To blis God bryng us all and sum
For Christmas
Words and Music: English Traditional from
Ms. 354, f. 222b, Balliol College, Oxford, XVI Century
Source: 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), #LXXV, p. 239.
To blis God bryng us all and sum
Christe Redemptor omnium.
1. In Bedlem,
in that fayer cyte,
A chyld was born of Owr Lady,
Lord and Prynce that he shuld be
A solis ortus cardine.
2. Chyldren
were slayn grett plente,
Jhesu, for the love of the;
Lett us never dampned be.
Hostes Herodes ympie.
3. He was
born of Owr Lady
Without wemb of her body,
Godes Son that syttyth on hye
Jhesu salvator seculi.
4. As the son
shynyth thorow the glas,
So Jhesu in her body was;
To serve hym he geve us grace
O lux beata Trinitas.
5. Now ys
born owr Lord Jhesus,
That mad mery all us;
Be all mery in thys howse;
Exultet celum laudibus.
Editor's Note:
Also found in the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Richard Leighton Greene, ed., The Early English Carols (Oxford at the Clarendon Press, 1935), #21A, pp. 14-15, and Richard Leighton Greene, ed., A Selection of English Carols (Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1962), #8, p. 61.
Translations from Edith Rickert, In Bethlehem, That Fair City:
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Christe, Redemptor omnium is translated as "Christ, the Redeemer of all."
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A solis ortus cardine is translated as "Arisen from the quarter of the sun.
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O lux beata Trinitas is translated as "O blessed light of the Trinity."
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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)
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Nowel Sing We Now All And Sum (Chambers & Sidgwick)
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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
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In Bethlehem, In That Fair City (Rickert, pp. 183-4)
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To blis God bryng us all and sum (Flugel in Anglia XXVI)
Eng. Poet. e. 1., Bodleian Library, Oxford
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In Bedlem, That Fayer Cyte (Wright)
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In Bethlehem, That Fair City (Rickert, p. 50)
MS. Ee. 1. 12., f. 1.r., Cambridge University Library
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In Bethlehem, That Fayre Cite-ee.1.12 (Greene, The Early English Carols, #21D)
Selden B. 26, Bodleian Library, Oxford
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