Blessed may Thou be, sweet Jesus,
Qui hodie natus es nobis
Words: Richart Smert,1 Before 1529.
Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), p. 181.
1. By Thy birth, Thou blessed Lord,
Is made of variance now one accord;
Therefore we may sing(en) this:
Blessed may Thou be, sweet Jesus,
Qui hodie natus es nobis.
2. Upon this high (and) blessed day,
Jesu in His mother's arms lay,
Wherefore to Him let us all say:
Blessed may Thou be, sweet Jesus,
Qui hodie natus es nobis.
Notes from Rickert:
1. Rickert notes at page 299: "Richard Smert, or Smart. Various compositions in the Fairfax MS. are attributed to this man, who was said to be of Plymtree (Devonshire). He sometimes collaborated with John Trouluffe, or Truelove (cf. p. 183, Jesu, Fili Dei), but whether they were responsible for words as well as music is uncertain. The carols on pp. 181-183 [This carol, plus: Jesu, Fili virginis - Version 1; Jesu, Fili virginis - Version 2; Jesu, Fili Dei) show strong resemblances. Return
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