Words: English Traditional

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), p. 22.

Rickert writes: "Printed in a book known as 'Bassus', in the British Museum, K. I. e. I, which contains the bass part of a song-book."

She may be called a sovereign lady,
That is a maid and beareth a baby.

1. A maid peerless hath born God's Son;
    Nature gave place
    When ghostly grace
        Subdued reason.
She may be called a sovereign lady,
That is a maid and beareth a baby.

2. As for beauty or high gentry, she is the flower,
    By God elect,
    For this effect,
        Man to succour.
She may be called a sovereign lady,
That is a maid and beareth a baby.

3. Of virgins queen, lodestar of light,
    Whom to honour
    We ought endeavour
        Us day and night.
She may be called a sovereign lady,
That is a maid and beareth a baby.