Now Ioy Be To The Trynyte

For Christmas

Words: English Traditional from the Hill Ms., Balliol College MS. 354
Compare: Now Joy We All In The Trinitie (Weston)
Wassail, Wassail, Wassail, Sing We (Rickert)

Music: Not Stated

Source:  Ewald Flügel, ed., “Liedersammlungen des XVI Jahrhunderts, Besonders Aus Der Zeit Heinrichs VIII. III. 6. Die lieder des Balliol Ms. 354,” in Eugen Einenkel, ed., Anglia - Zeitschrift für englische Philologie enthaltend Beitrage zur Geschlicht der englischen Sprache und Literatur. Band XXVI. (Halle: Max Niemeyer, 1903), #CVI, p. 265.

Wassail, wassayll, wassaill, syng we,
In worshipe of Cristes natiuite!

1] Now Ioy be to the trynyte,
ffader, son & holy goste,
that on god is in trynite,
ffader of hevyn of myghtes most! Wassail &c!

2] And joy to the virgyn pure,
yat euer kepte her vndefiled,
grundid in grace, in hart full sure,
& bare a child as maydyn myld! wassail!

3] Bethelem & ye sterre so shen,
yat shon iij kynges for to gide,
bere witnesse of this maydyn clene,
the kynges iij offred that tide! wassail!

4] And shepardis hard a[s] wretyn is,
ye Joyfull songe yat yer was songe,
Glorya in excelsis!
with Angelles voys it was owt ronge! wassail!

5] Now Ioy be to ye blessid child,
& Joy be to his moder dere!
Ioy we all of yat maydyn myld,
& Ioy haue they yat mak good chere. wassail!

Editor's Note:

Also found in Roman Dyboski, ed., Songs, Carols and Other Miscellaneous Poems from Balliol MS. 354, Richard Hill’s Commonplace Book. EETS e.s. 101 (London: 1908; repr. 1984), p. 45.

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