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When Christ Was Born of Mary Fre

Anonymous,
1    Christo paremus canticam,
2    In excelsis gloria.
3  When Cryst was born of Mary fre
4In Bedlem in that fayre cyté,
5Angellis songen with myrth and gle:
6      In excelsis gloria.
7  Herdmen beheld thes angellis bryght,
8To hem apperyd wyth gret lyght,
9And seyd: "Goddys Sone is born this nyght;
10      In excelsis gloria."
11  A king ys comyn to save kynde,
12In the Scriptur as we fynde;
13Therfore this song have we in mynde:
14      In excelsis gloria.
15  Then, Lord, for thy gret grace,
16Graunt us in blys to se thy face,
17Where we may syng to the solas:
18      In excelsis gloria.

Notes

1] Carol refrains are often in Latin and there is sometimes a sprinkling of Latin phrases, the authors being usually clerics. This refrain means: "Let us prepare a song for Christ, `glory in the highest.'" Back to Line
3] fre: noble. Back to Line
4] Bedlem: Bethlehem. Back to Line
11] Carols usually contain some brief and simple statement of doctrine such as this.
comyn: come.
kynde: mankind. Back to Line
17] solas: joy, delight. Back to Line