Fiue hundreth points of good husbandry vnited to as many of good huswiferie first deuised, & nowe lately augmented with diuerse approued lessons concerning hopps & gardening, and other needefull matters : together with an abstract before euery moneth, conteining the whole effect of the saide moneth : with a table & a preface in the beginning both necessary to be reade, for the better understandinge of the booke / set forth by Thomas Tusser ...

A Christmas Karrol of the byrth of Christ, vppon the tune of King Salomon. Chap. 27. (Book 27)

WAs not Christ ower Sauiour, sent vnto vs, from God aboue, not for ower good behauiour: but onely of his mercy & loue. if this be true, as true it is, truely in dede: Great thankes to God to yeld for this, then had we nede.

2

This did our God for a very trothe, to trayne to him, the soule of man, and iustly to performe his othe: to Sara & to Abraham than, that through his sede, all nations should blessed be: As in due time, performed he would, al flesh should see.

3

which wondrously is brought to passe, and in our sight al ready donne, By sending, as his promis was (to comfort vs) his onely sonne, euē Christ (I meane) that virgins childe in bethelem borne. that lamb of God, that prophet milde, with crowned thorne.

4

Such was his loue to saue vs all, from danger of the curse of God, that we stood in by Adams fall, & by our owne deserued rod that through his blood & holy name, to such as beleues, And flye from sinne, & abors the same, free mercye he geues.

5

For thease glad newes, this feast doth bringe to God, the Sonne and holy Ghoste, let man geue thankes reioyce & singe. from world to world, from coste to coste, for al other giftes so many wayes, that God doth send. Let vs in Christe, geue God the praise, while life shal end.

T. Tusser.

At Christmas be merye, & thankfull withall, & feast thy poore neighbours, y^e great with y^e small. yea al the yeare long▪ to the poore let vs geue: Gods blessing to follow vs, whiles we do leue.