Words and Music: English Traditional, About 1450

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), p. 11.

Of a rose singe we:
Misterium mirabile.

1. This rose is railed¹ on a ryse,²
He hath brought the Prince of price,
And in this time sooth it is,
Viri sine semine.

2. This rose is red of colour bright,
Through whom our joy began alight,
Upon a Christes mass night,
Claro David germine.

3. Of this rose was Christ ybore,
To save mankind that was forlore,
And us all from sin its sore,
Prophetarum carmine.

4. This rose, of flowes she is the flower,
She will not fade for no shower,
To sinful men she sent succour,
Mira plenitudine.

5. This rose is so fair of hue,
In maid Mary that is so true,
Yborne was Lord of (all) virgue,
Salvator sine crimine.

Notes:

1. Railed = Set Return

2. Ryse = Branch  Return