The first stanza of the Coventry Carol is two bars shorter that the
remaining three stanzas, suggesting that four syllables (short-long,
short-long) of text have dropped out. The music is easily restored, but
the words are more problematic. I offer the following restoration:

     Lul-ly, lu-la, thou lit-tel tyne child,
     Bye, bye, lul-ly, lul-lay:
     [Lul-lay, lu-la,] thou lit-tel tyne child,
     Bye, bye, lul-ly, lul-lay.
--
John Briggs