A Gentleman being on a Christmas Eue in a very sollitary place, among very solemn Company: where was but small cheare, lesse myrth and least musicke: beeing very earnestly entreated to sing a Christmas Caroll, with much adoe sung as followeth
Now Christmas draweth near, & most me make good cheare
With heigh how, care away:
I lyke a siely mome, in drowsy dumpes at home
Will naught but fast and pray.

Some syng and daunce for lyfe some Carde and Dyce as ryfe,
Some vse olde Christmas Games:
But I oh wretched wight. In dole both day and night
Must dwell: the world so frames.

In Court what pretty toyes what fyne and pleasaunt ioyes,
To passe the tyme away:
In countrey nought but care, sower Cheese curdes chiefest fare,
For Wyne a Bole of Whay.

For euery daintie dish, of Flesh or else of Fish
And for your Drinke in Courte:
A dish of young fryed Froogges Sodde houghes of mezled Hogges,
A cuppe of small Tap worte.

And for ech Courtly sight, ech shew that may delight
The eye, or else the minde:
In Countrey Thornes and brakes, and many miery lakes
Is all the good you finde.

And for fine Enteries, Halles, Chambers Galleryes,
And Lodginges many moe:
Here desert Wooddes or plaines where no delight remaynes,
To walke in too and froe.

In Court, for to be shorte, for euery prety sporte
That may the heart delight:
In Countrey many a greefe, and small or no releefe
To ayde the wounded wight.

And in this Desarte place, I, Wretch, in wofull case
This merry Christmasse time:
Content my selfe, perforce, to rest my carefull corse:
And so I end my rime.