In Bethlehem, In That Fair City

Words: English Traditional, Ms. 354, f. 222b, Balliol College, Oxford, Fifteenth Century

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), pp. 183-4.

To bliss God bring us all and some,
Christe, Redemptor omnium

1. In Bethlehem, in that fair city,
A Child was born of our Lady,
Lord and prince that He should be,
    A solis ortus cardine

2. Children were slain (full) great plenty,
Jesus, for the love of Thee;
Let us never damnëd be,
    Hostis Herodes impie.

3. He was born of our Lady,
Without stain of her body,
Godës Son that sitteth on high,
    Jesu Salvator seculi.

4. As the sun shineth thorough the glass,
So Jesus in her body was;
To serve Him He gave us grace.
    O lux beata trinitas!

5. Now is born our Lord Jesus,
That made merry all (of) us;
Be all merry in this house,
    Exultet celum laudibus!

Translations from Rickert:

• Christe, Redemptor omnium is translated as "Christ, the Redeemer of all."

• A solis ortus cardine is translated as "Arisen from the quarter of the sun."

• Hostis Herodes impie is translated as "O Herod, impious foe."

• Jesu Salvator seculi is translated as "Jesus, Saviour of the world."

• O lux beata Trinitas is translated as "O blessed light of the Trinity."

• Exultet celem laudibus is translated as "Let heaven rejoice with praises."

J. A. Fuller Maitland, English Carols of the Fifteenth Century. London: The Leadenhall Press, E.C., ca. 1891, VI.

Carol in Original Form From a 15th Century Manuscript

Carol in Modern Form

Editor's Note: Fuller Maitland provides a different burden:

Nowel sing we now all and some
For Rex pacificus is come.

He notes that Rex pacificus is translated "The King of Peace." Other translations from Fuller Maitland:

• A solis ortus cardine is translated as "From the rising of the sun."

• Hostis Herodes impie is translated as "Herod thou wicked foe."

• O lux beata Trinitas is translated as "O Trinity most blessed light."

• Exultet celem laudibus is translated as "Let heaven rejoice with praises."

Editor's Note:

The popularity of this carol can be seen by its appearance in an unusually large number of 15th century manuscripts including

Trinity College Library, O. 3. 58. (James, No. 1230)

• Nowel Sing We Now All And Sum (Chambers & Sidgwick)

• In Bethl'em In That Fair City (Fuller Maitland, pp. 12-13 and 40-41)

Balliol 354, Richard Hill's Common-place Book, Balliol College, Oxford

• In Bethlehem, In That Fair City (Rickert, pp. 183-4)

• To blis God bryng us all and sum (Flugel in Anglia XXVI)

Eng. Poet. e. 1., Bodleian Library, Oxford

• In Bedlem, That Fayer Cyte (Wright)

• In Bethlehem, That Fair City (Rickert, p. 50)

MS. Ee. 1. 12., f. 1.r., Cambridge University Library

• In Bethlehem, That Fayre Cite-ee.1.12 (Greene, The Early English Carols, #21D)

Selden B. 26, Bodleian Library, Oxford

• Nowel syng we bothe al and som

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