Words and Music: Traditional English
(From MS. Sloan 2593, fol. 70, r⁰)

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

Compare: Mary moder come and se (Middle English; retyped in Old Blackletter)

This carol requires the installation of the "Junius Modern" font for best display.
See notes in F A Q

Mary moder, cum and se,
Thi sone is naylyd on a tre,
Hand and fot he may not ge,
                His body is woundyn al in woo.

Thi swete sone, That thou hast born,
To save mankynde that was for-lorn,
His hed is wrethin in a thorn,
                His blysful body is al to-torn.

Quan he this tale be-gan to telle,
Mary wold non longer dwelle,
But hyid here faste to that hylle,
                Ther Jhesu his blod be-gan to spylle.

Myn swete sone, that art me dere,
Qwy han men hangyd the here?
Thi hed is wrethin in a brere;
                Myn lovely son, qwer is thi chere?

Thin swete body, that in me rest,
Thin comely mowth, that I hve kest,
Now on rode is mad thi nest,
                Leve chyld, quat is me best?

Woman, to Jon I the betake!
Jon kyp this woman for myn sake,
For synful sowlys my deth I take,
                On rode I hange for manys sake.

This game alone me muste play,
For synful sowle I deye to dey,
Ther is no wyõt that goth be the way,
                Of myn peynys can wel say.