Yf Crystmas day on the Sonday be
Words and Music: Traditional English
(From MS. Harl, No. 2252, fol. 153, v0, of the fifteenth century. This and the following [Lordynges, I warne yow al be-forn] ought not strictly to have a place among a collection of carols, but they are curious illustrations of one part of the old popular belief relating to Christmas Day.)
Source: Thomas Wright, Specimens of old Christmas Carols, Selected from Manuscripts and Printed Books (London: The Percy Society, 1841)
This carol requires the installation of the "Junius Modern" font for best display.
See notes in F A Q
Yf Crystmas day on the Sonday be
A trobolus wynter ye shall see,
Medlyd with waters stronge;
Were shalbe good wyth-owte fabylle,
The somer it shabe resonabylle,
And stormys odyr whylys amonge.
Wynes that yere shalbe goode,
The herveste shalbe wete wyth floddes,
Pestylens falle in many a contré,
And many youngge pepylle dede shall be,
O r that sekenes lynne,
And grete tempestes ther-ynne.
Prynces that yere with iren shall dye,
And chaungyng of many lordes eye,
Among knyghttes grete debate;
Many tydynges shall com to men;
Wyffes shalle wepen then,
Bothe pore and grete estates.
The faythe then shallbe hurte truly,
For dyvers poyntes of heresy
That they shall apere,
Throwe temptyng of the fende;
For diverse maters unkynde
Shalle cawse grete daunger.
Catelle shall threve one and odyr,
Save beeve, they shall kyll eche odyr,
And som bestes shalle dyen;
Lytell frute and corne good,
No plenté of appylles to your fode;
Shyppys on the see have payne.
That yere on the Monday, wyth-owte fyne,
Althynges welle thou mayste begynne,
Hyt shalbe prophytabylle;
Chyldren that be borne that day,
Shalbe myghtye and strong par fay,
Of wytte full reasonnabylle.
