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to supersede the popular ballad, and may therefore, like them, have contained carols for the use of the people at Christmas, and other times when they were accustomed to sing them; as it appears that formerly they were not confined to Christmas, but that some were adapted for Easter, Whitsuntide, and other great festivals.
In the broadside lists of cheap books, ballads, &c. published from 100 to 150 years since, specimens of which may be seen in Bagford's collections in the British Museum, and in the lists of books attached to several of such small publications, the names of well-known carols occur, as, " When Jesus Christ was twelve years old"—" Joseph an aged man truly"—" Jury came to Jerusalem"—" Angel Gabriel"—" Christus natus est," &c. In a list also of Small Merry Books, sold by William Thackery, at the Angel in Duck Lane, is one intitled " Car-rols."
Hone, who gives some interesting particulars relating to carol-singing,* mentions one in his numerous collection with this curious title, " A Christ-mas Carol on Peko- Tea : or, a Sacred Carol, which like tea that is perfectly good and fine, will be most grateful and useful all the year round, from Christ-mass to Christmass for ever. Humbly addressed to Queen Caroline, and the Princess Carolina, and all the Royal Family. By Francis Hoffman. London, 1729," 8vo. pp. 16.
In the present day, numerous single-sheet carols are printed in different parts of the kingdom, and in the metropolis as before mentioned; and in some very few instances, the tune is printed with them. There are some collections occasionally printed at
* Hone, on Mysteries, &c.; and see also his Every Day Book, Year Book, and Table Book, for much information on Christmas customs. |
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