Masters In This Hall

1. Masters in this Hall
Hear ye news to-day
Brought from over sea
And ever I you pray.

[Chorus:]
Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Nowell, sing we clearl
Holpen are all folk on earth
Born is God's son so dear
Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Nowell, sing we loudl
God to-day hath poor folk raised
And cast a-down the proud.

2. Going o'er the hills
Through the milk-white snow
Heard I ewes bleat
While the wind did blow.

3. Shepherds many an one
Sat among the sheep
No man spake more word
Than they had been asleep.

4. Quoth I, "Fellows mine
Why this guise sit ye?
Making but dull cheer
Shepherds though ye be?

5. "Shepherds should of right
Leap and dance and sing
Thus to see ye sit
Is a right strange thing".

6. Quoth these fellows then
"To Bethlem town we go
To see a mighty lord
Lie in manger low".

7. "How name ye this lord
Shepherds?' then said I
"Very God," they said,
"Come from Heaven high".

8. Then to Bethlem town
We went two and two
And in a sorry place
Heard the oxen low.

9. Therein did we see
A sweet and goodly may
And a fair old man
Upon the straw she lay.

10. And a little child
On her arm had she
"Wot ye who this is?"
Said the hinds to me.

11. Ox and ass him know
Kneeling on their knee
Wondrous joy had I
This little babe to see.

12. This is Christ the Lord
Masters be ye glad!
Christmas is come in
And no folk should be sad.