FOUR
Choice CAROLS for CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.
CAROL I. On CHRISTMAS-DAY.
CAROL II. On St. STEPHENs-DAY.
CAROL III. On St. JOHNs-DAY.
CAROL IV. On INNOCENTs-DAY.
Being very necessary and proper to be had in all CHRISTIAN FAMILIES.
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GOD rest you merry Gentlemen,
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Let nothing you dismay;
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Remember Christ our Saviour,
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Who was born on Christmas-day,
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To save our Souls from Satans Fold,
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Which long time had gone astray.
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And tis Tidings of Comfort and Joy.
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From him that was our Father,
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The Blessed Angel came,
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And to the watchful shepherds brought
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The Tidings of the same:
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That there was born in Bethlehem,
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The Son of God by Name,
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And tis Tidings, etc.
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Fear not, then said Gods Angels,
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Let nothing you affright,
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This Night is born a Saviour,
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Of a Virgin pure and bright:
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He is able to advance you,
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And throw down Satan quite.
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And tis Tidings, etc.
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The Shepherds at these Tidings,
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Rejoiced much in Mind,
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And left their Flocks a feeding,
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In Tempest, Storm, and Wind:
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Then straight they went to Bethlehem,
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The son of God to find.
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And tis Tidings, etc.
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But when they came to Bethlehem,
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Whereas our Saviour lay,
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They found him in a Manger,
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Where Oxen fed on Hay:
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Our blessed Lady Kneeling by,
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Unto the Lord did pray.
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And tis Tidings, etc.
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At which the sudden Gladness,
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The Shepherds then were filld,
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When as the Babe of Israel,
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Thus when they had beheld:
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Before his Mother thus to lie,
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The Scripture thus fulfilld.
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And tis Tidings, etc.
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Now let me all you intreat,
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That are within this Place,
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That each dear loving Christian,
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The other would embrace;
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For the happy Time of Christmas
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Is drawing on apace.
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With Tidings and Comfort and Joy.
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CAROL II. On St STEPHENs-DAY.
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IN friendly Love and Unity,
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For good St Stephens Sake,
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Let us all this blessed Day,
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To Heaven our Prayers make,
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That we with him the Cross of Christ,
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May freely undertake.
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And Jesus will send you his Blessing.
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Those accursed Infidels,
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That stoned him to Death,
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Could not by their Cruelties,
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With-hold him from his Faith,
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In such a godly Martyrdom,
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Seek we all the Paths.
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And Jesus will send you his Blessing.
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And whilst we sit here banqueting
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Of Dainties having Store,
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Let us not forgetful be,
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To cherish up the Poor,
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And give what is convenient
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To those that ask at Door.
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And Jesus will send you his Blessing.
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For God hath made you Stewards here,
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Upon the Earth to dwell:
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He that gathereth for himself,
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And will not use it well,
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Lives far worse then Dives did,
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That burneth now in Hell.
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And Jesus will send you his Blessing.
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And now in Love and Charity,
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See you your Table spread,
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That I may taste of your good Chear,
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Your Christmas Ale and Bread;
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That I may say that I full well.
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For this my Carol sped.
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And Jesus will send you his Blessing.
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For Bounty is a blessed Gift,
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The Load above it sends,
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And he that gives it from his Hands,
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Deserveth many Friends;
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I see it on my Masters Board,
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And so my Carol ends,
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Lord Jesus send you his Blessing.
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CAROL III. On St JOHNs-DAY.
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WHEN bloody Herod reigned King,
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Within Judeas Land,
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Much Wo his Will did bring,
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By bloody fierce Command.
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Among the Rest, with Grief oppressd;
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Was good St John here slain,
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Who at this Day with Sport and Play,
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A martyrd Death did gain.
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King Herod being in his Town,
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Herodias dancing spyd,
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As fair as any Summers Flower,
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In all her painted Pride:
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Clad in bright Gold, which to behold,
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King Herods Heart admird,
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He bid her crave, and she should have,
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Though she Half his Crown desird.
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A kingly Crown I do not wish,
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But St Johns Head, she said,
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Wherefore all bleeding in a Dish,
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Before me be it laid;
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Which was the Thing, she of the King,
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Desird with right Goodwill;
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Whose Death was wrought and to be brought,
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Such Minds have Strumpets still.
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Thus Wine and Woman we do see,
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Mens Minds to Folly win;
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For Herod did too soon agree,
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And gave Consent to Sin:
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For on this Day, as Scriptures say,
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St John did lose his Head:
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Whilst he did sing, before the King,
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As he at Table fed.
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Then let us all by him take Heed
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Of Riot and Excess,
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For Fear that soon to us it breed
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As great a Wickedness:
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And let our Sport, in civil Sort,
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Content each merry Mind,
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So shall we all, in this good Hall,
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Much Joy and comfort find.
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Now kindly for my pretty Song,
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Good Butler draw some Beer,
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You know what duties do belong
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To him that sings so clear:
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Holly and Ive, Drink will drive ye
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To the brown bowl of Perry,
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Apples and Ale, with Christmas Tale,
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Will make the Houshold merry.
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CAROL IV. On INNOCENTS DAY.
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UPON the Twenty-fifth of December,
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Our blessed Messias he was born:
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Let us with Praise this Day adore,
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To see how he left his Habitation;
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For to redeem poor sinfull Men
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Sing Praise unto his most holy Name.
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First. A bright Angel brought the happy Tidings,
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Unto a Virgin pure and chaste,
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Hail! blessed Mary, full of Grace,
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The Lord of Life remains with thee,
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The blessed Saviour of all Men.
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Sing Praise unto his most holy Name.
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The blessed Virgin weary was and tired,
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When she came to Bethlehem,
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There was no Lodging for her then,
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She was deliverd of our Saviour,
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That very Night in an Oxs Stall,
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To shew that Mans Pride must have a Fall.
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Then came three Wise-men, Kings that were so loya
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All guided by a glorious Star,
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From the East Country came so far,
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To see the blessed Babe sweet Jesus,
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That in a Manger there was laid,
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Sing Praise unto his holy Name.
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But when King Herod found himself deceivd,
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He was with Wrath and Anger filld;
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Vowing that all Infants should be killd,
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Thinking to murder our dear Saviour,
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Who came for to redeem us then,
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O cruel, cruel, and most bloody Man!
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Then came the glorious happy Tidings,
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Unto poor Shepherds feeding Sheep,
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Which made the Shepherds Hearts to leap,
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To hear the blessed Babe sweet Jesus
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That he was born in Bethlehem,
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Sing Praise unto his most gracious Name.
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