In The Yule-Log Glow, Vol. IV | Page 2

yong,?The weche causeth yew for to syng,
Nowell!
Criste is now born of a pure mayde,?In an oxe stalle he ys layde,?Wher'for syng we alle atte abrayde
Nowell!
Bebbex bien par tutte la company,?Make gode chere and be right mery,?And syng with us now joyfully,
Nowell!
GOD REST YOU MERRY, GENTLEMEN.
God rest you merry, gentlemen,?Let nothing you dismay,?For Jesus Christ our Saviour?Was born upon this day?To save us all from Satan's power?When we were gone astray.?O tidings of comfort and joy,?For Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day.
In Bethlehem in Jewry?This blessed babe was born,?And laid within a manger?Upon this blessed morn;?The which His mother Mary?Nothing did take in scorn.
O tidings, etc.
From God our Heavenly Father?A blessed angel came,?And unto certain shepherds?Brought tidings of the same,?How that in Bethlehem was born?The Son of God by name.
O tidings, etc.
Fear not, then said the angel,?Let nothing you affright,?This day is born a Saviour?Of virtue, power, and might;?So frequently to vanquish all?The friends of Satan quite.
O tidings, etc.
The shepherds at those tidings?Rejoicéd much in mind,?And left their flocks a-feeding?In tempest, storm, and wind,?And went to Bethlehem straightway?This blessed babe to find.
O tidings, etc.
But when to Bethlehem they came,?Whereat this infant lay,?They found Him in a manger?Where oxen feed on hay;?His mother Mary kneeling?Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings, etc.
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 Christmas?All others doth deface.
O tidings, etc.
WELCOME YULE.
_Welcome Yule, thou merry man,_?_In worship of this holy day._
Welcome be thou, heaven-king,?Welcome born in one 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,[D]?Welcome saintés lef[E] and dear,
Welcome Yule.
Welcome be ye, Candlemas,?Welcome be ye, Queen of Bliss,?Welcome both to more and less,
Welcome Yule.
Welcome be ye that are here,?Welcome all and make good cheer;?Welcome all, another year,
Welcome Yule.
_Ritson's Ancient Songs._
FOOTNOTES:
[D] Together.
[E] Loved.
ANGEL HERALDS.
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 clothéd?In purple nor in pall,?But all in fair linen,?As we 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 nor in red,?But with fair spring-water?With which we were christenéd."
THE MATCHLESS MAIDEN.
I sing of a maiden?That is makeless;[F]?King of all kings?To her son she ches;[G]
He came also[H] 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?God's mother be.
_Wright's Songs and Carols._
FOOTNOTES:
[F] Matchless.
[G] Chose.
[H] As.
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 then,?And I did what I can,?Therefore repent.
Remember Adam's fall,?O thou Man, O thou Man;?Remember Adam's fall?From Heaven to Hell.?Remember Adam's fall,?How we were condemnéd 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?Praises to our heavenly king,?And peace to man living,?With right good-will.
The Shepherds amazed was,?O thou Man, O thou Man;?The Shepherds amazed was?To hear the angels sing.?The Shepherds amazed 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 the Angels before did say,?O thou Man, O thou Man;?As the Angels before did say,?So it came to pass.?As the 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 always,?O thou Man, O thou Man;?Give thanks to God always?With hearts most jolly.?Give thanks to God always?Upon this blessed day,?Let all men sing and say,?Holy, Holy.
_Ravenscroft's Melismata, A.D. 1611._
THE SINGERS IN THE SNOW.
God bless the master of this house?And all that are therein,?And to begin this Christmas tide?With mirth now let us sing.?For the Saviour of all