In Die Nativitatis
Source: Source: William Sandys, Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (London: Richard Beckley, 1833)
Also found in William Sandys, Christmas-tide, Its History, Festivities and Carols, With Their Music (London: John Russell Smith, 1852), p. 224.
Versions
I Am Here, Syre Christmasse - Sandys, 1833
I am here, syre Crystesmass - Thomas Wright, 1841
Sir Christmas - Vizetelly, 1851
I Am Here, Sir Christhismas - Husk, 1868
I Am Here, Sir Christemas - Rickert, 1910
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell
Who ys there that syngith so nowell, nowell?
1. I am here, syre cristsmasse;
Well come, my lord srs cristsmasse,
Welcome to all vs all both more and lasse,
Com ner, nowell.
2. Dievs wous garde, brewe srs, tyd’gs y zow bryng,
A mayde hath born a chylde full zong,
The weche causeth zew for to synge,
Nowell.
3. Criste is now born of a pure mayde,
In an oxe stalle he ys layde,
Wher'for syng we all atte abrayde,
Nowell.
4. Bevvex bien par tuttle la company,
Make gode chere and be ryght mery,
And syng wt vs now ioyfully,
Nowell.
Sandys' Note:
This [is] from Addit. MSS. 5665. (formerly in Ritson's possession,) being a collection of church services, hymns, carols and songs in score, made (as it supposed) in the time of Henry VIII [1491-1547, reign 1509-1547].
This [is] also printed in Ritson's Ancient Songs. The music of them, with some others, is published in Mr. Stafford Smith's "Music Antiqua."
Also found in Joseph Ritson, Ancient Songs and Ballads From The Reign of King Henry the Second To The Revolution. 1790. W. Carew Hazlitt, ed., Third Edition. London: Reeves And Turner, 1877. Repr. Detroit, MI: Singing Tree Press, 1968, p. 161.
Mr. Ritson's notes:
This, and the [preceding] ancient Christmas Carol [The Borys Hede That We Bryng Here] are given, merely as curiosities, from the editors folio MS., where each is accompanied with a musical composition for three voices; but which, neither in point of merit nor antiquity, seems to deserve a place in this work.
Nowel, Nowel (the old French name for Christmas), and a great cry at that period, was the usual burden to this sort of thing. Many instances of which may be found in No. 2593. Bib. Sloan.
It was likewise the name of this sort of composition, which is equally ancient and popular. Books of carols were cried about the streets of Paris in the thirteenth century. "Noel, noel, ą moult grant cris."
Editor's Note:
Mr. Ritson's French differs from Mr. Sandys' in the second and fourth verses:
2. Deu vous garde, bewe syre.
4. Bevux bien, par tuttle la company
No music was provided in the editions that I consulted (or in the 1829 or 1877 editions of Ritson). The version provided by Ritson was largely the same as that given by Sandys. The differences were virtually imperceptible, e.g., "wt" vs. "with".
