A Douzen of Points
For Christmas
From Pepysian Collection, 2.30
Words: English Traditional
Music: English Traditional
Source: English Broadside Ballad Archive, EBBA ID 20653
A Godly new Ballad, Intituled, A Douzen of Points.
A Douzen of Points, you here
may read,
Whereon each Christian Soul
may feed.
The gift is small, a Douzen
of Points,
wherewith ide wish you knit
your joynts
Keep well the same and credit
me,
Thy Life more pure and just
will be.
The first points this, ide
wish you keep,
Is that at night before you
sleep,
See still you ask God
forgiveness,
Of all your sins and
wickedness.
The second point is this I
say,
When thou dost see the
chearful day,
Arise and praise the God of
might,
That hath defended thee all
night.
The third is that thou
shouldst require,
And on thy bended knees
desire,
The God of Heaven to be thy
stay,
For to preserve thee night
and day.
The fourth doth bid thee to
beware,
And to avoid the subtile
snare,
For Satan with his crafty
power,
Doth seek Mens soul for to
devour,
The fifth good Councel doth
thee give,
And warn thee well whilst
thou dost live,
To keep thy Conscience clear
and pure,
Then God will bless thee to
be sure.
The sixth of these my Points
do will,
That thou devise no subtile
skill:
Whereby to work thy
Neighbours woe,
Take heed I say, and do not
so.
The seventh saith, defraud no
man,
But deal as justly as you
can,
The Widdow and the Fatherless
defend,
So God will bless thee to the
end.
The eighth doth bid thee more
or less,
Still to beware of
Drunkenness,
For Drunkards are abhord by
God,
On whom he lays his heavy
rod,
The ninth saith fornication
flye,
Those wicked Harlots will
make thee dye:
hy body theyl consume, I
say,
And bring thy soul unto
decay.
The tenth doth day, do not
forswear,
False witness against no man
bear:
Let no affections sway thy
mind,
The eye of Justice so to
blind.
The eleventh enjoyns thee not
to desire,
Thy Neighbours goods for to
require:
But the ten Commandments
observe,
So thou shalt stand and never
swerve,
The twelfth saith serve the
God of might,
And truly serve him day and
night,
Obey the King as tis thy
part,
And to thy Country bear a
faithful heart.
See these my Points thou dost
possess,
Even when thou thy self doth
rest,
Keep well each one in his
degree,
And knit them fast then
credit me.
Note:
Date Published: 1685. It was found in Pepys Collection of Ballads, 2.30. located
in
The Samuel
Pepys Library,
Magdalene College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England.
This is not the sort of ballad or carol that we usually associate with Christmas, but it does point out an important part of the Advent preparations of our ancestors: proper preparation of the soul for the Second Advent (the Second Coming at which time all will be judged). Other Christmas Broadsides contain ballads with similar themes of personal preparation.
It
is available online at the
English Broadside Ballad Archive, University of California, Santa Barbara, (EBBA
ID 20653). Printed on same sheet with
this ballad was one entitled "The Angel Gabriel, his Salutation to the Virgin
Mary," also found under the title of
When Righteous Joseph
wedded was.
Compare: A Dozen of Points; the companion ballad on that Broadside was When righteous Joseph wedded was (from the Euing Collection).
Other copies of this carol are:
-
Twelve Points (My gift is small, a dozen of points)
Contrast: A Dossen of Points - Wright (similar title, different song)
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