Christmastide: Its History, Festivities, and Carols

Name: Christmastide: Its History, Festivities, and Carols
Author: Sandys, William

Sandys, William

Christmas

Yet as Mary sat in solace,
      By our Saviour’s first beginning,
    Hosts of angels from God’s palace
      Sounded sweet from Heaven singing;
    Yea, heaven and earth, for Jesus’ birth,
      With sweet melodious tunes abound,
    And every thing for Jewry’s King,
      Upon the earth gave chearful sound.

    Then with angel’s love inspired,
      The wise princes from the East,
    To Bethlehem as they desired,
      Came whereas the Lord did rest:
    And there they laid before the maid,
      Before her Son, our God and King,
    Their offerings sweet, as was most meet,
      Unto so great a power to bring.

    Now to Him that us redeemed,
      By His precious death and passion;
    And us sinners so esteemed
      To buy us dearly thus salvation;

    Yield lasting fame that still the name
      Of Jesus may be honored here;
    And let us say that Christmas Day
      Is still the best day in the year.




XXVI.


    I SAW three ships come sailing in
      On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
    I saw three ships come sailing in
      On Christmas Day in the morning.

    And what was in those ships all three,
      On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
    And what was in those ships all three,
      On Christmas Day in the morning?

    Our Saviour Christ and his lady,
      On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
    Our Saviour Christ and his lady,
      On Christmas Day in the morning.

    Pray whither sailed those ships all three,
      On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
    Pray whither sailed those ships all three,
      On Christmas Day in the morning.

    O, they sailed into Bethlehem,
      On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
    O, they sailed into Bethlehem,
      On Christmas Day in the morning.

    And all the bells on earth shall ring,
      On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
    And all the bells on earth shall ring,
      On Christmas Day in the morning.

    And all the angels in Heaven shall sing,
      On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
    And all the angels in Heaven shall sing,
      On Christmas Day in the morning.

    And all the souls on earth shall sing,
      On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
    And all the souls on earth shall sing,
      On Christmas Day in the morning.

    Then let us all rejoice amain,
      On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
    Then let us all rejoice amain,
      On Christmas Day in the morning.




XXVII.


    THE first nowell the angel did say
    Was to three poor shepherds in the fields as they lay;
    In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
    In a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
                            Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
                            Born is the King of Israel.

    They looked up and saw a star
    Shining in the east, beyond them far,
    And to the earth it gave great light,
    And so it continued both day and night.
                                            Nowell, &c.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

Christmastide: Its History, Festivities, and CarolsSandys, William

History

Christmastide: Its History, Festivities, and Carols

Sandys, William

Christmas

Yet as Mary sat in solace,
      By our Saviour’s first beginning,
    Hosts of angels from God’s palace
      Sounded sweet from Heaven singing;
    Yea, heaven and earth, for Jesus’ birth,
      With sweet melodious tunes abound,
    And every thing for Jewry’s King,
      Upon the earth gave chearful sound.

    Then with angel’s love inspired,
      The wise princes from the East,
    To Bethlehem as they desired,
      Came whereas the Lord did rest:
    And there they laid before the maid,
      Before her Son, our God and King,
    Their offerings sweet, as was most meet,
      Unto so great a power to bring.

    Now to Him that us redeemed,
      By His precious death and passion;
    And us sinners so esteemed
      To buy us dearly thus salvation;

    Yield lasting fame that still the name
      Of Jesus may be honored here;
    And let us say that Christmas Day
      Is still the best day in the year.




XXVI.


    I SAW three ships come sailing in
      On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
    I saw three ships come sailing in
      On Christmas Day in the morning.

    And what was in those ships all three,
      On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
    And what was in those ships all three,
      On Christmas Day in the morning?

    Our Saviour Christ and his lady,
      On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
    Our Saviour Christ and his lady,
      On Christmas Day in the morning.

    Pray whither sailed those ships all three,
      On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
    Pray whither sailed those ships all three,
      On Christmas Day in the morning.

    O, they sailed into Bethlehem,
      On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
    O, they sailed into Bethlehem,
      On Christmas Day in the morning.

    And all the bells on earth shall ring,
      On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
    And all the bells on earth shall ring,
      On Christmas Day in the morning.

    And all the angels in Heaven shall sing,
      On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
    And all the angels in Heaven shall sing,
      On Christmas Day in the morning.

    And all the souls on earth shall sing,
      On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
    And all the souls on earth shall sing,
      On Christmas Day in the morning.

    Then let us all rejoice amain,
      On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
    Then let us all rejoice amain,
      On Christmas Day in the morning.




XXVII.


    THE first nowell the angel did say
    Was to three poor shepherds in the fields as they lay;
    In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
    In a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
                            Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
                            Born is the King of Israel.

    They looked up and saw a star
    Shining in the east, beyond them far,
    And to the earth it gave great light,
    And so it continued both day and night.
                                            Nowell, &c.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Christmastide: Its History, Festivities, and Carols

Christmastide: Its History, Festivities, and Carols

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