A Dozen of Points
For Christmas
Words: English Traditional
Music: English Traditional
Source: The English Broadside Ballad Archive, University of California, Santa Barbara (EBBA), Euing 126
Date Published: ca 1658-1664
A godly new Ballad, Intituled, A dozen of Points.
A dozen of Points you may
here read,
Whereon each Christians soul
may feed.
The gift is smal, a dozen of
points,
Wherewith Ide wish you knit
your joynts,
Keep well the same and credit
me.
Thy life most pure and just
shall be.
The first Points this I wish
you keep,
Is that at night before you
sleep:
Still see 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 this that thou
wouldst 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 subtil
snare,
For Satan with his crafty
power
Doth seek mens souls for to
devour.
The fifth good counsel 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 subtle
skil,
Whereby to work thy Neighbors
wo,
Take heed I say and do not
so.
The seventh saith, defraud no
man,
But deal as justly as you
can;
The Widow and the Fatherless
defend
So God will bless thee to the
end.
The eighth doth bid thee more
or less
Still to beware of
drunkennesse;
For drunkenness is abhord of
God
On whom he lays his heavy
rod.
The ninth saith, Fornication
fly,
Those wicked Harlots will
make thee die:
Thy body theyl consume I say,
And bring thy soul unto
decay.
The tenth doth say, do not
forswear,
False witness againts no man
bear:
Let no affection sway thy
mind
The eye of Justice for to
blind.
The eleventh enjoyns thee not
to desire
Thy Neighbors goods for to
require,
But the ten Commandements
observe,
So shalt thou stand and never
swerve.
The twelfth saith, fear the
God of might,
And truely serve him day and
night:
Obey the King as tis thy part
To thy Countrey bear a
faithful heart.
See these my Points thou dost
possesse,
Even when thou thy self dost
rest:
Keep well each one in his
degree,
And knit them fast and credit
m[e.]
Note:
This Broadside printed for F. Coles, T. Vere and W. Gilbertson, circa 1658-1664.
It was found in the
William Euing Collection, #126, which is located at
University of Glasgow Library. It is available online at the
English Broadside Ballad Archive, University of California, Santa Barbara
(EBBA ID 32613).
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.
On the same Broadside was
printed “When
righteous Joseph wedded was.” (EBBA ID 32613).
The Samuel Pepys Collection also contains an older version of ballad, A Douzen of Points. Interestingly, the ballad that was printed with that one was also When Righteous Joseph wedded was.
Other copies are:
-
Twelve Points (My gift is small, a dozen of points)
Contrast: A Dossen of Points - Wright (similar theme, different song)
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