God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

[5] A precisely datable reference to the carol is found in the November 1764 edition of the Monthly Review.

[13][14] An article in the March 1824 issue of The Gentleman's Magazine complains that, in London, no Christmas carols are heard "excepting some croaking ballad-singer bawling out 'God rest you, merry gentlemen', or a like doggerel".

[17] The following version of the first verse is found in a manuscript dating from the early 1650s:[3][18] Sit yow merry Gentlemen Let nothing you dismay for Jesus Christ is borne to save or soules from Satan's power Whenas we runne astray —O tidings of comfort & joy —to save or soules from Satan —When as we runne away —O tidings of comfort & joy A later version is found in Three New Christmas Carols, dated c. 1760.

Its first verse reads: God rest ye, merry Gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, For Jesus Christ our Saviour Was born upon this Day.

This is the case already in the 1775 variant, and is also reflected by Dickens' replacement of the verb rest by bless in A Christmas Carol.

A variant text was printed in 1775 in The Beauties of the Magazines, and Other Periodical Works, Selected for a Series of Years.

God rest you, merry gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, Remember Christ our Saviour Was born on Christmas-day To save poor souls from Satan's power, Which long time had gone astray.

God rest you merry, gentlemen Let nothing you dismay For Jesus Christ, our Saviour Was born upon this day, To save us all from Satan's power When we were gone astray.

With sudden joy and gladness, The shepherds were beguil'd, To see the Babe of Israel Before his mother mild.

Fear not, then said the Angel, Let nothing you affright, This day is born a Saviour Of virtue, power and might; So frequently to vanquish all The friends of Satan quite.

But when to Bethlehem they came, Whereat this Infant lay, They found Him in a manger, Where oxen feed on hay; His mother Mary kneeling, Unto the Lord did pray: –O tidings ... 5.

Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place Like we true loving brethren, Each other to embrace, For the merry time of Christmas Is coming on a-pace.

The Shepherds at those tidings Rejoiced much in mind, And left their flocks a feeding In tempest, storm and wind, And went to Bethlehem straightway, This blessed babe to find.

But when to Bethlehem they came, Whereas this infant lay, They found him in a manger, Where oxen feed on hay, His mother Mary kneeling Unto the Lord did pray.

Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place, And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace; This holy tide of Christmas All other doth deface.