The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #120141   Message #4139749
Posted By: Lighter
21-Apr-22 - 10:27 AM
Thread Name: Origins: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Subject: RE: Origins: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Of the earliest appearance of the carol, Bruce Olson uncovered a manuscript version from ca1650, beating Oxford by 50 years:


https://www.csufresno.edu/folklore/Olson/SONGTXT1.HTM#FRDNKMD

The manuscript text, btw, is unpunctuated throughout.