Then God he knew her faith was such
For to believe aright;

The Angel then by God's own power
Departed from her sight.

Let men, &c.

Then Cæsar made a firm decree

That certainly should stand, That all the world should taxed be By power of his command: Mary then being great with child

When Cæsar made this call,

For in her womb was then conceiv'd

The Saviour of us all.

Let men, &c.

Thus Mary and her husband kind

Together did remain,

And went to Bethlehem to be tax'd,

As Scripture doth make plain.

And so it was, they being there,
Her time being fully come,
That in a stable she brought forth

Her first begotten Son.

Let men, &c.

These tidings to the Shepherds came,

Watching their flocks by night, For God he sent his Angel down,

Which did them sore affright.

The Angel said, Fear not of me,
But shew these things abroad,

For unto you this day is born

A Saviour, Christ the Lord.

Let men, &c.

God grant us hearts for to believe,

And rightly to consider,

How that our Saviour suffered death

Our souls for to deliver.

The which if rightly we believe,
We shall with him be blest,

And when this mortal life is o'er

In Heaven we hope to rest.

Let men, &c.

COME REJOICE, ALL GOOD CHRISTIANS.

Come rejoice, all good Christians,

And rejoice now, I pray,

For joy our Redeemer

Was born on this day,

In the city of David,

And a cottage so poor:

Then rejoice and be you merry,
We have blessings in store.

And therefore be you merry,
Rejoice and be you merry,
Set sorrows away,
Christ Jesus our Saviour

Was born on this day.

Our Lord he was born
Of a Virgin most pure,

Within a poor stable

Both safe and secure.
He was guarded most safely
With Angels so bright,
Who told three poor Shepherds

Those things in the night.

And therefore, &c.

They said, Be not fearful,

But to Bethlehem go:
Then rejoice and be chearful,
For 'tis certainly so.
For a young Son to Joseph

Is in Bethlehem born:

Then rejoice, all good Christians,

And cease for to mourn.

And therefore, &c.

And when those three Shepherds

Did to Bethlehem come,

And arrived at the stable,

Then in they did run,

Where they found blessed Mary

With Jesus her Son:

There they found our Lord sleeping,

And thus they begun.

And therefore, &c.

With the sweetest Hallelujah

The Heavens did rejoice,
With the Saints and the Angels,
And all with sweet voice,
Crying Glory and honour
To our Heavenly King,

In the clouds of the air

Then this Host they did sing.

And therefore, &c.

Then well may we Christians,
That dwell on the earth,
Rejoice and be glad

For sweet Jesus his birth,
Who brought us salvation,
If we mind but the same :
Then let all in the nation

Sing praise to his name.

And therefore, &c.

With true zeal and honour

Let us joyfully sing,
In praise of our salvation,
To our Heavenly King;

To our Heavenly Father,
That remaineth above,

And to our dear Saviour,

That redeem'd us with love.

And therefore, &c.

GOD REST YOU MERRY, GENTLEMEN.

God rest you merry, gentlemen,

Let nothing you dismay,

For Jesus Christ our Saviour

Was born upon this day,
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

For Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on
Christmas day.

In Bethlehem in Jury

This blessed babe was born,
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn;
The which his mother Mary
Nothing did take in scorn.

O tidings, &c.