Listen, lordings, both eld and ying, How this rose began to spring; Such a rose to my liking In all this world ne know I none. The angel came from heaven’s tower To greet Mary with great honour, And saidë she should bear the flower That should break the fiendës bond. The flower sprung in high Bethlem, That is bothë bright and sheen; The rose is Mary, heaven’s queen, Out of her bosom the blossom sprung. The firstë branch is full of might, That sprung on Christëmass night; The star shone over Bethlem bright That is both broad and long. The second branch sprung to hell, The fiendës power down to fell; Therein might none soulë dwell; Blessed be the time the rose sprung. The third branch is good and swote, It sprang to heaven crop[30] and root, Therein to dwell and be our boot, Every day it showeth in priestës hand. Pray we to her with great honour, She that bare the blessed flower, She be our help and succoúr, And shield us from the fiendës bond. [30] Tip. TRADITIONAL CAROLS 19. GOD REST YOU MERRY, GENTLEMEN God rest you merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay; Remember Christ our Saviour Who was born on Christmas Day, To save our souls from Satan’s fold Which long time had gone astray. _And ’tis tidings of comfort and joy._ From him that is our Father The Blessed Angel came, And to the watchful shepherds brought The tidings of the same; That there was born in Bethlehem The Son of God by name. _And ’tis, &c._ Fear not, then said God’s Angel, Let nothing you affright, This day is born a Saviour Of a Virgin pure and bright; He is able to advance you And throw down Satan quite. _And ’tis, &c._ The shepherds at these tidings Rejoiced much in mind, And left their flocks a-feeding In tempest, storm, and wind. And straight they went to Bethlehem The Son of God to find. _And ’tis, &c._ But when they came to Bethlehem Where as our Saviour lay, They found him in a manger, Where oxen fed on hay, Our blessed Lady kneeling by Unto the Lord did pray. _And ’tis, &c._ At which with sudden gladness The shepherds then were filled, When as the Babe of Israel Thus when they had beheld. Before his mother thus to lie The Scripture thus fulfilled. _And ’tis, &c._ Now let me all of you entreat That are within this place, That each dear loving Xian The other would embrace. For the happy time of Xmas Is drawing on apace. _With its, &c._ This version is from a broadside in the British Museum; another version is given in Sandy’s _Christmas Carols_ (1833), of which the last verse is: