DESCRIPTION:
A 17th Century Christmas ballad carol for Childermas or the Feast of the Holy Innocents (28th December).
From A Cabinet of choice jewels, 1688.
In common with many ballads of this time, the carol is printed without musical notation to go with the text. Instead, a tune indication of "Bloody Fate" is given. This is "Ah! Cruel, Bloody Fate" a song by Henry Purcell in Theodosius; Or, The Force Of Love, 1680.

Eleanor Cramer: soprano
Robin Jeffrey: theorbo
Alison Kinder: bass viol

Remember Herods rage,
who slain those Infants dear,
There nothing could asswage
his wrath which was severe;
But shedding of those Infants blood,
to end his hateful strife,
That he thereby might cause to dye,
the blessed Lord of life.

An Angel in the night,
warn'd Ioseph in a Dream,
To take a speedy flight,
since Herods vast extream
Of hateful cruelty was such,
to seek the Infants life;
Take Mary mild and her sweet Child,
avoid his hateful strife.

From our CD Old Christmas Returned https://passamezzo.bandcamp.com/album/old-christmas-returned