Words: English Traditional, Before 1536

Compare: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Nowell, Nowell
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell (Thomas Wright, 1847)

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), p. 35

1. Tidings true, there be come new,
    Sent from the Trinity
    By Gabriel from Nazareth to a city of Galilee:¹
"A clean maiden, a pure virgin,
    By her humility
Hath born the Person Second in Divinity."
        Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
        This is the salutation of Gabriel.

2. When that he presented was
    Before her fair visage,
In most demure and goodly wise
    He did to her homage,
And said: "Lady, from heaven so high,
    That Lord's (own) heritage,
For He of thee will born now be,
    I am sent on the message."
        Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
        This is the salutation of Gabriel.

3. "Hail, virgin celestial,
    The meekest that ever was!
Hail, temple of the Deity!
    Hail, mirror of all grace!
Hail, virgin pure! I thee ensure,
    Within a little space
Thou shalt conceive and Him receive
    That shall bring great solace."
        Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
        This is the salutation of Gabriel.

4. Then bespake the virgin again,
    And answered womanly:
"Whatsoever my Lord commandeth me,
    I will obey truly.
    Ecce sum humilima ancilla Domini:
    Secumdum verbum Tuum fiat michi."
        Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
        This is the salutation of Gabriel.

1. Editor's Note: See note 1 in Nova, Nova: Ave Fit Ex Eva.