A Medieval Carol Book
Sir Richard Runciman Terry, A Medieval Carol Book: The Melodies Chiefly from MSS. in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, and in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., 1932).
Table of Contents
I. From the Selden Manuscript in the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
Selden MS. B.26 is the primary source for songs, however, some songs are from MS. Eng. Poet e. I. Some carols in the Selden B 26 manuscript also occur in the Trinity manuscript. Another source for carols from MS. Eng. Poet e. I. is Songs and Carols Now First Printed From a Manuscript of the Fifteenth Century (London: T. Richards, 1847); although it was lost for a time, the manuscript was later found in an English estate and purchased by the Bodleian Library.
| No. | Title |
Source |
Page |
| 1 | Alleluia. Now Well We Our Merthis Make |
|
2 |
| 2 | An Heavenly Song (This Day) |
|
4 |
| 3 | As I Lay Upon A Night (#174) |
Selden MS. B.26ff.18 & Selden MS. B.26 f. 18v.
|
6 |
| 4 |
|
8 | |
| 5 | Of A Rose Sing We (This Rose is Railed on a Ryse) |
|
10 |
| 6 |
Part I. From the Royal Shepherd's Line | David ex progenie (Selden MS., Bodleian Library); Part II. "See the Word Our Flesh Become” (“Verbum caro factum est”) (Selden MS., Bodleian Library) |
Selden MS. B.26 f. 24v & Selden MS. B.26 f. 25.
|
12 |
| 7 | Psallimus cantantes |
MS. Eng. Poet e. I., ff.40Y & 41.
|
14 |
| 8 | Alleluia, Pro Virgine Maria |
|
16 |
| 9 | Ecce Quod Natura |
MS. Ashmole 1393 f.69.
|
18 |
| 10 | Omnes Una Gaudeamus |
|
20 |
| 11 | Hail Mary, Full of Grace |
|
22 |
| 12 | Sing We To This Merry Company |
|
24 |
| 13 |
Worshipt Be The Birth Of Thee Ave Domina Celi Regina |
|
26 |
| 14 | Make We Joy Now In This Fest |
|
28 |
| 15 |
Nowel, This Is The Salutation
Note: there is a version of this carol in the Selden manuscript. See: Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell (Edith Rickert, 1914). |
MS. Eng. Poet e. I., ff.41v and 42.
|
30 |
| 16 | Nowel Sing we both all and some (Exortum Est in Love and Lysse) |
|
32 |
| 17 | Nowel. Out Of Your Sleep Arise |
|
34 |
| 18 | Nowel. To Us Is Born Our God Emmanuel |
|
36 |
| 19 | Ah Man, Ah Say |
|
38 |
| 20 | Good Day Sir Christmas |
|
39 |
Available at the Bodleian:
-
Collection Level Description: Selden Manuscripts
-
Collection Level Description: Manuscripts of John Selden
About the collection
John Selden (1584-1654) matriculated at Oxford from Hart Hall in 1600, but left the University without a degree. He entered Parliament in 1621, and from 1640 to 1653 represented Oxford University in Parliament. 8,000 volumes of manuscripts and printed books which he bequeathed to the Library were received in 1659 and housed in the newly built West End. The manuscripts are divided into four series: Arch. Selden. A, Selden Superius (nearly all oriental), Arch. Selden. B, and Selden Supra.
| MSS. Arch. Selden. B. |
| MSS. Selden Supra |
| MSS. Selden Superius (nearly all Oriental) |
Also see Sir John Stainer, Early Bodleian Music (1901).
II. From a 15th Century parchment roll in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge
As noted above, some carols in the Trinity MS are also found in the Selden MS.
| No. | Title | Page | |
| 21 |
 |
40 | |
| 22 | Nowel. To Us Is Born Our God Emmanuel. |
 |
42 |
| 23 | Alma Redemptoris. As I Lay Upon a Night (#189) |
 |
44 |
| 24 | Now May We Singen As It Is |
 |
46 |
| 25 | Be Merry, Be Merry |
 |
48 |
| 26 | Nowel Sing We Now All And Sum |
 |
49 |
| 27 | Now Make We Merthe |
 |
50 |
| 28 | What Tidings Bringest Thou, Messenger |
 |
52 |
| 29 | Eya martyr Stephane |
 |
54 |
| 30 | Pray For Us The Prince of Peace |
 |
55 |
| 31 | There Is No Rose Of Such Virtue |
 |
56 |
* “Versions of those marked with an asterisk are in the Bodleian collection.”
III. Miscellaneous.
| No. | Title |
Source |
Page |
| 32 | Sir Christmas | British Museum, Additional MSS. 5665. fol. 86.
|
57 |
| 33 | This Enders Night | British Museum, Royal App. 58. f. 52 b.
|
60 |
| 34 |
Gabriel To Mary Went Angelus Ad Virginem British Museum (Cotton MS.) |
From a Sequentiale
(Vellum MS., eary 14th
C.) British Museum, Cotton App. XXIX, f. 36 b.
|
63 |
| 35 | Laetabundus Faithful People, Sweeten All Your Song With Gladness (with notes and additional musical settings) |
Plainsong Sequence, before 11th C. from a
Dominican Graduale.
|
65 |
Some of these carols are also found in J. A. Fuller Maitland, ed., English Carols of the Fifteenth Century From A MS Roll in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge. (London: The Leadenhall Press, et al., 1891), with added vocal parts by W. S. Rockstro.
Rev. Terry compiled a number of volumes that richly contributed to the preservation of Christmas prose and poetry. See:
Twelve Christmas Carols
London: J. Curwen & Sons, Ltd., 1912Old Christmas Carols
London: Burns, Oates & Washbourne Ltd., n.d., ca. 1923Gilbert and Sandys' Christmas Carols
London: Burns, Oates & Washbourne, Ltd., 1931; With MusicA Medieval Carol Book
London: Burns, Oates & Washbourne, Ltd., 1932; With MusicTwo Hundred Folk Carols
London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933; With Music
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