A. H. Bullen, “In Honour of St John,” from A Christmas Garland (London: Nimmo, 1885), 202-4.

In honour of Saint John we thus
   Do keep good Christmas cheer;
And he that comes to dine with us,
   I think he need not spare.
The butcher he hath killed good beef,
   The caterer brings it in;
But Christmas pies are still the chief
   If that I durst begin.

Our bacon hogs are full and fat
   To make us brawn and souse;
Full well may I reject thereat
   To see them in the house
But yet the minced pie it is
   That sets my teeth on water;
Good mistress, let me have a bit,
   For I do long thereafter.

And I will fetch your water in
   To brew and bake withal,
Your love and favour still to win
   When as you please to call.
Then grant me, dame your love and leave
   To taste your pie-meat here;
It is the best in my conceit
   Of all your Christmas-cheer.

The cloves and mace and gallant plums
   That here on heaps do die,
[And prunes] as big as both my thumbs,
   Enticeth much mine eye.
oh, let me eat my belly-full
   Of your good Christmas-pie;
Except thereat I have a pull,
   I think I sure shall die.

Good master, stand my loving friend,
   For Christmas-time is short,
And when it comes unto the end
   I may no longer sport;
Then while it doth continue here
   Let me such labour find,
To eat my fill of that good cheer
   That best doth please my mind.

Then I shall thank my dame therefore,
   That gives her kind consent,
That Jack your boy with others more
   May have this Christmas spent
In pleasant mirth and merry glee,
   As young men most delight;
For that's the only sport for me,
   And so God give you all good-night.

Prayer

Merciful Lord, cast your bright beams of light upon the Church: that, being enlightened by the teaching of your blessed apostle and evangelist Saint John, we may so walk in the light of your truth that we may at last attain to the light of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ your incarnate Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Johann Heinrich Rolle (1716-85). Psalm 97: Der Herr ist König. Sächsisches Vocalensemble, dir. Matthias Jung.