Profate, welcome, wellecome!

Words and Music: Traditional English
(From MS. Addit. 5665, fol. 36, r⁰)

Source: Thomas Wright, Specimens of Old Christmas Carols Selected from Manuscripts and Printed Books (London: The Percy Society, 1841), #34, page 53.

Compare: Proface, Welcom, Well Come (Middle English from Sandys)
Proface (Rickert)

Profate, welcome, wellecome!
Thys tyme ys borne a chylde of grace,
That for us mankynde hathe take.
                    profate.

A kinges sone and an emperoure
Ys comyn oute of a madynys toure,
With us to dwelle with grete honowre.
                    profate.

This holy tyme of Cristemesse,
All sorwe and synne we shulde relese,
And cast away alle hevynesse.
                    profate.

The gode lord of this place entere,
Seith welcome to alle that now apere,
Unto suche fare as ye fynde here.
                    profate.

Wellecome be this new ere!
And loke ye alle be of gode chere;
Our Lorde God be at oure denere!
                    profate.

Note from William Sandys:

The term 'proface' was a familiar exclamation at meals signifying "much good may it do you." Narel's Glossary.

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