The English solicitor,member of the Percy Society and fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, William Sandys is responsible for the popularity of the carol and was remembered for his publication Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (London, Richard Beckley, 1833), a collection of seasonal carols that Sandys had gathered and also apparently improvised. An early version of this carol is found in an anonymous manuscript, dating from the 1650s.It contains a slightly different version of the first line from that found in later texts, with the first line "Sit yow merry gentlemen" (also transcribed "Sit you merry gentlemen" and "Sit you merry gentlemen"). https://youtu.be/sbKvuP-s9hE?si=eMPH6ZS44r5BJSec Lyrics God rest you merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay, remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day to save us all from Satan's pow'r when we were gone astray. Refrain: O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy. From God our heav'nly Father a blessed angel came and unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same; how that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name. [Refrain] "Fear not," then said the angel, "Let nothing you affright; this day is born a Savior of a pure virgin bright, to free all those who trust in Him from Satan's pow'r and might." [Refrain] The shepherds at those tidings rejoiced much in mind, and left their flocks afeeding, in tempest, storm, and wind, and went to Bethlehem straightway, this blessed Babe to find. [Refrain] 5 Now to the Lord sing praises all you within this place, and with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace; this holy tide of Christmas all other doth deface. [Refrain]