A most 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.
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JOseph an aged man truly,
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Did marry a Virgin fair and free,
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A purer Virgin did no man see,
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then he chose for his dear his dear.
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This Virgin was pure, there was no nay,
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The Angel Gabriel to her did say.
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Thou shalt conceive a boy this day,
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the which shall be our dear our dear.
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No sooner the Angel his message had said,
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But all in her she was afraid,
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How may this be? and I a pure maid,
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say unto me my dear my dear,
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The holy Ghost (Mary) shall come on thee,
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The power of Heaven shall shadow thee,
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And thou shalt bear a Son truly.
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the which shall be our dear our dear,
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Then Joseph being a perfect man,
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Perceiving that Mary with Child was gone
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Said tell me Mary now and anon.
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who hath done this my dear my dear
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Then answered Mary meek and mild
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I know no Father to my Child,
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But God alone, and I undefild,
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he hath done this my dear my dear.
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Yet (thinking she had been unjust,
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Yielding her body to lawless lust,
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Out of his house he thought to thrust,
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his only love and Lady dear.
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And so put her from him quite,
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Who was his joy and hearts delight,
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That blessed Virgin fair and bright,
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whom he did love so dear so dear.
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And while in heart he thought the same
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To him the Angel Gabriel came,
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As he lay sleeping on a Frame,
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and coming to his dear his dear.
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Who said, fear not to take to thee,
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Thy true and faithful wife Mary,
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Most true and constant sure is she,
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turn not off thy dear thy dear.
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When Joseph rose from his sleep so sound,
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His love to Mary did more abound,
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He would not for a thousand pound,
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forsake his Love and Lady dear.
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They lived both in joy and bliss,
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But then a straight Commandment is,
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Through Judea land no man should miss,
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to go with h[i]s Love and Lady dear.
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Unto the Temple where they were born,
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And to the Emperor to be sworn,
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To pay a tribute duely known,
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both for himself and Lady dear,
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Then Joseph and his Mary free
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Who lookt each hour delivered to be,
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To Bethelem came that sweet City,
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with his true Love and Lady dear.
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But when to Bethelem they were come,
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The Inns were filled all and some,
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When Joseph intreating every groom,
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could get no bed for his dear his dear
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Then was he constrained presently,
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Within the Stable all night to lye,
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Wherein they did Oxen and Asses tye,
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with his true love and Lady dear.
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The Virgin fair thought it no scorn,
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To lye in such a place forlorn,
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Which night she had a young-Son born,
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even Jesus Christ our dear our dear.
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Thou King of Peace, in Bethelem born
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That wore for our sake a crown of thorn,
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Preserve King Charles evening and morn,
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whom England Loves so dear so dear.
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