XXVI.

A Christmas Caroll.

FROM Melismata, Musicall Phansies fitting the Court, Citie, and Countrey Humours. Printed by William Stansby, 4to, 1614; but much older than the date of the book, as a parody, of which the following is the first stanza, appeared in 1590 in Ane Compendious Booke of Godly and Spirituall Songs. "Remember, man, remember, man,

That I thy saull from Sathan wan,
And hes done for thee what I can ;
Thow art full deir to mee.

Is, was, nor sall bee none,
That may thee save, but I allone :
Onely, therefore, believe mee on,
And thow sall never die."

The original Carol may also be found, with some variations, in Cantus, Songs, and Fancies, printed by John Forbes at Aberdeen, in 1662; and in the Rev. Arthur Bedford's Execllency of Divine Musick, 1733.

It was Carols of this description that the old Elizabethan writers denominated "Suffering Ballads."

Remember, O thou man!

O thou man, O thou man!
Remember, O thou man!
Thy time is spent :

Remember, O thou man!

How thou art dead and gone,
And I did what I can,

Therefore repent.

Remember Adam's fall!

O thou man, O thou man! Remember Adam's fall!

From heaven to hell:
Remember Adam's fall!

How we were condemned all
In hell perpetuall

Therefore to dwell.

Remember God's goodnesse!

O thou man, O thou man! Remember God's goodnesse! And his promise made: Remember God's goodnesse!

How he sent his sonne, doubtlesse Our sinnes for to redresse :

Be not affraid.

The angels all did sing,

O thou man, O thou man!

The angels all did sing

Upon the shepheards hill : The angels all did singe, Praises to our heavenly king, And peace to man living,

With a good will.

The shepheards amazed were,
O thou man, O thou man!
The shepheards amazed were
To heare the angels sing:
The shepheards amazed were
How it should come to passe
That Christ our Messias
Should be our king.

To Bethlem did they goe,
O thou man, O thou man!
To Bethlem did they goe,
The shepheards three :
To Bethlem did they goe,
To see where it were so,
Whether Christ were borne or no

To set man free.

As the angels before did say,
O thou man, O thou man!
As the angels before did say,
So it came to passe:

As the angels before did say,

They found a babe where as it lay, In a manger wrapt in hay,

So poore he was.

In Bethlem he was borne,

O thou man, O thou man!
In Bethlem he was borne,
For mankind sake:

In Bethlem he was borne,
For us that were forlorne,
And therefore tooke no scorne
Our flesh to take.

Give thanks to God alway,

O thou man, O thou man!
Give thanks to God alway,
With heart most joyfully :
Give thanks to God alway,
For this our happy day,

Let all men sing and say
Holy, holy.11

11

11 In the version of this Carol given in Mr. Sandys' Christmas Carols,

a stanza occurs, before the last, which is not found in the copy from which we print. It is as follows:

In a manger laid he was,

O thou man, O thou man!
In a manger laid he was,
At this time present:
In a manger laid he was,
Between an ox and an ass,
And all for our trespass,

Therefore repent.

XXVII.

Who liveth so merry in all this Land?

IN 1557-8, John Walley and the widow Toy had license to print a Ballad, entitled,

"Who lyve so mery, and make suche sporte,

As thay that be of the pooreste sorte?"

Again, in 1558-9, William Redle and Richard Lante had license to print

Who so mery as thay of the lore estate." 12

These entries evidently refer to the following Ballad, which is preserved, with the beautiful chant to which it was sung, in the curious musical collection, entitled, Deuteromelia, or the Second Part of Musick's Melodie, or Melodius Musicke of Pleasant Roundelaies, &c., 1609.

WHO liveth so merry in all this land,

As doth the poore Widdow that selleth the sand? And ever shee singeth as I can guess,

Will you buy any sand, any sand, mistress?

12 See Mr. Collier's valuable Extracts from the Registers of the Stationers' Company, 1848, pp. 7 & 19.