Songs of the Nativity

William Henry Husk
Librarian to the Sacred Harmonic Society

London: John Camden Hotten, 1868,
reprinted by Norwood Editions, Norwood, PA, 1973

Preface

Index of Songs

1. A Babe Is Born, 52

2. A Bone, God Wot!, 132

3. A Jolly Wassel-Bowl, 147

4. A Virgin Most Pure, 30

5. All Under The Leaves (Alternate Title: The Seven Virgins), 105

6. All You That Are Good Fellows, 145

7. All You That Are To Mirth Inclined (Alternate Title: The Sinner's Redemption), 20

8. All You That In This House Be Here, 170

9. All You That To Feasting and Mirth Are Inclin'd (Alternate Title: Old Christmas Returned), 165

10. An Earthly Tree A Heavenly Fruit It Bare, 18

11. Angel Gabriel From God Was Sent, The, 68

12. As It Fell Out One May Morning (Alternate Title: The Holy Well), 91

13. At The Beginning Of The Meat, 118

14. Boar His Head In Hand I Bring, The, 116

15. Boar Is Dead, The, 125

16. Boar's Head In Hand Bring I, The  - Early Version, 119

17. Boar’s Head In Hand Bring I, The (Later Version), 120

18. Boar's Head, That We Bring Here, The, 124

19. Carnal and the Crane, The (Alternate Title: As I Passed By A River Side), 97

20. Christmas Is My Name (Alternate Title: Christmas's Lamentation), 161

21. Come Behold The Virgin Mother (Alternate Titles: The Virgin Mother and The Babe Of Bethlehem), 70

22. Come, Guard This Night, 155

23. Come Rejoice, All Good Christians, 65

24. Come Bring The Noise, 154

25. Contest of the Ivy and the Holly, The, 131

26. Dives and Lazarus (Alternate Title: As It Fell Out Upon A Day), 95

27. Down With The Rosemary and Bays, 160

28. Down With The Rosemary, And So, 159

29. First Day Of Yule, The, 8 - A Yule-tide Carol

30. First Good Joy That Mary Had, The, 87

31. First Noël The Angels Did Say, The, 82: A Carol For The Epiphany

32. Give Way, Give Way, Ye Gates, And Win, 143

33. Gloucestershire Wassailer's Carol (Alternate Title: Wassail Wassail All Over The Town - Version 4), 150

34. God Bless The Master Of This House, 137

35. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen, 27

36. Golden Time Is Now At Hand, The, 10

37. Hark! All Around The Welkin Rings, 74

38. Here Comes Holly, 129 (Alternate title: Alleluia Now Sing We)

39. Here We Come A Wassailing (Alternate Title: The Wassail Song - Version 1), 152

40. Holly And Ivy (Made A Great Party), 128

41. Holly And The Ivy, The (Now Are Both Well Grown), 85

42. I Am Here, Sir Christ-his-mas, 127

43. I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In (Alternate Title: On Christmas Day In The Morning), 24

44. In Bethlehem, That Noble Place (Alternate Title: Be We Merry In This Feast), 54

45. In Friendly Love And Unity, 43

46. In The Reign Of Great Caesar (Alternate Title: The Joyful Sounds of Salvation), 56

47. It Is The Day, The Holy Day, 38

48. Ivy, Chief Of Trees (Alternate Title: The Most Worthy She Is In Town), 130

49. Joseph Was An Old Man (Alternate Title: The Cherry-Tree Carol - Husk), 58

50. Joy To The World - Version 3, 73

51. Kindle The Christmas Brand, 161

52. Lord At First Had Adam Made, The (Alternate Title: A Carol For Christmas Eve), 3

53. Lulla Lullaby, My Sweet Little Baby (Alternate Title: Be Still, My Blessed Babe - Husk), 49

54. Mark This Song, For It Is True (Alternate Title: The Carol Of Innocents), 45

55. Moon Shone Bright, The , 62

56. Mortals Awake With Angels Join, 76

57. My Heart Of Gold (Alternate Title: My Lady Went To Canterbury), 134

58. Nay, Ivy, Nay, It Shall Not Be (Alternate Title: The Contest of the Ivy and the Holly), 131

59. Now Christmas Day Approaches Near (Alternate Title: The Approach of Christmas), 175

60. Now Christmas Time Is Coming On, 176

61. Now That The Time Is Come, 174

62. Now Thrice Welcome Christmas, 172

63. Now, Now, The Mirth Comes, 156

64. O God, That Guides The Cheerful Sun, 78

65. O You Merry, Merry Souls, 178

66. One God There Is Of Wisdom (Alternate Titles: Man's Duty or Mediation For the Twelve Hours of the Day), 109

67. One God, One Baptisme, And One Fayth (Alternate Titles: A New Dyall or A New Dial), 107

68. Partly Work and Partly Play (For St. Distaff's Day), 158

69. Rejoice, Rejoice With Heart And Voice (Alternate Title: From Virgin's Womb This Day Did Spring), 16

70. Remember, O Thou Man, 32

71. Saint Stephen Was A Clerk40

72. Seven Virgins, The - Version 2 105

73. So, Now Is Come Our Joyfulst Feast, 138

74. This Day Christ Was Born, 19

75. Three Kings, The (Alternate Title: Now Is Christmas I-Come), 79

76. Tidings I Bring You For To Tell, 117

77. Twelve Days of Christmas, The - Version 1, 181

78. Twelve Good Joys Of Mary, The (Alternate Title: The First Good Joy That Mary Had), 87

79. Virgin And Child, The, (Alternate Title: This Endris Night - Version 2), 13

80. Welcome Yule (Alternate Title: Welcome Be Thou, Heaven's King), 6: A Yule-tide Carol

81. Welcome, Merry Christmas (Alternate Title: Be Merry All, Be Merry All), 180

82. When Christ Was Born of Mary Free (Alternate Title: Christo paremus canticam), 53

83. When Jesus The Lord (Alternate Title: The Miracles Of Christ), 104

84. Worcestershire Christmas Carol, The (Alternate Title: How Grand And How Bright), 36

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Christmas Eve Carols:

• Lord At First Had Adam Made, The (Alternate Title: A Carol For Christmas Eve), 3

• On Christmas Eve (Come Bring The Noise), 154

• On Christmas Eve (Come, Guard This Night), 155

Christmas Day Carols:

• From Virgin's Womb This Day Did Spring, 16

• An Earthly Tree A Heavenly Fruit It Bare, 18

• This Day Christ Was Born, 19

• It Is The Day, The Holy Day, 38

• I Am Here, Sir Christ-his-mas, 127

Christmas Cheer

• Now Christmas Time Is Coming On, 176

Husk does not include these in his listing of "Christmas Cheer," but they seem appropriate:

• Now Christmas Day Approaches Near (Alternate Title: The Approach of Christmas)

• O You Merry, Merry Souls

• Welcome, Merry Christmas (Alternate Title: Be Merry All, Be Merry All)

Christmas Customs from Herrick

1. On Christmas Eve (Come Bring The Noise), 154

2. On Christmas Eve (Come, Guard This Night), 155

3. Twelfth Night, or King and Queen (Now, Now, The Mirth Comes), 156

4. Saint Distaff's Day (Partly Work and Partly Play), 158

5. Candlemas Eve (Down With The Rosemary, And So), 159

6. Candlemas Eve (Down With The Rosemary and Bays), 160

7. Candlemas Day (Kindle The Christmas Brand), 161

Carols For St. Stephen's Day [December 26]

• Saint Stephen Was A Clerk, 40

• In Friendly Love And Unity, 43

Another similar carol not found in Husk, but found in Sandys, is Saint Stephen Was An Holy Man

The Carol Of Innocents [December 28]

• Mark This Song, For It Is True, 45

Carol For New Year's Day

• O God, That Guides The Cheerful Sun, 78

Twelfth Night Carol

• Twelfth Night, or King and Queen (Now, Now, The Mirth Comes), 156

Carols For The Epiphany

• The Three Kings (Alternate Title: Now Is Christmas I-Come), 79

• The First Noël The Angels Did Say, 82

Carols for Candlemas Eve and Day

• Candlemas Eve (Down With The Rosemary, And So), 159

• Candlemas Eve (Down With The Rosemary and Bays), 160

• Candlemas Day (Kindle The Christmas Brand), 161

Boar's Head Carols

• At The Beginning Of The Meat, 118

• The Boar His Head In Hand I Bring, 116

• The Boar Is Dead, 125

• The Boars Head In Hand Bring I, The  - Early Version, 119

• The Boar’s Head In Hand Bring I (Later Version), 120

• The Boar's Head, That We Bring Here, 124

• Tidings I Bring You For To Tell, 117

Holly and Ivy Songs

• The Contest of the Ivy and the Holly, (Nay, Ivy, Nay, It Shall Not Be), 131

• Holly And Ivy (Made A Great Party), 128

• The Holly And The Ivy, (Now Are Both Well Grown), 85

• Here Comes Holly, 129

• Ivy, Chief Of Trees, 130

Wassail Songs

• Give Way, Give Way, Ye Gates, And Win, 143

• A Jolly Wassel-Bowl, 147

• Gloucestershire Wassailer's Carol (Wassail Wassail All Over The Town - Version 4), 150

• Here We Come A Wassailing (The Wassail Song - Version 1), 152

Yule-tide Carols

• The First Day Of Yule, 8

• Welcome Yule (Alternate Title: Welcome Be Thou, Heaven's King), 6

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