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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

I^eceived  J^f/L't^O'  ,igoO. 

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;?pS;a^*ii!afeM<!CiWi!sat^--"^-^'"^ 


H  Cbristmas  (5arlan&. 


i^oiucll,  nohjcll,  nohjcll,  nobjell. 

fflJKfjo  gs  tfjere  tfjat  sgngitlj  so  noiocll,  noiucll,  nofecll? 

E  am  fjere,  sgre  CTristmasse : 

SSScll  come,  mg  lorti  sgrc  Cristmasse, 

aSEflcomc  to  ijs  all  botfje  mote  ^  lassc, 

ffl^om  ner,  nobell. 

Miths  ioous  gar^e,  fteiwe  sgre,  tgtigngcs  g  gott  brgng, 
^  magtie  tatJ}  born  a  cljglUc  full  gong 
CfjE  ij)crf)e  causeti^  geiu  for  to  S5gng, 

Criste  is  noiu  born  of  a  pure  magrie, 
5n  an  oie  stalle  fje  gs  lagtie, 
SSSfjer'for  sgng  iue  alle  atte  abragUe, 

Bebbei  bfen  par  tutte  la  compang, 
ISafee  gotie  c^ere  anti  be  rggljt  merg, 
^nti  sgng  ioitlj  bs  nob  iogfullg, 

i^objell. 


^0^^^^^^^y^^^^^^^m.1^^^^^f^^^^^^^^^\ 


With  a  good  old  fashion,  when  Christinasse  was  come, 
To  call  in  all  his  old  neighbours  with  bagpipe  and  drum. 


Frontispiece 


l^iii^ifc^JXv^^^T^jJjii^^ 


a  Cbrietmae  (Barlanb 


Ca^odjS  hnd  Poemj^ 


FROM 


THE    FIFTEENTH    CENTURY    TO 
THE    PRESENT    TIME 


EDITED   BY 


A.    H.   BULLEN 


JOHN    C.    NIMMO 

14,   KING  WILLIAM  STREET,  STRAND,  W.C. 
1885- 


One  hundred  and  fifty  copies  of  this  Edition  on  Laid 
paper,  medium  8vo,  have  been  printed,  with  the  illustra- 
tions on  Japanese  paper,  and  are  numbered  consecutively 
as  issued. 


No.   UO 


^ 


-  % 


Uo  ms  TOife. 


When  skies  were  blue  and  hearts  were  gay. 
We  wandered  in  the  prime  of  May 
By  primrose-banks,  and  where  the  breeze 
Shook  snow-bloom  from  the  cherry-trees. 
And  golden  gorse  stretched  leagues  away. 


When  August  eves  were  cool  and  sweet. 
We  watched  the  slant  rays  gild  the  wheat. 
Or  far  down  woodland  alleys  lone 
Heard  stock-doves  make  delicious  moan, 
And  chid  the  hours  that  flew  so  fleet. 

Now,  while  the  twinkling  shadows  fall 
Athwart  the  casement  and  the  wall. 
Beside  the fire-lighf s  ruddy  gleam. 
As  day  goes  down,  we  muse  and  dream. 
And  all  our  past  delights  recall. 

Tho^  envious  mists  usurp  the  'morn. 

And  mire  lies  deep  in  ways  forlorn. 

Sweet  Heart,  while  Love  our  feet  shall  guide^ 

What  ills,  forsooth,  can  us  betide 

Who  laugh  the  darkling  days  to  scorn  f 


jy^gs^g^giaftsii^j^^.^^ 


Contents, 

PAGE 

Dedication v 

Preface xiii 

CHRISTMAS  CHANTS  AND  CAROLS. 

In  every  place  I  shall  tell  this  ( Coventry  Mysteries)  .         .  i 

Welcome  Yule  ........         2 

I  sing  of  a  maiden  ........         4 

In  Excelsis  Gloria  ........         6 

The  first  Nowell  the  Angel  did  say  .....         7 

In  Bethlehem  that  noble  place  .         .         .         .         .         .10 

A  New  Carol  of  our  Lady 12 

The  Virgin  and  Child •         -IS 

About  the  field  they  piped  full  right  .         .         .         .         -19 

This  endnes  night  I  saw  a  sight        .         .         .         .         .21 

/  saw  three  ships  come  sailing  in       .         .         .         .         •23 

As  I  sat  under  a  sycamore  tree .         .....       25 

My  sweet  little  baby,  dr'c.  ......       26 

Joseph  was  an  old  man    .......       29 

Saint  Stephen  was  a  Clerk       ......       33 

Remember,  0  thou  Man  ......       36 

God  rest  you,  merry  gentlemen .         .....       40 

To-morrow  shall  be  my  dancing  day  ....       43 

The  Holy  Well 46 

The  Carnal  and  the  Crane       .         .         .         .         .         .49 

Joys  Seven      .........       55 

The  moon  shines  bright    .......       58 


■f'a^^^=??gi^$^^=^^^^g'ggg'«j^^^ 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

A  Virgin  most  pure  , 6i      ''^ 

The  Saviour  of  all  people 64 

A  Christmas  Carol  {by  Robert  Herrick)     .         .         .         .66 

The  contest  of  the  Ivy  and  the  Holly 68 

Modryb  Marya  {by  R.  S.  Hawker)    .         .         .         .         •  T^ 

The  Child  Jesus  {by  R.  S.  Hawker) 73 

The  Shepherds  went  their  hasty  way  {by  S.  T.  Coleridge)  .  75 
In  the  bleak  mid-winter  {by  Miss  Christina  G.  Rossetti)  .  78 
Masters,  in  this  hall  {by  Mr.  William  Morris) ...  80 
Outlanders,  whence  come  ye  last  {by  Mr.  William  Morris)  84 
Three  damsels  in  the  Queen's  chamber  {by  Mr.  A.  C.  Swin- 
burne)           87 


Part  m. 

CARMINA  SACRA. 

On  the  morning  of  Christ^ s  Nativity  {by  John  Milton) 
Who  can  forget  {by  Giles  Fletcher)      .... 
The  Shepherds  {by  Henry  Vaughan)  .... 
Chrisfs  Nativity  {by  Henry  Vaughan) 
New  Prince^  New  Pomp  {by  Robert  Southwell) . 

Christmas  {by  George  Herbert) 

For  Christmas  Day  {by  Bishop  Hall) 

The  Shepherd's  Song  {by  E.  Bolton)  .... 

A  Hymn  on  the  Nativity  of  my  Saviour  {by  Ben  Jonson) 

A  Hymn  of  the  Nativity  {by  Richard  Crashaw). 

A  Hymn  for  the  Epiphany  {by  Richard  Crashaw)     . 

The  Angels  {by  William  Drummond) 

The  Shepherds  {by  William  Drummond)  . 

Of  the  Epiphany  {by  Sir  John  Beaumont) 

Where  is  this  blessed  Babe  {by  Jeremy  Taylor)  . 

Awake^  my  Soulj  and  come  away  {by  Jeremy  Taylor) 


a 


S.2M&S^£S^ia&fe2^^aitI^^^Sa«:^SS5«I]Efe23»*aS 


CONTENTS. 


And  they  laid  Him  in  a  manger  (by  Sir  Edward  Sher- 
burne)           136 

An  ode  on  the  Birth  of  our  Saviour  {by  Robert  Herrick)     .  138 
Rejoice,  rejoice,  with  heart  and  voice  [by  Francis  Kinwel- 

mersh) 140 

The  Virgin's  Cradle- Hymn  (by  S.  T.  Coleridge)         .         .142 

A  Christmas  Lullaby  (by  Mr.  J.  A.  Symonds)  .         .         .  143 

A  Rocking  Hymn  (by  George  Wither)         ....  145 


Part  ra. 


CHRISTMAS  CUSTOMS  AND  CHRISTMAS  CHEER. 

So  now  is  come  our  joy fulst  feast  (by  George  Wither) 
Ceremonies  for  Christmas  (by  Robert  Herrick) 
The  Praise  of  Christmas    . 
Old  Christmas  Returned    . 
O  you  merry,  merry  souls  . 
A  Carol.     Bringing  in  the  Boards  Head 
The  Boar's  Head  Carol  (as  sung  at  QueerHs  College,  Oxford) 
The  Boar's  Head  Carol  (as  sung  at  St.  fohn^s  College, 
Oxford,  in  1607)     .         .         ... 

The  Wassail  (by  Robert  Herrick) 

A  jolly  wassail  bowl 

We  wish  you  merry  Christmas  ( Wassailing  song) 

Here  we  come  a  whistling 

Wassail,  wassail,  all  over  the  town 

Bring  us  in  good  ale  . 

Come  follow,  follow  7ne       .         .         .         .         . 

All  you  that  are  good  fellows       ...... 

Come,  mad  boys  . 

Come  bravely  on,  my  masters 

My  master  and  dame,  I  well  perceive 


CONTENTS. 


PAGB 

IVt/k  merry  glee  and  solace 199 

In  honour  of  Saint  John  we  thus 202 

The  New  Year  is  begun     .......  205 

The  young  men  and  maids  on  New  Yearns  Day ,        .         .  209 

The  Old  Year  now  away  is  fled 211 

Provide  for  Christmas        .         ' 214 

Now  thrice  welcome,  Christmas 215 

Now  that  the  time  is  come  wherein 217 

Now  enter  Christmas  like  a  man 219 

Now  Christmas  comes ^  Uisfit  that  we         .         .         .         .221 

Maids  get  up  and  bake  your  pies 223 

To  shorten  Winter's  sadness 225 

No  news  of  navies  burnt  at  seas  {by  Robert  Herrick)  .        .  226 

Now,  now  the  mirth  comes  (by  Robert  Herrick)          .         .  229 
Christmas  in  the  Olden  Time  [by  Sir  Waltei-  Scott)  .         .231 

Christmas  Minstrelsy  {by  William  Wordsworth)       .         .  234 


Farewell  to  Christmas. 

Mark  well  my  heavy  doleful  tale         ....  239 

Now  farewell,  good  Christmas 242 

Christmas  hath  made  an  end 244 

Notes      .        . 249 


^jgpfeaffiSga^aSa^^j^^^ 


Xtst  of  Jllustrations* 


'*  With  a  good  old  fashion,  when  Christmasse  was  come. 
To  call  in  all  his  old  neighbours  with  bagpipe  and  drum." 

Frontispiece. 


Dread  ye  nought,  said  the  Angel  bright^ 
Salvator  mundi  natus  est. " 


*'  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.^^ 


Page  lo. 


Page  III. 


Some  youths  will  now  a  mumming  go ^ 


Page  153. 


**  Come,  bring  with  a  noise, 

My  merry,  merry  boys. 

The  Christmas  log  to  the  firing. ' 


"  With  footsteps  sore 
From  door  to  door 
We  trudge  through  sleet  and  snow." 


Then  the  grim  boar's  head  frowned  on  high." 


Page  154. 


Page   180. 


Page  232. 


g^t^;S'j;^a^1^Bfe^;lSS'^ 


{^^jiii^a£j»i^$iisi^j^^ 


preface. 


IT  is  a  commonplace  with  poets  to  lament  over  the 
degeneracy  of  the  times.  Even  Homer  thought 
the  world  was  in  a  parlous  state,  for  he  twits  his  coun- 
trymen with  their  feebleness,  protesting  that  two  picked 
men  could  hardly  lift  on  to  a  waggon  the  stone  which 
Hector  brandished  with  ease.  The  aged  ploughman 
in  Lucretius  envies  the  fortune  of  his  forefathers,  who 
gained  a  comfortable  livelihood  from  a  scanty  patch  of 
ground ;  and  the  sorrowful  vineplanter  wearies  Heaven 
with  his  complaints,  perceiving  not  (says  the  poet)  that 
all  things  little  by  little  are  wasting  away  by  length  of 
days  and  faring  towards  the  grave.  Evermore  rises  the 
same  wail  over  the  poverty  of  present  times,  and  ever- 
more we  look  back  wistfully  to  the  past.  As  one  turns 
the  pages  of  Herrick's  "  Hesperides,"  how  grey  and 
colourless  appears  the  England  of  to-day  !  We  have 
become  so  serious,  so  demure,  so  respectable ;  we  are 
resolved  that  the  game  of  life  is  a  desperately  earnest 
business ;  we  read  Mr.  Shorthouse.  "  I  sing  of  May- 
poles, hock-carts,  wassails,  wakes  ! "  wrote  Herrick. 
Alack,  nous  avons  change  tout  cela.     Instead  of  dancing 


I 


J^^^^^^ 


PREFACE. 


with  Julia  round  a  May-pole,  he  would  be  expected  to 
attend  a  May-meeting  at  Exeter  Hall.  Flush- cheeked, 
curly-haired  Robin  Herrick  at  a  May-meeting !  After 
such  an  experience  he  would  never  have  called  Devon- 
shire "  dull."  Country  life,  as  depicted  in  the  "  Hes- 
perides,"  appears  to  have  been  one  perpetual  round  of 
merry-making.  Morris  dances,  Whitsun  ale,  twelfth-tide 
kings  and  queens,  stool-ball,  shearing-feasts,  mummeries, 
wassailings,  shrovings,  and  the  like,  are  the  subjects  of 
the  poet's  song.  It  is  hard,  very  hard,  in  this  last 
quarter  of  the  nineteenth  century  to  realise  the  life  that 
Herrick  led.  Perhaps  on  a  closer  view  much  of  the 
brightness  of  the  vision  would  fade  away  ;  but  still  we 
can  never  banish  the  feeling  that  something  has  been 
lost  of  the  old  delight  in  life,  the  old  buoyancy  and  fresh- 
ness that  possessed  men's  hearts  before  the  Puritans 
gained  the  mastery. 

Such  reflections  forcibly  suggest  themselves  as  Christ- 
mastide  draws  near.  We  still  twine  the  holly  and  we 
still  eat  mince-pies.  In  one  or  two  colleges  the  boar's 
head  is  still  served  up  with  mustard.  But  who  now-a- 
days  sets  a  swan  on  the  Christmas  board,  or  who  a 
sturgeon  ?  Where  will  you  find  "  the  carcasses  of  three 
fat  wethers  bruised  for  gravy  to  make  sauce  for  a  single 
peacock "  ?  ^  That  delightful  writer,  Nicholas  Breton, 
in  his  "Fantasticks  "  (1626),  brings  vividly  home  to  us 
the  Christmas  festivities  of  the  early  seventeenth  cen- 
tury : — "  It  is  now  Christmas,  and  not  a  cup  of  drink 


Massinger's  "  City  Madam,"  ii.  i.  (Credat  Judaeus!) 


PREFAdE. 


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  wel- 
come, and  God  be  with  you,  and  I  thank  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 :  pit-falls  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  mum- 
mers make  the  merry  sport,  but  if  they  lose  their  money 
their  drum  goes  dead  :  swearers  and  swaggerers  are 
sent  away  to  the  ale-house,  and  unruly  wenches  go  in 
danger  of  judgment :  musicians  now  make  their  instru- 
ments speak  out,  and  a  good  song  is  worth  the  hearing. 
In  sum  it  is  a  holy  time,  a  duty  in  Christians  for  the 
remembrance  of  Christ  and  custom  among  friends  for 
the  maintenance  of  good  fellowship.  In  brief  I  thus 
conclude  it :  I  hold  it  a  memory  of  the  Heaven's  love 
and  the  world's  peace,  the  mirth  of  the  honest,  and  the 
meeting  of  the  friendly.  Farewell."  It  is  pleasant  by 
the  fireside  to  linger  over  such  a  description  as  that ;  to 
try  to  reahse  the  nut-brown  mirth  that  reigned  at  Christ- 
mastide  three  centuries  ago.      Sir  John  Reresby  has  left 


t!^^^^^^r??^;^f?^'sg^f??S^:^i 


Preface. 


us  an  interesting  account  of  how  he  used  to  observe  Christ- 
mas. "  I  returned,"  he  writes  ^  in  1684,  "  to  Thrybergh, 
by  God's  mercy,  in  safety,  to  keep  Christmas  amongst 
my  neighbours  and  tenants.  I  had  more  company  this 
Christmas  than  heretofore.  The  four  first  days  of  the 
new  year  all  my  tenants  of  Thrybergh,  Brinsford,  Denby, 
Mexborough,  Hooton  Roberts,  and  Rotherham  dined  with 
me  ;  the  rest  of  the  time  some  four-score  of  gentlemen  and 
yeomen  with  their  wives  were  invited,  besides  some  that 
came  from  York;  so  that  all  the  beds  in  the  house  and  most 
in  the  town  were  taken  up.  There  were  seldom  less  than 
four-score,  counting  all  sorts  of  people,  that  dined  in  the 
house  every  day,  and  some  days  many  more.  On  New 
Year's  Day  chiefly  there  dined  above  three  hundred,  so 
that  whole  sheep  were  roasted  and  served  up  to  feed 
them.  For  music  I  had  four  violins,  besides  bagpipes, 
drums,  and  trumpets."  Nobody  could  grudge  broad 
acres  to  a  landowner  who  so  well  understood  hospitality. 
On  another  occasion,^  in  1682,  the  festivities  were  on 
a  less  lavish  scale.  There  assembled  on  Christmas  Eve 
nineteen  of  the  poorer  tenants  from  Denby  and  Hooton  ; 
on  Christmas  Day  twenty-six  of  the  poorer  tenants  from 
Thrybergh,  Brinsford,  and  Mexborough  ;  on  St.  Stephen's 
Day  farmers  and  better  sort  of  tenants  to  the  number 
of  fifty-four ;  on  St.  John's  Day  forty-five  of  the  chief 
tenants ;  on  the  30th  of  December  eighteen  gentlemen 
of  the  neighbourhood  with  their  wives ;  on  the  i  st  of 
January  sixteen  gentlemen  ;  on  the  4th  twelve   of  the 

1  Memoirs  of  Sir  John  Reresby  (Camden  Society),  p.  310. 

2  Ibid.,  pp.  266-7. 


«^^^^^^>;!g!i^iiaa^ja^^ 


PREFACE.  xvii 

neighbouring  clergymen ;  and  on  the  6th  seven  gentle- 
men and  tradesmen.  Among  the  guests  who  lay  at  the 
house  were  "  Mr.  Rigden,  merchant  of  York,  and  his 
I  wife,  a  handsome  womatt"  and  "Mr.  Belton,  an  ingeni- 
ous clergyman,  but  too  much  a  good  fellow."  How 
gentle  is  the  censure  conveyed  in  the  words  "  too  much 
\\  a  good  fellow  ! "  Sir  John  adds  :  "  The  expense  of 
l|  liquor,  both  of  wine  and  others,  was  considerable,  as 
of  other  provisions,  and  my  friends  appeared  well  satis- 
fied." So  they  ought  to  have  been.  But  all  landlords 
were  not  like  Sir  John  Reresby,  and  he  tells  us  himself 
that  few  of  the  gentry  in  his  part  of  the  country  observed 
the  festival.  Complaints  of  niggardly  housekeeping 
were  constantly  being  made.  In  the  "  Roxburghe  Col- 
lection" is  a  very  doleful  ballad  entitled  "Christmas' 
Lamentation  for  the  loss  of  his  acquaintance,  showing 
how  he  is  forced  to  leave  the  country  and  come  to 
London."     Hear  how  it  begins  : — 


I 


Christmas  is  my  name  ;  far  have  I  gone, 
Have  I  gone,  have  I  gone,  have  I  gone, 

"Without  regard  ; 
Whereas  great  men  by  flocks  there  be  flown, 
There  be  flown,  there  be  flown,  there  be  flown, 

To  London  ward  ; 
Where  they  in  pomp  and  pleasure  do  waste 
That  which  Christmas  was  wonted  to  feast, 

Welladay  ! 
Houses  where  music  was  wont  for  to  ring, 
Nothing  but  bats  and  howlets  do  sing, 

Welladay,  welladay,  welladay  ! 

Where  should  I  stay? 


ii^sss^fes^jte^^is^s^^tl^^s^^K^^^^^^i^^s^a^HS^^E^^S 


xviii 


PREFACE. 


Christmas  beef  and  bread  is  turned  to  stones,  &c. 

And  silken  rags ; 
And  lady  Money  sleeps,  and  makes  moans,  &c. 

In  misers'  bags. 
Houses  where  pleasure  once  did  abound. 
Nought  but  a  dog  and  a  shepherd  is  found, 

Welladay  ! 
Places  where  Christmas  revels  did  keep, 
Is  now  become  habitations  for  sheep, 

Welladay ! " 

Poor  Robin's  Almanac  harps  perpetually  on  the  same 
theme.  Against  such  curmudgeons  was  directed  the 
old  carol  of  Dives  and  Lazarus^  which  must  have  been 
sung  at  many  a  rich  churl's  door  to  the  gratification  of 
a  knot  of  shivering  wretches.  I  give  it  from  an  old 
broadside  ^  in  the  Bodleian. 


**  As  it  fell  out  upon  a  day 
Rich  Dives  made  a  feast. 
And  he  invited  all  his  friends 
And  gentry  of  the  best. 

Then  Lazarus  laid  him  down  and  down, 

E'en  down  at  Dives'  door  ; 
Some  meat,  some  drink,  brother  Dives, 

Bestow  upon  the  poor. 

Thou  art  none  of  my  brother,  Lazarus, 
That  lies  begging  at  the  door. 

No  meat  nor  drink  will  I  give  to  thee, 
Nor  bestow  upon  the  poor. 


1  Printed  in  the  last  century  by  T.  Bloomer,  53  Edgbaston 
Street,  Birmingham. 


PREFACE. 


I 


Then  Lazarus  laid  him  down  and  down, 

E'en  down  at  Dives'  wall; 
Some  meat,  some  drink,  brother  Dives, 

Or  with  hunger  starve  I  shall. 

Thou  art  none  of  my  brother,  Lazarus, 
That  lies  begging  at  my  wall ; 

For  neither  meat  nor  drink  will  I  give, 
But  with  hunger  starve  you  shall. 


Then  Lazarus  laid  him  down  and  down 

E'en  down  at  Dives'  gate  ; 
Some  meat,  some  drink,  brother  Dives, 

For  Jesus  Christ  His  sake. 

Thou  art  none  of  my  brother,  Lazarus, 
That  lies  begging  at  my  gate  ; 

No  meat  nor  drink  will  I  give  to  thee 
For  Jesus  Christ  His  sake. 

Then  Dives  sent  out  his  merry  men, 
To  whip  poor  Lazarus  away, 

They  had  no  power  to  strike  one  stroke, 
But  flung  their  whips  away. 

Then  Dives  sent  out  his  hungry  dogs 

To  bite  him  as  he  lay  ; 
They  had  no  power  to  bite  at  all, 

But  licked  his  sores  away. 

As  it  fell  out  upon  a  day. 

Poor  Lazarus  sickened  and  died  ; 
There  came  two  angels  out  of  heaven, 

His  soul  therein  to  guide. 


XX  PREFACE. 

Rise  up,  rise  up,  brother  Lazarus, 

And  go  along  with  me, 
For  you've  a  place  prepared  in  heaven 

Upon  an  angel's  knee.^ 

As  it  fell  out  upon  a  day. 

Rich  Dives  sickened  and  died  ; 
There  came  two  serpents  out  of  hell, 

His  soul  therein  to  guide. 

Rise  up,  rise  up,  brother  Dives, 

And  go  along  with  me  ; 
There  is  prepared  a  place  in  hell 

From  which  thou  ne'er  can  flee. 

Then  Dives  looked  up  with  his  eyes. 

And  saw  poor  Lazarus  blest ; 
Give  a  drop  of  water,  brother  Lazarus, 

To  quench  my  burning  thirst. 

O  had  I  as  many  years  to  abide. 

As  there  are  blades  of  grass. 
Then  there  would  be  an  end,  but  now 

Hell's  pains  will  never  pass. 

O  was  I  now  but  alive  again, 

The  space  of  one  half  hour  ; 
O  that  I'd  made  my  peace  secure, 

Then  the  devil  should  have  no  power  ! " 

Churls  of  the  class  of  Dives  will  always  exist,  but  one 
likes  to  think  that  there  are  fewer  of  them  now  than 
formerly.  Truly,  there  is  every  need  to-day  for  sympathy 
and  charity  towards  the  poor  and  the  afflicted. 

^  Another  copy  reads  : — 

'*  In  angels'  company." 


I 


PREFACE.  xxi 

Very  pleasant  is  the  obsolete  practice  of  combining 
devotion  and  good  fellowship.  Fancy  a  modern 
rhymester  hailing  the  arrival  of  Christmas  after  this 
style  ! — 

*'  Now  that  the  time  is  come  wherein 
Our  Saviour  Christ  was  born, 
The  larders  full  of  beef  and  pork, 
The  garners  filled  with  corn,"  &c. 

Finding  these  verses  in  Poor  Robin^s  Almanac  for  1700, 
we  are  charmed  by  their  quaint  sincerity.  Ah  that 
homely  piety  and  simple-hearted  mirth  might  be  re- 
vived !  These  are  dull  times.  Where  are  the  mummers 
and  the  maskers  ?  Where  the  Lord  of  Misrule  and  the 
Twelfth-tide  kings  and  queens  ?  What  a  poor  business 
is  a  country-fair  to-day  !  Smock-races,^  hot-hasty- 
pudding  contests,  and  grinning  through  a  horse-collar 
have  been  abolished.  Merry-go-rounds  and  shooting- 
galleries  are  well-nigh  the  only  attractions.  But  we 
must  remember  that,  with  many  innocent  diversions, 
not  a  few  barbarous  sports  have  been  swept  away. 
Cock-fighting  still  has  its  supporters  in  the  Black 
Country,  but  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  nobody  is  anxious 
to  revive  cock-throwing  or  goose-riding.  In  remote 
districts  many  good  old  customs  still  linger.  The 
wassailers  still  sing  their  cheery  song,  and  the  Christmas 
play,   with  its  odd  medley  of  characters,    St.    George, 

'h  ^  So  called  because  the  successful  girl  was  presented  with  a 


holland  smock. 


j^^S^^^S 


PREFACE. 


the  Turk,  the  Doctor,  Beelzebub  ^  (sometimes  with  the 
addition  of  Oliver  Cromwell  and  the  Duke  of  Welling- 
ton), still  delights  bucolic  audiences.  Hone,  wTiting  more 
than  half  a  century  ago,  anticipated  that  the  practice 
of  singing  Christmas  carols  would  be  abolished  in  the 
course  of  a  few  years.  His  lugubrious  prophecy  has 
happily  not  been  fulfilled.  "  As  I  sat  on  a  sunny  bank," 
**  I  saw  three  ships  come  sailing  in,"  "  God  rest  you, 
merry  gentlemen,"  "  Remember,  O  thou  man,"  "  The  first 
Nowell  the  Angel  did  say,"  and  others,  are  still  sung  year 
after  year.  But  the  more  fantastic  carols  seem  to  be  losing 
ground.  "  Cherry-tree  carol,"  the  finest  of  all  carols, 
has  been  shorn  of  half  its  beauty  by  modem  prudishness. 
Every  girl  and  boy  should  be  taught  the  lovely  stanzas 
beginning,  "As  Joseph  was  a-walking "  (p.  31).  Never 
were  Christ's  praises  chanted  in  sweeter,  clearer  tones. 
At  the  present  day  people  are  too  refined  (or  should  we 
say — stolid  ?  )  to  appreciate  such  strange  pieces  of  com- 
position as  "  Holy  Well,"  "  The  moon  shines  bright," 
and  "The  Carnal  and  the  Crane."  In  the  most 
characteristic  carols  there  is  a  pathetic  wistful  melody, 
as  though  the  singer  were  yearning  to  give  utterance  to 
the  thoughts  that  crowd  his  souL  Sometimes,  as  in  the 
carol  beginning  "  I  sing  of  a  maiden  "  (p.  4),  the  accents 
ring  clear  and  sweet,  without  a  flaw.     At  other  times 


Here  come  I,  Beelzebub  ; 
Under  my  arm  I  carry  a  club. 
Under  my  chin  I  carry  a  pan, 
Don't  I  look  a  nice  young  man  ? 


i 


j$rteP?y^..^^fia!;ife^'^^^ 


I 


PREFACE. 


*  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." 

Sung  on  the  crisp  frosty  road  beneath  the  flying  moon, 
that  pathetic  and  fantastic  strain  might  well  stir  the 
hearers'  hearts  with  far-off  wonder  and  awe.  But  for 
some  time  past  it  has  been  a  growing  practice  to  sing 
carols  in  churches  instead  of  in  the  open  air.  Only  the 
less  poetical  carols  are  in  use,  and  the  element  of 
picturesqueness  is  fast  vanishing.  One  of  the  most 
popular  carols  is  the  piece  beginning  "  Good  King 
Wenceslas  looked  out,"  written  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Neale. 
The  language  is  poor  and  commonplace  to  the  last 
degree. 


II 


f 


■<^r^te^3BSS?;5^j^Pfe^y;^^ 


PREFACE. 


Much  has  been  written  about  the  history  of  Christmas 
Carols,  and  I  have  no  intention  in  this  brief  preface  of 
minutely  traversing  the  well-trodden  ground.  In  Eng- 
land the  practice  of  carol-singing  appears  to  have  first 
become  widely  spread  in  the  15  th  century.  Many  of 
the  pieces  collected  from  MSS.  by  the  labour  of  Ritson, 
Wright,  and  Sandys  belong  to  this  early  date.  We  are 
fortunate  in  possessing  an  ancient  MS.  copy  of  the 
Carol  of  SI.  Stephen  (p.  33).  Doubtless  (in  a  somewhat 
altered  shape)  The  Carnal  and  the  Crane^  The  Holy 
Well  J  and  The  Seven  Virgins  belong  to  the  15  th  cen- 
tury ;  but  no  early  copies  of  these  pieces,  whether  in 
print  or  MS.,  are  known  to  exist.  The  earliest  printed 
collection  was  issued  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde  in  152 1. 
Only  a  fragment  of  it  has  descended ;  and  in  this  frag- 
ment Hearne  the  antiquary  found  the  original  version 
[f^  of  the  famous  Boar's  Head  Carol.  A  later  collection, 
printed  by  Richard  Kele,  was  issued  about  1550, 
Specimens  from  this  unique  volume  were  printed  in 
"  Bibliographical  Miscellanies,"  1 8 1 3,  whence  I  have 
drawn  the  pieces  beginning,  "  In  Bethlehem  that  noble 
place"  (p.  10).  and  "Lords  and  Ladies  all  by  dene" 
(p.  12).  Other  books  of  so-called  Christmas  Carols  were 
licensed  for  printing  in  the  latter  part  of  the  1 6th  century  ; 
but  the  pieces  in  these  collections  appear  to  have  been 
hymns  rather  than  carols.  Early  in  the  next  century  we 
find  a  genuine  example  of  a  carol,  with  music,  ("  Re- 
member, O  thou  man  ")  in  Ravenscroft's  "  Melismata," 
161 1.     A  few  years  afterwards  an  attempt  to  supplant 


xxvi  PREFACE. 

the  old  carols  was  made  by  William  Slatyer  in  "  Cer- 
taine  of  David's  Psalmes  intended  for  Christmas  Carols." 
At  a  somewhat  later  date  a  few  carols,  though  not  of  the 
best  kind,  are  found  among  the  Roxburghe  Ballads.  In 
the  second  half  of  the  last  centry  T.  Bloomer,  a  Birming- 
ham printer,  did  good  service  by  printing  in  broadside 
form  all  the  traditional  carols  he  could  find.  Jemmy 
Catnach,  of  Great  Monmouth  Street,  Seven  Dials,  in  the 
second  quarter  of  the  present  century,  was  zealous  in 
diffusing  the  knowledge  of  Christmas  Carols.  As  the 
season  comes  round  hawkers  still  call  at  villagers'  doors 
with  wretchedly-printed  slips  ;  but  only  a  few  of  the  old 
traditional  carols  continue  to  circulate. 

Alongside  of  the  sacred  carols  sung  in  the  open  air, 
flourished  the  jovial  carols  sung  at  Christmas  feasts.  A 
small  black-letter  collection  of  these  pieces  was  published 
in  1642  ;  another  appeared  in  1661  ;  a  small  undated 
collection  belongs  probably  to  the  same  time ;  a  fourth 
is  dated  1688.  These  tracts,  belonging  to  the  class  of 
books  that  are  most  easily  thumbed  out  of  existence,  are 
of  the  rarest  possible  occurrence.  The  library  of  the 
British  Museum  does  not  possess  a  copy  of  any  of  them  ; 
but  luckily  they  are  all  in  the  Bodleian,  bound  together 
in  a  small  duodecimo  volume  which  once  belonged  to  that 
"facete"  (to  use  the  term  he  applies  to  Democritus 
Junior)  and  ingenious  scholar,  Antony- k- Wood,  the 
never-to-be-forgotten  author  of  "  Athense  Oxonienses." 
In  the  Long  Vacation  I  spent  some  delightful  hours  in 
making    copious    extracts    from    these    curious    tracts, 


PREFACE.  xxvii 


which  few  previous  collectors  appear  to  have  examined. 
It  may  be  that  the  reader  will  not  find  the  same 
pleasure  in  these  old  rustic  songs  as  I  found.  For  in 
truth  I  was  in  the  mood  to  enjoy  everything.  Return- 
I  ing  after  long  absence  to  Oxford,  I  thought  the  old  spires 
I  and  domes  had  never  looked  so  beautiful  before.  The 
^1  studious  hush  of  the  Bodleian  was  charming  after  the 
noise  of  London  streets.  Before  me  lay  the  MS.  cata- 
logue, in  a  17th-century  hand,  of  the  books  which 
Robert  Burton  bequeathed  to  the  library  he  loved  so 
well ;  and  as  with  reverence  I  turned  the  pages,  the 
air  seemed  filling  with  the  ghosts  of  grand  old  Oxford 
scholars,  men  who  lived  before  the  days  of  competitive 
examinations  and  pretentious  sciolism  ;  men  who  loved 
learning  for  its  own  sake,  and  whose  whole  life  passed 
as  a  summer's  day.  Then  the  walk  in  the  mellow 
evening-air  with  an  old  fellow  student  to  Foxcomb  Hill, 
and  the  draught  of  foaming  ale  in  the  inn  parlour  where 
I  had  spent  so  many  jovial  hours !  But  I  return 
to  Antony-k- Wood's  collection  of  carols.  The  reader 
will  perceive  that  they  are  genuine  specimens  of  the 
songs  that  were  sung  in  farm-houses  by  shepherds  and 
ploughmen  at  Christmas  feasts  in  the  17  th  century. 
Very  touching  is  the  gratitude  of  the  poor  fellows  for 
being  allowed  the  run  of  their  teeth  : — 

•'  Of  delicates  so  dainty 
I  see  now  here  is  plenty, 
Upon  this  table  ready  here  prepared  ; 
Then  let  us  now  give  thanks  to  those 


PREFACE. 


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." 

Their  stomachs  were  sharp-set,  and  we  may  be  sure 
they  played  a  nimble  knife  and  fork  throughout  the 
whole  twelve  days.  Christmas  comes  but  once  a  year, 
so  they  made  the  best  of  their  time  and  lustily  trolled 
the  nut-brown  bowl  in  honour  of  St.  Stephen  and  St. 
John.  One  of  the  most  interesting  pieces  is  the  New 
Year's  Carol  (p.  205),  sung  by  the  shepherd,  who  comes 
bringing  mellow  pippins  as  presents  for  his  master's 
children,  points  ^  for  the  farm-labourers,  and  pins  for  the 
maids.  The  verses  bidding  Farewell  to  Christmas  are 
lugubrious  indeed ;  but  the  honest  fellows  doubtless 
found  consolation  in  the  thought  that  they  would  feast 
again  next  year. 


^  Tagged  laces  that  held  up  the  breeches. 


PREFACE. 


Those  who  spent  their  Christmas  at  their  own  fireside 
^  had  also  carols,  but  of  a  soberer  sort.  The  following 
verses,  which  evidently  cannot  boast  of  a  high  antiquity, 
I  heard  in  Berkshire  : — 


When  I'm  at  school  my  father 
Is  working  on  the  farm, 

The  harvest  he  must  gather 
To  keep  us  all  from  harm. 


My  brother  is  at  sea, 

My  sister's  gone  from  home, 
She  must  in  service  be 

Till  merry  Christmas  come. 

We  all  shall  meet  together 
On  merry  Christmas  Eve  ; 

We  reck  not  wind  or  weather 
While  we  our  Christmas  keep. 


All  round  the  rodded  (?)  earth 
Each  one  might  chance  to  say, 

Since  last  we  met  in  mirth 
'Twas  merry  Christmas  Day." 

Rather  a  doleful  ditty  that ;  no  mention  of  goose  or 
mince-pies.  At  the  same  time  I  took  down  the  follow- 
ing slight  but  pretty  rhymes  : — 


Sing  we  all  merrily, 
Christmas  is  here. 

The  day  that  we  love  best 
Of  days  in  the  year. 


PREFACE. 


Bring  forth  the  holly, 

The  box  and  the  bay, 
Deck  out  our  cottage 

For  glad  Christmas  Day. 

Sing  we  all  merrily, 

Draw  round  the  fire, 
Sister  and  brother. 

Grandson  and  sire." 

It  would  be  easy  to  write  a  long  dissertation  about 
Christmas  ceremonies,  for  the  materials  are  all  to  our 
hand.  But  as  I  have  no  desire  to  make  a  parade  of 
cheap  learning,  I  refer  the  reader  to  that  elaborate  and 
easy  accessible  work,  Brand's  "  Popular  Antiquities." 
For  one  who  has  neither  the  learning  of  Brand  nor  the 
light  touch  of  Leigh  Hunt,  it  would  be  impertinent  to 
write  at  length  on  so  trite  a  theme.  The  present 
volume  lays  little  claim  to  research.  It  has  been  put 
together  in  idle  moments,  and  is  intended  rather  for  the 
general  reader  than  for  scholars.  The  orthography  of 
the  older  pieces  has  been  modernised,  but  I  have  en- 
deavoured in  all  cases  to  give,  as  far  as  possible,  a 
correct  text.  It  may  perhaps  be  thought  that  a  few  more 
old  carols  should  have  been  included  in  the  First  Part. 
I  omitted  without  hesitation  such  pieces  as  "When 
Jesus  Christ  was  twelve  years  old  "  (popular  though  it 
is),  "The  Lord  at  first  had  Adam  made,"  "When 
Caesar  Augustus  had  rais'd  a  taxation,"  "  When  old 
father  Jacob  was  ready  to  die,"  &c.  ;  but  I  parted  re- 
luctantly from  "  Blessed  be  that  maid  Mary,"  "  Mary 


PREFACE.  xxxi 

mother,  meek  and  mild,"  "  Marvel  not,  Joseph,  on  Mary 
mild,"  and  others.  Some  readers  may  be  vexed  at  finding 
in  the  Second  Part  so  well-known  a  poem  as  Milton's 
"Ode  on  the  Nativity."  I  have  no  particular  affec- 
tion for  the  poem  as  a  whole,  though  I  greatly  admire 
certain  stanzas,  and  am  not  blind  to  the  marvellous 
metrical  skill  displayed  throughout.  With  the  sacred 
text  of  Milton  I  dared  not  tamper.  I  felt  that  I  must 
print  the  Ode  in  its  integrity  or  not  at  all ;  and  I  chose 
the  first  course.  In  regard  to  Crashaw,  whose  tran- 
scendent merits  I  should  be  the  last  to  dispute,  I  had 
less  hesitation.  His  Hymn  of  the  Nativity  I  give  entire, 
but  of  the  Hymn  for  the  Epiphany  I  quote  only  the 
opening  fines,  for  the  latter  part  abounds  with  the  most 
violent  conceits.  At  the  end  of  the  volume  I  have  added 
a  few  notes.  There  is  a  striking  poem  by  Frederick 
Tennyson,  "The  Holy  Tide,"  which  I  should  like  to 
have  included  ;  but  it  is  far  too  long.  With  two  stanzas 
from  it  I  take  leave  of  the  reader : — 


The  days  are  sad,  it  is  the  Holytide  : 

The  Wintermorn  is  short,  the  Night  is  long ; 
So  let  the  lifeless  Hours  be  glorified 

With  deathless  thoughts,  and  echoed  in  sweet  song : 
And  through  the  sunset  of  this  purple  cup 

They  will  resume  the  roses  of  their  prime, 
And  the  old  Dead  will  hear  us  and  wake  up, 

Pass  with  dim  smiles  and  make  our  hearts  sublime  ! 


The  days  are  sad,  it  is  the  Holytide ; 
Be  dusky  mistletoes  and  hollies  strown, 


PREFACE. 


Sharp  as  the  spear  that  pierced  his  sacred  side, 
Red  as  the  drops  upon  his  thorny  crown  ; 

No  haggard  Passion  and  no  lawless  Mirth 

Fright  off  the  sombre  Muse, — tell  sweet  old  tales, 

Sing  songs  as  we  sit  bending  o'er  the  hearth, 
Till  the  lamp  flickers,  and  the  memory  fails." 


PART  I. 


CHRISTMAS  Chants  and  Carols. 


From  the  Coventry  Mysteries. 

3n  cvcv's  place  3  sball  tell  this. 

T  N  every  place  I  shall  tell  this, 

Of  a  clean  maid  that  God  is  born, 
And  in  our  likeness  God  now  clad  is, 

Mankind  to  save  that  was  forlorn ; 
His  mother  a  maid  as  she  was  beforn, 

Not  foul-polluted  as  other  women  be, 
But  fair  and  fresh  as  rose  on  thorn, 

Lily-white,  clean  with  pure  virginity. 


•}.;:• 


t 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Printed  in  Ritson's  Ancient  Songs, 
Sandys'  Carols,  etc.  (from  Sloane 
MS.,  2593,  temp.  Henry  VI.) 


Melcome  ISule. 

Welcome  Yule,  thou  merry  man, 
In  worship  of  this  holy  day. 

VyELCOME  be  thou,  heaven-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  Martyr  one. 
Welcome  Yule. 

Welcome  be  ye,  good  New  Year, 
Welcome  Twelfth  Day,  both  in  fere,^ 
Welcome  saintes  lef  ^  and  dear. 
Welcome  Yule. 


In  fere  =:  in  company. 


2  Lef=  loved. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Welcome  be  ye,  Candlemas, 
Welcome  be  ye,  Queen  of  Bliss, 
Welcome  both  to  more  and  less, 
Welcome  Yule. 

Welcome  be  ye  that  are  here. 
Welcome  all  and  make  good  cheer ; 
Welcome  all,  another  year, 
Welcome  Yule. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


From  Wright's  Songs  and  Carols, 
(Warton  Society.  A  collection 
printed  from  Sloane  MS.  2593, 
temp.  Henry  VI.) 


5  Sing  of  a  /IDatt)en» 


T  SING  of  a  maiden 

That  is  makeless ;  ^ 
King  of  all  kings 

To  her  son  she  ches ;  ^ 
He  came  also  ^  still 

There  his  mother  was, 
As  dew  in  April 

That  falleth  on  the  grass. 
He  came  also  still 

To  his  mother's  bower, 
As  dew  in  April 

That  falleth  on  the  flower. 
He  came  also  still 

There  his  mother  lay, 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


As  dew  in  April 

That  falleth  on  the  spray. 
Mother  and  maiden 

Was  never  none  but  she  ; 
Well  may  such  a  lady 

God's  mother  be. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


From  Harleian  MS.  5396  {date  circ. 
1500).  Printed  in  Sandys'  Christ- 
mas Carols,  and  other  collections. 


5n  Bjcelsts  Gloria* 

A  ^  rHEN  Christ  was  born  of  Mary  free 

In  Bethlehem  in  that  fair  citie, 
Angels  sungen  with  mirth  and  glee, 
/n  Excelsis  Gloria  I 


Herdsmen  beheld  these  angels  bright 
To  them  appeared  with  great  light, 
And  said,  God's  son  is  born  this  night, 
In  Excelsis  Gloria  I 

This  King  is  comen  to  save  kind 
[Even]  in  Scripture  as  we  find, 
[Therejfore  this  song  have  we  in  mind, 
In  Excelsis  Gloria  I 

[Then,  dear]  Lord,  for  thy  great  grace 
[Grant  us]  in  bliss  to  see  thy  face. 
Where  we  may  sing  to  thee  solace. 
In  Excelsis  Gloria! 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Printed  in  Sandys'  Christmas  Carols, 
and  other  collections. 


TTbe  iftrst  naowell  tbe  Hn^el  Mb  sa^» 

T^HE  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. 
Nowelly  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,  etc. 

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,  etc. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


The  Star  drew  nigh  to  the  North- West, 
O'er  Bethlehem  it  took  its  rest, 
And  there  it  did  both  stop  and  stay 
Right  over  the  place  where  Jesus  lay. 

JVowe/lj  etc. 


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^  etc. 


Then  enter'd  in  those  Wise  Men  three 
Most  reverently  upon  their  knee, 
And  offer'd  there  in  his  presence 
Both  gold,  and  myrrh,  and  frankincense. 

Nowell^  etc. 


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,  etc. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


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. 

JVowe/Iy  etc. 

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

NowelL  etc. 


^J-^^ 


?^^|t;;^^ja!ai^i^ 


lO 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


This  and  the  next  Carol  are  from  Christ- 
mas Carolles  newely  imprinted 
{circ.  1550),  of  which  only  a  frag- 
ment has  come  down.  Our  text  is 
taken  from  Bibliographical  Miscel- 
lanies (Oxford,  1813). 


5n  aBetblebem  tbat  noble  iplace* 

T  N  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  beasts  wold 
Salvator  mundi  natus  est. 

Be  we  merry,  etc. 

The  shepherdes  were  compassed  right. 
About  them  was  a  great  light ; 
Dread  ye  nought,  said  the  angel  bright, 
Salvator  mundi  natus  est. 

Be  we  merry,  etc. 


^^^^^^mm^^^^^^^^^^^B^^m^^^^^^s^m 


i^^^.;,i^mm^mm$^s^^mmmim^^i^irRr^^^ 


"  Dread  ye  nought,"  said  the  Angel  bright, 
"  Salvator  miindi  natus  est." 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


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 ^  etc. 

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  ^  etc. 


^ 


12 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


H  new  Carol  of  out  Xat>i^. 

T    ORDS  and  ladies  all  by  dene  ^ 

For  your  goodness  and  honour, 
I  will  you  sing  all  of  a  queen ; 
Of  all  women  she  is  the  flower. 

Nowell^  Noweil,  Nowell,  Nowell, 
This  said  the  angel  Gabriel. 

Of  Jesse  there  sprang  a  wight, 
Isay  said  by  prophecy, 
Of  whom  shall  come  a  man  of  might, 
From  death  to  life  he  will  us  buy. 

Nowelly  etc. 

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. 

Now  ell,  etc. 

1  "  All  by  dene  "  =  forthwith. 


jj,^Bfe!fJffi!aTS&S^ 


gT^^^^n^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


'3 


Astonied  was  that  lady  free, 
And  had  marvell  of  that  greeting ; 
Angel,  she  said,  how  may  that  be, 
For  never  of  man  I  had  knowing  ? 

Nbwe//f  etc. 

Dread  thou  nothing,  Mary  mild, 
Thou  art  fulfilled  with  great  virtue. 
Thou  shalt  conceive  and  bear  a  child 
That  shall  be  nambd  sweet  Jesu. 

Nowellj  etc. 

She  kneeled  down  upon  her  knee ; 
As  thou  hast  said,  so  may  it  be, 
With  heart,  thought  and  mild  cheer, 
God's  hand-maid  I  am  here. 

Nowell^  etc. 

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  than.^ 

Nowelly  etc. 

1  Then. 


14 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Of  her  was  born  our  heaven-king, 
And  she  a  maid  never  the  less ; 
Therefore  be  merry  and  let  us  sing, 
For  this  new  lord  of  Christmas. 

JVowe/lj  JVowel/j  etc. 


I 


^a^M^gasf^aSi^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


From  Songs  and  Carols,  now  first 
printed  from  a  manuscript  of  the 
fifteenth  century;  Edited  by  Thomas 
Wright,  1847.  (Percy  Society  Pub- 
lications.) 


I 


Ube  mtQin  ant)  Cbilt). 

nPHIS  endris  night  ^ 
I  saw  a  sight, 

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

LuUay,  by  by,  luUay. 

This  lovely  lady  sat  and  sang,  and  to  her  child  [she] 

said — 
"  My  son,  my  brother,  my  father  dear,  why  liest  thou 
thus  in  hayd  ? 

My  sweet  bird,^ 
Thus  it  is  betide 

Though  thou  be  king  veray  ; 
But,  nevertheless, 
I  will  not  cease 

To  sing,  by  by,  luUay." 

1  "  Endris  night  "  =  last  night. 

2  Often  used  as  a  term  of  endearment. — In  the  former  line 
"  hayd  "  =  hay. 


i6  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


The  child  then  spake  j  in  his  talking  he  to  his  mother 

said — 
"  I  bekid  ^  am  king,  in  crib  though  I  be  laid ; 
For  angels  bright 
Down  to  me  light, 

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

To  sing,  by  by,  luUay." 

"  Now,  sweet  Son,  since  thou  art  king,  why  art  thou 

laid  in  stall  ? 
Why  not  thou  ordain  thy  bedding  in  some  great  king's 
hall? 

Methinketh  it  is  right 
That  king  or  knight 

Should  be  in  good  array ; 
And  them  among 
It  were  no  wrong 

To  sing,  by  by,  luUay." 

"  Mary,  mother,  I  am  thy  child,  though  I  be  laid  in 

stall, 
Lords  and  dukes  shall  worship  me  and  so  shall  kingbs 

all. 


i.e.  it  happens  that  I  am  king. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Ye  shall  well  see 
That  kinges  three 

Shall  come  on  the  twelfth  day ; 
For  this  behest 
Give  me  thy  breast, 

And  sing,  by  by,  luUay." 

"Now  tell  me,  sweet  Son,  I  thee  pray,  thou  art  my 

love  and  dear. 
How  should  I  keep  thee  to  thy  pay  ^  and  make  thee 
glad  of  cheer  ? 

For  all  thy  will 
I  would  fulfil 

Thou  weet'st  ^  full  well  in  fay. 
And  for  all  this 
I  will  thee  kiss, 

And  sing,  by  by,  luUay." 

"  My  dear  mother,  when  time  it  be,  take  thou  me  up 

aloft. 
And  set  me  upon  thy  knee  and  handle  me  full  soft. 
And  in  thy  arm 
Thou  wilt  me  warm. 

And  keep  [me]  night  and  day ; 


^  Content. 


2  Knowest. 


l<^^,^i=i!P^y^?i=£^p:>==P^^ 


i8 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


If  I  weep 

And  may  not  sleep 

Thou  sing,  by  by,  luUay.' 


"  Now,  sweet  Son,  since  it  is  so,  all  things  are  at  thy 


will. 


.1 


I  pray  thee  grant  to  me  a  boon  if  it  be  right  and  skill,^    j 
That  child  or  man. 
That  will  or  can, 

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

LuUay,  by  by,  lullay." 

^  Fitting,  reasonable. 


;^jgp?;^?r^i?rr;5=!y^f;^^^ 


I 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


From    Wright's  Songs  and   Carols 
{Percy  Society). 


Hbout  tbe  jflelt)  tbe^  ptpe^  full  ri^bt 


Tyr/e,  tyrle,  so  merrily  the  shepherds  began  to  blow. 

A  BOUT  the  field  they  piped  full  right, 
Even  about  the  midst  of  the  night  \ 
Adown  from  heaven  they  saw  come  a  light. 

Tyrhy  iyrle. 

Of  angels  there  came  a  company 
With  merry  songs  and  melody. 
The  shepherds  anon  gan  them  espy. 

Tyrle,  tyrle. 

Gloria  in  excelsis  the  angels  sung, 
And  said  who  [how  ?]  peace  was  present  among 
To  every  man  that  to  the  faith  would  long. 

Tyrle^  tyrle. 

The  shepherds  hied  them  to  Bethlehem 
To  see  that  blessed  sun's  beam ; 
And  there  they  found  that  glorious  stream. 

Tyrle^  tyrle. 


20 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Now  pray  we  to  that  meek  child, 
And  to  his  mother  that  is  so  mild, 
The  which  was  never  defiled. 

Tyr/e^  tyrle. 

That  we  may  come  unto  his  bliss, 
Where  joy  shall  never  miss ; 
That  we  may  sing  in  Paradise. 

Tyrle,  tyrle, 

I  pray  you  all  that  be  here 

For  to  sing  and  make  good  cheer, 

In  the  worship  of  God  this  year. 

Tyrle,  tyrle. 


X^f^i^Sp?!r^ii^_1^Sfc^^?^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Printed  in  Sandys'  Christmas  Carols 
from  Add.  MS.  5165  {ancient 
songs  temp.  Henry  VII.  and  VIII.) 


Ubis  BnMtes  niQbt  5  saw  a  Slobt 

'i      A  H,  my  dear  Son,  said  Mary,  ah,  my  dear, 

**     '^     Kiss  thy  mother,  Jesu,  with  a  laughing  cheer. 

This  endnes  ^  night  I  saw  a  sight 

All  in  my  sleep, 
Mary,  that  may,  she  sang  luUay 

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  !  &c. 


^  Last. 


=*  Content. 


24  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 

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. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


25 


A  more  modern,  version  of  the  preceding 
Carol.  Communicated  by  A.  A.  to 
"Notes  and  Queries,"  2d  series,  hi. 
7.    It  used  to  be  s^ing  in  Mid-Kent. 


H6  5  sat  unt)et  a  Sycamore  Uree. 

A  S  I  sat  under  a  sycamore  tree,  a  sycamore  tree,  a 

sycamore  tree, 
I  looked  me  out  upon  the  sea, 

A  Christmas  day  in  the  morning. 

I  saw  three  ships  a- sailing  there,  a-sailing  there,  a-sail- 

ing  there, 
The  Virgin  Mary  and  Christ  they  bare, 
A  Christmas  day  in  the  morning. 

He  did  whistle,  and  she  did  sing,  she  did  sing,  she  did 

sing. 
And  all  the  bells  on  earth  did  ring, 

A  Christmas  day  in  the  morning. 

And  now  we  hope  to  taste  your  cheer,  taste  your  cheer, 

taste  your  cheer, 
And  wish  you  all  a  happy  new  year, 

A  Christmas  day  in  the  morning. 


From  Byrd's  Psalme^,  Sonets,  etc.,  1588. 


/IDI?  sweet  little  Babp,  wbat  meanest 
tbou  to  crp? 

A /r  Y  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  j 
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     (i 

king  would  kill :  > 

O  woe  and  woeful  heavy  day  when  wretches  have  their 

will! 

Lulla,  la  lulla,  lulla  lullaby. 

Three  kings  this  King  of  kings  to  see  are  come  from 

far, 

AH 
To  each  unknown,  with  offerings  great,  by  guiding  of    g 

a  star ; 


^^^^RJ^r^fei^^^t^Jiir^t^^ 


1 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  27 

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 ; 
O  woe  and  woeful  heavy  day  when  wretches  have  their 

will! 

Lulla,  &C. 


Lo,  lo,  my  little  babe,  be  still,  lament  no  more ; 
From  fury  thou  shalt  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,  &c. 


But  thou  shalt  live  and  reign,  as  sibyls  hath  foresaid. 
As  all  the  prophets  prophecy,  whose  mother,  yet  a 
maid 


28  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 

And  perfect  virgin  pure,  with  her   breasts  shall  up-      ^H 

breed 
Both  God  and  man  that  all  hath  made,   the  son  of 

heavenly  seed  :  ^ 

Whom  caitives  none  can  tray,  whom  tyrants  none  can 

kill: 
O  joy  and  joyful  happy  day  wheti  wretches  want  their      S 

will !  ^ 

Lulla,  &c. 


^^^^S^^^^i^^^< 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  29 


Knovm  as  Cherry  Tree  Carol.    Con- 
cerning the  text  see  notes. 


Josepb  was  an  ©lb  /iDan^ 
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. 


30 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


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. 

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. 


l^H'feiPgigM^fpfc^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


31 


Then  Mary  plucked  a  cherry 
As  red  as  the  blood ; 

Then  Mary  went  home 
With  her  heavy  load. 

11. 

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  nor  in  hall, 

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

"  He  neither  shall  be  clothed 
In  purple  nor  in  pall. 

But  all  in  fair  linen 
As  were  babies  all. 

"  He  neither  shall  be  rocked 
In  silver  nor  in  gold, 

But  in  a  wooden  cradle 
That  rocks  on  the  mould. 


l^n^^^^^m^^Sf^M'^^^^ivStiiiS 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


"  He  neither  shall  be  christened 

In  white  wine  nor  red, 
But  with  fair  spring  water 

With  which  we  were  christened." 

III. 

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. 


^^^ 


From  Sloane  MS.  2593.    The  MS.  was        f 
printed  in  1856  by  Thomas  Wright 
for  the  Warton  Society. 


Saint  Stepben  was  a  Clerft. 

O  AINT  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  on  hand. 
He  saw  a  star  was  fair  and  bright 

Over  Bethlehem  stand. 


He  kist  ^  adown  the  boar's  head 
And  went  into  the  hall : 

"  I  forsake  thee.  King  Herod, 
And  thy  workes  all. 

1  Cast. 


;^fy^fc^JBP^;^jFsfe^»?as;^^^ 


^^ 


34  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 

**  I  forsake  thee,  King  Herod, 

And  thy  workes  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  ?  " 

"  Lacketh  me  neither  meat  ne  drink 

In  King  Herod's  hall ; 
There  is  a  child  in  Bethlehem  born 

Is  better  than  we  all." 

"  What  aileth  thee,  Stephen  ? 

Art  thou  wode  ^  or  thou  ginnest  to  breed  ?  ^ 
Lacketh  thee  either  gold  or  fee 

Or  any  rich  weed  ?  "  ^ 

"  Lacketh  me  neither  gold  nor  fee, 

Ne  none  rich  weed ; 
There  is  a  child  in  Bethlehem  born 

Shall  helpen  us  at  our  need." 


Mad. 


Upbraid. 


^  Dress. 


^2g2^3^^S^^ScJ^^Sfe^liu22^S^^ 


"  That  is  also  sooth,^  Stephen, 

Also  sooth  i-wis  ^ 
As  this  capon  crowb  shall 

That  lieth  here  in  my  dish." 


That  word  was  not  so  soon  said, 

That  word  in  that  hall, 
The  capon  crew  Christus  natus  est 

Among  the  lordes  all. 

"  Riseth  up,  my  tormentors, 

By  two  and  all  by  one. 
And  leadeth  Stephen  out  of  this  town, 

And  stoneth  him  with  stone." 

Tooken  they  Stephen 

And  stoned  him  in  the  way, 

And  therefore  is  his  even 
On  Christes  own  day. 


1  "  Also  sooth  "  =  as  true. 


*  Assuredly. 


^Ml* 


\ 


36  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


First  printed  in  Eavmscroft's  Melismata, 
Musical  Phansies  fitting  the  court,  city 
and  country  /tumours  (161 1). 


IRemember,  ©  tbou  /IDan. 

T3  EMEMBER,  O  thou  Man, 

O  thou  Man,  O  thou  Man ; 
Remember,  O  thou  Man, 

Thy  time  is  spent. 
Remember,  O  thou  Man, 
How  thou  camest  to  me  than,^ 
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 
To  Hell  perpetual, 

There  for  to  dwell. 


^  Old  form  of  then. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  37 

Remember  God's  goodness, 
O  thou  Man,  O  thou  Man ; 
Remember  God's  goodness 

And  promise  made. 
Remember  God's  goodness, 
How  his  only  Son  he  sent 
Our  sins  for  to  redress, 

Be  not  afraid. 

The  Angels  all  did  sing, 
O  thou  Man,  O  thou  Man ; 
The  Angels  all  did  sing 

OnSionhill. 
The  Angels  all  did  sing 
Praises  to  our  heavenly  king, 
And  peace  to  man  living, 

With  right  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  this  should  come  to  pass. 
That  Christ  our  Messias 

Should  be  our  King. 


38 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


To  Bethlehem  did  they  go, 
O  thou  Man,  O  thou  Man  ; 
To  Bethlehem  did  they  go, 

This  thing  to  see. 
To  Bethlehem  did  they  go 
To  see  whether  it  was  so, 
Whether  Christ  was  born  or  no, 

To  set  us  free. 

As  the  Angels  before  did  say, 
O  thou  Man,  O  thou  Man ; 
As  the  Angels  before  did  say, 

So  it  came  to  pass. 
As  the  Angels  before  did  say, 
They  found  him  wrapt  in  hay 
In  a  manger  where  he  lay, 

So  poor  he  was. 


In  Bethlehem  was  he  born, 
O  thou  Man,  O  thou  Man ; 
In  Bethlehem  was  he  born 

For  mankind  dear. 
In  Bethlehem  was  he  born 
For  us  that  were  forlorn. 
And  therefore  took  no  scorn 

Our  sins  to  bear. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


In  a  manger  laid  he  was, 
O  thou  Man,  O  thou  Man; 
In  a  manger  laid  he  was 

At  this  time  present. 
In  a  manger  laid  he  was, 
Between  an  ox  and  an  ass, 
And  all  for  our  trespass, 

Therefore  repent 


39 


Give  thanks  to  God  always, 
O  thou  Man,  O  thou  Man  ; 
Give  thanks  to  God  always 

With  hearts  most  jolly. 
Give  thanks  to  God  always 
Upon  this  blessed  day, 
Let  all  men  sing  and  say, 

Holy,  Holy. 


40  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


The  most  popular  0/  Christmas  Carols. 


Go^  rest  ^ou  mert^,  Oentlemen^ 

f^  OD  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  tlessed  morn ; 
The  which  his  mother  Mary 

Nothing  did  take  in  scorn. 

O  tidings,  &c 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  41 

From  God  our  Heavenly  Father 

A  blessed  angel  came, 
And  unto  certain  shepherds 

Brought  tidings  of  the  same, 
How  that  in  Bethlehem  was  born 

The  Son  of  God  by  name. 

O  tidings,  &c. 


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,  &c. 


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.  &c 


42 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


But  when  to  Bethlehem  they  came, 

Whereat  this  infant  lay, 
They  found  him  in  a  manger 

Where  oxen  feed  on  hay ; 
His  mother  Mary  kneeling 

Unto  the  Lord  did  pray. 

O  tidings,  &c. 

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,  &c. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


43 


This  and  the  six  folloming  pieces  have 
been  frequently  printed  in  broad- 
side form,  and  in  collections  of 
Carols. 


tro^^morrow  sball  be  m^  Dancina  2)ai?^ 

nrO-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. 

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 !  &c. 

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 !  &c. 


44 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


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 !  &c. 


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 !  &c. 


The  Jews  on  me  they  make  great  suit. 
And  with  me  made  great  variance. 

Because  they  lov'd  darkness  rather  than  light. 
To  call  my  true  love  to  my  dance. 

Sing,  oh  !  &c. 


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 !  &c. 


I  CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  45 

I , , 

;  Before  Pilate  the  Jews  me  brought, 

I  Where  Barabbas  had  deliverance  ; 

They  scourg'd  me  and  set  me  at  nought, 
Judged  me  to  die  to  lead  the  dance. 

Sing,  oh  !  &c. 


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 !  &c. 


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 !  &c. 


Then  up  to  heaven  I  did  ascend. 

Where  now  I  dwell  in  sure  substance. 

On  the  right  hand  of  God,  that  man 
May  come  unto  the  general  dance. 

Sing,  oh  !  &c. 


46  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


xrbe  Ibol^  MelL 

A  S  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. 

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  ? 


f^SMs^M^iSs^s^m^^Mm^m^^ 


l^^^^^^^s^^J^^^^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


47 


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  ? 


48 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


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. 

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. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


49 


Ubc  Carnal  anb  tbe  Crane. 

A  S  I  pass'd  by  a  river  side, 

And  there  as  I  did  reign, ^ 
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  ? 


1  A  corruption  of  m«=run. 


lf^^^^<j 


2  Crow? 
D 


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  ? 

A  manger  was  the  cradle 
That  Christ  was  rocked'So ; 

The  provender  the  asses  left 
So  sweetly  he  slept  on. 

There  was  a  star  in  the  West  land, 

So  bright  did  it  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. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


51 


This  roasted  cock  that  lies  in  the  dish 
Shall  crow  full  fences  ^  three. 

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. 

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. 

^  Rounds. 


^^fettsaTgf^T^1?:tf?qSBi^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


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. 


>J^^i5^5^J 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  53 

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  may'st  be  sure, 
For  I  must  lose  my  precious  blood 

For  thee  and  thousands  more. 

If  any  one  should  come  this  way. 

And  inquire  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, 
Inquiring  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. 


54 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


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

Ready  to  fetch  and  carry 
Into  my  barn  again. 

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. 

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. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


55 


30^5  Seven* 

T^HE  first  good  joy  our  Mary  had, 

It  was  the  joy  of  one, 
To  see  her  own  Son  Jesus 

To  suck  at  her  breast  bone ; 
To  suck  at  her  breast  bone, 

Good  man,  and  blessed  may  he  be, 
Both  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost, 

And  Christ  to  eternity. 

The  next  good  joy  our  Mary  had, 

It  was  the  joy  of  two, 
To  see  her  own  Son  Jesus 

To  make  the  lame  to  go ; 
To  make  the  lame  to  go, 

Good  man,  &c. 


The  next  good  joy  our  Mary  had. 
It  was  the  joy  of  three, 


56  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 

To  see  her  own  Son  Jesus 

To  make  the  blind  to  see ; 
To  make  the  blind  to  see, 

Good  man,  &c. 

The  next  good  joy  our  Mary  had, 
It  was  the  joy  of  four, 

To  see  her  own  Son  Jesus 
To  read  the  Bible  o'er ; 

To  read  the  Bible  o'er, 

Good  man,  &c. 

The  next  good  joy  our  Mary  had. 
It  was  the  joy  of  five. 

To  see  her  own  Son  Jesus 
To  raise  the  dead  alive  ; 

To  raise  the  dead  alive. 

Good  man,  &c. 

The  next  good  joy  our  Mary  had. 

It  was  the  joy  of  six, 
To  see  her  own  Son  Jesus 

To  wear  the  crucifix ; 
To  wear  the  crucifix, 

Good  man,  &c. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


57 


The  next  good  joy  our  Mary  had, 

It  was  the  joy  of  seven, 
To  see  her  own  Son  Jesus 

To  wear  the  crown  of  Heaven ; 
To  wear  the  crown  of  Heaven, 

Good  man,  and  blessed  may  he  be, 
Both  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost, 

And  Christ  to  eternity. 


58  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Zbc  l^oon  Sblnes  Bdgbt 

n^HE  moon  shines  bright,  and  the  stars  give  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  heavenly  dew  so  sweet. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


59 


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  souls 

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  be  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. 


.frT^^^is?^^^;^;^'?!^^^;^^!^^ 


6o 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


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 ! 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


H  XOivQin  most  pure* 

A    VIRGIN  most  pure,  as  the  Prophets  do  tell, 
Hath  brought  forth  a  Babe,  as  it  hath  befell, 
To  be  our  Redeemer  from  death,  hell,  and  sin. 
Which  by  Adam's  transgression  hath  wrapt  us  all  in. 
Rejoice,  and  be  you  merry,  set  sorrow  aside, 
Christ  Jesus  our  Saviour  was  bom  on  this  tide. 

In  Bethlehem  city,  in  Jewry  it  was. 
Where  Joseph  and  Mary  together  did  pass. 
And  there  to  be  taxed,  with  many  one  mo,^ 
For  Caesar  commanded  the  same  should  be  so. 

Rejoice,  and  be  you  merry,  &c. 

But  when  they  had  entered  the  city  so  fair, 
The  number  of  people  so  mighty  was  there, 
That  Joseph  and  Mary,  whose  substance  was  small. 
Could  get  in  the  city  no  lodging  at  all. 

Rejoice,  &c. 

*  More. 


62 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Then  they  were  constrained  in  a  stable  to  lie, 
Where  oxen  and  asses  they  used  to  tie ; 
Their  lodging  so  simple,  they  held  it  no  scorn, 
But   against  the   next   morning   our   Saviour  was 
born. 

Rejoice,  &c. 

The  King  of  all  glory  to  the  world  being  brought. 
Small  store  of  fine  linen  to  wrap  him  was  brought ; 
When  Mary  had  swaddled  her  young  Son  so  sweet, 
Within  an  ox  manger  she  laid  him  to  sleep. 

Rejoice,  &c. 

Then  God  sent  an  angel  from  heaven  so  high, 
To  certain  poor  shepherds  in  fields  where  they  lie. 
And  bid  them  no  longer  in  sorrow  to  stay. 
Because  that  our  Saviour  was  born  on  this  day. 

Rejoice,  &c. 


Then  presently  after,  the  shepherds  did  spy 
A  number  of  angels  appear  in  the  sky, 
Who  joyfully  talked,  and  sweetly  did  sing, 
To  God  be  all  glory,  our  Heavenly  King. 

Rejoice,  &c. 


}i-f^feaiiaaS-tf?f^^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS, 


65 


>  Three  certain  wise  princes,  they  thought  it  most  meet 

ll  To  lay  their  rich  offerings  at  our  Saviour's  feet ; 

ffl  Then  the  shepherds  consented,  and  to  Bethlehem  did 

I  And  when  they  came  thither,  they  found  it  was  so. 
1/  ''  Rejoice,  &c. 


^l^^tsg^&Tf^gaffFnfe^a^^ 


64 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Ube  Sat>iout  of  all  people, 

f^  OD  bless  the  master  of  this  house, 

And  all  that  are  therein, 
And  to  begin  this  Christmas  tide 
With  mirth  now  let  us  sing. 
For  the  Saviour  of  all  people 

Upon  this  time  was  born. 

Who  did  from  death  deliver  us, 

When  we  were  left  forlorn. 

Then  let  us  all  most  merry  be, 
And  sing  with  cheerful  voice, 

For  we  have  good  occasion  now 
This  time  for  to  rejoice. 

For,  &c 


Then  put  away  contention  all, 
And  fall  no  more  at  strife. 

Let  every  man  with  cheerfulness 
Embrace  his  loving  wife. 

For,  &c. 


i 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


65 


With  plenteous  food  your  houses  store, 
Provide  some  wholesome  cheer, 

And  call  your  friends  together 
That  live  both  far  and  near. 

For,  &c. 


Then  let  us  all  most  merry  be. 

Since  that  we  are  come  here. 
And  we  do  hope  before  we  part 

To  taste  some  of  your  beer. 

For,  &c. 

Your  beer,  your  beer,  your  Christmas  beer, 

That  seems  to  be  so  strong, 
And  we  do  wish  that  Christmas  tide 

Was  twenty  times  so  long. 

For,  &c. 

Then  sing  with  voices  cheerfully, 
For  Christ  this  time  was  born, 

Who  did  from  death  deliver  us, 
When  we  were  left  forlorn. 

For,  &c. 


66  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


By  Robert  Herrick. 

H  Cbtistmas  CatoL 

Sung  to  the  King  in  the  Presence  at 
Whitehall. 

C/tor. — \  1  rHAT  sweeter  music  can  we  bring, 
Than  a  carol,  for  to  sing 
The  birth  of  this  our  heavenly  King  ? 
Awake  the  voice  !  awake  the  string ! 
Heart,  ear,  and  eye,  and  everything 
Awake  !  the  while  the  active  finger 
Runs  divisions  with  the  singer. 

Jf'rom  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  spring-time  of  the  year? 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


67 


Why  does  the  chilling  winter's  morn 
Smile  like  a  field  beset  with  corn  ? 
Or  smell  like  to  a  mead  new-shorn, 
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. 


s 


C/ior. — 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. 

Chor. — Which  we  will  give  him ;  and  bequeath 
This  holly  and  this  ivy  wreath, 
To  do  him  honour ;  who's  our  King, 
And  Lord  of  all  this  revelling. 


I^Pf^^^S^^^^lM^ri^^^rr^:^ 


68 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Printed  in  Ritaon's  Ancient  Songs  and 
Ballads,  Sandys'  Christmas  Carols, 
etc.  {from  Harl.  MS.  5396,  temp. 
Henry  VI.) 


XTbe  Contest  of  tbe  3v^  anb  tbe  1boll^. 

"\T  AY,  ivy,  nay, 

It  shall  not  be,  i-wis  ^ ; 
Let  holly  have  the  mastery 
As  the  manner  is. 

Holly  stand  in  the  hall, 

Fair  to  behold ; 
Ivy  stand  without  the  door 

She  is  full  sore  a-cold. 

Nay,  ivy,  nay,  &c. 

Holly  and  his  merry  men, 
They  dancen  and  they  sing ; 

Ivy  and  her  maidens, 

They  weepen  and  they  wring. 

Nay,  ivy,  nay,  &c. 


^  Assuredly. 


lf,ii;iS^=^Tii;^^pAd^9^^^^^ 


i 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


69 


Ivy  hath  a  kybe,^ 

She  caught  it,  with  the  cold ; 
So  mot  2  they  all  have  ae,^ 

That  with  ivy  hold. 

Nay,  ivy,  nay,  &c. 

Holly  hath  berries 

As  red  as  any  rose, 
The  foster  *  [and]  the  hunters 

Keep  them  from  the  doe[s]. 
Nay,  ivy,  nay,  &c. 

Ivy  hath  berries 

As  black  as  any  sloe ; 
There  come  the  owl 

And  eat  him  as  she  go. 

Nay,  ivy,  nay,  &c. 

Holly  hath  birdes, 

A  full  fair  flock. 
The  nightingale,  the  popinjay, 

The  gentle  laverock. 

Nay,  ivy,  nay,  &c. 


1  The  MS.  has  "  lybe."— "  Kybe  "  =  chapped  skin. 

2  May.  ^  Each,  severally.  ■*  Forester. 


70 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Good  ivy, 

What  birdbs  hast  thou  ? 
None  but  the  howlet 

That  krey  ^  "how,  how." 


Nay,  ivy,  nay. 

It  shall  not  be,  i-wis ; 
Let  holly  have  the  mastery 

As  the  manner  is. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  71 

By  Robert  Stephen  Haicker. 

/iDo^r^b  /IDan^a— Hunt  /IDarp* 


A    CHRISTMAS   CHANT. 

In  old  and  simple-hearted  Cornwall,  the  household  names  "  Uncle  " 
and  "  Aunt "  were  uttered  and  used  as  they  are  to  this  day  in 
many  countries  of  the  East,  not  only  as  phrases  of  kindred,  but 
as  words  of  kindly  greeting  and  tender  respect.  It  was  in  the 
spirit,  therefore,  of  this  touching  and  graphic  usage,  that  they 
were  wont  on  the  Tamar  side  to  call  the  Mother  of  God  in  their 
loyal  language  Modryb  Mary  a,  or  Aunt  Mary. 

"XT  OW  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. 


72 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


'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. 

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. 


1838. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


73 


By  Robert  Stephen  Hawker. 


XTbe  Cbtlb  Jesus, 


A   CORNISH   CAROL. 


^^ 


■\X  ^'ELCOME  that  star  in  Judah's  sky, 

That  voice  o'er  Bethlehem's  palmy  glen 
The  lamp  far  sages  hailed  on  high, 

The  tones  that  thrilled  the  shepherd  men : 
Glory  to  God  in  loftiest  heaven  ! 

Thus  angels  smote  the  echoing  chord ; 
Glad  tidings  unto  man  forgiven. 

Peace  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord. 


The  Shepherds  sought  that  birth  divine. 

The  Wise  Men  traced  their  guided  way ; 
There,  by  strange  light  and  mystic  sign, 

The  God  they  came  to  worship  lay. 
A  human  Babe  in  beauty  smiled. 

Where  lowing  oxen  round  him  trod  : 
A  maiden  clasped  her  Awful  Child, 

Pure  offspring  of  the  breath  of  God. 


74 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Those  voices  from  on  high  are  mute, 

The  star  the  Wise  Men  saw  is  dim ; 
But  hope  still  guides  the  wanderer's  foot, 

And  faith  renews  the  angel  hymn  : 
Glory  to  God  in  loftiest  heaven  ! 

Touch  with  glad  hand  the  ancient  chord ; 
Good  tidings  unto  man  forgiven, 

Peace  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord. 


1840. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  75 


By  S.  T.  Coleridge. 


Ubc  Sbepber&6  went  tbetr  bast^  TKIla^* 

nPHE  shepherds  went  their  hasty  way, 

And  found  the  lowly  stable-shed 
Where  the  Virgin-Mother  lay ; 

And  now  they  checked  their  eager  tread, 
^  For  to  the  Babe  that  at  her  bosom  clung, 

A  mother's  song  the  Virgin-Mother  sung. 

They  told  her  how  a  glorious  light, 
Streaming  from  a  heavenly  throng, 

Around  them  shone,  suspending  night ! 
While  sweeter  than  a  mother's  song. 

Blest  angels  heralded  the  Saviour's  birth. 

Glory  to  God  on  high  !  and  peace  on  earth  ! 

She  listened  to  the  tale  divine. 

And  closer  still  the  Babe  she  prest ; 

And  while  she  cried,  the  Babe  is  mine  ! 
The  milk  rushed  faster  to  her  breast : 


J^^^^j^s^^^j^^^^j 


76 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS, 


Joy  rose  within  her  like  a  summer's  morn ; 
Peace,  peace  on  earth  !   the  Prince  of  peace  is 
born. 


Thou  Mother  of  the  Prince  of  peace, 

Poor,  simple,  and  of  low  estate  ! 
That  strife  should  vanish,  battle  cease, 

O  why  should  this  thy  soul  elate  ? 
Sweet  music's  loudest  note,  the  poet's  story, — 
Didst  thou  ne'er  love  to  hear  of  fame  and  glory  ? 

And  is  not  War  a  youthful  king, 

A  stately  hero  clad  in  mail  ? 
Beneath  his  footsteps  laurels  spring ; 

Him  earth's  majestic  monarchs  hail 
Their  friend,  their  playmate !  and  his  bold  bright  eye 
Compels  the  maiden's  love-confessing  sigh. 

"  Tell  this  in  some  more  courtly  scene. 
To  maids  and  youths  in  robes  of  state  ! 

I  am  a  woman  poor  and  mean. 
And  therefore  is  my  soul  elate  : 

War  is  a  ruffian  all  with  guilt  defiled. 

That  from  the  aged  father  tears  his  child. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


77 


"  A  murderous  fiend  by  fiends  adored, 
He  kills  the  sire  and  starves  the  son ; 

The  husband  kills  and  from  her  board 
Steals  all  his  widow's  toil  had  won ; 

Plunders  God's  world  of  beauty  ;  rends  away 

All  safety  from  the  night,  all  comfort  from  the  day. 

"  Then  wisely  is  my  soul  elate, 
That  strife  should  vanish,  battle  cease  ; 

I'm  poor  and  of  a  low  estate, 

The  Mother  of  the  Prince  of  peace. 

Joy  rises  in  me,  like  a  summer's  morn  : 

Peace,  peace  on  earth !   the  Prince  of  peace  is 
born!" 


><r>7fe^»;TS?R=s?^f;^^^ 


78  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


By  Miss  Cl^ristina  G.  Rossetti. 


H  Cbti0tmas  Carol. 

T  N  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. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


79 


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 

Thronged  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  ^ould  do  my  part, — 
Yet  what  I  can  I  give  him, 

Give  my  heart. 


80 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


By  Mr.  WiUiam  Morris  {from  Sedding's 
Antient  Christmas  Carols,  i860). 


/IDastet5,  In  tbis  fbalL 

"  npo  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." 

Masters,  in  this  hall, 

Hear  ye  news  to-day 
Brought  over  sea, 
And  ever  I  you  pray. 
Now  ell  I  Nowdl!  NowelU  Nowell  I 

Sing  we  clear  I 
Holpen  are  all  folk  on  earth. 
Born  is  God's  Son  so  dear. 


Going  over  the  hills, 

Through  the  milk-white  snow, 
Heard  I  ewes  bleat 

While  the  wind  did  blow. 

NowelL  etc. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  8i 

Shepherds  many  an  one 

Sat  among  the  sheep  ; 
No  man  spake  more  word 

Than  they  had  been  asleep. 

Nowell,  etc. 


Quoth  I  "  Fellows  mine, 
Why  this  guise  sit  ye  ? 

Making  but  dull  cheer, 
Shepherds  though  ye  be  ? 


Nowelly  etc. 


"  Shepherds  should  of  right 

Leap  and  dance  and  sing ; 
Thus  to  see  ye  sit 

Is  a  right  strange  thing." 

Nowell,  etc. 


1                      Quoth  these  fellows  then, 
1                          "  To  Bethlem  town  we 
1                     To  see  a  Mighty  Lord 
1                         Lie  in  manger  low." 

go, 
Nowell^  etc. 

F 

^1^^ti2S^&f!Mfe?^^?^r=??S^^ 

j^^^^??5=7^^3$;tfjf;^fc??=^^ 

82 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


"  How  name  ye  this  Lord, 

Shepherds  ?  "  then  said  I. 
"  Very  God,"  they  said, 

"Come  from  Heaven  high." 

Nowelly  etc. 


Then  to  Bethlem  town 
We  went  two  and  two, 

And  in  a  sorry  place 
Heard  the  oxen  low. 


Nowellj  etc. 


Therein  did  we  see 

A  sweet  and  goodly  May, 
And  a  fair  old  man  ; 

Upon  the  straw  she  lay. 


Nowell^  etc. 


And  a  little  Child 
On  her  arm  had  she ; 

"  Wot  ye  who  this  is  ?  " 
Said  the  hinds  to  me. 


Nowell^  etc. 


j^g^Jjl^^^^^jj^^^il^^^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


83 


Ox  and  ass  him  know, 
Kneeling  on  their  knee 

Wondrous  joy  had  I 
This  Httle  Babe  to  see. 


Nowell^  etc. 


This  is  Christ  the  Lord, 

Masters,  be  ye  glad  ! 
Christmas  is  come  in, 

And  no  folk  should  be  sad. 

Nowell,  etc. 


84  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


From  Mr.  William  Morrii'a  Land 
East  of  the  Sun  and  West  of  the 
Moon  [EariMy  Paradite,  vol.  Hi.) 


©utlan&er0,  wbence  come  ^c  last? 

/^UTLANDERS,  whence  come  ye  last? 
^""^     The  snow  in  the  street  and  the  wind  on  the  door. 
Through  what  green  sea  and  great  have  ye  past  ? 
Minstrels  and  maidsy  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  the  wind  on  the  door. 
To  tell  of  great  tidings  strange  and  true  : 

Minstrels  and  maids  y  stand  forth  on  the  floor. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS, 


85 


News,  news  of  the  Trinity, 

T/ie  sfi07v  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  y  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. 


dI^]i2i£^iS£^3Sj!^?H^ 


86 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


"  There  was  an  old  man  there  beside, 

T/ie  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. 

"  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. 

Nowell,  nowell,  nowell,  we  sing ! 

Minstrels  and  maids^  stand  forth  on  the  floor. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


From  Mr.  A.  C.  Stoinbume's  Poems 
and  Ballads  (first  series). 


XTbree  Damsels  in  tbe  (Siueen^s  Cbambet. 

npHREE  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 ; 


1  Suggested  by  a  drawing  of  Mr.  D.  G.  Rossetti's. 


^^iiii^i^saai^^^^^s^^^ 


88  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 

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. 

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. 


}<^^^^^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


89 


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  bed-foot  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. 

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. 


90 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


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. 


^jfert^i^mirSf^S 


PART   IF. 


CARMINA   SACRA. 


By  John  Milton. 


I 


Qn  tbe  /IDorntnG  of  Cbttst^s  IFlativit^^ 

'T^HIS  is  the  month,  and  this  the  happy  morn, 

Wherein  the  Son  of  Heaven's  eternal  King, 
Of  wedded  maid  and  virgin-mother  born, 
Our  great  redemption  from  above  did  bring ; 
For  so  the  holy  sages  once  did  sing. 

That  he  our  deadly  forfeit  should  release, 
And  with  his  Father  work  us  a  perpetual  peace. 


That  glorious  form,  that  light  insufferable, 
And  that  far-beaming  blaze  of  majesty. 
Wherewith  he  wont  at  heaven's  high  council-table 
To  sit  the  midst  of  Trinal  Unity, 
He  laid  aside ;  and,  here  with  us  to  be. 
Forsook  the  courts  of  everlasting  day, 
And  chose  with  us  a  darksome  house  of  mortal  clay. 


j^Si^^>==iSfei=<sf=^^!i^^^ 


92 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Say,  heavenly  Muse,  shall  not  thy  sacred  vein 

Afford  a  present  to  the  Infant-God  ? 

Hast  thou  no  verse,  no  hymn,  or  solemn  strain, 

To  welcome  him  to  this  his  new  abode, 

Now  while  the  heaven,  by  the  sun's  team  untrod, 

Hath  took  no  print  of  the  approaching  light, 
And  all  the  spangled  host  kept  watch  in  squadron 
bright  ? 

See,  how  from  far,  upon  the  eastern  road, 
The  star-led  wizards  haste  with  odours  sweet ; 
O  run,  prevent  them  with  thy  humble  ode, 
And  lay  it  lowly  at  his  blessed  feet ; 
Have  thou  the  honour  first  thy  Lord  to  greet, 

And  join  thy  voice  unto  the  angel-quire, 
From  out  his  secret  altar  touch'd  with  hallow'd  fire. 

It  was  the  winter  wild, 
While  the  heaven-born  Child 

All  meanly  wrapt  in  the  rude  manger  lies ; 
Nature  in  awe  to  him, 
Had  doff  d  her  gaudy  trim. 

With  her  great  Master  so  to  sympathise  : 
It  was  no  season  then  for  her 
To  wanton  with  the  sun,  her  lusty  paramour. 


ijias^giaj^j^^T^s;??;?^^^^ 


\\i 


l\ 


u 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  93 

Only  with  speeches  fair 
She  woos  the  gentle  air 

To  hide  her  guilty  front  with  innocent  snow ; 
And  on  her  naked  shame, 
Pollute  with  sinful  blame, 

The  saintly  veil  of  maiden-white  to  throw  ; 
Confounded,  that  her  Maker's  eyes 
Should  look  so  near  upon  her  foul  deformities. 

But  he,  her  fears  to  cease, 

Sent  down  the  meek-eyed  Peace ; 

She,  crown'd  with  olive  green,  came  softly  sliding 
Down  through  the  turning  sphere, 
His  ready  Harbinger, 

With  turtle  wing  the  amorous  clouds  dividing ; 
And,  waving  wide  her  myrtle  wand, 
She  strikes  an  universal  peace  through  sea  and  land. 


^v;       No  war,  or  battle's  sound, 

Was  heard  the  world  around  : 

The  idle  spear  and  shield  were  high  up-hung  ; 

The  hooked  chariot  stood 

Unstain'd  with  hostile  blood  ; 
§  The  trumpet  spake  not  to  the  armed  throng ; 

And  kings  sat  still  with  awful  eye. 

As  if  they  surely  knew  their  sovran  Lord  was  by. 


94  CAROLS  AND  POEMS 


But  peaceful  was  the  night 
Wherein  the  Prince  of  Light 

His  reign  of  peace  upon  the  earth  began  : 
The  winds  with  wonder  whist,^ 
Smoothly  the  waters  kist, 

Whispering  new  joys  to  the  mild  ocean, 
Who  now  hath  quite  forgot  to  rave, 
While  birds  of  calm  sit  brooding  on  the  charmed  wave. 

The  stars,  with  deep  amaze, 
Stand  fix'd  in  steadfast  gaze, 

Bending  one  way  their  precious  influence ; 
And  will  not  take  their  flight. 
For  all  the  morning  light. 

Or  Lucifer  that  often  warn'd  them  thence ; 
But  in  their  glimmering  orbs  did  glow. 
Until  their  Lord  himself  bespake,  and  bid  them  go. 

And,  though  the  shady  gloom 
Had  given  day  her  room. 

The  sun  himself  withheld  his  wonted  speed, 
And  hid  his  head  for  sham^, 
As  his  inferior  flame 

The  new-enlighten'd  world  no  more  should  need. 
He  saw  a  greater  Sun  appear 
Than  his  bright  throne,  or  burning  axletree,  could  bear. 

1  Hushed. 


m 


^ga^^f^j^asjfe^^j?^:'^:-;^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


95 


i 


The  shepherds  on  the  lawn, 
Or  ere  the  point  of  dawn, 

Sat  simply  chatting  in  a  rustic  row ; 
Full  little  thought  they  than  ^ 
That  the  mighty  Pan 

Was  kindly  come  to  live  with  them  below ; 
Perhaps  their  loves,  or  else  their  sheep, 
Was  all  that  did  their  silly  thoughts  so  busy  keep. 

When  such  music  sweet 
Their  hearts  and  ears  did  greet, 

As  never  was  by  mortal  finger  strook ; 
Divinely-warbled  voice 
Answering  the  stringed  noise, 

As  all  their  souls  in  blissful  rapture  took : 
The  air  such  pleasure  loth  to  lose, 
With  thousand  echoes  still  prolongs  each  heavenly 
close. 

Nature,  that  heard  such  sound. 
Beneath  the  hollow  round 

Of  Cynthia's  seat,  the  airy  region  thrilling, 
Now  was  almost  won 
To  think  her  part  was  done. 

And  that  her  reign  had  here  its  last  fulfilling ; 


1  Old  form  of  i/ien. 


She  knew  such  harmony  alone 

Could  hold  all  heaven  and  earth  in  happier  union. 

At  last  surrounds  their  sight 
A  globe  of  circular  light, 

That  with  long  beams  the  shamefaced  night  array'd ; 
The  helmed  cherubim, 
And  sworded  seraphim, 

Are  seen  in  glittering  ranks  with  wings  display'd, 
Harping  in  loud  and  solemn  quire, 
With  unexpressive  notes,  to  Heaven's  new-born  Heir. 


Such  music  (as  *tis  said) 
Before  was  never  made, 

But  when  of  old  the  sons  of  morning  sung, 
While  the  Creator  great 
His  constellations  set, 

And  the  well-balanced  world  on  hinges  hung ; 
And  cast  the  dark  foundations  deep. 
And  bid  the  weltering  waves  their  oozy  channel  keep. 


Ring  out,  ye  crystal  spheres. 
Once  bless  our  human  ears. 

If  ye  have  power  to  touch  our  senses  so ; 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  97 

And  let  your  silver  chime 
Move  in  melodious  time  ; 

And  let  the  base  of  Heaven's  deep  organ  blow  ; 
And,  with  your  ninefold  harmony, 
Make  up  full  consort  to  the  angelic  symphony. 


For,  if  such  holy  song, 
Enwrap  our  fancy  long, 

Time  will  run  back  and  fetch  the  age  of  gold ; 
And  speckled  Vanity 
Will  sicken  soon  and  die, 

And  leprous  Sin  will  melt  from  earthly  mould ; 
And  Hell  itself  will  pass  away. 

And   leave  her  dolorous   mansions   to   the   peering 
day. 


Yea,  Truth  and  Justice  then 
Will  down  return  to  men. 

Orb'd  in  a  rainbow  ;  and,  like  glories  wearing, 
Mercy  will  sit  between. 
Throned  in  celestial  sheen, 

With  radiant  feet  the  tissued  clouds  down  steering ; 
And  Heaven,  as  at  some  festival, 
Will  open  wide  the  gates  of  her  high  palace-hall. 

G 


98 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


But  wisest  Fate  says  No, 
This  must  not  yet  be  so, 

The  Babe  yet  lies  in  smiling  infancy, 
That  on  the  bitter  cross 
Must  redeem  our  loss  ; 

So  both  himself  and  us  to  glorify  : 
Yet  first,  to  those  ychain'd  in  sleep, 
The  wakeful  trump  of  doom  must  thunder  through  the     f- 
deep;  ^ 

With  such  a  horrid  clang 
As  on  Mount  Sinai  rang, 

While  the  red  fire  and  smouldering  clouds  outbrake : 
The  aged  earth  aghast 
With  terror  of  that  blast. 

Shall  from  the  surface  to  the  centre  shake ; 
When  at  the  world's  last  session, 
The  dreadful  Judge  in  middle  air  shall  spread  his 
throne. 


And  then  at  last  our  bliss 
Full  and  perfect  is. 

But  now  begins ;  for,  from  this  happy  day, 
The  Old  Dragon,  under  ground 
In  straiter  limits  bound. 

Not  half  so  far  casts  his  usurped  sway ; 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  99 

And,  wroth  to  see  his  kingdom  fail, 
Swinges  the  scaly  horror  of  his  folded  tail. 


The  oracles  are  dumb. 
No  voice  or  hideous  hum 

Runs  through  the  arched  roof  in  words  deceiving. 
1     Apollo  from  his  shrine 
Can  no  more  divine, 

With  hollow  shriek  the  steep  of  Delphos  leaving. 
No  nightly  trance,  or  breathed  spell. 
Inspires  the  pale-eyed  priest  from  the  prophetic  cell. 


The  lonely  mountains  o'er. 
And  the  resounding  shore, 

A  voice  of  weeping  heard  and  loud  lament ; 
From  haunted  spring  and  dale. 
Edged  with  poplar  pale, 

The  parting  Genius  is  with  sighing  sent ; 
With  flower-inwoven  tresses  torn. 
The  Nymphs  in  twilight  shade  of  tangled  thickets 
mourn. 


In  consecrated  earth. 
And  on  the  holy  hearth 

The  Lars,  and  Lemures,  moan  with  midnight  plain,t ; 


100 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


In  urns,  and  altars  round, 
A  drear  and  dying  sound 

Affrights  the  Flamens  at  their  service  quaint ; 
And  the  chill  marble  seems  to  sweat, 
While  each  peculiar  power  foregoes  his  wonted  seat. 


Peor  and  Baalim 
Forsake  their  temples  dim 

With  that  twice-batter'd  god  of  Palestine ; 
And  mooned  Ashtaroth, 
Heaven's  queen  and  mother  both, 

Now  sits  not  girt  with  tapers'  holy  shrine ; 
The  Libyc  Hammon  shrinks  his  horn, 
In  vain  the  Tyrian  maids  their  wounded  Thammuz 
mourn. 


And  sullen  Moloch,  fled. 
Hath  left  in  shadows  dread 

His  burning  idol  all  of  blackest  hue ; 
In  vain  with  cymbals'  ring 
They  call  the  grisly  king. 

In  dismal  dance  about  the  furnace  blue ; 
The  brutish  gods  of  Nile  as  fast, 
Isis,  and  Orus,  and  the  dog  Anubis,  haste. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


lOI 


Nor  is  Osiris  seen 

In  Memphian  grove  or  green, 

Trampling  the  unshower'd  grass  with  lowings  loud 
Nor  can  he  be  at  rest 
Within  his  sacred  chest ; 

Nought  but  profoundest  hell  can  be  his  shroud ; 
In  vain  with  timbrell'd  anthems  dark 
The  sable-stoled  sorcerers  bear  his  worshipt  ark. 


He  feels  from  Judah's  land 
The  dreaded  Infant's  hand, 

The  rays  of  Bethlehem  blind  his  dusky  eyn ; 
Nor  all  the  gods  beside 
Longer  dare  abide. 

Nor  Typhon  huge  ending  in  snaky  twine  : 
Our  Babe,  to  show  his  Godhead  true. 
Can  in  his  swaddling  bands  control  the  damned  crew. 


So,  when  the  sun  in  bed, 
Curtained  with  cloudy  red, 

Pillows  his  chin  upon  an  orient  wave, 
The  flocking  shadows  pale 
Troop  to  the  infernal  jail. 

Each  fetter'd  ghost  slips  to  his  several  grave ; 


102 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


And  the  yellow-skirted  fays 

Fly  after  the  night-steeds,  leaving  their  moon-loved 
maze. 

But  see,  the  Virgin  blest 
Hath  laid  her  Babe  to  rest ; 

Time  is  our  tedious  song  should  here  have  ending  : 
Heaven's  youngest-teemed  star 
Hath  fix'd  her  polished  car, 

Her  sleeping  Lord,  with  handmaid-lamp  attending : 
And  all  about  the  courtly  stable 
Bright-harness'd  ^  angels  sit  in  order  serviceable. 

^  In  bright  armour. 


jffsSsagS^Sai^a^jfcte:?^^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


103 


By  Cfiles  Fletcher. 

Mbo  can  forget— never  to  be  torgot 

TIT"  HO  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  never  sight  of  pareil  ^  fame 
For  God  before,  man  like  himself  did  frame. 

But  God  himself  now  like  a  mortal  man  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 ; 
See  how  small  room  my  infant  Lord  doth  take 

Whom  all  the  world  is  not  enough  to  hold  ! 

Who  of  his  years,  or  of  his  age  hath  told  ? 
Never  such  age  so  young,  never  a  child  so  old. 


Equal. 


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 ; 
But  now  for  drought  the  fields  were  all  undone, 
And  now  with  waters  all  is  overrun : 

So  fast  the  Cynthian  mountains    pour'd    their 
snow. 

When   once  they  felt  the   sun   so   near  them 
glow. 
That  Nilus  Egypt  lost,  and  to  a  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 ; 

^  Tyran  is  the  old  form  of  Tyrant. 


^gg^j>^j?s^.^?^Bg?rf:fj>;^=^^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


To  see  their  King,  the  kingly  sophies  ^  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. 


Wise  men. 


Jlirr^sas7a^fe^:i;»^fe?sate^ 


jJillliiiRHBiilr^ 

io6  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


From  Henry  Vmighan's  Silex 
ScitUUlans. 


O  WEET,  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  blessbd  swains 

Were  pilgrims  on  those  plains 
When  they  received  the  promise,  for  which  now 

'Twas  there  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 ; 


jj^^s^^S 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  io7 

Her  stately  piles  with  all  their  height  and  pride 

Now  languished  and  died, 
And  Bethlem'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. 
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  lie ; 
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  sheep,  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. 


io8  CAROLS  AND  POEMS, 

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 

Their  day  was  dark  and  dim. 


f^0^4j^Tfc^jS!iS?^fe;i^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


109 


From  Henry  Vaughan's  Silex 
Scintillans. 


A  WAKE,  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. 


2. 

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. 


no  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 

3- 
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. 

4- 
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  canst  make  cleaa 

5- 
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. 


% 


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." 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


By  Robert  Southwell. 

IRew  prince,  IRew  ipomp^ 

T)  EHOLD  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.^ 

^  Dress. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


112 


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. 

With  joy  approach,  O  Christian  wight ! 

Do  homage  to  thy  King ; 
And  highly  praise  this  humble  pomp 

Which  he  from  heaven  doth  bring. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  113 


From  George  Herbert's  Temple. 


Cbristmas, 


A  LL  after  pleasures  as  I  rid  one  day, 
1^  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  may'st  have 
A  better  lodging  than  a  rack  or  grave. 


114 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


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  should 

Himself  the  candle  hold. 


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  breast ;  and  both  so  twine,     - 
Till  ev'n  his  beams  sing  and  my  music  shine. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  115 


By  BUhop  Hall. 


fox  dbristmas  H)a^. 

T  MMORTAL  Babe,  who  this  dear  day 

Didst  change  thine  heaven  for  our  clay, 
And  didst  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  ! 


ii6 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


By  Edmund  Bolton.    From  England^s 
Helicon,  1600. 


A   CAROL   OR   HYMN    FOR   CHRISTMAS. 

O  WEET  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, 
Listen,  O  listen,  now,  O  not  to  you 
Our  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  them  behold. 


j^^^^^l 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


117 


Yet  from  their  beams  proceedeth  not  this  light, 

Nor  can  their  christals  such  reflection  give. 
What  then  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  quiristers  do  sing. 
Angels  they  are,  as  also  (Shepherds)  he 
Whom  in  our  fear  we  do  admire  to  see. 

Let  not  amazement  blind 

Your  souls,  said  he,  annoy  : 
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  BethVem  in  the  Saviour. 
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  ? 


?1ffS^^^gr^fi£?rmi^S^S?v?F^;^ 


Ii8  CAROLS  AND  POEMS 


By  Ben  Jonsnn. 

H  fb^mn  on  tbe  IRatfvit^  ot  m^  Saviour. 

T   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. 


j$ptefeFS;afe^$^ife?g^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


119 


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  ? 


i^fategg2rg^;^j?;;fe<'i?7?g=^^^ 


20 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS, 


From  Richard  Crashaw'a  Steps  to  the 
Temple.  The  text  of  ed.  1648  w  fol- 
lowed. 


B  Ibpmn  of  tbe  IRatlvttp, 


SUNG   AS    BY   THE   SHEPHERDS. 


Chorus.  /^^OME  we  shepherds  whose  blest  sight 

Hath  met  Love's  noon  in  Nature's  night; 
Come,  Hft  we  up  our  loftier  song, 
And  wake  the  sun  that  lies  too  long. 

To  all  our  world  of  well-stol'n  joy, 

He  slept  and  dreamt  of  no  such  thing, 

While  we  found  out  heaven's  fairer  eye 
And  kist  the  cradle  of  our  King ; 

Tell  him  he  rises  now  too  late 

To  show  us  ought  worth  looking  at. 

Tell  him  we  now  can  show  him  more 
Than  e'er  he  showed  to  mortal  sight, 

Than  he  himself  e'er  saw  before, 

Which  to  be  seen  needs  not  his  light. 

Tell  him,  Tityrus,  where  th'  hast  been, 

Tell  him,  Thyrsis,  what  th'  hast  seen. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


121 


Ti/.  Gloomy  night  embraced  the  place 
Where  the  noble  Infant  lay, 
The  Babe  looked  up  and  showed  his  face ; 

In  spite  of  darkness  it  was  day. 
It  was  thy  day,  Sweet,  and  did  rise 
Not  from  the  East  but  from  thine  eyes. 
Chorus.   It  was  thy  day.  Sweet,  &:c. 

Thyrs.  Winter  chid  aloud  and  sent 

The  angry  North  to  wage  his  wars ; 
The  North  forgot  his  fierce  intent, 

And  left  perfumes  instead  of  scars ; 
By  those  sweet  eyes'  persuasive  powers. 
Where  he  meant  frost  he  scattered  flowers. 
Chorus.  By  those  sweet  eyes,  &c. 

Both.  We  saw  thee  in  thy  balmy  nest, 

Bright  dawn  of  our  eternal  day  ! 
We  saw  thine  eyes  break  from  their  East 
And  chase  the  trembling  shades  away  \ 
We  saw  thee,  and  we  blest  the  sight, 
We  saw  thee  by  thine  own  sweet  light 

Tit.  Poor  world  (said  I),  what  wilt  thou  do 
To  entertain  this  starry  stranger  } 
Is  this  the  best  thou  canst  bestow, 
A  cold  and  not  too  cleanly  manger  ? 


?^^^^^gfif^;s^i^»^^=^s^^^ 


122 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Contend,  ye  powers  of  heaven  and  earth, 
To  fit  a  bed  for  this  huge  birth. 

Chorus.  Contend,  ye  powers,  &c. 

Thyrs.  Proud  world  (said  I),  cease  your  contest, 
And  let  the  mighty  Babe  alone. 
The  Phoenix  builds  the  Phoenix  nest. 

Love's  architecture  is  all  one. 
The  Babe  whose  birth  embraves  this  morn 
Made  his  own  bed  ere  he  was  bom. 

Chorus.  The  Babe  whose  birth,  &c. 

Tit,  I  saw  the  curFd  drops,  soft  and  slow, 
Come  hovering  o'er  the  place's  head, 
Offering  their  whitest  sheets  of  snow 
To  furnish  the  fair  Infant's  bed  : 
Forbear  (said  I),  be  not  too  bold  ; 
Your  fleece  is  white,  but  'tis  too  cold. 
Chorus.  Forbear  (said  I),  &c. 

Thyrs.  I  saw  the  obsequious  seraphins 

Their  rosy  fleece  of  fire  bestow ; 
For  well  they  now  can  spare  their  wings, 

Since  heaven  itself  lies  here  below  : 
Well  done  (said  I),  but  are  you  sure 
Your  down  so  warm  will  pass  for  pure. 
Chorus.  Well  done  (said  I),  &c. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


123 


Tt'f.  No,  no,  your  king's  not  yet  to  seek 
Where  to  repose  his  royal  head. 
See,  see,  how  soon  his  new-bloom'd  cheek 

Twixt  's  mother's  breasts  is  gone  to  bed : 
Sweet  choice  (said  I),  no  way  but  so. 
Not  to  lie  cold,  yet  sleep  in  snow. 

Chorus.  Sweet  choice  (said  I),  &c. 

Both.  We  saw  thee  in  thy  balmy  nest, 
Bright  dawn  of  our  eternal  day  ! 
We  saw  thine  eyes  break  from  their  East 
And  chase  the  trembling  shades  away ; 
We  saw  thee,  and  we  blest  the  sight, 
We  saw  thee  by  thine  own  sweet  light 
Chorus.  We  saw  thee,  &c. 

Full  Chorus.  Welcome  all  wonder  in  one  sight, 

Eternity  shut  in  a  span, 
Summer  in  winter,  day  in  night. 

Heaven  in  earth  and  God  in  man  ! 
Great  little  One  !  whose  all-embracing  birth 
Lifts  earth  to  heaven,  stoops  heaven  to  earth. 

Welcome,  though  not  to  gold  nor  silk. 
To  more  than  Caesar's  birthright  is. 

Two  Sister  Seas  of  Virgin  milk 
With  many  a  rarely-tempered  kiss. 


1 


24 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


That  breathes  at  once  both  Maid  and  Mother, 
Warms  in  the  one  and  cools  in  the  other. 


She  sings  thy  tears  asleep,  and  dips 
Her  kisses  in  thy  weeping  eye  ; 
She  spreads  the  red  leaves  of  thy  lips 
That  in  their  buds  yet  blushing  lie : 
She  'gainst  those  mother-diamonds  tries 
The  points  of  her  young  eagle's  eyes. 


Welcome,  though  not  to  those  gay  flies 
Gilded  i'  the  beams  of  earthly  kings, 

Slippery  souls  in  smiling  eyes, 

But  to  poor  shepherds'  home-spun  things  ; 

Whose  wealth's  their  flock,  whose  wit  to  be 

Well  read  in  their  simplicity. 


Yet  when  young  April's  husband-showers 
Shall  bless  the  fruitful  Maia's  bed, 

We'll  bring  the  first-born  of  her  flowers 
To  kiss  thy  feet  and  crown  thy  head  : 

To  thee,  dread  Lamb,  whose  love  must  keep 

The  shepherds  more  than  they  their  sheep. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


125 


To  thee,  meek  Majesty  !  soft  King 
Of  simple  graces  and  sweet  loves, 

Each  of  us  his  lamb  will  bring, 
Each  his  pair  of  silver  doves, 

Till  burnt  at  last  in  fire  of  thy  fair  eyes 

Ourselves  become  our  own  best  sacrifice. 


126  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


From  Richard  Crashaw's  Steps  to  the 
Temple.  Only  the  opening  lines 
are  here  given. 


H  Ibymn  for  tbe  Bptpban^, 

SUNG   AS   BY   THE   THREE   KINGS. 

1  King.   T)  RIGHT  Babe!  whose  awful  beauties  make 

The  mom  incur  a  sweet  mistake ; 

2  H^ing.  For  whom  the  officious  heavens  devise 

To  disinherit  the  sun's  rise ; 

3  Xing.  Delicately  to  displace 

The  day,  and  plant  it  fairer  in  thy  face ; 

1  King.  O  thou  born  King  of  loves  ! 

2  Xing.  Of  lights  ! 

3  Xing.  Of  joys  ! 

Chorus.  Look  up,  sweet  Babe,  look  up  and  see  ! 
For  love  of  thee, 
Thus  far  from  home 
The  East  is  come 
To  seek  herself  in  thy  sweet  eyes. 

I  Xing.  We  who  strangely  went  astray, 
Lost  in  a  bright 
Meridian  night ; 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


[27 


2  JCi'ng.  A  darkness  made  of  too  much  day  j 

3  Xmg.  Beckoned  from  far 

By  thy  fair  star, 

Lo,  at  last  have  found  our  way. 
Chorus.  To  thee,  thou  Day  of  Night !  thou  East  of 
West ! 
Lo,  we  at  last  have  found  the  way 
To  thee,  the  world's  great  universal  East, 
The  general  and  indifferent  day. 

1  Ki7ig.  All-circling  point !  all-centring  sphere ! 

The  world's  one  round  eternal  year : 

2  King.  Whose  full  and  all-unwrinkled  face 

Nor  sinks  nor  swells  with  time  or  place ; 

3  King.  But  every  where  and  every  while 

Is  one  consistent  solid  smile. 

1  King.  Not  vexed  and  tost, 

2  King.  'Twixt  spring  and  frost ; 

3  King.  Nor  by  alternate  shreds  of  light. 

Sordidly  shifting  hands  with  shades  and  night. 
Chorus,  O  little  All,  in  Thy  embrace. 

The  world  lies  warm  and  likes  his  place ; 

Nor  does  his  full  globe  fail  to  be 

Kissed  on  both  his  cheeks  by  Thee ; 

Time  is  too  narrow  for  Thy  year. 

Nor  makes  the  whole  world  Thy  half- sphere. 


128  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


By  William  Drummond 
0/  Hawthornden. 


13  UN,    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  re-echoed  the  same. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


129 


By  William  Drummond 
of  HaMhomden. 


Ube  Sbepberbs* 

/^  THAN  the  fairest  day,  thrice  fairer  night ! 

Night  to  blest  days  in  which  a  sun  doth  rise 

Of  which  that  golden  eye  which  clears  the  skies 
Is  but  a  sparkling  ray,  a  shadow-light ! 
And  blessed  ye,  in  silly  pastors'  sight, 

Mild  creatures,  in  whose  warm  crib  now  lies 
That  heaven-sent  youngling,  holy-maid-born  wight, 

Midst,  end,  beginning  of  our  prophecies  ! 
Blest  cottage  that  hath  flowers  in  winter  spread, 

Though  withered — blessed  grass  that  hath  the  grace 

To  deck  and  be  a  carpet  to  that  place  ! 
Thus  sang,  unto  the  sounds  of  oaten  reed. 

Before  the  Babe,  the  shepherds  bowed  on  knees ; 

And  springs  ran  nectar,  honey  dropped  from  trees. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


By  Sir  John  Beaumont. 


Qt  tbe  Bptpbani^* 


"pAlR  eastern  star,  that  art  ordained  to  run 

Before  the  sages,  to  the  rising  sun. 
Here  cease  thy  course,  and  wonder  that  the  cloud 
Of  this  poor  stable  can  thy  Maker  shroud  : 
Ye  heavenly  bodies  glory  to  be  bright. 
And  are  esteemed  as  ye  are  rich  in  light ; 
But  here  on  earth  is  taught  a  different  way. 
Since  under  this  low  roof  the  Highest  lay. 
Jerusalem  erects  her  stately  towers. 
Displays  her  windows  and  adorns  her  bowers ; 
Yet  there  thou  must  not  cast  a  trembling  spark, 
Let  Herod's  palace  still  continue  dark ; 
Each  school  and  synagogue  thy  force  repels. 
There  Pride  enthroned  in  misty  error  dwells ; 
The  temple,  where  the  priests  maintain  their  quire, 
Shall  taste  no  beam  of  thy  celestial  fire, 
While  this  weak  cottage  all  thy  splendour  takes  : 
A  joyful  gate  of  every  chink  it  makes. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  131 

Here  shines  no  golden  roof,  no  ivory  stair, 

No  king  exalted  in  a  stately  chair. 

Girt  with  attendants,  or  by  heralds  styled. 

But  straw  and  hay  enwrap  a  speechless  child. 

Yet  Sabae's  lords  before  this  babe  unfold 

Their  treasures,  offering  incense,  myrrh  and  gold. 

The  crib  becomes  an  altar :  therefore  dies 

No  ox  nor  sheep ;  for  in  their  fodder  lies 

The  Prince  of  Peace,  who,  thankful  for  his  bed. 

Destroys  those  rites  in  which  their  blood  was  shed  : 

The  quintessence  of  earth  he  takes,  and  fees. 

And  precious  gums  distilled  from  weeping  trees ; 

Rich  metals  and  sweet  odours  now  declare 

The  glorious  blessings  which  his  laws  prepare, 

To  clear  us  from  the  base  and  loathsome  flood 

Of  sense  and  make  us  fit  for  angels'  food. 

Who  lift  to  God  for  us  the  holy  smoke 

Of  fervent  prayers  with  which  we  him  invoke, 

And  try  our  actions  in  the  searching  fire 

By  which  the  seraphims  our  lips  inspire : 

No  muddy  dross  pure  minerals  shall  infect. 

We  shall  exhale  our  vapours  up  direct : 

No  storm  shall  cross,  nor  glittering  lights  deface 

Perpetual  sighs  which  seek  a  happy  place. 


(^^^^^I^;^^^^! 


132 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


From  Jeremy  Taylor's  Festival 
Hymns. 


fb^mn  for  Cbristmas-'Da^* 

BEING   A   DIALOGUE    BETWEEN   THREE   SHEPHERDS. 

I.  T17HERE  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  ? 


2.  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  ? 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


133 


3.  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. 


^j^^s^^j 


'3+ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


From  Jeremy  Taylor's  Festival 
Hymns. 


H  Ib^mn  tot  Cbrf0tma5  Wa^. 

A  WAKE,  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. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


135 


He  that  begirt  each  zone, 

To  whom  both  poles  are  one,  -^ 

Who  grasped  the  Zodiac  in  his  hknd 

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  bom,  made  apt  to  die. 


Chorus.  Then  let  our  praises  emulate  and  vie 
With  his  humiUty  ! 
Since  he's  exiled  from  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 ! 


i  ^jfeg^:^|p^-;^^:rf^g?st=^S^^ 


136  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


By  Sir  Edward  Sherburne. 


Un^  tbep  lai&  Ibim  in  a  /IDanger.  ^ 

TJ  APPY  crib,  that  wert  alone  | 

To  my  God,  bed,  cradle,  throne !  ;* 

Whilst  thy  glorious  vileness  I  ^ 

View  with  divine  fancy's  eye,  - 

Sordid  filth  seems  all  the  cost,  '■ 

State,  and  splendour,  crowns  do  boast.  s 

^^ 
't 

See  heaven's  sacred  majesty  i\ 

Humbled  beneath  poverty ;  | ' 

Swaddled  up  in  homely  rags 

On  a  bed  of  straw  and  flags  ! 

He  whose  hands  the  heavens  displayed, 

And  the  world's  foundations  laid, 

From  the  world's  almost  exiled, 

Of  all  ornaments  despoiled. 

Perfumes  bathe  him  not,  new-born, 

Persian  mantles  not  adorn ; 

Nor  do  the  rich  roofs  look  bright 

With  the  jasper's  orient  light. 


r2p»=^S!^^?^:^^^;^::P^f^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  137 

Where,  O  royal  Infant,  be 
Th'  ensigns  of  thy  majesty ; 
Thy  Sire's  equalizing  state  ; 
And  thy  sceptre  that  rules  fate  ? 
Where's  thy  angel-guarded  throne, 
Whence  thy  laws  thou  didst  make  known — 
Laws  which  heaven,  earth,  hell  obeyed  ? 
These,  ah  !  these  aside  he  laid ; 
Would  the  emblem  be — of  pride 
By  humility  outvied  ? 


j)P!»Mi»ig^^?B^^{^^ia^^ 


138 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


By  Robert  Herrick. 


Hn  Q^c  on  tbe  Mittb  of  out  Saviour* 

T  N  numbers,  and  but  these  few, 

I  sing  thy  birth,  O  Jesu  ! 
Thou  pretty  baby,  born  here 
With  sup'rabundant  scorn  here : 
Who  for  thy  princely  port  here, 

Hadst  for  thy  place 
Of  birth,  a  base 
Out-stable  for  thy  court  here. 


Instead  of  neat  enclosures 
Of  interwoven  osiers, 
Instead  of  fragrant  posies 
Of  daffodills  and  roses, 
Thy  cradle,  kingly  stranger, 
As  gospel  tells. 
Was  nothing  else 
But  here  a  homely  manger. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


139 


But  we  with  silks  not  crewels, 
With  sundry  precious  jewels, 
And  lily  work  will  dress  thee ; 
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. 


-^^^!^^^^0^^ 


^'^^^^m^pmisr^m^?^^msm^r^^!^ssim 


I40 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


By  Francis  Kinwelmersh.    From  the 
Paradise  of  Dayntie  Denises,  1576. 


Ifpr  Cbrtetmas  Dap* 

"D  EJOICE,  rejoice,  with  heart  and  voice  ! 
In  Christe's  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  for  to  surcease, 
This  day  did  man  receive  a  remedy 

For  each  offence  and  every  deadly  sin 
With  guilty  heart  that  erst  he  wandered  in. 


gpto?»giab;ftsi^j^a^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


141 


In  Christy's  flock  let  love  be  surely  placed, 
From  Christe's  flock  let  concord  hate  expel, 
Of  Christe's  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. 

O  sing  unto  this  glittering  glorious  king, 

O  praise  his  name  let  every  living  thing. 

Let  heart  and  voice,  like  bells  of  silver,  ring 

The  comfort  that  this  day  doth  bring. 

Let  lute,  let  shawm,  with  sound  of  sweet  delight, 
The  joy  of  Christe's  birth  this  day  recite. 


142  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Bij  S.  T.  Coleridge. 


"PjORMI,  Jesu  !  Mater  ridet 

Quae  tam  dulcem  somnum  videt, 

Dormi,.  Jesu  !  blandule  ! 
Si  non  dormis,  Mater  plorat 
Inter  fila  cantans  orat, 

Blande,  veni,  somnule. 


5>l 


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  ! 

^  Copied  from  a  print  of  the  Virgin  in  a  Roman  Catholic 
village  in  Germany. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


143 


By  John  Addington  Symonds. 


H  Cbtistmas  Xullabi^^ 

C  LEEP,  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! 

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 ! 


144 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


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  ! 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


145 


From  George  Wither's  Hallelujah, 
or  Britain's  Second  Remem- 
brancer. 


H  lRocf?tng  1b^mn* 

O  WEET  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 ; 


146  CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  | 

Thine  eldest  brother  is  a  king,  I, 

And  hath  a  kingdom  bought  for  thee.  /I 

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,  (t 

And  God  and  angels  are  thy  friends.  | 

Sweet  baby,  then,  forbear  to  weep  ; 
Be  still,  my  babe  ;  sweet  baby,  sleep. 

When  God  with  us  was  dwelling  here. 

In  little  babes  he  took  delight : 
Such  innocents  as  thou,  my  dear. 

Are  ever  precious  in  his  sight.  ;ij 

Sweet  baby,  then,  forbear  to  weep;  IH 

Be  still,  my  babe  ;  sweet  baby,  sleep.  S 

I 

A  little  infant  once  was  he,  })| 

And  Strength-in-Weakness  then  was  laid  ^v' 

Upon  his  Virgin-Mother's  knee,  r 

That  power  to  thee  might  be  conveyed.  i 

Sweet  baby,  then,  forbear  to  weep  ; 

Be  still,  my  babe ;  sweet  baby,  sleep. 


:--^^iii!^!^ltJJ:j;a^?^J!^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


H7 


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. 

S7aeef  baby,  then,  forbear  to  weep  ; 
Be  still,  iiy  babe  ;  sweet  baby,  sleep. 

The  King  of  kings,  when  he  was  born, 
Had  not  so  much  for  outward  ease ; 
By  him  such  dressings  were  not  worn. 
Nor  such-like  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. 

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. 


{^^^^^WR^^S^^^]^^^^^f^?^^^^P^TOEB^^irt5^^^^^:' 


148 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


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  stilly  my  babe;  sweet  baby,  sleep. 


P\ 


PART   III. 


CHRISTMAS  CUSTOMS  AND 
CHRISTMAS  CHEER. 


From  George  Wither's  Juvenilia. 

So,  now  i0  come  our  joi^fulst  jFeast 

O  O,  now  is  come  our  joyfulst  feast, 

Let  every  man  be  jolly ; 
Each  room  with  ivy  leaves  is  drest, 

And  every  post  with  holly. 
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'  chimnies  smoke, 
And  Christmas  logs  are  burning ; 

Their  ovens  they  with  baked  meats  choke. 
And  all  their  spits  are  turning. 


50                        CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  i 

Without  the  door  let  sorrow  lie ;  ^ 

And  if  for  cold  it  hap  to  die,  m 

We'll  bury't  in  a  Christmas  pie,  % 

And  evermore  be  merry.  ^■ 

Now  every  lad  is  wondrous  trim,  j-- 

And  no  man  minds  his  labour  :  <(; 

Our  lasses  have  provided  them  )>: 

A  bag-pipe  and  a  tabor ;  |x 

Young  men  and  maids,  and  girls  and  boys,  yi 

Give  life  to  one  another's  joys ;  <  , 

And  you  anon  shall  by  their  noise  ;l 

Perceive  that  they  are  merry.  ! 

Rank  misers  now  do  sparing  shun  ;  Ji 

Their  hall  of  music  soundeth ;  (( 

And  dogs  thence  with  whole  shoulders  run,  J^ 

So  all  things  there  aboundeth.  )) 

The  country  folks  themselves  advance  \\ 

For  crowdy-mutton's  ^  come  out  of  France ;  ^^\ 

And  Jack  shall  pipe,  and  Jill  shall  dance,  jjj 

And  all  the  town  be  merry.  I^j 

P 
Ned  Squash  hath  fetched  his  bands  from  pawn,      ^J 

And  all  his  best  apparel ; 

Brisk  Ned  hath  bought  a  ruff  of  lawn 

With  droppings  of  the  barrel ; 

1  Fiddlers. 


^;:?^fi^P^s:?y^!ri^S^^^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


151 


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  arrants ; 

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. 


j<i^^2^^; 


152 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


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  wassail  bowls 

About  the  streets  are  singing ; 
The  boys  are  come  to  catch  the  owls, 

The  wild  mare  in  is  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-cotes  have 

And  mate  with  everybody ; 
The  honest  now  may  play  the  knave 

And  wise  men  play  at  noddy. 


^s^^^^^^^^as^^^^ 


Some  youths  will  now  a  mumming  go. 


^^^^^^ngj;^y=^:Jaa^i^Vig^ak=^g^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


153 


Some  youths  will  now  a  mumming  go, 
Some  others  play  at  Rowland-ho, 
And  twenty  other  gameboys  mo, 
Because  they  will  be  merry. 

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  inspir'd  we  sing, 
Let  all  the  streets  with  echoes  ring. 
Woods  and  hills  and  everything 
Bear  witness  we  are  merry. 


'54 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


By  Robert  Herrick. 


Ceremonies  for  Cbrtstmas^ 

/^^OME,  bring  with  a  noise, 
My  merry,  merry  boys, 
The  Christmas  log  to  the  firing ; 

While  my  good  dame,  she 

Bids  ye  all  be  free ; 
And  drink  to  your  heart's  desiring 

With  the  last  year's  brand 

Light  the  new  block,  and 
For  good  success  in  his  spending. 

On  your  psaltries  play. 

That  sweet  luck  may 
Come  while  the  log  is  a  teending.^ 

Drink  now  the  strong  beer, 
Cut  the  white  loaf  here. 

The  while  the  meat  is  a  shredding ; 
For  the  rare  mince-pie 
And  the  plums  stand  by 

To  fill  the  paste  that's  a  kneading. 

*  Burning. 


h 


I 


''  Come,  bring  with  a  noise, 
My  merry,  merry  boys, 
The  Christmas  log  to  the  firing." 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


155 


CHRISTMAS  EVE;  ANOTHER  CEREMONY. 

Come,  guard  this  night  the  Christmas-pie, 
That  the  thief,  though  ne'er  so  sly, 
With  his  flesh  hooks  don't  come  nigh 
To  catch  it, 

From  him,  who  all  alone  sits  there, 
Having  his  eyes  still  in  his  ear, 
And  a  deal  of  nightly  fear 

To  watch  it. 


ANOTHER  TO  THE  MAIDS. 


Wash  your  hands,  or  else  the  fire 
Will  not  teend  to  your  desire ; 
Unwashed  hands,  ye  maidens  know. 
Dead  the  fire,  though  ye  blow. 


156 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


ANOTHER. 

Wassail  the  trees  that  they  may  bear 
You  many  a  plum,  and  many  a  pear  : 
For  more  or  less  fruits  they  will  bring, 
As  you  do  give  them  wassailing. 


f 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


157 


There  is  a  black  letter  copy  of  this  song 
in  the  Pepysian  Collection.  The 
first  part  i&  found  in  Durfey's  Pills 
to  Purge  Melancholy.  I  have  fol- 
lowed the  text  given  in  Rimhault's 
Little  Book  of  Songs  and  Ballads. 


XTbe  praise  of  Cbristmas* 

FIRST  PART. 
A  LL  hail  to  the  days  that  merit  more  praise 

Than  all  the  rest  of  the  year, 
And  welcome  the  nights  that  double  delights 

As  well  for  the  poor  as  the  peer  ! 
Good  fortune  attend  each  merry  man's  friend, 

That  doth  but  the  best  that  he  may ; 
Forgetting  old  wrongs,  with  carols  and  songs. 
To  drive  the  cold  winter  away. 

Let  Misery  pack,  with  a  whip  at  his  back, 

To  the  deep  Tantalian  flood ; 
In  Lethe  profound  let  envy  be  drown'd, 

That  pines  at  another  man's  good ; 
Let  Sorrow's  expense  be  banded  from  hence, 

All  payments  have  greater  delay. 
We'll  spend  the  long  nights  in  cheerful  delights 

To  drive  the  cold  winter  away. 


158 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


'Tis  ill  for  a  mind  to  anger  inclined 

To  think  of  small  injuries  now ; 
If  wrath  be  to  seek  do  not  lend  her  thy  cheek, 

Nor  let  her  inhabit  thy  brow. 
Cross  out  of  thy  books  malevolent  looks, 

Both  beauty  and  youth's  decay. 
And  wholly  consort  with  mirth  and  with  sport 

To  drive  the  cold  winter  away. 

The  court  in  all  state  now  opens  her  gate 

And  gives  a  free  welcome  to  most ; 
The  city  likewise,  tho'  somewhat  precise, 

Doth  willingly  part  with  her  roast : 
But  yet  by  report  from  city  and  court 

The  country  will  e'er  gain  the  day ; 
More  liquor  is  spent  and  with  better  content 

To  drive  the  cold  winter  away. 

Our  good  gentry  there  for  costs  do  not  spare, 

The  yeomanry  fast  not  till  Lent ; 
The  farmers  and  such  think  nothing  too  much, 

If  they  keep  but  to  pay  for  their  rent. 
The  poorest  of  all  now  do  merrily  call, 

When  at  a  fit  place  they  can  stay. 
For  a  song  or  a  tale  or  a  cup  of  good  ale 

To  drive  the  cold  winter  away. 


|P^3^^^H^J^^Z^^^5^S^K^^?^^^^^^J^5^^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


159 


i^  Thus  none  will  allow  of  solitude  now 

But  merrily  greets  the  time, 
To  make  it  appear  of  all  the  whole  year 

That  this  is  accounted  the  prime  : 
December  is  seen  apparel'd  in  green, 

And  January  f'esh  as  May 
Comes  dancing  along  with  a  cup  and  a  song 

To  drive  the  cold  winter  away. 


THE  SECOND  PART. 

This  time  of  the  year  is  spent  in  good  cheer, 

And  neighbours  together  do  meet 
To  sit  by  the  fire,  with  friendly  desire, 

Each  other  in  love  to  greet ; 
Old  grudges  forgot  are  put  in  the  pot, 

All  sorrows  aside  they  lay ; 
The  old  and  the  young  doth  carol  this  song 

To  drive  the  cold  winter  away. 


Sisley  and  Nanny,  more  jocund  than  any, 
As  blithe  as  the  month  of  June, 

Do  carol  and  sing  like  birds  of  the  spring. 
No  nightingale  sweeter  in  tune  ; 

To  bring  in  content,  when  summer  is  spent, 
In  pleasant  delight  and  play, 


lF!RteS?ai^;fa;$fBfe!^^ 


i6o  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 

With  mirth  and  good  cheer  to  end  the  whole  year, 
And  drive  the  cold  winter  away. 

The  shepherd,  the  swain  do  highly  disdain 

To  waste  out  their  time  in  care. 
And  Clim  of  the  Clough  hath  plenty  enough 

If  he  but  a  penny  can  spare 
To  spend  at  the  night,  in  joy  and  delight, 

Now  after  his  labour  all  day ; 
For  better  than  lands  is  the  help  of  his  hands 

To  drive  the  cold  winter  away. 

To  mask  and  to  mum  kind  neighbours  will  come 

With  wassails  of  nut-brown  ale, 
To  drink  and  carouse  to  all  in  the  house 

As  merry  as  bucks  in  the  dale ; 
Where  cake,  bread,  and  cheese  is  brought  for  your  fees 

To  make  you  the  longer  stay  ; 
At  the  fire  to  warm  'twill  do  you  no  harm, 

To  drive  the  cold  winter  away. 

When  Christmas's  tide  comes  in  like  a  bride 

With  holly  and  ivy  clad. 
Twelve  days  in  the  year  much  mirth  and  good  cheer 

In  every  household  is  had ; 


J  if 


I  I 


The  country  guise  is  then  to  devise 

Some  gambols  of  Christmas  play, 
Whereat  the  young  men  do  best  that  they  can 

To  drive  the  cold  winter  away. 

When  white-bearded  frost  hath  threatened  his  worst, 

And  fallen  from  branch  and  briar, 
Then  time  away  calls  from  husbandry  halls 

And  from  the  good  countryman's  fire. 
Together  to  go,  to  plough  and  to  sow. 

To  get  us  both  food  and  array. 
And  thus  with  content  the  time  we  have  spent 

To  drive  the  cold  winter  away. 


1 62 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


From  Evans'  Old  Bailada,  td.  1810, 
/.   146-150. 


®lt)  Cbristmas  IRetutnet), 

OR,   HOSPITALITY   REVIVED; 

Being  a  Looking-glass  for  rich  Misers,  wherein  they  may  see  (if  they 
be  not  blind)  how  much  they  are  to  blame  for  their  penurious 
housekeeping,  and  likewise  an  encouragement  to  those  noble- 
minded  gentry,  who  lay  out  a  great  part  of  their  estates  in  hospi- 
tality, relieving  such  persons  as  have  need  thereof ; 

••  Who  feasts  the  poor,  a  true  reward  shall  find, 
Or  helps  the  old,  the  feeble,  lame,  and  blind. " 

To  the  tune  of  "  The  Delights  of  the  Bottle:' 

A  LL  you  that  to  feasting  and  mirth  are  inclined, 
Come  here  is  good  news  for  to  pleasure  your 
mind, 
Old  Christmas  is  come  for  to  keep  open  house, 
He  scorns  to  be  guilty  of  starving  a  mouse  : 
Then  come,  boys,  and  welcome  for  diet  the  chief, 
Plum-pudding,  goose,  capon,  minced  pies,  and  roast 
beef. 


•^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  163 

A  long  time  together  he  hath  been  forgot, 
They  scarce  could  afiford  to  hang  on  the  pot ; 
Such  miserly  sneaking  in  England  hath  been, 
As  by  our  forefathers  ne'er  us'd  to  be  seen ; 
But  now  he's  returned  you  shall  have  in  brief, 
Plum-pudding,  goose,  capon,  minced  pies,  and  roast- 
beef. 

The  times  were  ne'er  good  since  Old  Christmas  was 

fled. 
And  all  hospitality  hath  been  so  dead  ; 
No  mirth  at  our  festivals  late  did  appear. 
They  scarcely  would  part  with  a  cup  of  March  beer ; 
But  now  you  shall  have  for  the  ease  of  your  grief. 
Plum-pudding,  goose,  capon,  minced  pies,  and  roast- 
beef. 

The  butler  and  baker,  they  now  may  be  glad. 

The  times  they  are  mended,  though  they  have  been 

bad; 
The  brewer,  he  likewise  may  be  of  good  cheer, 
He  shall  have  good  trading  for  ale  and  strong  beer ; 
All  trades  shall  be  jolly,  and  have  for  relief. 
Plum-pudding,  goose,  capon,  minced  pies,  and  roast- 
beef. 


i64  CAROLS  AND  POEMS, 

The  holly  and  ivy  about  the  walls  wind, 

And    show  that  we  ought  to  our  neighbours  be 

kind, 
Inviting  each  other  for  pastime  and  sport. 
And  where  we  best  fare,  there  w^e  most  do  resort ; 
We  fail  not  of  victuals,  and  that  of  the  chief, 
Plum-pudding,  goose,  capon,  minced  pies,  and  roast- 
beef. 


The  cooks  shall  be  busied  by  day  and  by  night. 
In  roasting  and  boiling,  for  taste  and  delight ; 
Their  senses  in  liquor  that's  nappy  they'll  steep, 
Though  they  be  afforded  to  have  little  sleep ; 
They  still  are  employed  for  to  dress  us  in  brief. 
Plum-pudding,  goose,  capon,  minced  pies,  and  roast- 
beef. 


Although  the  cold  weather  doth  hunger  provoke, 
Tis  a  comfort  to  see  how  the  chimneys  do  smoke ; 
Provision  is  making  for  beer,  ale,  and  wine. 
For  all  that  are  willing  or  ready  to  dine  : 
Then  haste  to  the  kitchen  for  diet  the  chief, 
Plum-pudding,  goose,  capon,  minced  pies,  and  roast- 
beef. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


165 


All  travellers,  as  they  do  pass  on  their  way, 
At  gentlemen's  halls  are  invited  to  stay, 
Themselves  to  refresh,  and  their  horses  to  rest, 
Since  that  he  must  be  Old  Christmas's  guest ; 
Nay,  the  poor  shall  not  want,  but  have  for  relief, 
Plum-pudding,  goose,  capon,  minced  pies,  and  roast- 
beef. 

Now    Mock-beggar-hall    it    no    more    shall     stand 

empty. 
But  all  shall  be  furnisht  with  freedom  and  plenty ; 
The  hoarding  old  misers,  who  us'd  to  preserve 
The  gold  in  their  coffers,  and  see  the  poor  starve. 
Must  now  spread  their   tables,   and  give   them   in 

brief. 
Plum-pudding,  goose,  capon,  minced  pies,  and  roast- 
beef. 


The  court,  and  the  city,  and  country  are  glad. 
Old  Christmas  is  come  to  cheer  up  the  sad; 
Broad  pieces  and  guineas  about  now  shall  fly. 
And  hundreds  be  losers  by  cogging  a  die. 
Whilst  others  are  feasting  with  diet  the  chief. 
Plum-pudding,  goose,  capon,  minced  pies,  and  roast- 
beef. 


j^;^?^^=Y7^??rK$jgS^'=^^?ir^^ 


i66 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS, 


Those  that  have  no  coin  at  the  cards  for  to  play, 
May  sit  by  the  fire,  and  pass  time  away. 
And  drink  of  their  moisture  contented  and  free, 
"  My  honest  good  fellow,  come,  here  is  to  thee  ! " 
And  when  they  are  hungry,  fall  to  their  relief, 
Plum-pudding,  goose,  capon,  minced  pies,  and  roast- 
beef. 


Young  gallants  and  ladies  shall  foot  it  along, 
Each  room  in  the  house  to  the  music  shall  throng. 
Whilst  jolly  carouses  about  they  shall  pass. 
And  each  country  swain  trip  about  with  his  lass ; 
Meantime  goes  the  caterer  to  fetch  in  the  chief. 
Plum-pudding,  goose,  capon,  minced  pies,  and  roast- 
beef. 


The    cooks    and    the  scullion,   who    toil  in  their 

frocks. 
Their  hopes  do  depend  upon  their  Christmas  box ; 
There  is  very  few  that  do  live  on  the  earth 
But  enjoy  at  this  time  either  profit  or  mirth ; 
Yea  those  that  are  charged  to  find  all  relief, 
Plum-pudding,  goose,  capon,  minced  pies,  and  roast- 
beef. 


jfi5teP^f^ri;;^j??Bferfg^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


[67 


Then  well  may  we  welcome  Old  Christmas  to  town, 
Who  brings  us  good  cheer,  and  good  liquor,so  brown ; 
To  pass  the  cold  winter  away  with  delight, 
We  feast  it  all  day,  and  we  frolick  all  night ; 
Both  hunger  and  cold  we  keep  out  with  relief. 
Plum-pudding,  goose,  capon,  minced  pies,  and  roast- 
beef. 


Then  let  all  curmudgeons  who  dote  on  their  wealth, 
And  value  their  treasure  much  more  than  their  health. 
Go  hang  themselves  up,  if  they  will  be  so  kind ; 
Old  Christmas  with  them  but  small  welcome  shall 

find  ; 
They  will  not  afford  to  themselves  without  grief. 
Plum-pudding,  goose,  capon,  minced  pies,  and  roast- 
beef. 


5^te^j^g?fg¥bii^s^>3^i^^^ 


i68  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


From  Round  about  our  Coal  Fire,  1740. 


©  i^ou  mctr^,  mern^  Souls*  |j 

r\  YOU  merry,  merry  Souls, 

Christmas  is  a-coming, 
We  shall  have  flowing  bowls, 
Dancing,  piping,  drumming. 


Delicate  minced  pies 

To  feast  every  virgin, 
Capon  and  goose  likewise, 

Brawn  and  a  dish  of  sturgeon. 


^i 


Then,  for  your  Christmas  box. 

Sweet  plum  cakes  and  money,  : 
Delicate  holland  smocks. 

Kisses  sweet  as  honey. 

Hey  for  the  Christmas  ball,  Y] 

Where  we  shall  be  jolly,  </j 

Jigging  short  and  tall,  ■,[ 

Kate,  Dick,  Ralph,  and  Molly.  jj 

k 


Then  to  the  Hop  we'll  go 
Where  we'll  jig  and  caper ; 

Maidens  all-a-row ; 
Will  shall  pay  the  scraper. 


Hodge  shall  dance  with  Prue, 
Keeping  time  with  kisses ; 

We'll  have  a  jovial  crew 
Of  sweet  smirking  misses. 


From  Ritson's  Ancient  Songs,  where 
it  is  stated  to  be  from  Wynkyn  de 
Word^s  Christmasae  Carolles,  1 52 1 . 


H  CaroL 

BRINGING    IN   THE    BOAR'S    HEAD. 

/^APUT  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  convivio. 


The  boar's  head,  I  understand, 
Is  the  chief  service  in  this  land ; 
Look,  wherever  it  be  fand, 

Servite  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. 


^^^^^S^2^: 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


171 


A  modem  version  of  the  previous  Carol. 
From  Dibdin's  Typog.  Antiq.  ii. 
252. 


Ube  Boar's  IbeaD  CaroL 

SUNG   AT   queen's  COLLEGE,    OXFORD* 

T^HE  boar's  head  in  hand  bear  I, 

Bedecked  with  bays  and  rosemary ; 
And  I  pray  you,  my  masters,  be  merry, 
Quot  estis  in  convivo. 
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. 


From  the  Christmas  Prince,  1607  (printed 
in  1814). 

Boar's  Ibeab  Carol. 

SUNG  AT  ST.   John's  college,  oxford,   Christmas,    f 
1607. 

1.  HTHE  Boar  is  dead, 
Lo,  here  his  head  ; 

What  man  could  have  done  more 
Than  his  head  off  to  strike, 
Meleager-like, 

And  bring  it  as  I  do  before. 

2.  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. 

3.  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  ye  are  welcome  all. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


173 


By  Robert  Herrick. 


XTbe  massaiL 

(^  IVE  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, 

Like  to  a  solemn  sober  stream, 
Bank'd  all  with  lilies  and  the  cream 
Of  sweetest  cowslips  filling  them. 


1 


174 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


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  duck  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  Jiouse  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  for  ever  weep 

For  want  of  warmth,  and  stomachs  keep 

With  noise  the  servants'  eyes  from  sleep. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


175 


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  bad, 

T'  have  lost  the  good  ye  might  have  had. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


From  an  undated  black  letter  collection 
of  New  Christmas  Carols  {pre- 
served in  the  Bodleian  Library). 


XKHassatUng  Son^^ 

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. 

Our  wassail  we  do  fill 
With  apples  and  with  spice. 

Then  grant  us  your  good  will 
To  taste  here  once  or  twice 

Of  our  good  wassail. 


8t?»#=i^»=?=''p=?i^i?^^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  177 


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,  give  command 
,    To  enter  and  be  bold, 

With  our  wassail. 


Much  joy  into  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  spicbd  bowl  will  try ; 

The  Lord  prolong  your  life  ! 
Good  fortune  we  espy 

For  our  wassail. 


178  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 

Some  bounty  from  your  hands 
Our  wassail  to  maintain ; 

We'll  buy  no  house  nor  lands 
With  that  which  we  do  gain 

With  our  wassaiL 


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  begone 
To  seek  out  more  good  cheer, 

Where  bounty  will  be  shown 
As  we  have  found  it  here, 

With  our  wassail. 

■A 

I 


.^^^^^_^^^:^^^^^^r^j^p^^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


79 


Much  joy  betide  them  all, 
Our  prayers  shall  be  still, 

We  hope  and  ever  shall 

For  this  your  great  good  will 
To  our  wassail. 


i8o 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


This  piece  and  the  next  were  commu- 
nicated to  Notes  and  Queries  {4th 
series,  ii.  551),  by  Cuthbert  Bede. 


Massailina  Song. 


"VXTE  wish  you  merry  Christmas,  also  a  glad  New 

Year; 
We  come  to  bring  you  tidings  to  all  mankind  so  dear  ; 
We  come  to  tell  that  Jesus  was  born  in  Bethl'em  town, 
And  now  he's  gone  to   glory   and   pityingly  looks 
down 

On  us  poor  wassailers, 
As  wassailing  we  go ; 
With  footsteps  sore 
From  door  to  door 
We  trudge  through  sleet  and  snow. 

A  manger  was  his  cradle,  the  straw  it  was  his  bed, 
The  oxen  were  around  him  within  that  lowly  shed  ; 
No  servants  waited  on  him  with  lords  and  ladies  gay  ; 
But  now  he's  gone  to  glory  and  unto  him  we  pray. 
Us  poor  wassailers,  &c. 


■i^^t^ryeM^r*^ 


\-A    :r^^.. 


"  With  footsteps  sore 

From  door  to  door 

We  trudge  through  sleet  and  snow. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


i8i 


His  mother  loved  and  tended  him  and  nursed  him 

at  her  breast, 
And  good  old  Joseph  watched  them  both  the  while 

they  took  their  rest ; 
And  wicked  Herod  vainly  sought  to  rob  them  of  their 
child, 

p     By    slaughtering    the   Innocents   in   Bethlehem    un- 
^  defiled. 

But  us  poor  wassailers,  &c. 


;'(     Now,  all  good  Christian  people,  with  great  concern 
jl  we  sing 

1 1     These  tidings  of  your  Jesus,  the  Saviour,  Lord  and 
;  ^ing; 

In  poverty  he  passed  his  days  that  riches  we  might 
share, 


yC     And  of  your  wealth  he  bids  you  give  and  of  your 


i 


portion  spare 


To  us  poor  wassailers,  &c. 


i  j  Your  wife  shall  be  a  fruitful  vine,  a  hus'sif  good  and 
;(  able ; 

;,C  Your  children  like  the  olive  branches  round  about 
I  your  table ; 

I 


l82 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Your  barns  shall  burst  with  plenty  and  your  crops  shall  t 

be  secure  i 

If  you  will  give  your  charity  to  us  who  are  so  poor.  | 

Us  poor  wassailers,  &c. 

And  now  no  more  we'll  sing  to  you  because  the  hour 

is  late, 
And  we  must  trudge  and  sing  our  song  at  many  another 

gate; 
And  so  we'll  wish  you  once  again  a  merry  Christmas 

time, 
And  pray  God  bless  you  while  you  give  good  silver 

for  our  rhyme. 

Us  poor  wassailers,  &c. 


(■^^^^m.u 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  183 


Ibete  we  come  a  MbtstUng. 

T_T  ERE  wc  come  a  whistling  through  the  fields  so 
green ; 

Here  we  come  a  singing,  so  fair  to  be  seen. 

God  send  you  happy,  God  send  you  happy, 
Pray  God  send  you  a  happy  New  Year  ! 

The  roads  are  very  dirty,  my  boots  are  very  thin, 
I  have  a  little  pocket  to  put  a  penny  in. 

God  send  you  happy,  &c. 

Bring  out  your  little  table  and  spread  it  with  a  cloth. 
Bring  out  some  of  your  old  ale,  likewise  your  Christ- 
mas loaf, 

God  send  you  happy,  &c. 

God  bless  the  master  of  this  house,  likewise  the  mistress 

too ; 
And  all  the  little  children  that  round  the  table  strew. 
God  send  you  happy,  &c. 


i84 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


The  cock  sat  up  in  the  yew  tree, 
The  hen  came  chuckling  by, 

I  wish  you  a  merry  Christmas, 
And  a  good  fat  pig  in  the  sty. 


l^^^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


185 


From  Chappell's  Collection  0/  ancient 
English  Melodies,  p.  161.  An^ 
other  version  is  given  in  Hone's 
Table  Book,  ii.  14. 


Massatl,  wassail,  all  ovct  the  Zoxcn. 

Al  rASSAIL,  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. 

The  wassailing  bowl,  with  a  toast  within, 
Come,  fill  it  up  unto  the  brim  ; 
Come  fill  it  up  that  we  may  all  see ; 
With  the  wassailing  bowl  I'll  drink  to  thee. 

Come,  butler,  come  bring  us  a  bowl  of  your  best. 
And  we  hope  your  soul  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  j — 
With  the  wassailing  bowl  I'll  drink  to  thee. 


i86 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


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  his  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. 

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. 


^ 


tog7^^ig^;^jfc^t=;?i>;;??^j^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


187 


From  Wright's  Songs  and  Carols 
{Percy  Society).  An  inferior  ver- 
sion {from  MS.  Harl.  541)  was 
printed  by  Ritson. 


B 


JSrina  us  In  Goob  Hle» 

RING  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  goeth  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. 


188  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


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. 


<4 


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  ofte[n]  dear, 
Nor  bring  us  in  no  duck's  flesh,  for  they  slobber  in  the 
mere; 

But  bring  us  in  good  ale. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


189 


This  and  the  three  follotoing  pieces  are 
from  New  Christmas  Carols,  1642. 


Come  follow,  follow  me^ 

TO   THE   TUNE    OF   THE    "SPANISH   GIPSIES.' 

/^OME  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. 

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 


^tE^^S^^S^1^^^^^^jS^^feSg?sMjRy?^=^'g^^^ 


I90 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


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  want  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. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


191 


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  off  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. 


^J^s^asgtj^^ss^^j^ 


192  CAROLS  AND  POEMS 


HIl  pou  tbat  ate  good  jfellows. 

A  LL  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. 


J^^^^^J^^^^^^J^^^^^JP^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Jf 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


193 


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. 

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  yQu  have  given  God  thanks, 

Unto  your  dainties  fall : 
Heaven  bless  my  master  and  my  dame, 

Lord  bless  me  and  you  all. 

N 


194 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Come,  maD  Bops^ 

To  the  tune  of  **  Bonny  Sweet  Robing 

/^OME,  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  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. 


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. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


195 


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. 


Old  ed.  "evening." 


196 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Come  bravely  on,  mi^  /IDaaters. 

To  the  tune  of  "  The  King's  going  to  Bulleine." 

/'^OME  bravely  on,  my  masters, 
For  here  we  shall  be  tasters 

Of  curious  dishes  that  are  brave  and  fine. 
Where  they  that  do  such  cheer  afiford, 
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,  aderry  ? 

For  now  it  is  a  time  of  joy  and  mirth ; 
'Tis  said  'tis  merry  in  the  hall 
When  as  beards  they  do  wag  all ; 

God's  plenty's  here,  it  doth  not  show  a  dearth. 

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. 


a 


ifFMSPsssmv^^^^^^^^'^^^i 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


197 


From  New  Chrutmas  Carols  (no  date). 

/iDp  /IDaster  an^  H)ame,  J  well  perceive^ 

To  the  tune  of  '■''Green  Sleeves.'^ 

A /[  Y  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. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


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 ; 
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. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


199 


This  piece  and  the  next  are  from  New 
Chriatmns  Carols,  1661. 


Mttb  mett^  (3lee  ant)  Solace* 

FOR  ST.  Stephen's  day. 
To  the  tune  of  ^''Henry's  going  to  Bullen'' 

A 1  HTH  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  souse. 

For  the  love  of  Stephen, 

That  blessed  saint  of  heaven, 

Which  stonbd  was  [for]  Jesus  Christ  his  sake, 

Let  us  all  both  more  and  less 

Cast  away  all  heaviness, 

And  in  a  sober  manner  merry  make. 


^^^^^^^ 


200 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


He  was  a  man  beloved, 

And  his  faith  approved 

By  suffering  death  on  this  holy  day, 

Where  he  with  gentle  patience 

And  a  constant  sufferance. 

Hath  taught  us  all  to  heaven  the  ready  way.^ 

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  now  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. 


a 


For  of  the  same  my  master 
Hath  made  me  here  a  taster ; 


^  The  old  ed.  gives  "  Hath  taught  to  us  all  heaven,"  &c. 


tTKlvi: 


M 


S^^fa^^^J^^E^^^n^^^^^^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


20I 


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 


f'y^i'^^ilif???;^^?;!?^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


3n  bonout  of  Saint  3obn  we  tbus. 


(for  ST.  John's  day.) 
To  the  tune  of"  Sellenger's  Round:' 

T  N  honour  of  Saint  John  we  thus 

Do  keep  good  Christmas  cheer ; 
And  he  that  comes  to  dine  with  us, 

I  think  he  need  not  spare. 
The  butcher  he  hath  killed  good  beef, 

The  caterer  brings  it  in ; 
But  Christmas  pies  are  still  the  chief, 

If  that  I  durst  begin. 


Our  bacon  hogs  are  full  and  fat 
To  make  us  brawn  and  souse ; 

Full  well  may  I  rejoice  thereat 
To  see  them  in  the  house. 


^^ssti. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


203 


But  yet  the  minced  pie  it  is 

That  sets  my  teeth  on  water ; 
Good  mistress,  let  me  have  a  bit, 

For  I  do  long  thereafter. 

And  I  will  fetch  your  water  in 

To  brew  and  bake  withal, 
Your  love  and  favour  still  to  win 

When  as  you  please  to  call 
Then  grant  me,  dame,  your  love  and  leave 

To  taste  your  pie-meat  here  ; 
It  is  the  best  in  my  conceit 

Of  all  your  Christmas-cheer. 


The  cloves  and  mace  and  gallant  plums  ^ 

That  here  on  heaps  do  lie, 
[And  prunes]  as  big  as  both  my  thumbs, 

Enticeth  much  mine  eye. 
Oh,  let  me  eat  my  belly-full 

Of  your  good  Christmas-pie ; 
Except  thereat  I  have  a  pull, 

I  think  I  sure  shall  die. 

Good  master,  stand  my  loving  friend. 
For  Christmas-time  is  short, 

1  Old  ed.  "  prunes."— Cf.  p.  198,  11.  5-7. 


204 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS, 


And  when  it  comes  unto  an  end 

I  may  no  longer  sport ; 
Then  while  it  doth  continue  here 

Let  me  such  labour  find, 
To  eat  my  fill  of  that  good  cheer 

That  best  doth  please  my  mind. 


Then  I  shall  thank  my  dame  therefore, 

That  gives  her  kind  consent, 
That  Jack  your  boy  with  others  more 

May  have  this  Christmas  spent 
In  pleasant  mirth  and  merry  glee, 

As  young  men  most  delight ; 
For  that's  the  only  sport  for  me, 

And  so  God  give  you  all  good-night. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  205 

From  New  Christmas  Carols  {no  date). 


Ubc  1Rew  leat  Is  be^un^ 

THE  shepherd's  CAROL  TO  BE  SUNG  ON  NEW  YEAR'S 
DAY. 

Tune,  "  Humming  of  the  Drone" 

'T^HE  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  doth  dwell ; 

Whom  Jesus  bless 

With  love's  increase, 
So  all  things  shall  prosper  well. 

A  New  Year's  gift  I  bring 

Unto  my  master  here, 
Which  is  a  welcome  thing 

Of  mirth  and  merry  cheer. 


fs#«a3i^a5fR!!!^^ 


2o6  ;  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 

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  brere,^ 

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 

1  Old  ed.  "  Biyar." 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


207 


A- mellowing  since  last  year, 
Whose  beauty  bright 
So  clear  of  sight 

Their  hearts  will  glad  and  cheer. 

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. 


5l^^^^Mt22^Sffi^Sj&^SK^SHS^^S2^^jS^SS^^^JJ^^S!^^S 


2o8 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


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 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  209 


From  A  Cabinet  of  Choice  Jewels,  or 
the  Christian's  Joy  and  Gladness, 


Ubc  ISoung  /Iben  auD  /iDaibs  on  1Rew 
JSear's  S)a^» 

Tune  of  '■^  Caper  and  jerk  it" 

nPHE  young  men  and  maids  on  New  Year's  day, 

Their  loves  they  will  present 
With  many  a  gift  both  fine  and  gay, 

Which  gives  them  true  content  : 
And  though  the  gift  be  great  or  small, 

Yet  this  is  the  custom  still. 
Expressing  their  loves  in  ribbons  and  gloves, 

It  being  their  kind  good-will. 

Young  bachelors  will  not  spare  their  coin. 

But  thus  their  love  is  shown ; 
Young  Richard  will  buy  a  bodkin  fine 

And  give  it  honest  Joan. 
There's  Nancy  and  Sue  with  honest  Prue, 

Young  damsels  both  fair  and  gay. 
Will  give  to  the  men  choice  presents  agen 

For  the  honour  of  New  Year's  day. 


2IO  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 

Fine  ruffs,  cravats  of  curious  lace, 

Maids  give  them  fine  and  neat ; 
For  this  the  young  men  will  them  embrace 

With  tender  kisses  sweet : 
And  give  them  many  pleasant  toys 

To  deck  them  fine  and  gay. 
As  bodkins  and  rings  with  other  fine  things 

For  the  honour  of  New  Year's  day. 

It  being  the  first  day  of  the  year, 

To  make  the  old  amends. 
All  those  that  have  it  will  dress  good  cheer 

Inviting  all  their  friends. 
To  drink  great  James's  royal  health, 

As  very  well  subjects  may, 
With  many  healths  more,  which  we  have  store, 

For  the  honour  of  New  Year's  day. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


211 


From  New  Christmas  Carols,  1642. 


XTbe  ©15  Iffcar  now  awa^  is  ffleb. 

To  the  tune  of  "  Green  Sleeves.^'' 

nPHE  old  year  now  away  is  fled, 

The  new  year  it  is  entered, 
Then  let  us  now  our  sins  down  tread 

And  joyfully  all  appear. 
Let's  merry  be  this  holiday. 
And  let  us  now  both  sport  and  play. 
Hang  sorrow,  let's  cast  care  away  : 

God  send  you  a  happy  New  Year ! 

For  Christ's  circumcision  this  day  we  keep, 

Who  for  our  sins  did  often  weep ; 

His  hands  and  feet  were  wounded  deep. 

And  his  blessed  side,  with  a  spear. 
His  head  they  crowned  then  with  thorn, 
And  at  him  they  did  laugh  and  scorn, 
Who  for  to  save  our  souls  was  born ; 

God  send  us  a  happy  New  Year ! 


bAtfiaF3^te^j^?;=?^^jF?'^^=^^^^ 


212  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 

And  now  with  New- Year's  gifts  each  friend 

Unto  each  other  they  do  send ; 

God  grant  we  may  all  our  lives  amend, 

And  that  the  truth  may  appear. 
Now  like  the  snake  cast-off  your  skin 
Of  evil  thoughts  and  wicked  sin, 
And  to  amend  this  New  Year  begin  : 

God  send  us  a  merry  New  Year ! 

And  now  let  all  the  company 
In  friendly  manner  all  agree, 
For  we  are  here  welcome,  all  may  see. 

Unto  this  jolly  good  cheer. 
I  thank  my  master  and  my  dame. 
The  which  are  founders  of  the  same ; 
To  eat,  to  drink  now  is  no  shame : 

God  send  us  a  merry  New  Year ! 

Come  lads  and  lasses  every  one, 

Jack,  Tom,  Dick,  Bessy,  Mary  and  Joan, 

Let's  cut  the  meat  up  unto  the  bone. 

For  welcome  you  need  not  fear ; 
And  here  for  good  liquor  we  shall  not  lack, 
It  will  whet  my  brains  and  strengthen  my  back  ; 
This  jolly  good  cheer  it  must  go  to  wrack  : 

God  send  us  a  merry  New  Year ! 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


213 


Come,  give's  more  liquor  when  I  do  call, 
I'll  drink  to  each  one  in  this  hall ; 
I  hope  that  so  loud  I  must  not  bawl, 

But  unto  me  lend  an  ear ; 
Good  fortune  to  my  master  send, 
And  to  my  dame  which  is  our  friend, 
Lord  bless  us  all,  and  so  I  end  : 

God  send  us  a  happy  New  Year  ! 


214  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Frmn  Poor  Robin's  Almanac,  1664. 


provide  tor  CbriBtmas^ 

PROVIDE  for  Christmas  ere  that  it  do  come, 
To  feast  thy  neighbour  good  cheer  to  have 
some ; 
Good  bread  and  drink,  a  fire  in  the  hall, 
Brawn,  pudding,  souse  and  good  mustard  withal ; 
Beef,  mutton,  pork,  and  shred  pies  of  the  best, 
Pig,  veal,  goose,  capon,  and  turkey  well  drest ; 
Apples  and  nuts  to  throw  about  the  hall, 
That  boys  and  girls  may  scramble  for  them  all. 
Sing  jolly  carols,  make  the  fiddlers  play. 
Let  scrupulous  fanatics  keep  away ; 
For  oftentimes  seen  no  arranter  knave 
Than  some  who  do  counterfeit  most  to  be  grave. 


•Sife 


JfefeffiS^^j^^^^^S^^^^^i 


^ 


i^yi 


!;m^7^'^^'L^.. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  215 


From  Poor  Robin's  Almanac,  1695. 


IFlow  tbrice  welcomCt  Cbtistma6» 

TVr  OW  thrice  welcome,  Christmas, 
Which  brings  us  good  cheer, 
Minced  pies  and  plum  porridge, 

Good  ale  and  strong  beer ; 
With  pig,  goose  and  capon. 

The  best  that  may  be, 
So  well  doth  the  weather 

And  our  stomachs  agree. 


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. 


2l6 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


With  holly  and  ivy 

So  green  and  so  gay, 
We  deck  up  our  houses 

As  fresh  as  the  day  ; 
With  bay  and  rosemary 

And  laurel  complete ; 
And  every  one  now 

Is  a  king  in  conceit. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


217 


From  Poor  Robin's  A  Imanac,  1700. 


Mow  tbat  tbe  time  Is  come  wberetn* 

IVF  OW  that  the  time  is  come  wherein 

Our  Saviour  Christ  was  born, 
The  larders  full  of  beef  and  pork, 

The  garners  fill'd  with  corn ; 
As  God  hath  plenty  to  thee  sent, 

Take  comfort  of  thy  labours. 
And  let  it  never  thee  repent 

To  feast  thy  needy  neighbours. 

Let  fires  in  every  chimney  be 

That  people  they  may  warm  them ; 
Tables  with  dishes  covered, — 

Good  victuals  will  not  harm  them. 
With  mutton,  veal,  beef,  pig  and  pork. 

Well  furnish  every  board ; 
Plum-pudding,  furmity  and  what 

Thy  stock  will  them  afford. 


sfiiM'q7mg^By$>itft^^ 


No  niggard  of  thy  liquor  be, 

Let  it  go  round  thy  table ;  ?! 
People  may  freely  drink,  but  not 

So  long  as  they  are  able. 

Good  customs  they  may  be  abused,  ; 

Which  makes  rich  men  to  slack  us ;  i 

This  feast  is  to  relieve  the  poor  ./ 

And  not  to  drunken  Bacchus.  I 

Thus  if  thou  doest  f 

'Twill  credit  raise  thee  ;  r| 

God  will  thee  bless  j! 

And  neighbours  praise  thee.  j 


^^ 


^-t^jSs^^as^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


219 


From  Poor  Robin's  Almanac,  1701. 


IFlow  enter  Cbrtstmas  Ufte  a  man. 

IV]  OW  enter  Christmas  like  a  man, 

Armed  with  spit  and  dripping-pan, 
Attended  with  pasty,  plum-pie. 
Puddings,  plum-porridge,  furmity; 
With  beef,  pork,  mutton  of  each  sort 
More  than  my  pen  can  make  report ; 
Pig,  swan,  goose,  rabbits,  partridge,  teal, 
With  legs  and  loins  and  breasts  of  veal : 
But  above  all  the  minced  pies 
Must  mention'd  be  in  any  wise. 
Or  else  my  Muse  were  much  to  blame. 
Since  they  from  Christmas  take  their  name. 
With  these,  or  any  one  of  these, 
A  man  may  dine  well  if  he  please  ; 
Yet  this  must  well  be  understood, — 
Though  one  of  these  be  singly  good. 
Yet  more  the  merrier  is  the  best 
;    As  well  of  dishes  as  of  guest. 

But  the  times  are  grown  so  bad 
Scarce  one  dish  for  the  poor  is  had ; 


ilS^^^^lE?^^$^v=?=^-l^^S^^^3S!^S^&^lS 


220  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 

Good  housekeeping  is  laid  aside, 

And  all  is  spent  to  maintain  pride  j 

Good  works  are  counted  popish,  and 

Small  charity  is  in  the  land. 

A  man  may  sooner  (truth  I  tell  ye) 

Break  his  own  neck  than  fill  his  belly. 

Good  God,  amend  what  is  amiss 

And  send  a  remedy  to  this, 

That  Christmas  day  again  may  rise 

And  we  enjoy  our  Christmas  pies. 


i 


M 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  221 


From  Poor  Robin's  Almanac,  1715. 


IFI0W  Cbristmas  comes  'tis  fit  tbat  we. 

IVr  OW  Christmas  comes,  'tis  fit  that  we 

Should  feast  and  sing  and  merry  be, 
Keep  open  house,  let  fiddlers  play ; 
A  fig  for  cold,  sing  care  away ! 
And  may  they  who  thereat  repine. 
On  brown  bread  and  on  small  beer  dine. 
Make  fires  with  logs,  let  the  cooks  sweat 
With  boiling  and  with  roasting  meat ; 
Let  ovens  be  heat  for  fresh  supplies 
Of  puddings,  pasties,  and  minced  pies, 
And  whilst  that  Christmas  doth  abide 
Let  butt'ry-door  stand  open  wide. 
Hang  up  those  churls  that  will  not  feast 
Or  with  good  fellows  be  a  guest, 
And  hang  up  those  would  take  away 
The  observation  of  that  day ; 
O  may  they  never  minced  pies  eat, 
Plum-pudding,  roast-beef,  nor  such  meat. 


222  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 

But  blest  be  they,  awake  and  sleep, 
Who  at  that  time  [a]  good  house  keep 
May  never  want  come  nigh  their  door, 
Who  at  that  time  relieve  the  poor ; 
Be  plenty  always  in  their  house 
Of  beef,  veal,  lamb,  pork,  mutton,  souse. 


fi  J 


^j^a^i^^lfiBfe^g^ga^jS^tFi^S^-^??^^^^ 


t^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  223 


From  the  Bishoprick  Garland,  1834  (a 
collection  of  songs,  ballads,  etc., 
helon'jing  to  the  county  of  Durham). 


/lDatC)6,  Gct  up  anb  :flSafee  i^our  pies. 

ly/r  AIDS,  get  up  and  bake  your  pies, 
Bake  your  pies,  bake  your  pies ; 
Maids,  get  up  and  bake  your  pies, 
'Tis  Christmas  day  in  the  morning. 


i  Sailing  by,  sailing  by  ; 


See  the  ships  all  sailing  by, 


See  the  ships  all  sailing  by 

On  Christmas  day  in  the  morning. 


Dame,  what  made  your  ducks  to  die, 
Ducks  to  die,  ducks  to  die ; 

Dame,  what  made  your  ducks  to  die 
On  Christmas  day  in  the  morning  ? 


224 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


You  let  your  lazy  maidens  lie, 
Maidens  lie,  maidens  lie ; 

You  let  your  lazy  maidens  lie 

On  Christmas  day  in  the  morning. 


vi^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  225 


From  Thomas  Weelkuf  Madrigals,  1597. 


XTo  sborten  Mtnter's  sadness. 


'T^O  shorten  winter's  sadness 

See  where  the  nymphs  with  gladness 
Disguised  all  are  coming, 
Right  wantonly  a  mumming. 

Fa  la. 


Whilst  youthful  sports  are  lasting, 
To  feasting  turn  our  fasting ; 
With  revels  and  with  wassails 
Make  grief  and  care  our  vassals. 


Fa  la. 


For  youth  it  well  beseemeth 
That  pleasure  he  esteemeth  j 
And  sullen  age  is  hated 
That  mirth  would  have  abated. 


Fa  la. 


226  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


I 


By  Robert  Herrick. 


H  IRew  isear's  Gift  sent  to  Sir  Simeon 
Stewart)* 

"XT  O  news  of  navies  burnt  at  seas ; 

No  noise  of  late-spawned  tittyries  ; 
No  closet-plot  or  open  vent 
That  frights  men  with  a  parliament ; 
No  new  device  or  late-found  trick 
To  read  by  th'  stars  the  kingdom's  sick ; 
No  gin  to  catch  the  state  or  ring 
The  free-born  nostrils  of  the  king, 
We  send  to  you  :  but  here  a  jolly 
Verse,  crown'd  with  ivy  and  with  holly, 
That  tells  of  winter's  tales  and  mirth 
That  milk-maids  make  about  the  hearth ; 
Of  Christmas-sports ;  the  wassail  bowl ; 
That  tost  up,  after  fox-i'-th'-hole  ; 
Of  blind-man's-buff,  and  of  the  care 
That  young  men  have  to  shoe  the  mare  ; 
Of  Twelfth-tide  cakes,  of  pease  and  beans, 
Wherewith  ye  make  those  merry  scenes. 


^!^maf9f9¥^m9^^9m 


1^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


227 


Whenas  ye  chuse  your  king  and  queen 

And  cry  out  Hey  for  our  toivn-green  I 

Of  ash-heaps,  in  the  which  ye  use 

Husbands  and  wives  by  streaks  to  chuse ; 

Of  cracking  laurel,  which  foresounds 

A  plenteous  harvest  to  your  grounds : 

Of  these  and  such  like  things,  for  shift, 

We  send  instead  of  New- Year's  gift. 

Read  then,  and  when  your  faces  shine 

With  buxom  meat  and  cap'ring  wine, 

Remember  us  in  cups  full-crown'd 

And  let  our  city-health  go  round. 

Quite  through  the  young  maids  and  the  men 

To  the  ninth  number,  if  not  ten  ; 

Until  the  fired  chestnuts  leap 

For  joy  to  see  the  fruits  ye  reap 

From  the  plump  chalice  and  the  cup, 

That  tempts  till  it  be  tossed  up ; 

Then,  as  ye  sit  about  your  embers. 

Call  not  to  mind  those  fled  Decembers, 

But  think  on  these  that  are  t'appear 

As  daughters  to  the  instant  year. 

Sit  crowned  with  rose-buds,  and  carouse 

Till  Liber  Pater  twirls  the  house 

About  your  ears,  and  lay  upon 

The  year,  your  cares,  that's  fled  and  gone. 


22S 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


And  let  the  russet  swains  the  plough 

And  harrow  hang  up  resting  now, 

And  to  the  bagpipe  all  address 

Till  sleep  takes  place  of  weariness. 

And  thus  throughout  with  Christmas  plays 

Frolic  the  full  twelve  holidays. 


gas'tegmg^Sfef^  : 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


229 


By  Robert  Herrick. 


trwelftb  mtgbt ; 


OR,    KINO   AND   QUEEN. 


I 


I 


I 


IVr  OW,  now  the  mirth  comes, 

With  the  cake  full  of  plums, 
Where  bean's  the  king  of  the  sport  here ; 

Beside  we  must  know, 

The  pea  also 
Must  revel  as  queen  in  the  court  here. 

Begin  then  to  chuse, 

This  night  as  ye  use, 
Who  shall  for  the  present  delight  here ; 

Be  a  king  by  the  lot. 

And  who  shall  not 
Be  Twelfth-day  queen  for  the  night  here. 

Which  known,  let  us  make 

Joy-sops  with  the  cake ; 
And  let  not  a  man  then  be  seen  here 

Who  unurg'd  will  not  drink. 

To  the  base  from  the  brink, 
A  health  to  the  king  and  the  queen  here. 


^<v-^-^ 


-- ..- :v^->-^:^^?::=i^jts^s;?^^^ 


230 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Next  crown  the  bowl  full 

With  gentle  lambs-wool ; 
Add  sugar,  nutmeg,  and  ginger, 

With  store  of  ale  too  ; 

And  thus  ye  must  do 
To  make  the  wassail  a  swinger. 


I 


Give  then  to  the  king 

And  queen  wassailing, 
And  though  with  ale  ye  be  whet  here. 

Yet  part  ye  from  hence, 

As  free  from  offence, 
As  when  ye  innocent  met  here 


From  Sir  Walter  Scott's  Marmion. 
{Introduction  to  Canto  VI.) 


Cbrt0tmas  In  tbe  ©l^en  Ulme^ 


'T^HE  damsel  donned  her  kirtle  sheen ; 

The  hall  was  dressed  with  holly  green ; 
Forth  to  the  wood  did  merry-men  go 
To  gather  in  the  misletoe. 
Then  opened  wide  the  baron's  hall 
To  vassal,  tenant,  serf  and  all ; 
Power  laid  his  rod  of  rule  aside, 
And  ceremony  doffed  his  pride. 
The  heir,  with  roses  in  his  shoes, 
That  night  might  village-partner  chuse  ; 
The  lord  underogating  share 
The  vulgar  game  of  post-and-pair. 
All  hailed  with  uncontrolled  delight 
And  general  voice,  the  happy  night. 
That  to  the  cottage  as  the  crown 
Brought  tidings  of  salvation  down. 
The  fire  with  well-dried  logs  supplied 
Went  roaring  up  the  chimney  wide ; 


232  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 

The  huge  hall-table's  oaken  face, 

Scrubbed  till  it  shone,  the  day  to  grace, 

Bore  then  upon  its  massive  board 

No  mark  to  part  the  squire  and  lord. 

Then  was  brought  in  the  lusty  brawn 

By  old  blue-coated  serving-man  ; 

Then  the  grim  boar's  head  frowned  on  high, 

Crested  with  bay  and  rosemary. 

Well  can  the  green-garbed  ranger  tell 

How,  when,  and  where  the  monster  fell ; 

What  dogs  before  his  death  he  tore, 

And  all  the  baiting  of  the  boar. 

The  wassail  round,  in  good  brown  bowls, 

Garnished  with  ribbons  blithely  trowls. 

There  the  huge  sir-loin  reeked ;  hard  by 

Plum-porridge  stood  and  Christmas  pie  ; 

Nor  failed  old  Scotland  to  produce 

At  such  high  tide  her  savoury  goose. 

Then  came  the  merry  masquers  in 

And  carols  roared  with  blithesome  din  ; 

If  unmelodious  was  the  song 

It  was  a  hearty  note  and  strong. 

Who  lists  may  in  their  mumming  see 

Traces  of  ancient  mystery ; 

White  shirts  supplied  the  masquerade, 

And  smutted  cheeks  the  visors  made  : 


I 


Then  the  grim  boar's  head  frowned  on  high. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


233 


But,  oh  !  what  masquers  richly  dight 
Can  boast  of  bosoms  half  so  light ! 
England  was  merry  England  when 
Old  Christmas  brought  his  sports  again. 
*Twas  Christmas  broached  the  mightiest  ale, 
'Twas  Christmas  told  the  merriest  tale ; 
A  Christmas  gambol  oft  would  cheer 
The  poor  man's  heart  through  half  the  year. 


l^^qP'ffg^i^^SSM^fi!^^?^'^^^^ 


234  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Dedication  of  Wordsworth's  River  Dud- 
don  Sonnets.  Addressed  to  his 
brother.  Dr.  Christopher  Words- 
worth. 


Cbdstmas  /HMnstrelsp* 

'X*HE  minstrels  played  their  Christmas  tune 

To-night  beneath  my  cottage  eaves  ; 
While  smitten  by  a  lofty  moon, 
The  encircling  laurels  thick  with  leaves, 
Gave  back  a  rich  and  dazzling  sheen, 
That  overpowered  their  natural  green. 

Through  hill  and  valley  every  breeze 

Had  sunk  to  rest  with  folded  wings  : 

Keen  was  the  air,  but  could  not  freeze 

Nor  check  the  music  of  the  strings  ; 

So  stout  and  hardy  were  the  band 

That  scraped  the  chords  with  strenuous  hand. 

And  who  but  listened  ? — till  was  paid 
Respect  to  every  inmate's  claim. 
The  greeting  given,  the  music  played 
In  honour  of  each  household  name. 
Duly  pronounced  with  lusty  call, 
And  a  merry  Christmas  wished  to  all. 


*    ^j^^ffij^at^f^fte^^^sissi^ 


I 


i 


O  Brother !  I  revere  the  choice 
That  took  thee  from  thy  native  hills  ; 
And  it  is  given  thee  to  rejoice  : 
Though  public  care  full  often  tills 
(Heaven  only  witness  of  the  toil) 
A  barren  and  ungrateful  soil. 

Yet  would  that  thou,  with  me  and  mine, 

Hadst  heard  this  never-failing  rite ; 

And  seen  on  other  faces  shine 

A  true  revival  of  the  light ; 

Which  nature,  and  these  rustic  powers. 

In  simple  childhood,  spread  through  ours  ! 

For  pleasure  hath  not  ceased  to  wait 
On  these  expected  annual  rounds, 
Whether  the  rich  man's  sumptuous  gate 
Call  forth  the  unelaborate  sounds, 
Or  they  are  offered  at  the  door 
That  guards  the  lowliest  of  the  poor. 

How  touching,  when  at  midnight,  sweep 
Snow-muffled  winds,  and  all  is  dark, 
To  hear — and  sink  again  to  sleep  ! 
Or  at  an  earlier  call,  to  mark. 
By  blazing  fire,  the  still  suspense 
Of  self-complacent  innocence ; 


>^i?r^s;ic^;«^gF^i^a^s^^ 


,!!S,i!!KS^!.!SS»!-'.'::K 


236 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


The  mutual  nod — the  grave  disguise 

Of  hearts  with  gladness  brimming  o'er, 

And  some  unhidden  tears  that  rise 

For  names  once  heard,  and  heard  no  more ; 

Tears  brightened  by  the  serenade 

For  infant  in  the  cradle  laid ! 


Ah  !  not  for  emerald  fields  alone, 

With  ambient  streams  more  pure  and  bright 

Than  fabled  Cytherea's  zone 

Glittering  before  the  Thunderer's  sight, 

Is  to  my  heart  of  hearts  endeared, 

The  ground  where  we  were  born  and  reared ! 

Hail  ancient  manners  !  sure  defence. 
Where  they  survive,  of  wholesome  laws  : 
Remnants  of  love  whose  modest  sense 
Thus  into  narrow  room  withdraws ; 
Hail  usages  of  pristine  mould, 
And  ye  that  guard  them,  mountains  old  ! 

Bear  with  me,  Brother !  quench  the  thought 

That  slights  this  passion  or  condemns ; 

If  thee  fond  fancy  ever  brought 

From  the  proud  margin  of  the  Thames, 

And  Lambeth's  venerable  towers. 

To  humbler  streams  and  greener  bowers. 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


237 


Yes  they  can  make,  who  fail  to  find, 

Short  leisure  even  in  busiest  days  j 

Moments  to  cast  a  look  behind, 

And  profit  by  those  kindly  rays 

That  through  the  clouds  do  sometimes  steal, 

And  all  the  far-off  past  reveal. 


Hence,  while  the  imperial  city's  din 
Beats  frequent  on  thy  satiate  ear, 
A  pleased  attention  I  may  win 
To  agitations  less  severe. 
That  neither  overwhelm  nor  cloy, 
But  fill  the  hollow  vale  with  joy  ! 


Farewell  to  Christmas^ 


c^^^G^^HD^sy^f-^-^ 


From  New  Christmas  Carols,  1642. 


I 


/IDarft  well  m^  beavp  &oleful  Zalc. 

To  the  tune  of  "  The  Ladfs  Fall:' 

TV /T  ARK  well  my  heavy  doleful  tale, 
For  Twelfth-day  now  is  come, 
And  now  I  must  no  longer  sing. 

And  say  no  words  but  mum ; 
For  I  perforce  must  take  my  leave 

Of  all  my  dainty  cheer, 
Plum-porridge,  roast  beef,  and  minced  pies, 

My  strong  ale  and  my  beer. 

Kind-hearted  Christmas,  now  adieu. 

For  I  with  thee  must  part, 
And  for  to  take  my  leave  of  thee 

Doth  grieve  me  at  the  heart ; 


240  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 

Thou  wert  an  ancient  housekeeper, 
And  mirth  with  meat  didst  keep, 

But  thou  art  going  out  of  town, 
Which  makes  me  for  to  weep. 

God  knoweth  whether  I  again 

Thy  merry  face  shall  see, 
Which  to  good-fellows  and  the  poor 

That  was  so  frank  and  free. 
Thou  lovedst  pastime  with  thy  heart, 

And  eke  good  company ; 
Pray  hold  me  up  for  fear  I  swoon. 

For  I  am  like  to  die. 

Come,  butler,  fill  a  brimmer  up 

To  cheer  my  fainting  heart, 
That  to  old  Christmas  I  may  drink 

Before  he  doth  depart ; 
And  let  each  one  that's  in  this  room 

With  me  likewise  condole. 
And  for  to  cheer  their  spirits  sad 

Let  each  one  drink  a  bowl. 

And  when  the  same  it  hath  gone  round 
Then  fall  unto  your  cheer. 

For  you  do  know  that  Christmas  time 
It  comes  but  once  a  year. 


p^ammisHliii^ 


r 


I 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  241 

But  this  good  draught  which  I  have  drunk 

Hath  comforted  my  heart, 
For  I  was  very  fearful  that 

My  stomach  would  depart. 

Thanks  to  my  master  and  my  dame 

That  doth  such  cheer  afford ; 
God  bless  them,  that  each  Christmas  they 

May  furnish  thus  their  board. 
My  stomach  having  come  to  me, 

I  mean  to  have  a  bout, 
Intending  to  eat  most  heartily ;  | 

Good  friends,  I  do  not  flout. 


242  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


This  piece  and  the  next  are  from  New        k 
Christmas  Carols,  1661.  )] 


n 


3>' 


<'\ 


IR0W  ifarewell,  Goob  Cbrtstmas* 

To  the  tune  of  ^^ Bonny  Sweet  Robing 

TVT  OW  farewell,  good  Christmas, 

Adieu  and  adieu, 
I  needs  now  must  leave  thee, 

And  look  for  a  new ; 
For  till  thou  returnest, 

I  linger  in  pain, 
And  I  care  not  how  quickly 

Thou  comest  again. 


But  ere  thou  departest  < ' 

I  purpose  to  see  '/^ 

What  merry  good  pastime  ^ 

This  day  will  show  me :  ^i 

For  a  king  of  the  wassail  ^-^^j 

This  night  we  must  choose,  ji 
Or  else  the  old  customs 

We  carelessly  lose. 


I  CAROLS  AND  POEMS.  243 

i 

The  wassail  well  spiced 

About  shall  go  round, 
Though  it  cost  my  good  master 

Best  part  of  a  pound  : 
The  maid  in  the  buttery 

Stands  ready  to  fill 
Her  nappy  good  liquor 

With  heart  and  good  will. 

And  to  welcome  us  kindly 

Our  master  stands  by, 
And  tells  me  in  friendship 

One  tooth  is  a-dry. 
Then  let  us  accept  it 

As  lovingly,  friends ; 
And  so  for  this  twelfth-day 

My  carol  here  ends. 


!l:^*SE3&a$j^!fe?5S^ 


244  CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


Cbristmas  batb  mat)e  an  iBnl>. 

To  the  tune  of  "  Well  a  day.'' 

/^HRISTMAS  hath  made  an  end, 

Welladay,  welladay, 
Which  was  my  dearest  friend, 

More  is  the  pity ; 
For  with  a  heavy  heart 

Must  I  from  thee  depart, 
To  follow  plough  and  cart 

All  the  year  after. 

Lent  is  fast  coming  on, 

Welladay,  welladay. 
That  loves  not  any  one, 

More  is  the  pity ; 
For  I  doubt  both  my  cheeks 

Will  look  thin,  eating  leeks  j 
Wise  is  he  then  that  seeks 

For  a  friend  in  a  corner. 


fii3iaf!lF?«g5^^ 


CAROLS  AND  POEMS. 


245 


All  our  good  cheer  is  gone, 

Welladay,  welladay, 
And  turned  to  a  bone, 

More  is  the  pity. 
In  my  good  master's  house 

I  shall  eat  no  more  souse, 
Then  give  me  one  carouse, 

Gentle,  kind  butler. 


It  grieves  me  to  the  heart, 

Welladay,  welladay, 
From  my  friend  to  depart, 

More  is  the  pity. 
Christmas,  I  mean,  'tis  thee 

That  thus  forsaketh  me. 
Yet  till  one  hour  I  see 

Will  I  be  merry. 


Hi 


i^^^fj 


i^^Ei=a=5<:><^C=::*di=i^^ 


NOTES. 


fe;--^^?c^^)5arn^lfiT^^iii^ 


i 


jfg^fe^y^a^fejJ^fBte^^^ 


NOTES. 


:  "/w  every  place,''  &c. — These  lines  are  spoken  by 
Salomee.  For  disbelieving  that  the  Child  had  been  born  of  a 
virgin,  her  hand  was  withered  up ;  but  on  her  repentance  God 
sent  an  angel  who  bade  her  worship  the  Child  and  touch  his 
clothes.  She  obeyed,  and  her  hand  was  restored  ;  whereupon 
she  raised  this  hymn  of  praise. 

Page  4  :  ^^  I  sing  of  a  maiden" — This  perfect  little  poem  will 
be  new  to  most  readers.  It  has  been  passed  over  by  the 
collectors. 

Page  17  :  "  You  ^hall  well  see  that  kinges  three,'''  &c. — The 
names  of  the  three  kings  were  Melchior,  Caspar,  and  Balthazar. 
The  first  was  old,  with  grey  hair  and  a  long  beard  :  his  oflfering 
was  gold.  Caspar,  who  was  young  and  beardless,  brought 
frankincense ;  and  Balthazar,  who  was  of  a  swarthy  com- 
plexion, offered  myrrh.  Cold  was  symbolical  of  kingship, 
frankincense  of  divinity,  and  myrrh  of  humanity.  The  bodies 
of  the  three  kings  were  taken,  about  three  hundred  years  after 
their  death,  by  the  Empress  Helena  to  Constantinople ;  thence 
by  Eustatius  to  Milan ;  afterwards  by  Renaldus  the  bishop  to 
Cologne,  or  CoUein.  Hence  they  were  commonly  called  the 
Three  Kings  of  CoUein.  There  is  an  old  carol  about  the  Three 
Kings.  Wright,  in  his  collection  of  "  Songs  and  Carols  "  pub- 
lished by  the  Percy  Society,  has  printed  one  version  of  it ;  but 
the  text  of  the  following  copy  (from  Notes  and  Queries,  6th 
Series,  vi.  505-7)  is  fuller  and  more  accurate  : — 


250 


NOTES. 


Now  is  Christmas  y-come, 
Father  and  Son  together  in  one, 
Holy  Ghost  us  be  on 

In  fere-a ;  ^ 
God  send  us  a  happy  New  Year-a  ! 

I  would  you  sing  for,  and  I  might, 
Of  a  Child  is  fair  in  sight ; 
His  mother  him  bare  this  Yules  night 
So  still-a, 
And  as  it  was  his  will-a. 

There  came  three  kings  from  Galilee 
Into  Bethlem  that  fair  citie, 
To  seek  Him  that  e'er  should  be 
By  right-a 
Lord  and  king  and  knight-a. 

As  they  came  forth  with  their  oflf'ring, 
They  met  with  Herod  that  moody  king 
This  tide -a, 
And  this  to  them  he  said-a. 

'  Of  whence  be  ye,  you  kinges  three  ? ' 
*  Of  the  East,  as  you  may  see, 
To  worship  Him  that  e'er  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  none  other  way-a.' 


a 


In  fere  =  in  company. 


gyA.^^^^yagBj^?J:^^ 


They  took  their  leave  both  old  and  younj 
Of  Herod  that  moody  king  ; 
They  went  forth  with  their  offering 
By  light-a, 
The  star  that  shone  so  bright-a. 

Till  they  came  into  the  place 
There  Jesu  and  his  mother  was  ; 
Offered  they  up  with  great  solace 
In  fere-a 
Gold  and  'cense  and  myrrh-a. 

The  Father  of  heaven  an  angel  sent 
To  these  three  kings  that  made  present 
This  tide-a, 
And  this  to  them  he  said-a  : — 

*  My  Lord  have  warned  you  every  one 
By  Herod  king  you  go  not  home, 
For  and  you  do  he  will  you  slone  ^ 
And  'stroy-a, 
And  hurt  you  wonderly-a.' 

Forth  they  went  these  kinges  three 
Till  they  came  home  to  their  countrie  ; 
Glad  and  blithe  they  were  all  three 
Of  the  sight  that  they  had  see  ; 
By  dene-a  " 
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." 


1  Slay. 


By  dene  =  immediately. 


^l^^s^ 


252 


NOTES. 


(The  last  line  of  the  penultimate  stanza  seems  somewhat 
unintelligible.) 

Page  19  :  "  Tyrle,  tyrle,  so  merrily,^'  &c. — Compare  a  song  in 
the  Coventry  Mysteries : — 

"  As  I  rode  out  this  endnes  night 
Of  three  jolly  shepherds  I  saw  a  sight, 
And  all  about  their  fold  a  star  shone  bright : 
They  sang  terli  terlow, 
So  merrily  the  shepherds  their  pipes  can  blow." 

Page  21 :  "  This  endnes  nighV — The  MS.  from  which  this 
piece  is  taken  contains  a  large  collection  of  church-services, 
hymns,  carols,  and  songs, — with  music.  It  formerly  belonged 
to  Joseph  Ritson,  who  presented  it  to  the  British  Museum. 
The  collection  deserves  to  be  printed  in  full. 

Page  25  :  "  As  I  sat  under  a  sycamore  tree.^^ — This  is  a  variation 
of  the  very  common  carol,  "  As  I  sat  on  a  sunny  bank." 

Page  26  :  William  Byrd,  a  celebrated  musician,  was  born 
about  1545,  and  died  in  1623.  The  reader  will  find  an  account 
of  his  works  in  Oliphant's  Musa  Madrigalesca.  Probably  Byrd 
wrote  only  the  music  for  his  collections. 

Page  29  :  ^^  Joseph  was  an  old  man''' — I  do  not  feel  at  all  sure 
that  I  have  done  right  in  dividing  this  carol  into  three  parts. 
Perhaps  it  would  have  been  better  to  print  Part  II.  as  a  separate 
piece,  and  join  Part  III.  to  Part  I.  As  regards  the  text  of  this 
carol  no  two  copies  are  found  to  agree,  and  one  is  obliged  to 
adopt  an  eclectic  method.  The  alterations  made  by  modern 
editors  in  deference  to  the  mock-modesty  of  the  day  are  singu- 
larly flat.  Mr.  Bramley,  in  "  Christmas  Carols  New  and  Old," 
gives  the  following  ridiculous  rendering  of  the  fourth  and  fifth 
stanzas  : — 


% 


%\ 


itffaflff^^ite^jfcteP^^  J:^ 


NOTES. 


253 


"  Mary  said  to  Joseph 

With  her  sweet  lips  so  mild, 
Pluck  those  cherries,  Joseph, 
For  to  give  to  my  Child. 

0  then  replied  Joseph, 
With  words  so  unkind, 

1  will  pluck  no  cherries 
For  to  give  to  thy  Child." 

Could    anything  be  more  pointless?      Hone,  in  his  Ancient 
Mysteries  (p.  90),  gives  after  the  first  stanza — 

"  When  Joseph  was  married, 
And  his  cousin  Mary  got, 
Mary  proved  big  with  child, 
By  whom  Joseph  knew  not." 

After  the  penultimate  stanza  some  copies  add — 

'*And  upon  a  Wednesday 
My  vow  I  will  make. 
And  upon  Good  Friday 
My  death  I  will  take." 

Page  33:  **  SL  Stephen  was  a  clerk." — We  learn  from  Dr. 
Prior's  "Ancient  Danish  Ballads"  (I.  395)  that  the  oldest 
account  of  the  singular  legend  which  is  the  subject  of  this  carol 
"  is  in  Vine.  Bellovacensis,  from  an  author  who  lived  about  1200. 
Two  friends  sat  down  to  dinner  in  Bologna,  and  one  bade  the 
other  to  carve  the  cock,  which  he  did,  so  that,  as  he  said,  not  St. 
Peter  or  our  Lord  himself  could  put  it  together  again.  The 
cock  sprang  up,  clapped  his  wings  and  crowed,  scattering  the 
sauce  over  the  two  friends,  and  rendering  them  lepers  till  the 
day  of  their  death.  The  same  miracle  is  related  as  having 
occurred  to  prove  the  innocence  of  persons  falsely  accused,  and  is 
found  in  the  legends  of  Spain  Brittany,  Italy,  and  Slavonian 


254 


NOTES. 


countries.  How  it  came  to  be  appropriated  to  St.  Stephen 
does  not  appear." 

Page  36  :  '"'^  Remember ,  O  thou  man.'^ — A  different  version  of 
this  carol  is  given  in  Mr.  Thomas  Hardy's  "  Under  the  Green- 
wood Tree." 

Page  40  :  "  God  rest  you  merry,  gentlemen^ — The  comma,  by 
a  curious  oversight,  has  been  misplaced.  It  should  stand  before, 
not  after,  the  word  **  merry." 

Page  48  :  ''^ Nay,  Nay,  sweet  Jesus  said,"  &c. — I  have  ven- 
tured to  end  the  carol  with  this  stanza.  In  all  the  copies  that 
I  have  seen  an  additional  stanza  follows — 

**  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  conclusion  is  spoiled  by  the  introduction  of  these  mysterious 
lines,  which  have  no  connection  with  the  context. 

PS'ge  55  :  ^^  Joys  Seven. " — There  is  an  older  carol  of  a  similar 
sort,  entitled,  "Joyis  Fyve." 

Page  58  :  **  The  Moon  shines  bright.'^ — Robert  Bell,  in  his 
"Songs  of  the  Peasantry  "  (1857),  gives  a  May-day  song  (which 
used  to  be  sung  at  Hitchin),   containing  some  of  the   stanzas 
-found  in  this  carol.     Here  is  the  song — 

"  Remember  us  poor  Mayers  all ! 
And  thus  do  we  begin 
To  lead  our  lives  in  righteous  ways, 
Or  else  we  die  in  sin. 

We  have  been  rambling  all  the  night 

And  almost  all  the  day  ; 
And  now  returned  back  again. 

We  have  brought  you  a  branch  of  May. 


jfHfe:gWP!P^^ 


NOTES. 


255 


A  branch  of  May  we  have  brought  you, 
And  at  your  door  it  stands  ; 

It  is  but  a  sprout, 

But  it's  well  budded  out 
By  the  work  of  our  Lord's  hands. 

The  hedges  and  trees  they  are  so  green. 

As  green  as  any  leek  ; 
Our  heavenly  Father  he  watered  them 

With  his  heavenly  dew  so  sweet  : 

The  heavenly  gates  are  open  wide, 

Our  paths  are  beaten  plain  ; 
And  if  a  man  be  not  too  far  gone, 

He  may  return  again. 

The  life  of  man  is  but  a  span, 

It  flourishes  like  a  flower  ; 
We  are  here  to-day  and  gone  to-morrow, 

And  we  are  dead  in  an  hour. 

The  moon  shines  bright  and  the  stars  give  a  light, 

A  little  before  it  is  day ; 
So  God  bless  you  all,  both  great  and  small, 

And  send  you  a  joyful  May  !  " 

Page  68 :  **  The  contest  of  the  Ivy  and  the  Holly:'— The  two 
following  pieces  are  from  Wright's  **  Songs  and  Carols,"  pub- 
lished by  the  Percy  Society  : — 

"  Hallelujah,  hallelujah^  hallelujah  now  sing  we  I 

Here  comes  holly  that  is  so  gent. 
To  please  all  men  in  his  intent. 

Hallelujah. 

But  Lord  and  Lady  of  this  hall. 
Whosoever  against  holly  call, — 

Hallelujah. 


256 


NOTES. 


^ 


Whosoever  against  holly  do  cry, 
In  a  lepe  ^  shall  he  hang  full  high. 

Hallelujah. 

Whosoever  against  holly  do  sing, 
He  may  weep  and  handes  wring. 

Hallelujah." 


**  Holly  and  ivy  made  a  great  party 
Who  should  have  the  mastery 

In  lands  where  they  go. 
Then  spake  Holly,  I  am  free  and  jolly, 
I  will  have  the  mastery, 

In  lands  where  they  go. 
Then  spake  Ivy,  I  am  loud  and  proud, 
And  I  will  have  the  mastery 

In  lands  where  they  go. 
Then  spake  Holly  and  set  him  down  on  his  knee, 
I  pray  thee,  gentle  Ivy,  say  me  no  villany, 

In  lands  where  they  go." 

There  is  a  modern  carol  of  TAe  Holly  and  the  Ivy,  frequently 
printed  during  the  last  hundred  years.  I  give  it  from  a  broad- 
side printed  in  the  last  century  by  T.  Bloomer  of  Birmingham  : — 

"  The  holly  and  the  ivy 

Now  are  both  well  grown  : 
Of  all  the  trees  that  are  in  the  wood 
The  holly  bears  the  crown. 

Chorus. — The  rising  of  the  sun. 

The  running  of  the  deer, 
The  playing  of  the  merry  organ. 
Sweet  singing  in  the  choir. 


A  large  basket. 


f 


NOTES. 


257 


The  holly  bears  a  blossom 
As  white  as  the  lily  flower  ; 

And  Mary  bore  sweet  Jesus  Christ 
To  be  our  sweet  Saviour. 

The  holly  bears  a  berry. 

As  red  as  any  blood  ; 
And  Mary  bore  sweet  Jesus  Christ 

To  do  poor  sinners  good. 

The  holly  bears  a  prickle, 

As  sharp  as  any  thorn  ; 
And  Mary  bore  sweet  Jesus  Christ 

On  Christmas-day  in  the  morn. 

The  holly  bears  a  bark, 

As  bitter  as  any  gall ; 
And  Mary  bore  sweet  Jesus  Christ 

For  to  redeem  us  all. 


The  holly  and  the  ivy 

Now  are  both  well  grown  : 
Of  all  the  trees  that  are  in  the  wood 

The  holly  bears  the  crown." 

Page  71:  ^^  Modryb  Marya" — The  figure  of  the  noble- 
hearted  vicar  of  Morwenstow  stands  out  with  striking  pic- 
turesqueness.  Had  he  been  a  border-minstrel  in  the  old 
tumultuous  days,  he  would  surely  have  written  many  a  ballad 
that  the  world  would  not  willingly  let  die.  His  poems  are  few 
and  unequal ;  the  best  are  singularly  precious. 

P^gs  75  •  *'  ^'^  shepherds  went  their  hasty  way^ — Few 
great  poets  have  written  more  execrably  than  Coleridge,  when 
he  is  at  his  worst.     His  carol  begins  well ;  but  nothing  more 

R 


258 


NOTES. 


inappropriate  could  be  conceived  than  the  reference  to  "The 
maiden's  love-confessing  sigh,"  **Waris  a  ruffian,"  &c.  The 
carol  was  written  in  1799,  two  years  after  the  peerless  Kubla 
Khan  and  the  first  part  of  Christabel. 

Page  80  :  "Masters,  in  this  hall''' — In  Sedding's  *'Antient 
Christmas  Carols  "  this  carol  is  said  to  be  translated  from  the 
French. 

Page  103  :  "  Who  can  forget ^^'  &c. — These  stanzas  are  taken 
from  the  speech  of  Mercy  towards  the  close  of  "Christ's 
Victorie  in  Heaven,"  the  first  part  of  **  Christ's  Victorie  and 
Triumph  in  Heaven,  and  Earth,  over,  and  after  Death,"  first 
published  in  1610.  The  poem  is  full  of  striking  and  magnificent 
imagery,  expressed  in  richly-glowing  jewelled  stanzas.  Milton 
was  a  close  student  of  Giles  Fletcher. 

Page  106  :  **  The  Shepherds''  —Yierixy  Vaughan,  called  "the 
Silurist,"  from  the  fact  that  he  was  born  among  the  Silures  or 
people  of  South  Wales,  is  incomparably  the  greatest  of  English 
devotional  poets.  The  pieces  that  I  have  quoted,  fine  as  they 
are,  do  not  give  the  reader  a  just  idea  of  his  greatness.  "Who- 
ever will  study  Silex  Scintillans  as  it  deserves  to  be  studied, 
read  it  through  and  through  again  and  again,  cannot  fail  to  be 
deeply  impressed  by  the  magical  beauty  of  the  diction,  the 
perfect  success  with  which  the  most  difficult  metrical  effects 
are  lightly  produced,  the  imaginative  splendour  and  subtlety. 
Vaughan  was  no  less  a  born  poet  than  Shelley  or  Keats  or 
Coleridge.  He  was  born  in  1621,  and  died  in  1695.  The 
first  part  of  Silex  Scintillans  was  published  in  1651 ;  the 
complete  collection  in  two  parts  appeared  in  1655.  **01or 
Iscanus.  A  Collection  of  some  select  Poems  and  Translations. 
Formerly  written  by  Henry  Vaughan,  Silurist,"  was  published 
by  the  author's  friends  in  165 1  ;  it  is  far  inferior  to  the  volume 


in         I 


I 


NOTES. 


259 


'^      of  sacred  poems.     Vaughan  published  nothing  after  1655.     ^^' 
Grosart  has  edited  a  complete  edition  of  Vaughan's  writings. 

Page  III  :  "New  Prince,  JVezv  PompP — A  very  quaint  and 
tender  little  poem.  Another  piece,  entitled  "New  Heaven, 
New  War,"  is  perhaps  almost  too  quaint  for  modem  readers  ; 
yet  I  venture  to  quote  it  in  full : — 

**  Come  to  your  heaven,  you  heavenly  quires  ! 
Earth  hath  the  heaven  of  your  desires  ; 
Remove  your  dwelling  to  your  God, 
A  stall  is  now  his  best  abode  ; 
Sith  men  their  homage  do  deny. 
Come,  angels,  all  their  fault  supply. 

His  chilling  cold  doth  heat  require. 
Come,  seraphims,  in  lieu  of  fire  ; 
This  little  ark  no  cover  hath, 
Let  cherubs'  wings  his  body  swathe  ; 
Come,  Raphael,  this  babe  must  eat, 
Provide  our  little  Toby  meat. 

Let  Gabriel  be  now  his  groom, 
That  first  took  up  his  earthly  room  ; 
Let  Michael  stand  in  his  defence, 
Whom  love  hath  linked  to  feeble  sense  ; 
Let  Graces  rock  when  he  doth  cry, 
And  angels  sing  his  lullaby. 

The  same  you  saw  in  heavenly  seat 
Is  he  that  now  sucks  Mary's  teat ; 
Agnize  your  King  a  mortal  wight, 
His  borrowed  weed  lets  not  your  sight ; 
Come  kiss  the  manger  where  he  lies. 
That  is  your  bliss  above  the  skies. 


260  NOTES. 


This  little  Babe  so  few  days  old 

Is  come  to  rifle  Satan's  fold  ; 

All  hell  doth  at  his  presence  quake, 

Though  he  himself  for  cold  do  shake  ; 

For  in  this  weak  unarmed  wise 

The  gates  of  hell  he  will  surprise. 

With  tears  he  fights  and  wins  the  field, 
His  naked  breast  stands  for  a  shield  ; 
His  battering  shots  are  babish  cries ; 
His  arrows,  looks  of  weeping  eyes  ; 
His  martial  ensigns,  cold  and  need ; 
And  feeble  flesh  his  warrior's  steed. 

His  camp  is  pitch&d  in  a  stall, 

His  bulwark  but  a  broken  wall ; 

The  crib  his  trench,  hay-stalks  his  stakes  ; 

Of  shepherds  he  his  muster  makes  ; 

And  thus,  as  sure  his  foe  to  wound, 

The  angels'  trumps  alarum  sound. 

My  soul,  with  Christ  join  thou  in  fight ; 

Stick  to  the  tents  that  he  hath  pight ; 

Within  his  crib  is  surest  ward, 

This  little  Babe  will  be  thy  guard  ;  g' 

If  thou  wilt  foil  thy  foes  with  joy,  % 

Then  flit  not  from  this  Heavenly  Boy."  (iH 

I  must  also  find  room  for  the  poem,  entitled  "The  Burning 
Babe":— 

"As  I  in  hoary  winter's  night  stood  shivering  in  the  snow,  i; 

Surprised  I  was  with  sudden  heat  which  made  my  heart  to  glow  ;     ',!r\ 
And  lifting  up  a  fearful  eye  to  view  what  fire  was  near, 
A  pretty  babe  all  burning  bright  did  in  the  air  appear, 


i 


NOTES. 


261 


^ 


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  breast  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  vanish'd  out  of  sight  and  swiftly  shrunk  away. 
And  straight  I  called  unto  mind  that  it  was  Christmas  Day." 


Ben  Jonson  told  Drummond  of  Hawthomden  that  he  would 
have  been  content  to  destroy  many  of  his  own  writings  if  he 
had  written  **  The  Burning  Babe." 

Southwell's  longest  poem,  "St.  Peter's  Complaint,"  is 
smoothly  written,  but  tedious.  After  three  years'  close  impri- 
sonment in  the  Tower,  Southwell  was  executed  at  Tyburn,  on 
February  22,  1594-5,  at  the  age  of  thirty-four  or  thirty-five. 
Though  he  was  found  guilty  of  treasonable  practices,  his  sole 
offence  was  that  he  had  been  a  zealous  priest  of  the  Church  of 
Rome.  He  appears  to  have  been  a  man  of  noble  character, 
humble  and  gentle  and  intrepid.  [In  the  last  line  of  the  pen- 
ultimate stanza  of  "  New  Prince,  New  Pomp,"  the  word  praishi 
should  be  prizM.     I  quoted  from  an  inaccurate  reprint.] 

Page  113  :  '^  All  after  pleasures  as  I  rid  one  day" — These 
lines  are  very  characteristic  of  the  polished  high-born  scholar, 
who,  after  strenuous  attempts  to  gain  preferment  at  court, 
abandoned  at  length  the  fruitless  quest  and  found  content  in  the 
retirement  of  a  country  vicarage.  Herbert  is  a  soothing  writer ; 
his  Muse  took  an  equable  steady  flight,  never  soaring  into  the 


ilri=^=t^^ig=t?is^^ 


262 


NOTES. 


"highest  heaven  of  invention,"  but  yet  keeping  at  a  respectable 
distance  from  the  ground.  He  numbers  at  least  ten  readers  for 
Vaughan's  one, — a  fact  which  is  not  at  all  surprising. 

Page  115  :  ^'  Immortal  Babe^'  &c.— From  "The  Shaking  of 
the  Olive  Tree,"  1660.  Joseph  Hall,  Bishop  of  Exeter,  was 
born  in  1574,  and  died  on  8th  September  1656.  He  was  an 
eloquent,  liberal-minded,  witty,  and  bold  divine.  He  was  also 
one  of  our  earliest  English  satirists. 

Page  116 :  "  The  Shepherd's  Song.'' — This  piece  is  subscribed 
**  E.  B."  in  the  original  editions  (1600  and  1614)  of  "  England's 
Helicon."  Other  pieces  in  that  delightful  collection  bear  the 
name  "  Edmund  Bolton  "  in  full ;  so  doubtless  we  are  right  in 
giving  the  present  poem  to  Bolton.  In  the  early  editions  the 
two  last  lines  are  printed  thus  : — 

"  In  Daui(rs  Cittie  dooth  this  Sunne  appeare  : 
Clouded  in  flesh,  yet  Sheepheards  sit  we  heere." 

My  punctuation  seems  preferable.  Bolton  is  known  as  a  poet 
only  from  his  contributions  to  "  England's  Helicon." 

Page  120 :  "^  Hymn  of  the  Nativity'"' — This  poem  strikingly 
exhibits  Crashaw's  power  and  weakness.  Thrice-refined  golden 
speech,  a  subtle  sense  of  melody,  fervid  richness  of  imagination, 
— these  great  gifts  were  marred  by  a  constant  indulgence  in 
violent  conceits,  by  diffuseness,  and  occasionally  by  studied 
harshness  of  phrase  and  rhythm.  The  second  piece,  "  Hymn 
for  the  Epiphany,"  offends  so  outrageously  by  ill-timed  conceits, 
that  I  have  only  printed  the  first  part  of  it,  although  there  are 
many  fine  lines  in  the  latter  part.  Crashaw  was  driven  from 
Cambridge  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  Wars ;  escaped  to  France, 
embraced  the  Catholic  faith,  and  afterwards  became  secretary 
to  Cardinal  Palotta  at  Rome.     He  died  at  Loretto  in  1650  (at 


^5^ffiS^H^K^^5J5^^fe^;^^^s^:^: 


NOTES. 


k 


263 


fc>      the  age  of  thirty-seven) ;  and  it  has  been  supposed  that  he  was 
poisoned.     His  poems  were  published  in  1646  under  the  title  of 
.;      "  Steps  to  the  Temple,"  and  "  The  Delights  of  the  Muses." 

>^'  Page  128:  "  Run^  shepherds,  rutty"  &c — Too  often  in  read- 

ing Drummond  of  Hawthornden  we  feel  that  the  poet  is  giving 
us  "words,  words,  words."  His  work  is  always  polished  and 
refined,  but  seldom  throbs  with  life.  The  two  sonnets  I  have 
quoted  are  graceful  but  (it  must  be  confessed)  commonplace. 

S  There  is  an  elaborate  life  of  Drummond  (who  died  in  1649)  t>y 
Professor  Masson. 

Page  130  :  "  0/ the  Epiphany." — Sir  John  Beaumont  was  an 
elder  brother  of  Francis  Beaumont  the  dramatist.  Drayton,  in 
his  Epistle  to  Henry  Reynolds,  couples  the  brothers  together  in 
terms  of  genial  praise  : — 

"Then  the  two  Beaumonts  and  my  Browne  arose, 
My  dear  companions  whom  I  freely  chose 
My  bosom  friends  ;  and  in  their  several  ways 
Rightly  born  poets,  and  in  these  last  days 
Men  of  much  note  and  no  less  nobler  parts, 
Such  as  have  freely  told  to  me  their  hearts, 
As  I  have  mine  to  them." 

John  Beaumont  was  created  a  baronet  in  1626  and  died  in  1628, 
aetat,  44.  He  is  the  author  of  **  Bos  worth  Field  and  other 
Poems "  (posthumously  printed  in  1629),  which  have  been 
praised  by  Wordsworth  for  their  **  spirit,  elegance,  and  har- 
mony." 

Page  132 :  "  Where  is  this  blessed  Babe  ?  " — ^Jeremy  Taylor, 
whose  prose  is  one  of  the  glories  of  English  literature,  handles 
his  lyre  awkwardly.  At  starting  we  are  confronted  with  a  false 
rhyme  ;  and  as  we  proceed  we  feel  that  the  versification  is  want- 


jSf^i^fr^r^rSfN^lHSgFS???^^^^ 


264 


NOTES. 


ing  in  ease  and  fluency.  "What  a  change  when  we  turn  to  the 
perfect  prose-periods  of  the  funeral  sermon  on  the  Countess  of 
Carbery ! 

Page  136  :  "And  they  laid  hint  in  a  manger.^'' — Sir  Edward 
Sherburne  came  of  an  ancient  Lancashire  family  ;  he  was  born 
in  1 616,  and  is  supposed  to  have  died  in  1702.  He  made  a 
translation  of  Manilius  and  of  some  plays  of  Seneca.  When 
the  Civil  Wars  broke  out  he  sided  with  the  King's  party  and 
lost  his  fortune.     He  was  knighted  by  Charles  the  Second. 

Page  140  :  "  Rejoice^  rejoice^  with  heart  and  voiced'' — The 
author,  Francis  Kinwelmersh,  was  a  member  of  Gray's  Inn.  He 
had  a  brother  Antony,  who  also  wrote  verse. 

Page  143 :  "Sleeps  haby^  sleeps — This  Christmas  Lullaby  has 
not  been  printed  before. 


Page  145:  "^  Rocking  Hymn."—Wi\hQx's  besetting  fault 
is  his  prolixity  ;  he  seldom  knew  when  to  stop.  It  is  tedious 
to  read  through  the  voluminous  list  of  his  forgotten  writings,  but 
to  read  the  works  themselves  is  a  Herculean  task.  Yet  every 
student  of  English  poetry  knows  that  some  of  Wither's  songs 
are  miracles  of  sweetness,  and  that  even  in  his  most  arid  wastes 
of  prose  and  verse  there  are  green  oases.  It  is  much  to  be  wished 
that  some  capable  scholar  would  make  an  anthology  from 
Wither.  From  the  cradle  hymn  I  ventured  to  omit  the  second 
stanza,  which  ran  thus  : — 

"  Though  thy  conception  was  in  sin, 
A  sacred  bathing  thou  hast  had ; 
And  though  thy  birth  unclean  hath  bin, 
A  blameless  babe  thou  now  art  made : 

Sweet  baby,  then,  forbear  to  weep  ; 
Be  still,  my  dear ;  sweet  baby,  sleep." 


NOTES. 


265 


^>  The  piece  would  be  improved  by  making  a  few  more  omissions. 
Not  so  with  the  carol  which  follows,  written  in  Wither's  blithest 
strain,  perfect  from  first  to  last. 

Page  151  :  *' Now  poor  men  to  the  justices.^'' — The  old  poet 
Gascoigne  tells  us  that  tenants  used  to  take  their  landlords 
presents  on  Quarter-Day  : 

"  And  when  the  tenants  come  to  pay  their  quarter's  rent, 
They  bring  some  fowl  at  Midsummer,  a  dish  of  fish  in  Lent ; 
At  Christmas  a  capon,  at  Michaelmas  a  goose  ; 
And  somewhat  else  at  New-Year's  Wde,  for  fear  their  lease  flie 
looser 


Page  152  :  "  The  wild  mare  in  is  bringing''' — The  game  of 
"shoeing  the  wild  mare."  A  youth  was  chosen  to  be  the  wild 
mare  :  he  was  allowed  a  start,  and  the  other  players  then  pursued 
him  with  the  object  of  shoeing  him.  From  Strutt's  meagre  de- 
scription it  appears  to  have  been  a  poor  sport.  I  suppose  that 
in  the  attempt  to  escape  from  the  pursuers  the  wild  mare  kicked 
out  lustily,  upsetting  chairs  and  tables.  I  don't  know  what 
game  is  meant  in  the  previous  line,  "  The  boys  are  come  to 
catch  the  owls.''  In  the  next  stanza  "noddy"  is  an  old  game 
of  cards  resembling  cribbage.  Of  the  game  of  "  Rowland-ho  " 
I  can  find  no  particulars. 


ij         Page  154  :  "  With  the  last  year's  brand"  &c.— When  a  piece 
^      of  last  year's   Christmas  log  was  preserved,    the  household 

reckoned  itself  secure  from  the  assaults  of  hobgoblins,  as  Her- 

rick  elsewhere  relates  : — 

**  Kindle  the  Christmas  brand,  and  then 
Till  sunset  let  it  burn  ; 
Which  quenched,  then  lay  it  up  again 
Till  Christmas  next  return. 


<^yi?fa^^=i=t^^lr^^<^r^^^^ 


is^msss^^^^i^s^^^^^^si^^^^as^^^^i^^^k^- 


266 


NOTES. 


Part  must  be  kept  wherewith  to  teend 

The  Christmas  log  next  year ; 
And  where  'tis  safely  kept,  the  fiend 

Can  do  no  mischief  there." 

Page  156  :  "  Wassail  the  trees. ''^ — This  custom  was  kept  up 
till  the  end  of  the  last  century.  Brand  relates  that  in  1 790  a 
Cornish  man  informed  him  it  was  the  custom  for  the  Devonshire 
people  on  the  eve  of  Twelfth  Day  to  go  after  supper  into  the 
orchard  with  a  large  milk-pan  full  of  cyder  with  roasted  apples 
in  it  Each  person  took  what  was  called  a  clayen  cup,  i.e.  an 
earthenware  cup  full  of  cyder,  and  standing  under  each  of  the 
more  fruitful  trees,  sung — 

•*  Health  to  thee,  good  apple-tree, 
Well  to  bear,  pocket-fulls,  hat-fulls, 
Peck-fulls,  bushel-bag-fulls." 

After  drinking  part  of  the  contents  of  the  cup,  he  threw  the 
rest,  with  the  fragments  of  the  roasted  apples,  at  the  trees,  amid 
the  shouting  of  the  company.  Another  song  sung  on  such 
occasions  was  : — 

"  Here's  to  thee,  old  apple-tree, 
Whence  thou  may'st  bud,  and  whence  thou  may'st  blow, 
And  whence  thou  may'st  bear  apples  enow  ! 
Hats  full !  caps  full ! 
Bushel-bushel-sacks  full. 
And  my  pockets  full,  too,  huzza ! " 

It  is  supposed  that  the  custom  was  a  relic  of  the  sacrifice  to 
Pomona. 

Page  163  :  "  March  beer." — Harrison,  in  his  "Description  of 
England,"  ii.  6,  says  : — "The  beer  that  is  used  at  noblemen's 
tables  in  their  fixed  and  standing  houses  is  commonly  of  a  year 
old,  or  peradventure  of  two  years'  tunning  or  more,  but  this  is 


i 


NOTES. 


267 


not  general.  If  is  also  brewed  in  March^  and  therefore  called 
March  beer ;  but  for  the  household  it  is  usually  not  under  a 
month's  age,  each  one  coveting  to  have  the  same  stale  as  he  may, 
so  that  it  be  not  sour,  and  his  bread  as  new  as  possible,  so  that 
it  be  not  hot." 

Page  168  :  "  O  you  merry ^  merry  souls. ''^ — These  lively  verses, 
with  some  additions  and  alterations,  are  also  found  in  an  undated 
collection  of  songs  entitled  "The  Hop  Garland." — Last  year 
the  enterprising  publishers,  Messrs.  Field  &  Tuer,  issued  a 
reprint  of  **  Round  about  the  Coal  Fire." 

Page  170:  '  *  Caput  apri  defero. " — There  is  still  another  Boar's- 
head  Carol,  in  addition  to  those  in  pp.  170-2.  Ritson  first 
printed  it  (from  Add.  MS.  5665,  the  valuable  folio  which  he 
presented  to  the  British  Museum) : — 

**  Nowell,  nowell,  no  well,  nowell. 
Tidings  good  I  think  to  tell. 
The  boar's  head  that  we  bring  here 
Betokeneth  a  prince  without  peer, 
Is  bom  this  day  to  buy  us  dear, 

Nowell. 

A  boar  is  a  sovran  beast, 
And  acceptable  in  every  feast, 
So  mote  this  lord  be  to  most  and  least, 
Nowell. 

This  boar's  head  we  bring  with  song. 
In  worship  of  him  that  thus  sprung 
Of  a  virgin  to  redress  all  wrong, 

Nowell." 


Page  173  :  "May  both  with  manchet  stand  replete."- 
chet  was  fine  wheaten  bread. 


•Man- 


268 


NOTES. 


Page  176:  **A  jolly  wassail  bowl,^^ — The  undated  black- 
letter  '*  New  Christmas  Carols,"  from  which  this  piece  is  taken, 
is  bound  up  with  three  other  collections  of  Christmas  verses. 
The  volume,  which  is  in  the  Bodleian  Library,  formerly  belonged 
to  Antony-^-Wood.  Each  tract  numbers  only  a  few  i2mo 
pages.  In  the  same  little  volume  is  a  curious  prose-tract  on 
the  Arraignment  of  Christmas. 

Page  183:  ^^  Here  we  come  a  whistling.^'' — Another  corres- 
pondent of  Notes  and  Queries  mentions  that  at  Harrington  in 
Worcestershire  it  was  customary  for  children  on  St.  Thomas's 
Day  (December  21)  to  go  round  the  village  begging  for  apples, 
and  singing — 

"  Wassail,  wassail  through  the  town, 
If  you've  got  any  apples  throw  them  down  ; 
Up  with  the  stocking  and  down  with  the  shoe, 
If  you've  got  no  apples  money  will  do  ; 
The  jug  is  white  and  the  ale  is  brown, 
This  is  the  best  house  in  the  town," 

An  Oxfordshire  lady  tells  me  that  at  her  house  near  Witney 
the  village  children  sing  on  Christmas-eve — 

*  *  Holly  and  ivy,  tickle  my  toe, 
Give  me  a  red  apple  and  let  me  go  ; 
Give  me  another  for  my  little  brother, 
And  I'll  go  home  to  my  father  and  my  mother." 

A  writer  in  Current  Notes  for  January  1856  gives  the  following 
verses  : — 

"  I  wish  you  a  merry  Christmas 
And  a  happy  New  Year, 
A  pocket  full  of  money, 

And  a  cellar  full  of  beer. 
And  a  good  fat  pig  to  serve  you  all  the  year. 


t 


>^j,^^i;^^j^igiapiji^^gji^^ 


NOTES: 


269 


Ladies  and  gentlemen,  sat  by  the  fire, 
Pity  we  poor  boys  out  in  the  mire." 

In  Oxfordshire  the  children  sing   the  first   four  lines  of  this 
piece,  and  then  proceed  : — 

**  All  the  roads  are  very  dirty, 
My  boots  are  very  thin ; 
I've  got  a  little  pocket. 
Will  you  put  a  penny  in  ?  " 

Page  190 :  "  Ai  hot  cockles  beside.^' — In  the  game  of  hot  cockles 
one  of  the  players,  after  being  blindfolded,  laid  his  head  in 
another's  lap.  The  rest  proceeded  in  turn  to  strike  the  blind- 
folded victim,  until  he  was  released  from  his  position  by 
guessing  the  name  of  the  person  who  struck  him.  In  Strutt's 
"  Sports  and  Pastimes  "  (ed.  1801,  p.  293)  there  is  an  illustration 
if      of  this  ancient  sport  from  a  fifteenth-century  illuminated  MS. 

■jl  Page  214  :  "  Provide  for  Christmas,^"* — Poor  Robin's  Almancu^ 

;s  from  which  this  and  other  pieces  are  taken,  began  in  1663  and 

;^  ended  in  1 776.     No  public  or  private  library,  so  far  as  I  know, 

4  possesses  a  complete  set  of  these  very  interesting  almanacs. 

I]  It  has  been  stated  that  Robert  Herrick  was  the  original  pro- 

g  jector  of  the  series,  but  I  believe  there  is  no  authority  for  the 

%  statement.     '*  Poor  Robin  "  was  the  nom  de  plume  of  Robert 

\  Winstanley  of  Saffron  Walden,  a  list  of  whose  publications  is 

k  given  by  Mr.  H.  Eckroyd  Smith  in  Notes  and  Queries^  ser.  vi. 

%  vol.  7,  pp.  321-3.     More  information  about  Poor  Robin  is  very 

%  much  needed. 

i^l  Page  225  :  "  Right  wantonly  a  mumming^ — Christmas  mum- 

^  ming  still  continues  in  many  parts  of  the  country,  but  it  is  only 
the  shadow  of  its  former  self.  A  few  years  ago  it  was  kept  up 
at  Chiswick.    Robert  Bell  (in  "  Songs  of  the  Peasantry" )  gives  an 


270 


NOTES. 


amusing  Mummer's  Song  that  used  to  be  sung  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Richmond,  Yorkshire,  by  a  rustic  actor  dressed  as  an 
old  horse.  One  verse  in  a  Somersetshire  Mummer's  song  is 
very  droll : — 

"Here  comes  I,  liddle  man  Jan, 
With  my  zword  in  my  hand  ! 
If  you  don't  all  do 

As  you  be  told  by  I, 
I'll  zend  you  all  to  York 

For  to  make  apple-pie." 

My  fair  Oxfordshire  correspondent  writes : — "  The  mummers 
still  go  round  to  the  farm-houses  at  home,  but  their  glory  has 
departed.  I  can  remember  being  immensely  pleased  with  their 
acting,  and  remember  one  little  bit  they  said  which  always 
took  my  fancy.  One  fellow  would  shout  out,  *  Come  in,  Jack 
Spinner ! '    Then  in  came  Jack  Spinner,  saying  : — 

'  Yer  comes  I  as  an't  bin  it, 
We  my  gret  yead  and  little  wit.' 

{i.e.  Here  come  I  that  haven't  been  yet 
With  my  great  head  and  little  wit.) " 

In  "Round  about  our  Coal  Fire"  we  read: — "Then  comes 
Mumming  or  Masquerading,  when  the  squire's  wardrobe  is 
ransacked  for  dresses  of  all  kinds,  and  the  coal-hole  searched 
around,  or  corks  burnt  to  black  the  faces  of  the  fair  or  make 
deputy-moustaches;  and  every  one  in  the  family  except  the 
squire  himself  must  be  transformed  from  what  they  were." 

Page  227  :  0/  ash-heaps^  in  the  which  ye  use"  &c. — William 
Browne  (in  one  of  his  sonnets  to  Celia)  alludes  to  this  curious 
mode  of  divination  : — 


I 


I 


* '  If,  forced  by  our  sighs,  the  flame  shall  fly 
Of  our  kind  love  and  get  within  thy  rind, 
Be  wary,  gentle  Bay,  and  shriek  not  high 
When  thou  dost  such  unusual  fervour  find  : 
Suppress  the  fire,  for,  should  it  take  thy  leaves, 
Their  crackling  would  betray  us  and  thy  glory." 

Works,  ed.  Hazlitt,  ii.  288. 

Page  229  :  "  Where  bean's  the  king  of  the  sport  here  J' — A  bean 
and  pea  were  enclosed  in  the  Twelfth-cake.  When  the  cake 
was  divided,  he  who  got  the  slice  containing  the  bean  was  king 
of  the  feast,  and  the  girl  to  whose  lot  the  pea  fell  was  queen. 
This  Twelfth-tide  custom  existed  in  France  as  early  as  the 
thirteenth  century.  See  some  interesting  remarks  in  the  preface 
to  Sandys'  Christmas  Carols  (pp.  lxxvi.-ix.) 

Page  230  :  *  *  IVith  gentle  lambs-wool. " — Lambs-wool  consisted 
of  strong  nappy  ale,  in  which  roasted  crab-apples  were  pressed. 
Nares  conjectures  that  the  name  was  derived  from  the  liquor's 
"smoothness  and  softness,  resembling  the  wool  of  lambs." 

Page  231  :  "  Christmas  in  the  Olden  Time,'^ — It  may  not  be 
amiss  here  to  quote  a  lengthy  passage,  relating  to  Christmas 
observances,  from  the  fourth  book  of  Barnabe  Googe's  "  Popish 
Kingdom,"  (1570),  a  translation  of  Thomas  Kirchmaier's  [Nao- 
georgus']  "  Regnum  Papisticum  "  (1553).  The  writer  is  describ- 
ing the  customs  observed  in  Germany ;  but  in  many  respects  the 
description  would  be  equally  applicable  to  English  society  in  the 
middle  of  the  sixteenth  century  : — 

"  Three  weeks  before  the  day  whereon  was  born  the  Lord  of 

grace, 
And  on  the  Thursday  boys  and  girls  do  run  in  every  place, 
And  bounce  and  beat  at  every  door,  with  blows  and  lusty  snaps 
And  cry,  the  advent  of  the  Lord,  not  born  as  yet  perhaps  : 


272 


NOTES. 


I 


And  wishing  to  the  neighbours  all,  that  in  the  houses  dwell, 
A  happy  year,  and  everything  to  spring  and  prosper  well : 
Here  have  they  pears  and  plums,  and  pence,  each  man  gives 

willingly, 
For  these  three  nights  are  always  thought  unfortunate  to  be  : 
"Wherein  they  are  afraid  of  sprites  and  cankered  witches'  spite, 
And  dreadful  devils  black  and  grim,  that  then  have  chiefest 

might. 
In  these  same  days  young  wanton  girls  that  meet  for  marriage  be. 
Do  search  to  know  the  names  of  them  that  shall  their  husbands 

be. 
Four  onions,  five,  or  eight,  they  take,  and  make  in  every  one 
Such  names  as  they  do  fancy  most  and  best  do  think  upon. 
Thus  near  the  chimney  then  they  set,  and  that  same  onion  than 
The  first  doth  sprout  doth  surely  bear  the  name  of  their  good 

man. 
Their  husband's  nature  eke  they  seek  to  know  and  all  his 

guise; 
When  as  the  sun  hath  hid  himself,  and  left  the  starry  skies. 
Unto  some  woodstack  do  they  go,  and  while  they  there  do 

stand. 
Each  one  draws  out  a  faggot  stick,  the  next  that  comes  to  hand. 
Which  if  it  straight  and  even  be,  and  have  no  knots  at  all, 
A  gentle  husband  then  they  think  shall  surely  to  them  fall. 
But  if  it  foul  and  crooked  be,  and  knotty  here  and  there, 
A  crabbed  churlish  husband  then  they  earnestly  do  fear. 
These  things  the  wicked  Papists  bear,  and  suffer  willingly. 
Because  they  neither  do  the  end,  nor  fruits  of  faith  espie : 
And  rather  had  the  people  should  obey  their  foolish  lust, 
Than  truly  God  to  know,  and  in  him  here  alone  to  trust. 
Then  comes  the  day  wherein  the  Lord  did  bring  his  birth  to 

pass, 
Whereas  at  midnight  up  they  rise,  and  every  man  to  Mass. 


f 


NOTES. 


273 


This  time  so  holy  counted  is,  that  divers  earnestly 

Do  think  the  waters  all  to  wine  are  changed  suddenly  : 

In  that  same  hour  that  Christ  himself  was  born,  and  came  to 

light, 
And  unto  water  straight  again  transformed  and  altered  quite. 
There  are  beside  that  mindfully  the  money  still  do  watch, 
That  first  to  altar  comes,  which  then  they  privily  do  snatch. 
The  priests  lest  other  should  it  have  takes  oft  the  same  away, 
Whereby  they  think  throughout  the  year  to  have  good  luck  in 

play, 
And  not  to  lose  :  then  straight  at  game  till  daylight  do  they 

strive, 
To  make  some  present  proof  how  well  their  hallowed  pence  will 

thrive. 
Three  masses  every  priest  doth  sing  upon  that  solemn  day, 
With  offerings  unto  every  one,  that  so  the  more  may  play. 
This  done,  a  wooden  child  in  clouts  is  on  the  altar  set, 
About  the  which  both  boys  and  girls  do  dance  and  trimly  jet, 
And  carols  sing  in  praise  of  Christ,  and  for  to  help  them  here, 
The  organs  answer  every  verse,  with  sweet  and  solemn  cheer. 
The  priests  do  roar  aloud,  and  round  about  the  parents  stand, 
To  see  the  sport,  and  with  their  voice  do  help  them  and  their 

hand. 
Thus  wont  the  Coribants  perhaps  upon  the  mountain  Ide, 
The  crying  noise  of  Jupiter  new  born  with  song  to  hide, 
To  dance  about  him  round,  and  on  their  brazen  pans  to  beat, 
Lest  that  his  father  finding  him,  should  him  destroy  and  eat. 
Then  followeth  Saint  Stephen's  Day,  whereon  doth   every 

man 
His  horses  jaunt  and  course  abroad,  as  swiftly  as  he  can. 
Until  they  do  extremely  sweat,  and  then  they  let  them  blood, 
For  this  being  done  upon  this  day,   they  say   doth  do  them 

good, 


I 


274 


NOTES. 


And  keeps  them  from  all  maladies  and  sickness  through  the 

year, 
As  if  that  Stephen  any  time  took  charge  of  horses  here. 

Next  John  the  son  of  Zebedee  hath  his  appointed  day, 
Who  once  by  cruel  tyrant's  will  constrained  was,  they  say, 
Strong  poison  up  to  drink,  therefore  the  Papists  do  believe. 
That  whoso  puts  their  trust  in  him,  no  poison  them  can  grieve. 
The  wine  beside  that  hallowed  is,  in  worship  of  his  name, 
The  priests  do  give  the  people  that  bring  money  for  the  same. 
And  after  with  the  selfsame  wine  are  little  manchets  made, 
Against  the  boisterous  winter  storms,  and  sundry  such   like 

trade ; 
The  men  upon  this  solemn  day  do  take  this  holy  wine. 
To  make  them  strong,  so  do  the  maids  to  make  them  fair  and 
fine. 

Then  comes  the  day  that  calls  to  mind  the  cruel  Herod's 
strife. 
Who  seeking  Christ  to  kill,  the  King  of  everlasting  life, 
Destroyed  the  infants  young,  a  beast  unmerciless, 
And  put  to  death  all  such  as  were  of  two  years  age  or  less. 
To  them  the  sinful  wretches  cry,  and  earnestly  do  pray 
To  get  them  pardon  for  their  faults,  and  wipe  their  sins  away. 
The  parents  when  this  day  appears,  do  beat  their  children  all 
(Though  nothing  they  deserve),  and  servants  all  to  beating  fall. 
And  monks  do  whip  each  other  well,  or  else  their  Prior  great, 
Or  Abbot  mad,  doth  take  in  hand  their  breeches  all  to  beat 
In  worship  of  these  Innocents,  or  rather  as  we  see, 
In  honour  of  the  cursed  king  that  did  this  cruelty. 

The  next  to  this  is  New  Year's  Day,  whereon  to  every  friend 
They  costly  presents   in   do  bring  and  New  Year's  gifts  do 

send. 
These  gifts  the  husband  gives  his  wife  and  father  eke  the  child. 
And  master  on  his  men  bestows  the  like,  with  favour  mild. 


^ 


NOTES. 


275 


And  good  beginning  of  the  year  they  wish  and  wish  again, 
According  to  the  ancient  guise  of  heathen  people  vain. 
These  eight  days  no  man  doth  require  his  debts  of  any  man, 
Their  tables  do  they  furnish  out  with  all  the  meat  they  can  : 
With  marchpanes,  tarts,  and  custards  great  they  drink  with 

staring  eyes, 
They  rout  and  revel,  feed  and  feast  as  merry  all  as  pies, 
As  if  they  should  at  the  entrance  of  this  New  Year  have  to  die, 
Yet  would  they  have  their  bellies  full  and  ancient  friends  ally. 

The  wise  men's  day  here  followeth,  who  out  from  Persia  far, 
Brought  gifts  and  presents  unto  Christ,  conducted  by  a  star. 
The  Papists  do  believe  that  these  were  kings,  and  so  them  call. 
And  do  affirm  that  of  the  same  there  were  but  three  in  all. 
Here  sundry  friends  together  come,  and  meet  in  company. 
And  make  a  king  amongst  themselves  by  voice  or  destiny  ; 
"Who  after  princely  guise  appoints  his  officers  alway. 
Then  unto  feasting  do  they  go,  and  long  time  after  play  : 
Upon  their  boards  in  order  thick  the  dainty  dishes  stand. 
Till  that  their  purses  empty  be  and  creditors  at  hand. 
Their  children  herein  follow  them,  and  choosing  princes  here. 
With  pomp  and  great  solemnity,  they  meet  and  make  good 

cheer 
With  money  either  got  by  stealth,  or  of  their  parents  eft, 
That  so  they  may  be  trained  to  know  both  riot  here  and  theft. 
Then  also  every  householder  to  his  ability. 
Doth  make  a  mighty  cake,  that  may  suffice  his  company  : 
Herein  a  penny  doth  he  put,  before  it  come  to  fire. 
This  he  divides  according  as  his  household  doth  require  ; 
And  every  piece  distributeth,  as  round  about  they  stand. 
Which  in  their  names  unto  the  poor  is  given  out  of  hand ; 
But  whoso  chanceth  on  the  piece  wherein  the  money  lies 
Is  counted  king  amongst  them  all,  and   is  with  shouts  and 


Itftf 


276 


NOTES. 


Exalted  to  the  heavens  up,  who  taking  chalk  in  hand, 
Doth  make  a  cross  on  every  beam  and  rafters  as  they  stand  : 
Great   force  and  power  have   these   against   all    injuries   and 

harms 
Of  cursed  devils,  sprites  and  bugs,  of  conjurings  and  charms. 
So  much  this  king  can  do,  so  much  the  crosses  bring  to  pass, 
Made  by  some  servant,  maid  or  child,  or  by  some  foolish  ass. 
Twice  six  nights  then  from  Christmas  they  do  count  with  dili- 
gence. 
Wherein  each  master  in  his  house  doth  bum  up  frankincense  : 
And  on  the  table  sets  a  loaf,  when  night  approacheth  near. 
Before  the  coals,  and  frankincense  to  be  perfumed  there  : 
First  bowing  down  his  head  he  stands,  and  nose  and  ears  and 

eyes. 
He  smokes  and  with  his  mouth  receive[sj  the  fume  that  doth 

arise : 
Whom  followeth  straight  his  wife,  and  doth  the  same  full  solemnly, 
And  of  their  children  every  one,  and  all  their  family : 
Which  doth  preserve  they  say  their  teeth,  and  nose,  and  eyes, 

and  ear, 
From  every  kind  of  malady,  and  sickness  all  the  year. 
When  every  one  received  hath  this  odour  great  and  small. 
Then  one  takes  up  the  pan  with  coals,  and  frankincense  and 

all. 
Another  takes  the  loaf,  whom  all  the  rest  do  follow  here, 
And  round  about  the  house  they  go,  with  torch  or  taper  clear. 
That  neither  bread  nor  meat  do  want,  nor  witch  with  dreadful 

charm 
Have  power  to  hurt  their  children,  or  to  do  their  cattle  harm. 
There  are  that  three  nights  only  do  perform  this  foolish  gear, 
To  this  intent,  and  think  themselves  in  safety  all  the  year. 
To  Christ  dare  none  commit  himself.     And  in  these  days  beside 
They  judge  what  weather  all  the  year  shall  happen  and  betide  : 


NOTES. 


277 


Ascribing  to  each  day  a  month,  and  at  this  present  time 
The  youth  in  every  place  do  flock,  and,  all  appareled  fine, 
With  pipers  through  the  streets  they  run,  and  sing  at  every  door 
In  commendation  of  the  man  rewarded  well  therefore, 
Which  on  themselves  they  do  bestow,  or  on  the  church,  as  tho* 
The  people  were  not  plagued  with  rogues  and  begging  friars 

enow. 
There  cities  are  where  boys  and  girls  together  still  do  run, 
About  the  street  with  like,  as  soon  as  night  begins  to  come, 
And  bring  abroad  their  wassail  bowls,  who  well  rewarded  be 
With  cakes  and  cheese  and  great  good  cheer  and  money  plen- 

teously. 

Page  239  :  '*  Mark  well  my  heavy  doleful  tale.'* — Christmas 
festivities  were  not  wholly  ended  on  Twelfth  day.  The  7th  of 
January,  Distaff  day  (otherwise  called  Rock  day),  was  given 
up  partly  to  business  and  partly  to  play,  as  Herrick  tells  us  in 
the  following  dainty  poem  (two  lines  of  which  I  am  forced  to 


omit)  : — 


*'  Partly  work  and  partly  play 
Ye  must  on  Saint  Distaffs  day. 
From  the  plough  soon  free  your  team, 
Then  come  home  and  fodder  them. 
If  the  maids  a-spinning  go, 
Bum  the  flax  and  fire  the  tow. 


Bring  in  pails  of  water  then, 
Let  the  maids  bewash  the  men. 
Give  Saint  Distaff  all  the  right, 
Then  bid  Christmas  sport  good  night ; 
And  next  morrow,  every  one 
To  his  own  vocation," 


27^ 


NOTES. 


On  Candlemas  day,  the  2nd  of  February,  the  hoUy  and  ivy 
were  taken  down,  and  all  traces  of  Christmas  disappeared,  as 
Herrick  tells  us  in  his  Ceremonies  for  Candlemas  Eve.  Lector 
benevole.  vale. 


i[ule*s  come  antr  Rule's  gane, 
^nt(  ijje  fjabe  fcastetj  to  eel; 

,Sae  3ocft  tnaun  to  fjts  flail  again, 
^nti  3enn2  to  l^er  totjeel. 


\ 


Printed  by  BALLANTYNE,   H  ANSON  &  CO. 
Edinburcrh  and  London 


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