In Bethlehem, That Fair City

Words: English Traditional in MS Eng. Poet. e. 1., Fifteenth Century

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), p. 50.

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

1. In Bethlehem, that fair city,
Was born a Child that was so free,
Lord and prince of high degree,
    Iam lucis orto sidere.

2. Jesu, for the love of Thee,
Children were slain great plenty
In Bethlehem, that fair city,
    A solis ortus cardine.

3. As the sun shineth in the glass,
So Jesus of His mother born was
Him to serve God give us grace,
    O lux beata Trinitas.

4. Now is He our Lord Jesus,
Thus hath He verily visited us;
Now to make merry among us,
    Exultet celem laudibus.

Translations from Rickert:

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

• Iam lucis orto sidere is translated as "Now the star of light having risen."

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

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

• 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

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