 | The Birth of Christ |  |
Joseph
Maria
Myn husbond and my spowse with ȝow wyl I wende
A syght of þat cyte ffayn wolde I se
If I myght of myn Alye ony þer ffynde
It wolde be grett joye on to me.
Joseph
My Spowse ȝe be with childe I fere ȝow to kary
Ffor me semyth it were werkys wylde
but ȝow to plese ryght ffayn wold I
ȝitt women ben ethe to greve whan þei be with childe
now latt us Fforth wende as ffast as we may
and al-myghty god spede us in oure jurnay.
Maria
A my swete husbond wolde ȝe telle to me
What tre is ȝon standynge vpon ȝon hylle.
Joseph
Ffor sothe mary it is clepyd A chery tre
In tyme of ȝere ȝe myght ffede ȝow þeron ȝour Ffylle.
Maria
Turne A-geyn husbond and beholde ȝon tre
how þat it blomyght now so swetly.
Joseph
Cum on Mary þat we worn At ȝon Cyte
or ellys we may be blamyd I telle ȝow lythly.
Maria
Now my spowse I pray ȝow to be-hold
How þe cheryes growyn vpon ȝon tre
Ffor to haue þer-of ryght ffayn I wold
and it plesyd ȝow to labore so mech for me.
Joseph
Ȝour desyre to ffulfylle I xal Assay sekyrly
Ow to plucke ȝow of these cheries it is a werk wylde
Ffor þe tre is so hyȝ it wol not be lyghtly
þerfore lete hym pluk ȝow cheryes be-gatt ȝow with childe.
Maria
Now good lord I pray þe graunt me þis boun
to haue of þese cheries and it be ȝour wylle
now I thank it god þis tre bowyth to me down
I may now gaderyn A-nowe and etyn my ffylle.
joseph
Ow I know weyl I haue offendyd my god in trinyte
Spekyng to my spowse these vnkynde wurdys
Ffor now I beleve wel it may non other be
but þat my spowse beryght þe kyngys son of blys
He help us now at oure nede
of þe kynrede of jesse worthely were ȝe bore
Kyngys and patryarkys ȝow be-ffore
all þese wurthy of ȝour kynred wore
as clerkys in story rede.
Maria
Now gramercy husbond for ȝour report
in oure weys wysely late us forth wende
þe fadyr all myghty he be oure comfort
þe holy gost gloryous he be oure frende.
Joseph
Heyl wurchepful sere and good day
A ceteceyn of þis cyte ȝe seme to be
of herborwe ffor spowse and me I ȝow pray
Ffor trewly þis woman is fful were
And fayn At reste sere wold she be
We wolde ffulffylle þe byddynge of oure emperour
Ffor to pay trybute As ryght is oure
and to kepe oure self ffrom dolowre
We are come to þis cyte.
Ciues
Joseph
Ciues
Good man O word I wyl þe sey
If þou wylt do by þe counsel of me
Ȝondyr is An hous of haras þat stant be þe wey
Amonge þe bestys herboryd may ȝe be.
Maria
Joseph
Maria
Joseph myn husbond a-bydyn here I xal
ffor here wyl be born þe Kyngys sone of blys.
Joseph
Now jentyll wyff be of good myrth
and if ȝe wyl owght haue telle me what ȝe thynk
I xal not spare for schep nor derth
now telle me ȝour lust of mete and drynk.
Maria
Ffor mete and drynk lust I ryght nowth
all-myghty god my fode xal be
now þat I am in chawmere brought
I hope ryght well my chylde to se
Therfore husbond of ȝour honeste
A-voyd ȝow hens out of þis place
And I a-lone with humylite
here xal abyde goddys hyȝ grace.
Joseph
All redy wyff ȝow for to plese
I wyl go hens out of ȝour way
and seke sum mydwyuys ȝow for to ese
Whan þat ȝe trauayle of childe þis day
Ffare well trewe wyff and also clene may
God be ȝour comforte in trinyte.
Maria
to god in hevyn for ȝow I pray
He ȝow preserve wher so ȝe be.
hic dum joseph est Absens parit Maria filium vnigenitum.
Joseph
zelomy
Why makyst þou man suche mornyng
tell me sum dele of ȝour gret mone.
Joseph
My wyf is now in gret longynge
trauelyng of chylde and is a-lone
Ffor godys loue þat sytt in trone
as ȝe myd-wyuys þat kan ȝour good
help my ȝonge spowse in hast a-none
I drede me sore of þat fayr food.
Salome
zelomye
And I am zelomye men knowe my name
We tweyn with the wyl go togedyr
and help þi wyff fro hurt and grame
Com forth joseph go we streyth thedyr.
Joseph
I thank ȝow damys ȝe comforte my lyff
streyte to my spowse walke we þe way
In þis pore logge lyght mary my wyff
hyre for to comforte gode frendys a-say.
Salome
We dare not entre þis logge in fay
þer is þer-in so gret bryghtnes
mone be nyght nor sunne be day
Shone nevyr so clere in þer lyghtnesse.
zelomye
In to þis hous dare I not gon
þe woundyrffull lyght doth me affray.
Joseph
Maria
hic maria subridendo dicat Maria.
The myght of þe godhede in his mageste
Wyl not be hyd now at þis whyle
the chylde þat is born wyl preve his modyr fre
A very clene mayde and þerfore I smyle.
Joseph
Why do ȝe lawghe wyff ȝe be to blame
I pray ȝow spowse do no more so
In happ þe mydwyuys wyl take it to grame
and at ȝour nede helpe wele non do
Iff ȝe haue nede of mydwyuys lo
per auenture thei wyl gon hens
þerfor be sad and ȝe may so
And wynnyth all þe mydwyuis good diligens.
Maria
husbond I pray ȝow dysplese ȝow nowth
þow þat I lawghe and gret joye haue
here is þe chylde þis werd hath wrought
born now of me þat all thynge xal saue.
Joseph
zelomy
In byrth trauayle muste sche nedys haue
or ellys no chylde of here is born.
Joseph
I pray ȝow dame and ȝe vowch-saue
com se þe chylde my wyff be-forn.
Salome
Grete god be in þis place
Swete systyr how fare ȝe.
Maria
I thank þe fadyr of his hyȝ grace
his owyn son and my chylde here ȝe may se.
zelomye
All heyl mary and ryght good morn
Who was mydwyfe of þis ffayr chyld.
Maria
he þat no thynge wyl haue for-lorn
Sent me þis babe and I mayd mylde.
zelomye
With honde lete me now towch and fele
yf ȝe haue nede of medycyn
I xal ȝow comforte and helpe ryght wele
As other women yf ȝe haue pyn.
Maria
Of þis fayr byrth þat here is myn
Peyne nere grevynge fele I ryght non
I am clene mayde and pure virgyn
tast with ȝour hand ȝour-self a-lon
hic palpat zelomye beatam mariam virginem dicens
zelomy
Salome
Maria
Ȝow for to putt clene out of dowth
towch with ȝour hand and wele a-say
Wysely ransake and trye þe trewthe owth
Whethyr I be fowlyd or a clene may.
hic tangit salomee marie et cum arescerit manus eius vlulando et quasi flendo dicit
Salomee
Angelus
Woman þi sorwe to haue de-layde
wurchep þat childe þat þer is born
towch þe clothis þer he is layde
ffor he xal saue all þat is lorn.
Salomee
O gloryous chylde and kynge of blysse
I aske ȝow mercy for my trespace
I knowlege my synne I demyd a-mys
O blyssyd babe grawnt me sum grace
Of ȝow mayde Also here in þis place
I aske mercy knelynge on kne
moste holy mayde grawnt me solace
Sum wurde of comforte sey now to me.
Maria
As goddys Aungel to ȝow dede telle
my chyld is medycyn ffor every sor
towch his clothis be my cowncelle
Ȝowre hand ful sone he wyl restor.
hic salomee tangit fimbriam Christi dicens
Salomee
Maria
Ffare wel good dame and god ȝour wey wysse
In all ȝour jurnay god be ȝour spede
and of his hyȝ mercy þat lord so ȝow blysse
þat ȝe nevyr offende more in word thought nore dede.
zelomy
And I Also do take my leve here
Of all þis blyssyd good company
praynge ȝour grace bothe fere and nere
On us to spede ȝour endles mercy.
Joseph
The blyssyng of þat lord þat is most myghty
mote sprede on ȝow in every place
of all ȝour enmyes to haue þe victory
God þat best may grawnt ȝow his grace.
Lord What travayl to man is Wrought
Rest in þis werd be-hovyth hym non
Octauyan oure Emperour sadly hath be-sought
Oure trybute hym to bere ffolk must forth ichon
It is cryed in every bourgh and cety be name
I þat am a pore tymbre wryth born of þe blood of dauyd
þe Emperorys comawndement I must holde with
And ellys I were to blame.
Rest in þis werd be-hovyth hym non
Octauyan oure Emperour sadly hath be-sought
Oure trybute hym to bere ffolk must forth ichon
It is cryed in every bourgh and cety be name
136
þe Emperorys comawndement I must holde with
And ellys I were to blame.
Now my wyff mary what sey ȝe to this
For sekyr nedys I must fforth wende
On to þe cyte of bedleem ffer hens i-wys
Þus to labore I must my body bende.
For sekyr nedys I must fforth wende
On to þe cyte of bedleem ffer hens i-wys
Þus to labore I must my body bende.
Maria
Myn husbond and my spowse with ȝow wyl I wende
A syght of þat cyte ffayn wolde I se
If I myght of myn Alye ony þer ffynde
It wolde be grett joye on to me.
Joseph
My Spowse ȝe be with childe I fere ȝow to kary
Ffor me semyth it were werkys wylde
but ȝow to plese ryght ffayn wold I
ȝitt women ben ethe to greve whan þei be with childe
now latt us Fforth wende as ffast as we may
and al-myghty god spede us in oure jurnay.
Maria
A my swete husbond wolde ȝe telle to me
What tre is ȝon standynge vpon ȝon hylle.
Joseph
Ffor sothe mary it is clepyd A chery tre
In tyme of ȝere ȝe myght ffede ȝow þeron ȝour Ffylle.
Maria
Turne A-geyn husbond and beholde ȝon tre
how þat it blomyght now so swetly.
Joseph
Cum on Mary þat we worn At ȝon Cyte
or ellys we may be blamyd I telle ȝow lythly.
Maria
Now my spowse I pray ȝow to be-hold
How þe cheryes growyn vpon ȝon tre
Ffor to haue þer-of ryght ffayn I wold
and it plesyd ȝow to labore so mech for me.
Joseph
Ȝour desyre to ffulfylle I xal Assay sekyrly
Ow to plucke ȝow of these cheries it is a werk wylde
Ffor þe tre is so hyȝ it wol not be lyghtly
þerfore lete hym pluk ȝow cheryes be-gatt ȝow with childe.
137
Now good lord I pray þe graunt me þis boun
to haue of þese cheries and it be ȝour wylle
now I thank it god þis tre bowyth to me down
I may now gaderyn A-nowe and etyn my ffylle.
joseph
Ow I know weyl I haue offendyd my god in trinyte
Spekyng to my spowse these vnkynde wurdys
Ffor now I beleve wel it may non other be
but þat my spowse beryght þe kyngys son of blys
He help us now at oure nede
of þe kynrede of jesse worthely were ȝe bore
Kyngys and patryarkys ȝow be-ffore
all þese wurthy of ȝour kynred wore
as clerkys in story rede.
Maria
Now gramercy husbond for ȝour report
in oure weys wysely late us forth wende
þe fadyr all myghty he be oure comfort
þe holy gost gloryous he be oure frende.
Joseph
Heyl wurchepful sere and good day
A ceteceyn of þis cyte ȝe seme to be
of herborwe ffor spowse and me I ȝow pray
Ffor trewly þis woman is fful were
And fayn At reste sere wold she be
We wolde ffulffylle þe byddynge of oure emperour
Ffor to pay trybute As ryght is oure
and to kepe oure self ffrom dolowre
We are come to þis cyte.
Ciues
Sere ostage in þis town know I non
þin Wyff and þou in for to slepe
this cete is be-sett with pepyl every won
And ȝett þei ly with-owte fful every strete.
þin Wyff and þou in for to slepe
this cete is be-sett with pepyl every won
And ȝett þei ly with-owte fful every strete.
With-inne no wall man comyst þou nowth
Be þou onys with-inne þe cyte gate
on-ethys in þe strete A place may be sowth
þer on to rest with-owte debate.
Be þou onys with-inne þe cyte gate
on-ethys in þe strete A place may be sowth
þer on to rest with-owte debate.
138
Nay sere debate þat wyl I nowth
all such thyngys passyn my powere
but ȝitt my care and all my thought
is for Mary my derlynge dere.
all such thyngys passyn my powere
but ȝitt my care and all my thought
is for Mary my derlynge dere.
A Swete Wyff what xal we do
wher xal we logge þis nyght
on to þe ffadyr of heffne pray we so
vs to kepe ffrom every wykkyd whyt.
wher xal we logge þis nyght
on to þe ffadyr of heffne pray we so
vs to kepe ffrom every wykkyd whyt.
Ciues
Good man O word I wyl þe sey
If þou wylt do by þe counsel of me
Ȝondyr is An hous of haras þat stant be þe wey
Amonge þe bestys herboryd may ȝe be.
Maria
Now þe fadyr of hefne he mut ȝow ȝelde
His sone in my wombe forsothe he is
He kepe þe and þi good be fryth and ffelde
go we hens husbond for now tyme it is.
His sone in my wombe forsothe he is
He kepe þe and þi good be fryth and ffelde
go we hens husbond for now tyme it is.
But herk now good husbond a new relacyon
which in my self I know ryght well
Cryst in me hath take in-carnacion
Sone wele be borne þe trowth I fele.
which in my self I know ryght well
Cryst in me hath take in-carnacion
Sone wele be borne þe trowth I fele.
In þis pore logge my chawmere I take
here for to A-byde þe blyssyd byrth
of hym þat all þis werd dude make
be-twyn myn sydys I fele he styrth.
here for to A-byde þe blyssyd byrth
of hym þat all þis werd dude make
be-twyn myn sydys I fele he styrth.
Joseph
god be þin help spowse it swemyth me sore
þus febyly loggyd and in so pore degre
goddys sone amonge bestys to be bore
his woundyr werkys ffulfyllyd must be.
þus febyly loggyd and in so pore degre
goddys sone amonge bestys to be bore
his woundyr werkys ffulfyllyd must be.
In An hous þat is desolat with-owty Any wall
Ffyer nor wood non here is.
Ffyer nor wood non here is.
Maria
Joseph myn husbond a-bydyn here I xal
ffor here wyl be born þe Kyngys sone of blys.
139
Now jentyll wyff be of good myrth
and if ȝe wyl owght haue telle me what ȝe thynk
I xal not spare for schep nor derth
now telle me ȝour lust of mete and drynk.
Maria
Ffor mete and drynk lust I ryght nowth
all-myghty god my fode xal be
now þat I am in chawmere brought
I hope ryght well my chylde to se
Therfore husbond of ȝour honeste
A-voyd ȝow hens out of þis place
And I a-lone with humylite
here xal abyde goddys hyȝ grace.
Joseph
All redy wyff ȝow for to plese
I wyl go hens out of ȝour way
and seke sum mydwyuys ȝow for to ese
Whan þat ȝe trauayle of childe þis day
Ffare well trewe wyff and also clene may
God be ȝour comforte in trinyte.
Maria
to god in hevyn for ȝow I pray
He ȝow preserve wher so ȝe be.
hic dum joseph est Absens parit Maria filium vnigenitum.
Joseph
Now god of whom comyth all releffe
And as all grace in þe is grownde
So saue my wyff from hurt and greffe
tyl I sum mydwyuys for here haue fownde
Travelynge women in care be bownde
with grete throwys whan þei do grone
god helpe my wyff þat sche not swownde
I am ful sory sche is a-lone.
And as all grace in þe is grownde
So saue my wyff from hurt and greffe
tyl I sum mydwyuys for here haue fownde
Travelynge women in care be bownde
with grete throwys whan þei do grone
god helpe my wyff þat sche not swownde
I am ful sory sche is a-lone.
It is not conuenyent a man to be
þer women gon in travalynge
wher fore sum mydwyff fayn wold I se
my wyff to helpe þat is so ȝenge.
þer women gon in travalynge
wher fore sum mydwyff fayn wold I se
my wyff to helpe þat is so ȝenge.
140
Why makyst þou man suche mornyng
tell me sum dele of ȝour gret mone.
Joseph
My wyf is now in gret longynge
trauelyng of chylde and is a-lone
Ffor godys loue þat sytt in trone
as ȝe myd-wyuys þat kan ȝour good
help my ȝonge spowse in hast a-none
I drede me sore of þat fayr food.
Salome
be of good chere and of glad mood
we ij mydwyuys with þe wyll go
þer was nevyr woman in such plyght stood
but we were redy here help to do.
we ij mydwyuys with þe wyll go
þer was nevyr woman in such plyght stood
but we were redy here help to do.
My name is Salomee all men me knowe
Ffor a mydwyff of wurthy fame
Whan women travayl grace doth growe
Þer as I come I had nevyr shame.
Ffor a mydwyff of wurthy fame
Whan women travayl grace doth growe
Þer as I come I had nevyr shame.
zelomye
And I am zelomye men knowe my name
We tweyn with the wyl go togedyr
and help þi wyff fro hurt and grame
Com forth joseph go we streyth thedyr.
Joseph
I thank ȝow damys ȝe comforte my lyff
streyte to my spowse walke we þe way
In þis pore logge lyght mary my wyff
hyre for to comforte gode frendys a-say.
Salome
We dare not entre þis logge in fay
þer is þer-in so gret bryghtnes
mone be nyght nor sunne be day
Shone nevyr so clere in þer lyghtnesse.
zelomye
In to þis hous dare I not gon
þe woundyrffull lyght doth me affray.
Joseph
than wyl my-self gon in Alon
and chere my wyff if þat I may
All heyl maydon and wyff I say
how dost þou fare telle me þi chere
the for to comforte in gesyne þis day
tweyn gode mydwyuis I haue brought here.
and chere my wyff if þat I may
141
how dost þou fare telle me þi chere
the for to comforte in gesyne þis day
tweyn gode mydwyuis I haue brought here.
The for to helpe þat art in harde bonde
zelomye And salomee be com with me
Ffor dowte of drede with-owte þei do stond
and dare not come in for lyght þat they se.
zelomye And salomee be com with me
Ffor dowte of drede with-owte þei do stond
and dare not come in for lyght þat they se.
Maria
hic maria subridendo dicat Maria.
The myght of þe godhede in his mageste
Wyl not be hyd now at þis whyle
the chylde þat is born wyl preve his modyr fre
A very clene mayde and þerfore I smyle.
Joseph
Why do ȝe lawghe wyff ȝe be to blame
I pray ȝow spowse do no more so
In happ þe mydwyuys wyl take it to grame
and at ȝour nede helpe wele non do
Iff ȝe haue nede of mydwyuys lo
per auenture thei wyl gon hens
þerfor be sad and ȝe may so
And wynnyth all þe mydwyuis good diligens.
Maria
husbond I pray ȝow dysplese ȝow nowth
þow þat I lawghe and gret joye haue
here is þe chylde þis werd hath wrought
born now of me þat all thynge xal saue.
Joseph
I Aske ȝow grace for I dyde raue
O gracyous childe I aske mercy
As þou art lord and I but knaue
Ffor-ȝeue me now my gret foly.
O gracyous childe I aske mercy
As þou art lord and I but knaue
Ffor-ȝeue me now my gret foly.
Alas mydwyuis what haue I seyd
I pray ȝow com to us more nere
Ffor here I fynde my wyff a mayd
and in here Arme a chyld hath here
I pray ȝow com to us more nere
Ffor here I fynde my wyff a mayd
and in here Arme a chyld hath here
142
bothe mayd and modyr sch is in ffere
þat god wole haue may nevyr more fayle
modyr on erth was nevyr non clere
With-owth sche had in byrth travayle.
þat god wole haue may nevyr more fayle
modyr on erth was nevyr non clere
With-owth sche had in byrth travayle.
zelomy
In byrth trauayle muste sche nedys haue
or ellys no chylde of here is born.
Joseph
I pray ȝow dame and ȝe vowch-saue
com se þe chylde my wyff be-forn.
Salome
Grete god be in þis place
Swete systyr how fare ȝe.
Maria
I thank þe fadyr of his hyȝ grace
his owyn son and my chylde here ȝe may se.
zelomye
All heyl mary and ryght good morn
Who was mydwyfe of þis ffayr chyld.
Maria
he þat no thynge wyl haue for-lorn
Sent me þis babe and I mayd mylde.
zelomye
With honde lete me now towch and fele
yf ȝe haue nede of medycyn
I xal ȝow comforte and helpe ryght wele
As other women yf ȝe haue pyn.
Maria
Of þis fayr byrth þat here is myn
Peyne nere grevynge fele I ryght non
I am clene mayde and pure virgyn
tast with ȝour hand ȝour-self a-lon
hic palpat zelomye beatam mariam virginem dicens
zelomy
O myghtfull god haue mercy on me
A merveyle þat nevyr was herd be-forn
Here opynly I fele and se
A fayr chylde of a maydon is born
And nedyth no waschynge as other don
Fful clene and pure for soth is he
with-outyn spot or ony polucyon
his modyr nott hurte of virgynite.
A merveyle þat nevyr was herd be-forn
Here opynly I fele and se
A fayr chylde of a maydon is born
And nedyth no waschynge as other don
Fful clene and pure for soth is he
with-outyn spot or ony polucyon
his modyr nott hurte of virgynite.
143
Coom nere gode systyr Salome
be-holde þe brestys of þis clene mayd
Fful of fayr mylke how þat þei be
And hyre chylde clene as I fyrst sayd
As other ben nowth fowle arayd
but clene and pure bothe modyr and chylde
Of þis matyr I am dysmayd
to se them both thus vndefyled.
be-holde þe brestys of þis clene mayd
Fful of fayr mylke how þat þei be
And hyre chylde clene as I fyrst sayd
As other ben nowth fowle arayd
but clene and pure bothe modyr and chylde
Of þis matyr I am dysmayd
to se them both thus vndefyled.
Salome
It is not trewe it may nevyr be
þat bothe be clene I can not be-leve
a mayde mylke haue never man dyde se
ne woman bere chylde with-owte grett greve.
þat bothe be clene I can not be-leve
a mayde mylke haue never man dyde se
ne woman bere chylde with-owte grett greve.
I xal nevyr trowe it but I it preve
With hand towchynge but I Assay
in my conscience it may nevyr cleue
þat sche hath chylde and is a may.
With hand towchynge but I Assay
in my conscience it may nevyr cleue
þat sche hath chylde and is a may.
Maria
Ȝow for to putt clene out of dowth
towch with ȝour hand and wele a-say
Wysely ransake and trye þe trewthe owth
Whethyr I be fowlyd or a clene may.
hic tangit salomee marie et cum arescerit manus eius vlulando et quasi flendo dicit
Salomee
Alas Alas and Wele a-Waye
Ffor my grett dowth and fals beleve
myne hand is ded and drye as claye
my fals vntrost hath wrought myscheve.
Ffor my grett dowth and fals beleve
myne hand is ded and drye as claye
my fals vntrost hath wrought myscheve.
Alas þe tyme þat I was born
thus to offende A-ȝens goddys myght
myn handys power is now all lorn
Styff as a stykke and may nowth plyght
Ffor I dede tempte þis mayde so bryght
And helde A-ȝens here pure clennes
In grett myscheff now am I pyght
Alas alas ffor my lewdnes.
thus to offende A-ȝens goddys myght
myn handys power is now all lorn
144
Ffor I dede tempte þis mayde so bryght
And helde A-ȝens here pure clennes
In grett myscheff now am I pyght
Alas alas ffor my lewdnes.
O lord of myght þou knowyst þe trowth
þat I haue evyr had dred of þe
on every power whyght evyr I haue rowthe
and ȝove hem almes for loue of þe
Bothe wyff and wedowe þat Askyght for the
And frendles chylderyn þat haddyn grett nede
I dude them cure and all for the
and toke no rewarde of them nor mede.
þat I haue evyr had dred of þe
on every power whyght evyr I haue rowthe
and ȝove hem almes for loue of þe
Bothe wyff and wedowe þat Askyght for the
And frendles chylderyn þat haddyn grett nede
I dude them cure and all for the
and toke no rewarde of them nor mede.
Now as a wrecch ffor fals be-leve
þat I shewyd in temptynge þis mayde
my hand is ded and doth me greve
Alas þat evyr I here assayde.
þat I shewyd in temptynge þis mayde
my hand is ded and doth me greve
Alas þat evyr I here assayde.
Angelus
Woman þi sorwe to haue de-layde
wurchep þat childe þat þer is born
towch þe clothis þer he is layde
ffor he xal saue all þat is lorn.
Salomee
O gloryous chylde and kynge of blysse
I aske ȝow mercy for my trespace
I knowlege my synne I demyd a-mys
O blyssyd babe grawnt me sum grace
Of ȝow mayde Also here in þis place
I aske mercy knelynge on kne
moste holy mayde grawnt me solace
Sum wurde of comforte sey now to me.
Maria
As goddys Aungel to ȝow dede telle
my chyld is medycyn ffor every sor
towch his clothis be my cowncelle
Ȝowre hand ful sone he wyl restor.
145
Salomee
A now blyssyd be þis chylde euer more
þe sone of god for sothe he is
Hath helyd myn hand þat was for-lore
thorwe ffals be-leve and demynge a-mys.
þe sone of god for sothe he is
Hath helyd myn hand þat was for-lore
thorwe ffals be-leve and demynge a-mys.
In every place I xal telle þis
Of a clene mayd þat god is born
And in oure lyknes god now clad is
Mankend to saue þat was for-lorn
His modyr a mayde as sche was be-forn
natt fowle polutyd as other women be
but fayr and fresch as rose on thorn
Lely wyte clene with pure virginyte.
Of a clene mayd þat god is born
And in oure lyknes god now clad is
Mankend to saue þat was for-lorn
His modyr a mayde as sche was be-forn
natt fowle polutyd as other women be
but fayr and fresch as rose on thorn
Lely wyte clene with pure virginyte.
Of þis blyssyd babe my leve now do I take.
and also of ȝow hyȝ modyr of blysse
Of þis grett meracle more knowlege to make
I xal go telle it in iche place i-wys.
and also of ȝow hyȝ modyr of blysse
Of þis grett meracle more knowlege to make
I xal go telle it in iche place i-wys.
Maria
Ffare wel good dame and god ȝour wey wysse
In all ȝour jurnay god be ȝour spede
and of his hyȝ mercy þat lord so ȝow blysse
þat ȝe nevyr offende more in word thought nore dede.
zelomy
And I Also do take my leve here
Of all þis blyssyd good company
praynge ȝour grace bothe fere and nere
On us to spede ȝour endles mercy.
Joseph
The blyssyng of þat lord þat is most myghty
mote sprede on ȝow in every place
of all ȝour enmyes to haue þe victory
God þat best may grawnt ȝow his grace.
| The Birth of Christ | |