In einer eMail vom 01.12.2004 20:35:53 Westeurop=E4ische Normalzeit schreibt=
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[EMAIL PROTECTED]:=20

> Dear Ed,
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> >There must be heaps of stuff, but the general public may not know=20
> >those works before the Baroque other than a handful.
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> Well, they can learn... :-)
> I think most important is that you tell this is christmas music...
> (Well, you could perform Amarilli and tell it is christmas music! ;-)
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Dear Arto,
what about the broadside ballad called to drive the cold Winter away.

I have included the text below,=20
but my mails to the lute list always seem so garbled
maybe because I use AOL ?

The tune is available in a number of places on the net.



A pleasant Countrey new Ditty:
Merrily shewing how to drive the cold Winter away.
To the tune of; Drive the Cold Winter Away

All hayle to the days that merite more praise then all the rest of the year;=
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& welcome the nights, that double delights as well for the poor as the peer:=
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Good fortune attend each merry man's friend that doth but the best that he=20
may,=20
Forgetting old wrongs with Carrols and Songs to drive the cold winter away.=20
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The Court all in state now opens her gate an bids a free welcome to most;=20
The City likewise tho' somewhat precise doth willingly part with her cost;=20
And yet, by report from City to Court the Countrey gets the day:=20
More Liquor is spent, and better content, to drive the cold winter away.=20
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Thus none will allow of solitude now, but merrily greets the time,=20
To make it appeare of all the whole yeare that this is accounted the Prime,=20
December is seene apparel'd in greene and January, fresh as May,=20
Comes dancing along with a cup or a Song to drive the cold winter away.=20
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This time of the yeare is spent in good cheare, kind neighbours together to=20
meet=20
To sit by the fire, with friendly desire each other in love to greet:=20
Old grudges forgot are put in a pot, all sorrows aside they lay;=20
The old and the young doth carrol this Song, to drive the cold winter away.=20
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To maske and to mum kind neighbours will come with Wassels of nut-browne Ale=
,=20

To drinke and carouse to all in this house, as merry as buck in the pale;=20
Where cake, bread and cheese, is brought for yr fees to make you the longer=20
stay;=20
The fire to warme will do you no harme, to drive the cold winter away.=20
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When Christmas tide comes in like a Bride, with Holly and Ivy clad, --=20
Twelve dayes in the yeare much mirth and good cheare in every household is=20
had:=20
The Countrey guise is then to devise some gambols of Christmas play;=20
Whereas the yong men do best that they can to drive the cold winter away.=20
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When white-bearded Frost hath threatened his worst, & fallen from Branch &=20
Bryer,=20
& time away cals from husbandry hals, & from the good countryman's fire,=20
Together to go to Plow and to sow, to get us both food and array:=20
And thus with content the time we have spent to drive the cold winter away.=20

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