And finally (I think!) the version from Gillington's, Old Christmas Carols of the Southern Counties. Here's the text. I'll post the tune later. Although she definitely got the words from travellers ("To make sure of the words I would have them sent on by letter..."), I'm not so sure about the tune. For this carol there are three different melodies (v1-3, v2-4, v5), not impossible I suppose, but perhaps unusual.

Mick

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IN DESSEXSHIRE AS IT BEFEL


In Dessexshire, as it befel,
A farmer there, as I know well,
On a Christmas day as it happened so,
Down in the meadows he went to plough.

As he was a-ploughing on so fast,
Our Saviour Christ came by at last;
He said, "O man, why dost thou plough,
So hard as it do blow and snow?"

The man he answer'd the Lord with speed:-
"For to work we have great need,
If we wasn't to work all on that day
We should want some other way."

For his hands did tremble and pass to and fro,
He ran so fast that he could not plough;
And the ground did open and let him in
Before he could repent his sin.

His wife and children were out at play;
And all the world consumed at last;
And his beasts and cattle all died away
For breaking of the Lord's birthday.


Source: Alice E Gillington: Old Christmas Carols of the Southern Counties, 1910