Words: Middle English carol from the Harleian Manuscript, Fifteenth Century
Versions:
When Christ Was Born of Mary Free
When Cryst Was Born of Mary Fre
In Excelsis Gloria - Version 1
In Excelsis Gloria - Version 2
In Excelsis Gloria - Version 3
Similar: When Christ Was Born Of Pure Marie
Also: When Cryst Was Born of Mary Fre (Sandys, 1833)
When Cryst was born of Mary fre - Thomas Wright (1841)
Source: William Sandys, Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (London: Richard Beckley, 1833)
This carol requires the installation of the "Junius Modern" font for best display.
See notes in F A Q
1. When Cryst was born of Mary fre
In bedlem, ï þt fayre cyte,
Angellis songen wt mirth and gle,
in excelsis g¬ia.
2. herdmë beheld þs angellis bryzt
To hem apperyd wt gret lyzt,
and seyd goddis sone is born þs nyzt,
in excelsis g¬ia.
3. þs kyng ys comyn to save kynde
þs kyng in scriptur as we fynde,
þs kyng fore þs song haue we ï mynde,
in excelsis g¬ia.
4. þs kyng lord for þy gret grace,
þs kyng is in blys to see þy face,
Where we may syng to þe solas,
in excelsis g¬ia.
Sandys' Note:
From the same MS (Harl. MS 5396. (temp. Hen. VI.). The commencement of some of the lines is not legible.
