EARLY CAROLS

WELCOME Yule, thou merry man, In worship of this holy day. Welcome be thou, heaven-king, Welcome, born in a morning, Welcome, for whom we shall sing Welcome Yule. Welcome be ye, Stephen and John, Welcome Innocents, every one; Welcome Thomas, martyr one; Welcome Yule. Welcome be ye, good new year, Welcome Twelfth day, both in fere; Welcome Saintës, lief and dear; Welcome Yule. Welcome be ye, Candlemas, Welcome be ye, Queen of bliss, Welcome both to more or less, Welcome Yule. Welcome be ye that are here; Welcome all and make good cheer; Welcome all, another year, Welcome Yule.

I SING of a maiden That is makeless;[1] King of all kingës To her son she ches;[2] He came also[3] still There his mother was, As dew in April That falleth on the grass. He came also still To his mother’s bower, As dew in April That falleth on the flower. He came also still There his mother lay, As dew in April That falleth on the spray. Mother and maiden Was never none but she; Well may such a lady Goddes mother be.

AS Joseph was a-walking He heard an angel sing:— ‘This night shall be born Our heavenly King; ‘He neither shall be born In housen nor in hall, Nor in the place of Paradise, But in an ox’s stall; ‘He neither shall be clothed In purple nor in pall, But all in fair linen As were babies all. ‘He neither shall be rocked In silver nor in gold, But in a wooden cradle That rocks on the mould. ‘He neither shall be christened In white wine or red, But with fair spring water With which we were christened.’

NOW is Christëmas ycome, Father and Son together in one, Holy Ghost as ye be one In fere, God send us a good new year. I would you sing and I might Of a Child is fair in sight, His mother him bare this endris[4] night So still, And as it was his will. There came three kings fro Galilee Into Bethlem, that fair citee, To seek him that should ever be By right, Lord and king and knight. As they came forth with their off’ring, They met with Herod, that moody king, This tide, And this to them he said, ‘Of whence be ye, you kingës three?’ ‘Of the East, as ye may see, To seek him that should ever be By right, Lord and king and knight.’ ‘When you at this child have be Come home again by me, Tell me the sights that you have see, I pray, Go you no nother way.’ They took their leave both old and ying[5] Of Herod, that moody king: They went forth with their offering By night, By the star that shone so bright, Till they came in to the place Where Jesu and his mother was; Offered they up with great solace In fere, Gold and ’cense and myrrh. When they had their offering made As the Holy Ghost them bade, Then were they both merry and glad And light: It was a well fair sight. Anon as they away went The Father of heaven an angel sent To these three Kings that made present This tide, And thus to them he said, ‘My Lord have warned you every one By Herod king you go not home: For an you do he will you slowe And strow,[6] And do you mickle woe.’ They yeden all another way Thorough the might of Goddes lay[7] As the angel to them did say Full right: It was a well fair sight. When they were come to their countree Glad and blithe they were all three Of the sights that they had see; By dene[8] The company was clean. Kneel we now here adown; Pray we in good devotion To the King of great renown For grace In heaven to have a place.

THIS endris[9] night I saw a sight, A star as bright as day; And ever among[10] A maiden sung Lullay, byby, lullay. This lovely lady sat and sang, and to her child gan say, ‘My son, my brother, my father dear, why liest thou thus in hay? My sweetë brid,[11] Thus it is betid Though thou be King veray; But, nevertheless, I will not cease To sing byby, lullay.’ The child then spake in his talking; and to his mother said— ‘I am beknown for heaven’s king, in crib though I be laid; For angels bright Down to me light, Thou knowest it is no nay. And of that sight Thou mayest be light, To sing byby, lullay.’ ‘Now sweetë son, since thou art king, why art thou laid in stall? Why ne thou ordainèd thy bedding in some great kingës hall? Methinketh it right That king or knight Should lie in good array; And then among It were no wrong To sing byby, lullay.’ ‘Mary, mother, I am thy child, though I be laid in stall, Lords and dukes shall worship me, and so shall kingës all. Ye shall well see, The kingës three Shall come the twelfthë day; For this behest Give me thy breast, And sing byby, lullay.’ ‘Now tell me, sweet son, I thee pray, thou art me lief and dear, How should I keep thee to thy pay,[12] and make thee glad of cheer? For all thy will I would fulfil, Thou weet’st full well in fay.[13] And for all this I will thee kiss, And sing byby, lullay.’ ‘My dear mother, when time it be, thou take me up aloft, And settë me upon thy knee, and handle me full soft. And in thy arm Thou hile[14] me warm, And keepë night and day; If I weep And may not sleep, Thou sing byby, lullay.’ ‘Now, sweet son, since it is so, that all is at thy will, I pray thee grant to me a boon if it be right and skill,[15] That child or man That will or can Be merry upon my day; To bliss them bring, And I shall sing Lullay, byby, lullay.’

LULLAY, my liking, my dear son, my sweeting, Lullay, my dear heart, my own dear darling. I saw a fair maiden sitten and sing. She lulled a little child, a sweet lording. Lullay, &c. That ilke lord is that that made all thing, Of all lordës he is lord, of all kingës king. Lullay, &c. There was mickle melody at that childës birth, All that were in heaven’s bliss they made mickle mirth. Lullay, &c. Angels bright they sung that night and saiden to that child, Blessed be thou, and so be she that is both meek and mild. Lullay, &c. Pray we now to that child, and to his mother dear. Grant them his blessing that now maken cheer. Lullay, &c.

SAINT Stephen was a clerk In King Herodës hall, And servèd him of bread and cloth As every king befall. Stephen out of kitchen came, With boarës head on hand, He saw a star was fair and bright Over Bethlem stand. He cast adown the boarës head And went into the hall: ‘I forsake thee, King Herodës, And thy workës all. ‘I forsake thee, King Herodës, And thy werkës all; There is a child in Bethlem born Is better than we all.’ ‘What aileth thee, Stephen? What is thee befall? Lacketh thee either meat or drink In King Herodës hall?’ ‘Lacketh me neither meat ne drink In King Herodës hall; There is a child in Bethlem born Is better than we all.’ ‘What aileth thee, Stephen? Art thou wode[16] Or thou ginnest to breed?[17] Lacketh thee either gold or he Or any richë weed?’[18] ‘Lacketh me neither gold or fee, Ne none richë weed; There is a child in Bethlem born Shall help us at our need.’ ‘That is also[19] sooth, Stephen, Also sooth, i-wis,[20] As this capon crowë shall That lieth here in my dish.’ That word was not so soonë said, That word in that hall, The capon crew, ‘Christus natus est,’ Among the lordës all. ‘Riseth up, my tormentors, By two and also by one, And leadeth Stephen out of this town, And stoneth him with stone.’ Tooken they Stephen And stoned him in the way, And therefore is his even On Christës own day.

Angel. HERDMEN hend,[21] Dread ye no thing Of this star that ye do see; For this same morn God’s son is born In Bethlem of a maiden free. First Shepherd. Hail maid, mother, and wife so mild! As the angel said, so have we fand. I have nothing to present with thy child But my pipe; hold, hold, take it in thy hand; Wherein much pleasure that I have fand; And now, to honour thy glorious birth, Thou shalt it have to make thee mirth. Second Shepherd. Now, hail be thou, child, and thy dame! For in a poor lodging here art thou laid, So the angel said and told us thy name; Hold, take thou here my hat on thy head! And now of one thing thou art well sped, For weather thou hast no need to complain, For wind, ne sun, hail, snow, and rain. Third Shepherd. Hail be thou, Lord over water and lands! For thy coming all we may make mirth. Have here my mittens to put on thy hands, Other Treasure have I none to present thee with. Mary. Now, herdmen bend, For your coming To my child shall I pray, As he is heaven king To grant you his blessing And to his bliss that ye may wend At your last day. Here the Shepherds sing: As I out rode this enderes[22] night Of three jolly shepherds I saw a sight, And all about their fold a star shone bright; They sang terli, terlow; So merrily the shepherds their pipes can blow. Down from heaven, from heaven so high, Of angels there came a great company, With mirth and joy and great solemnity, They sang terli, terlow; So merrily the shepherds their pipes can blow.

CAN I not sing but Hoy! When the jolly shepherd made so much joy! The shepherd upon a hill he sat, He had on him his tabard and his hat, His tar-box, his pipe, and his flagat. His name was called Jolly, Jolly Wat; For he was a good herds-boy, Ut hoy! For in his pipe he made so much joy. Can I not sing but hoy. The shepherd upon a hill was laid, His dog to his girdle was tayd, He had not slept but a little braid, But gloria in excelsis was to him said; Ut hoy! For in his pipe he made so much joy! Can I not sing, &c. The shepherd on a hill he stood, Round about him his sheep they yode, He put his hand under his hood, He saw a star as red as blood. Ut hoy! For in his pipe he made so much joy! Can I not sing, &c. Now farewell Mall, and also Will, For my love go ye all still, Unto I come again you till, And ever more Will ring well thy bell. Ut hoy! For in his pipe he made so much joy! Can I not sing, &c. Now must I go there Christ was born, Farewell, I come again to-morn; Dog, keep well my sheep fro the corn, And warn well Warroke when I blow my horn! Ut hoy! For in his pipe he made so much joy! Can I not sing, &c. When Wat to Bethlehem come was, He sweat, he had gone faster than a pace. He found Jesus in a simple place, Between an ox and an ass. Ut hoy! For in his pipe he made so much joy! Can I not sing, &c. The shepherd said anon right: ‘I will go see yon ferly[23] sight, Where as the angel singeth on-height, And the star that shineth so bright!’ Ut hoy! For in his pipe he made so much joy! Can I not sing, &c. ‘Jesus, I offer to thee here my pipe, My skirt, my tar-box, and my scrip, Home to my fellows now will I skip, And also look unto my sheep!’ Ut hoy! For in his pipe he made so much joy! Can I not sing, &c. ‘Now farewell, mine own herds-man Wat!’ ‘Yea,’fore God, Lady, even so I hat![24] Lull well Jesus in thy lap. And farewell, Joseph, with thy round cap!’ Ut hoy! For in his pipe he made so much joy! Can I not sing, &c. ‘Now may I well both hop and sing, For I have been at Christ’s bearing; Home to my fellows now will I fling; Christ of heaven to His bliss us bring! Ut hoy! For in his pipe he made so much joy! Can I not sing, &c.

WHEN Christ was born of Mary free In Bethlem, in that fair citee, Angels sang there with mirth and glee, In excelsis gloria. Herdmen beheld these angels bright, To them appearèd with great light, And said, ‘God’s son is born this night.’ In excelsis gloria. The King is comen to save kind, As in scripturës we find, Therefore this song have we in mind, In excelsis gloria. Then, Lord, for thy great grace Grant us in bliss to see thy face When we may sing to thee solace, In excelsis gloria.

BE we merry in this feast, In quo Salvator natus est. In Bethlehem that noble place, As by prophecy said it was, Of the Virgin Mary full of grace, Salvator mundi natus est. Be we merry, &c. On Christmas night an angel it told To the shepherds, keeping their fold, That into Bethlehem with beastës wold,[25] Salvator mundi natus est. Be we merry, &c. The shepherds were compassèd right, About them was a full great light; ‘Dread ye nought’, said the angel bright, ‘Salvator mundi natus est.’ Be we merry, &c. ‘Behold to you we bring great joy; For why[26] Jesus is born this day, To us, of Mary, that mild may,[27] Salvator mundi natus est.’ Be we merry &c. And thus in faith find it ye shall, Lying poorly in an oxes-stall. The shepherds then God lauded all, Quia Salvator mundi natus est. Be we merry &c.

MAN, be merry as bird on berry And all thy care let away. This time is born a child full good, He that us bought upon the rood; He bound the devil that is so wood, Till the dreadful doomës-day. When the child of mickle might Would be born of Mary bright, A token he sent to king and knight, A star that shone both night and day. The star shone as bright as fire, Over all the world both far and near, In token He was without peer; And peerless he shall lasten ay. The xii day come kingës three Out of the east, with heartë free; To worship Him they kneeled on knee With gold and myrrh and frankincense.

ALL this time this song is best: Verbum caro factum est! This night there is a child born That sprang out of Jesse’s thorn; We must sing and say thereforn Verbum caro factum est! Jesus is the childës name And Mary mild is his dame; All our sorrow shall turn to game, Verbum caro factum est. It fell upon high midnight, The stars shone both fair and bright, The angels sang with all their might Verbum caro factum est. Now kneel we down on our knee, And pray we to the Trinity, Our help, our succour for to be! Verbum caro factum est.

MATER, ora filium ut post hoc exilium nobis donet gaudium beatorum omnium! Fair maiden, who is this bairn That thou bearest in thine arm? Sir, it is a Kingës Son, That in heaven above doth wone.[28] Mater, ora, &c. Man to father he hath none, But Himself God alone! Of a maiden He would be born, To save mankind that was forlorn! Mater, ora, &c. Three Kingës brought him presents, Gold, myrrh, and frankincense, To my Son full of might, King of Kings and Lord of right! Mater, ora, &c. Fair maiden, pray for us Unto thy Son, sweet Jesus, That He will send us of His grace In heaven on high to have a place. Mater, ora, &c.

EYA, Jesus hodie Natus est de virgine. Blessed be that maid Mary! Born He was of her body; Goddes son that sit’th on high, Non ex virili semine. In a manger of an ass Jesu lay and lulled was, Hardë painës for to pass, Pro peccante homine. Kingës came from divers land With great giftës in their hand, In Bethlem the child they fand, Stellae ducti lumine. Man and child both old and young Now in his blissful coming To that child may we sing Gloria tibi, Domine. Nowel, nowel in this hall, Make merry, I pray you all; Unto the child may we call Ullo sine crimine.

AVE maris stella The star on the sea, Dei Mater alma Blessed mot[29] she be, Atque semper virgo Pray thy son for me, Felix caeli porta, That I may come to thee. Gabriel that archangel, He was messenger; So fair he gret our Lady With an ’ave’ so clear: ‘Hail be thou, Mary, Be thou, Mary, Full of Goddes grace, And Queen of Mercy.’

NOEL, Noël, Noël, Noël, This is the salutation of Gabriel! Tidings true there be come new, sent from the Trinity By Gabriel to Nazareth, city of Galilee, A clean maiden and pure virgin thoro’ her humility Conceived the second person in divinity. Noël. When he first presented was before her fair visage In most demure and goodly wise he did to her homage And said, ‘Lady, from heaven so high, that lordës heritage The which of thee born would be, I am sent on message.’ Noël. ‘Hail, virgin celestial, the meekest that ever was; Hail, temple of deity, and mirror of all grace; Hail, virgin pure, I thee ensure within full little space Thou shalt receive and Him conceive that shall bring great solace.’ Noël. Then again to the angel she answered womanly, ‘Whatever my lord command me do, I will obey meekly; Ecce sum humillima ancilla Domini, Secundum verbum tuum, she said, fiat mihi.’ Noël.

OF a rose, a lovely rose, Of a rose is all my song. Listen, lordings, both eld and ying, How this rose began to spring; Such a rose to my liking In all this world ne know I none. The angel came from heaven’s tower To greet Mary with great honour, And saidë she should bear the flower That should break the fiendës bond. The flower sprung in high Bethlem, That is bothë bright and sheen; The rose is Mary, heaven’s queen, Out of her bosom the blossom sprung. The firstë branch is full of might, That sprung on Christëmass night; The star shone over Bethlem bright That is both broad and long. The second branch sprung to hell, The fiendës power down to fell; Therein might none soulë dwell; Blessed be the time the rose sprung. The third branch is good and swote, It sprang to heaven crop[30] and root, Therein to dwell and be our boot, Every day it showeth in priestës hand. Pray we to her with great honour, She that bare the blessed flower, She be our help and succoúr, And shield us from the fiendës bond.