A New Dialogue Between the Angel of God and the Shepherds in the Field
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The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
A new Dialog between thangell of God, & the Shepherdes in the field, concerning the natiuite and birthe of Jesus Christ our Lord, & Sauyoure, no less Godlye than sweet and pleasante to read, lately compyled by T. B.
Luc. ii.
Behold I bring you tiding of great Ioye, that shall come to all the people. For vn to you is borne this day in the Cytie of David, a Sauioure, which is Christ the Lord.
Esa. ix
A child is borne for our sake & a Son is given unto us, upon his shulder doth the kingdom lie, and he is called w t his own name, even, the wondrous gyuer of council, the mighty God, y e everlasting Father, the Prince of peace.
i. Timoth i.
This is a true saying, and by all means worthy to be received of us, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
.i. John. iii.
For this cause apeared the son of God, even to lowse the works of the devil.
The Dialoge.
Thangell speaketh.
A Swete message
From God so sage
Which to declare
Both nere and fare
To exclude care
Men have full longe
In bondage strong
Ben detained,
No liberty
To make them free
Founde could there be
In Adames fall
Both great and small
Throughe Satan's lure
In wickedness.
That lord almyght
Without excuse
Suche as ensuse
Works ethnicall.
Notwithstandyng
Theyr back slydyng
And grievous chance,
Of his mercy
Unto glory
Them all auaunce.
This gentle father
In no manner
Shall they truly
To his presence.
Before men's face
By Christ h
•
s son
For their ransom
The death to die.
Undeserued
Was promised
Of God above
For very love
Of a maid pure
Is he borne sure
Which wyckedlie
They wrought indeed.
This child alone
Shall put away.
Who so embrace
His loving face
Shall want no grace
Nor yet decay.
He is the king
Obeyeth humbly,
He is the lord
By whose concord
All things restorde
Shall be plainly.
He is the peace
Uvhiche shall release
All our disease
And grievous pain,
He is the stay
By whom we may
Glorye obtain.
He is the truth
Uviche doth all ruthe
Clene put away,
He is the life
Is no more ryfe
But sone decay.
On every side
Doth his people save,
He is the health
Uvithouten stealth
Men ought to crave.
He is the light
That is so bright
To show the way,
He will unlock
He is the lover
The mediator
If that we call
Thoughe we be thrall
He will us all
Unto him pull.
Pleasures many
Treasures plenty
Shall men truly
Of him receive,
Who so that will
Shall have his fill
Without deceive.
Which Satan ruyse
Without excuse
God commanded
That I, thangell
To them that well
Receyue this rate
Earely or late
Wyll by no wise.
To teache this lore
Behold I se
In this contre
Of small degree
Shepherdes watchyng,
Which now this night
With all their might
Theyr flocks reastyng.
From all pride far
These simple men are
Therefore declare
To them will I,
God's good pleasure
That this joy sure
Maye in them dure
Eternally.
Upon this londe
Fre or yet bond
By them to stonde
I will now plain,
And tell them true
These tydynge snewe
Which shall ensewe
Shortly certain.
What doth it mene
That on this grene
As persons lene
They loke dismayde,
That shine so bright
Now in their sight
Make them afraid.
The Shepherds speak.
O Lord God what work have we here?
Uvhat meaneth this meruelous great light
The Element was never so clear
That ever we saw in any night
Good lord save us and all our sheep
That none of us perish at all,
Gyue us grace ever well to keep
That we have charge of both great and small.
Hrom the wolffe that ravening beast
Defende our sheep, Lord we pray the
And give us all this night good reaste
For of this light sore afraid are we.
Thangell.
Be not afraid
Nothyng decayde
Shall be in you,
Your sheep harmless
Shall be certes
Therefore dystres
Look ye exchewe.
To comfort you
With tiding new
Uvhiche shall ensue
I am now come,
God's messengere
Both far and nere
To you now here
Am I come down.
Myrth and pleasaunce
Texchewe greuaunce
Is my portaunce
That I now bring,
Your hearts therefore
Have ye in store
And evermore
Mark my saying.
The Shepherdes.
We think by thy cōmunicacion
That thou wilt not in any wise
Hurte us or our flock at this season
But to do
•
s good rather devise
Seyng that thou art so minded
And sayst more ou
•
r also,
That of God thou art appointed
Ioyefull tyd
•
nges to bring us to
Saye on we pray the hertely
Uvhat so ever thou haste to say
we will hear the dyl gently
And do there after if we may
Thangell.
News that I bring
Come from that king
Oweth obeysaunce,
So of duty
Ought ye truly
Your minds apply
To attendaunce.
No point of sadness
But all gladness
Do I certes
Brynge unto you,
Which not to one
Personne alone
But to eche one
Shall chance full true.
The news are this
Uwithout any mys
This day borne is
In the City
Of David free
Christ calde is he
A lord of power.
The Shepherdes.
These are news full of all plesaunce
And is Christ, sayste thou, borne in deed,
Surely this is a full good chance
He shall help us I trust, in our need.
Uve have
•
oked for him full longe
For he is our true Messias,
The Romans have done us great wrong
And holden us in a pyteous case.
But we are glad he is come now
I trust that by him we shall be,
Delyuered from all sorrow
And set again at liberty.
He shall be king and reign over all
On h
•
s head the crown imperial
Shall be set forever and aye.
All kingdoms thorough him shall bow
To us and our people Judaical,
All nations universal shall now
Take us for chief and pryncipall.
Uve shall abound with all riches
Glorye and honor have shall we,
Now blessed mought
•
ur new king be.
Thangell.
But now one thing
Of this your king
Gyue you warning
I must certes,
Spiritual
His Realm royal
Not outwardly
His Impery
Is appointed,
By his spirit
To rule eche wyghte
Is his sole right
If therefore you
Look for rescue
Of your king new
That you eche one
And other none
Deceyued are ye.
The Shepherdes.
Why good syr I pray you tell us
Is not this that same Messias
Uvhiche by his power so wondrous
Shall make us all free in eche case?
Thangell.
It is even he
Uvhiche with great gle
Not outwardly
But inwardly
Tryumphantly
This thing be shall.
The Shepherdes.
Yet syr all we full well hoped
That b
•
the power of this our king,
Uv
•
Jew
•
should be delyuir
•
d
From the
•
omans cruel handling.
Uve hoped also I tell you plain
That we vnd
•
r our
•
essias,
Shu
•
d great victor
•
es obtain
And so worthy livings purchase.
Thangell.
Your messias
In every place
From all evil case
Shall you defend,
His servants true
Shall this king new
Unto the ende.
Notwithstandyng
Mark my saying
This your new king
Is appointed,
Uvithin your breast
So is it best
Determyned.
In hall or bowre
Uvith great honor
Suche as be kind
Uvithout all fear.
Shall in no wise
Ones enterprise
You to damage,
Defende you all
Dubtles he shall
Both great and small
The Shepherdes.
If his power be not external
To reign with great aucthorite,
Nor he a Prince imperial
Uvhat than shall we the better be?
Uvhat enemies shall he subdue
Or of them get the victory?
We se not, what joy shall ensue
Why we should rejoice so greatly.
Thangell.
FOr to rejoice
All with one voice
Makyng sweet noise
Great cause ye have,
Ye were all lorne
In Satanes scorn
But he is borne
Uvhiche shall you save.
Thorowe Adam
In goodness lame
And so damned,
Chyldren of ire
By your grande Syre
His wickedness
And sin all one,
Broubgte misery
Generally
To your great mone.
By his great sin
Never to blynne
From evil doing,
By your free will
Can ye fulfill
In your working.
Your powers all
In goodness small
Without virtue,
Not a good thought
Can ones be wrought
Ye are so naught
And evil ensue.
Bonde to Satan
Both now and than
Is every man
So that now ye
Are no more free
But as ye se
Parsonnes all lorne.
The Law again
Proueth certain
You sinners still,
In no degree
So faithful be
The Law transgress
Ye do certesse
Eche one of you,
It to fulfill
But remain still
So of reason
Ye are eche one
Therefore again
Nothyng but pain
To you pertain
Eternally.
Thus to Satan
Is every man
Greuously bond,
So that in hell
With Satan fell
And therein stonde.
Have ye in heart
For your merit,
So that now ye
By equite
Damned must be
Of very right.
In this distress
Nothynge at all,
Your whole desarte
Is to depart
Into hell smarte
Perpetual.
The Shepherdes.
Ah syr a, now well perceive we
That we are in a far worse case
Than we thought our selves for to be
By Adam, say you, is this come to pass?
Thangell.
By Adam sure
You to endure
In damnation,
His wickedness
Is yours certes
Brynggynge endless
Destruction.
The Shepherdes.
Seynge that the matter stand so
Uvhat means shall we than invent,
To be delivered from this woe
And to have grace unto us sent?
Ah syr a, Synne, Death, Satan, and hell,
Are they our enemies so grievous
That all other they do excel
And of all are moste myscheuous?
It is time with all haste in deed
To hunt after some remedy,
Lest Satan that moste wicked seed
Destroye us perpetually.
Tell us therefore thou messenger
If from the high God thou be sent,
Howe we shall escape this danger
For in great sorrow are we pent.
Thangell.
Dowe in sadness
Are ye certes
But great gladness
Shall to you chance,
If that ye wake
And the news take
Uvhiche greatly make
To your pleasaunce.
This your sorrow
Even and morrow
Christ your borowe
Shall put away,
With mirth and gle
Replete shall he
All your hearts free
For ever and aye.
The occasion
Of his descension
At this season
Is now only,
To put to fiyght
Your enemies might
That in his sight
Ye may glory.
That is so sour
By his puysaunce,
Shall Christ vanquishe
And extynguishe
To your plesaunce.
Shall now or than
That faithful is,
So weak and thrall
Satan's pour shall
The other all
In general
Your foes mortal
Shall come to naught,
By Christ your king
Every thing
To your pleasynge
Shall be so wrought.
With all her saw
You to damnation,
Christ of free will
To your joy still
By his perfection.
That heuytylte
Nomore be spylte
Christ's virtue
And eke rescue
With puyssaunte main.
On every side
Menne to devour,
Christ maynly shall
As prince royal
Subdue for thrall
By his strong pour.
Desperacion
Work damnation
Shall after this,
Make hense to fly
Ennemyes none
Shall work you mone
Shall for you fight,
His good will is
That after this
And heavenly sight.
The Shepherdes.
Hayre cheue the for thy good tiding
Uviche are to us all full pleasant,
Uvel worth him that such good news vriges
That it may be so the Lord grant.
But how shall those things come to paste
A good fellawshyppe no we tell us,
For we greatly desire in this case
To be taught of the so bounteous.
Thangell.
CHriste your new king
Every thing
To pass shall bring
By his puyssaunce,
He shall devour
By his strong pour
All your doloure
And great greuaunce.
He now full low
In age shall grow
And over flowe
With all wisdom,
Where so they dwell
As scriptures tell
He shall right sone.
Of time certes
It shall him please
Baptysed to be,
That on this wise
He may deuyse
To make you free.
This do he shall
To make you all
That in his sight
With godly light
Ye may shine bright
And so endure.
The word of blys
He shall speak still
And there until
Euer apply.
And heavenly law
He shall labor,
From cecite
Dubtles shall be
His endeuoure.
Where sever he go
Both to and fro
His good preaching
He doth nothing
Fantasticall.
The blind to sight
For to restore,
You to auaunce
From all greuaunce
Shall be evermore.
Notwithstandyng
His true preaching
And good working
Many shall be,
His aduersaryse
Which shall deuyse
His death to se.
Byshoppescruell
That are so fell
Agaynst them that mell
With any goodness,
Lyke botchers blody
Work vylany
Agaynst him causles.
The Pharisees
The Scribes certes
With the Lawers,
With sutle engynne
His great ruyne
To work euers.
As worthy blame
They shall dyffame
With mad dotage
They shall so rage
In every age
His doctrine pure
That heavenly lure
All they shall sure
Call heresy,
The word of grace
So to deface
In every place
They shall be busy.
Yet so to cease
Theyr great madness
Tyll they have brought,
Therefore with strife
Shall they be ryfe
That this besoughte.
His disciple plain
They shall obtain
Never leaving
Tyll they him bring
To his ending
Out of their way.
They shall men tire
For money hire
Ungracious,
Money nor ware
Shall they ones spare
For to declare
Theyr acts myscheuous.
In conclusion
With expedicion
Unto confusion
Christ for to bring,
They shall labor
With all their pour
Mothe dishonoure
Therby working.
Christ your comfort
They shall truly,
Full of dysdayne
Shall they certain
Speak spitefully.
They shall so rage
That in mockage
Christ wise and sage
Bowynge theyrkne
Saynge AUe
With game and gle
Both great and small.
A crown of thorn
As one forlorn
Shall he also wear,
Put on he shall
In mockage all
Shall be this gear.
Buffettes many
And strypes plenty
Of those scorners
This for your sake
Shall he than take
And so peace make
For your manners.
So at the last
These things being paste
They shall nail fast
Hym to the cross,
Moste grievous pain
Shall he sustain
You to refrain
From damnable loss.
His body red
For you damned
Shall be certes,
From all your mone
Shall ye eche one
Be made gyltles,
The facrifice
That shall suffice
For your ill gyse
Is christe alone,
His precious blood
Shedde on the rood
Shall make you good
Before God's throne.
One oblation
At his passion
Unto perfection
Shall all them bring,
Which have intent
Synne to repent
And not dissent
No man decaythe
As scripture saith
Which hath trne faith
Inchristes blood
Shall make him pure
So to endure
Both mylde and good.
Purgatory
To puryfie
Is none at all,
But Christ's blood
Shedde on the rood
Which make you good
And immortal.
Christ's passion
Is the rannson
From damnation
To make you free,
By that your det
So that no let
At all have ye.
Every day
Come now alway
To God boldly,
Hath made you nere
To God all clear
And his glory.
Therin to dwell
As scriptures tell
But unto blysse
Where great joy is
There without mysse
With Christ to reign.
Christ of God's grace
In every place
Shall this purchase
By his sweet blood,
By him so free
This liberty
Obtayne shall ye
Thus seye now
That from sorrow
Christ your borowe
Shall make you free,
No domage shall
Work you at all
So blessed are ye.
The Shepherdes.
To here these news we moche delyghte
But this one thing greueth us greatly,
Must so cruelly the death die.
Thangell.
Greue you it shall
Thoughe it so fall
For with strong main,
On the third day
Foreuer and aye
As Scriptnres say
Shall he rise again.
The death to die
For you truly
Necessary
Doubtless it is,
Or else never
Coulde ye entre
And persevere
In joyful blys.
For you obtain
Fredome from pain
Shall without doubt,
His oblacton
Shall get pardon
For your transgression
Now round about.
But as he shall
For your sins all
Both great and small
So in like fashion
After his passion
For your Iustificacion
Shall he rise again.
Than righteous
By grace bounteous
The victory
Gettynge plainly
Of your enmye
Satan alone.
And other none
Your enemyse eche one
Shall put to flyght,
Satan and hell
With sin so fell
And death cruel
With all their might.
Gloriously
For you truly
The victory
Shall he purchase,
Shall come you till
Sall you with grace.
The Shepherdes.
This chereth us gayly well at the hartte
Fayre theue the for these thy good news,
God let the from us never depart
Tyll thou haste told us all that ensuyse.
Uvhat shall become than on our king
So good, so gentle, so beneficial,
Shall he alway be remaynynge
Here in this world terrestrial▪
Thangell.
For he shortly
Shall bodily
Ascende again,
To his father
With him ever
There to remain.
The Shepherdes.
Black, alacke than socourles
Shall we be leafte, vf he go away,
Our enemies shall us oppress
And we again shall all decay.
Thangell.
Nay, nay, not so
Thoughe he hens go
Shall ye be free,
A confortoure
From God's own bowre
That heavenly lowre
Sende down shall he.
The Shepherdes.
Uvhat shall he be, I peaye the tell us
For this work us great woe and smarte,
That this our king full bounteous
Shulde so shortly from us depart.
Thangell.
Of power moste
To every cost
Shall he send down,
Unto the ende
Suche as amende
Theyr conversation.
He doubtless shall
Preserue them all
Manly arise,
He at no tide
Uvyllones abide
That they shall slyde
In any wise.
Uvith godly might
For to endyghte
He shall not cease,
That puyssantly
They may truly
Satan's fury
Resiste at ease.
Affectes carnal
That make men thrall
Exclude he shall
From the Christian,
Uvith heavenly grace
In every place
Fyllynge the trace
Of faithful men,
This holy spirit
Shall lead aryghte
The Christens sight
That they easily
Hipocrisye
That falshede ensueth.
With virtues pure
This spirit shall sure
By influence,
Of gifts divine
Wherto all fine
They shall enclyne
Without offense.
This good spirit
Shall inhabit
Christian men's hearts,
Wiche shall them gyde
At every tide
And put a side
All woes and smartes.
All vice to fie
Teache you shall he
At eche season,
That forever
Ye may perseuet
In God's favor
And his kingdom.
Thus se ye now
That in sorrow
Christ your borowe
By his spirit
Agaynst Satan's might
He will for you fight
Faythfull and true.
The Shepherdes.
All these things please us right well
So ioyefull newee they to us bring,
But we all pray the, us now tell
What shall become of our new king.
Thangell.
Christ your new king
In heaven sitting
Shall a dwelling
That after this
In ioyefull blys
To abide there.
Early and late
Shall he be sure,
To pleate ever
All your matter
Before his father
To make you pure.
He will not blynne
You for to wynne
Agayne to grace,
Of the father
By his prayer
All this favor
Shall he purchase,
The Shepherdes.
But what, when shall he come again
Shall our king there ever remain
And work us than no more pleasaunce?
Thangell.
From the high see
Of God's majesty
At the last day,
Indyfferent
Uvith pour extent
For ever and aye.
Christ the Judge than
Of every man
As it is fytte,
The evil to pain
The good again
To joy certain
Shall he commytte.
Than shall all you
A glory new
Receyue certes,
Of this your king
Uvith him reygnynge
In one dwelling
For aye doubtless.
His servants all
Receyue than shall
Uvith high solace,
But all joy plain
Shall ye sustain
In that good place.
The Shepherdes.
Of this our king so lyberall,
Seynge he hath all things in store
That make to our health eternal?
Our king ye say, is God's own son
Equall with his father in pour,
which from his high throne is come down
To vanquyshe Satan, that is so sour.
Of a Mayde pure without man's seed
Is he borne by ghostly inspiracion,
All our deformyties out to wede
which we toke of Adams procreation.
He shall not only be our king
Truly teaching us every thing
That pertain to a Christian manner.
His godly doctrine he also shall
Uvith miracles approve and fortyfie.
Declarynge hereby unto all
That he is Messias unfeignedly.
But the Bishops and preestes also
with the Lawers and Pharisees,
Scribes, Sad
•
ces and many mo
Shall seek all means him to displease.
His sermons they shall callumniate
And his innocence dyffame,
Appliynge nether early nor late
They shall so increase in fury
That their malice shall never cease,
T
•
ll they have slain him cruelly
To satisfy their wickedness.
His own disciple shall they allure
Christ his Master for to betray,
Gyuynge him gifts to make him sure
That from his purpose he go not away.
False witness also shall they hire
Agaynste Christ our true lord and king,
To accomplyshe their wicked desire
That unto death they may him bring.
wherewith he shall be greatly vered,
To the cross than shall he be sent
Unto the death to be scurged.
So that the conclusion shall be
That his sweet badye shall be slain.
And his precious blood shed on the tree
To release all our sinful pain.
But he shall rise again the third day
Lyke a lord puysaunte and bounteous.
That before God the father we may
Euer appere Just and righteous,
Than to the heavens ascend he shall
Both God and man by his divine pour,
Syttynge on the right hand eternal
Of God the father at eche hour.
For us shall he without ceasynge
Praye there unto God his father,
His prayers hereto appliynge
That in grace we may persevere.
Moreover to us shall he send
The holy Ghoste from the heavens high,
Uvhiche shall preserve us unto the ende
This holy spirit shall garnyshe
Our minds with virtues aboundante,
And to abstain from works deuylyshe
Grace ever to us shall he grant,
At the last day shall he again
Return unto the great judgment,
The evil shall he committee to pain
The good to glory shall be sent.
O what a glorious king have we
Howe gentle, howe good, howe liberal,
Now blessed mought Messias be
which to such glory doth us call.
Fayne would we se this our new king
Gladly now would we him visit,
For never was there any thing
wherein we had so great delyghte,
Tell us therefore we pray the all
Uvhyther we shall go for to find,
This our new king a prince royal
whom we all love with heart and mind.
Thangell.
If that ye be
Mynded to se
Your king so free
Corporally,
Is he demure
With Mary pure
Unfaynedly.
There shall ye find
Your king so kind
After the mind
Which that city
Of David free
Confess to be
There unto set.
And that ye may
Now in your way
All your iournaye
The better make
I shall you tell
Howe ye may well
Of Christ so bell
True knowledge take.
The child swaddled
And reposed
In a maunger,
Shall ye there find
Yet let your mind
To him be kind
And soperseuer.
In pouerte
Thoughe ye him se
The lord of all
So to be borne
For you all lorne
He thought no scorn
As know ye shall.
He is of Mary
That ye boldly
Shulde to him come,
If he did wear
All pryncelyke gear
So would ye fear
This his kingdom.
But poor I wys
Become he is
That you by this
Maye be rytched,
Maketh you to be
Both rich and free
Undaungered.
Be not therefore
Dysmaied the more
Because in store
He hath such need,
True zachary
Of his penury
In very deed.
And that ye may
Knowe that I say
To be true alway
And without lie,
With me that bring
This glad rydyng
Ye shall hear sing
Angels many.
The Shepherdes.
O heavenly noise and plesaunte sight
O tiding full of all solace,
To gloryfie God it
•
s right
From whom alone proceedeth all grace.
The Ang
•
lles are now from us gone
Thorowe their tiding is all mone
Utterly from us excluded,
Uvhat than doth there yet now remain
But that to Bethlehem we make haste,
Aud with our eyes se the tiding certain
which God hath shown us at the last.
Moche are we bound undoubtedly
To this our lord omnipotent
Which of his great grace and mercy
Hath these tiding unto us sent,
Greatly also before all other
Are we sheph rdes poor and miserable.
Bounde to this our lord and mayest
•
r
For these news sweet and confor
•
able,
He hath not openned them to
••
nges
To Bishops, to Priests, to Lawers,
But to us simple and poor mysers,
To us to us which are counted
Uery slaves before the worlds sight,
Are these joyful news openned
To confoōde the wicked worldlings might,
The wicked worldlings cannot abide
This our, new king the lord Ihesus,
For they reject and
••
st a side
Both him and his word as venomous.
Herod will persecute doubtless
The Bishops, the Priests, the Pharisees,
will surely commytte no less offense.
The poor in spirit are fytte only
To receive Christ and his preaching,
The wise worldlings count it folly
In worldly goods is their delight
Gorgious houses are their plesaunce
Sumptuousl
•
before men's sight
To be decked is their pastaunce
Delicately also to fare
Is all their whole delectacion.
Is their whole study and intencion.
These wicked worldlings therefore
And belly God's voluptuous.
Althoughe never so bounteous
For this cause hath our lord God sent
To us shepherds simple and rusticall,
These news so good so excellent.
Let us therefore without
•
aryaunce
Go and vysite this our new king
That we may enjoy that plesaunte
which the Angel to us did bring.
Let us all with humble reverence
Go unto our true Messias,
Beholdyng his royal presence
Althoughe in a vile and homely place.
And though we have no worldly treasure
To offer to this our new king,
Yet let us bring hearts meek and pure
which shall be to him well pleasyng.
Hartes full of faith and charity
To Christ our king let us offer,
Beleuynge truly that this is he
which is our king and Redemer.
In him alone, in him alone
Let us put all our confidence,
Let us scake salvation at none
But only at his divine presence
Let us love him unfeignedly
With a true heart and faithful mind,
Seakyng evermore his glory
which is to us so gentle and kind.
To god the father omnipotent
which of his mere mercy and grace,
Hath unto us this treasure sent
Let us live worthy his ayndnes
In all our life and conversation,
And such wise sake him to please
That we may ane the heavenly mansion.
AMEN.
Gyue the glory to God alone.
Uirescit vulnere virtus.
Imprynted by me John̄ Daye dwelling in Sepulchers paryshe a little above Holbourne Conduit.
Cum priuilegio Regali. Ad imprimendum solum.