Hymns for Private Use: I. Virga Rosa Virginum

Nowell, ell, ell, ell, ell, ell, ell, ell, ell, ell, ell,

Mary was greeted by Gabriel

Mary mother, meek and mild,

Fro shame and sin that ye us shield,

For great on ground ye go with child,

    Gabriele nuncio.

Mary mother, be not adread,

Jesu is in your body bred,

And of your breast He will be fed,

    Cum pudoris lilio.

Mary mother, the fruit of thee

For us was nailëd on a tree,

In heaven is now His majesty,

    Fulget Resurreccio.

Mary mother, the thirdë day

Up He rose, as I you say,

To hell He took the rightë way,

    Motu fertur proprio.

Mary mother, after thy Son,

Up thou styest5 with him to wone6

The angels were glad when thou wert come,

    In celi palacio.