Additional lyrics: (from the
Roxburghe Collection)
1. All hayle to the days that merite
more praise then all the rest of the year;
& welcome the nights, that double
delights as well for the poor as the peer:
Good fortune attend each merry man's
friend that doth but the best that he may,
Forgetting old wrongs with Carrols and
Songs to drive the cold winter away.
2. The Court all in state now opens
her gate an bids a free welcome to most;
The City likewise tho' somewhat
precise doth willingly part with her cost;
And yet, by report from City to Court
the Countrey gets the day:
More Liquor is spent, and better
content, to drive the cold winter away.
3. Thus none will allow of solitude
now, but merrily greets the time,
To make it appeare of all the whole
yeare that this is accounted the Prime,
December is seene apparel'd in greene
and January, fresh as May,
Comes dancing along with a cup or a
Song to drive the cold winter away.
4. This time of the yeare is spent in
good cheare, kind neighbours together to meet
To sit by the fire, with friendly
desire each other in love to greet:
Old grudges forgot are put in a pot,
all sorrows aside they lay;
The old and the young doth carrol this
Song, to drive the cold winter away.
5. To maske and to mum kind neighbours
will come with Wassels of nut-browne Ale,
To drinke and carouse to all in this
house, as merry as buck in the pale;
Where cake, bread and cheese, is
brought for yr fees to make you the longer stay;
The fire to warme will do you no harme,
to drive the cold winter away.
6. When Christmas tide comes in like a
Bride, with Holly and Ivy clad, --
Twelve dayes in the yeare much mirth
and good cheare in every household is had:
The Countrey guise is then to devise
some gambols of Christmas play;
Whereas the yong men do best that they
can to drive the cold winter away.
7. When white-bearded Frost hath
threatened his worst, & fallen from Branch &
Bryer,
& time away cals from husbandry
hals, & from the good countryman's fire,
Together to go to Plow and to sow, to
get us both food and array:
And thus with content the time we have
spent to drive the cold winter away.
