 The manuscript dates from the late 13th century, but was likely copied from a 9th-century original, itself likely recording poems transmitted through oral tradition.Many medieval English verses associated with the birth of Jesus take the form of a lullaby, including "Lullay, my liking, my dere son, my sweting" and may be versions of contemporary lullabies.However, most of those used today date from the seventeenth century onwards, and some of the best known English-language lullabies originate from the US.