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 "Junicode" font for best display. You can obtain a copy of this font from Old English at the University of Virginia, or right click here, and then select "Save File As" to save a copy of the zipped file to your computer. 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.
If you would like to help support Hymns and Carols of Christmas, please click on the button below and make a donation.
Related Hymns and Carols