Page:Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern.djvu/134

 licensed to James Roberts in 1369; and Ritson (Bibl. Poet.) states that Moses Powell set forth (or meditated) “ A book of carolls” licensed to John Wolf, 11th December, 1587.

In 1597 was published at Edinburgh, “ Ane Compendiovs Booke of Godly and Spiritvall Songs, collectit, &c. for avoyding of Sinne and Harlotrie,” wherein are contained some carols. This collection, which was reprinted in 1801, was designed to supersede the use of profaner ballads, and the several songs and carols were adapted to popular tunes for that purpose; several of the latter are to be sung as Neen Major Neale.

In 1630, the following work was published with the intention of superseding the light species of carol then in use, “Certaine of David’s Psalmes, intended for Christmas Carolls, fitted to the most common but solempne tunes, every where familiarly used, by William Slatyr, printed by Robert Young, 1630.” 8vo.

Carols may occasionally be found in some of the writers of the seventeenth century, as in “Herrick’s Works” for instance, where there are several pieces of this description, which were set to music by Mr. Henry Lawes, for the purpose of being performed before the Court of Charles the First. In the collection of Anthony à Wood, in Oxford, (No. 100, a.) are contained “Christmas Carols, 1642.” “New Carols for the time of Christmas, 1661.” “Christmas Carols, fit also to be sung at Easter.” “New Christmas Carols, 1688,” &c. About the same time with this last mentioned, was published “A smale Garland of pious and godly Songs, composed by a devout man, for the solace of his friends and neighbours in their afflictions. Printed in Gent (Ghent), 1684,” small 8vo. This is said to have been published, like other works before mentioned, to