Part 2
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.
[21] Courteous.
[22] Last.
9. CAN I NOT SING BUT HOY!
_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._
[23] Wondrous.
[24] Am called.
10. WHEN CHRIST WAS BORN OF MARY FREE
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._
11. BE WE MERRY IN THIS FEAST
_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._
[25] Would go.
[26] Because.
[27] Maid.
12. MAN, BE MERRY AS BIRD ON BERRY
_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.
13. ALL THIS TIME THIS SONG IS BEST
_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._
14. MATER, ORA FILIUM
_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._
[28] Dwell.
15. EYA, JESUS HODIE
_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_.
16. AVE MARIS STELLA
_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.’
[29] May.
17. NOËL, NOËL, NOËL, NOËL
_Noël, 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._
18. OF A ROSE, A LOVELY ROSE
_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.
[30] Tip.
TRADITIONAL CAROLS
19. GOD REST YOU MERRY, GENTLEMEN
God rest you merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay; Remember Christ our Saviour Who was born on Christmas Day, To save our souls from Satan’s fold Which long time had gone astray. _And ’tis tidings of comfort and joy._
From him that is our Father The Blessed Angel came, And to the watchful shepherds brought The tidings of the same; That there was born in Bethlehem The Son of God by name. _And ’tis, &c._
Fear not, then said God’s Angel, Let nothing you affright, This day is born a Saviour Of a Virgin pure and bright; He is able to advance you And throw down Satan quite. _And ’tis, &c._
The shepherds at these tidings Rejoiced much in mind, And left their flocks a-feeding In tempest, storm, and wind. And straight they went to Bethlehem The Son of God to find. _And ’tis, &c._
But when they came to Bethlehem Where as our Saviour lay, They found him in a manger, Where oxen fed on hay, Our blessed Lady kneeling by Unto the Lord did pray. _And ’tis, &c._
At which with sudden gladness The shepherds then were filled, When as the Babe of Israel Thus when they had beheld. Before his mother thus to lie The Scripture thus fulfilled. _And ’tis, &c._
Now let me all of you entreat That are within this place, That each dear loving Xian The other would embrace. For the happy time of Xmas Is drawing on apace. _With its, &c._
This version is from a broadside in the British Museum; another version is given in Sandy’s _Christmas Carols_ (1833), of which the last verse is:
Now to the Lord sing praises All you within this place; And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace: This holy tide of Xmas All others doth deface. _With its, &c._
20. REMEMBER, O THOU MAN
Remember, O thou man, O thou man, O thou man, Remember, O thou man, Thy time is spent. Remember, O thou man, How thou earnest to me than, And I did what I can: Therefore repent.
Remember Adam’s fall, O thou man, O thou man, Remember, O thou man, From Heaven to Hell. Remember Adam’s fall, How we were condemnèd all To Hell perpetual There for to dwell.
Remember God’s goodness, O thou man, O thou man, Remember God’s goodness And promise made. Remember God’s goodness, How his only Son He sent Our sins for to redress; Be not afraid!
The Angels all did sing, O thou man, O thou man, The Angels all did sing On Sion Hill;
The Angels all did sing Praise to our heavenly king And peace to man living With right good will.
The shepherds amazèd was, O thou man, O thou man, The shepherds amazèd was, To hear the Angels sing. The shepherds amazèd was, How this should come to pass, That Christ our Messias Should be our king.
To Bethlehem did they go, O thou man, O thou man, To Bethlehem did they go This thing to see; To Bethlehem did they go To see whether it was so, Whether Christ was born or no To set us free.
As th’ Angels before did say, O thou man, O thou man, As th’ Angels before did say, So it came to pass. As th’ Angels before did say They found him wrapt in hay In a manger where he lay, So poor he was.
In Bethlehem was he born, O thou man, O thou man, In Bethlehem was he born For mankind dear. In Bethlehem was he born For us that were forlorn, And therefore took no scorn Our sins to bear.
In a manger laid he was, O thou man, O thou man, In a manger laid he was At this time present. In a manger laid he was, Between an ox and an ass And all for our trespass; Therefore repent.
Give thanks to God alway O thou man, O thou man, Give thanks to God alway With hearts most jolly. Give thanks to God alway Upon this blessed day, Let all men sing and say Holy, holy.
21. I SAW THREE SHIPS
I saw three ships come sailing in On Christmas day, on Christmas day. I saw three ships come sailing in On Christmas day in the morning.
And what was in those ships all three On Christmas day, on Christmas day? And what was in those ships all three On Christmas day in the morning?
Our Saviour Christ and His lady On Christmas day, on Christmas day. Our Saviour Christ and His lady On Christmas day in the morning.
Pray, whither sailed those ships all three On Christmas day, on Christmas day? Pray, whither sailed those ships all three On Christmas day in the morning?
O they sailed unto Bethlehem On Christmas day, on Christmas day. O they sailed unto Bethlehem On Christmas day in the morning.
And all the bells on earth shall ring On Christmas day, on Christmas day. And all the bells on earth shall ring On Christmas day in the morning.
And all the angels in heaven shall sing On Christmas day, on Christmas day. And all the angels in heaven shall sing On Christmas day in the morning.
And all the souls on earth shall sing On Christmas day, on Christmas day And all the souls on earth shall sing On Christmas day in the morning.
Then let us all rejoice amain On Christmas day, on Christmas day. Then let us all rejoice amain On Christmas day in the morning!
LATER POEMS AND CAROLS
22. ON THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST
_Rorate Coeli desuper!_ Heavens, distil your balmy showers, For now is risen the bright daystar From the Rose Mary, flower of flowers; The clear sun, whom no cloud devours, Surmounting Phoebus in the east, Is comen of his heavenly towers; _Et nobis Puer natus est._
Archangels, angels, dominations, Thrones, potentates, and martyrs seir,[31] And all the heavenly operations, Star, planet, firmament, and sphere, Fire, earth, air, and water clear, To Him give loving, most and least, That come is in so meek maneir; _Et nobis Puer natus est._
Sinners, be glad, and penance do, And thank your Maker heartily, For He, that ye might not come to, To you is comen full humbly, Your soulës with His blood to buy, And loose you of the fiend’s arrest, And only of His own mercy; _Pro nobis Puer natus est._
Celestial fowlës in the air, Sing with your notes upon hight, In firthës and forests fair. Be mirthful now, at all your might, For passed is your dully night; Aurora has the cloudis perced, The sun is risen with gladsome light, _Et nobis Puer natus est._
Now spring up flowrës from the root, Revert you upward naturally, In honour of the blessed fruit That rose up from the Rose Mary; Lay out your leavës lustily, From dead take life now, at the least, In worship of that Prince worthy, _Qui nobis Puer natus est._
Sing heaven imperial, most of height, Regions of air make harmony; All fish in floud, and fowl of flight, Be mirthful and make melody; All Gloria in Excelsis cry, Heaven, earth, sea, man, bird, and beast, He that is crowned above the sky. _Pro nobis Puer natus est._ WILLIAM DUNBAR
[31] Many.
23. THE BURNING BABE
As I in hoary winter’s night stood shivering in the snow, Surprised I was with sudden heat which made my heart to glow; And lifting up a fearful eye to view what fire was near, A pretty Babe all burning bright did in the air appear. Who scorched with exceeding heat such floods of tears did shed, As though His floods should quench His flames with what His tears were fed; Alas, quoth He, but newly born in fiery heats I fry, Yet none approach to warm their hearts or feel my fire but I. My faultless breast the furnace is, the fuel wounding thorns, Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke, the ashes shame and scorns; The fuel Justice layeth on, and Mercy blows the coals; The metal in this furnace wrought are men’s defiled souls; For which, as now on fire I am, to work them to their good, So will I melt into a bath, to wash them in my blood: With this He vanished out of sight, and swiftly shrunk away, And straight I called unto mind that it was Christmas day. ROBERT SOUTHWELL
24. NEW PRINCE, NEW POMP
Behold a silly tender Babe, In freezing winter night, In homely manger trembling lies, Alas! a piteous sight.
The inns are full, no man will yield This little Pilgrim bed; But forced He is with silly beasts In crib to shroud His head.
Despise Him not for lying there, First what He is inquire; An orient pearl is often found In depth of dirty mire.
Weigh not His crib, His wooden dish, Nor beast that by Him feed; Weigh not His mother’s poor attire, Nor Joseph’s simple weed.
This stable is a prince’s court, This crib His chair of state; The beasts are parcel of His pomp, The wooden dish His plate.
The persons in that poor attire His royal liveries wear; The Prince Himself is come from heaven This pomp is prizèd there.
With joy approach, O Christian wight! Do homage to thy King; And highly praise this humble pomp Which He from heaven doth bring. ROBERT SOUTHWELL
25. NEW HEAVEN, NEW WAR
Come to your heaven, you heavenly quires! Earth hath the heaven of your desires: Remove your dwelling to your God, A stall is now His best abode; Sith men their homage do deny, Come, angels, all their faults supply.
His chilling cold doth heat require, Come, Seraphim, in lieu of fire; This little ark no cover hath, Let Cherubs’ wings His body swathe; Come, Raphael, this Babe must eat, Provide our little Tobie meat.
Let Gabriel be now His groom, That first took up His earthly room; Let Michael stand in His defence, Whom love hath linked to feeble sense; Let Graces rock when He doth cry, And Angels sing His lullaby.
The same you saw in heavenly seat Is He that now sucks Mary’s teat; Agnize[32] your King a mortal wight, His borrowed weeds lets[33] not your sight; Come, kiss the manger where He lies; That is your bliss above the skies.
This little Babe so few days old Is come to rifle Satan’s fold, All hell doth at His presence quake, Though He Himself for cold do shake; For in this weak unarmèd wise The gates of hell He will surprise.
With tears He fights and wins the field, His naked breast stands for a shield; His battering shot are babish cries; His arrows, looks of weeping eyes; His martial ensigns, cold and need; And feeble flesh His warrior’s steed.
His camp is pitchèd in a stall, His bulwark but a broken wall, His crib His trench, hay-stalks His stakes, Of shepherds He His muster takes; And thus, as sure His foe to wound, The angels’ trumps alarum sound.
My soul, with Christ join thou in fight; Stick to the tents that He hath pight; Within His crib is surest ward, This little Babe will be thy guard; If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy, Then flit not from this heavenly Boy. ROBERT SOUTHWELL
[32] Acknowledge.
[33] Hinders.
26. A CHILD MY CHOICE
Let folly praise that fancy loves, I praise and love that Child, Whose heart no thought, whose tongue no word, Whose head no deed defiled.
I praise Him most, I love Him best, All praise and love is His; While Him I love, in Him I live, And cannot live amiss.
Love’s sweetest mark, laud’s highest theme, Man’s most desirèd light, To love Him life, to leave Him death, To live in Him delight.
He mine by gift, I His by debt, Thus each to other due, First friend He was, best friend He is, All times will try Him true.
Though young, yet wise; though small, yet strong; Though man, yet God He is; As wise He knows, as strong He can, As God He loves to bless.
His knowledge rules, His strength defends, His love doth cherish all; His birth our joy, His life our light, His death our end of thrall.
Alas! He weeps, He sighs, He pants, Yet doth His angels sing; Out of His tears, His sighs and throbs, Doth bud a joyful spring.
Almighty Babe, whose tender arms Can force all foes to fly, Correct my faults, protect my life, Direct me when I die! ROBERT SOUTHWELL
27. NATIVITY