Hail glorious angels, heirs of light

Hail glorious angels, heirs of light. John Austin* (1613-1669). First published in Austin’s Devotions in the Antient Way of Offices (Paris, 1668, republished as ‘the Ancient Way...’ by George Hickes, London, 1706) in the section ‘Office of the Saints’, where it was prescribed in ‘Lauds for Saints’. It had eleven 4-line stanzas, beginning with two not used in modern books:  Wake all my hopes, lift up your eys,    And crown your heads with mirth·  See how they shine beyond the skys,    Who once dwelt on our earth. Peace busy thoughts, away vain cares,    That clog us here below:  Let us go up above the Sphears,    And to each order bow.   Then follows the stanza which Percy Dearmer* chose to...