English Folk-Carols/The Twelve Apostles

by Anonymous

For works with similar titles, see The Twelve Apostles.

XIX.THE TWELVE APOSTLES.

THE TWELVE APOSTLES.

1When Jesus Christ had lived
Full thirty years or more,
He work-ed many wondrous works
With His twelve apostles pure.

2He delivered up the twelve
A sacrament to take;
He shewed Simon an Hebrew house
A Testament to make.

3Then Judas with the Jews
Our Saviour did betray;
And unto him for thirty pence
Jesus was sold away.

4Then Judas he came in
With a troop of arm-ed men,
And bound his Master fast in bonds,
In whom there was no sin.

5And for His garments brave
The soldiers did cast dice,
Which was a garment without seam
And a jewel of great price.

6They led Him on straightway
Unto His judgment place;
Without God's leave He was condemned
To die in vile disgrace.

7Between two ruffian rogues
They nailed our Saviour up;
They left His body there to bleed
In torment's bitter cup.

8They nailed His hands and feet,
And crowned His head with thorns,
And gave Him vinegar to drink
With many reproachful scorns.

9Now all things seemed to mourn
When our blessed Saviour died;
The hills and rocks did rend,
The mountains did divide.

10The heavens themselves grew very dark,
The moon forsook her light;
And for three hours in the day
It was a dismal sight.

11The earth did tremble and quake,
And graves did open wide;
Dead men's ghosts walked up and down
In a frightful manner beside.

12At any Christmas time,
Amongst good Christians all,
This Christmas carol may be sung
In any house or hall.