A Carol For Christmas Day
Words and Music: Unknown
Source: William Henry Husk, Songs of the Nativity (London: John Camden Hotten, 1868)
1. From Virgin's womb this day did spring
The precious seed that only saved man,
This day let man rejoice and sweetly sing,
Since on this day salvation first began.
This day did Christ man's soul from death remove
With glorious Saints to dwell in heaven above.
2. This day to man came pledge of perfect peace,
This day to man came love and unity,
This day man's grief began for to surcease,
This day did man receive a remedy
For each offense and every deadly sin
With guilty heart that erst he wandered in.
3. In Christ His flock let love be surely placed,
From Christ His flock let concord hate expel,
Of Christ His flock let love be so embraced,
As we in Christ and Christ in us may dwell.
Christ is the author of suite unity,
From whence proceedeth all felicity.
4.O sing unto this glittering glorious King,
O praise His Name let every living thing,
Let heart and voice like bells of silver ring
The comfort that this day to man doth bring.
Let lute, let shalm, with sound of sweet delight,
These joys of Christ His birth this day recite.
Husk's Note:
This and the following carol [An Earthly Tree A Heavenly Fruit It Bare] are taken from a rare musical publication bearing the title of "Songs of sundrie natures, some of grautie, and others of myrth, fit for all companies and voyces. Lately made and composed into Musicke of 3, 4, 5, and 5, parts: and published for the delight of all such as take pleasure in the exercise of that Art. By William Byrd, one of the Gentlemen of the Queenes Maiesties honorable Chappel. Imprinted at London by Thomas East, the assigne of William Byrd, and are to be sold at the house of the sayd T. East, being in Aldersgate streete, at the signe of the blacke Horse. 1589.Cum priuilegio Regiæ Maiestatis." Each of the two pieces is designated, "A Carowle for Christmas day." Prior to its publication by Byrd, the present carol had appeared in the collection of poems entitled "The Paradise of Dainty Devices," 1576, with the initials, F. K. (those of Francis Kinwelmersch) attached to it. Both this and the [preceeding] carol are here given from a copy of Byrd's work in the Library of the Sacred Harmonic Society. Neither has hitherto been reproduced in any collection of carols.
