The Shepard Vpon A Hill He Satt

For Christmas

Words: English Traditional from the Balliol College MS. 354, the Richard Hill Common-place Book
ompare: "The Jolly Shepherd Wat",  Can I Not Sing But Hoy (Rickert)
Can I Not Sing But 'Hoy' (Chambers and Sidgwick)
 The Shepherd Upon A Hill He Sat (Weston)

Music: Not Stated

Source: Ewald Flügel, “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), Carol #LXXXII, pp. 243-245.

[224a]

Can I not syng but Hoy!
Whan the Ioly shepard made so mych Ioy!

1] The shepard vpon a hill he satt,
he had on hym his tabard & his hat.
hys tarbox, his pype, & hys flagat,
hys name was called Ioly, Ioly Wat!
for he was a gud herdes boy,
            vt hoy!
for in hys pype he made so mych joy,
                                    Can I not sing but hoy! [Italics]

2] The shepard vpon a hill was layd,
Hys doge to hys gyrdyll was tayd,
He had not slept but a lytill br[a]yd¹
but gloria in excelcis was to hym sayd
            vt hoy!
for in his pipe he mad so myche joy!
                                    can I not syng &c. [italics]

3] The shepard on A hill He stode,
Rownd a bowt hym his shepe they yode,
he put hys hond vnder hys hode,
he saw a star as rede as blöd.
            Vt hoy!
for in his pipe he mad so myche joy,
                                    can I not syng &c. [italics]

4] Now farwell mall & also will,
for my love go ye all styll,
vnto I cum a gayn you till,
And euermore [W]ill ryng well thy bell,
            Vt hoy!
for in his pipe he mad so myche joy,
                                    can I not syng &c. [italics]

5] Now must I go yer cryst was borne
farewell I cum a gayn to morn
Dog kepe well my shep fro ye corn!
& warn well warroke when I blow my horn!
            Vt hoy!
for in hys pipe he mad so myche joy,
                                    can I not syng &c. [italics]

6] Whan wat to bedlem cum was,
he swet, he had gon faster than a pace,
He fownd Ihesu in a sympyll place,
be twen An ox & an asse,
            Vt hoy!
for in his pipe he mad so myche joy,
                                    can I not syng but hoy &c.

7] The spepard sayd A non ryght:
I will go se yon farly syght,
Wher as ye Angell syngith on hight,
& the star yat shynyth so bryght!
            vt hoy!
for in [his]² (2) pipe he made so mych Ioy,
                                    can I not syng but Hoy!

8] Ihesu I offer to the here my pype,
My [skyrte], my tarbox & my [scrype],³
Home to my felowes now will I skype,
& also loke vnto my shepe!
            vt hoy!
ffor in his pipe he mad so myche Ioy,
                                    can I not syng but Hoy!

[208b; 224b]

9] Now farewell, myne owne herdes man wat!
ye for god, lady, even so I hat!
Lull well Ihesu in thy lape,
& farewell Ioseph, wyth thy rownd cape!
            vt hoy!
for in hys pipe he mad so myche Ioy,
                                    can I not sing &c.

10] Now may I well both hope & syng,
ffor I haue bene a crystes beryng,
home to my felowes now wyll I flyng,
Cryst of hevyn to his blis vs bryng!
            vt hoy,
for in his pipe he mad so myche joy.
                                    [can. I not syng &c.]

Footnotes.

1. Ms.: broyd Return

2. fehlt im Ms. Return

3. hat im Ms. mit skyrte den platz getauscht. Return

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