Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern/Annotated/In die Natiuitatis

by William Sandys

IN DIE NATIUITATIS.

Meruele noȝt, iosep, on Mary mylde;
forsake hyr not they she be wᵗ chylde.
I iosep wonder how this may be,
That mary wex gret when y and she
euer haue leuyd in chastite;
If she be wᵗ chylde, hit ys not by me.

Meruell not, Joseph.

The holy gost wᵗ mercifull disstens
In here hathe entryd wᵗ owte offens,
God and man conceyued by hys p̃sens,
An the virgyn pure wᵗ owte violens.

Meruell no, ioseph.

Whatthe angell of god to me dothe say,
I ioseph muste and will vmble obay,
Ellys pꝛuely y wolde have stole a way,
But now will y srue her tille yᵗ y day.

mũell not, iosep.

Joseph, thow shalt herᵉ mayde & moder fynde,
here sone redemptor of all man kynde,
Thy fore faders of paynes to unbynde;
There for muse not this mater in thy mynde.

mũell not.

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