Now is Christëmas ycome,
Father and Son together in one,
Holy Ghost as ye be one
In fere,
God send us a good new year.
I would you sing and I might
Of a Child is fair in sight,
His mother him bare this endris[4] night
So still,
And as it was his will.
There came three kings fro Galilee
Into Bethlem, that fair citee,
To seek him that should ever be
By right,
Lord and king and knight.
As they came forth with their off’ring,
They met with Herod, that moody king,
This tide,
And this to them he said,
‘Of whence be ye, you kingës three?’
‘Of the East, as ye may see,
To seek him that should ever be
By right,
Lord and king and knight.’
‘When you at this child have be
Come home again by me,
Tell me the sights that you have see,
I pray,
Go you no nother way.’
They took their leave both old and ying[5]
Of Herod, that moody king:
They went forth with their offering
By night,
By the star that shone so bright,
Till they came in to the place
Where Jesu and his mother was;
Offered they up with great solace
In fere,
Gold and ’cense and myrrh.
When they had their offering made
As the Holy Ghost them bade,
Then were they both merry and glad
And light:
It was a well fair sight.
Anon as they away went
The Father of heaven an angel sent
To these three Kings that made present
This tide,
And thus to them he said,
‘My Lord have warned you every one
By Herod king you go not home:
For an you do he will you slowe
And strow,[6]
And do you mickle woe.’
They yeden all another way
Thorough the might of Goddes lay[7]
As the angel to them did say
Full right:
It was a well fair sight.
When they were come to their countree
Glad and blithe they were all three
Of the sights that they had see;
By dene[8]
The company was clean.
Kneel we now here adown;
Pray we in good devotion
To the King of great renown
For grace
In heaven to have a place.
[4] Last.
[5] Young.
[6] Lay low.
[7] Law.
[8] Forthwith.