Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/42

xxxviii blessed, oure Lord Jesu Crist; thorghe whom, Adam and alle that comen of him, scholde be saved and delyvered from drede of Dethe withouten ende, but it be here own defaute."

Many pages might be filled from all sorts of writers in illustration of the present topic, but possibly my readers will be better pleased with examples from the popular literature of our own country and time. Moralities, miracle plays, mysteries, and carols drew largely from apocryphal materials, and were all the more popular in consequence. Confining myself to Carols, I select three from a chap-book printed in or about 1843 at Birmingham. The resemblance between these and some of our Apocryphal Gospels will not be called in question.

"When Joseph was an old man, an old man was he, And he married Mary the Queen of Galilee; When Joseph he had his cousin Mary got, Mary proved with child, by whom Joseph knew not.

As Joseph and Mary walked the garden gay, Where cherries were growing upon every spray; O then bespoke Mary with words so meek and mild, "Gather me some cherries, for I am with child:

1 The Voiage and Travaile of Sir John Maundeville, Kt; which treateth of the way to Hierusalem; and of Marvayles of Inde, with other Ilands and Countryes. London, 1725. Reprinted 1839. (Cap. II. Of the Crosse and the Croune of oure Lord Jesu Crist.)