The ferste day of ġol we han in mynde
Words and Music: Traditional English
(From MS. Sloan 2593, fol. 80, v0)
Source: Thomas Wright, Specimens of old Christmas Carols, Selected from Manuscripts and Printed Books (London: The Percy Society, 1841)
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See notes in F A Q
Mak we merthe for Crystes berthe,
And synge we 3ol til Candlimes.
The ferste day of ġol we han in mynde
How man was born al of our kende,
For he wold the bondes on-bynde
Of alle our synne and wykkydnes.
The secunde day we syng of Stevene,
That stonyd was, and sid up evene
With Cryst there he wold stonde in hevene,
And crownyd was for his provys.
The threde day longs to Saynt Jon,
That was Crystes derlyng, derest on,
To hem he tok, quan he xuld gone,
His dere moder, for his clennes.
The forte day of the chylderyn 3yng,
With Herowdes wrethe to deth were throng,
Of Cryst thei cowde now speke with tong,
But with here blod bare wytnesse.
The fyfth day halwyn Seynt Thomas,
Ryth as strong as peler of bras,
Hyld up his kyrke and slayin was
For he stod faste in rhthwynes.
The eytende day tok Jhesu his name,
That savyd mankynde fro synne and schame.
And circymsysid was for non blame,
But for insaun[ce] and mekeness.
The .xij. day offeryd to hym kynges .iij.
Gold, myrre, incens, this 3iftes fre,
For God and man and kynge is he,
And thus thei worchepyd his worthinesse.
The forty day came Mary myld
On to the temple with here schyld,
To schewyn here clene that never was fyld;
And here-with endis Crystemesse.
Note:
Feast day of St. Stephan the First Martyr is December 26;
Feast day of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist is December 27;
Feast day of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs, is December 28;
Feast day of St. Thomas, Bishop and Martyr is December 28;
January 1 is the Octave of Christmas, and the start of the New Year;
Twelfth Day is Epiphany, January 6;
Candlemas (the blessing of the candles) is February 2;
The Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary is February 2.