Lyr. Add: CHRISTMAS CAROL (Good Ale)

The burden or chorus:
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell *[Nowell, nowell, nowell all]
This is the salutation of the angel Gabriel.
Tidings true there be come new, sent from the Trinity,
By Gabriel to Nazareth, city of Galilee:
A clean maiden and pure virgin, Through her humility
Hath conceived the person second in Deity.

Bring us in good ale, good ale, *[And bring us in good ale:]
For our blessed Lady's sake, bring us in good ale.
Bring us in no brown bread, for that is made of bran,
Nor bring us in no white bread, For therein is no gain.
But bring us in good ale, good ale, And bring us in good ale.
For our blessed Lady's sake, Bring us in good ale.

About 1460, from William Chappell, The Ballad Literature and Popular Music of the Olden Time, vol. 1, p. 42 (Dover reprint), with music, section on English minstrelsy.
* [] May be omitted at pleasure; "added, because there would not otherwise be music enough for the "Wassail Song."