[Read bold letters as super scripts.]
Sit yow merry Gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
for Jesus Christ is borne
to save or soules from Sattan's power
Whenas we runne astray
O tidings of comfort & joy
to save or soules from Satan
When as we runne away
O tidings of comfort & joy
In Bethlehem sweet Jury
this blessed babe was borne
And layd within A manger
upon this blessed morne
When as his mother mary
Did nothing take in Vaine
O tidings of comfort & joy
When as his mother mary
Did nothing take in Vaine
O tidings of comfort & joy
From God that was his father
A blessed angell came
And unto certaine sheepheards
brought tidings of the same
how that in Jury there was borne
the sonne of God by name
O tidings of comfort & joy
how yt in Jury there was borne
the sonne of god by name
O tidings of comfort & joy
O feare not say'd the Angell
Let nothing you affright
this day is borne a saviour
of vertue power and might
sufficient for to vanquish
the frandes of Sattan's quite
O tidings of comfort & joy &c
The sheepheards at this hearing
rejoyced much in minde
Did cease their sheepe a feeding
in tempest storms And winde
And went straight way to Bethelem
this blessed babe to finde
O this tidings of comfort & joy &c.
And when they came to bethlehem
whereat this infant lay
they found him in a manger
Where oxen fed with hay
the Virgin mary kneeling by
who to or Lord Did pray
O tidings of comfort & joy &c
With sudden joy and gladnesse
there sheepheards harts were fild
to see the babe of Israell
befor his mother milde
therefore with mirth And cheerefullnesse
rejoice each mothers childe
It is tidings of comfort & joy, et
Unto or lord sing praises
All you within this place
And wth true love and brotherhood
each other now embrace
this moving time of christmas
All malice now Eface
At this tidings of comfort & joy
this merry time of christmas
All malice now deface
At this tidings of comfort and joy
The editors of The New Oxford Book of Carols, 1992, say "God rest you merry gentlemen" is first found in Wm. Sandy's Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern, 1833. The above text, however, is from a MS of c 1650.