There Joseph On His Sleeping Lay

Words from the Cursor Mundi (14^th Cent.). Melody of gude Wallace, harmonized by C. W.

Notes and Source: George Ratcliffe Woodward, ed., The Cowley Carol Book For Christmas, Easter, and Ascensiontide, Second Series (London: A. R. Mowbray & Co., Ltd, ca. 1919), Carol #88

1. There Joseph on his sleeping lay,
An Angel thus to him gan say,
“Rise up, Joseph, and busk and go
With Mary and her Child also.
For you behoves now all three,
In land of Egypt for to flee.

2. “Rise up, rise up, ere it be day,
And follow for the wildrin way;
Herod, that is the Childe's fa,
From now will seek him for to sla.
There shall ye dwell still with the Barn
Till that I eft come you to warn.”

Sheet Music from George Ratcliffe Woodward, ed., The Cowley Carol Book For Christmas, Easter, and Ascensiontide, Second Series (London: A. R. Mowbray & Co., Ltd, ca. 1919), Carol #88
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