Page:Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern.djvu/139

 an old poem about the year 1400, Karesme brings to his aid all the fishes, both of sea and fresh water, vegetables, pulse, cheese, milk, &c. Charnage has on his side the animals, birds, &c. The battle is fierce, night separates the combatants; but Karesme, hearing that Noël was approaching with considerable succours to his enemy, by advice of his council makes peace on certain terms.

Carol singing also was of very early origin in France. In “Les Crieries de Paris,” a manuscript poem of the end of the 13th century, par Guillaume de la Villeneuve, being a description of the cries then and previously in use, is this line:

A note says, “Des livres contenant des Noels. Ces cantiques sont fort anciens. M. le Duc de la Valliere en avoit un manuscrit du XIVe siècle tresprecieux.”

The editor of “Noei Borguignon,” mentions a volume containing three collections of old Noëls that had come to his hands, printed in 8vo. at Paris, in Gothic letter, two of them without date; in one of which is the Noël mentioned by Rabelais to have been composed in the Poitevin language, by “le Seigneur de S. George,” named Frapin, the other in 1520, being “Chansons de Noëls nouveaux, par Lucas le Moigne,” of which the following may serve as a specimen: