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4.

As Joseph was a-walking

'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 christenèd.'

NOW IS CHRISTËMAS YCOME

TOW is Christemas ycome,

NOW

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' night

So still,

And as it was his will.

1 Last.

6

Now is Christemas ycome

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 ying1

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.

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Now is Christemas ycome

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,1

And do you mickle woe.'

They yeden all another way

Thorough the might of Goddes lay 2

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;

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5.

THIS ENDRIS NIGHT

T

I

HIS endris night

I saw a sight,

A star as bright as day;

And ever among 2

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,3

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 ;

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