 | Specimens of old Christmas carols, selected from manuscripts and printed books |  |
58
XL.
[Be we mery in this feste]
[_]
[From a small volume of Christmas Carols, printed by Richard Kele, probably between 1546 and 1552.]
Be we mery in this feste,
In quo salvator natus est.
In quo salvator natus est.
In Betheleem, that noble place,
As by prophesy sayd it was,
Of the vyrgyn Mary, full of grace,
Salvator mundi natus est.
As by prophesy sayd it was,
Of the vyrgyn Mary, full of grace,
Salvator mundi natus est.
Be we mery, etc.
On Chrystmas nyght an angel it tolde
To the shephardes, kepyng theyr folde,
That into Betheleem with bestes wolde,
Salvator mundi natus est.
To the shephardes, kepyng theyr folde,
That into Betheleem with bestes wolde,
Salvator mundi natus est.
Be we mery, etc.
The shephardes were compassed ryght,
About them was a great lyght,
Drede ye nought, sayd the aungell bryght,
Salvator mundi natus est.
About them was a great lyght,
Drede ye nought, sayd the aungell bryght,
Salvator mundi natus est.
Be we mery, etc.
Beholde to you we brynge great joy,
For why? Jesus is borne this day
Of Mary, that mylde may,
Salvator mundi natus est.
For why? Jesus is borne this day
Of Mary, that mylde may,
Salvator mundi natus est.
Be mery, etc.
59
And thus in fayth fynde it ye shall,
Lyenge porely in an oxe stall.
The shephardes than lauded God all,
Quia Salvator mundi natus est.
Lyenge porely in an oxe stall.
The shephardes than lauded God all,
Quia Salvator mundi natus est.
Be mery, etc.
| Specimens of old Christmas carols, selected from manuscripts and printed books | |