In Betheleem that noble place
For Christmas Eve
James Ryman, 1492
Middle English; retyped in Old Blackletter font:
In Betheleem that noble placeVersions on
this web site:
In Betheleem, That Noble Place
(Sandys, 1833)
In Betheleem, That
Noble Place (Middle English; retyped in Old Blackletter font:
In
Betheleem that noble place)
In Bethlehem, That Noble Place
(Bramley and Stainer, 1871)
In Bethlehem, That Noble Place (Wright,
1841)
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See notes in F A Q
Be we mery in this feste
In quo saluator natus est
In Betheleem that noble place
As by prophesy sayd it was
Of the vyrgyn mary full of grace
Saluator mundi natus est
Be we mery. etc.
On chrystmas nyght an angel it tolde
To the shephardes kepying theyr folde
That into Betheleem with bestes wolde
Saluator mundi natus est
Be we mery. etc.
The shephardes were conpassed ryght
About them was great lyght
Drede ye nought sayd the aungell bryght
Saluator mundi natus est
Be we mery. etc.
Beholde to you we brynge great ioy
For why Jesus is borne this day
To vs of mary that mylde may
Saluator mundi natus est
Be mery. etc.
And thus in fayth fynde it ye shall
Lyenge porely in an oxe stall
The shephardes than lauded god all
Quia saluator mundi natus est.
Be mery. etc.
Finis.
Editor's Note:
James Ryman was a Franciscan friar of Canterbury, who created a manuscript containing 119 carols and 166 lyrics -- most of which related to Christmas. Ryman was ordained as an acolyte in 1476. The manuscript is dated 1492 and is preserved in the Cambridge University Library.
This is one of the carols that were first printed by Richard Kele, Christmas Carolles Newly Inprynted (circa 1550), reprinted in Philip Bliss, Biographical Miscellanies (1813), and included in Edward Bliss Reed, Christmas Carols of the 16th Century, Including Kele's Christmas Carolles Newly Inprynted (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1932).
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