Fear not, just Joseph, this thy wife
Is still a spotless maid,

And no consent to sin, quoth he,

Against her can be laid.

Sing, &c.

For she is pure both maid and wife,
And Mother of God's own Heir,

The Babe of Heaven, and blessed Lamb,
Of Israel's flocks so fair,

To save lost sheep from Satan's fold,

Whom Adam lost by fraud,

When first in Eden Paradise

The Lord had on him bestowed.

Sing, &c.

Sing praises all, both old and young,

To him who wrought such things,
And that without the help of man
Sent us the King of Kings;
Who is of such commanding power,
That by his Word can quell

The world, the flesh, and by his death

Hath conquer'd Death and Hell.

Sing, &c.

FOR CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING.

The first Nowell the Angel did say

Was to three poor Shepherds in the fields as they

lay;

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
In a cold winter's night that was so deep.

They looked

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
Born is the King of Israel.

Shining in the East beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Nowell, &c.

And by the light of that same Star,
Three Wise Men came from country far;
To seek for a King was their intent,
And to follow the Star wherever it went.

Nowell, &c.

This Star drew nigh to the North West,

O'er Bethlehem it took it's rest,

And there it did both stop and stay

Right over the place where Jesus lay.

Nowell, &c.

Then did they know assuredly

Within that house the King did lie;

One entered in then for to see,

And found the Babe in poverty.

Nowell, &c.

Then enter'd in those Wise Men three

Most reverently upon their knee,

And offer'd there in his

presence,

Both gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.

Between an ox stall and an ass,

Nowell, &c.

This Child truly there born he was;
For want of clothing they did him lay
All in the manger, among the hay.

Then let us all with one accord

Nowell, &c.

Sing praises to our heavenly Lord,

That hath made heaven and earth of nought,

And with his blood mankind hath bought.

If we in our time shall do well,

Nowell, &c.

We shall be free from death and Hell,

For God hath prepared for us all

A resting place in general.

Nowell, &c.

WHEN CESAR AUGUSTUS.

When Cæsar Augustus had rais'd a taxation,
He assest all the people that dwelt in the nation;
The Jews at that time being under Rome's sway
Appear'd in the city their tribute to pay;
When Joseph and Mary, who from David did spring,
Went up to the city of David their King,
And there being enter'd cold welcome they find,
From the rich to the poor they are mostly unkind.

They sought entertainment, but none could they find,

Great numbers of strangers had filled the inn;
They knocked and called all this at the door,
But found not a friend where kind they had store;
Their kindred accounted they were come too soon,
Too late, said the innkeeper, here is no room.
Amongst strangers and kinsfolk cold welcome they

find,

From the rich to the poor they are mostly unkind.

Good Joseph was troubled, but most for his dear,
For her blessed burden whose time now drew near;
His heart with true sorrow was sorely afflicted
That his Virgin Spouse was so rudely neglected;

He could get no houseroom, who houses did frame,
But Joseph and Mary must go as they came;
For little is the favour the poor man can find,
From the rich to the poor they are mostly unkind.

Whilst the great and the wealthy do frolic in hall,
Possess all the groundrooms and chambers and all;
Whilst Joseph and Mary thrust into a stable
In Bethlehem city, ground inhospitable;
And with their mean lodging contented they be,
For the minds of the just with their fortunes agree,
They bear all affronts with their meekness of mind,
And be not offended tho' the rich be unkind.

No sooner was man betray'd into evil,
By the subtilty of Old Satan the Devil,

But God made a promise that the woman's seed,
In Jury now born, should bruise Satan's head.
O Bethlehem, Bethlehem, welcome this stranger
That was born in a stable and laid in a manger,
For he is a Physician to heal all our smarts—
Come welcome sweet Jesus, and lodge in our hearts.