Page:Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern.djvu/133

 of signatures. He gives some specimens, (from which I have taken the liberty of selecting,) and describes some of the songs as very gross. He states that the volume, or volumes, were probably printed between 1546 and 1552, during which time Kele lived at the long shop in the Poultry, and at the sign of the eagle near unto the Stocks Market, in Lombard-street. I have understood this curious volume to he in the possession of Sir Francis Freeling. In Brand’s “Popular Antiquities,” a collection of carols, black letter, and imperfect, is stated to be in the possession of Mr. Douce.

Tusser introduces a carol to the tune of King Salomon, of which the following are four of the lines.

On March 4th, 1559, there is a receipt entered in the register of the Stationers’ Company from Ralph Newbery, for his licence for printing a ballad called “ Kynge Saloman.”

In 1562, John Tysdale had a licence for printing “Certayne goodly carowles to be songe to the glory of God.” Again, “Crestenmas Carowles auctorisshed by my lord of London.” A ballad of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba is entered in 1567; and in 1569, an “Enterlude for boyes to handle and to passe tyme at Christimas.” More instances follow.

Thomas Becon, who died in 1570, published “Christmasse carols, very new and godly.” His works were printed by John Day in 1563, fol.

Christopher Payne published “Christenmas carrolles,”