Fifteenth century carols :: :: University of Virginia Library

II.

III.

IV.

VI.

VII.

XI.

XII.

XIII.

XIV.

XV.

XVI.

XVII.

XVIII.

XIX.

[XIX]

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

Nowell nowell ell ell
I pray ȝow lystyn qwat I ȝow [tell]

Ouer all gatis that I haff gon
Amonge ye grovys so fayer and grene
So ffayer a brownch yan know I non
As Ivy ys and that I mene

Ivy ys grene and wyl be grene
Qwere so euer a grow in stok or ston
yer ffore I red ȝow so mut I cheue
ȝe loue well Ivy eueryschon

I xall ȝow tell a reson quy
ȝe xall low Ivy and thynk no chame
ye ffyrst lettre begynnyth wt I
and ryȝht ȝevyn so Ihesus name

ye secund lettre ys a V
I lykyn to Awmihty wyffe
Modyr sche ys and maydyn trewe
Non but on I yt euer bare lyffe

ye thred lettre is an e
I lykyn to emanuell
That is to sey cryst wt vus be
And euer more ffor to dwell

As I lay in my bed alone
A comely lady sent to me
And be bad me rede yeis lettrys eueryschon
and all ye bettre xuld I be

All how holy be ȝoure ffonn
And wilde [OMITTED] towch wt tray and tene
Me[OMITTED]of Yvy xall hym ouer gonne
And ffayer burdys ouer be twene

Ouer all gatys that I have gone
Among yeis grouys ffayer and grene
I have be wery son anon
My botte sche was yt Ivy tre

yus yus Ivy ffull ffayer I gan spelle
So ffayer a brawnch know I non
I pray ȝow tent qwat I ȝow tell
And love well Ivy eueryschon