As I Lay Upon A Night

Alma redemptoris mater

Anonymous
Music has been attributed to John Dunstable (c. 1390-1453)

Alternate Title: As I Lay Upon A Night

Source: J. A. Fuller Maitland, English Carols of the Fifteenth Century. London: The Leadenhall Press, E.C., ca. 1891.

    Alma Redemptoris mater.

1. As I lay upon a night,
my thought was on a burd¹ so bright
that men clepn² Mary, full of might,
redemptoris mater.

2. To her came Gabriel with light
And said: Hail be thou, blissful wight!³
To ben cleped⁴ now art thou dight⁵
redemptoris mater.

3. At that word that lady bright
Anon⁶ conceived God full of might;
Then men wist⁷ well that she hight⁸
redemptoris mater.

4. When Jesu on the rood⁹ was pight,¹⁰
Mary was doleful of that sight
Till she see him rise upright,
redemptoris mater.

5. Jesu that sittest in heaven light,
Grant us to comen beforn thy sight
With that burde that is so bright,
redemptoris mater.

1. burd = maiden Return

2. clepn = call Return

3. wight = person Return

4. cleped = called Return

5. dight = appointed Return

6. anon = straightway Return

7. wist = knew Return

8. hight = named Return

9. rood = cross or crucifix Return

10. pight = pitched Return

Also found in Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), p. 14, who notes, at page 149, "This carol is found in several versions differing slightly. The music was perhaps written by Dunstable."

J. A. Fuller Maitland, English Carols of the Fifteenth Century. London: The Leadenhall Press, E.C., ca. 1891.

Carol in Original Form From a 15th Century Manuscript

Carol in Modern Form

Editor's Note:

Alma Redemptoris Mater means “Loving Mother of our Saviour.” It is one of four Latin Marian antiphons sung during the Daily Office; the other three are Ave Regina cælorum, the Regina cœli and the Salve Regina. For the Latin and English texts, see Alma Redemptoris Mater (at EWTN) and Alma Redemptoris Mater at the Marion Library. For general information, including texts, see Alma Redemptoris Mater at Wikipedia.

Versions of this song on this web site:

• As I Lay Up On A Night (Chambers and Sidgwick), Trinity College, Cambridge; with notes

• As I Lay Upon A Night (Fuller Maitland, ca. 1891), identified as Trinity College, Cambridge; with notes & sheet music [this page]

• As I Lay Upon A Night (#174) (Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols), Selden B26

• As I Lay Upon a Night (#189) (Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols), Trinity College, Cambridge

• As I lay upon a ny3t (Wright, 1856), Sloane MS. 2593

• As Y Lay Vpon A Ny3t-Padelford (Padelford in Anglia XXXVI), Selden B26 and 3 other Manuscripts (Sloane, Balliol and Trinity) in Middle English.

• As I Me Lay On A Nyght (Flügel in Anglia XXVI), Balliol 354

If you would like to help support Hymns and Carols of Christmas, please click on the button below and make a donation.

Related Hymns and Carols