All This Time This Song Is Best

All This Time This Song Is Best:
Verbum caro factum est

Words and Music: English Traditional, Before 1536

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), pp. 43-44

1. This night there is a Child (y)born,
That sprang out of Jesse's thorn;
We must sing and say thereforn:
Verbum caro factum est.

2. Jesus is the Childes name
And Mary mild is His dame,
All our sorrow is turned to game:¹
Verbum caro factum est.

3. It fell upon (the) high midnight,
The stars (they) shone both fair and bright,
The angels sang with all their might:
Verbum caro factum est.

4. Now kneel we down (up)on our knee,
And pray we to the Trinity,
Our help, our succor for to be.
Verbum caro factum est.

Note:

1. Joy. Return

Ed. Note:

Verbum caro factum est = The Word is made flesh.