The Hymns and Carols of Christmas

In this tyme Cryst haȝt us sent

Words and Music: Traditional English
(From MS. Sloan 2593, fol. 71, r0)

Source: Thomas Wright, Specimens of Old Christmas Carols Selected from Manuscripts and Printed Books (London: The Percy Society, 1841)

This carol requires the installation of the "Junicode" font for best display. You can obtain a copy of this font from Old English at the University of Virginia, or right click here, and then select "Save File As" to save a copy of the zipped file to your computer. See notes in F A Q.

Man, be glad in halle and bour,
This tyme was born our savyour.

In this tyme Cryst haȝt us sent
His owyne sone in present,
To dwelle with us verement,
                To ben our helpe and socour.

In this tyme ros a sterre cler
Over Bedlem, as bryȝt as fer,
In tokenyng that he hadde non per,
                Lord, god, kyng, and emperour.

In this tyme it is be-falle,
He that deyid for us alle,
Born he was in assis stalle,
                Of Mary, that swete flour.

In this tyme kemyn thre kynges,
He kemyn fro fer, with ryche thinges,
For to makyn here offerynges,
                On here knen with gret honour.

In this tyme prey we
To hymn that deyid on the tre,
On us have mercy and peté,
                And bryng us alle to his tour!

Also found in Thomas Wright, Songs and Carols from a Manuscript in the British Museum of the Fifteenth Century (London: Printed by Richards for The Warton Club, 1856), Hymn XLVII, pp. 68-69.

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