This is one of four original carols that Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) contributed to The Oxford Book of Carols, first published in 1928. The words of this 15th century carol survive in several versions, but without a tune. This is a cheerful setting of the text published by Frank Sidgwick in 1908. Just to confuse, other carols lay claim to the name – which derives from the gold, frankincense and myrrh of the Epiphany (generally celebrated on 6 January).