Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern/Annotated/In die Natiuitatis
IN DIE NATIUITATIS.
Meruele noȝt, iosep, on Mary mylde;
forsake hyr not they she be wᵗ chylde.
I iosep wonder how this may be,
That mary wex gret when y and she
euer haue leuyd in chastite;
If she be wᵗ chylde, hit ys not by me.
- Meruell not, Joseph.
The holy gost wᵗ mercifull disstens
In here hathe entryd wᵗ owte offens,
God and man conceyued by hys p̃sens,
An the virgyn pure wᵗ owte violens.
- Meruell no, ioseph.
Whatthe angell of god to me dothe say,
I ioseph muste and will vmble obay,
Ellys pꝛuely y wolde have stole a way,
But now will y srue her tille yᵗ y day.
- mũell not, iosep.
Joseph, thow shalt herᵉ mayde & moder fynde,
here sone redemptor of all man kynde,
Thy fore faders of paynes to unbynde;
There for muse not this mater in thy mynde.
- mũell not.