was  born  on  Christmas  night, 
Of  His  mother  Mary." 

Three  kings  of  great  noblay,2  when  that  Child  was  born, 
To  Him  they  took  the  ready  way,  and  kneeled  Him  beforn, 

With  ay ; 

These  three  kings  came  fro  far, 
Through  leading  of  a  star, 
And  offered  Him  gold,  incense  and  myrrh, 
And  to  His  mother  Mary. 


A  Little  Child  There  is   Yborn 

Before  1536. 

Gloria  Tibi,  Doming, 

Qui  natus  es  de  virgine  ! 
A  little  child  there  is  yborn, 
Out  of  Jesse's  stock  ycorn,3 
To  save  all  us  that  were  forlorn. 

Gloria  libi^  D  online, 

Qui  natus  es  de  virgine  ! 

1  Prepared.  "  Rank. 

3  Chosen.      TJie    original  reads:    Ysprongc    out    of    Jesses   more 
(stock). 


IN   DIE   NATIVITATIS  43 

Jesus  that  is  so  full  of  might 
Yborn  He  was  about  midnight ; 
The  angels  sang  with  all  their  might : 

Gloria  Tibi,  Domine, 

Qui  natus  es  de  virgine  ! 

Jesus  is  that  Childes  name, 

Maid  and  mother  is  His  dame, 

And  so  our  sorrow  is  turned  to  game.1 

Gloria  Tibi,  Domine, 

Qui  natus  es  de  virgine  ! 

Three  kings  there  came  with  their  presents, 
Of  myrrh  and  gold  and  frankincense, 
As  clerkes  sing  in  their  sequence. 

Gloria  Tibiy  Domine, 

Qui  natus  es  de  virgine  ! 

Now  sit  we  down  upon  our  knee, 
And  pray  that  Child  that  is  so  free  ; 
And  with  good  hearte  now  sing  we  : 

Gloria  Tibi,  Domine, 

Qui  natus  es  de  virgine  ! 

All  this  time  this  song  is  best: 
Verbum  caro  factum  est 

Before  1536. 

THIS  night  there  is  a  Child  [v]born, 
That  sprang  out  of  Jesse's  thorn ; 
We  must  sing  and  say  thereforn  : 
V erbium  caro  factum  est. 

1  Toy. 


44  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Jesus  is  the  Childes  name 
And  Mary  mild  is  His  dame, 
All  our  sorrow  is  turned  to  game  : 
V  erbum  caro  factum  est. 

It  fell  upon  [the]  high  midnight, 
The  stars  [they]  shone  both  fair  and  bright, 
The  angels  sang  with  all  their  might : 
Ferbum  caro  factum  est. 

Now  kneel  we  down  [up]on  our  knee, 
And  pray  we  to  the  Trinity, 
Our  help,  our  succour  for  to  be. 
Verbum  caro  factum  est. 


Now  be  we  glad,  and  not  too 
For  verbum  caro  factum  est 

Fifteenth  Century. 

THIS  may  I  prove  withouten  let : 1 
When  Gabriel  our  lady  gret,2 
On  his  knee  he  him  set 

So  mildly : 
"  Thou  shalt  conceive  this  same  day, 

Salvatorem  mundi." 

A  star  shone  through  Codes  grace, 
As  Gode's  owne  will  it  was ; 
The  shepherds  saw  in  that  place 

Angels  two ; 
And  them  among  they  sang  a  song, 

"  Gloria  in  excelsis  Deo  !  " 

i  Hindrance.  2  Greeted. 


IN   DIE   NATIVITATIS  45 

The  Child  was  born  upon  Yule  day, 
As  prophets  to  us  could  say  ; 
His  mother  sang  lullay,  lullay, 
Into  the  east ; 

Therefore  mankind  withouten  end 
Sing,  "  Verbum  caro  factum  est" 

And  then  by  tokening  of  a  star, 
Three  kings  there  came  from  [a]far, 
And  offered  frankincense  and  myrrh 

To  Christ  so  free  ; 
Then  they  said  with  merry  cheer, 

"  Mane  nobiscum,  Domine" 

Therefore  pray  we  every  one 
To  the  Bairn  that  time  was  born, 
He  save  us  all  from  shame  and  scorn, 

In  peace  and  rest ; 
And  all  mankind  withouten  end, 

Sing,  "  Verbum  caro  factum  est." 


Eia  Jesus  ho  die 
Natus  est  de  virgine 

Fifteenth  Century. 

BLESSED  be  that  maid  Mary, 
Born  He  was  of  her  body, 
Codes  Son  that  sitteth  on  high, 
Non  ex  virili  semine. 

In  a  manger  of  an  ass 
Jesu  lay  and  lulled  was, 
Harde  paine's  for  to  pass, 
Pro  feccante  bomine. 


46  CAROLS    OF   THE    NATIVITY 

Kinges  came  fro  divers  land, 
With  great  gifte's  in  their  hand, 
In  Bethlehem  the  Child  they  found, 
Stelle  ducti  lumine. 


Man  and  child,  both  old  and  ying, 
Now  in  His  blissful  coming, 
To  that  Child  may  we  sing, 
Gloria  Tibi,  Domine  ! 


Nowell,  nowell,  in  this  hall, 
Make  merry,  I  pray  you  all, 
Unto  the  Child  may  we  call, 
Ullo  sine  crimine. 


Christo  paremus  canticam,  excelsis  gloria 

About  1500. 

WHEN  Christ  was  born  of  Mary  free, 
In  Bethlehem,  in  that  fair  city, 
Angels  sungen  with  mirth  and  glee, 
"  In  excelsis  gloria  !  " 

Herdmen  beheld  these  angels  bright, 
To  them  appeared  with  great  light, 
And  said,  "  God's  Son  is  born  this  night, 
In  excelsis  gloria  !  " 


IN   DIE   NATIVITATIS  47 

This  King  is  come  to  save  [His]  kind, 
As  in  Scripturs  we  [may]  find ; 
Therefore  this  song  have  we  in  mind, 
"  In  excelsis  gloria  !  " 

Then,  Lord,  for  Thy  great  grace, 
[Grant  us]  the  bliss  to  see  Thy  face, 
Where  we  may  sing  to  Thee  solace, 
In  excelsis  gloria  ! 


Man,  be  glad  in  hall  and  bower. 
This  time  was  born  our  Saviour 

Fifteenth  Century. 

IN  this  time  Christ  x  hath  us  sent 
His  own  Son  in  present, 
To  dwelle  with  us  verament, 
To  be  our  help  and  succour. 

In  this  time  rose  a  star  clear, 
Over  Bethlehem,  as  bright  as  fire, 
In  token  that  He  had  no  peer, 
Lord  God,  king  and  emperor. 

In  this  time  it  is  befall, 
He  that  died  for  us  all, 
Born  He  was  in  ass's  stall, 

Of  Mary,  that  sweet  flower. 


|8  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

In  this  time  came  three  kings, 
They  came  fro  far  with  riche  things, 
For  to  make  their  offerings, 

On  their  knees  with  great  honour. 

In  this  time  pray  we 

To  Him  that  died  on  the  Tree, 

On  us  have  mercy  and  pity, 

And  bring  us  all  to  His  tower. 


Man}  be  merry  as  bird  on  berry, 
A  nd  all  thy  care  let  away 

Fifteenth  Century. 

THIS  time  is  born  a  Child  full  good, 
He  that  us  bought  upon  the  Rood  ; 
He  bound  the  devil  that  is  so  wode,1 
Till  the  dreadful  Doomesday. 

When  the  Child  of  mickle  might 
Would  be  born  of  Mary  bright, 
A  token  He  sent  to  king  and  knight, 
A  star  that  shone  both  night  and  day. 

The  star  [it]  shone  as  bright  as  fire, 
Over  all  the  world  both  far  and  near, 
In  token  He  was  withouten  peer ; 
And  peerless  He  shall  lasten  ay. 

i  Wild. 


IN   DIE   NATIVITATIS  49 

The  eighth  day  He  was  circumcised, 
For  to  fulfil  the  prophesie[s]  ; 
The  prophets  [all]  with  worde's  wise 
Him  present  with  rich  array. 

The  Twelfth  Day  come  kinges  three, 
Out  of  the  East,  with  heartes  free, 
To  worship  Him  they  kneeled  on  knee, 
With  gold  and  myrrh  and  frankincense.1 


Nowell,  ell,  ell,  ell, 

Now  is  well  that  ever  was  woe 

Fifteenth  Century. 

A  BABE  is  born  all  of  a  may  2 
In  the  salvation  of  us, 
To  Him  we  singen  both  night  and  day, 
Fern,  Creator  S-piritus. 

At  Bethlehem,  that  blessed  place, 
The  Child  of  bliss  born  He  was ; 
Him  to  serve  [O]  give  us  grace, 

0  lux  beata  Trinitas. 

There  came  three  kings  out  of  the  East, 
To  worship  the  King  that  is  so  free, 
With  gold  and  myrrh  and  frankincense, 
A  solis  ortus  cardine. 

1  See  note.  2  Maiden. 


50  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

The  herdes  hearden  an  angel-cry, 
A  merry  song  then  sungen  they,1 
"  Why  are  ye  so  sore  aghast  ?  " 
Jam  ortus  solis  cardine. 

The  angels  came  down  with  a  cry, 
A  fair  song  then  sungen  they 
In  the  worship  of  that  Child, 
Gloria  tibi,  Domine  ! 


To  bliss  God  bring  us  all  and  some, 
Christe,  Redemptor  omnium 

Fifteenth  Century. 

IN  Bethlehem,  that  fair  city, 
Was  born  a  Child  that  was  so  free, 
Lord  and  prince  of  high  degree, 
Jam  lucis  orto  sidere. 

Jesu,  for  the  love  of  Thee, 
Children  were  slain  great  plenty 
In  Bethlehem,  that  fair  city, 
A  solis  ortus  cardine. 

As  the  sun  shineth  in  the  glass, 
So  Jesus  of  His  mother  born  was ; 
Him  to  serve  God  give  us  grace, 
O  lux  beata  Trinitas. 

Now  is  He  our  Lord  Jesus, 
Thus  hath  He  verily  visited  us ; 
Now  to  make  merry  among  us, 
Exultet  celum  laudibus. 

1  The  angels. 


IN   DIE   NATIVITATIS  51 


Now  let  us  sing,  both  more  and  less 
Of  Christ's  coming  Deo  gracias 

Before  1536. 

A  VIRGIN  pure,  this  is  full  sure, 

Gabriel  did  her  greet, 
And  all  her  cure,1  I  am  full  sure, 

Ever  did  endure, 
Deo  gracias  ! 

A  Babe  was  born,  early  by  the  morn, 
And  laid  between  the  ox  and  the  ass. 

The  Child  they  knew  that  was  born  new, 
On  Him  they  blew  : 
Deo  gracias  ! 

An  angel  full  soon  sang  from  aboon  : 2 

Gloria  in  excelsis  I 
That  lady  alone  might  make  no  moan, 

For  love  of  One, 
Deo  gracias  ! 

This  Babe  us  bought  when  we  were  brought 
Into  great  thought  and  dreadful  case ; 

Therefore  we  sing,  both  old  and  ying, 
Of  Christ's  coming : 
Deo  gracias  ! 

1  Care.  2  Above. 


52  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Make  we  merry  in  hall  and  bower, 
This  time  is  born  our  Saviour 

Before  1536. 

IN  this  time  God  hath  sent 
His  own  Son  to  be  present, 
To  dwell  with  us  in  verament,1 
God  that  is  our  Saviour. 

In  this  time  that  is  befall, 
A  Child  was  born  in  an  ox-stall, 
And  after  He  died  for  us  all, 
God  that  is  our  Saviour. 

In  this  time  an  angel  bright, 
Met  three  shepherds  upon  a  night. 
He  bade  them  go  anon  right, 
To  God  that  is  our  Saviour. 

In  this  time  now  pray  we, 

To  Him  that  died  for  us  on  Tree, 

On  us  all  to  have  pity, 

God  that  is  our  Saviour. 


Conditor  alme  siderum, 
Eterna  Lux  credencium 

Before  1536. 

THERE  is  a  Child  born  of  Mary, 

In  salvation  of  all  us, 
That  we  should  worship  every  day, 

With  veniy  Creator  Spiritus. 

i  In  verity. 


IN   DIE   NATIVITATIS  53 

In  Bethlehem,  in  that  holy  place, 
This  blessed  Child  born  He  was, 

Him  to  serve,  He  gave  us  grace 
With  Trinitatis  unitas. 

The  shepherds  heard  that  angel's  song, 
And  worshipped  God  in  Trinity, 

That  so  nigh  was  them  among, 
lam  lucis  orto  sidere. 

Each  man  began  to  cry  and  call, 

To  Him  that  sitteth  on  high, 
To  His  bliss  to  bring  them  all, 

lesu,  Salvator  seculi. 


Make  we  Joy  in  this  Feast 1 

Fifteenth  Century. 

MAKE  we  joy  in  this  feast,  in  quo  Chris tus  natus  est, 

A  Patre  Unigenitus,  to  a  maiden  is  come  to  us  ; 

Sing  we  of  Him  and  say  we,  "Welcome,  veni,  Redemptor 

gentium" 

Agnoscat  omne  seculum,  a  bright  star  kings  made  come ; 
For  to  take  with  their  presents,  verbum  superum  prodiens. 
A  solis  or  tus  car  dine  >  so  mighty  a  lord  is  none  as  He. 

.  .    .  And2  to  our  Lord  He  hath  grith.3 
Marya  ventre  concepit,  the  Holy  Ghost  was  ay  her  with ; 
Of   her   in  Bethlehem   now   born  He   is,  Consors   Paterni 

lumims, 

Alma  beata  Trinitas,  that  lay  between  an  ox  and  ass, 
By  His  mother  maiden  free,  gloria  Tibi,  Domine. 

1  See  note.        2  The  Latin  half  of  the  line  is  missing.       3  Peace 


54  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 


A   Carol  of  the  Birth  of  Christ1 


Come  to  Bethlehem  2  and  ye  shall  see 
Puer  natus  est  hodie. 

A  woman.,  a  maid,  &c. 
Sinful  man,  &c. 
On  the  Cross,  &c. 

FAREWELL,  Advent,  and  have  good  day  ; 

Christmas  is  come,  now  go  thy  way. 

Get  thee  hence  !     What  dost  thou  here  ? 

Thou  hast  no  love  of  no  beggar. 

Thou  makest  us  fast  with  evil  cheer 

With  farewell,  Advent. 

Thou  takest  on  thee  more  than  doth  the  Lent, 

The[n]  dwellest  so  long  that  thou  art  shent.2 

When  alleluia  is  aloft, 

I  go  gay  and  sit  soft, 

And  then  I  am  merry  oft, 

As  any  bird  on  briar. 
When  laus  Tibi  3  cometh  to  town, 
Then  me  behoveth  to  kneel  adown, 
And  ever  to  be  in  orison, 

As  it  were  a  friar. 
Soon  at  Easter  cometh  alleluia, 
With  butter,  cheese,  and  a  tansy  ;  4 
It  is  nothing  to  my  pay  5 
That  he  tarryeth  so  long  away. 

1  Two  leaves  of  Christmas  Carolles,  printed  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde. 

2  Blamed.  -  Lent.  *  See  note.  5  Pleasure. 


IN    DIE    NATIVITATIS  55 

Might  I  bide  Shere-Thursday 
Laus  Tibi  shall  go  away ; 
And  I  have  wept  that  I  may, 
Though  he  never  come  us  among. 


The  First  Now  ell  the  Angel  did  Say1 

Traditional. 

THE  first  nowell  the  angel  did  say 

Was  to  three  poor  shepherds  in  the  fields  as  they  lay, 

In  fields  where  they  lay  keeping  their  sheep, 

In  a  cold  winter's  night  that  was  so  deep. 

Nowell,  nowell)  nowell,  nowell, 

Born  is  the  King  of  Israel. 

They  looked  up  and  saw  a  star 
Shining  in  the  East  beyond  them  far, 
And  to  the  earth  it  gave  great  light, 
And  so  it  continued  both  day  and  night. 

Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  nowell, 

Born  is  the  King  of  Israel. 

And  by  the  light  of  that  same  star 
Three  Wise  Men  came  from  country  far  ; 
To  seek  for  a  King  was  their  intent, 
And  to  follow  the  star  wherever  it  went. 

Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  nowell, 

Born  is  the  King  of  Israel. 

The  star  drew  nigh  to  the  North-West, 
O'er  Bethlehem  it  took  its  rest, 

1  See  note. 


56  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

And  there  it  did  both  stop  and  stay 
Right  over  the  place  where  Jesus  lay. 

Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  nowell, 

Born  is  the  King  of  Israel. 

Then  did  they  know  assuredly 
Within  that  house  the  King  did  lie  ; 
One  entered  in  then  for  to  see, 
And  found  the  Babe  in  poverty. 

Nowell,  nowell.,  nowell,  nowell, 

Born  is  the  King  of  Israel. 

Then  entered  in  those  Wise  Men  three 
Most  reverently  upon  their  knee, 
And  offered  there  in  his  presence 
Both  gold  and  myrrh  and  frankincense. 

Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  nowell, 

Born  is  the  King  of  Israel. 

Between  an  ox-stall  and  an  ass 
This  Child  truly  there  born  He  was  ; 
For  want  of  clothing  they  did  Him  lay 
All  in  the  manger,  among  the  hay. 

Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  nowell, 

Born  is  the  King  of  Israel. 

Then  let  us  all  with  one  accord 

Sing  praises  to  our  heavenly  Lord, 

That  hath  made  heaven  and  earth  of  nought, 

And  with  His  blood  mankind  hath  bought. 

Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  nowell, 

Born  is  the  King  of  Israel. 


IN   DIE   NAT1V1TATIS  57 

If  we  in  our  time  shall  do  well, 
We  shall  be  free  from  death  and  hell ; 
For  God  hath  prepared  for  us  all 
A  resting  place  in  general. 

Nowell,  nozvell,  nowell,  notvell, 

Born  is  the  King  of  Israel. 


Out  of  the  Orient,  Crystal  Skies  * 

About  1613. 

OUT  of  the  orient,  crystal  skies 

A  blazing  star  did  shine, 
Showing  the  place  where  poorly  lies 

A  blessed  Babe  divine, 

Born  of  a  maid  of  royal  blood 
Who  Mary  hight  by  name, 

A  sacred  rose  which  once  did  bud 
By  grace  of  heavenly  flame. 

This  shining  star  three  kings  did  guide 
Even  from  the  furthest  East, 

To  Bethlehem  where  it  betide 
This  blessed  Babe  did  rest, 

Laid  in  a  silly  manger  poor, 

Betwixt  an  ox  and  ass, 
Whom  these  three  kings  did  all  adore 

As  God's  high  pleasure  was. 

1  MS.  Additional  29,401,  fol.  510,  52.     See  note. 


58  CAROLS    OF    THE   NATIVITY 

And  for  the  joy  of  His  great  birth 

A  thousand  angels  sing  : 
"  Glory  and  peace  unto  the  earth 

Where  born  is  this  new  King  !  " 

The  shepherds  dwelling  there  about, 

Where  they  this  news  did  know, 
Came  singing  all  even  in  a  rout, 

"  Falantidingdido,  falantidingdido,  falantidingdido  !  " 


O   JESU    PARVULE1 

/  Saw  a  Sweet  ana  Silly  Sight2 

Fifteenth  Century. 

I  SAW  a  sweet  [and]  silly  3  sight, 
A  blissful  bride,  a  blossom  bright 

That  mourning  made  and  mirth  among. 
A  maiden  mother,  meek  and  mild, 
In  cradle  kept  a  knave  child 

That  softly  slept ;   she  sat  and  sang. 
"  Lullay,  lullow,  lully,  lullay,  lully,  lully,  lully,  lully,  lully, 
Lullow,  lully,  lullay,  baw,  baw, 
My  bairn,  sleep  softly  now" 


This  Endernight^  I  Saw  a  Sight 

Fifteenth  Century. 

THIS  ender night 
I  saw  a  sight, 

A  star  as  bright  as  day ; 
And  ever  among 
A  maiden  sang, 

Lullay,  by-by,  lullay. 

1  See  note.  a  MS.  Additional  5666,  fols.  40,  5. 

3  Blessed.  4  This  other  night,  i.e.  recently. 

59 


60  CAROLS    OF   THE    NATIVITY 

This  lovely  lady  sat  and  sang  and  to  her  child  gan  say  : 
"  My  Son,  my  Lord,  my  Father  dear,  why  liest  Thou  in  hay  ? 
Mine  own  dear  Son, 
How  art  Thou  come, 

Art  Thou  not  God  veray  ? 
But  nevertheless 
I  will  not  cease 

To  sing,  by-by,  lullay" 

The  Child  then  spake  in  His  talking,  and  to  His  mother  said  : 
"  I  called  am  a  king,  in  crib  though  I  be  laid, 
But  angels  bright 
Down  to  me  light, 

Thou  knowest  it  is  no  nay ; 
And  of  that  sight 
Thou  mayest  be  light 

To  sing,  by-by,  lullay" 

u  Now,  sweet  Son,  since  Thou  art  King,  why  art  Thou  laid 

in  stall  ? 

Why  hast  Thou  no  rich  bedding  in  some  great  kinge's  hall  ? 
Methinketh  by  right, 
Thou,  King  and  Knight, 

Should  lie  in  rich  array  ; 
And  then  among, 
It  were  no  wrong 

To  sing,  by-by,  lullay" 

u  Mary,  mother,  I  am  thy  child,  though  I  be  laid  in  stall, 
Lords  and  dukes  shall  worship  me  and  so  shall  kinge's  all. 

Ye  shall  well  see 

That  kinge's  three 

Shall  come  the  twelfth  day ; 


O   JESU   PARVULE  61 

For  this  behest 
Give  me  thy  breast 

And  sing,  by-by,  lullay" 

"  Now  tell  me,  sweet  Son,  I  Thee  pray,  Thou  art  me  lief 

and  dear, 
How  should  I  keep  Thee  to  Thy  pay  1  and  make  Thee  glad 

of  cheer  ? 
For  all  Thy  will 
I  would  fulfill, 

Thou  wittest  full  well,  in  fay ; 
Yet  more  than  this, 
I  will  Thee  kiss 

And  sing,  by-by,  lullay." 

"  My  mother  dear,  when  time  it  be,  thou  take  me  up  aloft, 
And  set  me  right  upon  thy  knee,  and  handle  me  full  soft, 
And  in  thine  arm 
Thou  lap  me  warm, 

And  keep  me  night  and  day ; 
And  if  I  weep, 
And  may  not  sleep, 

Thou  sing,  by-by,  lullay" 

"  Now,  sweet  Son,  since  it  is  so,  that  all  things  are  at  Thy  will, 
I  pray  Thee  grant  me  now  a  boon,  if  it  be  right  and  skill,2 
That  child  or  man 
That  will  or  can 

Be  merry  upon  this  day, 
To  bliss  them  bring, 
And  I  shall  sing, 

Lullay,  by-by,  lullay" 

1  Content.  2  Proper. 


62  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

"  My  mother  sheen,  of  heaven  queen,  your  asking  shall  I 

speed,  ^ 

So  that  the  mirth  displease  me  not,  in  words  nor  yet  in  deed, 
Sing  what  ye  will, 
So  that  ye  fulfill, 

My  ten  commandments  ay  ; 
Ay  you  for  to  please, 
Let  them  not  cease 

To  sing,  by,  baby,  lullay" 


This  Endernight  I  saw  a  Sight 

Fifteenth  Century. 

"  Ah,  my  dear  Sow,"  said  Mary,  "  ah,  my  dear, 
Kiss  Thy  mother,  Jesu,  with  a  laughing  cheer" 

THIS  endernight  I  saw  a  sight, 

All  in  my  sleep  : 
Mary,  that  may,  she  sang  lullay 

And  sore  did  weep  ; 
To  keep  she  sought  full  fast  about 

Her  Son  from  cold. 
Joseph  said,  "  Wife,  my  joy,  my  life, 

Say  what  ye  would." 
"  Nothing,  my  spouse,  is  in  this  house 

Unto  my  pay  ; 
My  Son  a  king,  that  made  all  thing, 

Lieth  in  hay. 

Ah,  my  dear  Son,"  said  Mary,  "  ah,  my  dear, 
Kiss  Thy  mother,  Jesu,  with  a  laughing  cheer" 

"  My  mother  dear,  amend  your  cheer 
And  now  be  still ; 


O   JESU   PARVULE  63 

Thus  for  to  lie  it  is  soothly 

My  Father's  will ; 
Derision,  great  passion, 

Infinitely, 
As  it  is  found,  many  a  wound 

Suffer  shall  I ; 
On  Calvary  that  is  so  high 

There  shall  I  be, 
Man  to  restore,  nailed  full  sore 

Upon  a  tree." 

"  Ah,  my  dear  Sow,"  said  Mary,  "  ah,  my  dear, 
Kiss  Thy  mother,  Jesu,  with  a  laughing  cheer" 


"Quid  Petis,  O  Fili?" 

Temp.  Henry  VII.  or  VIII. 

"  Quid  petis,  O  Fili  ?  " 
Mater  dulcissima  ba  ba  : 
"  Quid  petis,  0  Fili  ? 
Michi  -plausus  oscula  da  da  !  " 

So  laughing  in  lap  laid, 
So  prettily,  so  pertly, 
So  passingly  well  apaid,1 
Full  softly  and  full  soberly, 
Unto  her  sweet  Son  she  said  : 
"  Quid,  'petis,  O  Fili  ?  " 
Mater  dulcissima  ba  ba  : 
"  Quid  petis,  O  Fili  ? 
Michi  plausus  oscula  da  da  !  " 

i  Pleased. 


64  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

The  mother  full  mannerly  and  meekly  as  a  maid, 
Looking  on  her  little  Son  so  laughing  in  lap  laid, 
So  prettily,  so  pertly,  so  passingly  well  apaid, 
So  passingly  well  apaid, 
Full  softly  and  full  soberly, 
Unto  her  Son  she  said  : 

"  Quid  petis,  O  Fill  ?  " 

Mater  dulcissima  ba  ba  : 

"  Quid  petis,  O  Fili  ? 

Michi  plausus  oscula  da  da  !  " 

I  mean  this  by  Mary,  our  Maker's  mother  of  might, 
Full  lovely  looking  on  our  Lord,  the  Lantern  of  light, 
Thus  saying  to  our  Saviour,  this  saw  I  in  my  sight ; 
This  reason  that  [I]  rede  in  now,  I  rede  it  full  right. 

"Quid  petis,  O  Fili?" 

Mater  dulcissima  ba  ba  : 

"  Quid  petis,  O  Fili  ? 

Michi  plausus  oscula  da  da  !  " 

Musing  on  her  manners  so,  my  word  was  my  main, 
Save  it  pleased  me  so  passingly  that  past  was  my  pain  ; 
Yet  softly  to  her  sweet  Son  methought  I  heard  her  sayn  : 
"  Now  gracious  God,  and  good  sweet  Babe,  yet  once  again 
this  game. 

'  Quid  petis,  O  Fili  ?  ' 

Mater  dulcissima  ba  ba  : 

1  Quid  petis,  O  Fili  ? 

Michi  plausus  oscula  da  da/9'' 


O   JESU   PARVULE  65 

A  New  Year,  a  New  Year,  a  child  was  yborn, 
Us  for  to  saven  that  all  was  forlorn. 
So  blessed  be  the  time 

Fifteenth  Century. 

THE  Father  of  heaven  His  own  Son  He  sent, 
His  kingdom  for  to  claimen  [on  earth  is  He  lent]. 
So  blessed  be  the  time. 

All  in  a  clean  maiden  our  Lord  was  ylight, 
Us  for  to  saven  with  all  His  might. 
So  blessed  be  the  time. 

All  of  a  clean  maiden  our  Lord  was  yborn, 
Us  for  to  saven  that  all  was  forlorn. 
So  blessed  be  the  time. 

"  Lullay,  lullay,  little  Child,  mine  own  dear  fode,1 
How  shalt  Thou  suffer  [to]  be  nailed  on  the  Rood  ?  " 

So  blessed  be  the  time. 

"  Lullay,  lullay,  little  Child,  mine  own  dear  smart,2 
How  shalt  Thou  suffer  the  sharp  spear  to  Thy  heart  ?  " 
So  blessed  be  the  time. 

"  Lullay,  lullay,  little  Child,  I  sing  all  for  Thy  sake, 
Many  [a]  one  is  the  sharp  shower  to  Thy  body  is  shape !  " 
So  blessed  be  the  time. 

"  Lullay,  lullay,  little  Child,  fair  haps  Thee  befall, 
How  shalt  Thou  suffer  to  drink  eisel 3  and  gall  ?  " 
So  blessed  be  the  time. 

1   Nursling.  2  Cause  of  grief?  3  Vinegar. 


66  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

"  Lullay,  lullay,  little  Child,  I  sing  all  beforn, 
How  shalt  Thou  suffer  the  sharp  garland  of  thorn  ?  " 
So  blessed  be  the  time. 

"  Lullay,  lullay,  little  Child,  why  weepest  Thou  so  sore, 
And  art  Thou  [then]  both  God  and  man,  what  wouldest 

Thou  be  more  ?  " 
So  blessed  be  the  time. 

Blessed  be  the  arms  the  Child  have  tucked,1 
And  also  the  teats  the  Child  hath  2  sucked. 
So  blessed  be  the  time. 

Blessed  be  the  mother,  the  Child  also, 
With  Benedicamus  Domino. 
So  blessed  be  the  time. 


Lullay,  mine  Liking,  my  dear  Son,  mine  Sweeting, 
Lullay,  my  dear  Heart,  mine  own  dear  Darling 

Fifteenth  Century. 

I  SAW  a  fair  maiden  sit  and  sing, 

She  lulled  a  little  child,  a  sweet  lording  : 

Lullay,  mine  Liking,  my  dear  Son,  mine  Sweeting, 
Lullay,  my  dear  Heart,  mine  own  dear  Darling. 

That  very  lord  is  He  that  made  all  things 

Of  all  lords  He  is  Lord  [and]  King  of  all  kings. 

Lullay,  mine  Liking,  my  dear  Son,  mine  Sweeting, 
Lullay,  my  dear  Heart,  mine  own  dear  Darling. 

1   Text;  barabowt,  2  Text:  on. 


O   JESU   PARVULE  67 

There  was  mickle  melody  at  that  Childes  birth, 
All  that  were  in  heaven's  bliss,  they  made  mickle  mirth. 
Lullay,  mine  Liking,  my  dear  Son,  mine  Sweeting, 
Lullay,  my  dear  Heart,  mine  own  dear  Darling. 

Angels  bright  they  sang  that  night  and  saiden  to  that  Child, 
"  Blessed  be  Thou,  and  so  be  she  that  is   both  meek    and 

mild." 

Lullay,  mine  Liking,  my  dear  Son,  mine  Sweeting, 
Lullay,  my  dear  Heart,  mine  own  dear  Darling. 

Pray  we  now  to  that  Child,  and  to  His  mother  dear, 
Grant  them  His  blessing  that  now  maken  cheer. 

Lullay,  mine  Liking,  my  dear  Son,  mine  Sweeting, 
Lullay,  my  dear  Heart,  mine  own  dear  Darling. 

By-by,  Lullaby  > 
1530. 

By-by,  lullaby,  by-by,  lullaby, 

Rocked  I  my  child  ; 
By-by,  by-by,  by-by,  lullaby, 

Rocked  I  my  child. 

In  a  dream  late  as  I  lay, 
Methought  I  heard  a  maiden  say 

And  speak  these  words  [so]  mild  : 
"  My  little  son,  with  thee  I  play, 
And  come,"  she  sang,  "  by,  lullaby." 

Thus  rocked  she  her  child. 
By-by,  lullaby,  by-by,  lullaby, 

Rocked  I  my  child. 
By-by. 

1  Bassus,  cf.  p.  22. 


68  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Then  marvelled  I  right  sore  of  this : 
A  maid  to  have  a  child  ywis. 
"  By-by,  lullaby." 

Thus  rocked  she  her  child. 
By-by,  lullaby,  by-by,  lullaby. 

Rocked  I  my  child  ; 
By-by,  by-by,  by-by,  lullaby, 

Rocked  I  my  child. 


Mother,  white  as  lily  flower. 
Your  lulling  lesseth  my  languor  * 

Fifteenth  Century. 

As  I  up  rose  in  a  morning, 
My  thought  was  on  a  maid[en]  ying, 
That  sang  asleep  with  her  lulling, 
Her  sweet  Son,  our  Saviour. 

As  she  Him  held  [all]  in  her  lap, 
He  took  her  lovely  by  the  pap, 
And  thereof  sweetly  He  took  a  nap,2 
And  sucked  His  fill  of  the  liquor. 

To  His  mother  gan  He  say : 
"  For  this  milk  me  muste  die, 
It  is  my  kind  therewith  to  play, 
My  sweet  mother,  -par  amour."  3 

The  maiden  freely  gan  to  sing, 

And  in  her  song  she  made  mourning, 

How  He  that  is  our  heavenQy]  King 

Should  shed  His  blood  with  great  dolour. 

1  See  note.  2  Draught.  3  For  love's  sake. 


O   JESU   PARVULE  69 

"  Mother,  thy  weeping  grieveth  me  sore, 
Save  I  would  die,  thou  hadst  been  lore ;  * 
So  away,  mother,  and  weep  no  more ; 
Thy  lulling  lesseth  my  languor." 

Such  mourning  as  the  maiden  made, 
I  cannot  tell  it  in  this  hour ; 
Therefore  be  merry  and  glad, 

And  make  us  merry  for  our  Saviour. 


Lullqy,  My  Child,  and  Weep  no  More 

Fifteenth  Century. 

"  LULLAY,  my  child,  and  weep  no  more, 

Sleep  and  be  now  still ; 
The  King  of  bliss  thy  Father  is, 

As  it  was  His  will." 

This  endernight  I  saw  a  sight, 

A  maid  a  cradle  keep, 
And  ever  she  sang  and  said  among, 

"  Lullay,  my  child  and  sleep." 

"  I  may  not  sleep,  but  I  may  weep, 

I  am  so  woebegone  ; 
Sleep  I  would,  but  I  am  cold, 

And  clothes  have  I  none." 

Methought  I  heard,  the  Child  answered, 

And  to  His  mother  He  said, 
"  My  mother  dear,  what  do  I  here  ? 

In  crib  why  am  I  laid  ? 

i  Lost. 


70  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

"  I  was  born  and  laid  beforn 

Beastes,  both  ox  and  ass ; 
My  mother  mild,  I  am  thy  child, 

But  He  my  father  was. 

"  Adam's  gilt  this  man  had  spilt,1 

That  sin  grieveth  me  sore  ; 
Man,  for  thee  here  shall  I  be 

Thirty  winter  and  more. 

"  Dole  it  is  to  see,  here  shall  I  be 

Hanged  upon  the  Rood, 
By  bailiffs  beaten,  my  wounds  a-sweating,2 

And  give  my  flesh  for  good.3 

"  Here  shall  I  be  hanged  on  a  tree, 

And  die  as  it  is  skill ;  4 
That  I  have  bought,  less  will  I  nought ; 

It  is  my  Father's  will. 

"  A  spear  so  sharp  shall  pierce  my  heart, 

For  deeds  that  I  have  done. 
Father  of  grace,  whether  Thou  hast 

Forgotten  Thy  little  son  ? 

"  Without  pity  here  shall  aby,5 

And  make  my  flesh  all  blue. 
Adam,  ywis,6  this  death  it  is, 

For  thee  and  many  mo." 

i  Destroyed.  2  Text:  baleis,  to-bete  .  .  .  to-\vete. 

3  Text:  to  bote=for  help.        4  Necessary. 
5  Suffer.  6  Certainly. 


O   JESU   PARVULE  71 


In  the  honour  of  Christes  birth, 
Sing  we  all  with  joy  and  mirth x 
1521. 

IN  this  time  of  Christmas, 
Betwixt  an  ox  and  an  ass, 
A  maiden  delivered  was 

Of  Christ,  her  dear  Son  dear. 

The  husband  of  Mary 
[Saint]  Joseph  stood  her  by, 
And  said  he  was  ready 

To  serve  her  if  need  were. 

When  she  her  dear  Son  see, 
She  set  Him  on  her  knee, 
And  sang,  "  Hither  to  me, 

Come  buss  Thy  mother  dear." 

On  her  lap  she  Him  laid, 
And  with  her  pap  He  played, 
And  ever  sang  the  maid  : 

"  Come  buss  Thy  mother  dear." 

With  lips  culling  [His], 
His  mouth  oft  she  did  kiss, 
And  said  :   "  Sweetheart  mine, 
I  pray  You,  make  good  cheer." 

To  this  Child  let  us  pray, 
That  born  was  on  this  day, 
Of  Mary,  the  mild  may, 
To  grant  us  all  good  cheer. 

1  Christmasse  Carolles  (Wynkyn  de  Worde). 


72  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 


Now  sing  we  with  angelis  : 
Gloria  in  excelsis 

Before  1536. 

A  BABE  is  born,  to  bliss  us  bring. 
I  heard  a  maid  lullay  and  sing ; 
She  said  :   "  Dear  Son,  leave  Thy  weeping, 
Thy  Father  is  the  King  of  bliss." 
Now  sing  we  with  angelis : 
Gloria  in  excelsis  ! 

"  Lullay,"  she  said,  and  sang  also, 
"  Mine  own  dear  Son,  why  art  Thou  woe  ? 
Have  I  not  done  as  I  should  do  ? 
Thy  grievance,  tell  me  what  it  is." 
Now  sing  we  with  angelis  : 
Gloria  in  excelsis  ! 

"  Nay,  mother,  for  thee  weep  I  nought, 
But  for  the  woe  that  shall  be  wrought 
To  me,  ere  I  mankind  have  bought. 
Was  never  sorrow  like  it,  ywis." 

Now  sing  we  with  angelis  : 

Gloria  in  excelsis  ! 

"  Peace,  dear  Son,  tell  me  not  so, 
Thou  art  my  child,  I  have  no  mo ; 
Should  I  see  men  my  own  son  slo  *•  ? 
Alas,  my  dear  Son,  what  meaneth  this  ?  " 

Now  sing  we  with  angelis  : 

Gloria  in  excelsis  ! 

i  Slay. 


O   JESU  PARVULE  73 

"  My  hands,  mother,  that  ye  may  see, 
Shall  be  nailed  unto  a  tree ; 
My  feet  all  so  fast  shall  be ; 
Men  shall  weep  that  shall  see  this." 

Now  sing  we  with  angelis  : 

Gloria  in  excelsis  ! 

"  Ah,  dear  Son  !  hard  is  my  hap, 
To  see  my  child  that  sucked  my  pap, 
His  hands,  His  feet,  that  I  did  wrap, 
Be  so  nailed,  that  never  did  amiss." 

Now  sing  we  with  angelis  : 

Gloria  in  excelsis  ! 

"  Ah,  dear  mother  !   yet  shall  a  spear 
My  heart  in  sunder  all  to-tear ; 
No  wonder,  if  I  careful  *  were, 
And  weep  full  sore  to  think  on  this." 

Now  sing  we  with  angelis  : 

Gloria  in  excelsis  ! 

"  Ah,  dear  Son,  shall  I  see  this  ? 
Thou  art  my  child,  and  I  thy  mother,  ywis, 
When  Gabriel  called  me  <  full  of  grace,' 
He  told  me  nothing  of  this." 

Now  sing  we  with  angelis  : 

Gloria  in  excelsis  ! 

"  Ah,  dear  mother  !   through  mine  hair 
To  thrust  in  thorns  they  will  not  spare ; 
Alas,  mother !   I  am  full  of  care, 
That  ye  shall  see  this  heaviness." 
Now  sing  we  with  angelis  : 
Gloria  in  excelsis  / 

1  Sorrowful. 


74  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

"  Ah,  dear  Son,  leave  thy  weeping  ! 
Thou  bringest  my  heart  in  great  mourning ; 
A  careful  song  now  may  I  sing ; 
This  tidings,  hard  to  me  it  is." 

Now  sing  we  with  angelis  : 

Gloria  in  excelsis  ! 

"  Ah  !   peace,  dear  mother,  I  thee  pray, 
Comfort  me  all  that  ye  may, 
And  sing,  *  by-by,  lullay,  lullay,' 
To  put  away  all  heaviness." 

Now  sing  we  with  angelis  : 

Gloria  in  excelsis  ! 


Lullay p,  Jesu,  lullay,  lullay  ! 
Mine  own  dear  mother,  sing  lullay 

Before  1536. 

So  blessed  a  sight  it  was  to  see, 
How  Mary  rocked  her  Son  so  free  ; 
So  fair  she  rocked  and  sang  "  by-by." 
Mine  own  dear  mother,  sing  lullay  ! 
Lullay,  Jesu,  lullay,  lullay  ! 
Mine  own  dear  mother,  sing  lullay  ! 

"  Mine  own  dear  Son,  why  weepest  Thou  thus  ? 
Is  not  Thy  father  King  of  bliss  ? 
Have  I  not  done  that  in  me  is  ? 
Your  grievance,  tell  me  what  it  is." 
Mine  own  dear  mother,  sing  lullay  ! 
Lullay,  Jesu,  lullay,  lullay  ! 
Mine  own  dear  mother,  sing  lullay  / 


O   JESU  PARVULE  75 

"  Therefore,  mother,  weep  I  nought, 
But  for  the  woe  that  shall  be  wrought 
To  me,  ere  I  mankind  have  bought. 
Mine  own  dear  mother,  sing  lullay  ! 

Lullay,  Jesu,  lullay,  lullay  ! 

Mine  own  dear  mother,  sing  lullay  ! 

"  Mother,  the  time  ye  shall  see 
Th[at]  sorrow  shall  break  your  heart  in  three, 
So  foul  the  Jews  shall  fare  with  me. 
Mine  own  dear  mother,  sing  lullay  ! 
Lullay,  Jesu,  lullay,  lullay  ! 
Mins  own  dear  mother,  sing  lullay  / 

"  When  I  am  naked,  they  will  me  take, 
And  fast  bind  me  to  a  stake, 
And  beat  me  sore  for  man  his  sake. 
Mine  own  dear  mother,  sing  lullay  ! 

Lullay,  'Jem,  lullay,  lullay  ! 

Mine  own  dear  mother,  sing  lullay  ! 

"  Upon  the  Cross  they  shall  me  cast, 
Hand  and  foot,  nail  me  fast ; 
Yet  gall  shall  be  my  drink  at  last ; 
Thus  shall  my  life  pass  away. 
Mine  own  dear  mother,  sing  lullay  / 
Lullay,  Jesu,  lullay,  lullay  ! 
Mine  own  dear  mother,  sing  lullay  ! 

"  Ah,  dear  mother  !   yet  shall  a  spear 

My  heart  in  sunder  all  to-tear ; 

No  wonder  though  I  careful  were. 
Mine  own  dear  mother,  sing  lullay  ! 
Lullay,  Jesu,  lullay,  lullay  I 
Mine  own  dear  mother,  sing  lullay  ! 


76  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

"  Now,  dear  mother,  sing  lullay, 

And  put  away  all  heaviness ; 
Into  this  world  I  took  the  way, 

Again  to  [heaven]  I  shall  me  dress, 
Where  joy  is  without  end  ay, 

Mine  own  dear  mother,  sing  lullay  !  " 
Lullay,  Jesu,  lullay,  lullay  ! 
Mine  own  dear  mother,  sing  lullay  ! 


Lullay,  Lullay,   Thou  Little  Tiny  Child1 

1534. 

Lullay,  lullay,  Thou  little  tiny  Child, 
By-by,  lullay,  lullay, 
By-by,  lullay,  lullay. 

O  SISTERS  tWO 

How  may  we  do 

For  to  preserve  this  day 
This  poor  youngling, 
For  whom  we  do  sing 

By-by,  lullay,  lullay  ? 

Herod  the  King, 
In  his  raging, 

Charged  he  hath  this  day 
His  men  of  might 
In  his  own  sight 

All  young  children  to  slay. 

i  Pageant  of  the  Shearmen  and   Tailors,  Coventry  Corpus  Christi 
Plays. 


O   JESU   PARVULE  77 

That  woe  is  me, 
Poor  Child,  for  Thee 

And  ever  moan,  and  may 
For  Thy  parting, 
Neither  say  nor  sing 

By-by,  lullay,  lullay. 


An  Old  Carol,  with  Lullaby^ 
1575. 

MY  sweet  little  Baby,  what  meanest  Thou  to  cry  ? 
Be  still,  my  blessed  Babe,  though  cause  Thou  hast  to  mourn, 
Whose  blood  most  innocent  to  shed  the  cruel  king  hath 

sworn; 

And  lo,  alas  !   behold  what  slaughter  he  doth  make, 
Shedding  the  blood  of  infants  all,  sweet  Saviour,  for  Thy 

sake. 
A  King,  a  King  is  born,  they  say,  which  King  this  king  would 

kiU. 

O  woe  and  tootful  heavy  day  when  wretches  have  their  will ! 
Lulla,  la-lulla,  lutta,  lullaby. 

Three  kings  this  King  of  kings  to  see  are  come  from  far, 
To  each  unknown,  with  offerings  great,  by  guiding  of  a 

star; 
And  shepherds  heard  the  song  which  angels  bright   did 

^sing. 

Giving  all  glory  unto  God  for  coming  of  this  King, 
Which  must  be  made  away — King  Herod  would  Him  kill. 
0  'xoe  and  woeful  heavy  day  when  wretches  have  their  wiH  ! 
Lulla,  la-ldla,  lulla,  lullaby. 

1  Byrd's  Psalmes,  Songs  and  Sonets,  etc. 


78  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Lo,  lo,  my  little  Babe,  be  still,  lament  no  more  ; 

From  fury  Thou  shah  step  aside,  help  have  we  still  in  store  ; 

We  heavenly  warning  have  some  other  soil  to  seek ; 

From  death  must  fly  the  Lord  of  life,  as  lamb  both  mild  and 

meek  ; 

Thus  must  my  Babe  obey  the  king  that  would  Him  kill. 
O  woe  and  woeful  heavy  day  when  wretches  have  their  will ! 
Lulla,  la-lulla,  lulla,  lullaby. 

But  Thou  shalt  live  and  reign,  as  sibyls  hath  foresaid, 
As  all  the  prophets  prophesy,  whose  mother,  yet  a  maid 
And  perfect  virgin  pure,  with  her  breasts  shall  upbreed 
Both  God  and  man  that  all  hath  made,  the  Son  of  heavenly 

seed, 

Whom  caitiffs  none  can  'tray,  whom  tyrants  none  can  kill. 
O  joy  and  joyful  happy  day  when  wretches  want  their  will ! 
Lulla,  la-lulla,  lulla,  lullaby  ! 


Shall  I,  mother,  shall  I,  shall  I  do  so  ?  ] 
Shall  I  die  for  man  his  sake. 
And  I  never  sinned  thereto  ? 

Before  1536. 

I  was  born  in  a  stall 

Between  beastes  two, 
To  this  world  brought  in  thrall, 
To  live  in  care  and  woe. 

Shall  I,  mother,  shall  I,  shall  I  do  so  ? 
Shall  I  die  for  man  his  sake, 
And  I  never  sinned  thereto  ? 

i  See  note. 


O   JESU   PARVULE  79 

When  I  was  eight  days  old, 

The  law  fulfilled  I  tho,* 
Circumcised  as  a  child  ; 
Then  began  all  my  woe. 

Shall  /,  mother,  'shall  I,  shall  I  do  so  ? 
Shall  I  die  for  man  his  sake, 
And  I  never  sinned  thereto  ? 

Though  my  Father  be  a  king, 

Myself  I  went  him  fro, 
Into  this  world  to  suffer  many  a  thing — 
See,  man,  what  thou  hast  do  !  2 

Shall  I,  mother,  shall  I,  shall  I  do  so  P 
Shall  I  die  for  man  his  sake, 
And  I  never  sinned  thereto  ? 

Man,  I  am  thy  friend  ay ; 

Thyself  art  thy  foe  ; 
To  my  Father  look  thou  pray, 

And  leave  thy  sins  that  thou  hast  do. 
Shall  I,  mother,  shall  I,  shall  I  do  so  ? 
Shall  I  die  for  man  his  sake, 
And  I  never  sinned  thereto  ? 

The  Jews  were  so  fell, 

That  to  Judas  could  they  go  ; 
They  kissed  me,  as  I  you  tell, 
"  Hail,  king  !  "  said  they  tho. 

Shall  I,  mother,  shall  I,  shall  I  do  so  ? 
Shall  I  die  for  man  his  sake, 
And  I  never  sinned  thereto  ? 

1  Then.  2  Done. 


8o  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

They  bound  me  to  a  pillar  anon, 

Hand  and  foot,  both  two  ; 
They  scourged  me  with  scourges  soon ; 
The  blood  ran  my  body  fro. 

Shall  I,  mother,  shall  I,  shall  I  do  so  ? 
Shall  I  die  for  man  his  sake, 
And  I  never  sinned  thereto  ? 


They  clothed  me  in  a  mantel  red, 

From  the  top  to  the  toe, 
With  a  crown  of  thorn  on  my  head  ; 
With  staves  they  beat  it  thereto. 

Shall  I,  mother,  shall  I,  shall  I  do  so  ? 
Shall  I  die  for  man  his  sake, 
And  I  never  sinned  thereto  ? 


They  brought  me  into  Caiaphas'  hall, 

Where  he  was  bishop  tho  ; 
False  witness  on  me  they  'gan  call. 
Mother,  what  shall  I  do  : 

Shall  I,  mother,  shall  I,  shall  I  do  so  ? 
Shall  I  die  for  man  his  sake, 
And  I  never  sinned  thereto  ? 


I  took  the  Cross  on  my  back  full  still ; 

To  Calvary  then  must  I  go  ; 
:  set  it  down  upon  an  hill, 
With  other  crosses  mo. 

Shall  I,  mother,  shall  I,  shall  I  do  so  ? 
Shall  I  die  for  man  his  sake, 
And  I  never  sinned  thereto  ? 


O   JESU   PARVULE  81 

They  hanged  me  up  [in]  that  tide  ; 
Hands  and  feet  they  nailed  also  ; 
And  a  thief  on  every  side, 
To  liken  my  body  to. 

Shall  I,  mother,  shall  I,  shall  I  do  so  ? 
Shall  I  die  for  man  his  sake, 
And  I  never  sinned  thereto  ? 

With  a  spear  both  sharp  and  keen 

They  clave  my  heart  in  two  ; 
Water  and  blood  thereout  ran — • 
See,  man,  what  thou  hast  do  ! 

Shall  I,  mother,  shall  I,  shall  I  do  so  ? 
Shall  I  die  for  man  his  sake, 
And  I  never  sinned,  thereto  ? 

With  a  spear  both  sharp  and  good 

They  clave  my  heart  in  three, 
Then  yielded  I  up  the  ghost  and  died, 
That  here  all  men  may  see. 

Shall  I,  mother,  shall  I,  shall  I  do  so  ? 
Shall  I  die  for  man  his  sake, 
And  I  never  sinned  thereto  ? 

God  that  died  on  the  Rood, 

And  spread  His  arms  in  the  East, 
Send  us  all  His  blessing, 
And  send  us  all  good  rest ! 

Shall  I,  mother,  shall  I,  shall  I  do  so  ? 
Shall  I  die  for  man  his  sake, 
And  I  never  sinned  thereto  ? 


82  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 


Ane  Sang  of  the  Birth  of  Christ,  with  the 
tune  of  Baw  Lulalazv  l 

About  1567. 

I  COME  from  heaven  to  tell 
The  best  nowells  that  ever  befell ; 
To  you  thir  tidings  true  I  bring, 
And  I  will  of  them  say  and  sing. 

This  day  to  you  is  born  ane  child, 
Of  Mary  meek  and  virgin  mild  ; 
That  blessed  bairn,  benign  and  kind, 
Sail  you  rejoice,  baith  heart  and  mind. 

It  is  the  Lord  Christ,  God  and  man, 
He  will  do  for  you  what  He  can ; 
Himself  your  Saviour  He  will  be, 
Fra  sin  and  hell  to  make  you  free. 

He  is  our  richt  salvation 
From  everlasting  damnation, 
That  ye  may  sing  in  glory  and  bliss 
For  ever  mair  in  heaven  with  His. 

Ye  sail  Him  find  but  2  mark  or  wring,3 
Full  simple  in  ane  crib  lying ; 
So  lies  He  whilk  you  has  wrocht, 
And  all  this  warld  made  of  nocht. 

1  Ane  Compendious  Buik  of  God  lie  Psalmes  and  Spirituall  Sangis, 
cf.  note  on  p.  38. 

2  Without.  s  Defect. 


O   JESU   PARVULE  83 

Let  us  rejoice  and  be  blithe, 
And  with  the  herds  go  full  swithe,1 
And  see  what  God  of  His  grace  has  done, 
Through  Christ  to  bring  us  to  His  throne. 

My  soul  and  life,  stand  up  and  see 
Wha  lies  in  ane  crib  of  tree. 
What  babe  is  that  so  gude  and  fair  ? 
It  is  Christ,  God's  Son  and  Heir. 

Welcome  now,  gracious  God  of  micht, 
To  sinners  vile,  puir  and  unricht ; 
Thou  came  to  save  us  from  distress ; 
How  can  we  thank  Thy  gentleness  ? 

O  God  that  made  all  creature, 
How  art  Thou  become  so  puir, 
That  on  the  hay  and  stray  2  will  lie, 
Amang  the  asses,  oxen  and  kye  ? 

And  were  the  warld  ten  times  so  wide, 
Clad  over  with  gold  and  stanes  of  pride, 
Unworthy  yet  it  were  to  Thee, 
Under  Thy  feet  ane  stool  to  be. 

The  silk  and  sandal,3  Thee  to  ease, 
Are  hay  and  simple  swaddling  claes, 
Wherein  Thou  glories,  greatest  King, 
As  Thou  in  heaven  were  in  thy  ring. 

Thou  took  like  pains  temporal, 
To  make  me  rich  perpetual ; 
For  all  this  worldes  wealth  and  gude 
Can  nothing  richt  Thy  celsitude. 

Quickly.  2  Straw.  3  Thin  silken  stuff. 


84  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

O  my  dear  heart,  young  Jesus  sweet, 
Prepare  Thy  cradle  in  my  sprite, 
And  I  sail  rock  Thee  in  my  heart, 
And  never  mair  from  Thee  depart. 

But  I  sail  praise  Thee  evermore, 
With  sanges  sweet  unto  Thy  glory  ; 
The  knees  of  my  heart  sail  I  bow, 
And  sing  that  richt  Bahdalow. 

Glory  be  to  God  eternally, 
Whilk  gave  His  only  Son  for  me, 
The  angels'  joys  for  to  hear, 
The  gracious  gift  of  this  New  Year. 


The  Holy   Well1 

Traditional. 

As  it  fell  out  one  May  morning, 
And  upon  one  bright  holiday, 

Sweet  Jesus  asked  of  His  dear  mother, 
If  He  might  go  to  play. 

"  To  play,  to  play,  sweet  Jesus  shall  go, 
And  to  play  pray  get  you  gone, 

And  let  me  hear  of  no  complaint, 
At  night  when  you  come  home." 

Sweet  Jesus  went  down  to  yonder  town, 

As  far  as  the  Holy  Well, 
And  there  did  see  as  fine  children 

As  any  tongue  can  tell. 

i  See  note. 


O   JESU   PARVULE  85 

He  said,  "  God  bless  you  every  one, 

And  your  bodies  Christ  save  and  see  ; 
Little  children,  shall  I  play  with  you, 

And  you  shall  play  with  me  ?  " 

But  they  made  answer  to  him,  "  No  !  " 

They  were  lords'  and  ladies'  sons  ; 
And  He,  the  meanest  of  them  all, 

Was  but  a  maiden's  child,  born  in  an  ox's  stall. 

Sweet  Jesus  turned  him  around, 

And  He  neither  laughed  nor  smiled, 
But  the  tears  came  trickling  from  His  eyes, 

Like  water  from  the  skies. 

Sweet  Jesus  turned  Him  about, 

To  his  mother's  dear  home  went  He, 
And  said,  "  I  have  been  in  yonder  town, 

As  far  as  you  can  see. 

"  I  have  been  down  in  yonder  town, 

As  far  as  the  Holy  Well, 
There  did  I  meet  as  fine  children 

As  any  tongue  can  tell. 

"  I  bid  God  bless  them  every  one, 

And  their  bodies  Christ  save  and  see ; 
Little  children,  shall  I  play  with  you, 

And  you  shall  play  with  me  ? 

"  But  they  made  answer  to  me,  '  No  !  ' 

They  were  lords'  and  ladies'  sons, 
And  I,  the  meanest  of  them  all, 

Was  but  a  maiden's  child,  born  in  an  ox's  stall." 


86  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

"  Though  you  are  but  a  maiden's  child, 

Born  in  an  ox's  stall, 
Thou  art  the  Christ,  the  King  of  heaven, 

And  the  Saviour  of  them  all. 

"  Sweet  Jesus,  go  down  to  yonder  town, 

As  far  as  the  Holy  Well, 
And  take  away  those  sinful  souls 

And  dip  them  deep  in  hell." 

"  Nay,  nay,"  sweet  Jesus  said, 
"  Nay,  nay,  that  may  not  be, 

For  there  are  too  many  sinful  souls 
Crying  out  for  the  help  of  me." 

(O  then  spoke  the  Angel  Gabriel, 
Upon  one  good  Saint  Stephen, 

"  Although  you're  but  a  maiden's  child, 
You  are  the  King  of  heaven.")  * 


The  Bitter   Withy- 

Traditional. 

"  As  it  fell  out  on  a  holy  day, 

The  drops  of  rain  did  fall,  did  fall, 

Our  Saviour  asked  leave  of  His  mother,  Mary, 
If  He  might  go  play  at  ball. 

"  To  play  at  ball,  my  own  dear  Son, 

It's  time  you  was  going  or  gone, 
But  be  sure  let  me  hear  no  complaint  of  you, 

At  night  when  you  do  come  home." 

1  This  stanza  is  sometimes  omitted.  2  See  note. 


O   JESU   PARVULE  87 

It  was  upling  scorn  and  downling  scorn  ! 

Oh,  there  He  met  three  jolly  jerdins  : 1 
Oh,  there  He  asked  the  three  jolly  jerdins 

If  they  would  go  play  at  ball. 

"  Oh,  we  are  lords'  and  ladies'  sons, 

Born  in  bower  or  in  hall." 
"  Then  at  the  very  last  I'll  make  it  appear 

That  I  am  above  you  all." 

Our  Saviour  built  a  bridge  with  the  beams  of  the  sun, 

And  over  He  gone.  He  gone  He  ; 
And  after  followed  the  three  jolly  jerdins, 

And  drownded  they  were  all  three. 

It  was  upling  scorn  and  downling  scorn ! 

The  mothers  of  them  did  whoop  and  call, 
Crying  out :   "  Mary  mild,  call  home  your  child, 

For  ours  are  drownded  all !  " 

Mary  mild,  Mary  mild  called  home  her  Child, 

And  laid  our  Saviour  across  her  knee, 
And  with  a  whole  handful  of  bitter  withy 

She  gave  Him  slashes  three. 

Then  He  says  to  His  mother  :  "  Oh,  the  withy  !    oh,  the 
withy  ! 

The  bitter  withy  that  causes  me  to  smart,  to  smart, 
Oh,  the  withy,  it  shall  be  the  very  first  tree 

That  perishes  at  the  heart !  " 

i  Virgins  ?    See  note. 


88  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

The  Cherry -Tree  Carol'1 

Traditional. 

I 

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, 

So  meek  and  so  mild, 
"  Pluck  me  one  cherry,  Joseph, 

For  I  am  with  child." 

O  then  bespoke  Joseph, 
With  words  most  unkind, 

"  Let  him  pluck  thee  a  cherry 
That  brought  thee  with  child." 

O  then  bespoke  the  Babe 

Within  His  mother's  womb — 

"  Bow  down  then  the  tallest  tree 
For  my  mother  to  have  some." 

1  See  note. 


O   JESU   PARVULE 

Then  bowed  down  the  highest  tree, 
Unto  His  mother's  hand. 

Then  she  cried,  "  See,  Joseph, 
I  have  cherries  at  command." 

O  then  bespake  Joseph — 
"  I  have  done  Mary  wrong  ; 

But  cheer  up,  my  dearest, 
And  be  not  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  the  blood  ; 
Then  Mary  went  home 

With  her  heavy  load. 


II 

As  Joseph  was  a-walking 
He  heard  an  angel  sing : 

"  This  night  shall  be  born 
Our  heavenly  King ; 

"  He  neither  shall  be  born 
In  housen  or  in  hall, 

Nor  in  the  place  of  Paradise, 
But  in  an  ox's  stall. 


90  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

"  He  neither  shall  be  clothed 

In  purple  or  in  pall, 
But  all  in  fair  linen 

As  were  babies l  all. 

"  He  neither  shall  be  rocked 

In  silver  nor  in  gold, 
But  in  a  wooden  cradle 

That  rocks  on  the  mould. 

"  He  neither  shall  be  christened 
In  white  wine  nor  red, 

But  with  fair  spring  water 

With  which  we  were  christened." 


Ill 

Then  Mary  took  her  young  Son, 
And  set  Him  on  her  knee  : 

"  I  pray  Thee  now,  dear  Child, 
Tell  how  this  world  shall  be." 

"  O  I  shall  be  as  dead,  mother, 
As  the  stones  in  the  wall ; 

O  the  stones  in  the  streets,  mother, 
Shall  mourn  for  me  all. 

"  Upon  Easter-day,  mother, 

My  uprising  shall  be  ; 
O  the  sun  and  the  moon,  mother, 

Shall  both  rise  with  me." 

1  Or  men. 


Traditional. 


O   JESU   PARVULE  91 

The  Carnal^  and  the  Crane 

As  I  passed  by  a  river-side, 

And  there  as  I  did  rein,2 
In  argument  I  chanced  to  hear 

A  carnal  and  a  crane. 

The  carnal  said  unto  the  crane, 

"  If  all  the  world  should  turn, 
Before  we  had  the  Father, 

But  now  we  have  the  Son. 

"  From  whence  does  the  Son  come  ? 

From  where  and  from  what  place  ?  " 
He  said  :   "  In  a  manger, 

Between  an  ox  and  ass." 

"  I  pray  thee,"  said  the  carnal, 

"  Tell  me  before  thou  go, 
Was  not  the  mother  of  Jesus 

Conceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost  ?  " 

"  She  was  the  purest  virgin, 

And  the  cleanest  from  sin ; 
She  was  the  handmaid  of  our  Lord, 

And  mother  of  our  King." 

"  Where  is  the  golden  cradle 

That  Christ  was  rocked  in  ? 
Where  are  the  silken  sheets 

That  Jesus  was  wrapt  in  ?  " 

Crow.     See  note.  2  Run. 


92  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

"  A  manger  was  the  cradle 

That  Christ  was  rocked  in, 
The  provender  the  asses  left, 

So  sweetly  he  slept  on. 

"  There  was  a  star  in  the  west  land, 

So  bright  it  did  appear, 
Into  King  Herod's  chamber, 

And  where  King  Herod  were. 

"  The  Wise  Men  soon  espied  it, 

And  told  the  King  on  high, 
A  princely  babe  was  born  that  night 

No  king  could  e'er  destroy. 

"  '  If  this  be  true,'  King  Herod  said, 

*  As  thou  tellest  unto  me, 
This  roasted  cock  that  lies  in  the  dish 

Shall  crow  full  fences 1  three.' 2 

"  The  cock  soon  freshly  feathered  was, 
By  the  work  of  God's  own  hand, 

And  then  three  fences  crowed  he, 
In  the  dish  where  he  did  stand. 

"  '  Rise  up,  rise  up,  you  merry  men  all, 

See  that  you  ready  be, 
All  children  under  two  years  old 

Now  slain  they  all  shall  be.' 

"  Then  Jesus,  ah  !    and  Joseph, 

And  Mary  that  was  so  pure, 
They  travelled  into  Egypt, 

As  you  shall  find  it  sure. 

*  Rounds.  2  Cf.  Saint  Stephen  was  a  Clerk,  p.  123. 


O   JESU   PARVULE  93 

"  And  when  they  came  to  Egypt's  land, 

Amongst  those  fierce  wild  beasts, 
Mary,  she  being  weary, 

Must  needs  sit  down  to  rest. 

"  '  Come  sit  thee  down,'  says  Jesus, 

'  Come  sit  thee  down  by  me, 
And  thou  shalt  see  how  these  wild  beasts 

Do  come  and  worship  me.J 

"  First  came  the  lovely  lion, 

Which  Jesu's  grace  did  spring, 
And  of  the  wild  beasts  in  the  field, 

The  lion  shall  be  the  king. 

"  We'll  choose  our  virtuous  princes, 

Of  birth  and  high  degree, 
In  every  sundry  nation, 

Where'er  we  come  and  see. 

"  Then  Jesus,  ah  !    and  Joseph, 

And  Mary  that  was  unknown, 
They  travelled  by  a  husbandman, 

Just  while  his  seed  was  sown. 

"  '  God  speed  thee,  man  !  '  said  Jesus, 

'  Go  fetch  thy  ox  and  wain, 
And  carry  home  thy  corn  again, 

Which  thou  this  day  hast  sown.' 

"  The  husbandman  fell  on  his  knees, 

Even  before  His  face  ; 
'  Long  time  hast  Thou  been  looked  for, 

But  now  Thou  art  come  at  last. 


94  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

"  '  And  I  myself  do  now  believe, 
Thy  name  is  Jesus  called  ; 

Redeemer  of  mankind  Thou  art, 
Though  undeserving  all.' 

"  'The  truth,  man,  thou  hast  spoken, 
Of  it  thou  mayst  be  sure, 

For  I  must  lose  my  precious  blood 
For  thee  and  thousands  more. 

"  *  If  any  should  come  this  way, 
And  enquire  for  me  alone, 

Tell  them  that  Jesus  passed  by, 
As  thou  thy  seed  did  sow.' 

"  After  that  there  came  King  Herod, 
With  his  train  so  furiously, 

Enquiring  of  the  husbandman, 
Whether  Jesus  passed  by. 

"  Why,  the  truth  it  must  be  spoke, 
And  the  truth  it  must  be  known, 

For  Jesus  passed  by  this  way, 
When  my  seed  was  sown. 

"  But  now  I  have  it  reapen, 
And  some  laid  on  my  wain, 

Ready  to  fetch  and  carry 
Into  my  barn  again." 

u  l  Turn  back,'  says  the  Captain, 
(  Your  labour  and  mine's  in  vain, 

It's  full  three-quarters  of  a  year 
Since  he  his  seed  has  sown.' 


O   JESU   PARVULE  95 

"  So  Herod  was  deceived 

By  the  work  of  God's  own  hand, 
And  further  He  proceeded 

Into  the  Holy  Land. 

"  There's  thousands  of  children  young, 

Which  for  His  sake  did  die ; 
Do  not  forbid  those  little  ones, 

And  do  not  them  deny. 

"The  truth  now  I  have  spoken, 

And  the  truth  now  I  have  shown ; 
Even  the  blessed  Virgin, 

She's  now  brought  forth  a  Son." 


GLORIA   IN   EXCELSIS  DEO1 

Hail,  Comely  and  Clean 2 

/.  Pastor.  HAIL,  comely  and  clean  !   hail,  young  Child  ! 
Hail,  Maker,  as  I  mean,  of  a  maiden  so  mild, 
Thou  has  worried,  I  ween,  the  warlock  3  so  wild  ; 
The  false  guiler  of  teen,  now  goes  he  beguiled. 

Lo,  He  merries ; 
Lo,  He  laughs,  my  sweeting, 
A  well  fair  meeting  ! 
I  have  holden  my  heting.4 

Have  a  bob  of  cherries ! 

II.  Pastor.  Hail,  suffering  Saviour,  for  Thou  has  us  sought ! 
Hail,  freely  fode  and  flower  that  all  thing  hath  wrought  ! 
Hail,  full  of  favour,  that  made  all  of  nought ! 
Hail !    I  kneel  and  I  cower.     A  bird  have  I  brought 

To  my  bairn. 
Hail,  little  tiny  mop  !  5 
Of  our  creed  Thou  art  crop  ;  6 
I  would  drink  on  Thy  cop,7 

Little  day-starn  !  8 

1  See  note. 

2  Secunda  Pastorum,  Towneley  Plays. 

"  Wizard,  here  applied  to  the  devil.  4  Promise. 

5  Child.  8  Head.  7  Cup.  8  Star. 

96 


UtrtDtlttmttfflt 

nmtmmut. 


7?/y^^j  ^&>£ 


GLORIA   IN   EXCELSIS   DEO  97 

///.  Pastor.  Hail,  darling  dear,  full  of  godhead  ! 
I  pray  Thee  be  near,  when  that  I  have  need. 
Hail !   sweet  is  Thy  cheer  !     My  heart  would  bleed 
To  see  Thee  sit  here  in  so  poor  weed, 

With  no  pennies. 
Hail !   put  forth  Thy  dall !  l 
I  bring  Thee  but  a  ball, 
Have  and  play  Thee  withal, 

And  go  to  the  tennis. 

Maria.  The  Father  of  heaven,  God  Omnipotent, 

That  set  all  on  seven,2  His  Son  has  He  sent. 

My  name  could  He  neven,3  and  light  4  ere  He  went. 

I  conceived  Him  full  even,  through  might  as  He  meant ; 

And  now  He  is  born. 
He  keep  you  from  woe  ! 
I  shall  pray  Him  so. 
Tell  forth  as  ye  go, 

And  mind  on  this  morn. 


Tyrle,  tyrlow,  tyrle^  tyrlow, 

So  merrily  the  shepherds  began  to  blow 5 

Before  1536. 

ABOUT  the  field  they  piped  right, 
So  merrily  the  shepherds  began  to  blow ; 
Adown  from  heaven  that  is  so  high — 
Tyrle,  tyrlozv,  [tyrle,  tyrlow\! 

1  Hand.  2  Created  all  things  in  seven  days 

3  Name.  *  Alighted. 

5  Cf.  following  carol,  { 


98  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Of  angels  there  came  a  company, 
With  merry  songs  and  melody. 
The  shepherds  anon  gan  them  aspy.1 
Tyrle,  tyrlow,  \tyrle,  tyrlow]  ! 

Gloria  in  excelsis,  the  angels  sang, 
And  said  that  peace  was  present  among, 
To  every  man  that  to  the  faith  would  fong.2 
Tyrle,  tyrlow,  tyrle,  tyrlow  ! 

The  shepherds  hied  them  to  Bethlehem, 
To  see  that  blessed  sun  His  beam  ; 
And  there  they  found  that  glorious  stream.3 
Tyrle,  tyrlow,  tyrle,  tyrlow  ! 

Now  pray  we  to  that  meke  Child, 
And  to  His  mother  that  is  so  mild, 
The  which  was  never  denied, 

Tyrle,  tyrlow,  [tyrle,  tyrlow]  ! 

That  we  may  come  unto  His  bliss, 
Where  joy  shall  never  miss, 
Then  may  we  sing  in  Paradise  : 
Tyrle,  tyrlow,  [tyrle,  tyrlow]  ! 

I  pray  you  all  that  be  here, 
For  to  sing  and  make  good  cheer, 
In  the  worship  of  God  this  year. 
Tyrle,  tyrlow,  [tyrle,  tyrlow]  ! 

1  Began  to  see  them.  -  Accept. 

3  star,  or  leme=light. 


GLORIA   IN   EXCELSIS    DEO  99 

As  I  Out  Rode  This  Enders  Night1 
1534- 

As  I  out  rode  this  enders  night, 
Of  three  jolly  shepherds  I  saw  a  sight, 
And  all  about  their  fold  a  star  shone  bright ; 

'They  sang  terly  terlow  ; 

So  merrily  the  shepherds  their  pipes  gan  blow. 

Down  from  heaven,  from  heaven  so  high, 
Of  angels  there  came  a  great  company, 
With  mirth  and  joy  and  great  solemnity, 

They  sang  terly  terlow  ; 

So  merrily  the  shepherds  their  pipes  gan  blow. 


The  Jolly  Shepherd  Wat 2 

Before  1536. 

Can  I  not  sing  but  hoy, 

When  the  jolly  shepherd  made  so  much  joy. 

THE  shepherd  upon  a  hill  he  sat, 
He  had  on  him  his  tabard  3  and  his  hat, 
His  tar-box,  his  pipe  and  his  flagat ;  4 
His  name  was  called  jolly,  jolly  Wat ; 
For  he  was  a  good  herd's  boy, 

Ut  hoy  ! 
For  in  his  pipe  he  made  so  much  joy. 

Can  I  not  sing  but  hoy, 

When  the  jolly  shepherd  made  so  much  joy. 

1  Pageant  of  the  Shearmen  and  Tailors,  Coventry  Corpus  Christi 
Plays.    See  note.  2  See  note.  3  Short  coat.          •»  Bottle. 


ioo  CAROLS    OF   THE    NATIVITY 

The  shepherd  upon  a  hill  was  laid, 
His  dog  to  his  girdle  was  tied  ; 
He  had  not  slept  but  a  little  braid,1 
But  "  Gloria  in  excelsis  "  was  to  him  said. 

Ut  hoy  ! 
For  in  his  -pipe  he  made  so  much  joy. 

Can  I  not  sing  but  hoy, 

When  the  jolly  shepherd  made  so  much  joy. 

The  shepherd  on  a  hill  he  stood, 
Round  about  him  his  sheep  they  yode  ; 2 
He  put  his  hand  under  his  hood, 
He  saw  a  star  as  red  as  blood. 

Ut  hoy  ! 
For  in  his  pipe  he  made  so  much  joy. 

Can  I  not  sing  but  hoy, 

When  the  jolly  shepherd  made  so  much  joy. 

"  Now  farewell  Mall  and  also  Will, 

For  my  love,  go  ye  all  still 

Unto3  I  come  again  you  till,3 

And  evermore,  Will,  ring  well  thy  bell." 

Ut  hoy  ! 
For  in  his  pipe  he  made  so  much  joy. 

Can  I  not  sing  but  hoy, 

When  the  jolly  shepherd  made  so  much  joy. 

"  Now  must  I  go  where  Christ  was  born  ; 
Farewell !     I  come  again  to-morn. 
Dog,  keep  well  my  sheep  from  the  corn, 
And  warn  well  Warrock  when  I  blow  my  horn." 

i  Time.  2  Went.  3  Until  .      .  to. 


GLORIA   IN   EXCELSIS   DEO  101 

Ut  hoy  ! 

For  in  his  -pipe  h?  made  so  much  joy. 
Can  I  not  sing  but  hoy, 
When  the  jolly  shepherd  made  so  much  joy. 

When  Wat  to  Bethlehem  come  was, 
He  sweat ;   he  had  gone  faster  than  a  pace  ; 
He  found  Jesus  in  a  simple  place, 
Between  an  ox  and  an  ass. 
Ut  hoy  ! 
For  in  his  -pipe  he  made  so  much  joy. 

Can  1  not  sing  but  hoy, 

When  the  jolly  shepherd  made  so  much  joy. 

The  shepherd  said  anon  right  : 
"  I  will  go  see  yon  ferly l  sight, 
Whereas  the  angel  singeth  on  height, 
And  the  star  that  shineth  so  bright." 

Ut  hoy  ! 
For  in  his  pipe  he  made  so  much  joy. 

Can  I  not  sing  but  hoy, 

When  the  jolly  shepherd  made  so  much  joy. 

"  Jesu  !     I  offer  to  Thee  here  my  pipe, 
My  scrip,  my  tar-box,  and  my  skirt ; 
Home  to  my  fellows  now  will  I  skip, 
And  also  look  unto  my  sheep." 

Ut  hoy  ! 
For  in  his  pipe  he  made  so  much  joy. 

Can  I  not  sing  but  hoy, 

When  the  jolly  shepherd  made  so  much  joy. 

1  Strange. 


CAROLS   OF    THE    NATIVITY 

"  Now  farewell,  my  own  herdsman  Wat !  " 
"  Yea,  for  God,  Lady,  even  so  I  hight ; 1 
Lull  well  Jesu  in  thy  lap, 
And  farewell,  Joseph,  with  thy  round  cape  !  " 

Ut  hoy  ! 
For  in  his  -pipe  he  made  so  much  joy. 

Can  I  not  sing  but  hoy, 

When  the  jolly  shepherd  made  so  much  joy. 

"  Now  may  I  well  both  hope  and  sing, 
For  I  have  been  at  Christ's  bearing ; 
Home  to  my  fellows  now  will  I  fling  ; 
Christ  of  heaven  to  His  bliss  us  bring  !  " 

Ut  hoy  ! 
For  in  his  pipe  he  made  so  much  joy. 

Can  I  not  sing  but  hoy. 

When  the  jolly  shepherd  made  so  much  joy. 


Man,  move  thy  mind,  and  joy  this  feast, 
Veritas  de  terra  orta  est 

Before  1536. 

As  I  came  by  the  way, 

I  saw  a  sight  seemly  to  see, 
The  shepherds  ranging  in  array, 

Upon  the  fold  keeping  their  fee.2 
A  star  they  said  they  did  espy 

Casting  the  beams  out  of  the  East, 
And  angels  making  melody  : 

"  Veritas  de  terra  orta  est." 

i  Am  called.  '2  Beasts. 


GLORIA   IN   EXCELSIS    DEO  103 

Upon  that  sight  they  were  aghast, 

Saying  these  words  as  I  say  thee  : 
"  To  Bethlehem  shortly  let  us  haste 

And  there  we  shall  the  truth  see." 
The  angel  said  unto  them  all  three 

To  their  comfort,  ere  ever  he  ceased  : 
"  Consolantinit  and  merry  be  ; 

Veritas  de  terra  orta  est" 

From  heaven,  out  of  the  highest  see, 

Righteousness  hath  taken  the  way, 
With  mercy  meddled  l  plenteously, 

And  so  conceived  in  a  may ; 
Miranda  res.,  this  is,  in  fay,2 

So  sayeth  the  prophet  in  his  gest.3 
Now  is  He  born,  Scripture  doth  say  ; 

Veritas  de  terra  orta  est. 

Then  passed  the  shepherds  from  that  place 

And  followed  by  the  star's  beam, 
That  was  so  bright  afore  their  face, 

It  brought  them  straight  unto  Bethlehem  ; 
So  bright  it  shone  over  all  the  realm 

Till  they  came  there  they  would  not  rest, 
To  Jewry  and  Jerusalem  ; 

Veritas  de  terra  orta  est. 

1  Mingled.  2  Faith.  3  Story. 


104  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

In  Bethlehem ,  that  Noble  Place^ 
1546-52. 

IN  Bethlehem,  that  noble  place, 
As  by  prophecy  said  it  was, 
Of  the  Virgin  Mary  full  of  grace, 
Salvator  mundi  natus  est. 

Be  we  merry  in  this  feast, 
In  quo  Salvator  natus  est. 

On  Christmas  night,  an  angel  it  told 
To  the  shepherds  keeping  their  fold, 
That  into  Bethlehem  with  beastes  would, 
Salvator  mundi  natus  est. 

Be  we  merry  in  this  feast, 
In  quo  Salvator  natus  est. 

The  shepherds  were  [enjcompassed  right, 

About  them  was  a  great  light ; 

"  Dread  ye  naught,"  said  the  angel  bright, 

Salvator  mundi  natus  est." 

Be  we  merry  in  this  feast, 
In  quo  Salvator  natus  est. 

"  Behold,  to  you  we  bring  great  joy. 

For  why  ?     Jesus  is  born  this  day  ; 

To  us,  of  Mary,  that  mild  may, 

Salvator  mundi  natus  est." 

Be  we  merry  in  this  feast, 
In  quo  Salvator  natus  est. 

1  Richard  Kele's  Christmas  Carols. 


GLORIA   IN    EXCELSIS    DEO  105 

And  thus  in  faith  find  it  ye  shall, 
Lying  poorly  in  an  ox-stall. 
The  shepherds  then  lauded  God  all, 
Quia  Salvator  mundi  natus  est. 

Be  we  merry  in  this  feast, 

In  quo  Salvator  natus  est. 


God  Rest   You  Merry,  Gentlemen 

Traditional. 

GOD  rest  you  merry,  gentlemen, 

Let  nothing  you  dismay, 
For  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour 

Was  born  upon  this  day, 
To  save  us  all  from  Satan's  power 
When  we  were  gone  astray. 

O  tidings  of  comfort  and  joy, 
For  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour  was  born  on 
Christmas  Day. 

In  Bethlehem  in  Jewry 

This  blessed  babe  was  born, 
And  laid  within  a  manger 

Upon  this  blessed  morn  ; 
The  which  His  mother  Mary 
Nothing  did  take  in  scorn. 

O  tidings  of  comfort  and  joy. 
For  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour  was  born  on 
Christmas  Day. 

From  God  our  heavenly  Father 
A  blessed  angel  came, 


106  CAROLS    OF    THE    NATIVITY 

And  unto  certain  shepherds 

Brought  tidings  of  the  same, 
How  that  in  Bethlehem  was  born 
The  Son  of  God  by  name. 

0  tidings  of  comfort  and  foy, 
For  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour  wa*  born  on 
Christmas  Day. 


"  Fear  not,"  then  said  the  angel, 

"  Let  nothing  you  affright, 
This  day  is  born  a  Saviour 

Of  virtue,  power,  and  might ; 
So  frequently  to  vanquish  all 
The  friends  of  Satan  quite." 

O  tidings  of  comfort  and  joy. 
For  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour  was  born  on 
Chritsmas  Day. 


The  shepherds  at  those  tidings 

Rejoiced  much  in  mind, 
And  left  their  flocks  a-feeding 

In  tempest,  storm,  and  wind, 
And  went  to  Bethlehem  straightway, 
This  blessed  Babe  to  find. 

O  tidings  of  comfort  and  joy, 
For  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour  was  born  on 
Christmas  Day. 


But  when  to  Bethlehem  they  came, 
Whereas  this  Infant  lay, 


GLORIA   IN   EXCELSIS   DEO  107 

They  found  Him  in  a  manger 

Where  oxen  feed  on  hay ; 
His  mother  Mary  kneeling 
Unto  the  Lord  did  pray. 

O  tidings  of  comfort  and  joy, 
For  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour  was  born  on 
Christmas  Day. 

Now  to  the  Lord  sing  praises, 

All  you  within  this  place, 
And  with  true  love  and  brotherhood 

Each  other  now  embrace  ; 
This  holy  tide  of  Christmas 
All  others  doth  deface. 

O  tidings  of  comfort  and  joy. 
For  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour  was  born  on 
Christmas  Day. 


The  Shepherds  Song 

A    CAROL    OR    HYMN    FOR    CHRISTMAS 
1600.  Edmund  Bolt  on.1 

SWEET  music,  sweeter  far 

Than  any  song  is  sweet, 
Sweet  music,  heavenly  rare, 

Mine  ears,  O  peers,  doth  greet. 
You  gentle  flocks,  whose  fleeces,  pearled  with  dew, 
Resemble  heaven,  whom  golden  drops  make  bright, 

i  England's  Helicon, 


io8  CAROLS    OF   THE    NATIVITY 

Listen,  O  listen,  now,  O  not  to  you 

OUT  pipes  make  sport  to  shorten  weary  night ; 
But  voices  most  divine 

Make  blissful  harmony, 
Voices  that  seem  to  shine, — 

For  what  else  clears  the  sky  ? 
Tunes  can  we  hear,  but  not  the  singers  see, 
The  tunes  divine,  and  so  the  singers  be. 

Lo,  how  the  firmament 
Within  an  azure  fold 
The  flock  of  stars  hath  pent, 

That  we  might  these  behold. 
Yet  from  their  beams  proceedeth  not  this  light, 

Nor  can  their  crystals  such  reflection  give. 
What  there  doth  make  the  element  so  bright  ? 
The  heavens  are  come  down  upon  earth  to  live. 
But  hearken  to  the  song. 

"  Glory  to  glory's  King, 
And  peace  all  men  among," 
These  choristers  do  sing. 
Angels  they  are,  as  also  (shepherds)  be 
Whom  in  our  fear  we  do  admire  to  see. 

"  Let  not  amazement  blind 

Your  souls,"  said  he,  "  among  ;  " 
To  you  and  all  mankind 

My  message  bringeth  joy, 
For  lo,  the  world's  great  Shepherd  now  is  born, 

A  blessed  babe,  an  infant  full  of  power ; 
After  long  night  uprisen  is  the  morn, 
Renowning  Bethlehem  in  the  Saviour." 


GLORIA   IN   EXCELSIS    DEO  109 

Sprung  is  the  perfect  day, 
By  prophets  seen  afar  ; 
Sprung  is  the  mirthful  May, 
Which  winter  cannot  mar. 
In  David's  city  doth  this  Sun  appear 
Clouded  in  flesh,  yet,  shepherds,  sit  we  here  ? 


/  Heard  a  Mess  of  Merry  Shepherds^ 

About  1611. 

I  HEARD  a  mess  of  merry  shepherds  sing 
A  joyful  song  full  of  sweet  delight ; 

Their  ditty  was  how  that  a  King 
In  Bethlehem  was  born  that  night, 
Whose  mother  was  a  virgin  (fair  and)  bright, 
And  Mary  hight  her  blessed  name, 
A  queen  of  fame 

Who  for  the  fault  of  Adam's  sin 

Was  brought  abed  even  in  an  inn. 
A  joyful  news  let  us  rejoice, 
With  heart  and  voice  ; 
Yet  how  can  we  but  weep  alas, 
To  see  between  an  ox  and  ass, 

In  manger  poor  the  Babe  He  lies 

That  made  the  world  and  rules  the  skies. 

1  MS.  Egerton,  2009-12,  fol.  8. 


REGES  DE   SABA   VENIENT1 
Now  is  Christmas   Ycome 

Fifteenth  Century. 

Now  is  Christmas  ycome, 
Father  and  Son  together  in  one, 
Holy  Ghost,  as  ye  be  one, 

in  fere-a,2 
God  send  us  a  good  New  Year-a  ! 

I  would  you  sing  for  an  I  might, 

Of  a  Child  is  fair  in  sight, 

His  mother  him  bare  this  endernight 

so  still-a, 
And  as  it  was  His  will-a. 

There  came  three  kings  fro  Galilee 
Into  Bethlehem,  that  fair  city, 
To  seek  Him  that  ever  should  be 

by  right-a, 
Lord  and  king  and  knight-a. 

As  they  came  forth  with  their  offering, 
They  met  with  Herod,  that  moody  king, 

this  tide-a, 
And  this  to  them  he  said-a  : 

i  See  note.  2  Together, 

no 


REGES   DE    SABA   VENIENT  in 

"  Of  whence  be  ye,  you  kinge's  three  ?  " 
"  Of  the  East,  as  you  may  see, 
To  seek  Him  that  ever  should  be 

by  right-a, 
Lord  and  king  and  knight-a." 

"  When  you  at  this  child  have  be, 

Come  home  again  by  me, 

Tell  me  the  sight  that  you  have  see, 

I  pray  you  ; 
Go  you  no  other  way-a." 

They  took  their  leave,  both  old  and  ying, 
Of  Herod,  that  moody  king ; 
They  went  forth  with  their  offering 

by  light-a, 
By  the  star  that  shone  so  bright-a. 

Till  they  came  into  the  place 
Where  Jesus  and  His  mother  was, 
Offered  they  up  with  great  solace 

in  fere-a 
Gold,  incense,  and  myrrh-a. 

The  Father  of  heaven  an  angel  down  sent 
To  thiccy l  three  kings  that  made  present 

this  tide-a, 
And  this  to  them  he  said-a. 

"  My  Lord  hath  warned  you  every  one, 
By  Herod  king  you  go  not  home  ; 
For  an  you  do,  he  will  you  slone  2 

and  strye-a,3 
And  hurt  you  wonderly-a." 

Dialect  still  for  these.  2  slay.  3  Destroy. 


ii2  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Forth  then  went  these  kinges  three, 
Till  they  came  home  to  their  country  ; 
Glad  and  blithe  they  were  all  three 
Of  the  sight  that  they  had  see 
bydene-a  ; l 
The  company  was  clean-a. 

Kneel  we  now  here  a-down, 
Pray  we  in  good  devotion 
To  the  King  of  great  renown, 

of  grace-a, 
In  heaven  to  have  a  place-a. 


Reges  de  Saba  venient, 
Auntm,  ins,  myrram  afferent. 
A  lleluia 

Fifteenth  Century. 

Now  is  the  Twelfth  Day  ycome, 

The  Father  and  Son  together  are  nome,2 

The  Holy  Ghost,  as  they  were  wone,3 

In  fere. 
God  send  us  good  New  Year !  , 

I  will  you  sing  with  all  my  might, 

Of  a  Child  so  fair  in  sight, 

A  maiden  him  bore  this  endernight, 

So  still ; 
As  it  was  his  will. 

i  Together.  2  Taken.  3  Wont. 


REGES   DE   SABA   VENIENT  113 

Three  kinges  out  of  Galilee 
Camen  to  Bethlehem,  that  city, 
For  to  taken  into  that  see  1 
By  night ; 
It  was  a  full  fair  sight. 

As  they  came  forth  with  their  offering, 
They  met  with  Herod,  that  moody  king  ; 
He  asked  them  of  their  coming, 

That  tide, 
And  thus  to  them  he  said  : 


"  Fro  whence  come  ye,  kinges  three  ?  " 
"  Out  of  the  East,  as  thou  mayst  see, 
To  seek  Him  that  ever  shall  be, 

Through  right, 
Lord  and  king  of  might." 

"  When  ye  have  at  that  king  a-be, 

Come  again  this  way  by  me, 

And  tell  me  the  sights  that  [ye]  have  see ; 

I  pray, 
Ye  go  none  other  way." 

Of  Herod,  [of]  that  moody  king, 
They  took  their  leave,  of  old  and  ying ; 
And  forth  they  went  with  their  offering 

In  sight, 
And  there  they  came  by  night. 

1  Domain. 


ii4  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

When  they  came  into  the  place 
Where  Jesu  with  His  mother  was, 
They  made  offering  with  great  solace, 

Not  fear, 
With  gold,  incense  and  myrrh. 

As  they  were  homeward  ywent, 
The  Father  of  heaven  an  angel  sent 
To  those  three  kings  that  made  present, 

Ere  day, 
And  thus  to  them  gan  say  : 

"  My  Lord  hath  warned  you  of  your  foe, 
By  King  Herod  that  ye  not  go ; 
For  if  ye  do,  he  will  you  slo,1 
And  'tray ;  2 
Ye  go  another  way." 

When  they  came  home  to  their  country, 
Blithe  and  glad  they  were  all  three 
Of  the  sights  that  they  had  see, 

By  night, 
Jesu  and  Mary  bright. 

With  treason  to  us  3  gan  he  sayn,4 
He  trowed  Jesu  to  have  slain  ; 
Into  Egypt  they  went  full  plain, 

By  side, 
Joseph  was  their  guide. 

i  Slay.  2  Betray. 

3  See  note,  4  Say. 


REGES   DE   SABA   VENIENT  115 

Into  Bethlehem  x  they  gan  pass, 
The  star  gan  shinen  in  their  face, 
Brighter  than  ever  shone  sun  in  glass, 

In  land ; 
Jesu  with  Mary  they  found. 

King  Herod  he  made  his  vow, 
Great  plenty  of  children  he  slow,2 
He  meant  they  should  a-been  Jesu  ; 

I  say, 
He  failed  of  his  prey. 

Herod  was  wode  3  in  royalty  ; 

He  slew  children  right  great  plenty 

In  Bethlehem,  that  fair  city, 

With  strife  ; 
Nor  left  he  none  in  life. 

The  children  of  Israel  cried,  "  Wa,  wa  !  " 
The  mothers  of  Bethlehem  cried,  "  Ba,  ba  !  " 
Herod,  that  wretch,  [he]  laughed  "  A-ha  !  " 

And  said, 
"  The  King  of  Jews  is  dead  !  " 

Almighty  God  in  majesty, 

In  one  God  Persons  Three, 

Bring  us  to  Thy  bliss  that  is  so  free, 

In  fere  ; 
And  send  us  a  good  New  Year  J 

Reges  de  Saba  venient, 

Aurum,  tus,  myrram,  afferent. 

1  See  note.  2  sjeWt  s  Mad. 


ii6  CAROLS   OF   THE    NATIVITY 

Be  merry  all  that  be  present, 
Omnes  de  Saba  venient 

Before  1536. 

Our  of  the  East  a  star  shone  bright, 
For  to  show  three  kinges  light, 
Which  had  far  travelled  day  and  night 
To  seek  that  Lord  that  all  hath  sent. 

Thereof  heard  King  Herod  anon, 

That  three  kings  should  come  through  his  region, 

To  seek  a  child  that  peer  had  none, 

And  after  them  soon  he  sent. 

King  Herod  cried  to  them  quickly  : 
"  Ye  go  to  seek  a  child  truly ; 
Go  forth  and  come  again  me  by, 
And  tell  me  where  that  he  is  lent."  x 

Forth  they  went  by  the  starry  gleam, 
Till  they  came  to  merry  Bethlehem  ; 
There  they  found  that  sweet  Bairn — Him,2 
That  sithe  for  us  His  blood  hath  spent. 

Balthasar  kneeled  first  adown 
And  said  :   "  Hail,  King,  most  of  renown, 
And  of  all  kings  thou  bearest  the  crown ; 
Therefore  with  gold  I  Thee  present." 

Melchior  kneeled  down  where  he  stood  3 
And  said  :   "  Hail,  Lord,  in  Thy  priesthood, 
Receive  incense  to  Thy  manhood, 
I  bringe  it  with  good  intent." 

i  Arrived,  #/.,  landed.  2  Text:  barn-teme- child. 

3  Text:  in  that  stede  =  place. 


REGES   DE   SABA   VENIENT  117 

Jasper  kneeled  down  where  he  stood 

And  said  :    "  Hail,  Lord,  in  Thy  knighthood, 

I  offer  thee  myrrh  to  Thy  godhead, 

For  thou  art  He  that  all  hath  sent." 

Now  lords  and  ladies  in  rich  array, 
Lift  up  your  hearts  upon  this  day, 
And  ever  to  God  let  us  pray, 
That  on  the  Rood  was  rent. 


Alleluia!  alleluia! 
Deo  Patri  sit  gloria 

Before  1536. 

THERE  is  a  Blossom  sprung  of  a  thorn, 
To  save  mankind  that  was  forlorn, 
As  the  prophets  said  beforn, 
Deo  Patri  sit  gloria  ! 

There  sprang  a  well  at  Mary's  foot, 
That  turned  all  this  world  to  boot ;  * 
Of  her  took  Jesus  flesh  and  blood, 
Deo  Patri  sit  gloria  ! 

From  that  well  there  stretched  a  stream, 
Out  of  Egypt  into  Bethlehem  ; 
God  through  His  highness  turned  it  again, 
Deo  Patri  sit  gloria  ! 

There  were  three  kings  of  divers  lands, 
They  thought  a  thought  that  was  strong, 
Him  to  seek  and  thank  among. 
Deo  Patri  sit  gloria  / 

1  Help. 


ii8  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

They  came  richly  with  their  presents, 
With  gold,  myrrh  and  frankincense, 
As  clerkes  read  in  their  sequence, 
Deo  Patri  sit  gloria  ! 

The  eldest  king  of  them  three, 
He  went  foremost  for  he  would  see 
What  doomsman  1  that  this  should  be, 
Deo  Patri  sit  gloria  ! 

The  middlemost  king  up  he  rose, 
He  saw  a  Babe  in  armes  close  ; 
In  middle  age  he  thought  He  was.2 
Deo  Patri  sit  gloria  ! 

The  youngest  king  up  he  stood, 
He  made  his  offering  rich  and  good, 
To  Jesus  Christ  that  shed  His  blood. 
Deo  Patri  sit  gloria  ! 

There  shone  a  star  out  of  heaven  bright, 
That  men  of  earth  should  deem  aright 
That  this  was  Jesu  full  of  might. 
Deo  Patri  sit  gloria  ! 


Out  oj  the  Blossom  Sprang  a  Thorn 

Fifteenth  Century. 

Our  of  the  blossom  sprang  a  thorn, 
When  God  himself  would  be  born ; 
He  let  us  never  be  forlorn, 
That  born  was  of  Marie. 

1  Judge.  '2  He  had  expected  to  find  Him. 


REGES   DE   SABA   VENIENT  119 

There  sprang  a  well  all  at  her  foot, 
That  all  this  world  is  turned  to  good, 
When  Jesu  Christ  took  flesh  and  blood 
Of  His  mother  Marie. 

Out  of  the  well  [there]  sprang  a  stream 
From  patriarch  to  Jerusalem,1 
Till  Christ  Himself  it  took  again  2 
Of  his  mother  Marie. 

In  winter  when  the  frost  Him  froze, 
A  poor  bedding  our  Lord  Him  chose  ; 
Between  an  ox  and  an  ass 
Codes  Son  born  He  was 
Of  his  mother  Marie. 

It  was  upon  the  Twelfth  Day, 
There  come  three  kings  in  rich  array, 
To  seeke  Christ  where  He  lay 
And  his  mother  Marie. 

Three  kings  out  of  divers  lands, 
Swithe  3  comen  with  hearts  [full]  strong, 
The  Child  to  seek  [they]  underfong,4 
That  born  was  of  Marie. 

The  star  led  them  a  righte  way 
To  the  Child  where  He  lay  ; 
He  helpeth  us  both  night  and  day, 
That  born  was  of  Marie. 

i  See  note.  Text:  again  it  nem. 

3  Quickly.  4  Undertook. 


120  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Balthazar  was  the  first  king, 
He  broughte  gold  to  his  offering, 
For  to  present  that  riche  King, 
And  His  mother  Marie. 

Melchior  was  the  second  king, 
He  brought  incense  to  his  offering, 
For  to  present  that  riche  King, 
And  His  mother  Marie. 

Jasper  was  the  third  king, 
He  brought  myrrh  to  his  offering, 
For  to  present  that  rich  King, 
And  His  mother  Marie. 

There  they  offered  their  presents, 
With  gold  and  myrrh  and  frankincense, 
As 1  clerks  read  in  their  sequence 
In  Epiphany. 

Kneel  we  down  Him  beforn, 
And  pray  we  to  Him  that  now  is  born, 
He l  let  us  never  be  forlorn, 
That  born  was  of  Marie. 

1  Text:  and. 


NUNC   GAUDET   ECCLESIA l 

Welcome   Yule 

Fifteenth  Century. 

WELCOME,  Yule,  thou  merry  man,  in  worship 

of  this  holy  day, 

Welcome  be  Thou,  heaven's  King, 
Welcome,  born  in  one  morning, 
Welcome,  for  whom  we  shall  sing, 
Welcome  Yule. 

Welcome  be  ye,  Stephen  and  John, 
Welcome,  Innocents  every  one, 
Welcome  Thomas,  martyred  one, 
Welcome  Yule. 

Welcome  be  ye,  good  New  Year, 
Welcome  Twelfth  Day,  both  in  fere, 
Welcome  saints  [both]  lief  and  dear, 
Welcome  Yule. 

Welcome  be  ye,  Candlemas, 
Welcome  be  ye,  Queen  of  Bliss, 
Welcome  both  to  more  and  less, 
Welcome  Yule. 


See  note. 

121 


122  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Welcome  be  ye  that  are  here, 
Welcome  all  and  make  good  cheer, 
Welcome  all  another  year, 
Welcome  Yule. 


Eta,  Martyr  Stephane 

Fifteenth  Century. 

Eia,  Martyr  Stephane 
Pray  for  us,  we  pray  to  thee. 
To  this  martyr  praise  be  given, 

Oui  triumphavit  hodte, 
And  did  gain  the  bliss  of  heaven, 

Dono  caelestis  gratiee. 
Stoned  he  was  with  stones  great, 

Fervore  gentis  impiee. 
Then  saw  he  Christ  set  on  His  seat 

Innixum  Patris  dexter  e. 
Thou  prayest  Christ  for  thine  enemies, 

O  martyr  invictissime  ! 
Then  pray  for  us  that  high  Justice 

Ut  nos  purget  a  crimine.     Amen. 


Pray  for  us  that  we  saved  be, 
Protomartyr  Stephane 

Before  1529. 

IN  this  vale  of  wretchedness, 
Yproved  was  thy  meekness, 
Where  thou  art  in  joy  and  bliss, 
Circumjultus  undique. 


NUNC   GAUDET   ECCLESIA  123 

With  faith  all  armed  in  field  to  fight 
Sad  thou  stoodest  as  God's  [own]  knight, 
Teaching  the  people,  of  God  His  might, 
O  fades  plena  grade  ! 

Before  the  tyrant  thou  wert  brought, 
Strokes  of  pain  thou  dreadedst  nought, 
God  was  with  thee  in  all  thy  thought, 
Spes  eterne  glorie. 

With  sinful  wretches  thou  were  take, 
Thy  faith  thou  wouldest  not  forsake, 
But  rather  to  die  for  Codes  sake, 
Circumfuso  sanguine. 


Saint  Stephen  was  a  Clerk -1 

Fifteenth  Century. 

SAINT  Stephen  was  a  clerk  in  King  Herod's  hall, 

And  served  him  of  bread  and  cloth,  as  ever  king  befall. 

Stephen  out  of  kitchen  came  with  boar's  head  in  [his]  hand, 
He  saw  a  star  [that]  was  fair  and  bright  over  Bethlehem  stand. 

He  cast  adown  the  boar's  head  and  went  into  the  hall : 
"  I  forsake  thee,  King  Herod,  and  thy  worke's  all." 

"  I  forsake  thee,  King  Herod,  and  thy  worke's  all ; 
There  is  a  child  in  Bethlehem  born  is  better  than  we  all." 

"  What  aileth  thee,  Stephen,  what  is  thee  befall  ? 
Lacketh  thee  either  meat  or  drink  in  King  Herod's  hall  ?  " 

1  See  note. 


124  CAROLS   OF   THE    NATIVITY 

"  Lacketh  me  neither  meat  nor  drink  in  King  Herod's  hall, 
There  is  a  child  in  Bethlehem  born  is  better  than  we  all." 

"  What  aileth  thee,  Stephen,  art  thou  mad,  or  thou  ginnest 

to  brede  1  ? 
Lacketh  thee  either  gold  or  fee  or  any  riche  weed  ?  " 

"  Lacketh  me  neither  gold  nor  fee,  nor  no  riche  weed, 
There  is  a  child  in  Bethlehem  born  shall  help  us  at  our  need." 

"  That  is  all  so  sooth,  Stephen,  all  so  sooth  ywis, 

As  this  capon  crow  [it]  shall  that  lieth  here  in  my  dish." 

That  word  was  not  so  soone  said,  that  word  in  that  hall, 
The  capon  crew,  Cbristus  natus  est,  among  the  lordes  all. 

"  Riseth  up  my  tormentors,  by  twos  and  all  by  one, 
And  leadeth  Stephen  out  of  this  town,  and  stoneth  him  with 
stone." 

Took  [they  then]  Stephen  and  stoned  him  in  the  way, 
Therefore  is  his  even  on  Christes  own  day. 


Now  sing  we,  both  all  and  some  : 
Lapidaverunt  Stephanum 

Before  1536. 

WHEN  Saint  Stephen  was  at  Jerusalem, 
Codes  laws  he  loved  to  learn, 
That  made  the  Jews  to  cry  so  clear  and  clean, 
Lapidaverunt  Stephanum. 

Now  sing  we,  both  all  and  some : 

Lapidaverunt  Stepbanum. 

i  Rave. 


NUNC   GAUDET   ECCLESIA  125 

The  Jews  that  were  both  false  and  fell, 
Against  Saint  Stephen  they  were  cruel, 
Him  to  slay  they  made  great  yell, 
And  lapidaverunt  Stephanum. 

Now  sing  we,  both  all  and  some  : 

Lapidaverunt  Stephanum. 

They  pulled  him  without  the  town, 
And  then  he  meekly  kneeled  down, 
While  the  Jews  cracked  his  crown, 
Quia  lapidaverunt  Stephanum. 

Now  sing  we,  both  all  and  some  : 

Lapidaverunt  Stephanum. 

Great  stones  and  bones  at  him  they  cast, 
Veins  and  bones  of  him  they  brast,1 
And  they  killed  him  at  the  last, 
Quia  lapidaverunt  Stephanum. 

Now  sing  we  both  all  and  some  : 

Lapidaverunt  Stephanum. 

Pray  we  all  that  now  be  here, 
Unto  Saint  Stephen,  that  martyr  clear, 
To  save  us  all  from  the  fiendes  fear. 
Lapidaverunt  Stephanum. 

Now  sing  we  both  all  and  some  : 

Lapidaverunt  Stephanum.' 

1  Burst. 


iz6  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Pray  for  us  to  tJie  Prince  of  peace, 
A  mice  Christi,  Johannes  1 

Before  1529. 

To  thee  now,  Christ's  dear  darling, 
That  wert  maiden2  both  old  and  ying, 
My  heart  is  set  a  song  to  sing, 
Amice  Christi,  Johannes. 

For  thou  wert  so  clean  a  maid, 
The  secrets  of  heaven  were  to  thee  said 
When  on  Christ's  breast  thou  wert  laid, 
Amice  Christi,  Johannes. 

When  Christ  before  Pilate  was  brought, 
Thou,  clean  of  heart,  forsook  Him  nought, 
To  die  with  Him  was  all  thy  thought, 
Amice  Christi,  Johannes. 

Christ's  mother  thou  tookest  home  with  thee 
Maiden,  a  maiden's  friend  to  be, 
Thou  be  our  help,  we  pray  to  thee, 
Amice  Christi,  Johannes. 

Pray  for  us  to  the  Trinity, 
Johannes,  Christi  care 

Before  1536. 

THOU  dearest  disciple  of  Jesu  Christ, 
Most  best  beloved  and  best  betrust,3 
Which  at  his  Last  Supper  did  lie  on  his  breast, 
Sacra  fluenta  -potare. 

Pray  for  us  to  the  Trinity, 
Johannes,  Christi  care  ! 

1  In  another  version  the  third  person  is  used  throughout. 

2  Bachelor.  3  Trusted. 


NUNC   GAUDET   ECCLESIA  127 

As  [He]  in  His  Passion  to  His  dear  mother, 
Took  thee  for  her  keeper,  her  son  and  His  brother, 
Pray  that  our  hearts  may  most  of  all  other 
Jesum  semper  amare. 

Pray  for  us  to  the  Trinity, 

Johannes,  Christi  care  / 

And  as  thou  the  strong  venom  which  two  men  had  slain, 
Drank  (thou)  without  hurt,  and  raised  them  again, 
Pray  that  the  venom  of  sin  may  us  not  pain, 
Non  poterit  alii  gar  e. 

Pray  for  us  to  the  Trinity, 

Johannes,  Christi  care  ! 

As  thou  the  two  men  their  treasure  did  restore, 
That  had  forsaken  and  mourned  therefore, 
Pray  that  we  may  false  riches  forsake  for  evermore, 
Celis  tesaurixare. 

Pray  for  us  to  the  Trinity, 

Johannes,  Christi  care  ! 

And  pray  that  we  may  have  such  grace, 
Here  so  to  mourn  for  our  trespass, 
That  we  may  stand  sicker  *  before  Christ's  face, 
Cum  venerit  judicare. 

Pray  for  us  to  the  Trinity, 

Johannes,  Christi  care  ! 

1  Secure.     Scotch,  sicker. 


128  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Worship  we  this  holy  day. 
That  all  Innocents  for  us  pray 

Before  1529. 

HEROD  that  was  both  wild  and  wode, 
Full  much  he  shed  of  Christian  blood, 
To  slay  that  Child  so  meek  of  mood, 
That  Mary  bare,  that  clean  may. 

Mary  with  Jesu  forth  yfraught,1 
As  the  angel  her  taught, 
To  flee  the  land  till  it  were  sought, 
To  Egypt  2  she  took  her  way. 

Herod  slew  with  pride  and  sin 
Thousands  of  two  year  and  within ; 
The  body  of  Christ  he  thought  to  win 
And  to  destroy  the  Christian  fay.3 

Now  Jesus  that  didst  die  for  us  on  the  Rood, 
And  didst  christen  innocents  in  their  blood, 
By  the  prayer  of  Thy  mother  good, 
Bring  us  to  bliss  that  lasteth  ay. 


Psallite  gaudentesy 
Infantum  festa  colentes 

Before  1529. 

WHEN  God  was  born  of  Mary  free, 
Herod,  the  king  of  Galilee, 
Was  moved  to  malice  by  kinge's  three 
Munera  portantes, 
Regem  natum  venerantes. 

i  Laden.  2  Text:  Epytte.  s  Faith. 


NUNC   GAUDET   ECCLESIA  129 

Herod  sent  for  men  armed  bright 
To  seek  and  slay  the  King  of  light ; 
The  blessed  Child  drew  fro  Herod's  might, 
Armati  sunt  -perimentes. 

A,  a,  a,  a, 

^mc  gaudet  ecclesia 

Fifteenth  Century. 

LISTENETH,  lordings,  both  great  and  small, 
I  shall  you  tell  a  wonder  tale, 
How  Holy  Church  was  brought  in  bale, 
Cum  magna  injuria. 

The  greatest  clerk  in  all  this  land, 
Thomas  of  Canterbury,  I  understand, 
Slain  he  was  by  wicked  hand, 
Demonis  *  -potencia. 

Knights  camen  fro  Henry  2  king, 
Wicked  men,  without  leasing,3 
There  they  diden  a  wonder  thing, 
Yerventes  insania.^ 

They  sought  him  all  about, 
Within  the  palace  and  without  ; 
Of  Jesu  Christ  had  they  no  doubt,5 
In  sua  malicia. 

They  opened  their  mouths  wonder  wide, 
To  Thomas  they  spaken  mickle  pride, 
"  Traitor,  here,  thou  shalt  abide, 
Per  ens  mortis  tedia" 

1  Another  reading :  malorum.          2  Elsewhere,  Harry  and  Hendry. 
3  Lie,  i.e.  truly.  4  Elsewhere:  Per  regis  imperia.  5  Fear. 

X 


130  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Thomas  answered  with  milde  cheer, 
"  If  ye  will  me  slay  in  this  manner, 
Let  them  pass,  all  that  are  here, 
Sine  contumel\i\a" 

Beforn  his  altar  he  kneeled  adown, 
There  they  began  to  pare  his  crown  ; 
They  stirred  the  braines  up  so  down,1 
tans  celi  gaudia. 


The  tormentors  about  [they]  start, 
With  deadly  wounds  they  gan  him  hurt  ; 
Thomas  died  in  Mother-Church, 
Per  gens  ad  celestia. 

Mother,  clerk,  widow,  and  wife, 
Worship  ye  Thomas  in  all  your  life  ; 
For  fifty-two  points  2  he  lost  his  life, 
Contra  regis  consilia. 

Upside  down.  2  The  Constitutions  of  Clarendon,  1164. 


APPENDIX   I1 

LATIN,  ANGLO-NORMAN,  AND  FRENCH  CAROLS 

Ecce  quod  Natura 

ECCE  quod  natura 
Mutat  sua  jura, 
Virgo  parit  pura 
Dei  Filium. 

Ecce  novum  gaudium, 

Ecce  novum  mirum, 
Virgo  parit  filium, 

Que  non  novit  virum  ; 

Sed  ut  pirus  pirum 

Gleba  fert  saphirum, 
Dei  Filium. 

Mundum  Deus  flebilem 

Videns  in  ruina, 
Rosam  dilectabilem 

Produxit  de  spina, 

Produxit  de  spina, 

Que  celi  regina 

Nostra  medicina 
Et  salus  hominum. 

1  See  note. 
131 


132  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Nequivit  Divinitas 
Plus  humilimi ; 

Nee  nostra  fragilitas 
Magis  exaltari, 
Magis  exaltari, 
Quam  celo  locari, 
Deo  coequari, 
Per  conjugina. 


Seignors,   Ore  Entendez  d  Nus 

Early  Thirteenth  Century. 

SEIGNORS,  ore  entendez  a  nus, 
De  loinz  sumes  venuz  a  wous, 

Pur  quere  Noel ; 

Car  1'em  nus  dit  que  en  cest  hostel 
Soleit  tenir  sa  feste  anuel, 
Ahi,  cest  jur. 

Deu  doint  a  tuz  icels  joie  d'amurs, 
Qui  a  Danz  Noel  ferunt  honors  ! 

Seignors,  jo  vus  dis  por  veir, 
Ke  Danz  Noel  ne  velt  a  veir 

Si  joie  non ; 
E  repleni  sa  maison 
De  payn,  de  char,  e  de  peison, 
Por  faire  honor. 

Deu  doint  a  tuz  eels  joie  d'amun, 
Qui  a  Danz  Noel  ferunt  honors  / 

Seignors,  il  est  crie  en  1'ost, 
Que  cil  qui  despent  bien,  e  tost, 
E  largement, 


APPENDIX   I  133 

E  fet  les  granz  honors  sovent, 

Deu  li  duble  quanque  il  despent, 
Por  faire  henor. 

Deu  doint  a  tuz  icels  joie  d*  amours, 
Qui  a  Danz  Noel  ferunt  honors  ! 

Seignors,  escriez  les  malveis, 
Car  vuz  nel  les  troverez  jameis, 

De  bone  part : 

Botun,  batun,  ferun,  groinard, 
Car  tot  dis  a  le  quer  cunard 
Por  faire  henor. 

Deu  doint  a  tuz  icels  joie  d'amours, 
Qui  a  Danz  Noel  ferunt  honors  ! 

Noel  beyt  bien  li  vin  Engleis, 
E  li  Gascoin,  e  li  Franceys, 

E  1' Angevin  ; 

Noel  fait  beivere  son  veisin, 
Si  qu'il  se  dort,  le  chief  enclin, 
Sovent  le  jor. 

Deu  doint  a  tuz  eels  joie  d*  amours, 
Qui  a  Danz  Noel  ferunt  honors  / 

Seignors,  jo  vus  di  par  Noel, 
E  par  li  sires  de  cest  hostel, 

Car  bevez  ben ; 
E  jo  primes  beverai  le  men, 
E  pois  apres  chescon  le  soen, 
Par  mon  conseil ; 

Si  jo  vus  di  trestoz,  "  Wesseyl  !  " 
Dehaiz  eit  qui  ne  dirra,  "  Drincheyl !  " 


134  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Anglo-Norman  Carol 

Translated  by  F.  Douce. 

LORDINGS,  listen  to  our  lay — 
We  have  come  from  far  away 

To  seek  Christmas  ; 
In  this  mansion  we  are  told 
He  his  yearly  feast  doth  hold  ; 

'Tis  to-day  ! 

May  joy  come  from  God  above, 
To  all  those  who  Christmas  love. 

Lordings,  I  now  tell  you  true, 
Christmas  bringeth  unto  you 

Only  mirth  ; 

His  house  he  fills  with  many  a  dish 
Of  bread  and  meat  and  also  fish, 

To  grace  the  day. 
May  joy  come  from  God  above, 
To  all  those  who  Christmas  love. 

Lordings,  through  our  army's  band 
They  say — who  spends  with  open  hand 

Free  and  fast, 

And  oft  regales  his  many  friends — 
God  gives  him  double  what  he  spends, 

To  grace  the  day. 
May  joy  come  from  God  above, 
To  all  those  who  Christmas  love. 

Lordings,  wicked  men  eschew, 
In  them  never  shall  you  view 
Aught  that's  good ; 


APPENDIX   I  135 

Cowards  are  the  rabble  rout, 
Kick  and  beat  the  grumblers  out, 

To  grace  the  day. 
May  joy  come  from  God  above, 
To  all  those  who  Christmas  love. 

To  English  ale  and  Gascon  wine, 

And  French,  doth  Christmas  much  incline — 

And  Anjou's,  too ; 
He  makes  his  neighbour  freely  drink, 
So  that  in  sleep  his  head  doth  sink 

Often  by  day. 

May  joy  come  from  God  above, 
To  all  those  who  Christmas  love. 

Lords,  by  Christmas  and  the  host 
Of  this  mansion  hear  my  toast — 

Drink  it  well — 

Each  must  drain  his  cup  of  wine, 
And  I  the  first  will  toss  off  mine  : 

Thus  I  advise. 

Here  then  I  bid  you  all  Wassail, 
Cursed  be  he  who  will  not  say,  Drinkhail. 
May  joy  come  from  God  above, 
To  all  those  who  Christmas  love. 


Celebrons  la  Naissance 

Late  Sixteenth  Century. 

C£L£BRONS  la  Naissance 

Nostri  Salvatoris, 
Qui  fait  la  complaisance 
Dei  sui  Patris  ; 


136  CAROLS   OF    THE   NATIVITY 

Cet  Enfan  tout  aimable, 

In  node  media 
Est  ne  dans  une  etable 

De  casta  Maria. 
Cette  heureuse  nouvelle 

Olim  pastoribus 
Par  un  ange  fidelle 

Fuit  nunciatus, 
Leur  disant,  "  Laissez  paitre 

In  agro  viridi, 
Venez  voir  notre  Maitre, 

Filiumque  Dei." 
A  cette  voix  celeste 

Omnes  hi  pastores, 
D'un  air  doux  et  modeste, 

Et  multum  gaudentes, 
Incontinent  marcherent 

Relicto  pecore  ; 
Tous  ensemble  arriverent 

In  BetUem  Judts. 
Le  premier  qu'ils  trouverent 

Intrantes  stabulum, 
Fut  Joseph,  ce  bon  pere, 

Senio  confectum, 
Qui  d'ardeur  nompareille, 

It  obviam  illis, 
Les  recoit,  les  accueille 

Expansis  brachiis. 
II  fait  a  tous  caresse, 

Et  in  preesepio 
Fait  voir  plein  d'alegresse 

Matrem  cum  Filio  ; 


APPENDIX   I  137 

Ces  bergers  s'etonnerent 

Intuentes  Eum, 
Que  les  anges  reverent 

Pannis  involutum. 
Lorsqu'ils  se  prosternerent 

Cum  reverentia, 
Et  tous  ils  adorerent, 

Pietate  summa, 
Ce  Sauveur  tout  aimable 

Qui  homo  factus  est, 
Et  qui  dans  une  etable 

Nasci  dignatus  est, 
D'un  coeur  humble  et  sincere, 

Suis  muneribus, 
Donnerent  a  la  mere 

Et  Filio  ejus 
Des  marques  de  tendresse  ; 

Atque  his  peractis, 
Font  voir  leur  alegresse 

Hymnis  et  canticis. 
Mille  esprits  angeliques 

Juncti  -pastoribus 
Chantent  dans  leur  musique : 

"  Puer  nobis  natus  ; 
Au  Dieu  par  qui  vous  sommes, 

Gloria  in  excelsis, 
Et  la  paix  soit  aux  hommes 

Bones  voluntatis  !  " 
Jamais  pareilles  fetes  ! 

Judicio  omnium, 
Meme  jusques  aux  betes 
Testantur  gaudium. 


138  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Enfin  cette  Naissance 

Cunctis  creaturis 
Donne  rejouissance, 

Et  replet  gaudiis. 
Qu'on  ne  soit  insensible, 

Adeamus  omnes, 
Ce  Dieu  rendu  passible 

Procter  nos  mor tales, 
Et  tous  de  compagnie 

Exoramus  Eum, 
Qu'a  la  fin  de  la  vie 

Dei  regnum  beatum. 


APPENDIX   IP 

CAROLS   NOT   RELATED   TO   CHRISTMAS 

A   Carol  of  Hunting 2 

1521. 

As  I  came  by  a  green  forest-side 

I  met  with  a  forester  that  bade  me  abide, 

With  "  Hey  go  bet,3  hey  go  bet,  hey  go  howe  !  " 

Underneath  a  tree  I  did  me  set, 

And  with  a  great  hart  anon  I  met. 

I  bad  let  slip,  and  said,  "  Hey  go  bet  !  " 

With  "  Hey  go  bet,  hey  go  bet,  howe  !  " 

I  had  not  stood  there  but  a  while, 

For  the  maintenance  of  a  mile, 

There  came  a  great  hart,  without  guile  : 

"  There  he  goeth,  there  he  goeth,  hey  go  howe  ! 

We  shall  have  game  and  sport  ynow." 

Talbot  my  hound  with  a  merry  taste 

All  about  the  green  wood  he  gan  cast. 

I  took  my  horn  and  blew  him  a  blast, 

With  "  Tro-ro-ro-ro,  tro-ro-ro-ro  !  " 

With  "  Hey  go  bet,  hey  go  bet,  hey  go  howe  ! 

There  he  goeth,  there  he  goeth,  hey  go  howe ! 

We  shall  have  sport  and  game  ynow !  " 

1  See  Note.  2  Christmas  Carolles  (Wynkyn  de  Worde). 

3  Better  or  beat  ?    Hey  go  bet  is  a  hunting  cry. 

139 


140  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

My  Love  that  Mourneth  for  Me l 

Temp.  Henry  VIII.  John  Gwynneth. 

AND  I  mankind 
Have  not  in  mind, 

My  love  that  mourneth  for  me,  for  me. 
Who  is  my  love 
But  God  above 

That  born  was  of  Mary  ? 

And  on  the  Rood 
His  precious  blood 

He  shed  to  make  me  free. 
Whom  should  I  prove 
So  true  of  love 

So  gentle  and  courteous  as  He  ? 

That  King  of  bliss 
My  love  He  is 

That  mourneth  so  sore  for  me, 


The  Father  His  Son 
From  heaven  sent  down 

That  born  was  of  a  maid ; 
The  prophecy 
Of  Isay 

Fulfilled  He  and  said  : 

1  See  note. 


APPENDIX   II 

"  Behold,  mankind, 
Thy  Maker  most  loving 

For  thy  love  come  to  die. 
What  is  thy  mind 
To  be  so  unkind 

Sith  I  so  mourn  for  thee,  for  thee  ?  " 

That  virgin's  Child, 
Most  meek  and  mild, 

Alonely  for  my  sake, 
His  Father's  will 
For  to  fulfill 

He  came  great  pains  to  take. 

And  suffered  death 
As  vScripture  saith, 

That  we  should  saved  be, 
On  Good  Friday, 
Wherefore  I  say 

He  mourned  sore  for  me,  for  me. 

Such  pain  and  smart 
As  in  His  heart 

He  suffered  for  mankind, 
Can  no  man  take 
Nor  mourning  make 

So  meekly  for  his  friend. 

The  cruel  Jews 
Would  not  refuse 

To  nail  Him  to  a  tree, 
And  with  a  dart 
To  pierce  His  heart 

Thus  mourned  He  for  me. 


142  CAROLS    OF   THE    NATIVITY 

Now  Christ  Jesu, 
Of  love  most  true, 

Have  mercy  upon  me  ; 
I  ask  the  grace 
For  my  trespass 

That  I  have  done  to  Thee. 


For  Thy  sweet  name, 
Save  me  from  shame 

And  all  adversity ; 
For  Mary's  sake, 
To  Thee  me  take 

And  mourn  no  more  for  me. 


The  Rose  of  Ryse ] 

Fifteenth  Century. 

THE  rose  is  the  fairest  flower  of  all, 
That  evermore  was,  or  evermore  shall, 

The  rose  of  ryse.2 

Of  all  these  flowers  the  rose  bears  prize. 
The  rose,  it  is  the  fairest  flower, 
The  rose  is  sweetest  of  odour. 

The  rose  in  care  is  comforter, 
The  rose  in  sickness  it  is  salver,3 

The  rose  so  bright. 

In  medicine  it  is  most  of  might, 
Witness  these  clerkes  that  be  wise. 
The  rose  is  the  flower  most  holden  in  prize. 

1  MS.  31,042,  fol.  nob.     See  note.      2  Qn  the  branch.      *  Saviour. 


APPENDIX   II  143 

Therefore  methinks  the  fleur-de-lys 
Shoulde  worship  the  rose  of  ryse, 

And  be  his  thrall ; 
And  so  should  other  flowers  all. 
Many  a  knight  with  spear  and  lance, 
Followed  that  rose  to  his  pleasance. 

When  the  rose  betided  a  chance, 
Then  followed  all  the  flowers  of  France 

And  changed  hue, 

In  pleasance  of  the  rose  so  true.  .  .  . 
[Incomplete.] 


My  Heart  of  Gold^ 

1546-52. 

My  heart  of  gold  as  true  as  steel, 

As  I  me  leaned  to  a  bough, 
In  faith,  but  if  ye  love  me  well — 

Lord  i    So  Robin  lough? 

MY  lady  went  to  Canterbury, 

The  saint  3  her  help  to  be  ; 
She  met  with  Kate  of  Malmesbury  : 

"  Why  sleepest  thou  in  an  apple-tree  ?  " 
My  heart  of  gold,  &c. 

Nine  miles  to  Michaelmas, 

Our  dame  began  to  brew. 
Michael  set  his  mare  to  grass. 

Lord  !   so  fast  it  snew. 
My  heart  of  gold,  fcsfr. 

i  Richard  Kele's  Christmas  Carols.     See  note.  2  Laughed. 

3  Thomas  £  Becket. 


144  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

11  For  you,  love,  I  brake  my  glass ; 

Your  gown  is  furred  with  blue. 
The  devil  is  dead,  for  there  I  was, 

Ywis,  it  is  full  true. 

My  heart  of  gold,  &c. 

And  if  ye  sleep,  the  cock  will  crow ; 

True  heart,  think  what  I  say. 
Jackanapes  will  make  a  mow  *  ; 

Look,  who  dare  say  him  nay  ? 
My  heart  of  gold,  &c. 

I  pray  you,  have  me  now  in  mind, 

I  tell  you  of  the  matter. 
He  blew  his  horn  against  the  wind  ; 

The  cow  goeth  to  the  water. 
My  heart  of  gold,  &c. 

Yet  I  tell  you  mickle  more  : 
The  cat  lieth  in  the  cradle. 

I  pray  you,  keep  true  heart  in  store, 
A  penny  for  a  ladle. 

My  heart  of  gold,  &c. 

I  swear  by  St.  Katherine  of  Kent, 
The  goose  goeth  to  the  green, 

All  our  dog's  tail  is  brent, 
It  is  not  as  I  ween. 

My  heart  of  gold,  &e. 

Tyrlery  lorpin  the  laverock  sang, 
So  merrily  pipes  the  sparrow  ; 

The  cow  brake  loose,  the  rope  ran  home- 
Sir,  God  give  you  Good-Morrow  ! 
My  heart  of  gold,  &c. 

i  Face. 


APPENDIX   II  H5 

All  under  the  Leaves,  and  the  Leaves  of  Life1 

Traditional. 

ALL  under  the  leaves,  and  the  leaves  of  life, 

I  met  with  virgins  seven, 
And  one  of  them  was  Mary  mild, 

Our  Lord's  mother  of  heaven. 

"  O  what  are  you  seeking,  you  seven  fair  maids, 

All  under  the  leaves  of  life  ; 
Come  tell,  come  tell,  what  seek  you 

All  under  the  leaves  of  life  ?  " 

"  We're  seeking  for  no  leaves,  Thomas,2 

But  for  a  friend  of  thine, 
We're  seeking  for  sweet  Jesus  Christ, 

To  be  our  guide  and  thine  !  " 

"  Go  down,  go  down  to  yonder  town 

And  sit  in  the  gallery, 
And  there  you'll  see  sweet  Jesus  Christ 

Nailed  to  a  big  yew-tree  !  " 

So  down  they  went  to  yonder  town 

As  fast  as  foot  could  fall, 
And  many  a  grievous  bitter  tear 

From  the  Virgin's  eye  did  fall. 

"  O  peace,  mother,  O  peace,  mother, 

Your  weeping  doth  me  grieve  ; 
I  must  suffer  this,"  he  said, 

"  For  Adam  and  for  Eve." 

1  See  note.  2  Doubting  Thomas  ? 


146  CAROLS   OF   THE    NATIVITY 

"  O  mother,  take  you  John  Evangelist 

All  for  to  be  your  son, 
And  he  will  comfort  you  sometimes, 

Mother,  as  I  have  done." 

"  O  come  thou,  John  Evangelist, 

Thou'rt  welcome  unto  me, 
But  more  welcome  my  own  dear  Son 

Whom  I  nursed  on  my  knee." 

Then  he  laid  his  head  on  his  right  shoulder, 
Seeing  death  it  struck  him  nigh, 

"The  holy  Mother  be  with  your  soul, 
I  die,  mother  dear,  I  die." 

O  the  rose,  the  gentle  rose, 
And  the  fennel  that  grows  so  green, 

God  give  us  grace  in  every  place 
To  pray  for  our  king  and  queen. 

Furthermore  for  our  enemies  all 
Our  prayers  they  should  be  strong  : 

Amen,  good  Lord  ;   your  charity 
Is  the  ending  of  my  song. 


To-morrow  shall  be  My  Dancing  Day 

Traditional. 

TO-MORROW  shall  be  my  dancing  day, 
I  would  my  true  love  did  so  chance 
To  see  the  legend  of  my  play, 

To  call  my  true  love  to  my  dance. 

Sing,  oh  !  my  love,  oh  !  my  love,  my  love,  my  love, 
This  have  I  done  for  my  true  love. 


APPENDIX   II  H7 

Then  was  I  born  of  a  virgin  pure, 
Of  her  I  took  fleshly  substance  ; 
Thus  was  I  knit  to  man's  nature, 
To  call  my  true  love  to  my  dance. 

Sing,  oh  !   my  love,  oh  !  my  love,  my  love,  my  love, 
This  have  I  done  for  my  true  love. 

In  a  manger  laid  and  wrapped  I  was, 
So  very  poor,  this  was  my  chance, 
Betwixt  an  ox  and  a  silly  poor  ass, 
To  call  my  true  love  to  my  dance. 

Sing,  oh  !  my  love,  oh  !  my  love,  my  love,  my  lovet 
This  have  I  done  for  my  true  love. 

Then  afterwards  baptized  I  was, 

The  Holy  Ghost  on  me  did  glance, 

My  Father's  voice  heard  from  above, 

To  call  my  true  love  to  my  dance. 

Sing,  oh  !  my  love,  oh  !  my  love,  my  love,  my  love, 
This  have  I  done  for  my  true  love. 

Into  the  desert  I  was  led, 

Where  I  fasted  without  substance  ; 
The  devil  bade  me  make  stones  my  bread, 
To  have  me  break  my  true  love's  dance. 

Sing,  oh  !  my  love,  oh  !  my  love,  my  love,  my  love, 
This  have  I  done  for  my  true  love. 

The  Jews  on  me  they  make  great  suit, 

And  with  me  made  great  variance, 
Because  they  loved  darkness  rather  than  light, 
To  call  my  true  love  to  my  dance. 

Sing,  oh  !  my  love,  oh  !  my  love,  my  love,  my  love, 
This  have  I  done  for  my  true  love. 


148  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

For  thirty  pence  Judas  me  sold, 

His  covetousness  for  to  advance. 
Mark  whom  I  kiss,  the  same  do  hold, 
The  same  is  he  shall  lead  the  dance. 

Sing,  oh  /  my  love,  oh  !  my  love,  my  love,  my  love, 
This  have  I  done  for  my  true  love. 

Before  Pilate  the  Jews  me  brought, 
Where  Barabbas  had  deliverance, 
They  scourged  me  and  set  me  at  nought, 
Judged  me  to  die  to  lead  the  dance. 

Sing,  oh  I  my  love,  oh  !  my  love,  my  love,  my  love, 
This  have  I  done  for  my  true  love. 

Then  on  the  Cross  hanged  I  was, 

Where  a  spear  to  my  heart  did  glance  ; 
There  issued  forth  both  water  and  blood, 
To  call  my  true  love  to  my  dance. 

Sing,  oh  /  my  love,  oh  !  my  love,  my  love,  my  love, 
This  have  I  done  for  my  true  love. 

Then  down  to  hell  I  took  my  way 

For  my  true  love's  deliverance, 
And  rose  again  on  the  third  day, 
Up  to  my  true  love  and  the  dance. 

Sing,  oh  !  my  love,  oh  !  my  love,  my  love,  my  love, 
This  have  I  done  for  my  true  love. 

Then  up  to  heaven  I  did  ascend, 

Where  now  I  dwell  in  sure  substance, 
On  the  right  hand  of  God,  that  man 
May  come  into  the  general  dance. 

Sing,  oh  !  my  love,  oh  !  my  love,  my  love,  my  love, 
This  have  I  done  for  my  true  love. 


NOTES 

P.  3-  Virgo  Rosa  Virginum.  Carols  in  honour  of  the  Virgin 
belong  almost  entirely  to  pre-Reformation  times,  and  bear  marks 
of  ecclesiastical  origin  in  their  frequent  use  of  refrains  from  the 
Latin  hymns.  I  have  included  in  this  group  all  carols  in  which 
special  appeal  is  made  to  Mary.  Many  of  them  are  among  the 
most  exquisite  in  feeling  and  melody. 

P.  4.  Driht.  The  Anglo-Saxon  word  for  Lord,  the  latest  use 
of  which  quoted  in  the  New  English  Dictionary  is  1450. 

P.  7.  M  and  A  and  R  and  I.  This  is  the  better  of  two 
very  similar  versions. 

P.  8.  There  is  no  Rose,  &c.  This  is  one  of  thirteen  carols 
found  in  a  Cambridge  MS.,  T.C.C.  o.  3,  58,  part  of  which  at  least 
is  attributed  to  John  Dunstable  of  Henry  VII. 's  Chapel.  It  is  quite 
uncertain  whether  he  wrote  the  words  as  well  as  the  music. 

P.  9.     Of  a  rose,  &c.    There  are  two  versions,  differing  slightly. 

P.  14.  Alma  Redemptoris  Mater.  This  carol  is  found  in 
several  versions  differing  slightly.  The  music  was  perhaps  written 
by  Dunstable. 

P.  19.  Before  1529.  Because  it  is  found  in  the  Fairfax  MS., 
supposed  to  have  belonged  to  Robert  Fairfax  of  Henry  VIII. 's 
Chapel,  who  died  in  that  year. 

P.  20.  A  song  upon,  &c.  I  have  not  come  upon  the  original 
on  which  this  carol  is  based.  It  is  a  type  of  poem  very  popular 
in  the  fifteenth  century,  the  Vision,  and  relates  itself  in  treament 
to  the  more  elaborate  carol  on  p.  174;  but  it  stands,  I  think, 
alone  in  representing  Mary  as  prophesying  the  event,  and  picturing 
herself  as  singing  lullaby. 

P.  24.  "  Marvel  riot,  Joseph"  &c.  This  carol  and  the  following 
seem  to  be  unique.  I  have  classified  them  in  this  group  because, 
after  all,  Mary  is  the  poet's  theme,  the  use  made  of  Joseph  being 
merely  an  original  way  of  emphasizing  the  subject. 

149 


150  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

P.  25.  Joseph  being  an  Aged  Man.  The  vague  resemblances 
between  this  carol  and  the  preceding  suggest  that  they  sprang 
from  the  same  source,  more  especially  as  this  aspect  of  the  subject 
does  not  seem  to  be  treated  elsewhere.  The  idea  is  distinctly 
mediaeval,  as  is  shown  by  the  occurrence  of  a  similar  dialogue  in 
the  Pageant  of  the  Shearmen  and  Tailors  (Coventry  Plays).  The 
subject  is  illustrated  in  MS.  17,587  (British  Museum)  about  1300, 
fol.  c.,  where  Joseph  seems  to  be  sleeping  "on  a  frame."  The 
refrain  "dearest  dear"  suggests  that  the  carol  may  have  been 
adapted  from  some  love-song. 

P.  28.  Ecce  Ancilla  Domini.  The  group  of  carols  embodying 
the  single  incident  of  the  Annunciation  is  clearly  marked,  but  less 
original  than  some  of  the  others  in  that  the  texts  keep  fairly 
close  to  the  Biblical  narrative.  Most  of  them  were  written  before 
the  Reformation. 

P.  38.  The  Conception  of  Christ.  This  was  probably  written 
by  John  Wedderburn,  whose  name  is  especially  associated  with 
the  Reformation  in  Scotland.  Its  interest  lies  chiefly  in  its 
introduction  of  a  lullaby  refrain  into  the  Annunciation  episode. 

P.  41.  In  Die  Nativitatis.  In  this  group  I  have  tried  to  set 
apart  the  carols  which  treat  of  the  Nativity  chiefly  from  the  his 
toric  and  dramatic  side.  They  merge  into  the  class  in  which 
emphasis  is  laid  on  the  meaning  of  the  Incarnation  (Mirabile 
Misterium).  As  most  carols  on  this  theme  touch  upon  both  phases, 
it  is  difficult  sometimes  to  say  which  aspect  is  the  more  emphatic, 
consequently  how  the  poem  is  to  be  classed.  From  the  generalized 
treatment  of  the  subject,  on  the  one  hand,  and,  on  the  other,  from 
the  attempt  in  small  compass  to  touch  upon  the  chief  features  of 
the  incident,  these  carols  are  among  the  least  interesting. 

P.  49.  Frankincense.  The  abrupt  conclusion  hints  that  the 
carol  is  incomplete,  while  the  lack  of  rhyme  in  the  last  line 
shows  corruption  of  the  text. 

P.  53.  Make  we  Joy>  &c.  This  carol  might  better  be  printed 
in  the  form  of  short  couplets,  alternately  English  and  Latin.  Its 
sole  interest  lies  in  its  macaronic  character.  It  is  evidently  with 
intention  that  a  Latin  line  follows  a  Latin,  and  an  English  an 
English,  while  the  rhyme  is  between  one  of  each. 

P.  54.  Come  to  Bethlehem,  &c.  These  five  lines  seem  to  be 
quoted  from  another  carol  to  the  music  of  which  the  text  actually 
printed  is  modelled.  This  is  seemingly  unique  in  its  theme,  which 
is  a  contrasting  of  the  moods  of  Advent,  Christmas,  Lent,  and 


NOTES  151 

Easter,  i.e.  the  alternate  fasts  and  feasts,  the  sentiment  being 
that  the  former  could  be  well  spared. 

P.  54.  A  tansy.  This  was  a  herb-dish  intended  as  a  cor 
rective  for  the  fish- diet  of  Lent.  Various  recipes  are  given  for 
its  preparation.  The  following  is  taken  from  a  book  of  cookery 
with  the  sub-title  The  Good Housewive's  Handmaid,  1597.  "Take 
all  manner  of  herbs  and  the  spawn  of  a  pike  or  any  other  fish 
and  blanched  almonds  and  a  few  crumbs  of  bread  and  a  little 
fair  water  and  a  pint  of  rosewater,  and  mingle  all  together,  and 
make  it  not  too  thin,  and  fry  it  in  oil,  and  so  serve  it  in."  The 
fish  ingredient  was  often  lacking. 

P.  55.  The  First  Nowell,  &c.  This  traditional  carol,  apparently 
first  printed  by  Sandys  in  1833,  is  yet  quite  in  the  old  spirit. 

P.  57.  Out  of  the  Orient,  &c.  This  unpublished  carol,  written 
evidently  not  long  before  1613  belongs  still  to  the  old  tradition, 
but  lacks  the  ingenuousness  of  the  earlier  lyrics. 

P.  58.  Falantidingdido.  I  have  not  found  this  refrain  else 
where,  nor  is  it  in  the  New  English  Dictionary.  Notwithstanding 
the  apparent  suggestion  of  the  word  tiding,  it  seems  to  be  mere 
nonsense ;  and  from  the  rhythm  I  incline  to  think  that  it  was 
accented  Falantidingdid6. 

P-  59-  O  Jesu  Parvule.  Beyond  doubt  the  most  original  and 
beautiful  of  the  carols  are  those  which  depart  from  the  Scripture 
material,  and  present  imaginary  scenes  from  the  childhood  of 
Christ,  by  far  the  greater  number  being  the  lullabies.  Their 
popularity  is  attested  not  only  by  their  number  but  also  by  the 
many  repetitions  with  only  slight  variations.  It  seems  reasonably 
certain  a  priori  that  the  lullaby  carols  were  suggested  by  the 
representations  of  the  creche  in  the  churches,  or  by  the  Nativity 
scenes  in  the  religious  drama  of  the  time.  Indeed,  the  carol  on 
p.  76  is  taken  from  a  miracle  play. 

P.  59.  /  Saw,  &c.  The  simplest  of  all  the  lullabies  is  pro 
bably  the  oldest.  The  MS.  in  which  it  is  found  was  said  by 
T.  Martin  of  Palgrave  to  be  in  the  writing  of  John  Brackley, 
friar  minor  of  Norwich,  tutor  of  William  Paston,  Justice  of 
Common  Pleas,  1378-1444.  Although  Brackley  was  still  alive 
in  1461,  a  memorandum  by  John  Whyte  attributes  the  songs  in 
the  manuscript  to  the  time  of  Richard  II.  and  Henry  IV.  The 
music  is  given  with  the  words. 

P.  59.  This  Endernight,  &c.  This  carol  exists  in  at  least 
four  versions  of  which  Dr.  Dyboski  prints  three  (E.E.T.S.,  Extra 


152  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Series  CL),  giving  the  variants  of  the  fourth.  They  are  all  so 
obviously  from  the  same  original  and  differ  so  slightly  that,  in 
consideration  of  their  length,  I  have  ventured  to  use  them  all  in 
making  a  translation  that  is  in  some  sense  a  composite.  The 
chief  variations  are  : — 

1.  A  star  as  bright  as  any  day,  with   the   corresponding   long 
line  :  Lullay,  by-by,  lully,  lullay. 

2.  My  Son,  my  Brother,  my  dear  darling. 

3.  Then  spake  the  Child  that  was  so  ying,  and  thus  methought 
He  said. 

4.  I  am  known  as  Heaven-King,  &c. 

5.  To  me  shall  light. 

6.  Now,  Jesu,  my  son,  Heaven-King,  &c. 

7.  The  Lord  of  might. 

8.  For  And  then  among  But  nevertheless,  &c.,frovi  stanza  2. 

9.  Mary,  mother,  queen  of  bliss,  methinketh  it  is  no  law 
That  I  should  go  to  the  kings  and  they  not  to  me  draw. 

10.  Jesu,  my  Son,  I  pray  Thee,  say  as  Thou  art  to  me  dear. 

11.  For  Yet  more  than  this,  £c.,  read: 

Both  rock  thee  still 
And  dance  Thee  theretill. 

12.  For  And  keep  me,  &c.,  read:  And  dance  me  now  full  oft. 

13.  Jesu,  my  Son,  Heaven-King,  if  it  be  Thy  will, 

Grant  Thou  me  mine  asking,  as  reason  would  and  skill. 

14.  For  That  child  or  man,  &c.,  read: 

Whatsoever  they  be, 
That  can  and  will  be. 

15.  Last  stanza  omitted. 

P.  68.  Mother  -white,  &c.  This  carol  shows  in  about  its 
simplest  form  the  extension  of  the  episode  in  which  the  Child 
replies.  In  some  of  the  sixteenth -century  carols  it  grows  into  a 
long  prophetic  narrative  of  Christ's  life  and  death  uttered  by  Himself 
in  the  cradle,  usually  combined  with  a  lullaby  refrain. 

P.  78.  Shall  /,  mother,  &c.  Although  the  refrain  suggests 
that  this  carol  belongs  to  the  preceding  group,  the  narrative  is 
entirely  in  the  past,  and  Mary's  part  is  wholly  submerged. 

P.  84.  The  Holy  Well.  This  carol  and  the  three  following 
belong  to  a  mass  of  traditions  such  as  appear  in  the  Vita  Christi 
(MS.  29,434,  circa  1400,  in  the  British  Museum),  of  which 
seemingly  only  these  few  have  survived,  at  least  in  carol  form. 
In  an  eighteenth-century  broadside  edition  this  poem  is  described 


NOTES  153 

as  "a  very  ancient  carol,"  and  indeed,  in  spirit,  as  Mr.  Bullen 
observes,  it  seems  to  be  as  old  as  the  fifteenth  century.  More 
over,  in  the  Vita  Christi  (fol.  56,  61)  we  have  illustrations  of 
Christ  at  a  well  with  other  children,  which  may  refer  to  this  or 
a  similar  legend. 

P.  86.  The  Bitter  Withy,  or  The  Withies.  This  version  of 
the  preceding  was  sung  in  Herefordshire  as  late  as  1888  (cf.  Notes 
and  Queries,  tenth  series,  iv.  pp.  84-85)  by  an  old  man  who  had 
learned  it  from  his  grandmother.  It  is  noteworthy  for  the  change 
of  attitude  ;  in  the  preceding  carol  it  is  Mary  that  is  vindictive, 
in  this  the  Christ-Child  Himself.  In  the  Vita  Christi  (fol.  6^0} 
is  a  picture  of  three  children  in  a  river  and  Christ  on  the  bank, 
which  seems  to  illustrate  this  episode.  The  beating  of  the  Child  is 
said  to  be  represented  in  a  fresco  at  Lucca. 

P.  87.  Three  jolly  jerdins.  The  word  jerdin  seems  to  be 
unknown.  It  may  have  been  corrupted  from  -virgins  to  make 
alliteration,  but  the  children  were  apparently  boys. 

P.  88.  The  Cherry-Tree  Carol.  Not  having  the  numerous 
forms  of  this  popular  carol  before  me,  I  have  followed  Mr.  Bullen 
in  his  eclectic  version.  The  antiquity  of  the  episode  upon  which 
it  is  based  is  shown  by  its  occurrence  in  one  of  the  Coventry 
plays.  The  scene  is  as  follows  : — 

Mary.  Ah,  my  sweet  husband,  will  ye  tell  to  me 

What  tree  is  yon  standing  upon  yon  hill  ? 
Joseph.  Forsooth,  Mary,  it  is  cleped  a  cherry-tree. 

In  time  of  year  ye  might  feed  you  thereon  your  fill. 
Mary.  Turn  again,  husband,  and  behold  yon  tree, 

How  that  it  bloometh  now  so  sweetly. 
Joseph.  Come  on,  Mary,  that  we  were  at  yon  city, 

Or  else  we  may  be  blamed,  I  tell  you  lightly. 
Mary.  Now,  my  spouse,  I  pray  you  to  behold 

How  the  cherries  grow  upon  yon  tree  ; 

For  to  have  thereof  right  fain  I  would, 

An  it  pleased  you  to  labour  so  much  for  me. 
Joseph.  Your  desire  to  fulfil  I  shall  assay  sickerly. 

Ow,  to  pluck  you  of  these  cherries  it  is  a  work  wild, 

For  the  tree  is  so  high  it  will  not  be  lightly  ; 

Therefore  let  him  pluck  you  cherries,  begot  you  with  child. 
Mary.  Now,  good  Lord,  I  pray  Thee,  grant  me  this  boon, 

To  have  of  these  cherries,  if  it  be  your  will. 


154  CAROLS   OF   THE   NATIVITY 

Now  I  thank  it  God,  this  tree  boweth  to  me  down, 
I  may  now  gather  enow  and  eat  my  fill. 

Joseph.  Ow,  I  know  well  I  have  offended  my  God  in  Trinity, 
Speaking  to  my  spouse  these  unkind  words  ; 
For  now  I  believe  that  my  spouse  beareth  the  King's 
Son  of  bliss,  &c. 

P.  91.  The  Carnal  and  the  Crane.  There  is  evidence  of  long 
tradition  in  the  corruption  of  the  text  of  this  carol.  It  falls  into 
two  distinct  sections :  a  generalised  account  of  the  Nativity,  and 
a  detailed  account  of  the  Flight  into  Egypt.  Notwithstanding 
the  disproportion  of  parts,  there  is  no  special  reason  for  holding 
that  they  ever  existed  separately.  The  device  of  a  theological 
discussion  between  two  birds  is  a  sufficiently  mediaeval  intro 
duction  to  a  legend  which  was  evidently  popular  in  the  fifteenth 
century,  if  we  may  judge  from  its  frequent  appearance  as  an 
illustration  in  Books  of  Hours  of  that  period  (cf.  MSS.  17,280, 
202b;  25,695,  114;  20,694,  65  in  the  British  Museum.  Doubt 
less  there  are  many  others).  The  incident  of  the  "lovely  lion" 
appears  in  the  Vita  Christi^  MS.  29,434. 

P.  96.  Gloria  in  Excelsis  Deo.  With  the  exception  of  the 
three-  or  four-part  song  in  the  Secunda  Pastorum  (Towneley 
Plays),  which  I  have  included  because  of  its  general  resemblance 
to  the  others,  no  shepherd  carol  has  survived  of  a  date  earlier  than 
the  sixteenth  century.  However,  the  popularity  of  this  aspect  of 
the  Nativity  was  very  great  during  the  late  sixteenth  and  early 
seventeenth  centuries,  no  doubt  under  the  influence  of  the  pastoral 
poetry  which  was  then  so  fashionable.  Many  of  these  later  com 
positions,  often  by  well-known  writers,  are  not  true  carols  at 
all  and  are  therefore  relegated  to  Appendix  III. 

The  shepherd  carols  show  very  great  diversity  of  treatment 
and  of  merit. 

P.  99.  As  I  rode,  £c.  Apparently  this  is  only  another  version 
of  the  preceding. 

P.  99.  The  Jolly  Shepherd  Wat.  This  most  realistic  picture 
of  the  sixteenth-century  shepherd  suggests  the  similar  handling 
of  the  theme  in  the  mystery  plays.  See  especially  the  Secunda 
Pastorum,  where  the  homely  gifts  are  a  bob  of  cherries,  a  bird, 
and  a  ball,  and  the  Pageant  of  the  Shearmen  and  the  Tailors, 
where  a  pipe,  a  hat,  and  mittens  are  offered.  In  the  carol  it 
is  a  pipe,  scrip,  tar-box,  and  skirt.  Altogether,  the  poem  reads 


NOTES  155 

very  much  like  a  short  lyrical  account  of  such  a  scene,  and  the 
phrase  "Joseph  with  the  round  cape"  suggests  that  the  author 
had  a  mental  image  derived  either  from  the  stage  or  from  some 
picture. 

P.  no.  Reges  de  Saba  Venient.  The  Adoration  of  the  Magi  was 
one  of  the  most  popular  subjects  for  pictorial  and  dramatic  repre 
sentation  in  the  Middle  Ages  ;  but  carols  on  the  theme  are  few, 
elaborate,  and  not  especially  good.  The  first  two  carols  are 
versions  of  the  same  to  the  end  of  the  eleventh  stanza ;  then 
the  second,  with  some  confusions,  appends  the  Slaughter  of  the 
Innocents. 

P.  114.  Us.  Apparently  the  Kings  are  speaking.  It  would 
seem  as  if  a  stanza  has  been  lost  in  which  they  began  to  relate 
their  journey. 

P.  115.  Into  Bethlehem,  &c.  These  lines  seem  to  be  misplaced. 
They  fit  in  between  the  seventh  and  eighth  stanzas,  pp.  1 13-14. 

P.  115.  Sun  in  glass.  Cf.  p.  1 84.  In  this  case  the  allusion 
seems  to  be  to  a  burning-glass  (cf.  a  beautiful  illumination  showing 
one  in  MS.  14  E  I,  fol.  3,  fifteenth  century);  in  the  second 
reference  the  idea  may  be  the  same,  or  it  may  allude  to  the 
transmission  of  light  through  glass  without  injuring  the  glass. 

P.  121.  Nunc  gaudet  Ecclesia.  The  first  two  carols  in  this  group 
name  the  Saints'  days  kept  at  Christmas.  Of  these  St.  Stephen's 
Day,  now  Boxing  Day,  seems  to  have  been  most  celebrated.  Cf. 
p.  221-22,  where  Stephen  is  already  invoked  in  connection  with 
terms  that  suggest  the  custom  of  asking  for  "  boxes." 

The  carols  in  this  group  are  of  very  unequal  merit. 

P.  121.  Thou  merry  man.  An  allusion  to  the  personification 
of  the  season,  doubtless  as  a  part  of  the  mumming  practices.  Cf. 
Dan  Noel  and  Sir  Christmas. 

P.  123.  St.  Stephen  was  a  Clerk.  The  central  episode  of  this 
very  quaint  carol  (cf.  The  Carnal  and  the  Crane,  p.  91,  where 
the  Magi  bring  the  news)  was  related  about  1200  by  Vincent 
of  Beauvais,  who,  however,  tells  it  of  two  men  at  a  dinner-table, 
one  of  whom,  carving  a  fowl,  said  that  he  would  do  it  so 
thoroughly  that  not  Peter  nor  our  Lord  Himself  could  put  it 
together  again.  Whereupon  the  cock  was  feathered  and  crowed, 
and  both  men  became  lepers. 

A  similar  idea  is  illustrated  in  a  print  at  the  head  of  a  carol-sheet 
published  in  1701.  It  shows  the  stable  at  Bethlehem,  the  animals 
being  represented  with  Latin  inscriptions  coming  from  their  mouths 


156  CAROLS    OF   THE   NATIVITY 

as  follows : — The  cock :  "  Christus  natus  est."  The  raven  : 
"Quando?"  Thecow :  "Hac  nocte."  Theox:"Ubi?"  The 
sheep  :  "Bethlehem." 

P.  140.  My  Love  that  Mourneth  for  Me.  This  is  an  Easter 
carol  obviously  adapted  from  some  earlier  love-song.  John 
Gwynneth  was  one  of  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Chapel  to  Henry  VIII. 

P.  142.  The  Rose  of  Ryse.  Although  this  incomplete  poem 
is  distinctly  labelled  in  the  margin  in  a  contemporary  hand  "  A 
Christmas  Carol,"  it  seems  to  be  rather  political,  alluding  to  the 
Tudor  rose  and  the  fleur-de-lys  of  France. 

P.  143.  My  Heart  of  Gold.  This  is  simply  a  nonsense  rhyme 
or  medley. 

P.  145.  All  under  the  Leaves,  &c.  This  is  a  traditional  carol, 
which  in  spirit  relates  itself  to  the  mystery  plays  of  the  Passion  ; 
but  it  has  nothing  to  do  with  Christmas. 

P.  146.  To-morrow  shall  be  my  Dancing-Day.  This  tradi 
tional  carol  is  perhaps  a  transformed  love-song. 


PART   II 

CAROLS    OF   THE   DIVINE 
MYSTERY 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM 


Mirabile  misterium  ! x 

The  Son  of  God  is  man  become 

Fifteenth  Century. 

A  MARVELOUS  thing  I  have  mused  in  my  mind, 

How  that  Veritas  sprang  right  of  the  ground, 
And  Justicia,  for  all  mankind, 

From  heaven  to  earth  he  came  adown. 
Mirabile  misterium  ! 
The  Son  of  God  is  man  become. 

Then  Mary,  that  merciful  may, 

Seeing  man  damned  for  his  trespass 
Hath  sent  down  Sapientia,  the  sooth  to  say  ; 
Man  is  redeemed  and  brought  to  grace. 
Mirabile  misterium  ! 
The  Son  of  God  is  man  become. 

Celestial  citizens,  for  us  that  you  pray 

To  Him  that  is  both  Alpha  and  O, 

That  we  may  be  saved  on  Doomsday, 

And  brought  to  that  bliss  He  bought  us  to  ! 
Mirabile  misterium  ! 
The  Son  of  God  is  man  become. 

1  MS.  Lansdowne  379,  fol.  83. 
159 


i6o      CAROLS   OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 


The  Flower  of  Jesse 

About  1426.  John  Awdlay  ? 

THERE  is  a  Flower  sprung  of  a  tree, 
The  root  thereof  is  called  Jesse  ; 

A  Flower  of  price, 
There  is  none  such  in  Paradise  ! 


This  Flower  is  fair  and  fresh  of  hue  ; 
It  fadeth  never,  but  ever  is  new  ; 
The  blissful  branch  this  Flower  on  grew 
Was  Mary  mild  that  bare  Jesu. 

A  Flower  of  grace, 
Asainst  all  sorrow  it  is  solace  ! 


*&• 


The  seed  hereof  was  God's  command,1 
That  God  Himself  sowed  with  His  hand 
In  Bethlehem,  in  that  holy  land  ; 
Amidst  her  harbour  there  he  2  her  found. 

This  blissful  Flower 
Sprang  never  but  in  Mary's  bower. 

When  Gabriel  this  maiden  met, 
With  "  Ave  Maria  "  he  her  gret ;  3 
Between  them  two  this  Flower  was  set, 
And  kept  [It]  was,  no  man  shall  wit ; 

But  on  a  day 
In  Bethlehem  It  gan  spread  and  spray. 

1  Text :   Godes  sond.  2  The  angel.  3  Greeted. 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  161 

When  that  Flower  began  to  spread, 

And  His  blossom  forth  He  led,1 

Rich  and  poor  in  every  stead,2 

They  marvelled  how  this  Flower  might  spread, 

And  kinges  three 
That  blissful  Flower  came  to  see. 


Angels  there  came  out  of  their  tower 
To  look  upon  this  freshly  Flower, 
How  fair  He  was  in  His  colour, 
And  how  sweet  in  His  savour, 

And  to  behold 
How  such  a  Flower  might  spring  in  gold  ! 


Of  lily,  of  rose  of  ryse,3 

Of  primrose,  and  of  fleur-de-lys, 

Of  all  the  flowers  at  my  device, 

That  Flower  of  Jesse  yet  bears  the  price 

As  most  of  heal, 
To  slake  our  sorrows  every  deal. 

I  pray  thee,  flowers  of  this  countree, 
Wherever  ye  go,  wherever  ye  be, 
Hold  up  the  Flower  of  good  Jesse, 
For  your  freshness  and  your  beauty, 

As  fairest  of  all, 
And  ever  was  and  ever  shall. 


Text;  to  brede,  i.e.  to  flourish.  2  Text:  of  ...  Jede. 

3  Branch, 

t 


1 62      CAROLS   OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 
O  Flos  de  Jesse   Virgula 

Fifteenth  Century. 

O  Flos  de  Jesse  virgula 
Laus  Tibi  sit  gloria. 

ADAM  our  father  was  in  bliss, 
And  for  an  apple  of  little  price, 
He  lost  the  bliss  of  Paradise, 
Pro  sua  super bia. 

And  all  that  ever  of  him  came 
The  right  way  to  helle  nam,1 
Both  Isaac  and  Abraham, 
Teste  •prophecia. 

Then  these  prophets  preached  aforn,2 
That  a  Child  should  be  born 
To  buy  what  Adam  had  forlorn, 
Sua  morte  propna. 

Moses  first  in  his  law  told 
A  Child  there  should  be  born  so  bold 
To  buy  again  what  Adam  sold, 
Sua  node  pessima. 

Isaac,3  without  leasing, 
Prophesied  in  his  preaching, 
Of  Jesse's  root  a  Flower  should  spring 
De  virgine  f  uric  a. 

i  Took.  2  Before.  3  For  Isaiah. 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  163 

Jeremy  that  was  so  ying, 
Prophesied  of  His  coming, 
That  is  very  Lord  and  King, 
Summi  Patris  gratia. 

Furthermore,  as  I  you  tell, 
Then  prophesied  Daniel 
Of  His  coming  he  gan  spell, 
Gentibus  in  "Judtea. 

When  time  came  of  God  Almight, 
That  would  bring  mankind  to  right, 
In  a  maiden  He  gan  light, 
Que  vocatur  Maria. 

Now  is  He  born,  that  blissful  Child, 
Of  Mary  mother,  maiden  mild ; 
Fro  the  fiend  He  us  shield, 
Qui  creavit  omnia. 

Pray  we  to  Him  with  all  our  mind, 
That  hath  made  all  mankind, 
He  bring  us  alle  to  good  end, 
In  die  novissima. 


Adam  Lay   Ybounden 

Fifteenth  Century. 

ADAM  lay  ybounden, 
Bounden  in  a  bond  ; 

Four  thousand  winter 
Thought  he  not  too  long. 


164     CAROLS   OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

And  all  was  for  an  apple, 

An  apple  that  he  took, 
As  clerkes  finden  written 

In  their  book. 
Nor  had  the  apple  taken  been, 

The  apple  taken  been, 
Then  had  never  our  Lady 

A-been  heaven's  queen. 
Blessed  be  the  time 

That  apple  taken  was ! 
Therefore  we  may  singen 

Deo  gracias  ! 


All  that  }lieve^  in  Christian  lay, 
Worship  every  Christmas  day 

Fifteenth  Century.  I 

A  MAN  2  was  the  first  guilt, 
And  therefore  he  was  spilt ;  3 
The  prophecy  was  never  [fulfilled],4 
Till  on  the  Christmas  day. 

The  first  day  that  lily  sprung, 
Jesus  Christ  be  us  among, 
Ever  we  thought  it  was  too  long, 
Till  on  the  Christmas  day. 

It  was  dark,  it  was  dim, 

For  men  that  lived  in  great  sin, 

Lucifer  was  us  all  within, 

Till  on  the  Christmas  day. 

1  Believe.  2  Q'  man,  i.e.  Of  man. 

s  Destroyed.  4  Text  repeats  spilt. 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  165 

There  was  weeping,  there  was  woe, 
For  every  man  to  hell  gan  go. 
It  was  little  merry  so,1 

'Till  on  the  Christmas  day. 


Out  of  your  Sleep  Arise  and  Wake 
About  1450. 

Nowell,  nowell,  nozvell,  nozvell,  nozvell,  nozvell. 

Our  of  your  sleep  arise  and  wake, 

For  God  mankind  now  hath  ytake, 

All  of  a  maid  without  any  make  2  ; 

Of  all  women  she  beareth  the  bell. 

Novell. 

And  through  a  maiden  fair  and  wise 
Now  man  is  made  of  full  great  price  ; 
Now  angels  kneelen  to  man's  service ; 
And  at  this  time  all  this  befell. 
Novell. 

Now  man  is  brighter  than  the  sun ; 
Now  man  in  heaven  on  high  shall  wone  ; 3 
Blessed  be  God,  this  game  is  begun, 
And  His  mother  empress  of  hell. 
Nozvell. 

That  ever  was  thrall,  now  is  he  free ; 
That  ever  was  small,  now  great  is  she ; 
Now  shall  God  deem  both  thee  and  me 
Unto  His  bliss,  if  we  do  well. 
Nowell. 

1  Text:  tho=then.  2  Mate.  s  Dwell. 


166      CAROLS   OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

Now  man  may  to  heaven  wend  ; 
Now  heaven  and  earth  to  him  they  bend ; 
He  that  was  foe  now  is  our  friend. 
This  is  no  nay  that  I  you  tell. 
Nowell. 

Now  blessed  Brother,  grant  us  grace, 
At  Doomesday  to  see  Thy  face, 
And  in  Thy  court  to  have  a  place, 
That  we  may  there  sing  nowell. 
Nowell. 


Exorttim  est  in  Love  and  Lysse 

About  1450. 

Nowell  sing  we,  both  all  and  some 
Now  Rex  'pacificus  is  come. 

Exortum  est  in  love  and  lysse.1 
Now  Christ  His  grace  He  gan  us  gysse,2 
And  with  His  body  us  bought  to  bliss, 
Both  all  and  some. 

De  Fructu  ventris  of  Mary  bright, 
Both  God  and  man  in  her  alight, 
Out  of  disease  He  did  us  dight, 
Both  all  and  some. 

Puer  natus  to  us  was  sent, 
To  bliss  us  bought,  fro  bale  us  blent,3 
And  else  to  woe  we  had  ywent, 
Both  all  and  some. 

i  Delight.  2  Guide.  3  Turned. 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  167 

Lux  fulgebit  with  love  and  light, 
In  Mary  mild  His  pennon  pight,1 
In  her  took  kind  with  manly  might, 
Both  all  and  some. 

Gloria  Tibi  ay  and  bliss, 
God  unto  His  grace  He  us  wysse,2 
The  rent  of  heaven  that  we  not  miss, 
Both  all  and  some. 


What  Tidings  ? 

Fifteenth  Century. 

"  What  tidings  hringest  tbou,  messenger, 
Of  Christes  birth  this  jolly  day  ?  " 

A  BABE  is  born  of  high  nature, 

The  Prince  of  peace  that  ever  shall  be  ; 
Of  heaven  and  earth  He  hath  the  cure,3 
His  lordship  is  eternity. 

Such  wondrous  tidings  you  may  hear, 
That  man  is  made  now  Codes  -peer, 
Whom  sin  had  made  but  fiendes  prey. 

A  wondrous  thing  doth  now  befall, 

That  King  that  formed  star  and  sun, 
Heaven  and  earth  and  angels  all, 
Now  in  mankind  is  new  begun. 

Such  wondrous  tidings  you  may  hear, 
An  infant  of  a  single  year, 

That  hath  been  ever  and  shall  be  aye. 

i  Placed.  2  Guide.  3  Charge. 


168      CAROLS   OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

That  seemeth  strange  to  us  to  see, 

This  bird  J  that  hath  this  Babe  yborn, 
And  Lord  conceived  of  high  degree 
A  maiden  is  and  was  beforn. 

Such  wondrous  tidings  you  may  hear, 
That  maiden  and  mother  are  one  in  fere. 
And  she  a  lady  of  great  array. 

That  loveliest  gan  greet  her  Child  : 

"  Hail,  Son !     Hail,  Brother !     Hail,  Father  dear  !  " 
"  Hail,  Daughter  !  "  He  saith  :  "  Hail,  Sister.     Hail, 

Mother  mild ! " 
This  hailing  was  on  quaint  manner. 

Such  wondrous  tidings  you  may  hear, 
That  hailing  was  of  so  good  cheer, 
That  man  his  'pain  is  turned  to  'play. 


Tidings,  tidings  that  be  true : 2 
Sorrow  is  past  and  joy  doth  renew 

Fifteenth  Century. 

WHEREAS  Adam  caused  by  sin 
Our  nature  thus  to  be  mortal, 

And,  that  is  true, 
A  maiden's  Son  doth  now  begin 
For  to  repoise  us  from  that  fall, 

The  name  of  Him  is  Christ  Jesu. 

Some  of  our  kind  hath  had  such  grace 
That  since  His  birth  they  did  Him  see, 
And  that  is  true, 

1  Lady.  2  MS.  Lansdowne,  379,  fol.  38. 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  169 

Both  Son  and  mother,  face  to  face, 
In  the  chief  city  called  Jewry  : 

Both  kings  and  shepherds,  they  it  knew. 

The  prophets  thereof  were  nothing  dismayed 
Of  that  tidings  beforn  that  they  had  told, 

And  that  is  true  ; 

For  now  it  is  fallen  right  as  they  said  : 
A  maiden  clean  a  king  hath  born ; 

For  He  is  horn  to  wear  the  purple  hue. 


This  Babe  to   Us  that  now  is  Born 

Fifteenth  Century. 

Now  may  we  singen  as  it  is 
Quod  puer  natus  est  nobis. 

THIS  Babe  to  us  that  now  is  born, 
Wonderful  works  He  hath  [y]wrought 
He  would  not  lose  what  was  forlorn, 
But  boldly  again  it  bought ; 

And  thus  it  is 

For  sooth  ytvis, 
He  asketh  nought  but  that  is  His. 

This  bargain  loved  He  right  well, 
The  price  was  high  and  bought  full  dear. 
Who  would  suffer  and  for  us  feel 
As  did  that  Prince  withouten  peer  ? 

And  thus  it  is 

For  sooth  ywis, 
He  asketh  nought  but  that  is  His. 


I ;o      CAROLS    OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

His  ransom  for  us  hath  ypaid  ; 
Good  reason  have  we  to  be  His. 
Be  mercy  asked  and  He  be  prayed, 
We  may  deserve  the  heavenly  bliss. 
And  thus  it  is 
For  sooth  ywis, 
He  asketh  nought  but  that  is  His. 

To  some  purpose  God  made  man ; 
I  trust  well  to  salvation. 
What  was  His  blood  that  from  Him  ran 
But  fence  against  damnation  ? 

And  thus  it  is 

For  sooth  yzvis, 
He  asketh  nought  but  that  is  His. 

Almighty  God  in  Trinity, 
Thy  mercy  we  pray  with  whole  heart, 
Thy  mercy  may  all  woe  make  flee 
And  dangerous  dread  from  us  to  start. 

And  thus  it  is 

For  sooth  ywis, 
He  asketh  nought  but  that  is  His. 


Now  sing  we  with  joy  and  bliss : 
Puer  natus  est  nobis 

Before  1536. 

MARY,  flower  of  flowers  all, 
Hath  born  a  child  in  an  ox-stall, 
That  Lord  and  Prince  is  over  us  all ; 
Puer  natus  est  nobis. 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  171 

He  was  born  on  our  lady, 
Without  sin  of  her  body, 
Codes  own  true  Son  truly ; 
Puer  natus  est  nobis. 

By  an  apple  of  a  tree, 
Bondmen  all  made  were  we, 
That  Child  was  born  to  make  us  free  ; 
Puer  natus  est  nobis. 

That  Child  was  done  on  the  Rood, 
With  His  flesh  and  with  His  blood, 
For  our  help  and  for  our  good ; 
Puer  natus  est  nobis. 

The  third  day  He  rose  and  to  heaven  went, 
Wit  and  wisdom  He  us  sent, 
For  to  keep  His  commandment ; 
Puer  natus  est  nobis. 

He  shall  come  down  at  Doomesday, 
With  bloody  woundes,  I  you  say, 
As  He  died  on  Good  Friday ; 
Puer  natus  est  nobis. 

Now  pray  we  to  that  heaven[ly]  King, 
To  send  us  all  His  dear  blessing, 
Shrift  and  housel  at  our  ending. 
Puer  natus  est  nobis. 


172      CAROLS    OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 
This  Day 

About  1450. 

An  heavenly  song,  I  dare  well  say, 
Is  sung  on  earth  to  man  this  day. 

THIS  is  the  song  that  ye  shall  hear, 
God  is  come  from  His  empire, 
And  is  made  man  with  high  desire, 
This  day. 

He  took  our  kind  all  of  a  maid, 
By  ox  and  ass  He  was  ylaid. 
Now  is  fulfilled  that  Scripture  said, 
This  day. 

Ay  I  wonder  this  in  my  mind, 
That  He  that  all  may  loose  and  bind, 
Would  be  laid  by  beasts  unkind, 
This  day. 

He  is  a  lord  and  by  nature 
A  maiden's  breast  He  sucked  full  pure. 
Heaven  and  earth  be  in  His  cure, 
This  day. 


Now  is  Well  and  All  Things  Aright 

Fifteenth  Century. 

Now  is  well l  and  all  things  aright, 
And  Christ  is  come  as  a  true  knight ; 
For  our  Brother  is  King  of  might, 

The  fiend  to  fleme  2  and  all  his. 
Thus  the  fiend  is  put  to  flight, 

And  all  his  boast  abated  is. 

i  A  pun  upon  Nowell.  2  To  put  to  flight. 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  173 

Sithen  it  is,  well  [must]  we  do, 
For  there  is  none  but  one  of  two, 
Heaven  to  get  or  heaven  forego, 

Other  mean  none  there  is ; 
I  counsel  you,  since  it  is  so, 

That  you  well  do  to  win  you  bliss. 

Now  is  well  and  all  is  well, 

And  right  well,  so  have  I  bliss ; 
And  sithen  all  things  are  so  well, 

I  rede 1  we  do  no  more  amiss. 


Make  we  merry  in  this  feast. 
For  verbum  caro  factum  est 

Fifteenth  Century. 

CODES  Son  for  the  love  of  man, 
Flesh  and  blood  of  Mary  He  nam,2 
As  in  the  gospel  saith  Saint  John, 
Verbum  caro  factum  est. 

Of  joy  and  mirth  now  may  we  sing, 
God  with  man  is  now  dwelling, 
Holy  Writ  maketh  now  shewing, 
Deus  homo  natus  est. 

God  and  man  hath  shewed  His  Child, 
That  hath  us  bought  fro  the  devils  wild ; 
Him  to  worship  now  be  we  mild, 
Gonganderc  mihi. 

i  Counsel.  2  Took. 


174      CAROLS    OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

This  Child  His  mother  ever  more, 
Maiden  she  was,  after  and  before, 
And  so  said  the  prophet  in  his  lore, 
Ferbo  prophesye. 


As  I  Went  through  a  Garden  Green 

Fifteenth  Century. 

As  I  went  through  a  garden  green, 

I  found  an  arbour  made  full  new ; 
A  fairer  sight  had  I  none  seen, 

On  every  tree  sang  a  turtle  true. 
Therein  a  woman  bright  of  hue, 

She  said  in  her  song  not  least ; 
This  was  her  carping  as  I  knew  : 

Ferbum  caro  factum  est. 

To  her  song  then  took  I  intent, 
She  said  a  song  with  voice  clear  : 


"  This  Prince  that  is  without  a  peer 
Is  born  and  lain  between  twain  beast, 

I  sing  as  thou  might  hear  :  x 
Ferbum  caro  factum  est" 

In  that  wone  2  forth  gan  I  wende,3 
A  seemly  song  then  heard  I  tho,4 

Of  three  shepherds  that  were  full  hend  :  5 
"  Gloria  in  excelsis  Deo" 

1  Text:  lere= learn.  2  Abode.  3  Text:  "  winde.' 

4  Then.  «  Gentle  ;  text:  "  hind." 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  175 

I  would  not  they  had  fared  me  fro, 

Well  fast  after  them  gan  I  haste  ; 
They  told  me  that  they  sungen  so, 

For  verbum  caro  factum  est. 

Yet  furthermore  in  that  frith 1 

I  saw  three  kinges  come  with  crown, 
I  sped  me  fast  to  speak  them  with, 

And  to  those  lords  I  kneeled  down. 
The  kings  courteous  to  me  gan  sound, 

And  saiden  they  would  fare  in  haste  ; 
"To  Bedlem  bower  now  are  we  bound, 

For  verbum  caro  factum  est." 

This  is  as  much  as  for  to  say, 

As  Gode's  Son  become  is  flesh. 
He  was  born  this  ilke  2  day, 

A  blissful  way  us  for  to  wych.3 
That  may  now,  withouten  miss,4 

Here  I  show  both  more  and  least, 
For  she  was  the  cause  ywis 

Of  verbum  caro  factum  est. 

Codes  Son  become  is  flesh, 

That  boot  hath  of  all  our  bale,5 
A  blissful  way  us  for  to  wych, 

That  maid  Him  harboured  in  her  hale  6 
She  bore  that  Lovely  in  her  Sale,7 

She  held  that  Hend  8  within  her  breast ; 
With  true  tongue  she  told  the  tale 

For  verbum  caro  factum  est. 

i  Glade.        2  Very.       3  Show.       4  Without  mistake.       5  Remedy 
for  all  our  trouble.  fi  Safe.         7  Body  ?        »  Text ;  Hind. 


176      CAROLS    OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

Ferbum  caro  is  to  say 

That  Godes  Son  become  is  man ; 
He  was  born  this  ilke  day 

To  save  us  fro  the  fiend  Sathan. 
That  may  that  is  white  as  swan, 

She  fed  that  Lord  upon  her  breast ; 
Therefore  I  sing  you  as  I  can, 

Ferbum  caro  factum  est. 


Jesu}  as  Thou  art  our  Saviour 

Fifteenth  Century. 

Jesu,  Jesu,  Jesu,  Jesu, 

Save  us  all  through  Thy  virtue. 

JESU,  as  Thou  art  our  Saviour 
That  Thou  save  us  fro  dolour  ! 
Jesu  is  mine  paramour. 

Blessed,  be  Thy  name,  'Jesu. 

Jesu  was  born  of  a  may, 
Upon  Christemas  Day, 
She  was  may  beforn  and  ay, 
Blessed  be  Thy  name,  Jesu. 

Three  kinges  comen  fro  Segent, 

To  Jesu  Christ  they  brought  present. 

Lord  God  Omnipotent, 

Save  us  all  through  Thy  virtue. 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  177 

Jesu  died  and  shed  His  blood 
For  all  mankind  upon  the  Rood  ; 
He  grant  us  grace  of  happes  *  good, 
/  beseech  Thee,  sweet  Jesu. 

Jesu,  for  Thy  mother's  sake, 
Keep  us  fro  the  fiendes  black  ; 
Against  Him  that  we  may  wake  ; 

And,  save  us  all  through  Thy  virtue. 


Alleluia ,  alleluia 

Fifteenth  Century. 

Now  may  we  mirthes  make,* 
For  us  Jesus  manhood  hath  take,2 

De  virgine  Maria, 
Only  for  our  sins'  sake, 

Alleluia. 

The  King  of  kings  now  forth  is  brought, 
Of  a  maid  that  sinned  nought, 

Res  miranda, 
Neither  in  deed,  neither  in  thought, 

Alleluia. 

The  angel  of  counsel  that  day  was  born, 
As  prophecies  said  beforn, 

Sol  de  Stella, 
For  to  save  that  3  was  forlorn,4 

Alleluia. 

i  Good  fortunes.  2  Taken.  3  What.  4  Lost. 

M 


1 78      CAROLS   OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 


Alleluia,  alleluia,  alleluia, 

Alleluia,  alleluia,  alleluia, 

Deo  Patri  sit  gloria 

Fifteenth  Century. 

Sahator  mundi,  Domine, 
Father  of  heaven,  blessed  Thou  be, 
Thou  greetest  a  maid  with  an  ave, 
Que  vocatur  Maria. 

Adesto  nunc  propicius, 
Thou  sendest  Thy  Son,  sweet  Jesus, 
Man  to  become  for  love  of  us, 
Deo  Patri  sit  gloria. 

Ne  mentem  sompnus  opprimat, 
Betwixt  an  ox  and  an  ass 
Christ  Himself  born  He  was 
De  virgine  Maria. 

Te,  Reformator  sensuum, 
Both  little  and  mickle,  and  all  and  some, 
Welcome  the  time  that  now  is  come, 
Deo  Patri  sit  gloria. 

Gloria  Tibi,  Domine, 
Three  Persons  in  Trinity, 
Blessed  may  They  alle  be, 
Deo  Patri  sit  gloria. 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  179 

Alleluia,  alleluia, 
De  virgine  Maria 

Fifteenth  Century. 

Salvator  mundi,  Domine, 
Father  of  heaven,  blessed  Thou  be. 
And  Thy  Son  that  cometh  of  Thee, 
De  virgine  Maria. 

Adesto  nunc  propicius, 
He  sent  His  Son,  sweet  Jesus ; 
A  man  became  for  love  of  us, 
De  virgine  Maria. 

Te,  Reformator  sensuum, 
Little  and  mickle,  more  and  some, 
Worship  that  Child  that  is  come 
De  virgine  Maria. 

Gloria  Tibi,  Domine, 
Three  Persons  in  Trinity  ; 
Worship  that  Child  so  free 
De  virgine  Maria. 


Te  laudamus,  Te  Dominum 
Confitemur,  Te  eternum 

Temp.  Henry  VII.  or  VIII. 

O  BLESSED  God  in  Trinity, 
Great  cause  we  have  to  bless  Thy  name, 
That  now  wouldst  send  adown  fro  Thee 
The  Holy  Ghost  to  stint  *  our  blame. 
Te  Deum  laudamus. 

i  Stop. 


i8o      CAROLS    OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

Sing  we  to  God,  Father  Eternal, 
That  liketh,  to  tune  with  our  nature, 
The  Son  of  Him  Celestial 
Man  to  be  born,  our  souls  to  cure.1 
Te  Deum  laudamus. 

All  the  saints  in  heaven  on  high, 
And  all  that  be  in  earth  also, 
Give  laud  and  thanks  devotedly, 
To  God  above  and  sing  him  to, 
Te  Deum  laudamus. 


Nowell,  el,  el,  el,  el, 

I  thank  \if\  a  maiden  every  deal 

Fifteenth  Century. 

THE  first  day  when  Christ  was  born, 
There  sprang  a  rose  out  of  a  thorn, 
To  save  mankind  that  was  forlorn ; 
/  thank  [it]  a  maiden  every  deal. 

In  an  ox-stall  the  Child  was  found, 
In  poor  clothing  the  Child  was  wound ; 
He  suffered  many  a  deadly  wound ; 
/  thank  [it]  a  maiden  every  deal. 

A  garland  of  thorns  on  His  head  was  set, 
A  sharp  spear  to  His  heart  was  smet ; 2 
The  Jews  saiden,  ;<  Take  Thee  that !  " 
/  thank  [it]  a  maiden  every  deal. 

i  God  liketh  His  Son  to  be  born  man,  to  tune  with  our  nature,  for  the 
saving  of  our  souls.  2  Smitten. 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  181 

The  Jews  did  cry  their  parliament ; 
On  the  day  of  judgement, 
They  were  afeared  they  should  be  shent.1 
/  thank  it  a  maiden  every  deal. 

To  the  pillar  He  was  bound, 
To  His  heart  a  spear  was  stung ; 
For  us  He  suffered  a  deadly  wound. 
/  thank  it  a  maiden  every  deal. 

Blessed  may  Thou  bey  sweet  Jesus, 
Qui  hodie  natus  es  nobis 

Before  1529.  Richard  Smert.2 

BY  Thy  birth,  Thou  blessed  Lord, 
Is  made  of  variance  now  one  accord ; 
Therefore  we  may  sing[en]  this : 

Blessed  may  Thou  be,  sweet  Jesus, 

Qui  hodie  natus  es  nobis. 

Upon  this  high  [and]  blessed  day, 
Jesu  in  His  mother's  arms  lay, 
Wherefore  to  Him  let  us  all  say : 

Blessed  may  Thou  be,  sweet  Jesus, 

Qui  hodie  natus  es  nobis. 

Jesu,  Fill  virginis, 
Miserere  nobis 

I529-  Richard  Smert. 

JESUS,  of  a  maid  Thou  wouldst  be  born, 
To  save  mankind  that  was  forlorn, 
And  all  for  our  miss,3 
Miserere  nobis. 

Destroyed.  2  See  note. 


1 82      CAROLS    OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

Born  Thou  wert  of  Mary  free, 
And  Thou  didst  die  upon  the  Rood  Tree, 
And  all  for  our  miss, 
Miserere  nobis. 


JesUj  Fill  virginis. 
Miserere  nobis 

Temp.  Henry  VII.  or  VIII. 

JESUS,  of  a  maid  Thou  wouldst  be  born, 
To  save  mankind  that  was  forlorn, 
And  all  for  our  sins, 
Miserere  nobis. 

Angels  there  were,  mild  of  mood, 
Sang  to  that  sweet  fode  x 
With  joy  and  bliss. 
Miserere  nobis. 

In  a  cratch  2  was  that  Child  laid, 
Both  ox  and  ass  with  Him  played, 
With  joy  and  bliss. 
Miserere  nobis. 

Then  for  us  He  shed  His  blood, 
And  also  He  died  on  the  Rood, 
And  for  us  ywis. 
Miserere  nobis. 

And  then  to  hell  He  took  the  way, 
To  ransom  them  that  therepn]  lay, 
With  joy  and  bliss. 
Miserere  nobis. 
i  Child.  z  Crib. 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  183 

Jesu,  Fill  Dei, 
Miserere  me 

Before  1529.  John  Trouluffe  and  Richard  Smert. 

GLORIOUS  God  in  Trinity, 
Well  of  man  and  [of]  pity, 
Thus  cried  the  woman  of  Canaan-y, 
Miserere  me. 

Thou  came  from  heaven  from  Thy  see,1 
To  this  world  a  man  to  be  ; 
Therefore  I  cry  devoutly, 
Miserere  me. 

As  Thou  hadst  on  her  pity, 
So  I  pray  Thou  have  on  me, 
Glorious  God  in  Trinity, 
Miserere  me. 


To  bliss  God  bring  us,  all  and  some, 
Christe  Redemptor  omnium 

Fifteenth  Century. 

IN  Bethlehem,  in  that  fair  city, 
A  Child  was  born  of  our  Lady, 
Lord  and  prince  that  He  should  be, 
A  solis  ortus  cardine. 

Children  were  slain  [full]  great  plenty, 
Jesus,  for  the  love  of  Thee  ; 
Let  us  never  damned  be, 

Hostis  Her  odes  impie. 

i  Estate. 


1 84      CAROLS    OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

He  was  born  of  our  Lady, 
Without  stain  of  her  body, 
Codes  Son  that  sitteth  on  high, 
lesu  Salvator  seculi. 

As  the  sun  shineth  thorough  the  glass, 
So  Jesus  in  her  body  was ; 
To  serve  Him  He  gave  us  grace. 
O  lux  beata  trinitas  ! 

Now  is  born  our  Lord  Jesus, 
That  made  merry  all  [of]  us ; 
Be  all  merry  in  this  house, 

Exultet  celum  laudibus  ! 


Into  this  world  now  is  come 
Christe  Redemptor  omnium 

Before  1536.          • 

O  WORTHY  Lord  and  most  of  might, 

Eterne  rex  altissime, 
Thee  to  honour  me  thinketh  right, 

lam  lucis  orto  sidere. 

As  Thou  art  Lord  of  worthiness, 
Conditor  alme  siderum, 

All  us  to  bring  out  of  darkness, 
Christe  Redemptor  omnium. 

With  beame's  clear  of  righteousness, 

Aurora  lucis  rutilat, 
In  joy  thereof  with  all  gladness, 

Vox  clara  ecce  intonat. 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  185 

Now  glorious  Lord  and  worthy  King, 

Jesu  Salvator  seculi, 
Grant  us  Thy  bliss  everlasting, 

Summi  Largitor  premii  I 


Verbum  Patris  hodie  processit  ex  virgine 

Before  1536. 

THE  Son  of  the  Father  of  heavenly  bliss 
Was  born  [on1]  this  day,  I  will  not  miss, 
Man  from  thraldom  to  relieve  and  release, 
Processit  ex  virgine. 

He  was  born  of  a  virgin  pure, 
Not  knowing  a  man,  as  I  you  assure ; 
But  all  only  by  heavenly  cure 
Processit  ex  virgine. 

Gabriel  the  angel  met 
Mary  kneeling  in  her  closet ; 
Now  is  fulfilled  what  said  the  prophet : 
Processit  ex  virgine. 

Man,  be  glad,  thou  hast  a  cause  why 
To  thank  our  Lord  God  that  is  on  high  ; 
For  thee  to  suffer  and  for  to  die, 
Processit  ex  virgine. 

1  Text:  as. 


1 86     CAROLS   OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

A  blessed  bird,  as  I  you  say. 
That  died  and  rose  on  Good  Friday 

Before  1536. 

ON  Christes  day,  I  understand, 
An  ear  of  wheat  of  a  maid  sprang, 
Thirty  winters  on  earth  to  stand, 
To  make  us  bread,  all  to  His  pay.1 
A  blessed,  bird,  as  I  you  say, 
That  died  and  rose  on  Good  Friday. 

This  corn  was  reapen  and  laid  to  ground, 

Full  sore  beaten  and  faste  bound 

Unto  a  pillar  with  corde's  round, 

At  His  fingers'  ends  the  blood  ran  out  that  day. 
A  blessed  bird,  as  I  you  say, 
That  died  and  rose  on  Good  Friday. 

This  corn  was  reapen  with  great  envy 
Upon  the  Mount  of  Calvary  ; 
Token  He  showed  on  Shere-Thursday, 
Maundy  He  gave  to  His  disciples  there. 
A  blessed-  bird,  as  I  you<  say, 
That  died  and  rose  on  Good  Friday. 

Jesu  upon  His  body  the  Cross  bare ; 

Water  and  blood  came  from  Him  there ; 

This  corn  was  scourged  all  in  fere  ; 
Till  it  waxed  blood-red. 

A  blessed  bird,  as  I  you  say, 

That  died  and  rose  on  Good  Friday. 

i  Liking. 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  187 

A  crown  of  thorns  set  on  His  head, 
And  He  was  done  on  the  Rood, 
And  beaten  till  His  body  was  bloody-red  ; 
Thus  they  beat  Jesu,  our  debt  to  pay. 
A  blessed  bird,  as  I  you  say, 
That  died  and  rose  on  Good  Friday. 


Now  sing  we,  sing  we:  Gloria  Tibi,  Domine 

Before  1536. 

CHRIST  keep  us  all,  as  He  well  can, 

A  soli s  ortus  car  dine  ; 
For  He  is  both  God  and  Man, 
Qui  natus  est  de  virgine. 

Sing  we,  sing  we  :   Gloria  Tibi,  Domine. 

As  He  is  Lord,  both  day  and  night, 

Venter  puelle  baiulat, 
So  is  Mary,  mother  of  might, 

Seer  eta  que  non  noverat. 

Sing  we,  sing  we  :   Gloria  Tibi,  Domine. 

The  holy  breast  of  chastity, 

Verbo  concepit  Filium, 
So  brought  before  the  Trinity, 

Ut  castytatis  lyllyum. 

Sing  we,  sing  we  :   Gloria  Tibi,  Domine. 

Between  an  ox  and  an  ass 

Enixa  est  puerpera  ; 
In  poor  clothing  clothed  He  was, 

Qui  re  gnat  super  ether  a. 

Sing  we,  sing  we  :   Gloria  Tibi,  Domine. 


i88      CAROLS   OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

Sing  we  all,  for  time  it  is  : 
Mary  hath  borne  the  Fleur-de-lys 

Before  1536. 

FOR  His  love  that  bought  us  all  dear, 
Listen,  lordings,  that  be  here, 
And  I  well  tell  you  in-fere,1 
Whereof  came  the  Fleur-de-lys. 
Sing  we  all,  for  time  it  is  : 
Mary  hath  borne  the  Fleur-de-lys. 

On  Christmas  night,  when  it  was  cold, 
Our  Lady  lay  among  beastes  bold, 
And  there  she  bare  Jesu,  Joseph  told, 
And  thereof  came  the  Fleur-de-lys. 
Sing  we  all,  for  time  it  is : 
Mary  hath  borne  the  Fleur-de-lys. 

Of  that  beareth  witness  Saint  John, 
That  it  was  of  much  renown ; 
Baptized  he  was  in  stream  Jordan, 
And  thereof  came  the  Fleur-de-lys. 
Sing  we  all,  for  time  it  is : 
Mary  hath  borne  the  Fleur-de-lys. 

On  Good  Friday  that  Child  was  slain, 
Beaten  with  scourges  and  all  to-flayn  ;  2 
That  day  he  suffered  mickle  pain ; 
And  thereof  came  the  Fleur-de-lys. 
Sing  we  all,  for  time  it  is : 
Mary  hath  borne  the  Fleur-de-lys. 

i  Together.  2  Flayed. 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  189 

I  pray  you,  be  merry  and  sing  with  me 
In  worship  of  Christ's  Nativity 

Before  1536. 

INTO  this  world,  this  day  did  come 
Jesu  Christ,  both  God  and  man, 
Lord  and  Servant  in  one  person, 
Born  of  the  blessed  virgin  Mary. 

/  fray  you,  be  merry  and  sing  with  me 
In  worship  of  Christ's  Nativity. 

He  that  was  rich,  without  any  need, 
Appeared  in  this  world  in  right  poor  weed, 
To  make  us  that  were  poor  indeed, 
Rich  without  any  need,  truly. 

/  pray  you,  be  merry  and  sing  with  me 

In  worship  of  Christ's  Nativity. 

A  stable  was  His  chamber  ;   a  cratch  l  was  His  bed ; 
He  had  not  a  pillow  to  lay  under  His  head 
With  maiden's  milk  that  babe  was  fed, 

In  poor  clothes  was  lapped  the  Lord  Almighty. 

I  pray  you,  be  merry  and  sing  with  me 

In  worship  of  Christ's  Nativity. 

A  noble  lesson  here  is  us  taught, 
To  set  all  worldly  riches  at  naught, 
But  pray  we  that  we  may  be  thither  brought, 
Where  riches  is  everlastingly. 

I  pray  you,  be  merry  and  sing  with  me 

In  worship  of  Christ's  Nativity. 

i  Crib. 


190      CAROLS   OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

Sing  we  with  mirth,  joy  and  solace 
In  honour  of  this  Christemas 

Before  1536. 

GLORIOUS  God  had  great  pity, 

How  long  man's  soul  in  pain  should  be ; 

He  sent  His  Son  to  make  us  free, 

Which  for  man's  sake, 
Of  a  maiden  pure, 
Against  nature, 

Our  flesh  did  take. 

Sing  we  with  mirth,  joy  and  solace 
In  honour  of  this  Christemas  ! 

In  Bethlehem  our  Saviour, 
Without  food,  in  a  manger 
Was  born — it  was  his  pleasure — 

Beastes  among. 
Angels  heavenly 
Made  harmony 

And  joyful  song. 

Sing  we  with  mirth,  joy  and  solace 
In  honour  of  this  Christemas  ! 

The  eighth  day  he  was  circumcised,- 
Lest  Moses'  law  should  be  despised ; 
A  name  to  him  they  have  devised, 

Call  him  Jesus ; 
For  Gabriel 
His  mother  did  tell 

That  it  should  be  thus. 

Sing  we  with  mirth,  joy  and,  solace 
In  honour  of  this  Christemas. 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  191 

A  new-made  star,  more  large  and  clear 
Than  other  stars,  then  did  appear. 
Fro  Chaldea  the  philosophers  in  fere 

Into  Bethlehem  it  brought. 
There  it  did  stand 
Still,  till  that  they  found 
Him  that  they  sought. 

Sing  we  with  mirth,  joy  and  solace 
In  honour  of  this  Christemas  ! 


The  kinges  brought  their  offering, 
Gold  that  betokeneth  a  worthy  king, 
Incense,  priesthood  ;   myrrh  burying 

For  his  manhood. 
The  angel  come 
Bade  them  go  home 
Not  by  Herod. 

Sing  we  with  mirth,  joy  and  solace 
In  honour  of  this  Christemas  ! 


Trust  in  God,  man,  and  in  none  other ; 
Mistrust  Him  not,  He  is  thy  brother ; 
Thou  hast  a  mediatrix  of  His  mother. 

Sigh  for  thy  sin, 
Cry  mercy, 
He  will  not  deny 
Thy  soul  to  win. 

Sing  we  with  mirth,  joy  and  solace 
In  honour  of  this  Christemas  / 


192      CAROLS   OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 


Of  the  Birth  of  Christ 

1487-1568.  Miles  Coverdale. 

Now  blessed  be  Thou,  Christ  Jesu, 
Thou  art  man  born  this  is  true  ; 
The  angels  made  a  merry  noise, 
Yet  have  we  more  cause  to  rejoice, 
Kirieleyson. 

The  blessed  Son  of  God  only, 
In  a  crib  full  poor  did  lie, 
With  our  poor  flesh  and  our  poor  blood, 
Was  clothed  that  everlasting  Good, 
Kirieleyson. 

He  that  made  heaven  and  earth  of  nought, 
In  our  flesh  hath  our  health  brought, 
For  our  sake  made  He  Himself  full  small, 
That  reigneth  Lord  and  King  over  all, 
Kirieleyson. 

Eternal  light  doth  now  appear, 
To  the  world  both  far  and  near, 
It  shineth  full  clear  even  at  midnight, 
Making  us  children  of  his  light, 
Kirieleyson. 

The  Lord  Christ  Jesus,  God's  Son  dear, 
Was  a  guest  and  a  stranger  here, 
Us  for  to  bring  from  misery, 
That  we  might  live  eternally, 
Kirieleyson. 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  193 

Into  this  world  right  poor  came  He, 
To  make  us  rich  in  mercy, 
Therefore  would  He  our  sins  forgive, 
That  we  with  Him  in  heaven  might  live, 
Kirieleyson. 

All  this  did  He  for  us  freely, 
For  to  declare  His  great  mercy ; 
All  Christendom  be  merry  therefore, 
And  give  Him  thanks  ever  more, 
Kirieleyson, 


Lully,  lulley,  lully,  lulley. 

The  falcon  hath  borne  my  make'*-  away2 

Before  1536. 

HE  bare  him  up,  he  bare  him  down, 
He  bare  him  into  an  orchard  brown. 

In  that  orchard  there  was  an  hall, 
That  was  hanged  with  purple  and  pall. 

And  in  that  hall  there  was  a  bed, 
It  was  hanged  with  gold  so  red. 

And  in  that  bed  there  lieth  a  knight, 
His  woundes  bleeding,  day  and  night. 

By  that  bedside  kneeleth  a  may, 
And  she  weepeth  both  night  and  day. 

And  by  that  bedside  there  standeth  a  stone, 
Corpus  Christi  written  thereon. 

J  Mate.  2  See  note. 


194      CAROLS    OF   THE    DIVINE   MYSTERY 
All  Bells  in  Paradise  ' 


Traditional. 


OVER  vender's  a  park,  which  is  newly  begun, 
All  bells  in  Paradise,  I  heard  them  a-ring  ; 

Which  is  silver  on  the  outside  and  gold  within, 
And  I  love  sweet  Jesus  above  all  thing. 

And  in  that  park  there  stands  a  hall, 

All  bells  in  Paradise  I  heard  them  a-ring  ; 

Which  is  covered  all  over  with  purple  and  pall, 
And  I  love  sweet  Jesus  above  all  thing. 

And  in  that  hall  there  stands  a  bed, 

All  bells  in  Paradise  I  heard  them  a-ring  ; 

Which  is  hung  all  round  with  silk  curtains  so  red, 
And  I  love  sweet  Jesus  above  all  thing. 

And  in  that  bed  there  lies  a  knight, 

All  bells  in  Paradise  I  heard  them  a-ring  ; 

Whose  wounds  they  do  bleed  by  day  and  by  night, 
And  I  love  sweet  Jesus  above  all  thing. 

At  that  bedside  there  lies  a  stone, 

All  bells  in  Paradise  I  heard  them  a-ring  ; 

Which  is  our  blessed  Virgin  Mary  then  kneeling  on, 
And  I  love  sweet  Jesus  above  all  thing. 

At  that  bed's  foot  there  lies  a  hound, 
All  bells  in  Paradise  I  heard  them  a-ring  ; 

Which  is  licking  the  blood  as  it  daily  runs  down, 
And  I  love  sweet  Jesus  above  all  thing. 

1  See  note. 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  195 

At  that  bed's  head  there  grows  a  thorn, 
All  bells  in  Paradise  I  heard  them  a-ring  ; 

Which  was  never  so  blossomed  since  Christ  was  born, 
And  I  love  sweet  Jesus  above  all  thing. 


Remember ,  O  thou  Man  ' 

Before  1567. 

REMEMBER,  O  thou  man, 
O  thou  man,  O  thou  man ! 

Remember,  O  thou  man ! 
Thy  time  is  spent ; 
Remember,  O  thou  man,  how  thou  art  dead 

and  gone, 

And  I  did  what  I  can,  therefore  repent ; 
Remember  Adam's  fall, 

O  thou  man,  O  thou  man  ! 

Remember  Adam's  fall, 
From  heaven  to  hell ; 
Remember  Adam's  fall, 
How  we  were  condemned  all, 
In  hell  perpetual 
Therefore  to  dwell, 
Remember  God's  goodness, 

O  thou  man,  man,  O  thou  man ! 

Remember  God's  goodness, 
And  His  promise  made, 
Remember  God's  goodness, 
How  He  sent  His  Son  doubtless, 
Our  sins  for  to  redress, 
Be  not  afraid. 

1  Ravenscroft's  Melismata,  Musical  Phansies,  &c.,  1611.     See  note. 


196      CAROLS   OF   THE   DIVINE    MYSTERY 

The  angels  all  did  sing, 
O  thou  man,  O  thou  man  ! 
The  angels  all  did  sing, 
Upon  the  shepherds'  hill. 
The  angels  all  did  sing, 
Praises  to  our  heavenly  king, 
And  peace  to  man  living, 
With  a  good  will. 

The  shepherds  amazed  was, 
O  thou  man,  O  thou  man ! 
The  shepherds  amazed  was, 
To  hear  the  angels  sing ; 
The  shepherds  amazed  was, 
How  it  should  come  to  pass, 
That  Christ  our  Messias, 
Should  be  our  King. 

To  Bethlehem  did  they  go, 
O  thou  man,  O  thou  man ! 
To  Bethlehem  did  they  go, 
The  shepherds  three ; 
To  Bethlehem  did  they  go, 
To  see  whe'er  it  were  so  or  no, 
Whether  Christ  were  born  or  no, 
To  set  man  free. 

As  the  angels  before  did  say, 
O  thou  man,  O  thou  man  ! 
As  the  angels  before  did  say, 
So  it  came  to  pass ; 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  197 

As  the  angels  before  did  say, 
They  found  a  babe  where  it  lay, 
In  a  manger  wrapped  in  hay, 
So  poor  he  was. 

In  Bethlehem  he  was  born, 
O  thou  man,  O  thou  man  ! 
In  Bethlehem  he  was  born, 
For  mankind's  sake. 
In  Bethlehem  he  was  born, 
For  us  that  were  forlorn, 
And  therefore  took  no  scorn, 
Our  flesh  to  take. 

Give  thanks  to  God  always, 
O  thou  man,  O  thou  man ! 
Give  thanks  to  God  always, 
With  heart  most  joyfully  ; 
Give  thanks  to  God  always, 
For  this  our  happy  day ; 
Let  all  men  sing  and  say, 
Holy  holy. 

For  Christmas  Day 

15847-1659.  T.  Pestell. 

FAIREST  of  morning  lights,  appear, 

Thou  blest  and  gaudy  day, 
On  which  was  born  our  Saviour  dear ; 

Arise  and  come  away. 

This  day  prevents  His  day  of  doom  ; 

His  mercy  now  is  nigh ; 
The  mighty  God  of  Love  is  come, 

The  Dayspring  from  on  high. 


198      CAROLS    OF    THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

Behold,  the  great  Creator  makes 

Himself  an  house  of  clay, 
A  robe  of  virgin-flesh  He  takes 

Which  He  will  wear  for  aye. 

Hark,  hark,  the  wise  Eternal  Word 

Like  a  weak  infant  cries  ; 
In  form  of  servant  is  the  Lord, 

And  God  in  cradle  lies. 

This  wonder  struck  the  world  amazed, 
It  shook  the  starry  frame ; 

Squadrons  of  spirits  stood  and  gazed, 
Then  down  in  troops  they  came. 

Glad  shepherds  ran  to  view  this  sight ; 

A  quire  of  angels  sings ; 
And  eastern  sages  with  delight 

Adore  this  King  of  kings. 


Christmas  Dav 

1588-1667.  George  Wither. 

As  on  the  night  before  this  happy  morn, 

A  blessed  angel  unto  shepherds  told, 
Where  (in  a  stable)  He  was  poorly  born, 

Whom  nor  the  earth  nor  heaven  of  heavens  can  hold  : 
Through  Bethlehem  rung 

This  news  at  their  return  : 
Yea,  angels  sung 

That  God  with  us  was  born ; 
And  they  made  mirth  because  we  should  not  mourn. 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  199 

This  angel-carol  sing  we,  then, 
To  God  on  high  all  glory  be, 
For  peace  on  earth  bestoweth  He, 
And  showeth  favour  unto  men. 

This  favour  Christ  vouchsafed  for  our  sake  ; 
To  buy  us  thrones,  He  in  a  manger  lay  ; 
Our  weakness  took,  that  we  His  strength  might  take  ; 
And  was  disrobed  that  He  might  us  array ; 
Our  flesh  He  wore, 

Our  sin  to  wear  away  ; 
Our  curse  He  bore, 

That  we  escape  it  may ; 
And  wept  for  us  that  we  might  sing  for  aye. 
With  angels,  therefore,  sing  again, 
To  God  on  high  all  glory  be ; 
For  peace  on  earth  bestoweth  He, 
And  showeth  favour  unto  men. 


Born  is  the  Babe  1 

Early  Seventeenth  Century. 

BORN  is  the  Babe,  the  only  Branch  of  Peace, 
The  sweet  Messias,  God's  most  holy  Son, 
Whose  death  our  life,  whose  wounds  our  joys  increase, 
Who  wrought  our  weal  when  all  our  hope  was  gone, 
Whose  grief  our  joy,  whose  lack  relieved  our  loss, 
Who  cured  our  care  by  suffering  on  the  Cross. 

Born  is  the  Lamb,  the  Sacrifice  of  Joy, 
The  Spotless  Person,  Ransom  of  our  sin, 

1  MS.  Additional  7790,  fols.  6b,  7. 


200      CAROLS   OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

The  sweet  Samaritan  that  cured  all  annoy, 
The  Son  (in)  whom  the  Sire  delighted  in, 

The  Haven  of  Peace  when  worldly  troubles  toss, 
Who  cured  our  care  by  suffering  on  the  Cross. 

Born  is  the  Shepherd  careful  of  his  sheep, 
The  Light  of  Glory  bright  of  majesty, 
The  Father's  Power  who  hath  our  sins  in  keep, 
The  very  Beam  of  true  Divinity, 

Whom  praise  we  still  when  worldly  troubles  toss, 
Who  cured  our  care  by  suffering  on  the  Cross. 


Sun  of  Righteousness1 
1632. 

ALL  this  night  shrill  chanticleer, 
Day's  proclaiming  trumpeter, 

Claps  his  wings  and  loudly  cries, 
"  Mortals,  mortals,  wake  and  rise  ! 
See  a  wonder 
Heaven  is  under, 
From  the  earth  is  risen  a  Sun 
Shines  all  night  though  day  be  done. 

Wake,  O  earth,  wake  everything, 
Wake  and  hear  the  joy  I  bring, 

Wake  and  joy ;   for  all  this  night 
Heaven  and  every  twinkling  light, 
All  amazing, 
Still  stand  gazing, 
Angels,  powers  and  all  that  be, 
Wake  and  joy  this  Sun  to  see. 

1  A  Handfullof  Celestiall  Flowers,  manuscrib'd  by  R.  Cr.  (Ralph 
Crane). 


MIRABILE   MISTERIUM  201 

Hail,  O  Sun,  O  blessed  Light, 
Sent  into  the  world  by  night, 

Let  thy  rays  and  heavenly  powers 
Shine  in  this  dark  soul  of  ours ; 
For  most  duly 
Thou  art  truly 
God  and  man  we  do  confess. 
Hail,  O  Sun  of  Righteousness !  " 


The  Moon  Shone  Bright;  ory  The  Bellman 

THE  moon  shone  bright,  and  the  stars  gave  a 
light, 

A  little  before  it  was  day, 
Our  Lord,  our  God,  he  called  on  us, 

And  bid  us  awake  and  pray. 

Awake,  awake,  good  people  all, 

Awake,  and  you  shall  hear, 
Our  Lord,  our  God,  died  on  the  Cross 

For  us  whom  He  loved  so  dear. 

O  fair,  O  fair  Jerusalem, 

When  shall  I  come  to  thee  ? 
When  shall  my  sorrows  have  an  end, 

Thy  joy  that  I  may  see  ? 

The  fields  were  green  as  green  could  be, 

When  from  His  glorious  seat 
Our  Lord,  our  God,  He  watered  us, 

With  His  dew  so  sweet. 


202      CAROLS   OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

And  for  the  saving  of  our  souls, 

Christ  died  upon  the  Cross ; 
We  ne'er  shall  do  for  Jesus  Christ 

As  He  has  done  for  us. 

The  life  of  man  is  but  a  span, 

And  cut  down  in  its  flower ; 
We  are  here  to-day  and  to-morrow  are  gone 

We  are  all  dead  in  an  hour. 

O  pray  teach  your  children,  man, 
The  while  that  you  are  here  ; 

It  will  be  better  for  your  soul 

When  your  corpse  lies  on  the  bier. 

To-day  you  may  be  alive,  dear  man, 

Worth  many  a  thousand  pound  ; 
To-morrow  may  be  dead,  dear  man, 

And  your  body  laid  under  ground. 

/ 
With  one  turf  at  your  head,  O  man, 

And  another  at  your  feet, 
Thy  good  deeds  and  thy  bad,  O  man, 

Will  all  together  meet. 

My  song  is  done,  I  must  be  gone, 

I  can  stay  no  longer  here. 
God  bless  you  all,  both  great  and  small, 

And  send  you  a  Happy  New  Year ! 


IN   DULCJ    IUBIL01 

Be  Merry 

Fifteenth  Century. 

Be  merry ',  be  merry,  I  pray  you,  be  merry  every  one. 

A  PRINCIPAL  point  of  charity, 
It  is  merry  to  be 

In  Him  that  is  but  One. 

Be  merry,  be  merry,  I  pray  you,  be 
merry  every  one. 

For  He  that  is  but  One  in  bliss 

To  us  hath  sent  His  son,  ywis,2 

To  save  us  from  our  fone.3 

Be  merry,  be  merry,  I  pray  you,  be 
merry  every  one. 

For  of  a  maiden  a  Child  was  born, 
To  save  mankind  that  was  forlorn. 
Man,  think  thereon. 

Be  merry,  be  merry,  I  pray  you,  be 
merry  every  one. 

1  See  note.  2  Verily.  3  Foes. 

203 


2o4      CAROLS    OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

Now  Mary,  for  thy  Son  His  sake, 
Save  them  all  that  mirth  do  make, 
And  hold  the  longest  on. 

Be  merry,  be  merry,  I  'pray  you,  be 
merry  every  one. 


Now  Make  we  Merry,  All  and  Some 

Fifteenth  Century. 

Now  make  we  merry,  all  and  some, 
For  Christmas  now  is  come 
That  hath  no  peer. 
Sing  we  all  in  fere. 
Now  joy  and  bliss 
They  shall  not  miss 
That  make  good  cheer. 

Now  God  Almighty  down  hath  sent 
The  Holy  Ghost  to  be  present, 
To  light  on  Mary  maiden  verament, 
That  bare  the  Son  of  God  with  good  intent, 
That  hath  no  peer. 
Sing  zv e  all  in  fere. 
Now  joy  and  bliss 
They  shall  not  miss 
That  make  good  cheer. 

Now  Code's  Son  omnipotent 
In  Mary  mild  He  here  hath  ta'en 
Flesh  and  blood,  for  He  hath  meant 
Man  to  restore  unto  His  gain, 


IN   DULCI    IUBILO  205 

That  bath  no  peer. 
Sing  we  all  in  fere. 

Now  joy  and  bliss 

They  shall  not  miss 
That  make  good  cheer. 

To  Mary  mild  our  hearts  be  bent, 
That  blissful  lady  so  be-kent,1 
To  pray  that  we  be  not  undone, 
Through  Jesus  Christ  her  gentle  Son, 
That  hath  no  peer. 
Sing  we  all  in  fere. 
Now  joy  and  bliss 
They  shall  not  miss 
That  make  good  cheer. 


The  Five  Joys 

Fifteenth  Century. 

I  MAY  sing  of  a  may, 
Of  joys  five  and  mirthes  most. 
The  first  joy,  as  I  you  tell, 
With  Mary  met  Saint  Gabriel. 
"  Hail,  Mary,  I  greet  thee  well 
With  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost." 

The  second  joy,  in  good  fay, 
Was  on  Christmas  Day ; 
Born  He  was  of  a  may 

With  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost. 

1  Be-kent = well  known  :  text:  be  bent. 


206      CAROLS   OF   THE    DIVINE   MYSTERY 

The  third  joy,  withouten  strife, 
That  blissful  Birth  was  full  rife, 
When  He  rose  fro  death  to  life, 
With  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost. 

The  fourth  joy,  in  good  fay, 
Was  upon  Hallowed  Thursday, 
He  rose  to  heaven  in  rich  array, 
With  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost. 

The  fifth  joy,  withouten  dene,1 
In  heaven  He  crowned  His  mother  clean, 
That  was  well  with  the  eye  a-seen,2 
With  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost. 


In  Dulci  lubilo 

About  1567.  John  Wedderburn. 

Now  let  us  sing  with  mirth  and  joy, 
Our  heart's  consolation 
Lies  in  pr&sepio, 
And  shines  as  the  sun, 
Matris  in  gremio. 
Alpha  is  and  O,  Alpha  is  and  O. 

O  Jesu  parvule, 
I  thirst  sore  after  Thee, 
Comfort  my  heart  and  mind, 

O  Puer  op  time  ! 

God  of  all  grace  so  kind, 
Et  Princeps  Gloria, 
Trahe  me  post  1e, 

1  Doubt.  2  Text :  wol  wil  the  eyr  a  sene. 


IN   DULCI   IUBILO  207 

Trahe  me  -post  1e. 

Ubi  sunt  gaitdia  ; 
In  any  place  but  there 
Where  that  the  angels  sing, 

Nova  c  antic  a, 
But  and  the  bells  ring, 

In  Regis  curia. 
God  if  I  were  there, 
God  if  I  were  there  ! 


Now  let  us  Sing  with  Joy  and  Mirth 

About  1567.  John  Wedderburn. 

Now  let  us  sing  with  joy  and  mirth, 
In  honour  of  our  Lordes  birth, 
For  His  lufe  and  humanity, 
Who  gave  Himself  for  us  to  die. 

By  Adam  we  were  all  forlorn, 
But  now  Christ  Jesus  till  us  is  born, 
Has  freed  us  fra  captivity, 
And  vanquished  has  our  enemy. 

When  He  was  born  nane  did  Him  snib, 
To  lie  richt  law  intill  ane  crib  ; 
Ane  ox,  ane  ass,  richt  tenderly 
Refreshit  His  humanity. 

His  Godheid  needeth  na  support 
For  it  was  full  of  all  comfort, 
Whilk  equal  is  in  all  degree, 
Unto  His  Father's  majesty. 


208      CAROLS    OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

The  angels  sang  with  merryness, 
Unto  the  herds,  both  mair  and  less, 
And  bade  them  of  good  comfort  be, 
For  Christes  new  Nativity. 

For  ye  were  all  at  Codes  horn, 
This  Babe,  to  you  that  now  is  born, 
Sail  make  you  safe,  and  for  you  die, 
And  you  restore  to  liberty. 

This  Babe  for  you  did  shed  His  blude; 
And  tholit  death  upon  the  Rood ; 
And  for  His  great  humanity, 
Exaltit  is  His  Majesty. 

And  now  He  is  our  advocate, 
Praying  for  us,  baith  ere  and  late  ; 
This  can  the  Scripture  verify, 
In  sa  far  as  ane  man  is  He. 

Therefore,  all  tide  and  time  and  hour, 
Pass  unto  Him  as  Mediator 
Betwix  the  Father's  wrath  and  thee, 
Of  sin  if  thou  would  cleansed  be. 

For  He  has  promised  with  His  heart 
To  all  sinners  that  will  revert 
And  fra  their  sinful  life  will  flee, 
Sail  ring  with  Him  eternally. 

To  God  the  Father  must  be  gloir, 
And  also  to  Christ  forever  more  ; 
The  Holy  Ghaist  must  blissit  be, 
Worker  of  this  Nativity. 


IN   DULCT   IUBILO  209 


All  the  merrier  is  that  place, 
The  sun  of  grace  Him  shineth 1  in 

Fifteenth  Century. 

THE  sun  of  grace  Him  shineth  x  in, 

On  a  day  when  it  was  morrow, 
When  our  Lord  God  born  was, 

Without  sin  or  sorrow. 
The  sun  of  grace  Him  shineth  in, 

On  a  day  when  it  was  prime, 
When  our  Lord  God  born  was  ; 

So  well  He  knew  His  time. 
The  sun  of  grace  Him  shineth  in, 

On  a  day  when  it  was  noon, 
When  our  Lord  God  born  was, 

And  on  the  Rood  [yjdone. 
The  sun  of  grace  Him  shineth  in, 

On  a  day  when  it  was  undern^ 
When  our  Lord  God  born  was, 

And  to  the  heart  [yjstungen.2 


Man,  be  joyful  and  mirth  thou  make, 
For  Christ  is  made  man  for  thy  sake 

Temp.  Henry  VII.  or  VIII. 

MAN,  be  merry,  I  thee  rede, 

But  beware  what  mirths  thou  make ; 
Christ  is  clothed  in  thy  weed, 

And  He  is  made  man  for  thy  sake. 

1  Text:  schynit.     See  note.  2  Pierced. 

o 


210      CAROLS   OF  THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

He  came  fro  His  Father's  seat, 
Into  this  world  to  be  thy  make  ; * 

Man,  beware  how  thou  Him  treat, 
For  He  is  made  man  for  thy  sake. 

Look  thou  mercy  ever  cry, 

Now  and  alway,  rathe  and  late ; 

And  He  will  set  thee  wonder  high, 
For  He  is  made  man  for  thy  sake. 


For  Christmas  Day 

1574-1656.  Bishop  Hall. 

IMMORTAL  Babe,  who  this  dear  day 
Did'st  change  Thine  heaven  for  our  clay, 
And  did'st  with  flesh  Thy  Godhead  veil, 
Eternal  Son  of  God,  all  hail ! 

Shine,  happy  star ;   ye  angels,  sing 

Glory  on  high  to  heaven's  King ; 

Run,  shepherds,  leave  your  nightly  watch, 

See  heaven  come  down  to  Bethlehem's  cratch. 

Worship,  ye  sages  of  the  east, 

The  King  of  gods  in  meanness  dressed ; 

O  blessed  maid,  smile  and  adore 

The  God  thy  womb  and  arms  have  bore. 

Star,  angels,  shepherds,  and  wise  sages, 
Thou  virgin  glory  of  all  ages, 
Restored  frame  of  heaven  and  earth, 
Joy  in  your  dear  Redeemer's  birth  ! 

1  Comrade. 


IN  DULCI    IUBILO  211 

Cast  off  all  Doubtful  Care 1 
1589- 

CAST  off  all  doubtful  care. 

Exile  and  banish  tears ; 
To  joyful  news  divine 

Lend  us  your  listening  ears. 

An  earthly  tree  a  heavenly  fruit  it  bare, 

A  case  of  clay  contained  a  crown  immortal, 
A  crown  of  crowns,  a  King  whose  cost  and  care 

Redeemed  poor  man,  whose  race  before  was  thrall 
To  death,  to  doom,  to  pains  of  everlasting, 
By  His  sweet  death,  scores,  stripes  and  often  fasting. 

A  star  above  the  stars,  a  sun  of  light, 

Whose  blessed  beams  this  wretched  earth  bespread 
With  hope  of  heaven  and  of  God's  Son  the  sight, 

Which  in  our  flesh  and  sinful  soul  lay  dead. 
O  faith,  O  hope,  O  joys  renowned  forever, 
O  lively  death  that  deathless  shall  persever  ! 

Then  let  us  sing  the  lullabies  of  sleep 

To  this  sweet  Babe,  born  to  awake  us  all 
From  drowsy  sin  that  made  old  Adam  weep, 

And  by  his  fault  gave  to  mankind  the  fall. 
For  lo  !  this  day,  the  birthday,  day  of  days, 
Summons  our  songs  to  give  Him  laud  and  praise. 

1  Byrd's  Song s  of  Sundry  Natures. 


212      CAROLS   OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 
This  Day  Christ  was  Born1 

1611. 

THIS  day  Christ  was  born, 

This  day  our  Saviour  did  appear, 
This  day  the  angels  sing  in  earth, 
This  day  archangels  are  glad  ; 
This  day  the  just  rejoice,  saying  : 
Glory  be  to  God  on  high, 
Allelujah  ! 

A  Christmas  Carol 

1592-1644.  Francis  Qnarles.2 

GLORY  to  God  on  high,  and  jolly  mirth 
'Twixt  man  and  man,  and  peace  on  earth ! 
This  night  a  Child  is  born ; 
This  night  a  Son  is  given  ; 
This  Son,  this  Child 
Hath  reconciled 
Poor  man  that  was  forlorn, 
And  the  angry  God  of  heaven. 
Hosanna,  sing  Hosanna  / 

Now,  now  that  joyful  day, 
That  blessed  hour  is  come, 
That  was  foretold 
In  days  of  old, 
Wherein  all  nations  may 

Bless,  bless  the  virgin's  womb. 

Hosanna,  sing  Hosanna  ! 

1  Byrd's  Psalms,  Songs,  and  Sonnets. 

2  Eclogue  v  ( The  Shepherd's  Oracles). 


IN   DULCI    IUBILO  213 

Let  heaven  triumph  above, 
Let  earth  rejoice  below  ; 
Let  heaven  and  earth 
Be  filled  with  mirth, 
For  peace  and  lasting  love 
Atones  your  God  and  you. 

Hosanna,  sing  Hosanna  ! 


There  Comes  a  Skip 

About  1550. 

THERE  comes  a  ship  far  sailing  then, 
Saint  Michael  was  the  steersman, 
Saint  John  sat  in  the  horn  ; 
Our  Lord  harped,  our  Lady  sang, 
And  all  the  bells  of  heaven  they  rang, 
On  Christ's  Sunday  at  morn. 


/  Saw  Three  Ships1 

Traditional. 

I  SAW  three  ships  come  sailing  in 

On  Christmas  day,  on  Christmas  day ; 
I  saw  three  ships  come  sailing  in 

On  Christmas  day  in  the  morning. 

And  what  was  in  those  ships  all  three, 
On  Christmas  day,  on  Christmas  day  ? 

And  what  was  in  those  ships  all  three, 
On  Christmas  day  in  the  morning  ? 

1  See  note. 


2i4      CAROLS   OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

Our  Saviour  Christ  and  His  Lady, 
On  Christmas  day,  on  Christmas  day ; 

Our  Saviour  Christ  and  His  Lady, 
On  Christmas  day  in  the  morning. 

Pray  whither  sailed  those  ships  all  three, 
On  Christmas  day,  on  Christmas  day  ? 

Pray  whither  sailed  those  ships  all  three, 
On  Christmas  day  in  the  morning  ? 

O  they  sailed  into  Bethlehem, 

On  Christmas  day,  on  Christmas  day ; 

O  they  sailed  into  Bethlehem, 

On  Christmas  day  in  the  morning. 

And  all  the  bells  on  earth  shall  ring, 
On  Christmas  day,  on  Christmas  day ; 

And  all  the  bells  on  earth  shall  ring, 
On  Christmas  day  in  the  morning. 

And  all  the  angels  in  Heaven  shall  sing, 
On  Christmas  day,  on  Christmas  day ; 

And  all  the  angels  in  Heaven  shall  sing, 
On  Christmas  day  in  the  morning. 

And  all  the  souls  on  earth  shall  sing, 
On  Christmas  day,  on  Christmas  day ; 

And  all  the  souls  on  earth  shall  sing, 
On  Christmas  day  in  the  morning. 

Then  let  us  all  rejoice  amain, 

On  Christmas  day,  on  Christmas  day ; 

Then  let  us  all  rejoice  amain, 

On  Christmas  day  in  the  morning. 


INj  DULCI   IUBILO  215 

Christ's  Nativity^ 

1650-65.  Henry  Vaughan. 

AWAKE,  glad  heart !   get  up  and  sing  ! 
It  is  the  birthday  of  thy  King. 

Awake  !     Awake  ! 

The  sun  doth  shake 
Light  from  his  locks,  and  all  the  way 
Breathing  perfumes,  doth  spice  the  day. 

Awake  !   awake  !   hark  how  th'  wood  rings, 
Winds  whisper,  and  the  busy  springs 

A  concert  make. 

Awake  !     Awake  ! 

Man  is  their  high  priest,  and  should  rise 
To  offer  up  the  sacrifice. 

I  would  I  were  some  bird,  or  star, 
Fluttering  in  woods,  or  lifted  far 

Above  this  inn 

And  road  of  sin  ; 

Then  either  star  or  bird  should  be 
Shining  or  singing  still  to  Thee. 

I  would  I  had  in  my  best  part 

Fit  rooms  for  Thee  !   or  that  my  heart 

Were  so  clean  as 

Thy  manger  was  ! 
But  I  am  all  filth,  and  obscene  ; 
Yet,  if  Thou  wilt,  Thou  can'st  make  me  clean. 

1  Silex  Scintillans. 


216      CAROLS   OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

Sweet  Jesu  !   will  then.     Let  no  more 
This  leper  haunt  and  soil  Thy  door  ! 

Cure  him,  ease  him, 

O  release  him  ! 

And  let  once  more,  by  mystic  birth, 
The  Lord  of  life  be  born  in  earth. 


PART   III 

CAROLS    OF    YULETIDE 
FESTIVITY 

PROFACE 

Proface 

Temp.  Henry  VII.  or  VIII. 

Proface?  welcome,  welcome ! 
This  time  is  born  a  Child  of  grace, 
That  for  us  mankind  2  hath  take. 
Proface. 

A  king's  son  and  an  emperour 
Is  come  out  of  a  maiden's  tower, 
With  us  to  dwell  with  great  honour. 
Proface. 

This  holy  time  of  Christemas, 
All  sorrow  and  sin  we  should  release, 
And  cast  away  all  heaviness. 
Proface. 

The  good  lord  of  this  place  entire, 
Saith  welcome  to  all  that  now  appear, 
Unto  such  fare  as  ye  find  here. 
Proface. 

i  Much  good  may  it  do  you  !  -  Man's  nature. 

217 


2i8       CAROLS    OF   YULETIDE   FESTIVITY 

Welcome  be  this  new  year  ! 
And  look  ye  all  be  of  good  cheer. 
Our  Lord  God  be  us  ever  near  ! 1 
Preface. 


In  Die  Nativitatis 

Temp.  Henry  VII.  or  VIII. 

"  Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  nowell" 

"  Who  is  there  that  singeth  so  nowell,  nowell,  nowell  ?  " 

"  I  am  here,  Sir  Christemas." 
"  Welcome,  my  lord  Sir  Christemas, 
Welcome  to  us  all,  both  more  and  less, 
Come  near,  nowell" 

"  Dieus  wous  garde,  bewe  sieurs?  tidings  I  you  bring 
A  maid  hath  borne  a  child  full  ying, 
The  which  causeth  [you]  for  to  sing, 
Nowell 

"  Christ  is  now  born  of  a  pure  maid, 
In  an  ox-stall  he  is  laid, 
Wherefore  sing  we  alle  at  a  brayde,3 

Nowell 

"  Bevvex  bien  par  tutte  la  company, 
Make  good  cheer  and  be  right  merry, 
And  sing  with  us  now  joyfully, 
Nowell" 

1   Text:  at  our  dewre=need. 
3  Elsewhere  byewe  syre.  3  In  unison. 


PROFACE  219 

Good  Day}  Good  Day 

Fifteenth  Century. 

Good  day,  good  day, 

My  Lord  Sir  Christemas,  good  day  ! 

GOOD  day,  Sir  Christemas  our  King, 
For  every  man,  both  old  and  ying, 
Is  glad  of  your  coming. 
Good  day. 

Codes  Son  so  much  of  might 
From  heaven  to  earth  down  is  light 
And  born  is  of  a  maid  so  bright. 
Good  day. 

Heaven  and  earth  and  also  hell 
And  all  that  ever  in  them  dwell, 
Of  your  coming  they  be  full  snell. 
Good  day. 

All  manner  of  mirthes  we  will  make, 
And  solace  to  our  heartes  take, 
My  seemly  lorde  for  your  sake. 
Good  day. 


What  cheer?  Good  cheer!  Good  cheer!  Good  cheer! 
Be  merry  and  glad  this  good  New  Year. 

Before  1536. 

LIFT  up  your  heartes  and  be  glad  ! 

In  Christes  birth  the  angel  bade  ; 

Say  each  to  other,  if  any  be  sad  : 
What  cheer  ?    Good  cheer  !    Good  cheer  !    Good  cheer  ! 
Be  merry  and  glad  this  good  New  Tear. 


220       CAROLS   OF   YULETIDE    FESTIVITY 

Now  the  King  of  heaven  His  birth  hath  take, 
Joy  and  mirth  we  ought  to  make  ! 
Say  each  to  other,  for  his  sake  : 

What  cheer  ?    Good  cheer  !    Good  cheer  !     Good  cheer  ! 

Be  merry  and  glad  this  good  New  Tear. 

I  tell  you  all  with  heart  so  free, 

Right  welcome  ye  be  [all]  to  me. 

Be  glad  and  merry  for  charity ! 
What  cheer?    Good  cheer  !    Good  cheer /    Good  cheer ! 
Be  merry  and  glad  this  good  New  Tear. 

The  goodman  of  this  place  in  fere  1 
You  to  be  merry  he  prayeth  you  here ; 
And  with  good  heart  he  doth  to  you  say  : 

What  cheer?    Good  cheer  !    Good  cheer  !    Good  cheer! 

Be  merry  and  glad  this  good  New  Tear. 


Make  we  merry,  both  more  and  less, 
For  now  is  the  time  of  Christemas 

Before  1536. 

LET  no  man  come  into  this  hall, 
Groom,  page  nor  yet  marshall, 
But  that  some  sport  he  bring  withal, 
For  now  is  the  time  of  Christemas. 

If  that  he  say  he  cannot  sing, 
Some  other  sport  then  let  him  bring, 
That  it  may  please  at  this  feasting, 
For  now  is  the  time  of  Christemas. 

1  Company. 


PROFACE  221 

If  he  say  he  can  naught  do, 
Then  for  my  love  ask  him  no  mo, 
But  to  the  stocks  then  let  him  go, 
For  now  is  the  time  of  Cbristemas. 


Now  Christmas  Draweth  Near 

1558-1626.  Nicholas  Breton. 

Now  Christmas  draweth  near,  and  most  men  make  good  cheer, 

With  heigh-ho,  care  away  ! 
I,  like  a  sickly  mome,  in  drowsy  dumps  at  home, 

Will  naught  but  fast  and  pray. 

Some  sing  and  dance  for  life,  some  card  and  dice  as  rife, 

Some  use  old  Christmas  games  ; 
But  I,  oh  wretched  wight !  in  dole  both  day  and  night, 

Must  dwell ;   the  world  so  frames. 

In  Court,  what  pretty  toys,  what  fine  and  pleasant  joys, 

To  pass  the  time  away  ! 
In  country  naught  but  care  ;  sour  cheese-curds,  chiefest  fare  ; 

For  wine,  a  bowl  of  whey. 

For  every  dainty  dish,  of  flesh  or  else  of  fish, 

And  for  your  drink  in  Court, 
A  dish  of  young  fried  frogs,  sod  houghs  of  meazled  hogs, 

A  cup  of  small  tap  wort. 

And  for  each  courtly  sight,  each  show  that  may  delight 

The  eye  or  else  the  mind ; 
In  country  thorns  and  brakes,  and  many  miry  lakes, 

Is  all  the  good  you  find. 


222       CAROLS    OF   YULETIDE   FESTIVITY 

And  for  fine  enterics,  halls,  chambers,  galleries, 

And  lodgings  many  mo  ; 
Here  dessert  woods  and  plains,  where  no  delight  remains, 

To  walk  in  to  and  fro. 

In  Court,  for  to  be  short,  for  every  pretty  sport 

That  may  the  heart  delight ; 
In  country  many  a  grief,  and  small  or  no  relief, 

To  aid  the  wounded  wight. 

And  in  this  desert  place,  I,  wretch !   in  woeful  case, 

This  merry  Christmas  time, 
Content  myself  perforce  to  rest  my  careful  corse, 

And  so  I  end  my  rhyme. 


The  Christmas  Now  is  Past 

1558-1626.  Nicholas  Breton. 

THE  Christmas  now  is  past,  and  I  have  kept  my  fast, 

With  prayer  every  day ; 
And,  like  a  country  clown,  with  nodding  up  and  down, 

Have  passed  the  time  away. 

As  for  old  Christmas  games,  or  dancing  with  fine  dames, 

Or  shows,  or  pretty  plays ; 
A  solemn  oath  I  swear,  I  came  not  where  they  were, 

Not  all  these  holy  days. 

I  did  not  sing  one  note,  except  it  were  by  rote, 

Still  buzzing  like  a  bee ; 
To  ease  my  heavy  heart  of  some  though  little  smart, 

For  want  of  other  glee. 


PROFACE  223 

And  as  for  pleasant  wine,  there  was  no  drink  so  fine, 

For  to  be  tasted  here  ; 
Full  simple  was  my  fare,  if  that  I  should  compare, 

The  same  to  Christmas  cheer. 

I  saw  no  kind  of  sight  that  might  my  mind  delight, 

Believe  me,  noble  dame  ; 
But  everything  I  saw  did  fret  at  woe  my  maw, 

To  think  upon  the  same. 

Upon  some  bushy  balk  full  fain  I  was  to  walk, 

In  woods,  from  tree  to  tree, 
For  want  of  better  room ;   but  since  my  fatal  doom 

Hath  so  appointed  me  ; 

I  stood  therewith  content,  the  Christmas  full  was  spent, 

In  hope  that  God  will  send 
A  better  yet  next  year,  my  heavy  heart  to  cheer ; 

And  so  I  make  an  end. 


Make  we  mirth  for  Christes  birth, 
A  nd  sing  we  Yule  till  Candlemas 

Fifteenth  Century. 

THE  first  day  of  Yule  have  we  in  mind, 
How  God  was  man  born  of  our  kind, 
For  He  the  bonds  would  unbind 
Of  all  our  sins  and  wickedness. 

The  second  day  we  sing  of  Stephen 
That  stoned  [was]  and  stied  *  up  even 
To  God  that  he  saw  stand  in  heaven, 
And  crowned  was  for  his  prowess. 

1  Ascended. 


224      CAROLS    OF    YULETIDE    FESTIVITY 

The  third  day  'longeth  to  St.  John, 
That  was  Christ's  darling,  dearer  none, 
To  whom  He  betook,1  when  He  should  gone, 
His  mother  dear  for  his  cleanness. 

The  fourth  day,  of  the  children  young, 
That  Herod  to  death  had  done  with  wrong ; 
Of  Christ  they  could  not  tell  with  tongue, 
But  with  their  blood  bare  Him  witness. 

The  fifth  day  'longeth  to  St.  Thomas,2 
That  as  a  strong  pillar  of  brass 
Held  up  the  Church  and  slain  he  was, 
For  he  stood  [fast]  in  righteousness. 

The  eighth  day  took  Jesu  His  name, 
That  saved  mankind  fro  sin  and  shame, 
And  circumcised  was  for  no  blame, 
But  for  ensample  of  meekness. 

The  twelfth  day  offered  to  Him  kings  three, 
Gold,  myrrh,  incense,  these  giftes  free, 
For  God  and  man  and  king  is  He ; 
Thus  worshipped  they  His  worthiness. 

The  fourteenth  day  came  Mary  mild, 
Into  the  Temple  with  her  Child, 
To  show  her  clean  that  was  never  defiled, 
And  therewith  endeth  Christmas. 

1  Entrusted.  2  Thomas  £  Becket. 


PROFACE  225 

Christmas 

Thomas  Tusser. 
GET  ivy  and  hull,1  woman,  deck  up  thine  house, 
And  take  this  same  brawn  for  to  seethe  and  to  souse  ; 
Provide  us  good  cheer,  for  thou  knowest  the  old  guise, 
Old  customs  that  good  be,  let  no  man  despise. 
At  Christmas  be  merry  and  thank  God  of  all, 
And  feast  thy  poor  neighbours,  the  great  and  the  small. 
Yea,  all  the  year  long  have  an  eye  to  the  poor, 
And  God  shall  send  luck  to  keep  open  thy  door. 
Good  fruit  and  good  plenty  do  well  in  thy  loft, 
Then  lay  for  an  orchard  and  cherish  it  oft. 
The  profit  is  mickle,  the  pleasure  is  much ; 
At  pleasure  with  profit  few  wise  men  will  grutch. 
For  plants  and  for  stocks  lay  aforehand  to  cast, 
But  set  or  remove  them,  while  Twelve-tide  2  do  last. 


Now  have  good  day,  now  have  good  day  ! 
I  am  Christmas ',  and  now  I  go  my  way 

Before  1536. 

HERE  have  I  dwelled  with  more  and  less 
From  Hallowtide  till  Candlemas, 
And  now  must  I  from  you  hence  pass ; 
Now  have  good  day  ! 

I  take  my  leave  of  king  and  knight, 
And  earl,  baron  and  lady  bright, 
To  wilderness  I  must  me  dight ; 
Now  have  good  day  ! 

1  Holly.  2  Christmas  to  Twelfth  Night. 

P 


226        CAROLS   OF   YULETIDE    FESTIVITY 

And  at  the  good  lord  of  this  hall 
I  take  my  leave,  and  of  guestes  all. 
Methinks  I  hear,  Lent  doth  call ; 
Now  have  good  day  ! 

And  at  every  worthy  officer, 
Marshall,  panter  and  butler, 
I  take  my  leave  as  for  this  year ; 
Now  have  good  day  ! 

Another  year  I  trust  I  shall 
Make  merry  in  this  hall, 
If  rest  and  peace  in  England  may  fall ; 
Now  have  good  day  ! 

But  oftentimes  I  have  heard  say 
That  he  is  loth  to  part  away, 
That  often  biddeth  "  have  good  day  "  ; 
Now  have  good  day  ! 

Now  fare  ye  well,  all  in  fere  ! 
Now  fare  ye  well  for  all  this  year  ! 
Yet  for  my  sake,  have  good  cheer  ; 
Now  have  good  day  ! 


A   Christmas  Carol  ^ 

1622.  George  Wither. 

So,  now  is  come  our  joyfullest  feast ; 

Let  every  man  be  jolly. 
Each  room  with  ivy  leaves  is  dressed, 

And  every  post  with  holly. 

1  Juvenilia, 


PROFACE  227 

Though  some  churls  at  our  mirth  repine, 
Round  your  foreheads  garlands  twine  ; 
Drown  sorrow  in  a  cup  of  wine, 
And  let  us  all  be  merry. 


Now  all  our  neighbours'  chimneys  smoke, 
And  Christmas  blocks  are  burning ; 

Their  ovens  they  with  baked  meats  choke, 
And  all  their  spits  are  turning. 

Without  the  door  let  sorrow  lie ; 

And  if  for  cold  it  hap  to  die, 

We'll  bury't  in  a  Christmas  pie, 
And  evermore  be  merry. 

Now  every  lad  is  wondrous  trim, 
And  no  man  minds  his  labour ; 

Our  lasses  have  provided  them 
A  bag-pipe  and  a  tabor  ; 

Young  men  and  maids,  and  girls  and  boys, 

Give  life  to  one  another's  joys ; 

And  you  anon  shall  by  their  noise 
Perceive  that  they  are  merry. 

I 

Rank  misers  now  do  sparing  shun ; 

Their  hall  of  music  soundeth  ; 
And  dogs  thence  with  whole  shoulders  run, 

So  all  things  there  aboundeth. 
The  country  folks  themselves  advance 
With  crowdy  muttons  out  of  France ; 
And  Jack  shall  pipe  and  Jill  shall  dance, 

And  all  the  town  be  merry. 


228       CAROLS    OF   YULETIDE    FESTIVITY 

Ned  Squash  hath  fetched  his  bands  from  pawn, 

And  all  his  best  apparel ; 
Brisk  Nell  hath  bought  a  ruff  of  lawn 

With  dropping  of  the  barrel ; 
And  those  that  hardly  all  the  year 
Had  bread  to  eat,  or  rags  to  wear, 
Will  have  both  clothes  and  dainty  fare, 

And  all  the  day  be  merry. 

Now  poor  men  to  the  justices 
With  capons  make  their  errands ; 

And  if  they  hap  to  fail  of  these, 

They  plague  them  with  their  warrants ; 

But  now  they  feed  them  with  good  cheer, 

And  what  they  want  they  take  in  beer ; 

For  Christmas  comes  but  once  a  year, 
And  then  they  shall  be  merry. 

Good  farmers  in  the  country  nurse 
The  poor,  that  else  were  undone  ; 

Some  landlords  spend  their  money  worse 
On  lust  and  pride  at  London. 

There  the  roysters  they  do  play, 

Drab  and  dice  their  lands  away, 

Which  may  be  ours  another  day ; 
And  therefore  let's  be  merry. 

The  client  now  his  suit  forbears, 

The  prisoner's  heart  is  eased ; 
The  debtor  drinks  away  his  cares, 

And  for  the  time  is  pleased. 


PROFACE  229 

Though  other  purses  be  more  fat, 
Why  should  we  pine  or  grieve  at  that  ? 
Hang  sorrow  !    care  will  kill  a  cat, 
And  therefore  let's  be  merry. 

Hark  !    how  the  wags  abroad  do  call 

Each  other  forth  to  rambling ; 
Anon  you'll  see  them  in  the  hall 

For  nuts  and  apples  scrambling. 
Hark  !   how  the  roofs  with  laughter  sound  ! 
Anon  they'll  think  the  house  goes  round, 
For  they  the  cellar's  depth  have  found, 

And  there  they  will  be  merry. 

The  wenches  with  their  wassel-bowls 

About  the  streets  are  singing  ; 
The  boys  are  come  to  catch  the  owls, 

The  wild  mare  is  in  bringing. 
Our  kitchen  boy  hath  broke  his  box, 
And  to  the  dealing  of  the  ox 
Our  honest  neighbours  come  by  flocks, 

And  here  they  will  be  merry. 

Now  kings  and  queens  poor  sheep  cots  have, 

And  mate  with  everybody  ; 
The  honest  now  may  have  the  knave, 

And  wise  men  play  the  noddy. 
Some  youths  will  now  a-mumming  go, 
Some  others  play  at  Rowland-ho, 
And  twenty  other  gameboys  mo, 

Because  they  will  be  merry. 


230        CAROLS    OF   YULETIDE    FESTIVITY 

Then  wherefore  in  these  merry  days 

Should  we,  I  pray,  be  duller  ? 
No,  let  us  sing  some  roundelays, 
To  make  our  mirth  the  fuller. 
And  whilst  thus  inspired  we  sing, 
Let  all  the  streets  with  echoes  ring, 
Woods  and  hills  and  everything, 
Bear  witness  we  are  merry. 


A  Christmas  Carol 

1648.  Robert  Herrick. 

Chorus.  WHAT  sweeter  music  can  we  bring, 
Than  a  carol,  for  to  sing 
The  birth  of  this  our  heavenly  King  ? 
Awake  the  voice  !     Awake  the  string  ! 
Heark,  ear,  and  eye,  and  everything, 
Awake  !   the  while  the  active  finger 
Runs  divisions  with  the  singer. 

(From  the  flourish  they  come  to  the  song.) 

Dark  and  dull  night,  fly  hence  away, 
And  give  the  honour  to  this  day, 
That  sees  December  turn'd  to  May. 
If  we  may  ask  the  reason,  say 
The  why  and  wherefore  all  things  here 
Seem  like  the  springtime  of  the  year  ? 
Why  does  the  chilling  winter's  morn 
Smile  like  a  field  beset  with  corn  ? 
Or  smell  like  to  a  mead  new-shorn, 


PROFACE  231 

Thus  on  the  sudden  ?     Come  and  see 
The  cause  why  things  thus  fragrant  be  : 
'Tis  He  is  born  whose  quickening  birth 
Gives  life  and  lustre  public  mirth 
To  heaven  and  the  under-earth. 

Chorus.  We  see  Him  come,  and  know  Him  ours, 
Who  with  His  sunshine  and  His  showers 
Turns  all  the  patient  ground  to  flowers. 

The  Darling  of  the  world  is  come, 
And  fit  it  is  we  find  a  room 
To  welcome  Him.     The  nobler  part 
Of  all  the  house  here,  is  the  heart. 

Chorus.  Which  we  will  give  him  ;  and  bequeath 
This  holly  and  this  ivy  wreath, 
To  do  him  honour  who's  our  King, 
The  Lord  of  all  this  revelling. 


The  New    Year  is  Begun* 

Seventeenth  Century. 

THE  New  Year  is  begun, 

Good  morrow,  my  masters  all ! 
The  cheerful  rising  sun 
Now  shining  in  this  hall, 
Brings  mirth  and  joy 
To  man  and  boy 
With  all  that  here  do  dwell ; 
Whom  Jesus  bless 
With  love's  increase, 
So  all  things  shall  prosper  well. 

1  New  Christmas  Carols.    (Oxford.     Undated. 


232       CAROLS   OF    YULETIDE    FESTIVITY 

A  New  Year's  gift  I  bring 

Unto  my  master  here, 
Which  is  a  welcome  thing 
Of  mirth  and  merry  cheer. 
A  New  Year's  lamb 
Come  from  thy  dam 
An  hour  before  daybreak ; 
Your  noted  ewe 
Doth  this  bestow, 
Good  master,  for  your  sake. 

And  to  my  dame  so  kind 

This  New  Year's  gift  I  bring  ; 
I'll  bear  an  honest  mind 
Unto  her  whilst  I  live. 

Your  white-wooled  sheep 
I'll  safely  keep 

From  harm  of  bush  or  briar, 
That  garments  gay 
For  your  array 
May  clothe  you  the  next  New  Year. 

And  to  your  children  all, 

These  New  Year's  gifts  I  bring ; 
And  though  the  price  be  small, 
They're  fit  for  queen  or  king  : 
Fair  pippins  red 
Kept  in  my  bed 
A-mellowing  since  last  year, 
Whose  beauty  bright 
So  clear  of  sight 
Their  hearts  will  glad  and  cheer. 


PROFACE  233 


And  to  your  maids  and  men 

I  bring  both  points  and  pins ; 
Come  bid  me  welcome  then, 
The  good  New  Year  begins ; 
And  for  my  love 
Let  me  approve 
The  friendship  of  your  maid, 
Whose  nappy  ale 
So  good  and  stale 
Will  make  my  wits  afraid. 

I  dare  not  with  it  deal 
But  in  a  sober  diet. 
If  I,  poor  shepherd,  steal 
A  draught  to  be  unquiet, 
And  lose  my  way 
This  New  Year's  day 
As  I  go  to  my  fold, 

You'll  surely  think 
My  love  of  drink 
This  following  year  will  hold. 

Here  stands  my  bottle  and  hook, 
Good  kitchen-maid,  draw  near ; 
Thou  art  an  honest  cook, 
And  canst  brew  ale  and  beer ; 
Thy  office  show 
Before  I  go, 

My  bottle  and  bag  come  fill ; 
And  for  thy  sake 
I'll  merry  make 
Upon  the  next  green  hill. 


234       CAROLS    OF   YULETIDE    FESTIVITY 

All  You  that  are  Good  Fellows^ 
1642. 

ALL  you  that  are  good  fellows, 

Come  hearken  to  my  song  ; 
I  know  you  do  not  hate  good  cheer 

Nor  liquor  that  is  strong. 
I  hope  there  is  none  here 

But  soon  will  take  my  part, 
Seeing  my  master  and  my  dame 

Says  welcome  with  their  heart. 

This  is  a  time  of  joyfulness 

And  merry  time  of  year, 
Whereas  the  rich  with  plenty  stored 

Doth  make  the  poor  good  cheer  ; 
Plum-porridge,  roast-beef,  and  minced  pies 

Stand  smoking  on  the  board, 
With  other  brave  varieties 

Our  master  doth  afford. 


Our  mistress  and  her  cleanly  maids 

Have  neatly  played  the  cooks ; 
Methinks  these  dishes  eagerly 

At  my  sharp  stomach  looks, 
As  though  they  were  afraid 

To  see  me  draw  my  blade  ; 
But  I  revenged  on  them  will  be 

Until  my  stomach's  stayed. 

1  New  Christmas  Carols. 


PROFACE  235 

Come  fill  us  of  the  strongest, 

Small  drink  is  out  of  date ; 
Methinks  I  shall  fare  like  a  prince 

And  sit  in  gallant  state. 
This  is  no  miser's  feast, 

Although  that  things  be  dear  ; 
God  grant  the  founder  of  this  feast 

Each  Christmas  keep  good  cheer. 

This  day  for  Christ  we  celebrate 

Who  was  born  at  this  time  ; 
For  which  all  Christians  should  rejoice 

And  I  do  sing  in  rhyme. 
When  you  have  given  God  thanks, 

Unto  your  dainties  fall. 
Heaven  bless  my  master  and  my  dame, 

Lord  bless  me  and  you  all ! 


Come,  Mad  Boys1 
1642. 

COME,  mad  boys,  be  glad,  boys,  for  Christmas  is  here, 
And  we  shall  be  feasted  with  jolly  good  cheer ; 
Then  let  us  be  merry,  'tis  Saint  Stephen's  day, 
Let's  eat  and  drink  freely,  here's  nothing  to  pay. 

My  master  bids  you  welcome,  and  so  doth  my  dame, 
And  'tis  yonder  smoking  dish  doth  me  inflame  ; 
Anon  I'll  be  with  you,  though  you  me  outface, 
For  now  I  do  tell  you  I  have  time  and  place. 

1  New  Christmas  Carols. 


236       CAROLS    OF    YULETIDE    FESTIVITY 

I'll  troll  the  bowl  to  you,  then  let  it  go  round, 
My  heels  are  so  light  they  can  stand  on  no  ground ; 
My  tongue  it  doth  chatter,  and  goes  pitter  patter, 
Here's  good  beer  and  strong  beer,  for  I  will  not  flatter. 

And  now  for  remembrance  of  blessed  Saint  Stephen, 
Let's  joy  at  morning,  at  noon,  and  at  even  ; 

Then  leave  off  your  mincing,  and  fall  to  mince  pies, 
I  pray  take  my  counsel,  be  ruled  by  the  wise. 

With  Merry  Glee  and  Solace1 

1661. 

WITH  merry  glee  and  solace 
This  second  day  of  Christmas 

Now  comes  in  bravely  to  my  master's  house, 
Where  plenty  of  good  cheer  I  see, 
With  that  which  most  contenteth  me, 
As  brawn  and  bacon,  powdered  beef  and  sauce. 

For  the  love  of  Stephen, 
That  blessed  saint  of  heaven, 

Which  stoned  was  for  Jesus  Christ  his  sake, 
Let  us  all  both  more  and  less 
Cast  away  all  heaviness, 
And  in  a  sober  manner  merry  make. 

He  was  a  man  beloved, 
And  his  faith  approved 

By  suffering  death  [up]on  this  holy  day, 
Where  he  with  gentle  patience, 
And  a  constant  sufferance, 
Hath  taught  us  all  to  heaven  the  ready  way. 

1  New  Carollsfor  the  Mery  Time  of  Christmas. 


PROFACE  237 

So  let  our  mirth  be  civil, 
That  not  one  thought  of  evil 

May  take  possession  of  our  hearts  at  all, 
So  shall  we  love  and  favour  get 
Of  them  that  kindly  thus  do  set 
Their  bounties  here  so  freely  in  this  hall. 

Of  delicates  so  dainty, 
I  see  here  is  plenty 
Upon  this  table  ready  here  prepared ; 
Then  let  us  now  give  thanks  to  those 
That  all  things  friendly  thus  bestows, 
Esteeming  not  this  world  that  is  so  hard. 

For  of  the  same  my  master 
Hath  made  me  here  a  taster ; 

The  Lord  above  requite  him  for  the  same  ! 
And  so  to  all  within  this  house 
I  will  drink  a  full  carouse, 
With  leave  of  my  good  master  and  my  dame. 

And,  the  Lord  be  praised, 
My  stomach  is  well  eased, 

My  bones  at  quiet  may  go  take  their  rest ; 
Good  fortune  surely  followed  me 
To  bring  me  thus  so  luckily 
To  eat  and  drink  so  freely  of  the  best. 


238        CAROLS    OF   YULETIDE    FESTIVITY 
All  You  that  in  this  House  be  Here^ 

1661. 

ALL  you  that  in  this  house  be  here, 
Remember  Christ  that  for  us  died, 

And  spend  away  with  modest  cheer, 
In  loving  sort,  this  Christmastide. 

And  whereas  plenty  God  hath  sent, 
Give  frankly  to  your  friends  in  love ; 

The  bounteous  mind  is  freely  bent, 
And  never  will  a  niggard  prove. 

Our  table  spread  within  the  hall, 
I  know  a  banquet  is  at  hand, 

And  friendly  sort  to  welcome  all 
That  will  unto  their  tacklings  stand. 

The  maids  are  bonny  girls  I  see, 

Who  have  provided  much  good  cheer, 

Which  at  my  dame's  commandment  be 
To  set  it  on  the  table  here. 

For  I  have  here  two  knives  in  store 
To  lend  to  him  that  wanteth  one ; 

Commend  my  wits,  good  lads,  therefore, 
That  comes  now  here  having  none. 

For  if  I  should,  no  Christmas  pie 
Would  fall,  I  doubt,  unto  my  share  ; 

Wherefore  I  will  my  manhood  try, 
To  fight  a  battle  if  I  dare. 

1  New  Carolls  for  the  Mery  Time  of  Christmas. 


PROFACE  239 

For  pastry  crust,  like  castle  walls, 

Stands  braving  me  unto  my  face  ; 
I  am  not  well  until  it  falls 

And  I  made  captain  of  the  place. 

The  prunes  so  lovely  look  on  me, 

I  cannot  choose  but  venture  on  ; 
The  pie-meat  spiced  brave  I  see, 

The  which  I  must  not  let  alone. 

Then,  butler,  fill  me  forth  some  beer, 
My  song  hath  made  me  somewhat  dry  ; 

And  so  again  to  this  good  cheer, 
I'll  quickly  fall  courageously. 

And  for  my  master  I  will  pray, 

With  all  that  of  his  household  are, 
Both  old  and  young,  that  long  we  may 

Of  God's  good  blessing  have  a  share. 


Come  Follow,  Follow 
1688. 

COME  follow,  follow  me, 
Those  that  good  fellows  be, 
Into  the  buttery 
Our  manhood  for  to  try ; 
The  master  keeps  a  bounteous  house, 
And  gives  leave  freely  to  carouse. 

1  New  Christmas  Carols. 


240       CAROLS   OF   YULETIDE    FESTIVITY 

Then  wherefore  should  we  fear, 
Seeing  here  is  store  of  cheer  ? 

It  shows  but  cowardice 

At  this  time  to  be  nice. 
Then  boldly  draw  your  blades  and  fight, 
For  we  shall  have  a  merry  night. 

When  we  have  done  this  fray, 
Then  we  will  go  to  play 

At  cards  or  else  at  dice, 

And  be  rich  in  a  trice ; 
Then  let  the  knaves  go  round  apace, 
I  hope  each  time  to  have  an  ace. 

Come,  maids,  let's  waste  no  beer 

After  our  Christmas  cheer, 
And  I  will  duly  crave 
Good  husbands  you  may  have, 

And  that  you  may  good  houses  keep, 

Where  we  may  drink  carouses  deep. 

And  when  that['s]  spent  the  day, 
We'll  Christmas  gambols  play, 

At  hot  cockles  beside, 

And  then  go  to  all-hide, 
With  many  other  pretty  toys, 
Men,  women,  youths,  maids,  girls  and  boys. 

Come,  let's  dance  round  the  hall, 

And  let's  for  liquor  call ; 
Put  apples  in  the  fire, 
Sweet  maids,  I  you  desire ; 

And  let  a  bowl  be  spiced  well, 

Of  happy  stuff  that  doth  excel. 


PROFACE  241 

Twelve  days  we  now  have  spent 
In  mirth  and  merriment, 

And  daintily  did  fare, 

For  which  we  took  no  care  ; 
But  now  I  sadly  call  to  mind 
What  days  of  sorrow  are  behind. 

We  must  leave  oft  to  play, 
To-morrow's  working  day  ; 

According  to  each  calling 

Each  man  must  now  be  falling, 
And  ply  his  business  all  the  year, 
Next  Christmas  for  to  make  good  cheer. 

Now  of  my  master  kind, 
Good  welcome  I  did  find, 

And  of  my  loving  mistress, 

This  merry  time  of  Christmas ; 
For  which  to  them  great  thanks  I  give, 
God  grant  they  long  together  live. 


Noiv  Thrice   Welcome,  Christmas 
1695- 

Now  thrice  welcome,  Christmas, 

Which  brings  us  good  cheer, 
Minc'd  pies  and  plum  porridge, 

Good  ale  and  strong  beer  ; 
With  pig,  goose  and  capon, 

The  best  that  can  be, 
So  well  doth  the  weather 

And  our  stomachs  agree. 

1  Poor  Robin  s  Almanac. 


242       CAROLS   OF   YULETIDE   FESTIVITY 

Observe  how  the  chimneys 

Do  smoke  all  about, 
The  cooks  are  providing 

For  dinner,  no  doubt ; 
But  those  on  whose  tables 

No  victuals  appear, 
O  may  they  keep  Lent 

All  the  rest  of  the  year  ! 

With  holly  and  ivy 

So  green  and  so  gay, 
We  deck  up  our  houses 

As  fresh  as  the  day, 
With  bays  and  rosemary, 

And  laurel  complete ; 
And  every  one  now 

Is  a  king  in  conceit. 


WASSAIL 


Wassail 

About  1548.  John  Bale.2 

WASSAIL,  wassail,  out  of  the  milk  pail, 
Wassail,  wassail,  as  white  as  my  nail, 
Wassail,  wassail,  in  snow,  frost  and  hail, 
Wassail,  wassail,  with  partridge  and  rail, 
Wassail,  wassail,  that  much  doth  avail, 
Wassail,  wassail,  that  never  will  fail. 


Wassail,  wassail,  wassail,  sing  we, 
In  worship  of  Christ's  Nativity 

Before  1536. 

Now  joy  be  to  the  Trinity, 

Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost, 
That  One  God  is  in  Trinity, 

Father  of  heaven,  of  mightes  most. 
Wassail,  wassail,  wassail,  sing  we. 
In  worship  of  Christ's  nativity  ! 

And  joy  be  to  the  virgin  pure, 
That  ever  kept  her  undefiled, 
Grounded  in  grace,  in  heart  full  sure, 
And  bare  a  child  as  maiden  mild. 

Wassail,  wassail,  wassail,  sing  we, 
In  worship  of  Christ's  nativity  ! 

1  See  note.  2  King  John. 

243 


244       CAROLS   OF   YULETIDE    FESTIVITY 

Bethlehem  and  the  star  so  sheen, 

That  shone  three  kinge's  for  to  guide, 
Bear  witness  of  this  maiden  clean ; 
The  kinge's  three  offered  that  tide. 
Wassail,  wassail,  wassail,  sing  we, 
In  worship  of  Christ's  nativity  I 
And  shepherds  heard,  as  written  is, 

The  joyful  song  that  there  was  sung, 
"  Gloria  in  excelsis  /  " 

With  angel's  voice  it  was  out-rung. 
Wassail,  wassail,  wassail,  sing  we, 
In  worship  of  Christ's  nativity  ! 

Now  joy  be  to  the  blessedful  Child 
And  joy  be  to  His  mother  dear ; 
Joy  we  all  of  that  maiden  mild, 

And  joy  have  they  that  make  good  cheer  ! 
Wassail,  wassail,  wassail,  sing  we, 
In  worship  of  Christ's  nativity  ! 

Omnes  Gentes  Plaudite 

Fifteenth  Century. 

Omnes  gentes  plaudite, 
I  saw  many  birds  sitting  on  a  tree  ; 
They  took  their  flight  and  flew  away, 
With,  Ego  dixi,  have  good  day ! 
Many  white  feathers  hath  the  pie — 
I  may  no  more  sing,  my  lips  are  so  dry. 
Many  white  feathers  hath  the  swan — 
The  more  that  I  drink,  the  less  good  I  can. 
Lay  sticks  on  the  fire,  well  may  it  burn ; 1 
Give  us  once  to  drink  ere  away  we  turn.2 

1  Text:  wyl  mot  is  brenne.  2  Text:  ere  we  gon  henne. 


WASSAIL  245 

Bring  us  in  Good  Ale^ 

Temp.\ Henry  VI. 

Bring  us  in  good,  ale,  and-  bring  us  in  good,  ale  ; 
For  our  Blessed  Lady's  sake,  bring  us  in  good  ale. 

BRING  us  in  no  brown  bread,  for  that  is  made  of  bran, 
Nor  bring  us  in  no  white  bread,  for  therein  is  no  game ; 
But  bring  us  in  good  ale. 

Bring  us  in  no  beef,  for  there  is  many  bones, 
But  bring  us  in  good  ale,  for  that  goes  down  at  once ; 
And  bring  us  in  good  ale. 

Bring  us  in  no  bacon,  for  that  is  passing  fat, 
But  bring  us  in  good  ale,  and  give  us  enough  of  that ; 
And  bring  us  in  good  ale. 

Bring  us  in  no  mutton,  for  that  is  often  lean, 
Nor  bring  us  in  no  tripes,  for  they  be  seldom  clean ; 
But  bring  us  in  good  ale. 

Bring  us  in  no  eggs,  for  there  are  many  shells, 
But  bring  us  in  good  ale,  and  give  us  nothing  else  ; 
And  bring  us  in  good  ale. 

Bring  us  in  no  butter,  for  therein  are  many  hairs  ; 
Nor  bring  us  in  no  pig's  flesh,  for  that  will  make  us  boars  ; 
But  bring  us  in  good  ale. 

Bring  us  in  no  puddings,  for  therein  is  all  God's  good ; 
Nor  bring  us  in  no  venison,  for  that  is  not  for  our  blood ; 
But  bring  us  in  good  ale. 

Bring  us  in  no  capon's  flesh,  for  that  is  often  dear ; 
Nor  bring  us  in  no  duck's  flesh,  for  they  slobber  in  the  mere  ; 
But  bring  us  in  good  ale. 

1  See  note. 


246       CAROLS   OF   YULETIDE   FESTIVITY 
A  Bone,  God  Wot 

Temp.  Henry  VIII. 

A  BONE,  God  wot, 
Sticks  in  my  throat ; 
Without  I  have  a  draught 

Of  corny  ale, 

Nappy  and  stale, 
My  life  is  in  great  waste. 

Some  ale  or  beer, 

Gentle  butler, 
Some  liquor  thou  us  shew, 

Such  as  you  mash, 

Our  throats  to  wash, 
The  best  ware  that  you  brew. 

Saint,  master  and  knight, 

That  Saint  Malt  hight, 

Were  pressed  between  two  stones, — 

That  sweet  humour 

Of  his  liquor 
Would  make  us  sing  at  once. 

Mr.  Wortley, 

I  dare  well  say, 
I  tell  you  as  I  think, 

Would  not,  I  say, 

Bid  us  this  day, 
But  that  we  should  have  drink. 


WASSAIL  247 

His  men  so  tall 

Walks  up  his  hall, 

With  many  a  comely  dish  ; 

Of  his  good  meat 

I  cannot  eat, 
Without  a  drink  ywis. 

Now  give  us  drink. 

And  let  cat  wink, 
I  tell  you  all  at  once, 

It  sticks  so  sore, 

I  may  sing  no  more, 
Till  I  have  drunken  once. 


Come  Bravely  on,  my  Masters^ 
1642. 

COME  bravely  on,  my  masters, 
For  here  we  shall  be  tasters 

Of  curious  dishes  that  are  brave  and  fine ; 
Where  they  that  do  such  cheer  afford, 
I'll  lay  my  knife  upon  the  board, 
My  master  and  my  dame  they  do  not  pine. 

Who  is't  will  not  be  merry 
And  sing  down,  down-a-derry  ? 

For  now  it  is  a  time  of  joy  and  mirth ; 
'Tis  said  'tis  merry  in  the  hall 
Whenas  beards  they  do  wag  all ; 
God's  plenty's  here,  it  doth  not  show  a  dearth, 

1  New  Christmas  Carols. 


248       CAROLS   OF   YULETIDE   FESTIVITY 

Let  him  take  all  lives  longest, 
Come  fill  us  of  the  strongest, 

And  I  will  drink  a  health  to  honest  John ; 
Come  pray  thee,  butler,  fill  the  bowl, 
And  let  it  round  the  table  troll, 
When  that  is  up  I'll  tell  you  more  anon. 


My  Master  and  Dame,  I  well  Perceive l 

Seventeenth  Century. 

MY  master  and  dame,  I  well  perceive, 

Are  purposed  to  be  merry  to-night, 
And  willingly  hath  given  me  leave 

To  combat  with  a  Christmas  knight. 
Sir  Pig,  I  see,  comes  prancing  in 

And  bids  me  draw  if  that  I  dare ; 
I  care  not  for  his  valour  a  pin, 

For  Jack  of  him  will  have  a  share. 

My  Lady  Goose  among  the  rest 

Upon  the  table  takes  her  place, 
And  piping-hot  bids  do  my  best, 

And  bravely  looks  me  in  the  face  ; 
For  pigs  and  geese  are  gallant  cheer, 

God  bless  my  master  and  dame  therefore ! 
I  trust  before  the  next  New  Year 

To  eat  my  part  of  half  a  score. 

I  likewise  see  good  minced-pie 

Here  standing  swaggering  on  the  table ; 

The  lofty  walls  so  large  and  high 
I'll  level  down  if  I  be  able  ; 

1  New  Christmas  Carols.     (Oxford.     Undated.) 


WASSAIL  249 

For  they  be  furnished  with  good  plums, 
And  spiced  well  with  pepper  and  salt, 

Every  prune  as  big  as  both  my  thumbs 
To  drive  down  bravely  the  juice  of  malt. 

Fill  me  some  of  your  Christmas  beer, 

Your  pepper  sets  my  mouth  on  heat, 
And  Jack's  a-dry  with  your  good  cheer, 

Give  me  some  good  ale  to  my  meat. 
And  then  again  my  stomach  I'll  show, 

For  good  roast-beef  here  stoutly  stands  ; 
I'll  make  it  stoop  before  I  go, 

Or  I'll  be  no  man  of  my  hands. 

And  for  the  plenty  of  this  house 
God  keep  it  thus  well-stored  alway ; 

Come,  butler,  fill  me  a  good  carouse, 
And  so  we'll  end  our  Christmas  day. 


A  Jolly  Wassail-Bowl^ 

Seventeenth  Century. 

A  JOLLY  wassail-bowl, 

A  wassail  of  good  ale, 
Well  fare  the  butler's  soul, 
That  setteth  this  to  sale, 
Our  jolly  wassail. 

Good  dame,  here  at  your  door, 
Our  wassail  we  begin  ; 

We  are  all  maidens  poor, 
We  pray  now  let  us  in 
With  our  wassail. 

1  New  Christmas  Carols.     (Oxford.     Undated.) 


250       CAROLS   OF   YULETIDE    FESTIVITY 

Our  wassail  we  do  fill 

With  apples  and  with  spice, 

Then  grant  us  your  good  will 
To  taste  here  once  or  twice 
Of  our  wassail. 

If  any  maidens  be 

Here  dwelling  in  this  house, 

They  kindly  will  agree 
To  take  a  full  carouse 
Of  our  wassail. 

But  here  they  let  us  stand 
All  freezing  in  the  cold  ; 

Good  master,  your  command 
To  enter  and  be  bold 
With  our  wassail. 

Much  joy  unto  this  hall 

With  us  is  entered  in  ; 
Our  master,  first  of  all, 

We  hope  will  now  begin 
Of  our  wassail. 

And  after  his  good  wife 
Our  spiced  bowl  will  try  ; 

The  Lord  prolong  your  life  ! 
Good  fortune  we  espy 
For  our  wassail. 

Some  bounty  from  your  hands, 
Our  wassail  to  maintain, 

We'll  buy  no  home  nor  lands 
With  that  which  we  do  gain 
With  our  wassail. 


WASSAIL  251 

This  is  our  merry  night 

Of  choosing  king  and  queen  ; 
Then,  be  it  your  delight, 

That  something  may  be  seen 
In  our  wassail. 

It  is  a  noble  part 

To  bear  a  liberal  mind. 
God  bless  our  master's  heart ! 

For  here  we  comfort  find 
With  our  wassail. 

And  now  we  must  be  gone, 

To  seek  out  more  good  cheer ; 
Where  bounty  will  be  shown 

As  we  have  found  it  here 
With  our  wassail. 

Much  joy  betide  them  all, 

Our  prayers  shall  be  still ; 
We  hope  and  ever  shall 

For  this  your  great  good  will 
To  our  wassail. 


Wassail,  Wassail,  all  over  the  Town 

Traditional. 

WASSAIL,  wassail,  all  over  the  town, 

Our  bread  it  is  white,  and  our  ale  it  is  brown ; 

Our  bowl  it  is  made  of  the  maplin  tree, 

So  here,  my  good  fellow,  I'll  drink  it  to  thee. 


252        CAROLS   OF   YULETIDE   FESTIVITY 

The  wassailing  bowl,  with  a  toast  within, 
Come,  fill  it  up  unto  the  brim ; 
Come,  fill  it  up,  that  we  may  see ; 
With  the  wassailing  bowl  I'll  drink  to  thee. 

Come,  butler,  come  bring  us  a  bowl  of  your  best ; 
And  we  hope  your  souls  in  heaven  shall  rest ; 
But  if  you  do  bring  us  a  bowl  of  your  small, 
Then  down  shall  go  butler,  the  bowl  and  all. 

O  butler,  O  butler,  now  don't  you  be  worst, 
But  pull  out  your  knife  and  cut  us  a  toast ; 
And  cut  us  a  toast,  one  that  we  may  all  see  ; 
With  the  wassailing  bowl  I'll  drink  to  thee. 

Here's  to  Dobbin  and  to  his  right  eye  ! 
God  send  our  mistress  a  good  Christmas  pie  ! 
A  good  Christmas  pie  as  e'er  we  did  see  ; 
With  the  wassailing  bowl  I'll  drink  to  thee. 

Here's  to  Broad  May  and  to  her  1  broad  horn, 
God  send  our  master  a  good  crop  of  corn, 
A  good  crop  of  corn  as  we  all  may  see  ; 
With  the  wassailing  bowl  I'll  drink  to  thee. 

Here's  to  Colly  and  to  her  long  tail, 
We  hope  our  master  and  mistress  heart  will  ne'er  fail ; 
But  bring  us  a  bowl  of  your  good  strong  beer, 
And  then  we  shall  taste  of  your  Happy  New  Year. 

1   Text:  his. 


WASSAIL  253 

Be  there  here  any  pretty  maids  ?     We  hope  there  be  some. 
Don't  let  the  jolly  wassailers  stand  on  the  cold  stone, 
But  open  the  door  and  pull  out  the  pin, 
That  we  jolly  wassailers  may  all  sail  in. 


The  Wassailers'  Carol 

Traditional. 

HERE  we  come  a-wassailing 

Among  the  leaves  so  green, 
Here  we  come  a-wandering 

So  fair  to  be  seen. 

Chorus.     Love  and  joy  come  to  you, 
And  to  your  wassail  too, 
And  God  send  you  a  Happy  New  Year, 

a  New  Year  ; 

And  God  send  you  a  Happy  New  Year. 
Our  wassail  cup  is  made  of  the  rosemary  tree, 
So  is  your  beer  of  the  best  barley. 

We  are  not  the  daily  beggars, 

That  beg  from  door  to  door, 
But  we  are  neighbours'  children, 

Whom  you  have  seen  before. 

Call  up  the  butler  of  this  house, 

Put  on  his  golden  ring, 
Bid  him  bring  up  a  glass  of  beer, 

The  better  that  we  may  sing. 

We  have  got  a  little  purse 

Made  of  stretching  leather  skin ; 
We  want  a  little  of  your  money 

To  line  it  well  within. 


CAPUT  APRI  DEFERO1 

Tidings  I  Bring  You  for  to  Tell 

Fifteenth  Century. 

TIDINGS  I  bring  you  for  to  tell, 
What  me  in  wild  forest  befell, 
When  me  must  with  a  wild  beast  mell,2 
With  the  boar  so  brim.3 

A  boar  so  brim  that  me  pursued, 

Me  for  to  kill  so  sharply  slued,4 

That  brimly  3  beast  so  cruel  and  rude,5 

There  tamed  I  him, 
And  reft  fro  him  both  life  and  limb. 

Truly  to  show  you  that  is  true, 
His  head  with  my  sword  I  hew, 
To  make  this  day  mirth  new  to  you, 
Now  eat  thereof  anon. 

Eat  and  much  good  do  it  you, 
Take  your  bread  and  mustard  thereto, 
Joy  with  me  that  I  have  thus  done, 
I  pray  you  to  be  glad  every  one, 
And  joy  all  in  one. 

1  See  note.  2  Meddle.  3  pierce. 

4  Text:  ameved.  5  Text:  unryde. 

256 


CAPUT  APRI   DEFERO  257 


[/]  love  brawn  and  so  do  mo 

Fifteenth  Century. 

AT  the  beginning  of  the  meat, 
Of  a  boar's  head  ye  shall  eat, 
And  in  the  mustard  ye  shall  wet  ; 
And  ye  shall  singen  ere  ye  gone.1 

Welcome  be  ye  that  be  here, 

And  ye  shall  have  right  good  cheer, 

And  also  a  right  good  fare  ; 

And  ye  shall  singen  ere  ye  gone. 

Welcome  be  ye  every  one, 
For  ye  shall  singen  sithe  2  anon  ; 
Hie  you  fast  that  ye  had  done, 
And  ye  shall  singen  ere  ye  gone. 


Hey,  hey,  hey,  hey, 

The  boar's  head  is  armed  Gay 

Fifteenth  Century. 

THE  boar's  head  in  hand  I  bring, 
With  garland  gay  in  portering. 
I  pray  you  all  with  me  to  sing, 
With  bey. 

Lords,  knights,  and  squires, 
Parsons,  priests,  and  vicars, 
The  boar's  head  is  the  first  mess, 
With  hey. 

1  Go.  2  After, 


258       CAROLS   OF   YULETIDE    FESTIVITY 

The  boar's  head,  as  I  you  say, 
He  takes  his  leave,  and  goeth  his  way, 
Gone  after  the  Twelfth  till  fit  day, 
With  hey. 

Then  comes  in  the  second  course  1  with  mickle  pride, 
The  cranes,  the  herons,  the  bitterns  by  their  side, 
The  partridges  and  the  plovers,  the  woodcocks  and  the 
snipe, 

With  hey. 

Larks  in  hot  sauce,  ladies  for  to  pick, 
Good  drink  thereto,  luscious  and  fine, 
Blwet  of  Allmayne,2  Romney  and  wine, 
With  hey. 

Good  bread,  ale  and  wine,  dare  I  well  say, 

The  boar's  head  with  mustard  armed  so  gay ; 

Frumenty  to  pottage,  with  venison  fine, 

And  the  humbles  of  the  doe,  and  all  that  ever  comes  in  ; 

Capons  ybaked  with  the  pieces  of  the  roe, 

Raisins  and  currants,3  with  other  spices  mo. 

In  Die  Nativitatis 

Temp.  Henry  VII.  or  VIII.! 

Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  nowell, 
Tidings  good  I  think  to  tell. 

THE  boar's  head  that  we  bring  here, 
Betokeneth  a  Prince  withouten  peer, 
Is  born  this  day  to  buy  us  dear, 

Nowell. 

1  See  note.  '2  For  bruet  of  Allmayne,  i.e.  German  stew. 

*  Literally,  raisins  of  currants,  the  common  expression  of  the  time, 
meaning  originally p,  raisins  of  Corinth. 


CAPUT  APRI   DEFERO  259 

A  boar  is  a  sovereign  beast, 

And  acceptable  in  every  feast ; 

So  might  thy  Lord  be  to  most  and  least, 

Nowell 

The  boar's  head  we  bring  with  song, 
In  worship  of  Him  that  thus  sprung 
Of  a  virgin  to  redress  all  wrong, 

Nowell. 


The  Boar's  Head  in  Hand  bear  71 

Tiaditional. 

THE  boar's  head  in  hand  bear  I, 
Bedeck'd  with  bays  and  rosemary  ; 
And  I  pray  you,  my  masters,  be  merry, 
Quot  estis  in  convivio. 
Caput  apri  defero, 
Reddens  laudes  Domino. 

The  boar's  head,  as  I  understand, 
Is  the  rarest  dish  in  all  this  land, 
Which  thus  bedeck'd  with  a  gay  garland, 
Let  us  servire  cantico. 
Caput  apri  defero, 
Reddens  laudes  Domino. 

Our  steward  hath  provided  this, 
In  honour  of  the  King  of  bliss ; 
Which  on  this  day  to  be  served  is, 
In  reginensi  atrio. 
Caput  apri  defero, 
Reddens  laudes  Domino. 

1  As  sung  at  Queen's  College,  Oxford. 


2<5o       CAROLS   OF    YULETIDE    FESTIVITY 


A  Carol  Bringing  in  the  Boar's 

Caput  apri  defero 
Reddens  laudes  Domino. 

THE  boar's  head  in  hand  bring  I, 
With  garlands  gay  and  rosemary, 
I  pray  you  all  sing  merrily, 
Qui  estis  in  conuiuio. 

The  boar's  head,  I  understand, 
Is  the  chief  service  in  this  land. 
Look  wherever  it  be  found, 
Semite  cum  cantico. 


Be  glad,  lords,  both  more  and  less, 
For  this  hath  ordained  our  steward, 
To  cheer  you  all  this  Christmas, 
The  boar's  head  with  mustard. 


The  Boar  is  Dead'2 
1607. 

THE  boar  is  dead, 
Lo,  here  is  his  head  ; 

What  man  could  have  done  more 
Than  his  head  off  to  strike, 
Meleager-like, 

And  bring  it  as  I  do  before  ? 

1  Wynkyn  de  Worde,  Christmas  Carolles. 

2  The  Christmas  Prince,  as  given  at  St.  John's  College,  Oxford, 


CAPUT  APRI   DEFERO  261 

He  living  spoiled 
Where  good  men  toiled, 

Which  made  kind  Ceres  sorry ; 
But  now  dead  and  drawn, 
Is  very  good  brawn, 

And  we  have  brought  it  for  ye. 

Then  set  down  the  swineyard, 
The  foe  to  the  vineyard, 

Let  Bacchus  crown  his  fall ; 
Let  this  boar's  head  and  mustard, 
Stand  for  pig,  goose,  and  custard, 

And  so  you  are  welcome  all. 


VENI   CORONABERIS1 

Holly  and  Ivy  Made  a  Great  Party 

Fifteenth  Century. 

HOLLY  and  Ivy  made  a  great  party,2 
Who  should  have  the  mastery, 
In  lande's  where  they  go. 

Then  spoke  Holly,  "  I  am  free  and  jolly, 
I  will  have  the  mastery, 

In  lande's  where  we  go." 

Then  spake  Ivy,  "  I  am  lov'd  and  prov'd, 
And  I  will  have  the  mastery, 
In  lande's  where  we  go." 

Then  spake  Holly,  and  set  him  down  on  his  knee, 
"  I  pray  thee,  gentle  Ivy, 
Say  me  no  villainy, 

In  lande's  where  we  go." 

Alleluia,  alleluia,  alleluia,  now  sing  we 

Fifteenth  Century. 

HERE  comes  holly  that  is  so  gent, 
To  please  all  men  is  his  intent, 
Alleluia. 

1  See  note.  2  Here,  division  into  parties,  i.e.  contention. 

262 


VENI   CORONABERIS  263 

But,  lord  and  lady  of  this  hall, 
Whosoever  against  holly  call, 
Alleluia, 

Whosoever  against  holly  do  cry, 
In  a  leap  l  shall  he  hang  full  high, 
Alleluia. 

Whosoever  against  holly  do  sing, 
He  may  weep  and  his  handes  wring, 
Alleluia. 


Ivy  chief  of  trees  it  is, 
Veni  coronaberis 

Fifteenth  Century. 

THE  most  worthy  she  is  in  town, 

He  that  saith  other,  doth  amiss  ; 
And  worthy  to  bear  the  crown  ; 
Veni  coronaberis. 

Ivy  is  soft  and  meek  of  speech, 
Against  all  bale  she  is  bliss  ; 
Well  is  he  that  may  her  reach ; 
Veni  coronaberis. 

Ivy  is  green,  with  colour  bright, 

Of  all  trees  best  she  is ; 
And  that  I  prove  well  now  by  right ; 
Veni  coronaberis. 

1  Basket. 


264       CAROLS   OF   YULETIDE    FESTIVITY 

Ivy  beareth  berries  black  ; 

God  grant  us  all  His  bliss ! 
For  there  shall  me  nothing  lack, 
Veni  coronaberis. 


A  Song  on  the  Ivy  and  the  Holly 

Temp.  Henry  VI. 

Nay,  -ivy,  nay,  it  shall  not  be,  ywis, 

Let  holly  have  the  mastery  as  the  manner  is. 

HOLLY  stands  in  the  hall,  fair  to  behold, 
Ivy  stands  without  the  door,  she  is  full  sore  a-cold. 
Nay,  ivy,  nay,  it  shall  not  be,  ywis, 
Let  holly  have  the  mastery  as  the  manner  is. 

Holly  and  his  merry  men  they  dancen  and  they  sing,1 
Ivy  and  her  maidens  they  weepen  and  they  wring. 
Nay,  ivy,  nay,  it  shall  not  be,  ywis, 
Let  holly  have  the  mastery  as  the  manner  is. 

Ivy  hath  a  kibe,2  she  caught  it  with  the  cold ; 

So  may  they  all  have  one,  that  with  ivy  hold. 
Nay,  ivy,  nay,  it  shall  not  be,  ywis, 
Let  holly  have  the  mastery  as  the  manner  is. 

Holly  hath  berries  as  red  as  any  rose, 
The  forester,  the  hunters  keep  them  fro  the  does. 
Nay,  ivy,  nay,  it  shall  not  be,  ywis, 
Let  holly  have  the  mastery  as  the  manner  is. 

1  See  note.  2  Chilblain. 


VENI   CORONABERIS  265 

Ivy  hath  berries  as  black  as  any  sloes, 
Then  comes  the  owl  and  eats  them  as  she  goes. 
Nay,  ivy,  nay,  it  shall  not  be,  ywis, 
Let  holly  have  the  mastery  as  the  manner  is. 

Holly  hath  birdes  a  full  fair  flock, 

The  nightingale,  the  popinjay,  the  gentle  laverock. 
Nay,  ivy,  nay,  it  shall  not  be,  ywis, 
Let  holly  have  the  mastery  as  the  manner  is. 

Good  ivy,  what  birdes  hast  thou  ? 

None  but  the  owlet  that  cries  **  How,  how  !  " 
Nay,  ivy,  nay,  it  shall  not  be,  ywis, 
Let  holly  have  the  mastery  as  the  manner  is. 


Nay,  Nay,  Ivy  ! 

Before  1536. 

NAY,  nay,  Ivy ! 

It  may  not  be,  ywis, 
For  Holly  must  have  the  mastery 
As  the  manner  is. 

Holly  beareth  berries, 
Berries  red  enough ; 

The  throstlecock,  the  popinjay 
Dance  in  every  bough. 

Welaway,  sorry  Ivy ! 

What  fowls  hast  thou 
But  the  sorry  owlet 

That  singeth  "  How,  how  !  "  ? 


/ 


266      CAROLS   OF   YULETIDE    FESTIVITY 

Ivy  beareth  berries 

As  black  as  any  sloe, 
There  cometh  the  wood  culver, 

And  feedeth  her  of  tho  ;  * 

She  lifteth  up  her  tail 
And  she  cakes  ere  she  go  ; 

She  would  not  for  an  hundred  pound 
Serve  Holly  so. 

Holly  with  his  merry  men 
They  can  dance  in  hall ; 

Ivy  and  her  gentle  women 
Cannot  dance  at  all, 

But  like  a  meiny  of  bullocks 

In  a  waterfall, 
Or  on  a  hot  summer's  day 

When  they  be  mad  all. 

Holly  and  his  merry  men 

Sit  in  chairs  of  gold  ; 
Ivy  and  her  gentle  women 

Sit  without  in  fold, 

With  a  pair  of  kibed  2 
Heels  caught  with  cold  ; 

So  would  I  that  every  man  had 
That  with  Ivy  will  hold  ! 

i  Them.  2  With  chilblains. 


VENI   CORONABERIS  267 

The  Holly  and  the  Ivy *• 

Traditional. : 

THE  holly  and  the  ivy 

Now  are  both  well  grown  ; 
Of  all  the  trees  that  are  in  the  wood 
The  holly  bears  the  crown. 
The  rising  of  the  sun, 

The  running  of  the  deer, 
The  playing  of  the  merry  organ, 
Sweet  singing  in  the  choir. 

The  holly  bears  a  blossom 
As  white  as  lily  flower  ; 
And  Mary  bore  sweet  Jesus  Christ, 
To  be  our  sweet  Saviour. 
The  rising  of  the  sun, 

The  running  of  the  deer, 
The  playing  of  the  merry  organ, 
Sweet  singing  in  the  choir. 

The  holly  bears  a  berry, 
As  red  as  any  blood  ; 
And  Mary  bore  sweet  Jesus  Christ 
To  do  poor  sinners  good. 
The  rising  of  the  sun, 

The  running  of  the  deer, 
The  playing  of  the  merry  organ, 
Sweet  singing  in  the  choir. 

1  Printed  in  a  broadside  as  early  as  1710. 


268       CAROLS   OF   YULETIDE    FESTIVITY 

The  holly  bears  a  prickle 
As  sharp  as  any  thorn ; 
And  Mary  bore  sweet  Jesus  Christ 
On  Christmas  day  in  the  morn. 
The  rising  of  the  sun. 

The  running  of  the  deer, 
The  flaying  of  the  merry  organ, 
Sweet  singing  in  the  choir. 

The  holly  bears  a  bark 
As  bitter  as  any  gall ; 
And  Mary  bore  sweet  Jesus  Christ 
For  to  redeem  us  all. 
The  rising  of  the  sun, 

The  running  of  the  deer, 
The  playing  of  the  merry  organ, 
Sweet  singing  in  the  choir. 

The  holly  and  the  ivy 

Now  are  both  well  grown  ; 
Of  all  the  trees  that  are  in  the  wood, 
The  holly  bears  the  crown. 
The  rising  of  the  sun, 

The  running  of  the  deer, 
The  'playing  of  the  merry  organ, 
Sweet  singing  in  the  choir. 


APPENDIX   I 

CHRISTMAS   HYMNS    AND   OTHER  LYRICS 

For  Christmas  Day l 

1576.  Francis  Kinwelmersh. 

REJOICE,  rejoice,  with  heart  and  voice  ! 
In  Christes  birth  this  day  rejoice  ! 

From  virgin's  womb  this  day  did  spring 

The  precious  seed  that  only  saved  man  : 
This  day  let  man  rejoice  and  sweetly  sing, 

Since  on  this  day  salvation  first  began. 
This  day  did  Christ  man's  soul  from  death  remove, 
With  glorious  saints  to  dwell  in  heaven  above. 

This  day  to  man  came  pledge  of  perfect  peace, 

This  day  to  man  came  perfect  unity, 
This  day  man's  grief  began  to  surcease, 

This  day  did  man  receive  a  remedy 
For  each  offence  and  every  deadly  sin 
With  guilty  heart  that  erst  he  wandered  in. 

In  Christes  flock  let  love  be  surely  placed, 

From  Christes  flock  let  concord  hate  expel, 
Of  Christes  flock  let  love  be  so  embraced 

As  we  in  Christ  and  Christ  in  us  may  dwell ; 
Christ  is  the  author  of  all  unity, 
From  whence  proceedeth  all  felicity. 

1  Paradise  of  Dainty  Devices. 
269 


270    CHRISTMAS  HYMNS   AND  OTHER  LYRICS 
The  Burning  Babe 

1595.  Robert  Southwell. 

As  I  in  hoary  winter's  night  stood  shivering  in  the  snow, 
Surprised  I  was  with  sudden  heat  which  made  my  heart  to 
glow; 

And  lifting  up  a  fearful  eye  to  view  what  fire  was  near, 
A  pretty  Babe  all  burning  bright  did  in  the  air  appear, 

Who  scorched  with  excessive  heat  such  floods  of  tears  did  shed, 
As  though  his  floods  should  quench  his  flames  which  with 
his  tears  were  fed. 

"  Alas !  "  quoth  he,  "  but  newly  born  in  fiery  heats  I  fry, 
Yet  none  approach  to  warm  their  hearts  or  feel  my  fire  but  I  ! 

My  faultless  heart  the  furnace  is,  the  fuel  wounding  thorns ; 
Love  is  the  fire  and  sighs  the  smoke,  the  ashes  shame  and 
scorns ; 

The  fuel  Justice  layeth  on,  and  Mercy  blows  the  coals ; 
The  metal  in  this  furnace  wrought  are  men's  defiled  souls ; 

For  which,  as  now  on  fire  I  am,  to  work  them  to  their 

good, 
So  will  I  melt  into  a  bath  to  wash  them  in  my  blood." 

With  that  he  vanished  out  of  sight  and  swiftly  shrunk  away, 
And  straightway  I  called  into  mind  that  it  was  Christmas  Day, 


1595- 


APPENDIX   I  271 

New  Prince,  New  Pomp 


Robert  Southwell. 


BEHOLD  a  silly  tender  Babe, 

In  freezing  winter  night, 
In  homely  manger  trembling  lies ; 

Alas,  a  piteous  sight. 

The  inns  are  full,  no  man  will  yield 

This  little  pilgrim  bed  ; 
But  forced  He  is  with  silly  beasts 

In  crib  to  shroud  His  head. 

Despise  Him  not  for  lying  there, 

First  what  He  is  inquire  ; 
An  orient  pearl  is  often  found 

In  depth  of  dirty  mire. 

Weigh  not  His  crib,  His  wooden  dish, 
Nor  beast  that  by  Him  feed  ; 

Weigh  not  His  mother's  poor  attire, 
Nor  Joseph's  simple  weed. 

This  stable  is  a  Prince's  court, 

This  crib  His  chair  of  state  ; 
The  beasts  are  parcel  of  His  pomp, 

The  wooden  dish  His  plate. 

The  persons  in  that  poor  attire 

His  royal  liveries  wear  ; 
The  Prince  Himself  is  come  from  heaven, 

This  pomp  is  praised  there, 


272    CHRISTMAS  HYMNS  AND  OTHER  LYRICS 

With  joy  approach,  O  Christian  wight ! 

Do  homage  to  thy  King ; 
And  highly  praise  this  humble  pomp 

Which  He  from  heaven  doth  bring. 


A  Hymn  on  the  Nativity  of  my  Saviour 

1573  (?)-i637.  Ben  Jonson. 

I  SING  the  birth  was  born  to-night, 
The  Author  both  of  life  and  light ; 

The  angels  so  did  sound  it. 
And  like  the  ravished  shepherds  said, 
Who  saw  the  light  and  were  afraid, 

Yet  searched,  and  true  they  found  it. 

The  Son  of  God,  th'  eternal  King, 
That  did  us  all  salvation  bring, 

And  freed  the  soul  from  danger ; 
He  whom  the  whole  world  could  not  take, 
The  Word,  which  heaven  and  earth  did  make, 

Was  now  laid  in  a  manger. 

The  Father's  wisdom  willed  it  so, 
The  Son's  obedience  knew  no  No, 

Both  wills  were  in  one  stature  ; 
And  as  that  wisdom  had  decreed, 
The  Word  was  now  made  flesh  indeed, 

And  took  on  Him  our  nature. 

What  comfort  by  Him  do  we  win, 
Who  made  Himself  the  price  of  sin, 

To  make  us  heirs  of  glory ! 
To  see  this  Babe  all  innocence  ; 
A  Martyr  born  in  our  defence  ; 

Can  man  forget  the  story  ? 


APPENDIX    I  273 

The  Angels 

1585-1649.  William  Drummond  of  Hawthornden. 

RUN,  shepherds,  run  where  Bethlehem  blest  appears. 

We  bring  the  best  of  news  ;   be  not  dismayed ; 
A  Saviour  there  is  born  more  old  than  years, 

Amidst  heaven's  rolling  height  this  earth  who  stayed. 

In  a  poor  cottage  inned,  a  virgin  maid 
A  weakling  did  Him  bear,  who  all  upbears ; 

There  is  He  poorly  swaddled,  in  manger  laid, 
To  whom  too  narrow  swaddlings  are  our  spheres ; 
Run,  shepherds,  run  and  solemnise  his  birth. 

This  is  that  night — no,  day  grown  great  with  bliss, 

In  which  the  power  of  Satan  broken  is : 
In  heaven  be  glory,  peace  unto  the  earth  ! 

Thus  singing,  through  the  air  the  angels  swam, 

And  cope  of  stars  reechoed  the  same. 

Who  can  Forget — Never  to  be  Forgot 

1588-1623.  Giles  Fletcher. 

WHO  can  forget — never  to  be  forgot — 

The  time,  that  all  the  world  in  slumber  lies, 
When  like  the  stars  the  singing  angels  shot 

To  earth,  and  heaven  awaked  all  his  eyes, 
To  see  another  sun  at  midnight  rise 

On  earth  ?     Was  ever  sight  of  pareil  fame 
For  God  before,  man  like  Himself  did  frame, 
But  God  Himself  now  like  a  mortal  was  became. 

A  Child  He  was,  and  had  not  learnt  to  speak, 
That  with  His  word  the  world  before  did  make. 

His  mother's  arms  Him  bore,  He  was  so  weak, 

That  with  one  hand  the  vaults  of  heaven  could  shake. 


274     CHRISTMAS   HYMNS   AND   OTHER   LYRICS 

See  how  small  room  my  infant  Lord  doth  take 
Whom  all  the  world  is  not  enough  to  hold, 
Who  of  His  years,  as  of  His  age  hath  told  ? 

Never  such  age  so  young,  never  a  child  so  old. 

And  yet  but  newly  He  was  infanted, 

And  yet  already  He  was  sought  to  die ; 
Yet  scarcely  born,  already  banished. 

Not  able  yet  to  go,  and  forced  to  fly : 
But  scarcely  fled  away,  when  by  and  by, 

The  tyran's  *  sword  with  blood  is  all  defiled, 
And  Rachel,  for  her  sons,  with  fury  wild, 
Cries,  "  O  thou  cruel  king,  and  O  my  sweetest  child  !  " 

Egypt  His  nurse  became,  where  Nilus  springs, 

Who,  straight  to  entertain  the  rising  sun, 
The  hasty  harvest  in  his  bosom  brings ; 2 

But  now  for  drought  the  fields  were  all  undone, 
And  now  with  waters  all  is  overrun  : 

So  fast  the  Cynthian  mountains  poured  their  snow, 
When  once  they  felt  the  sun  so  near  them  glow, 
That  Nilus  Egypt  lost,  and  to  sea  did  grow. 

The  angels  carolled  loud  their  song  of  peace ; 

The  cursed  oracles  were  strucken  dumb  ; 
To  see  their  Shepherd  the  poor  shepherds  press ; 

To  see  their  kneeling  the  kingly  sophies  3  come  ; 
And  them  to  guide  unto  his  Master's  home, 
A  star  comes  dancing  up  the  Orient, 
That  springs  for  joy  over  the  strawy  tent, 
Where  gold  to  make  their  prince  a  crown,  they  all  present. 

i  Tyrant.  2  Cf.  The  Carnal  and  the  Crane.         3  Wise  men. 


APPENDIX   I  275 

Christmas  1 

1593-1633.  iGecrge  Herbert. 

ALL  after  pleasures  as  I  rode  one  day, 

My  horse  and  I  both  tired,  body  and  mind, 

With  full  cry  of  affections  quite  astray, 
I  took  up  in  the  next  inn  I  could  find. 

There,  when  I  came,  whom  found  I  but  my  dear — 
My  dearest  Lord  ;   expecting  till  the  grief 

Of  pleasures  brought  me  to  Him,  ready  there 
To  be  all  passengers'  most  sweet  relief  ? 

O  Thou,  whose  glorious  yet  contracted  light 
Wrapt  in  night's  mantle,  stole  into  a  manger ; 

Since  my  dark  soul  and  brutish  is  Thy  right, 
To  man,  of  all  beasts  be  not  Thou  a  stranger ; 

Furnish  and  deck  my  soul,  that  Thou  mayst  have 
A  better  lodging  than  a  rack  or  grave. 
The  shepherds  sing  ;   and  shall  I  silent  be  ? 

My  God,  no  hymn  for  Thee  ? 
My  soul's  a  shepherd  too  ;   a  flock  it  feeds 

Of  thoughts  and  words  and  deeds. 
The  pasture  is  Thy  word,  the  streams  Thy  grace, 

Enriching  every  place. 

Shepherd  and  flock  shall  sing,  and  all  my  powers 

Outsing  the  daylight  hours. 
Then  we  will  chide  the  sun  for  letting  night 

Take  up  his  place  and  right : 
We  sing  one  common  Lord ;  wherefore  He  shoulj 

Himself  the  candle  hold. 

1  The  Temple. 


276     CHRISTMAS   HYMNS   AND   OTHER   LYRICS 

I  will  go  searching  till  I  find  a  sun 

Shall  stay  till  we  have  done  ; 
A  willing  shiner,  that  shall  shine  as  gladly 

As  frost-nipt  suns  look  sadly. 
Then  we  will  sing  and  shine  all  our  own  day, 

And  one  another  pay. 

His  beams  shall  cheer  my  heart,  and  both  so  twine, 
Till  e'en  his  beams  sing  and  my  music  shine. 

An  Ode  on  the  Birth  of  our  Saviour1 

1647.  Robert  Herrick. 

IN  numbers,  and  but  these  few, 
I  sing  Thy  birth,  O  Jesu  ! 
Thou  pretty  baby,  born  here 
With  superabundant  scorn  here  : 
Who  for  Thy  princely  port  here, 

Hadst  for  Thy  place 

Of  birth,  a  base 
Outstable  for  Thy  court  here. 

Instead  of  neat  enclosures 
Of  interwoven  osiers, 
Instead  of  fragrant  posies 
Of  daffodils  and  roses, 
Thy  cradle,  Kingly  Stranger, 

As  gospel  tells, 

Was  nothing  else 
But  here  a  homely  manger. 

But  we  with  silks  not  crewels, 
With  sundry  precious  jewels, 
And  lily-work  will  dress  Thee  ; 
1  Noble  Numbers. 


APPENDIX   I  277 

And,  as  we  dispossess  Thee 

Of  clouts,  we'll  make  a  chamber, 

Sweet  babe,  for  Thee 

Of  ivory, 
And  plaster'd  round  with  amber. 

The  Jews  they  did  disdain  Thee, 
But  we  will  entertain  Thee 
With  glories  to  await  here 
Upon  Thy  princely  state  here  ; 
And,  more  for  love  than  pity, 

From  year  to  year 

We'll  make  Thee  here 
A  free-born  of  our  city. 


The  Wassail l 

1648.  Robert  Herrick. 

GIVE  way,  give  way,  ye  gates,  and  win 

An  easy  blessing  to  your  bin 
And  basket  by  our  entering  in. 

May  both  with  manchet  stand  replete  ; 

Your  larders  too  so  hung  with  meat 

That,  though  a  thousand  thousand  eat, 

Yet,  ere  twelve  moons  shall  whirl  about 

Their  silvery  spheres,  there's  none  may  doubt 
But  more's  sent  in  than  was  serv'd  out. 

Next  may  your  dairies  prosper  so 

As  that  your  pans  no  ebb  may  know ; 
But  if  they  do,  the  more  to  flow, 

1  Hesperides. 


278     CHRISTMAS   HYMNS   AND    OTHER   LYRICS 

Like  to  a  solemn  sober  stream, 

Bank'd  all  with  lilies  and  the  cream 
Of  sweetest  cowslips  filling  them. 

Then  may  your  plants  be  pressed  with  fruit, 

Nor  bee  or  hive  you  have  be  mute, 
But  sweetly  sounding  like  a  lute. 

Next  may  your  ducks  and  teeming-hen 

Both  to  the  cock's  tread  say  Amen, 
And  for  their  two  eggs  render  ten. 

Last  may  your  harrows,  shares  and  ploughs, 

Your  stacks,  your  stocks,  your  sweetest  mows, 
All  prosper  by  your  virgin  vows. 

Alas !   we  bless,  but  see  none  here 

That  brings  us  either  ale  or  beer  : 
In  a  dry  house  all  things  are  near. 

Let's  leave  a  longer  time  to  wait, 

When  rust  and  cobwebs  bind  the  gate 
And  all  live  here  with  needy  Fate. 

Where  chimneys  do  forever  weep 

For  want  of  warmth,  and  stomachs  keep 
With  noise  the  servants'  eyes  from  sleep. 

It  is  in  vain  to  sing  or  stay 

Our  free  feet  here  ;   but  we'll  away  : 
Yet  to  the  Lares  this  we'll  say — 

The  time  will  come  when  you'll  be  sad 

And  reckon  this  for  fortune  had, 
T'have  lost  the  good  ye  might  have  had. 


APPENDIX   I  279 


The  Shepherds 1 

1650-1665.  Henry  Vaughan. 

SWEET,  harmless  livers !   on  whose  holy  leisure 

Waits  innocence  and  pleasure  ; 
Whose  leaders  to  those  pastures  and  clear  springs 

Were  patriarchs,  saints  and  kings ; 
How  happened  it  that  in  the  dead  of  night 

You  only  saw  true  light, 
While  Palestine  was  fast  asleep  and  lay 

Without  one  thought  of  day  ? 
Was  it  because  those  first  and  blessed  swains 

Were  pilgrims  on  those  plains 
When  they  received  the  promise,  for  which  now 

'Twas  then  first  shown  to  you  ? 

'Tis  true  He  loves  that  dust  whereon  they  go 

That  serve  Him  here  below, 
And  therefore  might  for  memory  of  those 

His  love  there  first  disclose  ; 
But  wretched  Salem,  once  His  love,  must  now 

No  voice  nor  vision  know  ; 
Here  stately  piles  with  all  their  height  and  pride 

Now  languished  and  died, 
And  Bethlehem's  humble  cots  above  them  stept 

While  all  her  seers  slept ; 
Her  cedar  fir,  hewed  stones,  and  gold  were  all 

Polluted  through  their  fall ; 
And  those  once  sacred  mansions  were  now 

Mere  emptiness  and  show. 

1  Silex  S 


280     CHRISTMAS   HYMNS   AND    OTHER   LYRICS 

This  made  the  angel  call  at  reeds  and  thatch, 

Yet  where  the  shepherds  watch, 
And  God's  own  lodging,  though  He  could  not  lack, 

To  be  a  common  rack. 
No  costly  pride,  no  soft-clothed  luxury 

In  those  thin  cells  could  He  ; 
Each  stirring  wind  and  storm  blew  through  their  cots, 

Which  never  harboured  plots ; 
Only  content  and  love  and  humble  joys 

Lived  there  without  all  noise  ; 
Perhaps  some  harmless  cares  for  the  next  day 

Did  in  their  bosoms  play, 
As  where  to  lead  their  ship,1  what  silent  nook, 

What  springs  or  shades  to  look ; 
But  that  was  all ;    and  now  with  gladsome  care 

They  for  the  town  prepare ; 
They  leave  their  flock,  and  in  a  busy  talk 

All  towards  Bethlem  walk, 
To  seek  their  soul's  great  Shepherd  who  was  come 

To  bring  all  stragglers  home  ; 
Where  now  they  find  Him  out,  and,  taught  before, 

That  Lamb  of  God  adore, 
That  Lamb,  whose  days  great  kings  and  prophets  wished 

And  longed  to  see,  but  missed. 
The  first  light  they  beheld  was  bright  and  gay, 

And  turned  their  night  to  day ; 
But  to  this  later  light  they  saw  in  Him 

This  day  was  dark  and  dim. 

i  Sheep. 


APPENDIX   I  281 


A  Rocking  Hymn1 

1588-1667.  George  Wither. 

SWEET  baby,  sleep  ;   what  ails  my  dear  ? 

What  ails  my  darling  thus  to  cry  ? 
Be  still,  my  child,  and  lend  thine  ear 
To  hear  me  sing  thy  lullaby. 

My  pretty  lamb,  forbear  to  weep  ; 
Be  still,  my  dear  ;   sweet  baby,  sleep. 

Thou  blessed  soul,  what  canst  thou  fear  ? 

What  thing  to  thee  can  mischief  do  ? 
Thy  God  is  now  thy  father  dear  ; 
His  holy  spouse  thy  mother  too. 
Sweet  baby,  then,  forbear  to  weep ; 
Be  still,  my  babe  ;   sweet  baby,  sleep. 

Whilst  thus  thy  lullaby  I  sing, 

For  thee  great  blessings  ripening  be  ; 
Thine  eldest  brother  is  a  king, 

And  hath  a  kingdom  bought  for  thee. 
Sweet  baby,  then,  forbear  to  weep  ; 
Be  still,  my  babe  ;  sweet  baby,  sleep. 

Sweet  baby,  sleep,  and  nothing  fear, 

For  whosoever  thee  offends, 
By  thy  protector  threatened  are, 
And  God  and  angels  are  thy  friends. 
Sweet  baby,  then,  forbear  to  weep, 
Be  still,  my  babe  ;   sweet  baby,  sleep. 

1  Hallelujah,  or  Britain's  Sacred  Remembrancer. 


282     CHRISTMAS    HYMNS   AND   OTHER   LYRICS 

When  God  with  us  was  dwelling  here, 

In  little  babes  he  took  delight : 
Such  innocents  as  then,  my  dear, 
Are  ever  precious  in  his  sight. 

Sweet  baby,  then,  forbear  to  weep, 
Be  still,  my  babe  ;   sweet  baby,  sleep. 

A  little  infant  once  was  he, 

And  Strength-in-Weakness  then  was  laid 
Upon  his  virgin-mother's  knee, 

That  power  to  thee  might  be  conveyed. 
Sweet  baby,  then,  forbear  to  weep  ; 
Be  still,  my  babe ;   sweet  baby,  sleep. 

In  this  thy  frailty  and  thy  need 

He  friends  and  helpers  doth  prepare, 
Which  thee  shall  cherish,  clothe  and  feed, 
For  of  thy  weal  they  tender  are. 
Sweet  baby,  then,  forbear  to  weep ; 
Be  still,  my  babe  ;   sweet  baby,  sleep. 

The  King  of  kings  when  he  was  born, 
Had  not  so  much  for  outward  case ; 
By  him  such  dressings  were  not  worn, 
Nor  suchlike  swaddling-clothes  as  these. 
Sweet  baby,  then,  forbear  to  weep  ; 
Be  still,  my  babe  ;   sweet  baby,  sleep. 

Within  a  manger  lodged  thy  Lord, 

Where  oxen  lay  and  asses  fed ; 
Warm  rooms  we  do  to  thee  afford, 
An  easy  cradle  or  a  bed. 

Sweet  baby,  then,  forbear  to  weep ; 
Be  still,  my  babe  ;   sweet  baby,  sleep. 


APPENDIX   I  283 

The  wants  that  He  did  then  sustain 

Have  purchased  wealth,  my  babe,  for  thee, 
And  by  His  torments  and  His  pain 
Thy  rest  and  ease  secured  be. 
My  baby,  then,  forbear  to  weep  ; 
Be  still,  my  babe  ;  sweet  baby,  sleep. 

Thou  hast  (yet  more),  to  perfect  this, 

A  promise  and  an  earnest  got 
Of  gaining  everlasting  bliss, 

Though  thou,  my  babe,  perceiv'st  it  not. 
Sweet  baby,  then,  forbear  to  weep  ; 
Be  still,  my  babe  ;   sweet  baby,  sleep. 


On  the  Infancy  of  our  Saviour l 

1592-1644.  Francis  Quarles. 

HAIL,  blessed  virgin,  full  of  heavenly  grace, 

Blest  above  all  that  sprang  from  human  race ; 

Whose  heav'n-saluted  womb  brought  forth  in  one, 

A  blessed  Saviour  and  a  blessed  Son  : 

O  !   what  a  ravishment  't  had  been  to  see 

Thy  little  Saviour  perking  on  thy  knee  ! 

To  see  Him  nuzzle  in  thy  virgin  breast 

His  milk-white  body  all  unclad,  all  undressed  ! 

To  see  thy  busy  fingers  clothe  and  wrap 

His  spraddling  limbs  in  thy  indulgent  lap  ! 

To  see  His  desperate  eyes,  with  childish  grace., 

Smiling  upon  His  smiling  mother's  face  ! 

1  Divine  Fancies. 


284     CHRISTMAS   HYMNS   AND   OTHER   LYRICS 

And  when  His  forward  strength  began  to  bloom, 
To  see  Him  diddle  up  and  down  the  room  ! 
O,  who  would  think  so  sweet  a  Babe  as  this, 
Should  e'er  be  slain  by  a  false-hearted  kiss  ! 
Had  I  a  rag,  if  sure  Thy  body  wore  it, 
Pardon,  sweet  Babe,  I  think  I  should  adore  it. 
Till  then,  O  grant  this  boon  (a  boon  far  dearer), 
The  weed  not  being,  I  may  adore  the  wearer. 


Hymn  for  Christmas  Day 1 

BEING    A    DIALOGUE    BETWEEN    THREE    SHEPHERDS 
1613-1667.  Jeremy  Taylor. 

WHERE  is  this  blessed  Babe 

That  hath  made 
All  the  world  so  full  of  joy 

And  expectation ; 

That  glorious  Boy 

That  crowns  each  nation 
With  a  triumphant  wreath  of  blessedness  ? 

Where  should  He  be  but  in  the  throng, 

And  among 
His  angel  ministers  that  sing 

And  take  wing 
Just  as  may  echo  to  His  voice, 

And  rejoice 

When  wing  and  tongue  and  all 
May  so  procure  their  happiness  ? 

1  Festival  Hymns. 


APPENDIX   I  285 

But  He  hath  other  waiters  now  : 

A  poor  cow, 
An  ox  and  mule,  stand  and  behold, 

And  wonder 
That  a  stable  should  enfold 

Him  that  can  thunder. 

Chorus.  O  what  a  gracious  God  have  we, 
How  good  !   how  great !   even  as  our  misery. 

A  Hymn  for  Christmas  Day 1 

1613-1667.  Jeremy  Taylor. 

AWAKE,  my  soul,  and  come  away  : 

Put  on  thy  best  array  ; 

Lest  if  thou  longer  stay 
Thou  lose  some  minutes  of  so  blest  a  day. 

Go  run 

And  bid  good-morrow  to  the  sun ; 
Welcome  his  safe  return 

To  Capricorn. 

And  that  great  morn 

Wherein  a  God  was  born, 

Whose  story  none  can  tell 
But  He  whose  every  word's  a  miracle. 

To-day  Almightiness  grew  weak. 

The  Word  itself  was  mute  and  could  not  speak. 

That  Jacob's  star  which  made  the  sun 
To  dazzle  if  he  durst  look  on, 
Now  mantled  o'er  in  Bethlehem's  night, 
Borrowed  a  star  to  show  him  light. 
1  Festival  Hymns. 


286     CHRISTMAS    HYMNS    AND    OTHER   LYRICS 

He  that  begirt  each  zone, 

To  whom  both  poles  are  one, 

Who  grasped  the  Zodiac  in  His  hand 

And  made  it  move  or  stand, 

Is  now  by  nature  man, 

By  stature  but  a  span ; 

Eternity  is  now  grown  short ; 

A  king  is  born  without  a  court ; 

The  water  thirsts ;   the  fountain's  dry  ; 

And  life,  being  born,  made  apt  to  die. 

Chorus.  Then  let  our  praises  emulate  and  vie       j. :   : 

With  His  humility ! 
Since  He's  exiled  from  the  skies 

That  we  might  rise — 
From  low  estate  of  men 
Let's  sing  Him  up  again ! 
Each  man  wind  up  his  heart 
To  bear  a  part 

In  that  angelic  choir  and  show 
His  glory  high  as  He  was  low. 
Let's  sing  towards  men  goodwill  and  charity, 

Peace  upon  earth,  glory  to  God  on  high  ! 
Hallelujah  !     Hallelujah  ! 


APPENDIX  II 

MODERN  CAROLS  IN  THE  MEDIEVAL  MANNER 

Modryb  Mary  a — Aunt  Mary 

A    CHRISTMAS    CHANT 
1838.  Robert  Stephen  Hawker. 

Now,  of  all  the  trees  by  the  king's  highway, 

Which  do  you  love  the  best  ? 
O  !   the  one  that  is  green  upon  Christmas  Day, 

The  bush  with  the  bleeding  breast. 
Now  the  holly  with  her  drops  of  blood  for  me  : 
For  that  is  our  dear  Aunt  Mary's  tree. 

Its  leaves  are  sweet  with  our  Saviour's  Name, 

'Tis  a  plant  that  loves  the  poor  : 
Summer  and  winter  it  shines  the  same 

Beside  the  cottage  door. 

O  !   the  holly  with  her  drops  of  blood  for  me  : 
For  that  is  our  kind  Aunt  Mary's  tree. 

'Tis  a  bush  that  the  birds  will  never  leave  : 

They  sing  in  it  all  day  long ; 
But  sweetest  of  all  upon  Christmas  Eve 

Is  to  hear  the  robin's  song. 
'Tis  the  merriest  sound  upon  earth  and  sea  : 
For  it  comes  from  our  own  Aunt  Mary's  tree. 
287 


288  MODERN   CAROLS 

So,  of  all  that  grow  by  the  king's  highway, 

I  love  that  tree  the  best ; 
'Tis  a  bower  for  the  birds  upon  Christmas  Day, 

The  bush  of  the  bleeding  breast. 
O  !   the  holly  with  her  drops  of  blood  for  me  : 
For  that  is  our  sweet  Aunt  Mary's  tree. 

The  Virgin's  Cradle-Hymn1 

1817.  S.  T.  Coleridge. 

DORMI,  Jesu  !   Mater  ridet 
Quae  tam  dulcem  somnum  videt, 

Dormi,  Jesu  !   blandule  ! 
Si  non  dormis,  Mater  plorat, 
Inter  fila  cantans  orat, 

Blande,  veni,  somnule. 

English 

Sleep,  sweet  babe  !   my  cares  beguiling  : 
Mother  sits  beside  thee  smiling ; 

Sleep,  my  darling,  tenderly  ! 
If  thou  sleep  not,  mother  mourneth, 
Singing  as  her  wheel  she  turneth  : 

Come,  soft  slumber,  balmily  ! 

Masters,  in  this  Hall 

1860.  William  Morris. 

"  To  Bethlem  did  they  go,  the  shepherds  three  ; 
To  Bethlem  did  they  go  to  see  whe'r  it  were  so  or  no, 
Whether  Christ  were  born  or  no 
To  set  men  free." 

1  Sibylline  Leaves. 


APPENDIX   II  289 

Masters  in  this  Hall, 

Hear  ye  news  to-day 
Brought  from  over  sea, 

And  ever  I  you  pray. 

CHORUS. 

Nowell!  Nowell!  Nowell ! 

Nowell  sing  we  clear  ! 
Holpen  are  all  folk  on  earth, 

Born  is  GOD'S  son  so  dear  : 
Nowell!  Nowell!  Nowell! 

Nowell  sing  we  loud  ! 
GOD  to-day  hath  poor  folk  rais'd, 
And  cast  adown  the  proud. 

Going  over  the  hills, 

Through  the  milk-white  snow, 
Heard  I  ewes  bleat 

While  the  wind  did  blow. 
Chorus. — Nowell,  &c. 

Shepherds  many  an  one 

Sat  among  the  sheep, 
No  man  spake  more  word 

Than  they  had  been  asleep. 
Chorus.— Nowell,  &c. 

Quoth  I,  "  Fellows  mine, 

Why  this  guise  sit  ye  ? 
Making  but  dull  cheer, 

Shepherds  though  ye  be  ? 
Chorus. — Nowell,  &c. 


290  MODERN    CAROLS 

"  Shepherds  should  of  right 
Leap  and  dance  and  sing, 

Thus  to  see  ye  sit 

Is  a  right  strange  thing." 
Chorus. — Nowell,  &c. 

Quoth  these  fellows  then, 
"  To  Bethlem  town  we  go, 

To  see  a  Mighty  LORD 
Lie  in  manger  low." 
Chorus. — Nowell,  &c. 

"  How  name  ye  this  LORD, 
Shepherds  ?  "  then  said  I, 

"  Very  GOD,"  they  said, 

"  Come  from  Heaven  high." 
Chorus. — Nowell,  &c. 

Then  to  Bethlem  town 
We  went  two  and  two, 

And  in  a  sorry  place 
Heard  the  oxen  low. 
Chorus. — Nowell,  &c. 

Therein  did  we  see 
A  sweet  and  godly  May, 

And  a  fair  old  man, 

Upon  the  straw  She  lay. 
Chorus. — Nowell,  &c. 

And  a  little  CHILD 
On  Her  arm  had  She  ; 

"  Wot  ye  Who  This  is  ?  " 
Said  the  hinds  to  me. 
Chorus. — Nowell,  &c. 


APPENDIX   II  291 

Ox  and  ass  Him  know, 

Kneeling  on  their  knee, 
Wondrous  joy  had  I 

This  little  BABE  to  see. 
Chorus. — Nowell,  &c. 

This  is  CHRIST  the  LORD, 

Masters  be  ye  glad  ! 
Christmas  is  come  in, 

And  no  folk  should  be  sad. 
Chorus. — Nowell,  &c. 

Outlanders,  Whence  Come  ye  Last  ? x 

William  Morris. 
OUTLANDERS,  whence  come  ye  last  ? 

The  snow  in  the  street  and  the  wind  on  the  door. 
Through  what  green  sea  and  great  have  ye  passed  ? 

Minstrels  and  maids,  stand  forth  on  the  floor. 

From  far  away,  O  masters  mine, 

The  snow  in  the  street  and  the  wind  on  the  door. 
We  come  to  bear  you  goodly  wine, 

Minstrels  and  maids,  stand  forth  on  the  floor. 

From  far  away  we  come  to  you, 

The  snow  in  the  street  and  thie  wind  on  the  door. 
To  tell  of  great  tidings  strange  and  true. 

Minstrels  and  maids,  stand  forth  on  the  floor. 

1  The  Earthly  Paradise,  printed  here  by  kind  permission  of  William 
Morris's  trustees  and  of  Messrs.  Longmans,  Green  and  Co. 


292  MODERN    CAROLS 

News,  news  of  the  Trinity, 

The  snow  in  the  street  and  the  wind  on  the  door. 
And  Mary  and  Joseph  from  over  the  sea  ! 

Minstrels  and  maids,  stand  forth  on  the  floor. 

For  as  we  wandered  far  and  wide, 

The  snow  in  the  street  and  the  wind  on  the  door. 
What  hap  do  ye  deem  there  should  us  betide  ! 

Minstrels  and  maids,  stand  forth  on  the  floor. 

Under  a  bent  when  the  night  was  deep, 

The  snow  in  the  street  and  the  wind  on  the  door. 

There  lay  three  shepherds  tending  their  sheep. 
Minstrels  and  maids,  stand  forth  on  the  -floor. 

"  O  ye  shepherds,  what  have  ye  seen, 

The  snow  in  the  street  and,  the  wind  on  the  door. 

To  slay  your  sorrow  and  heal  your  teen  ?  " 
Minstrels  and  maids,  stand  forth  on  the  floor. 

"In  an  ox-stall  this  night  we  saw, 

The  snow  in  the  street  and  the  wind  on  the  door. 
A  babe  and  a  maid  without  a  flaw. 

Minstrels  and  maids,  stand  forth  on  the  floor. 

"  There  was  an  old  man  there  beside, 

The  snow  in  the  street  and  the  wind  on  the  door. 
His  hair  was  white  and  his  hood  was  wide. 
Minstrels  and  maids,  stand  forth  on  the  floor. 

"  And  as  we  gazed  this  thing  upon, 

The  snow  in  the  street  and  the  wind  on  the  door. 
Those  twain  knelt  down  to  the  Little  One. 
Minstrels  and  maids,  stand  forth  on  the  floor. 


APPENDIX   II  293 

And  a  marvellous  song  we  straight  did  hear, 
The  snow  in  the  street  and  the  wind  on  the  door. 

That  slew  our  sorrow  and  healed  our  care." 
Minstrels  and  maids,  stand  forth  on  the  floor. 

News  of  a  fair  and  a  marvellous  thing, 

The  snow  in  the  street  and  the  wind  on  the  door. 

No  well,  no  well,  nowell,  we  sing  ! 

Minstrels  and  maids,  stand  forth  on  the  floor. 


A  Christmas  Carol1 

Christina  G.  Rossetti. 

IN  the  bleak  mid-winter 

Frosty  wind  made  moan, 
Earth  stood  hard  as  iron, 

Water  like  a  stone  ; 
Snow  had  fallen,  snow  on  snow, 

Snow  on  snow, 
In  the  bleak  mid-winter 

Long  ago. 

Our  God,  heaven  cannot  hold  Him, 

Nor  earth  sustain ; 
Heaven  and  earth  shall  flee  away 

When  He  comes  to  reign : 
In  the  bleak  mid-winter 

A  stable-place  sufficed 
The  Lord  God  Almighty, 

Jesus  Christ. 

1  Printed  here  by  kind  permission  of  Messrs.  Macmillan  and  Co. 


294  MODERN   CAROLS 

Enough  for  Him  whom  cherubim 

Worship  night  and  day, 
A  breastful  of  milk 

And  a  mangerful  of  hay  ; 
Enough  for  Him  whom  angels 

Fall  down  before, 
The  ox  and  ass  and  camel 

Which  adore. 

Angels  and  archangels 

May  have  gathered  there, 
Cherubim  and  seraphim 

Throng'd  the  air, 
But  only  His  mother 

In  her  maiden  bliss 
Worshipped  the  Beloved 

With  a  kiss. 

What  can  I  give  Him, 

Poor  as  I  am  ? 
If  I  were  a  shepherd 

I  would  bring  a  lamb, 
If  I  were  a  wise  man 

I  would  do  my  part, — 

Yet  what  I  can  I  give  Him, 

Give  my  heart. 


APPENDIX   II  295 


Three  Damsels  in  the  Queen's  Chamber l 

!866.  A.  C.  Swinburne. 

THREE  damsels  in  the  queen's  chamber, 

The  queen's  mouth  was  most  fair  ; 
She  spake  a  word  of  God's  mother 
As  the  combs  went  in  her  hair. 
Mary  that  is  of  might, 
Bring  us  to  thy  Son's  sight. 

They  held  the  gold  combs  out  from  her, 

A  span's  length  off  her  head  ; 
She  sang  this  song  of  God's  mother 
And  of  her  bearing-bed. 
Mary  most  full  of  grace, 
Bring  us  to  thy  Son's  face. 

When  she  sat  at  Joseph's  hand, 
She  looked  against  her  side ; 
And  either  way  from  the  short  silk  band 
Her  girdle  was  all  wried. 
Mary  that  all  good  may, 
Bring  us  to  thy  Son's  way. 

Mary  had  three  women  for  her  bed, 

The  twain  were  maidens  clean ; 
The  first  of  them  had  white  and  red, 
The  third  had  riven  green. 
Mary  that  is  so  sweet, 
Bring  us  to  thy  Son's  feet. 

1  Poems  and  Ballads.     First  Series.      Printed  here   by  kind   per 
mission  of  Mr.  Theodore  Watts-Dunton. 


296  MODERN   CAROLS 

She  had  three  women  for  her  hair, 
Two  were  gloved  soft  and  shod  ; 
The  third  had  feet  and  fingers  bare, 
She  was  the  likest  God. 
Mary  that  wieldeth  land, 
Bring  us  to  thy  Son's  hand. 

She  had  three  women  for  her  ease, 

The  twain  were  good  women  : 
The  first  two  were  the  two  Maries, 
The  third  was  Magdalen. 
Mary  that  perfect  is, 
Bring  us  to  thy  Son's  kiss. 

Joseph  had  three  workmen  in  his  stall, 

To  serve  him  well  upon  ; 
The  first  of  them  were  Peter  and  Paul, 
The  third  of  them  was  John. 
Mary,  God's  handmaiden, 
Bring  us  to  thy  Son's  ken. 

"  If  your  child  be  none  other  man's, 

But  if  it  be  very  mine, 
The  bedstead  shall  be  gold  two  spans, 
The  bedfoot  silver  fine." 
Mary  that  made  God  mirth, 
Bring  us  to  thy  Son's  birth. 

"  If  the  child  be  some  other  man's, 

And  if  it  be  none  of  mine, 
The  manger  shall  be  straw  two  spans, 
Betwixen  kine  and  kine." 
Mary  that  made  sin  cease, 
Bring  us  to  thy  Son's  peace 


APPENDIX   II  297 

Christ  was  born  upon  this  wise, 

It  fell  on  such  a  night, 
Neither  with  sounds  of  psalteries, 
Nor  with  fire  for  light. 
Mary  that  is  God's  spouse, 
Bring  us  to  thy  Son's  house. 

The  star  came  out  upon  the  east 
With  a  great  sound  and  sweet : 
Kings  gave  gold  to  make  him  feast 
And  myrrh  for  him  to  eat. 
Mary,  of  thy  sweet  mood, 
Bring  us  to  thy  Son's  good. 

He  had  two  handmaids  at  his  head, 

One  handmaid  at  his  feet ; 
The  twain  of  them  were  fair  and  red, 
The  third  one  was  right  sweet. 
Mary  that  is  most  wise, 
Bring  us  to  thy  Son's  eyes.     Amen. 


A  Christmas  Lullaby l 

1840-93.  John  Addington  Symonds. 

SLEEP,  baby,  sleep  !     The  Mother  sings : 
Heaven's  angels  kneel  and  fold  their  wings : 
Sleep,  baby,  sleep  ! 

With  swathes  of  scented  hay  thy  bed 
By  Mary's  hand  at  eve  was  spread. 
Sleep,  baby,  sleep  ! 

i  Printed  here  by  kind  permission  of  Mr.  Horatio  F.  Brown. 


298  MODERN   CAROLS 

At  midnight  came  the  shepherds,  they 
Whom  seraphs  wakened  by  the  way. 
Sleep,  baby,  sleep  ! 

And  three  kings  from  the  east  afar 
Ere  dawn  came  guided  by  thy  star. 
Sleep,  baby,  sleep  ! 

They  brought  thee  gifts  of  gold  and  gems, 
Pure  orient  pearls,  rich  diadems. 
Sleep,  baby,  sleep  ! 

But  thou  who  liest  slumbering  there, 
Art  King  of  kings,  earth,  ocean,  air. 
Sleep,  baby,  sleep  ! 

Sleep,  baby,  sleep  !     The  shepherds  sing  : 
Through  heaven,  through  earth,  hosannas  ring. 
Sleep,  baby,  sleep  ! 


NOTES 


P.  159.  Mirabiie  Misterium.  The  title  carol  is  written  on  a 
blank  leaf  of  an  imperfect  tract  printed  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde, 
and  is  singular  in  its  personification  of  abstract  qualities  such  as 
occur  in  the  morality  plays.  The  carols  in  this  group  show  more 
orthodoxy  and  piety  than  originality  or  poetry.  They  are 
difficult  to  distinguish  from  other  groups,  because  they  usually 
include  some  details  of  the  Nativity  and  frequently  merge  into 
the  songs  of  Christmas  joy. 

P.  160.  Awdlay,  or  Audelay.  A  blind  and  deaf  monk,  chaplain 
in  Haughmond  Abbey,  Shropshire. 

P.  164.  Bussed  be  the  time,  &c.  The  logic  is  that  Eve  by  her 
sin  made  redemption  possible  through  Mary.  Cf.  the  next  three 
carols ;  also  Part  I.  p.  30,  Avefit  ex  Eva. 

P.  181.  Richard  Smerf,  or  Smart.  Various  compositions  in  the 
Fairfax  MS.  are  attributed  to  this  man,  who  was  said  to  be  of  Plymtree 
(Devonshire).  He  sometimes  collaborated  with  John  Trouluffe,  or 
Truelove  (cf.  p.  183),  but  whether  they  were  responsible  for  words 
as  well  as  music  is  uncertain.  The  carols  on  pp.  181-183  show 
strong  resemblances. 

P.  1 86.  A  blessed  bird,  &c.  The  word  bird,  meaning  son,  young 
man,  was  in  use  chiefly  between  1300  and  1571. 

With  the  exception  of  the  first  line  this  carol  has  nothing  to  do 
with  Christmas  and  might  be  included  in  Appendix  II.  The  idea 
underlying  the  symbolism  is  of  the  Host. 

P.  193.  Lully,  lulley,  &c.  This  carol,  of  which  the  one  following 
is  a  modern  version,  is  interesting  as  showing  the  persistence  of  a 
lyric  for  four  hundred  years  (the  first  version  is  probably  of  the 
fifteenth  century,  the  second  was  taken  from  the  recital  of  a  boy 
who  came  with  morris  -  dancers  some  years  before  1862,  cf. 
Notes  and  Queries,  third  series,  ii.  p.  103) ;  and  also  because  it 

299 


300      CAROLS   OF   THE   DIVINE   MYSTERY 

seems  to  have  been  suggested  by  some  form  of  the  legend  of  the 
Holy  Grail.  The  Bleeding  Knight  is  Christ,  the  "may"  is  His 
mother,  the  "falcon"  is  introduced  apparently  to  suggest  that  the 
body  of  the  poem  is  a  vision.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the 
modern  version  is  the  more  specific  of  the  two,  adding  the  hound 
which  licks  the  blood  (the  Church?)  and  the  Holy  Thorn  of 
Glastonbury,  which  is  intimately  associated  with  the  Grail 
story. 

P.  195.  Remember,  O  Thou  Man.  A  didactic  religious  poem, 
included  by  John  Wedderburn  in  his  Compendious  Buik,  seems  to 
be  a  parody  of  this,  which  is  therefore  probably  older  than  1567. 

P.  201.  The  Moon  shone  bright.  According  to  Husk  this  has 
the  repute  of  having  been  sung  by  the  bellman  or  watchman  making 
his  rounds.  Its  content  certainly  bears  out  this  character  ;  and 
although  it  contains  much  that  is  fairly  modern,  it  may  have 
developed  from  an  earlier  poem.  Cf.  Shakespeare,  As  You  Like 
It  (Act  v.  sc.  4),  where  in  the  poem  "  It  was  a  lover  and  his 
lass,"  the  lines — 

"  This  carol  they  began  that  hour 
How  that  life  was  but  a  flower,"  &c. 

may   possibly  be  reminiscent  of  some  version  of  this. 

P.  203.  In  Dulci  lubilo.  I  have  distinguished  the  few  carols 
that  dwell  upon  the  more  spiritual  side  of  Christmas  joy  from  those 
in  which  the  enjoyment  of  material  things  is  emphasized. 

P.  209.  All  the  merrier,  &c.  The  symbolism  of  the  "sun  of 
grace  "  is  carried  through  the  chief  divisions  of  the  day — prime,  noon 
and  undern. 

P.  209.  Him  shineth.  Him  seems  to  refer  to  Christ,  although 
this  interpretation  is  not  without  difficulties.  The  verb  is  schynit, 
which  should  be  properly  shineth ;  but  the  other  verbs  are  all  in 
the  past  tense. 

P.  217.  Carols  of  Festivity.  This  heading  includes  several  carols 
of  welcome  and  general  good  cheer,  special  carols  that  herald  the 
bringing  in  of  the  boar's  head,  wassail  songs,  and  the  decoration  of 
the  hall  with  ivy  and  holly.  The  religious  element  is  touched 
upon  but  lightly,  and  the  atmosphere  is  of  pagan  revelry,  particu 
larly  noticeable  in  the  examples  belonging  to  the  seventeenth 
century. 

P.  217.  Prof  ace.     These  carols  usually  suggest  the  background 


NOTES  301 

of  lavish  hospitality,  sometimes  from  the  point  of  view  of  the 
givers,  again  of  the  seekers. 

P.  243.  Wassail.  The  oldest  carol  known  (cf.  Appendix  I.  p. 
132),  although  Anglo-Norman,  embodies  the  Saxon  phrases  used 
in  pledging.  The  former  of  these  has  survived  in  the  refrain  of  the 
initial  carol  of  this  group,  which  is  otherwise  highly  religious.  In  the 
seventeenth  century  the  wassail  was  a  definite  institution — the  carry 
ing  about  of  a  bowl  of  spiced  ale  from  house  to  house  to  drink  healths 
in  expectation  of  a  contribution.  Nowadays  the  utterance  of  a 
"  Merry  Christmas  "  is  often  judged  sufficient  for  the  tip.  Some  of 
the  poems  here  included  are  mere  drinking-songs,  but  they  were 
probably  sung  as  carols  at  Christmas. 

P.  245.  Bring  us  in  good  ale,  &c.  In  the  MS.  this  song  is 
preceded  by  the  carol  beginning, 

"  Nowell,  nowell,  nowell, 
This  is  the  salutation  of  the  angel  Gabriel  " 

(cf.  Part  I.  p.  35)  and  the  note:  "This  is  the  tune  for  the  song 
following  ;  if  so  be  that  ye  will  have  another  tune,  it  may  be  at 
your  pleasure,  for  I  have  set  all  the  song." 

P.  255.  As  I  sat  under  a  sycamore  tree.  This  carol,  with  its 
variant  As  I  sat  on  a  siinny  bank,  is  still  popular  in  various  parts 
of  England.  Another  version,  minus  the  wassail  element,  is  given 
on  p.  213.  The  conception  of  Mary  and  Christ  as  sailing  in  a 
ship  is  very  old  ;  I  have  seen  it  in  a  stone  carving  taken  from  a 
chimney-piece  of  about  the  year  1500. 

P.  256.  Caput  Apri  Defero.  The  boar's-head  carols  are  interest 
ing  as  embodying  a  ceremony  surviving  from  a  pagan  sacrificial  feast. 
Numerous  as  are  the  versions,  their  general  effect  is  strikingly 
similar.  Two  give  an  account  of  the  killing  of  the  beast,  and  one 
drags  in  Christian  symbolism  by  comparing  him  to  Christ. 

P.  258.  The  second  course.  All  these  things  are  mentioned  in 
cookery  books  and  directions  for  carving  between  the  days  of 
Henry  IV.  and  James  I.  Some  of  them,  as  bruet  of  Allmayne  and 
frumenty,  were  especially  associated  with  Christmas  cheer. 

P.  262.  Venicoronaberis.  The  holly  and  ivy  carols  exist  in 
various  forms  and  in  many  MSS.  The  singing  of  them  seems  to  be  a 
survival  of  some  sort  of  Nature- worship.  The  two  plants  most  char 
acteristic  of  the  season  of  the  year  seem  to  have  been  impersonated — 
holly  by  young  men,  ivy  by  maidens  ;  and  the  poems  are  regularly  in 


302        CAROLS   OF   YULETIDE    FESTIVITY 

the  form  of  a  debate  or  contention  as  to  the  respective  merits  of  each. 
Perhaps  in  the  decoration  of  the  hall  the  work  was  so  apportioned, 
and  possibly  there  was  earlier  some  sort  of  rude  drama  or  dance 
connected  with  the  ceremony.  In  the  Gentleman's  Magazine  for 
1779,  p.  137,  is  mentioned  a  Shrovetide  custom  in  East  Kent  which 
illustrates  this  old  contention.  The  girls  of  a  village  burn  a 
"  Holly  Boy"  stolen  from  the  boys ;  and  the  boys  an  "  Ivy  Girl" 
stolen  from  the  girls,  each  in  different  parts  of  the  village.  The 
root  idea  seems  to  be  whether  the  master  or  the  mistress  shall  rule 
the  household.  Sandys  in  his  Christmas  Carols  (1833,  P-  cxxii) 
tells  a  story  that  likewise  associates  this  idea  with  Christmas.  An 
old  knight,  while  his  guests  were  at  table,  asked  that  a  carol  be 
sung  by  the  men  who  ruled  their  wives,  and  there  was  but  a  feeble 
response;  but  when  he  called  upon  the  women  who  ruled  their 
husbands,  they  fell  all  to  such  a  singing  that  there  was  never 
heard  such  a  caterwauling  piece  of  music. 


GLOSSARY 


Adesto  nunc  propicius. 
Agnoscat  omne  seculum. 

Alleluia. 

Alma  Redemptoris  mater. 
Alma  beata  Trinitas. 
Amice  Christi,  Johannes. 
A  Patre  Unigenitus. 
Armati  sunt  perimentes. 
A  solis  ortus  cardine. 

Atque  semper  virgo. 
Aurora  lucis  rutilat. 
Aurum,  tus,  myrram  efferent. 

Ave  Maria. 
Ave  maris  Stella. 

Benedicamus  Domino. 
Bevvexbien  par  tutte  lacompany. 
Bona  natalicia. 
Bona  voluntaria. 

Caput  apri  defero. 
Celis  tesaurizare. 

Christe,  Redemptor  omnium. 
Christo  paremus  canticam,  ex- 
celsis  gloria. 


Be  now  propitious. 

Let  all  the  world  acknowledge 
Thee. 

Hallelujah. 

Dear  mother  of  the  Redeemer. 

Dear  blessed  Trinity. 

John,  Christ's  friend. 

The  only  Son  of  the  Father. 

The  armed  men  are  slaying. 

Arisen  from  the  quarter  of  the 
sun. 

And  virgin  ever. 

The  dawn  of  light  reddens. 

They  shall  offer  gold,  frankin 
cense  and  myrrh. 

Hail,  Mary  ! 

Hail,  star  of  the  sea. 

Let  us  bless  the  Lord. 
Drink  well,  all  the  company. 
Happy  birthday  feast. 
Blessed  offering. 

I  bring  the  boar's  head. 

To    heap  up  treasures  in    the 

heavens. 

Christ,  the  Redeemer  of  all. 
Let  us  prepare  a  song  to  Christ, 

glory  on  high. 


GLOSSARY 


Christus  natus  est. 
Circumfultus  undique. 
Claro  David  germine. 
Conditor  alme  siderum. 
Circumfuso  sanguine. 
Congaudere  niihi. 
Consolamini. 
Censors  Paterni  luminis. 

Constanter. 
Contra  regis  consilia. 
Corpus  Christi. 
Cum  magna  injuria. 
Cum  pudoris  lilio. 
Cum  sua  malicia 
Cum  sua  potencia. 
Cum  venerit  judicare. 
Cunctis  reparatrix. 

De  fructu  ventris. 

Dei  mater  alma. 

Demonis  potencia. 

Deo  gracias. 

Deo  Patri  sit  gloria. 

De  te,  genetrice. 

Deus  homo  natus  est. 

De  virgine  Maria. 

De  virgine  purica. 

Dicam  vobis  quia. 

Dieus  wous  garde,  bewe  sieurs. 

Digno  Tu  (Te  ?)  scandente. 

Dolore. 

Dono  coelestis  gratias. 


Ecce  ancilla  Domini. 
Ecce     sum     humilima 

Domini. 
Ego  dixi. 
Eia,  lesus  hodie. 
Eia,  martyr  Stephane. 


Christ  is  born. 

Shone  upon  from  all  sides. 

Of  the  illustrious  race  of  David. 

O  blessed  Founder  of  the  stars. 

With  the  shedding  of  blood. 

To  rejoice  with  me. 

Ye  are  consoled. 

Consort    of   the    light    of    the 

Father. 
Steadfastly. 

Contrary  to  the  king's  counsels. 
The  Body  of  Christ. 
With  great  injury. 
With  the  lily  of  chastity. 
With  their  wickedness. 
With  his  power. 
When  He  shall  come  to  judge. 
Renewer  (fern.)  of  all  things. 

Of  the  fruit  of  the  womb. 

Gentle  mother  of  God. 

By  the  power  of  the  devil. 

Thanks  to  God. 

Glory  be  to  God  the  Father. 

Of  thee,  His  mother. 

God  is  born  man. 

Of  the  virgin  Mary. 

Of  a  virgin  most  pure. 

I  shall  tell  you  wherefore. 

God  keep  you,  gentlemen. 

Thou  fitly  ascending. 

With  sorrow. 

With  the  gift  of  heavenly  grace. 


Lo,  the  handmaid  of  the  Lord, 
ancilla       I  am  the  most  humble  handmaid 

of  the  Lord. 
I  have  said. 
Lo,  Jesus  to-day. 
Lo,  Stephen  the  martyr. 


GLOSSARY 


305 


Enixa  est  puerpcra. 

Et  dixit :  "  Maria  ne  timeas, 

PJterna  Lux  credencium. 

Eterne  Rex  altissime. 

Et  Princeps  gloriae. 

Eva  peccatrice. 

Exortum  est. 

Exultet  celuni  laudibus. 

Felix  celi  porta. 
Felix  fecundata. 
Ferens  mortis  tedia. 
Ferventes  insania. 
Fervore. 

Fervore  gentis  impiae. 
Fraudenter. 
Fulget  Resurreccio. 

Gabriele  nuncio. 

Gaudeamus. 

Gentibus  in  Judaea. 

Gloria  in  excelsis  (Deo). 

Gloria  Tibi. 

Gloria  Tibi,  Domine. 

Gracia  Divina. 

Hie  erit  Altissimi  Filius. 
Hostis  Herodes  impie. 
lam  lucis  orto  sidere. 
lam  ortus  solis  cardine. 

Illaque  favente. 
In  celi  palacio. 
In  die  Nativitatis. 
In  die  novissima. 
In  dulci  iubilo. 
In  excelsis  gloria. 


The  woman  in  childbed  is  de 
livered. 

And  said  :  "  Mary,  fear  not." 
Eternal  Light  of  believers. 
O  eternal  King  on  high. 
And  Prince  of  glory. 
By  sinful  Eve. 
He  arose  (lit.  it  has  arisen). 
Let  heaven  rejoice  with  praises. 

Blessed  gate  of  heaven. 

Blessed  in  thy  fertility. 

Bearing  the  burden  of  death. 

Raging  in  their  madness. 

With  raging. 

By  the  rage  of  a  wicked  race. 

Deceitfully. 

The  Resurrection  shineth. 

From  Gabriel  the  messenger. 

Let  us  rejoice. 

Among  the  tribes  in  Judea. 

Glory  on  high  (to  God). 

Glory  to  Thee. 

Glory  to  Thee,  O  Lord. 

By  Divine  grace. 

He  shall  be  the  Son  of  the  Most 

High. 
O  Herod,  impious  foe. 

Now  the   star   of  light   having 

risen. 
Now  arisen  from  the  quarter  of 

the  sun. 
By  her  favour. 
In  the  palace  of  heaven. 
On  the  day  of  the  Nativity. 
On  the  last  day. 
In  a  sweet  song  of  joy. 
Glory  on  high. 

U 


GLOSSARY 


Infans  quern  lactasti. 

Infantis. 

Infantum  festa  colentes. 

Innixum  Patris  dextere. 

In  praesepio. 

In  quo  Christus  natus  est. 

In  quo  Salvator  natus  est. 

In  Regis  curia. 

In  reginensi  atrio. 

In  sua  malicia. 

esu,  Fill  Dei. 
esu,  Fili  virginis. 
esu,  Salvator  seculi. 
esum  semper  amare. 
Johannes,  Christi  care. 

Kirieleyson. 

Lapidaverunt  Stephanum. 

Laudamus  Te  Dominum. 

Laus  Tibi. 

Laus  Tibi  sit  gloria. 

Letare. 

Luto  gratulante. 

Lux  fulgebit. 

Malorum. 

Mane  nobiscum,  Domine. 

Maria,  ne  timeas. 

Marya  ventre  concepit. 

Mater  dulcissima  baba. 

Mater  gratiosa. 

Mater  honorata. 

Mater  salutaris. 

Matris  in  gremio. 

Michi  plausus  oscula  dada. 

Mira  plenitudine. 

Mirabile  misterium. 


The    Child    whom    thou    hast 

suckled. 
Of  the  Child. 
Keeping     the     feast     of     the 

Children. 
Set   on  the  right  hand  of  the 

Father. 

In  the  manger. 
On  which  Christ  was  born. 
On  which  the  Saviour  was  born. 
In  the  king's  palace. 
In  the  royal  hall. 
In  their  malice. 

Jesus,  Son  of  God. 
Jesus,  Son  of  the  virgin. 
Jesus,  Saviour  of  the  world. 
To  love  Jesus  always. 
John,  Christ's  beloved. 

Lord,  have  pity. 

They  stoned  Stephen. 

We  praise  Thee  as  Lord. 

Praise  to  Thee. 

Praise  be  to  Thee  (and)  glory. 

Rejoice. 

Delighting  in  filth. 

The  Light  shall  shine. 

Of  the  wicked. 

Abide  with  us,  O  Lord. 

Mary,  fear  not. 

Mary  conceived  in  her  womb. 

The  sweetest  mother  kisses  (?) 

Gracious  mother. 

Revered  mother. 

Healing  mother. 

In  His  mother's  lap. 

Clapping  hands,give  me  kisses(?) 

In  marvellous  abundance. 

Wonderful  mystery. 


GLOSSARY 


3°7 


Miranda  res. 
Miserere  me  (nobis). 
Misterium  mirabile. 
Motu  fertur  proprio. 
Munera  portantes. 

Natus  est  de  virgine. 

Nee  dare. 

Ne  mentem  sompnus  opprimat. 

Nobis  preparavit. 

Nomen  Maria  virginis. 

Non  ex  virili  semine. 

Non  poterit  alligare. 

Nova  cantica. 

Nova,  nova :  Ave  fit  ex  Eva. 

Novus  sol  de  virgine. 
Nowell. 


Nullus  memoravit. 
Nunc  gaudet  ecclesia. 
Nunc  gaudet  Maria. 

O  fades  plena  gracie. 
O  flos  de  Jesse  virgula. 
O  Jesu  parvule. 
O  lux  beata  Trinitas. 
O  martyr  invictissime. 
Omnes  de  Saba  venient. 
Omnes  gentes  plaudite. 
Omnia  fecisti. 
Optans  celi  gaudia. 
O  Puer  optime. 

Par  amour. 
Parens  et  puella. 
Pares  forma. 
Pergens  ad  celestia. 


Wonderful  thing. 

Have  mercy  on  me  (us). 

Wonderful  mystery. 

He  is  borne  by  His  own  motion. 

Bringing  gifts. 

He  was  born  of  a  virgin. 

Nor  give. 

Let  not  sleep  oppress  the  mind. 

He  has  prepared  for  us. 

The  name  of  the  virgin  (is)  Mary. 

Not  of  man's  seed. 

He  will  not  be  able  to  bind. 

New  songs. 

Tidings,  tidings  :  Out  of  Eva  is 
made  Ave. 

A  new  sun  of  a  virgin. 

Christmas.  In  Middle  Eng 
lish  often  tidings  as  if  from 
French  noiwelles ;  but  really 
from  Latin  natalem^=  birth 
day. 

None  has  told. 

Now  the  Church  rejoices. 

Now  Mary  rejoices. 

O  countenance  full  of  grace. 
O  Flower  of  the  branch  of  Jesse. 
O  little  Jesus. 

O  blessed  light  of  the  Trinity. 
O  martyr  most  unconquered. 
All  shall  come  from  Sheba. 
All  ye  nations,  rejoice. 
Ye  have  done  all  things. 
Hoping  for  the  joys  of  heaven. 
O  best  of  children. 

For  love's  sake. 
Mother  and  maiden. 
Equal  in  form. 
Attaining  to  heaven. 


308 


GLOSSARY 


Per  regis  imperia. 

Poscente. 

Potencia  demonis. 

Potente. 

Precantis. 

Preface. 

Pro  peccante  homine. 

Prophetarum  carmine. 

Pro  sua  superbia. 
Protomartyr  Stephana. 
Psallite  gaudentes. 
Puer  natus. 

Puer  natus  est  nobis  (nobis  natus 
est). 

Que  vocatur  Maria. 

Quia  lapidaverunt  Stephanum. 

Quia  missus  est  angelus  Gabriel. 

Quia  Salvator  mundi  natus  est. 

Quia  tecum  est  Dominus. 

Quia  virum  non  cognosce. 

Qui  creavit  omnia. 

Quid  petis,  O  Fili  ? 

Qui  estis  in  convivio. 

Qui  hodie  natus  es  nobis. 

Qui  natus  est  (es — second  person) 

de  virgine. 

Qui  regnat  super  ethera. 
Qui  triumphavit  hodie. 
Quod  Puer  natus  est  nobis. 
Quot  estis  in  convivio. 

Reddens  laudes  Domino. 
Redemptoris  mater. 
Regem  natum  venerantes. 

Reges  de  Saba  venient. 
Regina  celi,  letare. 


Through  the  king's  realms. 

Entreating  (it). 

By  the  devil's  power. 

O  powerful  One. 

Praying. 

Welcome. 

For  sinful  man. 

By  the  word  (lit.  song)  of  the 

prophets. 
For  his  pride. 

O  Stephen,  first  of  the  martyrs. 
Sing  rejoicing. 
A  Son  is  born. 
Unto  us  a  Son  is  born. 


Who  is  called  Mary. 
Because  they  stoned  Stephen. 
Because    the  angel    Gabriel   is 

sent. 
Because    the     Saviour    of    the 

world  is  born. 

Because  the  Lord  is  with  thee. 
Because  I  know  not  a  man. 
Who  created  all  things. 
What  seekest  Thou,  O  my  Son  ? 
Ye  who  are  at  the  feast. 
Who  is  born  to  us  on  this  day. 
Who  is  born  of  a  virgin. 

Who  reigns  in  heaven. 
Who  triumphed  to-day. 
Because  a  Child  is  born  to  us. 
As  many  as  are  at  this  feast. 

Giving  thanks  to  the  Lord. 
Mother  of  the  Redeemer. 
Worshipping  the  King   that  is 

born. 

Kings  shall  come  from  Sheba. 
Queen  of  Heaven,  rejoice. 


GLOSSARY 


309 


Regnat  Dei  gracia. 
Reluxit  nobis  hodie. 
Repente. 
Res  miranda. 
Rex  pacificus. 
Rosa  sine  spina. 

Sacra  fluenta  potare. 
Salvator  mundi,  Domine. 
Salvator  mundi  natus  est. 

Salvatorem  mundi. 

Salvator  sine  crimine. 

Salve. 

Salve  regina,  mater  misericordie. 

Secreta  que  non  noverat. 

Secundum   verbum   Tuum,    fiat 

michi. 

Servire  cantico. 
Servite  cum  cantico. 
Sicut  voluisti. 
Sine  contumelia. 
Solamen  miserorum. 
Sol  de  stella. 
Spes  eterne  glorie. 
Stelle  ducti  lumine. 
Sua  morte  pia. 
Sua  morte  propria. 
Sua  nocte  pessima. 
Summi  Largitor  premii. 

Summi  Patris  gracia. 


Tarn  gnare. 

Te  confitemur,  Te  eternum. 

Te  Deum  laudamus. 
Te  laudamus,  Te  Dominum. 
Te  Reformator  sensuum. 
Teste  prophecia. 


The  grace  of  God  reigns. 

Has  shone  upon  us  to-day. 

Suddenly. 

Wonderful  thing. 

The  peacemaking  King. 

Rose  without  thorn. 

To  drink  of  the  sacred  fountains. 

Saviour  of  the  world,  Lord. 

The  Saviour  of  the  world  is 
born. 

Saviour  of  the  world. 

The  Saviour  without  sin. 

Hail. 

Hail,  queen,  mother  of  pity. 

The  secrets  which  she  knew  not. 

Let  it  be  done  to  me  according 
to  Thy  word. 

To  serve  it  with  song. 

Serve  it  with  song. 

As  you  have  wished. 

Without  disgrace. 

Comfort  of  the  wretched. 

Sun  of  a  star. 

Hope  of  eternal  glory. 

Guided  by  the  light  of  the  star. 

By  His  blessed  death. 

By  his  own  death. 

On  his  worst  night. 

Dispenser  of  the  supreme  re 
ward. 

By  the  grace  of  the  Father  Most 
High. 

So  wisely. 

We     acknowledge      Thee     as 

eternal. 

We  praise  Thee  as  God. 
We  praise  Thee  as  Lord. 
Thee,  renewer  of  the  senses. 
By  the  witness  of  the  prophets. 


3io  GLOSSARY 


Trahe  me  post  Te. 
Transeamus. 
Trinitatis  unitas. 
Tutrix  orphanorum. 
Tuum  precor  Filium. 

Ubi  sunt  gaudia. 
Ullo  sine  crimine. 
Ut  castytatis  lyllyum. 
Ut  nos  purget  a  crimine. 

Ut  nova. 
Ut  supra. 

Velut  maris  Stella. 

Veni  coronaberis. 

Veni,  Creator  Spiritus. 

Veni,     Redemptor       (omnium) 

gencium. 

Venter  puelle  baiulat. 
Ventre  quern  portasti. 

Ventus  de  terra  orta  est. 
Verbo  concepit  Filium. 

Verbo  prophesye. 
Verbum  caro  factum  est. 
Verbum   Patris  hodie   processit 
ex  virgine. 

Verbum  superum  prodiens. 

Vere  consolatrix. 

Vere  nuncuparis. 

Veritas  de  terra  orta  est. 

Victore  triumphante. 

Virgo  gloriosa. 

Virgo  rosa  virginum. 

Viri  sine  semine. 

Volente. 

Vox  clara  ecce  intonat. 


Draw  me  after  Thee. 

Let  us  follow. 

The  Oneness  of  the  Trinity. 

The  guardian  (fern.)  of  orphans. 

I  pray  to  Thy  Son. 

Where  joys  are. 

Without  any  sin. 

As  the  lily  of  chastity. 

That  He  may  cleanse  us  from 

sin. 

Lo,  news. 
As  above. 

Like  a  star  of  the  sea. 

Come,  you  shall  be  crowned. 

Come,  Creative  Spirit. 

Come,  Redeemer  of  (all)  man 
kind. 

A  maiden's  womb  bears. 

Whom  thou  didst  bear  in  thy 
womb. 

A  wind  has  arisen  from  the 
earth. 

She  conceived  a  Son  by  the 
Word. 

In  the  word  of  prophecy. 

The  Word  is  made  flesh. 

The  Word  of  the  Father  pro- 
ceedeth  this  day  from  a 
virgin. 

Showing  forth  the  high  Word. 

Truly  a  consoler  (fern.). 

You  shall  be  called  truly. 

Truth  is  arisen  of  the  earth. 

Victor  triumphing. 

Glorious  virgin. 

A  maiden,  the  rose  of  maidens. 

Without  seed  of  man. 

Willing. 

Lo,  a  clear  voice  sounds. 


INDEX  TO   FIRST  LINES 


A,  a,  a,  a,  16,  129 

A  blessed  bird,  as  I  you  say,  186 

A  bone,  God  wot,    46 

Adam  lay  ybounden,  163 

"Ah,  my  dear  Son,"  said  Mary,  "ah,  my  dear, "62 

A  jolly  wassail-bowl,  249 

A  lady  that  was  so  fair  and  bright,  5 

All  after  pleasures  as  I  rode  one  day,  275 

Alleluia,  alleluia,  117,  177,  179 

Alleluia,  alleluia,  alleluia,  178 

Alleluia,  alleluia,  alleluia,  now  sing  we,  262 

All  that  'lieve  in  Christian  lay,  164 

All  the  merrier  is  that  place,  209 

All  this  night  shrill  chanticleer,  200 

All  this  time  this  song  is  best,  43 

All  under  the  leaves,  and  the  leaves  of  life,  145 

All  you  that  are  good  fellows,  234 

All  you  that  in  this  house  be  here,  238 

And  I  mankind,  140 

A  New  Year,  a  New  Year,  a  child  was  yborn,  65 

An  heavenly  song,  I  dare  well  say,  172 

As  I  came  by  a  green  forest-side,  139 

As  I  in  hoary  winter's  night  stood  shivering  in  the  snow,  270 

As  I  lay  upon  a  night,  14 

As  I  out  rode  this  enders  night,  99 

As  I  passed  by  a  river-side,  91 

As  I  sat  under  a  sycamore  tree,  a  sycamore  tree,  a  sycamore  tree,  255 

As  it  fell  out  on  a  holy  day,  86 

As  it  fell  out  one  May  morning,  84 


312  INDEX    TO    FIRST    LINES 

As  I  went  through  a  garden  green,  1 74 

As  on  the  night  before  this  happy  morn,  198 

Ave  Maris  Stella,  8 

Awake,  glad  heart,  get  up  and  sing  1215 

Awake,  my  soul,  and  come  away,  285 

Behold  a  silly  tender  Babe,  271 

Be  merry  all  that  be  present,  116 

Be  merry,  be  merry,  I  pray  you,  be  merry  every  one,  203 

Blessed  be  that  lady  bright,  41 

Blessed  may  Thou  be,  sweet  Jesus,  181 

Born  is  the  Babe,  the  only  Branch  of  Peace,  199 

Bring  us  in  good  ale,  and  bring  us  in  good  ale,  245 

By-by,  lullaby,  by-by,  lullaby,  67 

Can  I  not  sing  but  hoy  ?  99 

Caput  apri  defero,  260 

Cast  off  all  doubtful  care,  2 1 1 

Celebrons  la  Naissance,  135 

Christo  paremus  canticam,  excelsis  gloria,  46 

Come  bravely  on,  my  masters,  247 

Come  follow,  follow  me,  239 

Come,  mad  boys,  be  glad,  boys,  for  Christmas  is  here,  235 

Come  to  Bethlehem  and  ye  shall  see,  54 

Conditor  alme  siderum,  52 

Dormi,  Jesu  !     Mater  ridet,  288 

Ecce  quod  natura,  131 

Eia,  Jesus  hodie,  45 

Eia,  martyr  Stephane,  122 

Fairest  of  morning  lights,  appear,  197 

Get  ivy  and  hull,  woman,  deck  up  thine  house,  225 

Give  way,  give  way,  ye  gates,  and  win,  277 

Gloria  Tibi,  Domine,  42 

Glory  to  God  on  high,  and  jolly  mirth,  212 

God  rest  you  merry,  gentlemen*  105 

Good  day,  good  day,  218 


INDEX   TO   FIRST   LINES  313 

Hail,  blessed  virgin,  full  of  heavenly  grace,  283 

Hail,  comely  and  clean  !  hail,  young  Child,  96 

Hail,  Mary,  full  of  grace,  mother  in  virginity,  12 

Here  we  come  a-wassailing,  253 

Here  we  come  a- whistling,  through  the  fields  so  green,  254 

Hey,  hey,  hey,  hey,  257 

Holly  and  Ivy  made  a  great  party,  262 


I  come  from  heaven  to  tell,  82 

I  heard  a  mess  of  merry  shepherds  sing,  109 

I  may  sing  of  a  may,  205 

Immortal  Babe,  who  this  dear  day,  210 

In  Bethlehem,  that  noble  place,  104 

In  numbers,  and  but  these  few,  276 

In  the  bleak  mid- winter,  293 

In  the  honour  of  Christes  birth,  71 

Into  this  world  now  is  come,  184 

I  pray  you,  be  merry  and  sing  with  me,  189 

I  saw  a  sweet  [and]  silly  sight,  59 

I  saw  three  ships  come  sailing  in,  213 

I  sing  of  a  maiden,  6 

I  sing  the  Birth  was  born  to-night,  272 

Ivy  chief  of  trees  it  is,  263 


Jesu,  Fili  Dei,  183 

Jesu,  Fili  virginis,  181,  182 

Jesu,  Jesu,  Jesu,  Jesu,  176 

Joseph  being  an  aged  man  truly,  25 

Joseph  was  an  old  man,  88 


Let  us  rejoice  and  sing,  38 

Lordings,  listen  to  our  lay,  134 

Lords  and  ladies  all  bydene,  36 

Lullay,  lullay,  Thou  little  tiny  Child,  76 

Lullay,  Jesu,  lullay,  lullay  !  74 

Lully,  lulley,  lully,  lulley,  193 

Lullay,  my  Child,  and  weep  no  more,  69 

Lullay,  mine  Liking,  my  dear  Son,  mine  Sweeting,  66 


314  INDEX   TO    FIRST    LINES 

Make  we  joy  in  this  feast,  in  quo  Christus  natns  est,  53 

Make  we  merry,  both  more  and  less,  220 

Make  we  merry  in  hall  and  bower,  52 

Make  we  merry  in  this  feast,  173 

Make  we  merry  this  New  Year,  31 

Make  we  mirth  for  Christes  birth,  223 

Man,  be  glad  in  hall  and  bower,  47 

Man,  be  joyful  and  mirth  thou  make,  209 

Man,  be  merry  as  bird  on  berry,  48 

Man,  move  thy  mind,  and  joy  this  feast,  102 

M  and  A  and  R  and  I,  7 

"  Marvel  not,  Joseph,  on  Mary  mild,  24 

Mirabile  misterium,  159 

Mother,  white  as  lily  flower,  68 

My  heart  of  gold  as  true  as  steel,  143 

My  master  and  dame,  I  well  perceive,  248 

My  sweet  little  Baby,  what  meanest  Thou  to  cry?  77 

Nay,  Ivy,  nay,  it  shall  not  be,  ywis,  264 

Nay,  nay,  Ivy,  265 

Nova,  nova  :  Ave  fit  ex  Eva,  30 

Novus  Sol  de  virgine,  17 

Now  be  we  glad  and  not  too  sad,  44 

Now  blessed  be  Thou,  Christ  Jesu,  192 

Now  Christmas  draweth  near  and  most  men  make  good  cheer,  221 

Nowell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  49 

Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  35,  180,  204,  218,  258 

Nowell,  nowell,  nowell.  nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  165 

Nowell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  13 

Nowell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell,  ell, 

ell,  28 

Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  sing  we  with  mirth,  20 
Nowell  sing  we,  both  all  and  some,  166 
Now  have  good  day,  now  have  good  day  !  218,  225 
Now  is  Christmas  ycome,  1 10 
Now  is  well  and  all  things  aright,  172 
Now  let  us  sing,  both  more  and  less,  51 
Now  let  us  sing  with  joy  and  mirth,  207 
Now  let  us  sing  with  mirth  and  joy,  206 
Now  make  we  merry,  all  and  some,  204 
Now  may  we  singen  as  it  is,  169 


INDEX   TO   FIRST   LINES  315 

IS  ow  of  all  the  trees  by  the  king's  highway,  287 

Now  sing  we,  both  all  and  some,  124 

Now  sing  we,  sing  we  :  Gloria  Tibi,  Domine.  187 

Now  sing  we  with  angelis,  72 

Now  sing  we  with  joy  and  bliss,  170 

Now  thrice  welcome,  Christmas,  241 

Now  we  should  sing  and  say  nowell,  32 

Of  a  rose,  a  lovely  rose,  9 

Of  a  rose  singe  we,  1 1 

O  Flos  de  Jesse  virgula,  162 

Omnes  gentes  plaudite,  244 

Outlanders,  whence  come  ye  last?  291 

Out  of  the  blossom  sprang  a  thorn,  118 

Out  of  the  orient,  crystal  skies,  57 

Over  yonder's  a  park,  which  is  newly  begun.  194 

Po,  po,  po,  p'o,  257 

Pray  for  us  that  we  saved  be,  122 

Pray  for  us  to  the  Prince  of  peace,  126 

Pray  for  us  to  the  Trinity,  126 

Proface,  welcome,  welcome,  217 

Psallite  gaudentes,  128 

Puer  nobis  natus  est,  22 

"  Quid  petis,  O  Fili  ?  "  63 

Regina  celi,  letare,  29 

Reges  de  Saba  venient,  112 

Rejoice,  rejoice,  with  heart  and  voice,  269 

Remember,  O  thou  man,  195 

Run,  shepherds,  run  where  Bethlehem  blest  appears,  273 

Saint  Mary,  mother  mild,  3 

Saint  Stephen  was  a  clerk  in  King  Herod's  hall,  123 

Salve  regina,  mater  misericordie,  15 

Seignors,  ore  entendez  a  nus,  132 

Shall  I,  mother,  shall  I,  shall  I  do  so?  78 

She  may  be  called  a  sovereign  lady,  22 

Sing  we  all,  for  time  it  is,  188 


3i6  INDEX   TO    FIRST   LINES 

Sing  we  to  this  merry  company,  19 

Sing  we  with  mirth,  joy  and  solace,  190 

Singe  we,  singe  we,  18 

Sleep,  baby,  sleep  !     The  Mother  sings,  297 

So,  now  is  come  our  joyfullest  feast,  226 

Sweet  baby,  sleep  ;  what  ails  my  dear?  281 

Sweet,  harmless  livers  !  on  whose  holy  leisure,  279 

Sweet  music,  sweeter  far,  107 

Te  laudamus,  Te  Dominum,  179 

The  boar  is  dead,  260 

The  boar's  head  in  hand  bear  I,  259 

The  Christmas  now  is  past,  and  I  have  kept  my  fast,  222 

The  first  nowell  the  angel  did  say,  55 

The  holly  and  the  ivy,  267 

The  moon  shone  bright,  and  the  stars  gave  a  light,  20  L 

The  New  Year  is  begun,  231 

There  comes  a  ship  far  sailing  then,  213 

There  is  a  Flower  sprung  of  a  tree,  160 

There  is  no  rose  of  such  virtue,  8 

The  rose  is  the  fairest  flower  of  all,  142 

This  day  Christ  was  born,  212 

This  endernight,  59 

Three  damsels  in  the  queen's  chamber,  295 

Tidings  I  bring  you  for  to  tell,  256 

Tidings,  tidings  that  be  true,  168 

"  To  Bethlem  did  they  go,  the  shepherds  three,  288 

To  bliss  God  bring  us,  all  and  some,  50,  183 

To-morrow  shall  be  my  dancing  day,  146 

Tyrle,  tyrlow,  tyrle,  tyrlow,  97 

Verbum  patris  hodie  processit  ex  virgine,  185 
Virgo  rosa  virginum,  Tuum  precor  filium,  23 

Wassail,  wassail,  all  over  the  town,  251 

Wassail,  wassail,  out  of  the  milk-pail,  243 

Wassail,  wassail,  wassail,  sing  we,  243 

Welcome  Yule,  thou  merry  man,  in  worship  of  this  holy  day,  121 

What  cheer?     Good  cheer  !     Good  cheer  !     Good  cheer  !  219 

What,  heard  ye  not  the  King  of  Jerusalem  ?  34 

What  sweeter  music  can  we  bring  ?  230 


INDEX   TO   FIRST   LINES  317 


What  tidings  bringest  thou,  messenger?  167 
Where  is  this  blessed  Babe  ?  284 
Who  can  forget— never  to  be  forgot,  273 
With  merry  glee  and  solace,  236 
Worship  we  this  holy  day,  1 28 


THE    END 


Printed  by  BALLANTYNE,  HANSON  &-•  Co. 
Edinburgh  &>  London 


PR     Rickert,  Edith 

1195      Ancient  English  Christmas 

C2R52   carols 


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