The First Series was produced by George Ratcliffe Woodward, and for the second, later volume he was assisted by Charles Wood.
The origin of the title lies in a request for a carol book from the parish of St John, Cowley.
Good Christen Folk and Listen' and 'Come rock the cradle for Him' made their first appearances in the book.
There are many translations, from German, Latin and Greek included, and some are macaronic, that is, involving more than one language in a text..
The attractive 1927 edition of both volumes published by A. R. Mowbray & Co. Ltd. is printed on heavy deckle edge paper.