Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. (1863–1944). The Oxford Book of Ballads. 1910.
107107. The Three Kings
N
Father and Son together in one,
Holy Ghost us be on
In fere-a;
God send us a good New Year-a!
I would you sing, for and I might,
Of a Child is fair in sight;
His mother him bare this endris night
So still-a,
And as it was his will-a.
There came three Kings from Galilee
Into Bethlehem, that fair citie,
To seek to Him that e’er should be
By right-a
Lord and king and knight-a.
As they came forth with their off’ ring,
They met with Herod that moody king;
He askéd them of their coming
This tide-a,
And this to them he said-a.
‘Of whence be ye, you Kingés three?’—
‘Of the East, as you may see,
To seek to Him that should ever be
By right-a
Lord and king and knight-a.’—
‘When you at this Child have been,
Come you home this way again;
Tell me the sight that you have seen;
I pray-a,
Go you none other way-a.’
They took their leave both old and ying
Then of Herod that moody king;
They went forth with their offering
By light-a
Of the star that shone so bright-a.
Till they came into the place
Where Jesu and his mother was;
Offer’d they up with great solace
In fere-a
Gold, incense and myrrh-a.
When they had their offering made
As the Holy Ghost them bade,
Then they were both merry and glad
And light-a;
It was a good fair sight-a.
Anon, as on their way they went,
The Father of heaven an angel sent
To these three kings that made present
This tide-a,
And this to them he said-a:—
‘My Lord hath warn’d you every one
By Herod king you go not home,
For an you do he will you slone
And ’stroy-a,
And hurt you wonderly-a.’
So forth they went another way
Through the might of God his lay,
As the angel to them did say,
Full right-a;
It was a good fair sight-a.
When they came home to their countrie,
Glad and blithe they were all three
Of the sight that they had see;
By dene-a
The company was clean-a.
Kneel we now here a-down;
Pray we in good devotion
To the King of great renown,
Of grace-a
In heaven to have a place-a.
In fere] in company.endris] last.ying] young.slone] slay.lay] law.By dene] at once, or all together.