Words: English Traditional, About 1456

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), p. 22.

Compare: Be glad, lordynges, be ye more and lesse - Thomas Wright

Puer nobis natus est,
De virgine Maria

1. Be glad, lordings, be ye more and less,
I bring you tidings of gladness,
As Gabriel me bearetgh witness,
    Dicam vobis quia.

2. I bring you tidings that be good,
Mary hath borne a blissful Fode,
That bought us all upon the Rood,
    Sua morte pia.

3. For the trespass of Adam,
Fro the Father of heaven He came,
Hereto to myrthe us began,
    Teste profecia.

4. Mary, mother and lief virgin,
That bare a child withouten sin,
Keep us all fro helle pain,
    De virgine Maria.