Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen" in English language version.
Many carols such as 'God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen' and 'The First Noel', date back at least as far as the 16th century
God rest you, merry gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
Remember we were left alive
Upon last Christmas Day,
With both our lips at liberty
To praise Lord C[astlereag]h
With his 'practical' comfort and joy!.
The words of this carol are in the Roxburghe Collection (iii. 452), together with three other 'choice Carols for Christmas Holidays', for St. Stephen's, St. John's, and Innocents' days. The tune was printed by Hone, in his Facetiæ, to a "political Christmas Carol," ... I have seen no earlier copy of the tune than one in the handwriting of Dr. Nares, the cathedral composer, in which it is entitled 'The old Christmas Carol'; but I have received many versions from different sources, for no carol seems to be more generally known. In the Halliwell Collection of Broadsides, No. 263, Chetham Library, is 'The overthrow of proud Holofernes, and the Triumph of virtuous Queen Judith; to the tune of Tidings of comfort and joy.'
The owner of one scant young nose, gnawed and mumbled by the hungry cold as bones are gnawed by dogs, stooped down at Scrooge's keyhole to regale him with a Christmas carol: but at the first sound of —
'God bless you merry gentleman!
May nothing you dismay!'
Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action, that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and even more congenial frost.
Aaron was not indisposed to display his talents, even to an ogre, under protecting circumstances; and after a few more signs of coyness, consisting chiefly in rubbing the backs of his hands over his eyes, and then peeping between them at Master Marner, to see if he looked anxious for the 'carril', he at length allowed his head to be duly adjusted, and standing behind the table, which let him appear above it only as far as his broad frill, so that he looked like a cherubic head untroubled with a body, he began with a clear chirp, and in a melody that had the rhythm of an industrious hammer, —
'God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born on Christmas-day.'
Dolly listened with a devout look, glancing at Marner in some confidence that this strain would help to allure him to church.
If Persia's shining had not been mentioned, would not this choral lay be a good deal in the style of a Christmas carol?
God rest you, merry Gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay, &c.
Will. God rest you merry sir
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