Nowel. To Us Is Born Our God Emmanuel

For Christmas

Words and Music from the Selden MS. (Selden MS. B.26 f. 27^v.), Bodleian Library, Oxford
Mode VIII.

Compare: In Beth'lem This Berd Of Life (With Sheet Music)

Source: Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #187, pp. 32-33.

Nowel, Nowel. To us is born our God Emmanuel!
Nowel, Nowel, Nowel. To Us is born our God Emmanuel!

1. In Bedlem that Child of Life
Is born of Mary, maid and wife.
He is both God and man, take schrift.
    Nowell, (The) Prince of Peace shall cease all strife,
    And dwell with us perpetuelle.

2. This Child shall buy us with His blood,
And (shall) be nailed on a rood;
His ransom paseth all earthly good.
    Alas what wight dare to be so wood
    To slay so gentle a jewel.

3. By His power this Child shall rise,
From hell He shall take His emprise.
And save mankind (all) in this wise
    Thus telleth us the prophecies
    Herebefore as they did (us) tell.

Sheet Music from Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #187, pp. 32-33.

Notes from Rev. Terry:

• Take schrift = accept this saying.

• Wood = man.

• Enprise-= booty. (The reference here, as in many other medieval poems, is to the rising with Our Lord of the souls of the just who were awaiting, in Limbo, His resurrection.

Sheet Music from Sir Richard Runciman Terry, A Medieval Carol Book: The Melodies Chiefly from MMS. in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, and in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., 1932), Carol #18, pp. 36-37.

Editor's Note:

The Selden Manuscript was one of the sources for A Medieval Carol Book by Rev. Terry. Scans of the manuscript pages are on-line at the Bodleian Library; see Selden MS B26 (opens in a new window at an exterior site).

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