XIII.
Caput afri differo
Reddens laudes domino.
THE bore’s heed in hand bring I,
With garlans gay and rosemary,
I pray you all synge merely
Qui estis in convivio.
The bore’s heed, I vnderstande,
Is the chefe seruyce in this lande;
Loke, where euer it be fande,
Seruite cum cantico.
Be gladde lordes, bothe more and lasse,
For this hath ordeyned our stewarde,
To chere you all this Christmasse,
The bores heed with mustarde.
XIV.
In Betheleem.
BE we mery in this feste,
In quo saluator natus est.
In Betheleem, that noble place,
As by prophesy sayd it was,
Of the vyrgyn Mary, full of grace,
Saluator mundi natus est.
Be we mery, &c.
On Chrystmas nyght, an angel it tolde
To the shephardes, kepyng theyr folde,
That into Betheleem with bestes wolde,
Saluator mundi natus est.
Be we mery, &c.
The shephardes were copassed ryght,
About them was a great lyght,
Drede ye nought, sayd the angell bryght,
Saluator mundi natus est.
Be we mery, &c.
Beholde to you we brynge great ioy,
For why, Jesus is borne this day
(To vs) of Mary, that mylde may,
Saluator mundi natus est.
And thus in fayth fynde it ye shall,
Lyenge porely in an oxe stall.
The shephardes than lauded God all,
Quia Saluator mundi natus est.
Be mery, &c.