 | Specimens of old Christmas carols, selected from manuscripts and printed books |  |
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Square brackets denote editorial insertions or emendations. Poems have been selectively extracted from the source text, and thus poem numbers are not sequential.
3
II.
[Hey, hey, hey, hey]
[_]
[From the Porkington MS. of the fifteenth century, communicated by Sir Frederick Madden to the Reliquiæ Antiquæ, vol. ii. p. 30. It appears to end imperfectly.]
Hey, hey, hey, hey,
The borrys hede is armyd gay.
The borrys hede is armyd gay.
The boris hede in hond I bryng,
With garlond gay in porttoryng,
I pray yow alle with me to synge,
with hay.
With garlond gay in porttoryng,
I pray yow alle with me to synge,
with hay.
Lordys, knyȝttes, and skyers,
Persons, prystis, and wycars,
The boris hede ys the furt mes,
with hay.
Persons, prystis, and wycars,
The boris hede ys the furt mes,
with hay.
The boris hede, as I yow say,
He takis his leyfe, and gothe his way,
Gone after the .xij. theyl ffyt day,
with hay.
He takis his leyfe, and gothe his way,
Gone after the .xij. theyl ffyt day,
with hay.
Then commys in the secunde kowrs with mykylle pryde,
The crannus, the heyrrouns, the bytteris, by ther syde,
The pertrychys and the plowers, the wodcokus and the snyt,
with hay.
The crannus, the heyrrouns, the bytteris, by ther syde,
The pertrychys and the plowers, the wodcokus and the snyt,
with hay.
4
Larkys in hot schow, ladys for to pyk,
Good drynk therto, lycyus and fyne,
Blwet of Allmayne, romnay and wyin,
with hay.
Good drynk therto, lycyus and fyne,
Blwet of Allmayne, romnay and wyin,
with hay.
Gud bred alle and wyin dare I welle say,
The boris hede with musterd armyd soe gay;
Furmante to pottage, with wennissun fyne,
And the hombuls of the dow, and all that ever commis in;
Cappons i-bake, with the pesys of the roow,
Reysons of corrons, with odyre spysis moo.
The boris hede with musterd armyd soe gay;
Furmante to pottage, with wennissun fyne,
And the hombuls of the dow, and all that ever commis in;
Cappons i-bake, with the pesys of the roow,
Reysons of corrons, with odyre spysis moo.
23
XVII.
[Now ys Crystemas y-cum]
Now ys Crystemas y-cum,
Fadyr and son togedyr in oon,
Holy Goste, as ye be oon,
in fere-a,
God sende us a good n[e]w yere-a.
Fadyr and son togedyr in oon,
Holy Goste, as ye be oon,
in fere-a,
God sende us a good n[e]w yere-a.
I wolde yow synge for and I mygȝhgt,
Off a chylde ys fayre in syghgȝt,
Hys modyr hym bare thys yndyrs nyghȝt
so stylle-a,
And as yt was hys wylle-a.
Off a chylde ys fayre in syghgȝt,
Hys modyr hym bare thys yndyrs nyghȝt
so stylle-a,
And as yt was hys wylle-a.
24
There cam .iij. kynges fro Galylee
Into Bethleem that fayre cytee,
To seke hym that ever shulde be
by ryghȝt-a
Lorde and kynge and knyghȝt-a.
Into Bethleem that fayre cytee,
To seke hym that ever shulde be
by ryghȝt-a
Lorde and kynge and knyghȝt-a.
As they cam forth with there offrynge,
They met with Herode that mody kynge,
thys tyde-a,
And thys to them he sayde-a.
They met with Herode that mody kynge,
thys tyde-a,
And thys to them he sayde-a.
“Off wens be ye, yow kynges .iij.?”
“Off the Este, as ye may see,
To seke hym that ever shulde be
by ryghgȝt-a
Lorde and kynge and knyghȝt-a.”
“Off the Este, as ye may see,
To seke hym that ever shulde be
by ryghgȝt-a
Lorde and kynge and knyghȝt-a.”
“Wen yow at thys chylde have be,
Cum home aȝeyne by me,
Telle me the syghȝtes that yow have see,
I praye yow;
Go yow no nodyr way-a.”
Cum home aȝeyne by me,
Telle me the syghȝtes that yow have see,
I praye yow;
Go yow no nodyr way-a.”
They toke her leve both olde and yonge
Off Herode that mody kynge;
They went forth with there offrynge
by lyghȝth-a,
By the sterre that shoone so bryghȝt-a.
Off Herode that mody kynge;
They went forth with there offrynge
by lyghȝth-a,
By the sterre that shoone so bryghȝt-a.
Tyll they cam in to the place
There Jhesu and hys modyr was,
Offryd they up with grete solace
in fere-a
Golde and sence and myrre-a.
There Jhesu and hys modyr was,
25
in fere-a
Golde and sence and myrre-a.
The fadyr of hevyn an awngylle down sent,
To thyke .iij. kynges that made presente
thys tyde-a,
And thys to them he sayd-a.
To thyke .iij. kynges that made presente
thys tyde-a,
And thys to them he sayd-a.
“My lorde have warnyd yow everychone,
By Herode kynge yow go not home;
For and yow do, he wylle you slone
and strye-a,
And hurte yow wondyrly-a.”
By Herode kynge yow go not home;
For and yow do, he wylle you slone
and strye-a,
And hurte yow wondyrly-a.”
Forth them wente thys kynges .iij.,
Tylle they cam home to there cuntré.
Glade and blyth they were alle .iij.
Off the syghȝtes that they had see,
by-dene-a,
The cumpany was clene-a.
Tylle they cam home to there cuntré.
Glade and blyth they were alle .iij.
Off the syghȝtes that they had see,
by-dene-a,
The cumpany was clene-a.
Knele we now here a-down,
Pray we in good devocioun
To the kynge of grete renown,
of grace-a,
In hevyn to have a place-a.
Pray we in good devocioun
To the kynge of grete renown,
of grace-a,
In hevyn to have a place-a.
32
XXI. Christo paremus canticam, excelsis gloria.
When Cryst was born of Mary fre,
In Bedlem in that fayre cyté,
Angellis song ther with myrth and gle,
in excelsis gloria.
In Bedlem in that fayre cyté,
Angellis song ther with myrth and gle,
in excelsis gloria.
Herdmen beheld thes angellis bryȝt,
To hem apperyd wyth gret lyȝt,
And seyd, “Goddys sone is born this nyȝt,”
in excelsis gloria.
To hem apperyd wyth gret lyȝt,
And seyd, “Goddys sone is born this nyȝt,”
in excelsis gloria.
Thys keng ys comyn to save kynde,
As yn scripturas we fynde,
Therfore this song have we in mynde,
in excelsis gloria.
As yn scripturas we fynde,
Therfore this song have we in mynde,
in excelsis gloria.
Then, Lord, for thy gret grace,
Graunt us the blys to se thy face,
Where we may syng to thy solas,
in excelsis gloria.
Graunt us the blys to se thy face,
Where we may syng to thy solas,
in excelsis gloria.
33
XXII. Puer nobis natus est, de virgine Maria.
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[From MS. Harl. No. 5396, p. 18. This MS. appears to have been written in the north; for on the page which contains the present carol are written, in nearly a contemporary hand, the words, “Wylȝam Northe of Yorke.”]
Be glad, lordynges, be ye more and lesse,
I bryng ȝou tydynges of gladnesse,
As Gabryel me beryth wetnesse,
dicam vobis quia.
I bryng ȝou tydynges of gladnesse,
As Gabryel me beryth wetnesse,
dicam vobis quia.
I bryng ȝou tydynges that ben gode,
Mary hath borne a blysful foude,
That boȝt us all upon the rode,
sua morte pia.
Mary hath borne a blysful foude,
That boȝt us all upon the rode,
sua morte pia.
For the trespas of Adam,
For the fadyr of hevyn he cam,
Here-to myrthhe us bygan,
teste profecia.
For the fadyr of hevyn he cam,
Here-to myrthhe us bygan,
teste profecia.
Mary, modur and leve virgyn,
That bare a child wyth-outen syn,
Kepe us all fro hell pyn,
de virgine Maria.
That bare a child wyth-outen syn,
Kepe us all fro hell pyn,
de virgine Maria.
41
XXVII.
[By reason of two, and no poore of one]
By reason of two, and no poore of one,
This tyme God and man was set at one.
This tyme God and man was set at one.
God against nature thre wonders haith wrought;
First of the vile earthe mad man without man;
Then woman without woman of man maid of nought;
And so man without man in woman than:
Thus, lo! God and man together begane,
As two for to joine together in one,
As at this good tyme to be sett at one;
Thus God begane
This world for to forme and to encrease man.
First of the vile earthe mad man without man;
Then woman without woman of man maid of nought;
And so man without man in woman than:
42
As two for to joine together in one,
As at this good tyme to be sett at one;
Thus God begane
This world for to forme and to encrease man.
Angell in heaven for offence was damned,
And man also for beinge variable;
Whether shuld be saved was examyned,
Man or yet angell; then God was greable
To answer for man, for man was not able,
And said man had mocyon and angell had none,
Wherefore God and man shuld be seit at one.
Thanke we him than,
That thus did leave angell and saved man.
And man also for beinge variable;
Whether shuld be saved was examyned,
Man or yet angell; then God was greable
To answer for man, for man was not able,
And said man had mocyon and angell had none,
Wherefore God and man shuld be seit at one.
Thanke we him than,
That thus did leave angell and saved man.
The Devill clamed man by bargan as this,
For an thappell, he said, man was bought and solde;
God aunswered and said, the bargan was his,
Withe myne to be myne, how durst thoue be so bolde?
Man myne, syne thyne, wherfore thoue art now told,
Thoue bought nought, then taike nought, the bargan is don;
Wherfore God and man shalbe set att one.
Nowe blessed be he,
For we that are bownde, loe! nowe are maid free.
For an thappell, he said, man was bought and solde;
God aunswered and said, the bargan was his,
Withe myne to be myne, how durst thoue be so bolde?
Man myne, syne thyne, wherfore thoue art now told,
Thoue bought nought, then taike nought, the bargan is don;
Wherfore God and man shalbe set att one.
Nowe blessed be he,
For we that are bownde, loe! nowe are maid free.
Betwene God and man it was great distaunce,
For man said that God shuld have kept him upryght,
And God said man maid all the variaunce,
For thapple to sett his commaundement so light;
Wherfore of his mercye sparinge the ryght,
He thought God and man shuld be set at one;
Seinge that God and man was set at one,
What kindnes was this,
To agree with man and the fault not his?
For man said that God shuld have kept him upryght,
And God said man maid all the variaunce,
For thapple to sett his commaundement so light;
43
He thought God and man shuld be set at one;
Seinge that God and man was set at one,
What kindnes was this,
To agree with man and the fault not his?
Withe man and woman it was great traverse,
Man said to the woman, “woe myght thou be!”
“Nay,” quod the woman, “why dost thoue reverse?
For womans entisinge woe be to the!
For God [made] man the heade and ruler of me;
Thus God sawe man and woman were not at one,
He thought in a woman to sett theime at one;
To our solace,
His mercye he graunted for our trespace.
Man said to the woman, “woe myght thou be!”
“Nay,” quod the woman, “why dost thoue reverse?
For womans entisinge woe be to the!
For God [made] man the heade and ruler of me;
Thus God sawe man and woman were not at one,
He thought in a woman to sett theime at one;
To our solace,
His mercye he graunted for our trespace.
Of womanhede lo! thre degres there be,
Widowehede, wedlocke, and verginnitie;
Widowehede clamed heaven, her title is this,
By oppressions that mekelie suffrethe she;
And vergins clame by chastité alone;
Then God thought a woman shoulde set them at one;
A wedlocke by generacion, heaven hires shuld be,
And cease the strife;
For Marie was maden, widowe, and wife.
Widowehede, wedlocke, and verginnitie;
Widowehede clamed heaven, her title is this,
By oppressions that mekelie suffrethe she;
And vergins clame by chastité alone;
Then God thought a woman shoulde set them at one;
A wedlocke by generacion, heaven hires shuld be,
And cease the strife;
For Marie was maden, widowe, and wife.
The ritche and the pore the title did reherse;
The pore clamed heaven throughe his pacient havour,
He saide beati pauperes, and further the verse,
The riche man by ritches thought hym in favour,
For who was so ritche as was our saviour?
And againe who so pure as he was one,
In hey when he ley to set us at one?
Who grant us peace,
And at the last ende the great joyes endles!
The pore clamed heaven throughe his pacient havour,
He saide beati pauperes, and further the verse,
The riche man by ritches thought hym in favour,
44
And againe who so pure as he was one,
In hey when he ley to set us at one?
Who grant us peace,
And at the last ende the great joyes endles!
FFINIS.
50
XXXI.
[Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell]
[_]
[From MS. Addit. in Mus. Brit. No. 5665, fol. 5, vo, written in the reign of Henry VIII. This is the MS. formerly in the possession of Ritson.]
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
Tydynges gode y thyngke to telle.
Tydynges gode y thyngke to telle.
The borys hede, that we bryng here,
Betokeneth a prince withowte pere,
Ys borne this day to bye us dere,
nowell.
Betokeneth a prince withowte pere,
Ys borne this day to bye us dere,
nowell.
A bore ys a soverayn beste,
And acceptabe in every feste;
So mote thys lord be to moste and leste,
nowell.
And acceptabe in every feste;
So mote thys lord be to moste and leste,
nowell.
51
This borys hede we bryng with song,
In worchyp of hym that thus sprang
Of a virgine, to redresse alle wrong;
nowell.
In worchyp of hym that thus sprang
Of a virgine, to redresse alle wrong;
nowell.
58
XL.
[Be we mery in this feste]
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[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 | |