66
"IN EXCELSIS GLORIA

Kneel we now all here a-down
To that Lord of great renown,
And pray we in good devotion.
For grace-a,

In Heaven to have a place-a.

"IN EXCELSIS GLORIA."

This Carol is from the Harleian MSS. in the British Museum.* The date of the manuscript is supposed to be about the year 1500.

WHEN Christ was born of Mary free,

In Bethlehem, in that fair citie,

Angels sang there with mirth and glee,

In Excelsis Gloria!

Herdsmen beheld these angels bright,
To them appearing with great light,
Who said, "God's Son is born this night,"
In Excelsis Gloria!

This King is come to save mankind,
As in Scripture truths we find,
Therefore this song have we in mind,

In Excelsis Gloria!

Then, dear Lord, for thy great grace,
Grant us the bliss to see thy face,

That we may sing to thy solace,

In Excelsis Gloria!

• No. 5396, fol. 4, ro.

THE VIRGIN AND CHILD.

The present Carol has been copied from the reprint of the ancient manuscript in the possession of Thomas Wright, Esq. Another version of it will be found in the "Reliquiæ Antiquæ," printed from a MS. in the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh.

HIS winter's night

I saw a sight,

A star as bright as day;

And ever among

A maiden sung,

Lullay, by by, lullay.

This lovely lady sat and sang, and to her child she said

My son, my brother, my father dear, why liest thou thus in hayd, My sweet bird,

Though it betide,

Thou be not king veray ;*

But, nevertheless,

I will not cease

To sing, by by, lullay.

The child. then spake; in his talking, he to his mother said— It happeneth, mother, I am king, in crib though I be laid;

THE VIRGIN AND CHILD.

Now, sweet son, since thou art king, why art thou laid in

stall?

Why not thou ordain thy bedding in some great king's hall? Me thinketh 't is right

That king or knight

Should be in good array;

And then among

It were no wrong

To sing, by by, lullay.

Mary, mother, I am thy child, though I be laid in stall,

Lords and dukes shall worship me, and so shall kings all;

Ye shall well see

That kings three

Shall come on the twelfth day;

For this behest

Give me thy breast,

And sing, by by, lullay.

Now, tell me, sweet son, I thee pray, thou art my love and

dear,

How should I keep thee to thy pay,* and make thee glad of

cheer;

For all thy will

I would fulfil

Thou knowest full well in fay,†

And for all this,

I will thee kiss,

And sing, by by, lullay.

My dear mother, when time it be, take thou me up aloft,
And set me upon thy knee, and handle me full soft;

And in thy arm

Thou wilt me warm,

And keep me night and day;

If I should weep

And may not sleep,

Thou sing, by by, lullay.

Now, sweet son, since it is so, all things are at thy will,

I pray thee grant to me a boon, if it be right and skill,* That child or man,