A [mos]t Excellent Ballad of Joseph the Carpenter, and the sacred Virgin Mary,
who was the mother of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the ever blessed Redeemer
Man-kind.
|
JOseph an aged man truly,
|
Did marry a Virgin fair and free,
|
A purer Virgin did no man see,
|
then he chose for his dear his dear.
|
This Virgin was pure, there was no nay,
|
The Angel Gabriel to her did say.
|
Thou shalt conceive a boy this day,
|
the which shall be our dear our dear.
|
No sooner the Angel his message had said,
|
But all in her she was afraid,
|
How may this be? and I a pure maid,
|
say unto me my dear my dear,
|
The holy Ghost (Mary) shall come on thee,
|
The power of Heaven shall shadow thee,
|
And thou shalt bear a Son truly
|
the which shall be our dear our dear,
|
Then Joseph being a perfect man,
|
Perceiving that Mary with Child was gone
|
Said tell me Mary now and anon,
|
who hath done this my dear my dear
|
Then answered Mary meek and mild
|
I know no Father to my Child,
|
But God alone, and I undefil'd,
|
he hath done this my dear my dear.
|
Yet (thinking she had been unjust,
|
Yielding her body to lawless lust,
|
Out of his house he thought to thrust,
|
his only love and Lady dear.
|
And so put her from him quite,
|
Who was his joy and hearts delight,
|
That blessed Virgin fair and bright,
|
whom [he] did love so dear so dear.
|
And while in heart he thought the same
|
To him the Angel Gabriel came,
|
Who said, fear not to take to thee,
|
Thy true and faithful wife Mary,
|
Most true and constant sure is she,
|
turn not off thy dear thy dear.
|
When Joseph rose from his sleep so sound,
|
His love [f]o[r] Mary did more abound,
|
He would not for a thousand pound,
|
forsake his Love and Lady dear.
|
They lived both in joy and bliss,
|
But then a straight Commandment is,
|
Through Judea land no man should miss,
|
to go with his Love and Lady dear.
|
Unto the Temple where they were born,
|
And to the Emperor to be sworn,
|
To pay a tribute duely known,
|
both for himself and Lady dear,
|
Then Joseph and his Mary free
|
Who lookt each hour delivered to be,
|
In Bethelem came that sweet City,
|
with his true Love and Lady dear.
|
But when to Bethelem they were come,
|
The Inns were filled all and some,
|
When Joseph intreating every groom,
|
could get no bed for his dear his dear
|
Then was he constrained presently,
|
Within the Stable all night to lye,
|
Wherein they did Oxen and Asses tye,
|
with his true love and Lady dear.
|
The Virgin fair thought it no scorn,
|
To lye in such a place forlorn,
|
Which night she had a young-Son born,
|
even Jesus Christ our dear our dear
|
Thou King of Peace, in Bethelem born
|
That wore for our sake a crown of thorn,
|
[?]ing and morn[,]
|
[?]
|
|
|
|
|
Even in the Twinkling of an Eye.
|
AS I lay musing all alone,
|
I heard a voice that loud did cry
|
Come give account now every one
|
even in the twinkling of an eye.
|
With that I heard a trump did blow,
|
and one said with a voice so high,
|
Destroy all things both high and low,
|
even in the twinkling of an eye.
|
Go forth, he said, and do not stint,
|
throughout the world even by and by,
|
And bring them all to my judgment
|
even in the twinkling of an eye.
|
Destroy both Pallace, Park and Game.
|
Castles and Towers that be so high,
|
To all things living do the same
|
even in the twinkling of an eye,
|
The Giant proud, the Tyrant fell,
|
wo, and alas then shall they cry,
|
For I will throw them down to hell
|
even in the twinkling of an eye.
|
With that I saw a Cloud was bent,
|
and one siting on it so high,
|
Prepared for to give judgment
|
even in the twinkling of an eye.
|
Then all that in the earth did rest,
|
stood up before him by and by,
|
The Books opened and nothing prest,
|
even in the twinkling of an eye,
|
Divided were without delay
|
the good from ill continually,
|
Sentence was given that same day,
|
even in the twinkling of an eye.
|
The good on his right hand did stand,
|
praising him still most joyfully,
|
With Psalms of victory in their hand,
|
even in the twinkling of an eye.
|
The evil on his left hand did go,
|
crying out most lamentably,
|
Saying alas! come is our woe,
|
even in the twinkling of an eye.
|
Unto the good the Lord did say,
|
speaking to them most joyfully
|
Take thou the Kingdom that lasteth for aye,
|
even in the twinkling of an eye,
|
Unto the evil the Lord did turn,
|
saying to them most lamentably,
|
Go to the fire that ever shall burn,
|
even in the twinkling of an eye.
|
O Lord we pray for Christ his sake,
|
that shed his blood upon a tree,
|
To keep us from that fiery lake,
|
even in the twinkling of an eye.
|
|
|
|
|