A Babe Is Born In Bethlehem

For Christmas

Words and Music: Puer natus in Bethlehem, a 14^th Century Latin Hymn
See Puer natus in Bethlehem from Dreves, with notes.

Words and Melody of the XIV Cent., if not earlier. The Chief Melody lies in the Tenor. The Tenor and Descant, in the Dorian and Hypo-Dorian modes, both from Peter of Nyland's Piæ Cantiones, Greifswald, 1582.

Notes and Source: George Ratcliffe Woodward, ed., The Cowley Carol Book for Christmas, Easter, and Ascensiontide, First Series (London: A. R. Mowbray & Co., Ltd, 1902, Revised and Expanded Edition 1929), Carol #1.

1. A Babe is born in Bethlehem:
    Alle Alleluya.
Great joyaunce for Hierusalem.
    Alleluya.

2. The Father's Word on high doth take
    Alle Alleluya.
A mortal form for mortal's sake.
    Alleluya.

3. Though Gabriel his greeting mild
    Alle Alleluya.
The Virgin hath conceiv'd a child.
    Alleluya.

4. Born of His mother, maid Marie,
    Alle Alleluya.
No earthly father knoweth He.
    Alleluya.

5. He took our flesh, to man akin,
    Alle Alleluya.
In all things like us, save in sin.
    Alleluya.

6. Soothly to make man's feeble race
    Alle Alleluya.
Like God, and like Himself by grace.
    Alleluya.

7. Both ox and ass, though beasts they be,
    Alle Alleluya.
Yet in that Child their Master see.
    Alleluya.

8. In narrow crib He lieth low,
    Alle Alleluya.
King everywhere and evermo.
    Alleluya.

9. An Angel gave the swains a sign
    Alle Alleluya.
Whereby to ken the Babe divine.
    Alleluya.

10. From Saba come kings to their King;
    Alle Alleluya.
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh they bring.
    Alleluya.

11. Into the house full fain they press,
    Alle Alleluya.
The kingly Babe each for to bless.
    Alleluya.

12. Now, Yule-tide, come, sing high, sing low,
    Alle Alleluya.
Benedicamus Domino.
    Alleluya.

13. To Thee, good Lord, be glory paid,
    Alle Alleluya.
Thou Babe of Mary mother-maid.
    Alleluya.

Sheet Music from George Ratcliffe Woodward, ed., The Cowley Carol Book for Christmas, Easter, and Ascensiontide, First Series (London: A. R. Mowbray & Co., Ltd, 1902, Revised and Expanded Edition 1929), Carol #3
Tune 1: MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF
Tune 2: MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

 

Also found in G. R. Woodward, ed., The Hymns and Carols for Christmas-tide (London: H. Grice, 1897), Carol #13, p. 22, with these differences.

The format in this volume is:

1. A Babe is born in Bethlehem: Alle-Alleluya.
Great joyaunce for Hierusalem. Alleluya.

Note the hyphen between Alle and Alleluya.

 There is a new verse after verse 4:

Untainted by th' old Serpent's tooth,
    Alle-Alleluya,
His blood is ours in very sooth.
    Alleluia.

There is a new verse after verse 6:

Like Bridegroom from his chamber come,
    Alle-Alleluya,
Forth from a Virgin-mother's womb.
    Alleluya.

Verse 10 has a different set of lyrics:

There came three Kings from Saba-land,
    Alle-Alleluya,
Gold, frankincense and myrrh in hand.
    Alleluya.

There is a difference in the second line of verse 11:

That each the kingly Babe may bless.
    Alleluya.

There is a new verse after the last verse: 

To Holy Trinity give praise,
    Alle-Alleluya,
With Deo gracias always.
    Alleluya,

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