From A Garland of Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern edited by Joshua Sylvester (London: John Camden Hotten, 1861), page 144:


NAY, IVY, NAY!

This quaint Carol is of the time of Henry VI. Stow says, "Every man's house of olde time was decked with Holly and Ivie in the winter, especially at Christmas." It appears that formerly it was the custom at this season to set up in each village a long pole, decked with Holly and Ivy, after the fashion of the May-pole in summer time.

From the Stationer's books we learn that W. Copland paid 4d. for a licence from the company, to print "A ballette entitled holy and hyve."

[CHORUS] Nay, Ivy, nay, it shall not be, I wis,
Let Holly have the mastery as the manner is.

[1] Holly standeth in the hall fair to behold,
Ivy stands without the door; she is full sore a cold.

[2] Holly and his merry men, they dance now and they sing;
Ivy and her maidens, they weep, and their hands wring.

[3] Ivy hath a lybe,* she caught it with the cold,
So may they all have, that do with Ivy hold.

[4] Holly he hath berries, as red as any rose,
The foresters, the hunters, keep them from the does.

[5] Ivy she hath berries as black as any sloe,
There come the owls and eat them as they go.

[6] Holly he hath birds a full fair flock,
The nightingale, the poppinjay, the gentle laverock.

[7] Good Ivy, say to us, what birds hast thou,
None but the owlet that cries How! How!


* This word is not explained by any glossary.