As I Me Lay On A Nyght
For the Annunciation
Words: English Tradition from the Balliol Ms. 354
Music: Not Stated
Source: Ewald Flügel, ed., “Liedersammlungen des XVI Jahrhunderts, Besonders Aus Der Zeit Heinrichs VIII. Die lieder des Balliol Ms. 354” in Eugen Einenkel, ed., Anglia - Zeitschrift Für Engliscie Philologie. Band XXVI. (Halle: Max Niemeyer, 1903), Song LXXIV, pp. 238-9.
Now syng we all in fere,
alma redemptoris mater.
1] As I me lay on a nyght,
Me thowght I sawe a semly wyght,
that clepid she was ryght, alma redemptoris mater.
2] To her com an Angell with gret lyght,
And sayd hayle be you blessid wyght,
Te be cleped thou art right, alma redemptoris mater.
3] At that word the maydyn bryght,
A non conceyved god almyght,
then knew mary what she hyght. alma redemptoris mater.
4] When Ihesu on the rode was dyght,
Mary was sorrofull of that syght,
tyll after she sawe hym ryse vp right. alma redemptoris mater.
Editor's Note:
This is one of several versions of Alma redemptoris mater. For additional versions, please see:
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As I Lay Up On A Night (Chambers and Sidgwick), Trinity College, Cambridge, with notes
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As I Lay Upon A Night (Fuller Maitland, ca. 1891), identified as Trinity College, Cambridge; with notes & sheet music
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As I Lay Upon A Night (#174) (Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols), Selden B26
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As I Lay Upon a Night (#189) (Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols), Trinity College, Cambridge
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As I lay upon a ny3t (Wright, 1856), Sloane MS. 2593
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As Y Lay Vpon A Ny3t-Padelford (Padelford in Anglia XXXVI), Selden B26 and 3 other Manuscripts (Sloane, Balliol and Trinity) in Middle English.
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As I Me Lay On A Nyght (Flügel in Anglia XXVI), Balliol 354 [this page]
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