Variation II: Herod

Noel!

Herod that was both wild and wode,

Full much he shed of Christian blood,

To slay the Child so meek of mood,

that Mary bare, that clean may

Herod slew with pride and sin,

Thousands of two year and within;

The body of Christ he thought to win

And to destroy the Christian fay

Mary with Jesu forth yfraught

As the angel her taught,

To flee the land till it were sought,

To Egypt she took her way.

Now Jesus that didst die for us on the Rood,

And didst christen innocents in their blood,

By the prayer of Thy mother good,

Bring us to bliss that lasteth ay.