XXII. [From MS. Harl. No. 5396, p. 18. This MS. appears to have been written in the north; for on the page which contains the present carol are written, in nearly a contemporary hand, the words, "Wylzam Northe of Yorke."] Puer nobis natus est, de virgine Maria. BE glad, lordynges, be ye more and lesse, dicam vobis quia. I bryng zou tydynges that ben gode, That bozt us all upon the rode, sua morte pia. For the trespas of Adam, For the fadyr of hevyn he cam, Here-to myrthhe us bygan, teste profecia. Mary, modur and leve virgyn, That bare a child wyth-outen syn, Kepe us all fro hell pyn, de virgine Maria. D XXIII. [From MS. Cotton. Vesp. a. xxv. fol. 136, vo. written early in the sixteenth century.] WHO trustes Christes incarnatyone, Are chyldren of salwacyone. Seaventh chapter of Isai, A signe, a token ye shall se, Where that that he haith sayd, Lo! a mad shall conceyve a chyld, Of mans knowing be undefilde, And still shall be a maide. A mother maid a child to bringe, Nowe who haithe hard of suche a thinge? Or who can tell at ffull Howe that a maid a mother was, Or howe this same is browght to pas? Mans wit it is to dull. Signes now apon this maiden be, That sso maye in verginitie, Onelye by will of God, And still to be a maiden pure, A childe bringe furthe against nature, Another singe behold and se, Trwlie of hir was ment This fierie bushe that was so bright, And not one leafe was brent. Another sing behould now, lo! And not one hare of them adust ; As ys Godes wyll, Godes wyl be must, Who can deny but this ys trew, What ys Godes wyll yt must ensew, And nature must applye? Why dost thou, Jew, now musse now than, Now faith in this that must take place, As saith the scripture, they shalbe Where ever shalbe mirth. FFINIS. XXIV. [MS. Cott. Vesp. A. xxv. fol. 138, ro.] As said the prophet Abacuc, Betwixt too bestes shulde lye our buk, The oxe betokenithe mekenes here, In mydst of doctors he was fownd, Throughe mydst frome deathe he fledd; No where wolde die but on the crosse, Betwixt two theives redemed our losse, His blood for hus to shedde. In midst of his disciples all, All synnes ye shall remite, Of love the knot is knite. Saint John abowe the ierarchies, And Crist was in the myde; In the sacrament of eucharist, Is trow man Gode and very Christe, In mydst of us shall perdurate, Whilles that he come in great estate, This is the lord of unitie, And who in him is congregate, FFINIS. XXV. [MS. Cotton. Vesp. A. xxv. fol. 138, vo.] A CAROLL OF SAINT STEPHEN. THERE was no deathe nor worldlie joie, This holy stephen replet with grace, In joye where he shuld come, |