Masters In This Hall

Masters in this hall,
Hear ye news today
Brought from over sea,
And ever I you pray.

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

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Nowell, sing we cheer!
Holpen are all folk on Earth,
Born is God’s Son so dear.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Nowell sing we loud!
God today hath poor folk raised
And cast a-down the proud.

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

Quoth I, “Fellows mine,
Why this guise sit ye?
Making but dull cheer,
Shepherds though ye be?”

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Nowell, sing we cheer!
Holpen are all folk on Earth,
Born is God’s Son so dear.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Nowell, sing we loud!
God today hath poor folk raised
And cast a-down the proud.

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

Quoth these fellows then,
“To Bethlehem we go,
To see a mighty Lord
Lie in manger low.”

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Nowell, sing we cheer!
Holpen are all folk on Earth,
Born is God’s Son so dear.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Nowell, sing we loud!
God today hath poor folk raised
And cast a-down the proud.

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

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

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Nowell, sing we cheer!
Holpen are all folk on Earth,
Born is God’s Son so dear.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Nowell, sing we loud!
God today hath poor folk raised
And cast a-down the proud.