Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern/Annotated/A Song on the Ivy and the Holly
A SONG ON THE IVY AND THE HOLLY.
Nay iuy, nay, hyt shall not be, I wys,
Let holy hafe þe maystry as þe maner ys.
Holy stond in þe hall fayre to behold,
Iuy stond wᵗout þe dore, she ys ful sore a cold.
- Nay iuy, &c.
Holy & hys mery men þey dawnsyn & þey syng,
Iuy and hur maydenys þey wepyn & þey wryng.
- Nay, &c.
Ivy hath a lyve she laghtyt wᵗ þe colde,
So mot þey all ha fae þᵗ wᵗ jvy hold.
- Nay iuy, nay, hyt, &c.
Holy hat berys as rede as any rose,
The foster þe hunters kepe hem fro þe dos.
- Nay iuy, nay, hyt, &c.
Iuy hath berys as blake as any slo,
Ther com þe oule & ete hym as she goo.
- Nay iuy, nay, hyt, &c.
Holy hath byrdys a ful fayre flok,
The nyghtyngale, þe perpyinguy, þe gayntyl lauyrok.
- Nay, &c.
Gode iuy what byrdys ast þᵘ?
Non but þe howlat þᵗ kreye how how.
- Nay iuy, nay, hyt shal not, &c.