The Fyrst Day Wan Crist Was Borne
Words and Music:
Traditional English from Eng. Poet. e. 1
Also found in MS. Balliol 354.
Compare:
Nowel, el, el, el, el
(Chambers & Sidgwick; First Line: The first day whan Crist was
borne), with notes
The
First Day When Christ Was Born (Rickert)
Source: Thomas Wright, Songs and Carols Now First Printed, From a Manuscript of the Fifteenth Century (London: The Percy Society, 1847), Song #37, p. 42, printed verbatim from a manuscript probably owned by a professional musician, and apparently written in the latter half of the fifteenth century, circa 1471-1485.
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See notes in F A Q
Nowel, el el el el, I thank it a maydyn every del.
The fyrst day wan Crist was borne,
Ther sprong a ros owt of a thorne,
To save mankynd that was for-lorne,
I thanke it a
maydyn every dyll.
In an oxstall the chyld was fownd,
In por clothyng the chyld was wond;
He soferyd many a dedly wond;
I thanke it a
maydyn every dyll.
A garlond of thornys on his hed was sett,
A scharp sper to hys hart was smet;
The Jewys seydyn, Take the that!
I thanke it a
maydyn every dyll.
The Juwys dedyn cryyn her parlament;
On the day of judgment,
They werryn aferd, thei huld hem schent.
I thanke it a
maydyn every dyll.
Tho the peler he was bowdyn;
Tho his hart a sper was stunggyn;
For us he sofered a dedly wondyn.
I thanke it a
maydyn every dyll.
Editor's Note:
The same burden occurs in a different carol, Vpon A Lady Fayre & Bright.
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