FOOTNOTES:

FOOTNOTES:[602]wode = mad.[603]brede = become (mad).[604]weed = clothing.[605]Risit, leadit, stonit = imperatives.

[602]wode = mad.

[603]brede = become (mad).

[604]weed = clothing.

[605]Risit, leadit, stonit = imperatives.

IThe maid she went to the well to washe,Dew fell off her lily-white fleshe.IIWhite she washte, and white she rong[606],White she hang’d on the hazel wand.IIIThere came an old palmer by the way,Says, ‘God speed thee well, thou fair may.’IV‘Has tow either cup or can,To give an old palmer drink therein?’VSays, ‘I have neither cup nor can,To give an old palmer drink therein.’VI‘But an thy leman[607]come from Rome,Cups and cans thou wilt find soon.’VIIShe swore by God and good Saint JohnLeman she had never none.VIIISays, ‘Peace, fair maid, you are forsworne,Ninè children you have borne.IX‘Three were buryed under thy bed’s head,Other three under thy brewing lead[608].X‘Other three play on yon greene;Count, maid, and there be nine.’—XI‘But I hope you are the good old manThat all the world beleeves upon.XII‘Old palmer, I pray thee,Penaunce that thou wilt give to me.’—XIII‘Penaunce I can give thee noneBut seven year to be a stepping-stone.XIVOther seven a clapper in a bell,Other seven to lead an ape in hell.XVWhen thou hast thy penaunce done,Then thou’st come a mayden home.’

The maid she went to the well to washe,Dew fell off her lily-white fleshe.

White she washte, and white she rong[606],White she hang’d on the hazel wand.

There came an old palmer by the way,Says, ‘God speed thee well, thou fair may.’

‘Has tow either cup or can,To give an old palmer drink therein?’

Says, ‘I have neither cup nor can,To give an old palmer drink therein.’

‘But an thy leman[607]come from Rome,Cups and cans thou wilt find soon.’

She swore by God and good Saint JohnLeman she had never none.

Says, ‘Peace, fair maid, you are forsworne,Ninè children you have borne.

‘Three were buryed under thy bed’s head,Other three under thy brewing lead[608].

‘Other three play on yon greene;Count, maid, and there be nine.’—

‘But I hope you are the good old manThat all the world beleeves upon.

‘Old palmer, I pray thee,Penaunce that thou wilt give to me.’—

‘Penaunce I can give thee noneBut seven year to be a stepping-stone.

Other seven a clapper in a bell,Other seven to lead an ape in hell.

When thou hast thy penaunce done,Then thou’st come a mayden home.’

FOOTNOTES:[606]rong = wrung.[607]leman = lover.[608]lead = vat.

[606]rong = wrung.

[607]leman = lover.

[608]lead = vat.

ILully, lulley! lully, lulley!The faucon hath borne my make[609]away!IIHe bare him up, he bare him down,He bare him into an orchard brown.IIIIn that orchard there was an halle,That was hangèd with purple and pall[610].IVAnd in that hall there was a bed,It was hangèd with gold sa red.VAnd in that bed there li’th a knight,His woundès bleeding day and night.VIAt that bed’s foot there li’th a hound,Licking the blood as it runs down.VIIBy that bed-side kneeleth a may[611],And she weepeth both night and day.VIIIAnd at that bed’s head standeth a stone,Corpus Christiwritten thereon.IXLully, lulley! lully, lulley!The faucon hath borne my make away.

Lully, lulley! lully, lulley!The faucon hath borne my make[609]away!

He bare him up, he bare him down,He bare him into an orchard brown.

In that orchard there was an halle,That was hangèd with purple and pall[610].

And in that hall there was a bed,It was hangèd with gold sa red.

And in that bed there li’th a knight,His woundès bleeding day and night.

At that bed’s foot there li’th a hound,Licking the blood as it runs down.

By that bed-side kneeleth a may[611],And she weepeth both night and day.

And at that bed’s head standeth a stone,Corpus Christiwritten thereon.

Lully, lulley! lully, lulley!The faucon hath borne my make away.

FOOTNOTES:[609]make = mate.[610]pall = fine cloth.[611]may = maiden.

[609]make = mate.

[610]pall = fine cloth.

[611]may = maiden.

iIJoseph was an old man,And an old man was he,When he wedded MaryIn the land of Galilee.IIJoseph and Mary walk’dThrough an orchard good,Where was cherries and berriesSo red as any blood.IIIJoseph and Mary walk’dThrough an orchard green,Where was berries and cherriesAs thick as might be seen.IVO then bespoke Mary,So meek and so mild,‘Pluck me one cherry, Joseph,For I am with child.’VO then bespoke JosephWith words so unkind,‘Let him pluck thee a cherryThat brought thee with child.’VIO then bespoke the babeWithin his mother’s womb,‘Bow down then the tallest treeFor my mother to have some.’VIIThen bow’d down the highest treeUnto his mother’s hand:Then she cried, ‘See, Joseph,I have cherries at command!’VIIIO then bespake Joseph—‘I have done Mary wrong;But cheer up, my dearest,And be not cast down.IX‘O eat your cherries, Mary,O eat your cherries now;O eat your cherries, Mary,That grow upon the bough.’XThen Mary pluck’d a cherryAs red as the blood;Then Mary went homeWith her heavy load.iiXIAs Joseph was a-walking,He heard an angel sing:‘This night shall be bornOur heavenly King.XII‘He neither shall be bornIn housen nor in hall,Nor in the place[612]of Paradise,But in an ox’s stall.XIII‘He neither shall be clothèdIn purple nor in pall[613],But all in fair linen,As were babies all.XIV‘He neither shall be rock’dIn silver nor in gold,But in a wooden cradleThat rocks on the mould.XV‘He neither shall be christen’dIn white wine nor red,But with fair spring waterWith which we were christenèd.iiiXVIThen Mary took her young sonAnd set him on her knee;‘I pray thee now, dear child,Tell how this world shall be.’—XVII‘O I shall be as dead, mother,As the stones in the wall;O the stones in the street, mother,Shall mourn for me all.XVIII‘And upon a WednesdayMy vow I will make,And upon Good FridayMy death I will take.XIX‘Upon Easter-day, mother,My uprising shall be;O the sun and the moon, mother,Shall both rise with me!’

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

Joseph and Mary walk’dThrough an orchard good,Where was cherries and berriesSo red as any blood.

Joseph and Mary walk’dThrough an orchard green,Where was berries and cherriesAs thick as might be seen.

O then bespoke Mary,So meek and so mild,‘Pluck me one cherry, Joseph,For I am with child.’

O then bespoke JosephWith words so unkind,‘Let him pluck thee a cherryThat brought thee with child.’

O then bespoke the babeWithin his mother’s womb,‘Bow down then the tallest treeFor my mother to have some.’

Then bow’d down the highest treeUnto his mother’s hand:Then she cried, ‘See, Joseph,I have cherries at command!’

O then bespake Joseph—‘I have done Mary wrong;But cheer up, my dearest,And be not cast down.

‘O eat your cherries, Mary,O eat your cherries now;O eat your cherries, Mary,That grow upon the bough.’

Then Mary pluck’d a cherryAs red as the blood;Then Mary went homeWith her heavy load.

As Joseph was a-walking,He heard an angel sing:‘This night shall be bornOur heavenly King.

‘He neither shall be bornIn housen nor in hall,Nor in the place[612]of Paradise,But in an ox’s stall.

‘He neither shall be clothèdIn purple nor in pall[613],But all in fair linen,As were babies all.

‘He neither shall be rock’dIn silver nor in gold,But in a wooden cradleThat rocks on the mould.

‘He neither shall be christen’dIn white wine nor red,But with fair spring waterWith which we were christenèd.

Then Mary took her young sonAnd 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 street, mother,Shall mourn for me all.

‘And upon a WednesdayMy vow I will make,And upon Good FridayMy death I will take.

‘Upon Easter-day, mother,My uprising shall be;O the sun and the moon, mother,Shall both rise with me!’

FOOTNOTES:[612]place = palace.[613]pall = fine cloth.

[612]place = palace.

[613]pall = fine cloth.

IAs I pass’d by a river side,And there as I did reign[615],In argument I chanced to hearA Carnal and a Crane.IIThe Carnal said unto the Crane,‘If all the world should turn,Before we had the Father,But now we have the Son!III‘From whence does the Son come?From where and from what place?’—He said, ‘In a manger,Between an ox and an ass!’IV‘I pray thee,’ said the Carnal,‘Tell me before thou go’st,Was not the mother of JesusConceived by the Holy Ghost?’—V‘She was the purest Virgin,And the cleanest from sin;She was the handmaid of our Lord,And mother of our King.’—VI‘Where is the golden cradleThat Christ was rockèd in?Where are the silken sheetsThat Jesus was wrapt in?’—VII‘A manger was the cradleThat Christ was rockèd in;The provender the asses leftSo sweetly he slept on.VIII‘There was a star in the West land,So bright did it appearInto King Herod’s chamber,And where King Herod were.IX‘The Wise Men soon espied it,And told the king on high,A princely babe was born that nightNo king could e’er destroy.X‘If this be true, King Herod said,As thou tellest unto me,This roasted cock that lies in the dishShall crow full fences[616]three.XI‘The cock soon freshly feathered wasBy the work of God’s own hand,And then three fences crowèd heIn the dish where he did stand.XII‘Rise up, rise up, you merry men all,See that you ready be,All children under two years oldNow slain they all shall be.XIII‘Then Jesus, ah! and Joseph,And Mary, that was so pure,They travelled into Egypt,As you shall find it sure.XIV‘And when they came to Egypt’s land,Amongst those fierce wild beasts,Mary, she being weary,Must needs sit down to rest.XV‘Come sit thee down, says Jesus,Come sit thee down by me,And thou shalt see how these wild beastsDo come and worship me.XVI‘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.XVII‘We’ll choose our virtuous princes,Of birth and high degree,In every sundry nation,Where’er we come and see.XVIII‘Then Jesus, ah! and Joseph,And Mary, that was unknown,They travelled by a husbandman,Just while his seed was sown.XIX‘God speed thee, man! said Jesus,Go fetch thy ox and wain,And carry home thy corn again,Which thou this day hast sown.XX‘The husbandman fell on his knees,Even before his face;Long time hast thou been looked for,But now thou art come at last.XXI‘And I myself do now believeThy name is Jesus called;Redeemer of mankind thou art,Though undeserving all.XXII‘The truth, man, thou hast spoken,Of it thou may’st be sure,For I must lose my precious bloodFor thee and thousands more.XXIII‘If any one should come this way,And inquire for me alone,Tell them that Jesus passèd by,As thou thy seed did sow.XXIV‘After that there came King Herod,With his train so furiously,Inquiring of the husbandman,Whether Jesus passèd by.XXV‘Why, the truth it must be spoke,And the truth it must be known,For Jesus passèd by this wayWhen my seed was sown.XXVI‘But now I have it reapen,And some laid on my wain,Ready to fetch and carryInto my barn again.XXVII‘Turn back, says the Captain,Your labour and mine’s in vain,It’s full three-quarters of a yearSince he his seed has sown.XXVIII‘So Herod was deceivèdBy the work of God’s own hand,And further he proceededInto the Holy Land.XXIX‘There’s thousands of children young,Which for his sake did die,—Do not forbid those little ones,And do not them deny.XXX‘The truth now I have spoken,And the truth now I have shownEven the blessed Virgin,She’s now brought forth a Son.’

As I pass’d by a river side,And there as I did reign[615],In argument I chanced to hearA 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 an ass!’

‘I pray thee,’ said the Carnal,‘Tell me before thou go’st,Was not the mother of JesusConceived by the Holy Ghost?’—

‘She was the purest Virgin,And the cleanest from sin;She was the handmaid of our Lord,And mother of our King.’—

‘Where is the golden cradleThat Christ was rockèd in?Where are the silken sheetsThat Jesus was wrapt in?’—

‘A manger was the cradleThat Christ was rockèd in;The provender the asses leftSo sweetly he slept on.

‘There was a star in the West land,So bright did it appearInto 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 nightNo king could e’er destroy.

‘If this be true, King Herod said,As thou tellest unto me,This roasted cock that lies in the dishShall crow full fences[616]three.

‘The cock soon freshly feathered wasBy the work of God’s own hand,And then three fences crowèd heIn the dish where he did stand.

‘Rise up, rise up, you merry men all,See that you ready be,All children under two years oldNow 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 beastsDo come and worship me.

‘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.

‘And I myself do now believeThy 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 bloodFor thee and thousands more.

‘If any one should come this way,And inquire for me alone,Tell them that Jesus passèd by,As thou thy seed did sow.

‘After that there came King Herod,With his train so furiously,Inquiring of the husbandman,Whether Jesus passèd by.

‘Why, the truth it must be spoke,And the truth it must be known,For Jesus passèd by this wayWhen my seed was sown.

‘But now I have it reapen,And some laid on my wain,Ready to fetch and carryInto my barn again.

‘Turn back, says the Captain,Your labour and mine’s in vain,It’s full three-quarters of a yearSince he his seed has sown.

‘So Herod was deceivèdBy the work of God’s own hand,And further he proceededInto 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 shownEven the blessed Virgin,She’s now brought forth a Son.’

FOOTNOTES:[614]Carnal = crow.[615]reign = run.[616]fences = times.

[614]Carnal = crow.

[615]reign = run.

[616]fences = times.

Can I not sing but ‘Hoy’,Whan the joly shepard made so much joy?IThe shepard upon a hill he sat;He had on him his tabard[617]and his hat,His tarbox, his pipe, and his flagat[618];His name was callèd Joly Joly Wat,For he was a gud herdés boy.Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.IIThe shepard upon a hill was laid;His dog unto his girdell was taid[619];He had not slept but a litill braid[620],But ‘Gloria in excelsis’ was to him said.Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.IIIThe shepard on a hill he stode;Round about him his shepe they yode[621];He put his hond under his hode[622],He saw a star as rede as blode.Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.IVThe shepard said anon right,‘I will go see yon ferly[623]sight,Whereas the angel singeth on hight,And the star that shineth so bright.’Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.V‘Now farewell, Mall, and also Will!For my love go ye all stillUnto I cum again you till,And evermore, Will, ring well thy bell.’Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.VI‘Now must I go there Crist was born;Farewell! I cum again to-morn.Dog, kepe well my shepe fro the corn,And warn well “Warroke” when I blow my horn!’Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.VIIWhan Wat to Bedlem cumen was,He swet, he had gone faster than a pace;He found Jesu in a simpell place,Betwen an ox but and an asse.Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.VIII‘Jesu, I offer to thee here my pipe,My skirt, my tar-box, and my scrip;Home to my felowes now will I skip,And also look unto my shepe.’Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.IX‘Now farewell, mine owne herdesman Wat!’—‘Yea, for God, lady, even so I hat[624];Lull well Jesu in thy lap,And farewell, Joseph, with thy round cap!’Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.X‘Now may I well both hope and sing,For I have bene at Cristes bering;Home to my felowes now will I fling.Crist of heven to his bliss us bring!’Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.

Can I not sing but ‘Hoy’,Whan the joly shepard made so much joy?

The shepard upon a hill he sat;He had on him his tabard[617]and his hat,His tarbox, his pipe, and his flagat[618];His name was callèd Joly Joly Wat,For he was a gud herdés boy.Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.

The shepard upon a hill was laid;His dog unto his girdell was taid[619];He had not slept but a litill braid[620],But ‘Gloria in excelsis’ was to him said.Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.

The shepard on a hill he stode;Round about him his shepe they yode[621];He put his hond under his hode[622],He saw a star as rede as blode.Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.

The shepard said anon right,‘I will go see yon ferly[623]sight,Whereas the angel singeth on hight,And the star that shineth so bright.’Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.

‘Now farewell, Mall, and also Will!For my love go ye all stillUnto I cum again you till,And evermore, Will, ring well thy bell.’Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.

‘Now must I go there Crist was born;Farewell! I cum again to-morn.Dog, kepe well my shepe fro the corn,And warn well “Warroke” when I blow my horn!’Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.

Whan Wat to Bedlem cumen was,He swet, he had gone faster than a pace;He found Jesu in a simpell place,Betwen an ox but and an asse.Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.

‘Jesu, I offer to thee here my pipe,My skirt, my tar-box, and my scrip;Home to my felowes now will I skip,And also look unto my shepe.’Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.

‘Now farewell, mine owne herdesman Wat!’—‘Yea, for God, lady, even so I hat[624];Lull well Jesu in thy lap,And farewell, Joseph, with thy round cap!’Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.

‘Now may I well both hope and sing,For I have bene at Cristes bering;Home to my felowes now will I fling.Crist of heven to his bliss us bring!’Ut hoy!For in his pipe he made so much joy.

FOOTNOTES:[617]tabard = short coat.[618]flagat = flask.[619]taid = tied.[620]braid = time.[621]yode = went.[622]hode = hood.[623]ferly = marvellous.[624]hat = am hight, called.

[617]tabard = short coat.

[618]flagat = flask.

[619]taid = tied.

[620]braid = time.

[621]yode = went.

[622]hode = hood.

[623]ferly = marvellous.

[624]hat = am hight, called.

IAs I sat under a sycamore tree,—A sycamore tree, a sycamore tree,I looked me out upon the seaOn Christ’s Sunday at morn.III saw three ships a-sailing there,—A-sailing there, a-sailing there,Jesu, Mary and Joseph they bareOn Christ’s Sunday at morn.IIIJoseph did whistle and Mary did sing,—Mary did sing, Mary did sing,And all the bells on earth did ringFor joy our Lord was born.IVO they sail’d in to Bethlehem!—To Bethlehem, to Bethlehem;Saint Michael was the sterèsman,Saint John sate in the horn[625].VAnd all the bells on earth did ring—On earth did ring, on earth did ring:‘Welcome be thou Heaven’s King,On Christ’s Sunday at morn!’

As I sat under a sycamore tree,—A sycamore tree, a sycamore tree,I looked me out upon the seaOn Christ’s Sunday at morn.

I saw three ships a-sailing there,—A-sailing there, a-sailing there,Jesu, Mary and Joseph they bareOn Christ’s Sunday at morn.

Joseph did whistle and Mary did sing,—Mary did sing, Mary did sing,And all the bells on earth did ringFor joy our Lord was born.

O they sail’d in to Bethlehem!—To Bethlehem, to Bethlehem;Saint Michael was the sterèsman,Saint John sate in the horn[625].

And all the bells on earth did ring—On earth did ring, on earth did ring:‘Welcome be thou Heaven’s King,On Christ’s Sunday at morn!’

FOOTNOTES:[625]horn = prow.

[625]horn = prow.

IThe first good joy our Mary had,It was the joy of one,To see her own Son JesusTo suck at her breast bone;To suck at her breast bone, good man,And blessèd may he be,Both Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,To all eternity.IIThe next good joy our Mary had,It was the joy of two,To see her own son JesusTo make the lame to go;To make the lame to go, good man, &c.IIIThe next good joy our Mary had,It was the joy of three;To see her own Son JesusTo make the blind to see;To make the blind to see, good man, &c.IVThe next good joy our Mary had,It was the joy of four,To see her own Son JesusTo read the Bible o’er;To read the Bible o’er, good man, &c.VThe next good joy our Mary had,It was the joy of five,To see her own son JesusTo raise the dead alive;To raise the dead alive, good man, &c.VIThe next good joy our Mary had.It was the joy of six,To see her own Son JesusTo wear the crucifix;To wear the crucifix, good man, &c.VIIThe next good joy our Mary had,It was the joy of seven,To see her own Son JesusTo wear the crown of Heaven;To wear the crown of Heaven, good man, &c.VIIIThe next good joy our Mary had,It was the joy of eight,To see our blessèd SaviourTurn darkness into light;Turn darkness into light, good man, &c.IXThe next good joy our Mary had,It was the joy of nine,To see our blessèd SaviourTurn water into wine;Turn water into wine, good man, &c.XThe next good joy our Mary had,It was the joy of ten,To see our blessèd SaviourTo write without a pen;To write without a pen, good man, &c.XIThe next good joy our Mary had,It was the joy of eleven,To see our blessèd SaviourTo show the gates of Heaven;To show the gates of Heaven, good man, &c.XIIThe next good joy our Mary had,It was the joy of twelve,To see our blessèd SaviourShut close the gates of hell;Shut close the gates of hell, good man,And blessèd may he be,Both Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,To all eternity.

The first good joy our Mary had,It was the joy of one,To see her own Son JesusTo suck at her breast bone;To suck at her breast bone, good man,And blessèd may he be,Both Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,To all eternity.

The next good joy our Mary had,It was the joy of two,To see her own son JesusTo 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;To see her own Son JesusTo 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 JesusTo 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 JesusTo 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 JesusTo wear the crucifix;To wear the crucifix, good man, &c.

The next good joy our Mary had,It was the joy of seven,To see her own Son JesusTo wear the crown of Heaven;To wear the crown of Heaven, good man, &c.

The next good joy our Mary had,It was the joy of eight,To see our blessèd SaviourTurn darkness into light;Turn darkness into light, good man, &c.

The next good joy our Mary had,It was the joy of nine,To see our blessèd SaviourTurn water into wine;Turn water into wine, good man, &c.

The next good joy our Mary had,It was the joy of ten,To see our blessèd SaviourTo write without a pen;To write without a pen, good man, &c.

The next good joy our Mary had,It was the joy of eleven,To see our blessèd SaviourTo show the gates of Heaven;To show the gates of Heaven, good man, &c.

The next good joy our Mary had,It was the joy of twelve,To see our blessèd SaviourShut close the gates of hell;Shut close the gates of hell, good man,And blessèd may he be,Both Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,To all eternity.

IThe Angel Gabriel from GodWas sent to Galilee,Unto a Virgin fair and free,Whose name was called Mary:And when the Angel thither came,He fell down on his knee,And looking up in the Virgin’s face,He said, ‘All hail, Mary!’Then, sing we all, both great and small,Noël, Noël, Noël;We may rejoice to hear the voiceOf the Angel Gabriel.IIMary anon looked him upon,And said, ‘Sir, what are ye?I marvel much at these tidingsWhich thou hast brought to me.Married I am unto an old man,As the lot fell unto me;Therefore, I pray, depart away,For I stand in doubt of thee.’Then, sing, &c.III‘Mary,’ he said, ‘be not afraid,But do believe in me:The power of the Holy GhostShall overshadow thee;Thou shalt conceive without any grief,As the Lord told unto me;God’s own dear Son from Heaven shall comeAnd shall be born of thee.’Then, sing, &c.IVThis came to pass as God’s will was,Even as the Angel told.About midnight an Angel brightCame to the Shepherds’ fold,And told them then both where and whenBorn was the child, our Lord,And all along this was their song,‘All glory be given to God.’Then, sing, &c.VGood people all, both great and small,The which do hear my voice,With one accord let’s praise the Lord,And in our hearts rejoice;Like sister and brother, let’s love one anotherWhilst we our lives do spend,Whilst we have space let’s pray for grace,And so let my Carol end.Then, sing, &c.

The Angel Gabriel from GodWas sent to Galilee,Unto a Virgin fair and free,Whose name was called Mary:And when the Angel thither came,He fell down on his knee,And looking up in the Virgin’s face,He said, ‘All hail, Mary!’Then, sing we all, both great and small,Noël, Noël, Noël;We may rejoice to hear the voiceOf the Angel Gabriel.

Mary anon looked him upon,And said, ‘Sir, what are ye?I marvel much at these tidingsWhich thou hast brought to me.Married I am unto an old man,As the lot fell unto me;Therefore, I pray, depart away,For I stand in doubt of thee.’Then, sing, &c.

‘Mary,’ he said, ‘be not afraid,But do believe in me:The power of the Holy GhostShall overshadow thee;Thou shalt conceive without any grief,As the Lord told unto me;God’s own dear Son from Heaven shall comeAnd shall be born of thee.’Then, sing, &c.

This came to pass as God’s will was,Even as the Angel told.About midnight an Angel brightCame to the Shepherds’ fold,And told them then both where and whenBorn was the child, our Lord,And all along this was their song,‘All glory be given to God.’Then, sing, &c.

Good people all, both great and small,The which do hear my voice,With one accord let’s praise the Lord,And in our hearts rejoice;Like sister and brother, let’s love one anotherWhilst we our lives do spend,Whilst we have space let’s pray for grace,And so let my Carol end.Then, sing, &c.

INow is Christëmas y-come,Father and Son together in one,Holy Ghost us be onIn fere-a[626];God send us a good New Year-a!III would you sing, for and I might,Of a Child is fair in sight;His mother him bare this endris[627]nightSo still-a,And as it was his will-a.IIIThere came three Kings from GalileeInto Bethlehem, that fair citie,To seek to Him that e’er should beBy right-aLord and king and knight-a.IVAs they came forth with their off’ring,They met with Herod that moody king;He askèd them of their comingThis tide-a,And this to them he said-a.V‘Of whence be ye, you Kingès three?’—‘Of the East, as you may see,To seek to Him that should ever beBy right-aLord and king and knight-a.’—VI‘When you at this Child have been,Come you home this way again;Tell me the sight that you have seen;I pray-a,Go you none other way-a.’VIIThey took their leave both old and ying[628]Then of Herod that moody king;They went forth with their offeringBy light-aOf the star that shone so bright-a.VIIITill they came into the placeWhere Jesu and his mother was;Offer’d they up with great solaceIn fere-aGold, incense and myrrh-a.IXWhen they had their offering madeAs the Holy Ghost them bade,Then they were both merry and gladAnd light-a;It was a good fair sight-a.XAnon, as on their way they went,The Father of heaven an angel sentTo these three kings that made presentThis tide-a,And this to them he said-a:—XI‘My Lord hath warn’d you every oneBy Herod king you go not home,For an you do he will you slone[629]And ’stroy-a,And hurt you wonderly-a.’XIISo forth they went another wayThrough the might of God his lay[630],As the angel to them did say,Full right-a;It was a good fair sight-a.XIIIWhen they came home to their countrie,Glad and blithe they were all threeOf the sight that they had see;By dene-a[631]The company was clean-a.XIVKneel we now here a-down;Pray we in good devotionTo the King of great renown,Of grace-aIn heaven to have a place-a.

Now is Christëmas y-come,Father and Son together in one,Holy Ghost us be onIn fere-a[626];God send us a good New Year-a!

I would you sing, for and I might,Of a Child is fair in sight;His mother him bare this endris[627]nightSo still-a,And as it was his will-a.

There came three Kings from GalileeInto Bethlehem, that fair citie,To seek to Him that e’er should beBy right-aLord and king and knight-a.

As they came forth with their off’ring,They met with Herod that moody king;He askèd them of their comingThis tide-a,And this to them he said-a.

‘Of whence be ye, you Kingès three?’—‘Of the East, as you may see,To seek to Him that should ever beBy right-aLord and king and knight-a.’—

‘When you at this Child have been,Come you home this way again;Tell me the sight that you have seen;I pray-a,Go you none other way-a.’

They took their leave both old and ying[628]Then of Herod that moody king;They went forth with their offeringBy light-aOf the star that shone so bright-a.

Till they came into the placeWhere Jesu and his mother was;Offer’d they up with great solaceIn fere-aGold, incense and myrrh-a.

When they had their offering madeAs the Holy Ghost them bade,Then they were both merry and gladAnd light-a;It was a good fair sight-a.

Anon, as on their way they went,The Father of heaven an angel sentTo these three kings that made presentThis tide-a,And this to them he said-a:—

‘My Lord hath warn’d you every oneBy Herod king you go not home,For an you do he will you slone[629]And ’stroy-a,And hurt you wonderly-a.’

So forth they went another wayThrough the might of God his lay[630],As the angel to them did say,Full right-a;It was a good fair sight-a.

When they came home to their countrie,Glad and blithe they were all threeOf the sight that they had see;By dene-a[631]The company was clean-a.

Kneel we now here a-down;Pray we in good devotionTo the King of great renown,Of grace-aIn heaven to have a place-a.

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