Gabriel, That Angel Bright

Regina celi, letare

For The Annunciation, Advent, Christmas

The Salutation Carol of the Angel Gabriel
Based on Luke 1:26-38,
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Words and Music: Traditional English from the Hill Ms.
Compare: Gabriel, That Angel Bright (Rickert)
Gabriell, That Angell Bry3t (Wright)

Source: Jessie L. Weston, ed., Old English Carols from the Hill MS. [Balliol College MS. 354] Translated by Jessie L. Weston. (London: David Nutt, 1911), Carol # 5, p. 8.

Now sing we, sing we,
Regina coeli letare !

1. Gabriel, that Angel bright,
Brighter e'en than the sunbeam's light,
From Heaven to earth he took his flight,
Regina coeli letare !

2. In Nazareth of Galilee,
To Mary maid he bowed the knee,
And said : 'Mary, God is with thee !'
Regina coeli letare !

3. ' Hail to thee, Mary, Maiden bright,
The Holy Ghost shall upon thee light,
To save lost souls from the foul fiend's might '-
Regina coeli letare !

4. Hail to thee, Mary, on thee we call,
From the fiends who fain would work our fall ;
Do thou shield and save us one and all,
Regina coeli letare !

Editor's Note:

Weston's apparent source was Ewald Flügel, ed., “Liedersammlungen des XVI Jahrhunderts, Besonders Aus Der Zeit Heinrichs VIII. III. 6. Die lieder des Balliol Ms. 354,” in Eugen Einenkel, ed., Anglia - Zeitschrift für englische Philologie enthaltend Beitrage zur Geschlicht der englischen Sprache und Literatur. Band XXVI. (Halle: Max Niemeyer, 1903), pp. 94-285; #LXX, p. 236. This work is available at both Internet Archive and Google Books.

See also Roman Dyboski, ed. Songs, Carols and Other Miscellaneous Poems from the Balliol MS. 354, Richard Hill’s Commonplace Book. Early English Text Society Extra Series No. CI (London: Published for the Early English Text Society by Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., Ltd., 1907, issued in 1908), "Gabryell, that angell bryght," #17, p. 10. Over 103 songs of great variety, including 62 "sacred songs and carols." Available at Internet Archive and Google Books.

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