[Footnote 27: St. Thomas a Becket, of Canterbury, was commemorated on 29th December.] The following is taken from a MS. of the latter half of the fifteenth century, which Mr. Thomas Wright edited for the Percy Society in 1847. The spelling is even more archaic than the above, so that it is modernised, and a gloss given for all those words which may not be easily understood wherever possible:-- This endris[28] night I saw a sight, A star as bright as day; And ever among A maiden sung, Lullay, by by, lullay. The lovely lady sat and sang, and to her Child said-- My son, my brother, my father dear, why lyest Thou thus in hayd. My sweet bird, Thus it is betide Though Thou be King veray;[29] But, nevertheless, I will not cease To sing, by by, lullay. The Child then spake in His talking, and to His mother said-- I bekyd[30] am King, in Crib[31] there I be laid; For Angels bright Down to Me light, Thou knowest it is no nay; And of that sight Thou mays't be light To sing, by by, lullay. Now, sweet Son, since Thou art King, why art Thou laid in stall? Why not Thou ordained Thy bedding in some great King his hall? Me thinketh it is right That King or Knight Should lie in good array; And then among It were no wrong To sing, by by, lullay. Mary, mother, I am thy child, though I be laid in stall, Lords and dukes shall worship Me, and so shall Kings all; Ye shall well see That Kings three Shall come the twelfth day; For this behest Give me thy breast And sing, by by, lullay. Now tell me, sweet Son, I pray Thee, Thou art my love and dear, How should I keep Thee to Thy pay,[32] and make Thee glad of cheer; For all Thy will I would fulfil Thou witest[33] full well, in fay,[34] And for all this I will Thee kiss And sing, by by, lullay. My dear mother, when time it be, thou take Me up aloft, And set Me upon thy knee, and handle Me full soft; And in thy arm, Thou wilt Me warm, And keep night and day; If I weep, And may not sleep, Thou sing, by by, lullay. Now, sweet Son, since it is so, that all thing is at Thy will, I pray Thee grant me a boon, if it be both right and skill.[35] That child or man, That will or can Be merry upon my day; To bliss them bring, And I shall sing Lullay, by by, lullay. [Footnote 28: Last.] [Footnote 29: True.] [Footnote 30: I am renowned as.] [Footnote 31: Manger.] [Footnote 32: Satisfaction.] [Footnote 33: Knowest.] [Footnote 34: In faith.] [Footnote 35: Reasonable.]