Part 1 / Book 4 — 107. The Three Kings
Reading edition
I Now is Christëmas y-come, Father and Son together in one, Holy Ghost us be on In fere-a[626]; God send us a good New Year-a! II I would you sing, for and I might, Of a Child is fair in sight; His mother him bare this endris[627] night So still-a, And as it was his will-a. III There came three Kings from Galilee Into Bethlehem, that fair citie, To seek to Him that e’er should be By right-a Lord and king and knight-a. IV As they came forth with their off’ring, They met with Herod that moody king; He askèd them of their coming This tide-a, And this to them he said-a. V ‘Of whence be ye, you Kingès three?’— ‘Of the East, as you may see, To seek to Him that should ever be By right-a Lord and king and knight-a.’— VI ‘When you at this Child have been, Come you home this way again; Tell me the sight that you have seen; I pray-a, Go you none other way-a.’ VII They took their leave both old and ying[628] Then of Herod that moody king; They went forth with their offering By light-a Of the star that shone so bright-a. VIII Till they came into the place Where Jesu and his mother was; Offer’d they up with great solace In fere-a Gold, incense and myrrh-a. IX When they had their offering made As the Holy Ghost them bade, Then they were both merry and glad And light-a; It was a good fair sight-a. X Anon, as on their way they went, The Father of heaven an angel sent To these three kings that made present This tide-a, And this to them he said-a:— XI ‘My Lord hath warn’d you every one By Herod king you go not home, For an you do he will you slone[629] And ’stroy-a, And hurt you wonderly-a.’ XII So forth they went another way Through the might of God his lay[630], As the angel to them did say, Full right-a; It was a good fair sight-a. XIII When they came home to their countrie, Glad and blithe they were all three Of the sight that they had see; By dene-a[631] The company was clean-a. XIV Kneel we now here a-down; Pray we in good devotion To the King of great renown, Of grace-a In heaven to have a place-a.