Man to father He hath none,
But Himself God alone!

Of a maiden He would be borne,

To save mankind that was forlorn! Mater, ora, etc.

Thre Kings brought Him presents, Gold, myrrh, and frankincense

To my Son full of might,

King of Kings and Lord of right!
Mater, ora, etc.

Fair maiden, pray for us
Unto thy Son, sweet Jesus,

That He will send us of His grace
In heaven on high to have a place!
Mater, ora, etc.

THE VIRGIN'S SON

Now sing we, sing we,

Gloria tibi domine!

Christ keep us all, as He well can,

A solis ortus cardine!

For He is both God and man,

Qui natus est de virgine!

Sing we, etc.

As He is Lord both day and night,
Venter puellæ baiulat,

So is Mary mother of might,
Secreta quæ non noverat.
Sing we, etc.

The holy breast of chastity,
Verbo concepit filium,

So brought before the Trinity,
Ut castitatis lilium!

Sing we, etc.

Between an ox and an ass
Enixa est puerpera;

In poor clothing clothed He was
Qui regnat super æthera!
Sing we, etc.

THE BEST SONG

All this time this song is best:
Verbum caro factum est!

This night there is a child born
That sprang out of Jesse's thorn;
We must sing and say thereforn
Verbum caro factum est!

Jesus is the child's name,
And Mary mild is his dame;
All our sorrow shall turn to game,
Verbum caro factum est!

It fell upon high midnight,

The stars shone both fair and bright,
The angels sang with all their might
Verbum caro factum est!

Now kneel we down on our knee,
And pray we to the Trinity,
Our help, our succour for to be!
Verbum caro factum est!

A MIRACULOUS MATTER

Man, move thy mind and joy this feast, Veritas de terra orta est!

As I came by the way

I saw a sight seemly to see,
Three shepherds ranging in a kay,
Upon the field keeping their fee.
A star, they said, they did espy,
Casting the beams out of the east,
And angels making melody

Veritas de terra orta est!

Upon that sight they were aghast,
Saying these words, as I say thee:
"To Bethlehem shortly let us haste,
And there we shall the truthe see!"
The angel said unto them all three,
To their comfort or ever he ceased,
"Consolamini and merry be,

Veritas de terra orta est!

"From heaven, out of the highest see,
Righteousness hath taken way,
With mercy meddled plenteously,
And so conceived in a may,
Miranda res this is in fay!

So saith the prophet in his gest:
Now is He born, scripture doth say:
Veritas de terra orta est!"

Then passed the shepherds from that place,
And followed by the starres beam,
That was so bright afore their face,

It brought them straight unto Bethlem. So bright it shone, on all the realm

Till they came there they would not rest, To Jewry and Jerusalem!

Veritas de terra orta est!

RICHARD DE CASTRÉ

PRAYER OF RICHARD DE CASTRÉ

Jesu, Lord, that madist me,

And with Thy blesséd blood hast bought, Forgive that I have greved Thee

With word, with wil, and eek with thought.

Jesu, in whom is al my trust,

That died upon the roodé tree, Withdrawe myr herte from fleshly lust, And from al worldly vanyte!

Jesu, for Thy woundis smerte

On feet and on Thyn handis two, Make me meeke and low of herte, And Thee to love as I should do.

Jesu, for Thy bitter wounde

That wente to Thine herte roote,
For synne that hath myn herte bounde,
Thy blessid blood mote be my boote.

And Jesu Christ, to Thee I calle,
That art God, full of might;
Keep me cleane, that I ne falle

In deadly sinne neither by day ne night.