Words: English Traditional
Harln. MS, 5396, Temp. Hen. 6.

Compare:

A Song Of the Ivy and the Holly (Sandys, 1833)

The Contest of the Ivy and the Holly (Husk, 1868)

William Sandys, Christmas-tide, Its History, Festivities and Carols, With Their Music (London: John Russell Smith, 1852), pp. 219-20.

See Notes under The Holly And The Ivy.

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See notes in F A Q

Nuy iuy, nay, hyt shall not be I wys,
Let holy hafe þ^e maystry as þ^e maner ys.

Holy stond in þ^e hall fayre to behold,
Iuy stond w^t out þ^e dore, she ys full sore a cold.
    Nuy iuy, nay, hyt shall not be I wys,
    Let holy hafe þ^e maystry as þ^e maner ys.

Holy and hys mery men þey dawnsyn and þey sung,
Iuy and her maydenys þey wepyn and þey wryng.
    Nuy iuy, nay, hyt shall not be I wys,
    Let holy hafe þ^e maystry as þ^e maner ys.

Iuy hath a lyve she laghtyt w^t pe colde,
So mot þey all ha fae þ^t w^t jvy hold.
    Nuy iuy, nay, hyt shall not be I wys,
    Let holy hafe þ^e maystry as þ^e maner ys.

Holy hat berys as rede as any rose,
The foster þe hunters kepe hem fro þe dos.
    Nuy iuy, nay, hyt shall not be I wys,
    Let holy hafe þ^e maystry as þ^e maner ys.

Iuy hath berys as blake as any slo,
Ther com þe oule and ete hym as she goo.
    Nuy iuy, nay, hyt shall not be I wys,
    Let holy hafe þ^e maystry as þ^e maner ys.

Holy hath berdys a ful fayre flok,
The hyghtyngale þe perpyinguy, þe gayntyl lauyrok.
    Nuy iuy, nay, hyt shall not be I wys,
    Let holy hafe þ^e maystry as þ^e maner ys.

Gode iuy what byrdys ast pu?
Non but þe howlat þ^t kreye how how.
    Nuy iuy, nay, hyt shall not be I wys,
    Let holy hafe þ^e maystry as þ^e maner ys.