An Aungell Fro Hevn Gan Lyth

Words and Music: Traditional English

Source: Thomas Wright, Songs and Carols Now First Printed, From a Manuscript of the Fifteenth Century (London: The Percy Society, 1847), Song #42, printed verbatim from a manuscript probably owned by a professional musician, and apparently written in the latter half of the fifteenth century, circa 1471-1485.

Off al the knottes that I se, I prese the knot in trenite.

An aungell fro hevn gan lyth,
A gret a maydyn that was so bryth;
A treu know ther was knyt
            Betwyn them both in trinyte.

After ys that fayyrly fod,
For hus he bled his hart blod,
Qwan he was don on the rod,
            The knottes war knit with nales iij.

Wettness of apostyll Johan,
He ros hup and wold gone;
The knot was knyt with marbyl ston,
            Thorow the vertu of the trenyte.

On Schere Thursday he steyd to hevun,
Hys fader hym blyssyd with myld stevn;
For to fulfyl the deddes wyll,
            The knot was knit with persons iij.

God xal rysyn at domusday,
Hys v. knottes for to spray;
To al men he xal say,
            Lo, man, wat knot I knyt for the.

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