Of a Rose, a lovely Rose
Of a Rose is all my song
Hearken to me both old and young
How this Rose began to spring;
A fairer rose to mine liking
In all this world ne know I none
Five branches of that rose there been
The which be both fair and sheen;
The rose is called Mary, heaven’s queen
Out of her bosom a blossom sprang
The first branch was of great honour:
That blest Marie should bear the flow’r;
There came an angel from heaven’s tower
To break the devil’s bond
The second branch was great of might
That sprang upon Christmas night;
The star shone over Bethlehem bright
That man should see it both day and night
The third branch did spring and spread;
Three kinges then the branch gan led
Unto Our Lady in her child-bed;
Into Bethlem that branch sprang right
The fourth branch it sprang to hell
The devil’s power for to fell:
That no soul therein should dwell
The branch so blessedfully sprang
The fifth branch it was so sweet
It sprang to heav’n, both crop and root
Therein to dwell and be our bote:
So blessedly it sprang
Pray we to her with great honour
She that bare the blessed flow’r
To be our help and our succour
And shield us from the fiendes bond