Martin Peerson Upon my lap my Sovereign sits
Upon my lap my Sovereign sits: a seventeenth century Christmas carol from Martin Peerson's Private musicke, 1620.
The lyrics are written by Richard Verstegan, and are also found with the title of 'Ovr Blessed Ladies Lvllaby' in his 1601 publication, 'Odes In imitation of the seauen penitential psalmes'.
Eleanor Cramer: soprano
Christopher Goodwin: lute, tenor
Alison Kinder: bass viol
Tamsin Lewis: tenor viol, alto
Jack Merivale: bass
Upon my lap my Sovereign sits and sucks upon my breast.
Meantime his love maintains my life, and gives my sense her rest.
Sing lullaby, my little boy, sing lullaby, mine only joy.
When thou hast taken thy repast, repose, my babe, on me ;
So may thy mother and thy nurse thy cradle also be.
Sing lullaby, my little boy, sing lullaby, mine only joy.
I grieve that duty doth not work all what my wishing would,
Because I would not be to thee but in the best I should.
Sing lullaby, my little boy, sing lullaby, mine only joy.
Yet as I am, and as I may, I must and will be thine,
Though all too little for thyself, vouchsafing to be mine.
Sing lullaby, my little boy, sing lullaby, mine only joy.
From Passamezzo's CD 'To Shorten Winter's Sadness'
https://passamezzo.bandcamp.com/album...
Image: Luca Cambiaso - Madonna and Child, c1575