Die Gedichte des Franziskaners Jakob Ryman

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167

I. Alma redemptoris mater,
Quem de celis misit pater.

1

The aungell seyde of high degree:
‘Haile, full of grace: god is with the;
Of alle women blessed thou bee,
Alma redemptoris mater!’

168

2

When she harde this, that mayden free,
In his worde sore affrayde was sche
And thought, what greting this myght be,
Alma redemptoris mater.

3

‘Drede not, Marie,’ to here seyde he;
‘Thou haast founde grace, thou mayden free,
Of god, that is in persones three,
Alma redemptoris mater.

4

Thou shalt conceyve and bere the same,
A sonne of grete honoure and fame,
Whome thou shalt calle Ihesus by name,
Alma redemptoris mater.

5

This sonne, that shalle be borne of the,
That shall be of soo high degree,
The sonne of god called shall be,
Alma redemptoris mater.

6

And god shall geve hym Dauid see,
And in Iacobes howse reigne shall hee;
Of whoose kingdom none ende shall be,
Alma redemptoris mater.’

7

Mary seide to the aungell than:
‘How shall this be (tell, yf thou can),
Sith I purpose to knowe no man,
Alma redemptoris mater?’

8

The aungell seide: ‘O lady free,
The holy goost shalle light in thee;
Be whome Criste shalle conceyved be,
Alma redemptoris mater.

9

Elizabeth, thy cosyn, loo,
In here age, that bareyn did go,
Hath conceyved a childe also,
Alma redemptoris mater.’

10

To that aungell of high degree:
‘Goddes handemayde beholde,’ seide she.

169

‘As thou hast seide, be done to me,
Alma redemptoris mater.’

11

He toke his leve, that aungell bright,
Of here and went to blisse full right,
And she hath borne the king of myght,
Alma redemptoris mater.

12

Glorious lady, quene of blisse,
Of thy comforte late vs not mysse,
Sith thy swete name now callid is
Alma redemptoris mater.

13

Lete thy mercy bothe springe and sprede:
Forsake vs not for oure mysdede,
But out of drede to blisse vs lede,
Alma redemptoris mater.

II. Inquit Marie Gabriell:
‘Concipies Emanuel.’

1

The aungell seide of high degree:
‘Haile, full of grace: Crist is with the;
Of alle women blessed thou be!
Concipies Emanuel.’

2

This mayden marveyled in her thought,
How and what wyse this shulde be wrought.
The aungell seyde: ‘Mary, drede nought;
Concipies Emanuel.’

3

‘Drede not,’ he seide, ‘thou mayden myelde;
Thou shalte conceyve and bere a childe
(And be a moder vndefielde),
Cui nomen Emanuel.

4

This childe, that shalle be born of the,
Shall be of grete and high degree
And sonne of god callid shall be,
Cui nomen Emanuel.

170

5

And god shalle geve hym Dauid see,
And in Iacobes hows reigne shall he;
Of whose kingdome non ende shal be;
Cui nomen Emanuel.

6

To the aungelle this mayden free
Thanne seide: ‘Telle me, how this shal be,
Sith man shall be vnknow of me,
Vt pariam Emanuel.’

7

‘Drede not,’ he seide, that aungell bright;
‘The holygoost in the shalle light,
And thurgh vertu of god almyght
Concipies Emanuel.

8

Elizabeth, thy cosyn, loo,
In here age vj monethes agoo
Hath conceyved a childe alsoo:
Concipies Emanuel.’

9

Magnifiyng god manyfolde:
‘Goddes handemayde,’ she seyde, ‘beholde.
To me be done, as thou hast tolde,
Vt pariam Emanuel.’

III. Nowel, nowel, nowel, nowel,
Nowel, nowel, nowel, nowel!
Inquit Marie Gabriel:
‘Concipies Emanuel.’

1

‘Hayle, full of grace: Criste is with the,’
To Mary seide aungel Gabriell.
‘Of alle women blessed thou be!
Concipies Emanuel.’

2

Whenne she hurde this, she dredde and thought,
What greting this was, that he did telle.
The aungell seide: ‘Mary, drede nought;
Concipies Emanuel.

171

3

Thou hast founde grace, thou mayden myelde,
Before god, that in the dothe dwelle.
Thou shalt conceyve and bere a childe,
Cui nomen Emanuel.

4

He shall be grete and callid shall be
The aungel of full grete counseill.
In Dauid see aye reigne shalle he,
Cui nomen Emanuel.’

5

‘How shalle this be,’ this mayden thanne
Seide, forsothe, vnto the aungelle,
‘Sith I purpose to knowe no man,
Vt pariam Emanuel?’

6

‘The holy goost shalle light in the,
And god shalle shadowe the eche dele:
The sonne of god this childe shal be,
Cui nomen Emanuel.

7

Elizabeth, thy cosyn, loo,
In here age, though it be mervell,
Hath conceyved a childe also:
Concipies Emanuel.’

8

‘Goddes handemayde beholde,’ seide she
To Gabriell, that archaungell.
‘Thy worde in me fulfilled be,
Vt pariam Emanuel.’

9

He toke his leve, that aungel bright,
And went to blisse therin to dwelle,
And she hath borne the king of myght,
Cui nomen Emanuell.

10

Thus it was done, as I haue seide;
As god it wolde, so it befelle:
Of Mary, wyfe, moder and mayde,
Nunc natus est Emanuel.

172

IV. Stella maris, micaris clare:
Regina celi, letare.

1

Beholde and see, o lady free:
Quem meruisti portare,
God and man is he; thus bileve we.
Regina celi, letare.

2

King Assuere, thy sonne so dere,
Quem meruisti portare,
In blis so clere he hath no pere.
Regina celi, letare.

3

Sith thy sonne is the king of blis,
Quem meruisti portare,
With hym and his thou shalt not mys.
Regina celi, letare.

4

That lorde so good with soo myelde moode,
Quem meruisti portare,
Vpon the roode shedde his hert bloode.
Regina celi, letare.

5

O lady free, glad mayst thou be:
Quem meruisti portare,
As he tolde the, aryse did he.
Regina celi, letare.

6

By thy swete childe so meke and myelde,
Quem meruisti portare,
Man, that was wilde, is reconsiled.
Regina celi, letare.

7

That lorde, that wrought althing of nought,
Quem meruisti portare,
Mankynde hath bought and to blis brought.
Regina celi, letare.

8

The heuenly quere that lorde so dere,
Quem meruisti portare,
With voices clere lawdith in fere.
Regina celi, letare.

173

9

That lorde and king to blis vs bringe,
Quem meruisti portare,
That we may synge without ending:
‘Regina celi, letare.’

V. O quene of grace, o Mary myelde,
For vs thou pray vnto thy childe.

1

O closed gate of Ezechiel,
O plentevous mounte of Daniel,
O Iesse yerde, o Mary myelde,
For vs thou pray vnto thy childe.

2

O perfecte trone of Salamon,
O flore and flese of Gedeon,
O moder of grace, o Mary myelde,
For vs thou pray vnto thy childe.

3

O flamed bushe in alle stature
Of Moyses, of whome nature
Ihesus hath take, o Mary mylde,
For vs thou pray vnto thy childe.

4

O Aaron yerde moost of honoure,
O moder of oure savioure,
O gate of lyfe, o Marie myelde,
For vs thou pray vnto thy childe.

5

O lanterne of eternall light,
By whome of Criste we haue a sight,
O welle of grace, o Marie myelde,
For vs thou pray vnto thy childe.

6

O spowse of Criste inmaculate,
Assumpte to blisse and coronate,
O quene of blis, o Marie myelde,
For vs thou pray vnto thy childe.

7

Fulfilled is the prophesye,
For why thou hast brought furth Messy
To save mankynde: o Mary myelde,
For vs thou pray vnto thy childe.

174

8

Eternally that we may be
With thy swete son Ihesus and the
In heuyn blisse, o Mary myelde,
For vs thou pray vnto thy childe.

VI. O virgyne Marie, quene of blis,
Of thy conforte lete vs not mys.

1

O closed gate of Ezechiell,
O plentevous mounte of Daniel,
O moder of Emanuel,
Of thy conforte lete vs not mys.

2

O perfecte trone of Salamon,
O flore and flese of Gedeon,
O florent yerde of Aaron,
Of thy conforte lete vs not mys.

3

O flamed busshe withoute leasure
Of Moyses, of whome nature
Ihesus Criste tooke, o virgyne pure,
Of thy confort lete vs not mys.

4

O quene Hester moost meke of myende,
That were worthy of god to fynde
Mercy and grace for alle mankyende,
Of thy confort lete vs not mys.

5

O stronge Iudith, that Holoferne
Decapitate, that was so sterne,
Ayenst Sathan to feight vs lerne:
Of thy confort lete vs not mys.

6

O lanterne of eternall light,
By whome of Criste we haue a sight,
Full of alle grace sith thy name hight,
Of thy comfort lete vs not mys.

175

7

O spowse of Criste inmaculate,
Aboue alle aungellis sublimate,
In blis of thy sonne coronate,
Of thy conforte lete vs not mys.

8

O quene of blis perpetuall,
That we, whiche be terrestriall,
Maye come to blis celestiall,
Of thy conforte lete vs not mys.

VII. Sancta virgo Maria,
Dei genitrix pia.

1

Haile, perfecte trone of Salamon;
Haile, flore and flease of Gedeon;
Haile, ardent busshe of vision,
Dei genitrix pia.

2

What tyme mankynde hath done amys
And for his mys was put fro blis,
By thy mekenes made free it is,
Dei genitrix pia.

3

As a swete floure berith his odoure,
So hast thou borne oure sauyoure
To bringe mankynde oute of doloure,
Dei genitrix pia.

4

Mankynde was shent and ay forlorne
For synne, that Adam did beforne,
Tille Crist Ihesus of the was borne,
Dei genitrix pia.

5

Hym, that of hevyns not take myght be,
With thy wombe thou haste geve, moost free,
Bothe god and man (thus be-leue we),
Dei genitrix pia.

6

The prophecy is done, no dowte:
A man thou hast geve allabowte,
To whome heven and erth doth lowte,
Dei genitrix pia.

176

7

O stronge Iudith, o Hester meke,
That the serpentes hede of did streke,
At nede of the conforte we seke,
Dei genitrix pia.

8

Moder and mayde in one persone
Was nevir none, but thou allone;
Wherfore of the Crist made his trone,
Dei genitrix pia.

9

As the sonne beame goth thurgh the glas,
Thurgh thy bodie so did he pas
Taking nature, as his wille was,
Dei genitrix pia.

10

In the is complete the prophecye
Of alle the prophetes by and by,
That seide, a mayde shulde bere Messye,
Dei genitrix pia.

11

O lady free, o quene of blis,
Of thy conforte lete vs not mys,
For why thy name nowe called is
Dei genitrix pia.

12

Lete thy mercy bothe springe and sprede,
Forsake vs not for oure mysdede,
But oute of drede to blis vs lede,
Dei genitrix pia.

VIII. To hevyn blis that we may come,
O mater, ora filium.

1

O quene of grace and of conforte,
Whose vertu we cannot reporte,
At nede to the sith we resorte,
O mater, ora filium.

2

Moder and mayde in one persone
Was nevir none, but thou alone;

177

Wherfore, goode lady, here oure mone:
O mater, ora filium.

3a

[For thy meke chaste virginite,
As we rede in diuinitee,
In the restyd the trinite:
O mater, ora filium.]

3b

Sith thou hast born in virginite
The secunde person in trinite,
The sonne of god in diuinite,
O mater, ora filium.

4

Sith of honoure thou arte so grete,
That next god in blis is thy sete,
Swete lady, thou vs not forgete:
O mater, ora filium.

5

Sith Criste of the mankyende wolde take
And the his moder so wolde make,
That he hath take, thou not forsake:
O mater, ora filium.

6

Sith Criste by the hath made man free
With his hert bloode vpon a tree,
That for oure synne we lost not be,
O mater, ora filium.

IX. O castitatis lilium,
Tuum precare filium.

1

Sith thy sonne is both god and man
And by thy meane save vs he can,
That vs possede not fals Sathan,
Tuum precare filium.

2

Off thy swete sonne sith thou mayst haue
Without delay, what thou wilte crave,

178

That we come not into helle cave,
Tuum precare filium.

3

Sith alle aungellis the doo obeye
For loue of man, that in the leye,
So that we be not lost for aye,
Tuum precare filium.

4

Sith quene of blis thou arte electe,
By whome mankynde shulde be protecte,
Fro blis that we be not reiecte,
Tuum precare filium.

5

O blessed quene of paradise,
For oure trespas vs not despise,
But for vs in the lowest wyse
Tuum precare filium.

6

That oure offence forgeve may be,
And that we may, o lady free,
Dwelle with thy sonne Ihesus and the,
Tuum precare filium.

X. O benigna, laude digna,
Tuo nato nos consigna.

1

Sith Criste hath take both flesshe and blode
For thy clennes and thy myelde mode
And bought mankynde vpon the rode,
Tuo nato nos consigna.

2

Sith euery man atte nede doth flee
For helpe and comforte vnto the,
For synne that we ay lost not be,
Tuo nato nos consigna.

3

Sith by reason, by right and skille
Thy sonne thy wille ay woll fulfille,
That the fende ille mankynde not spille,
Tuo nato nos consigna.

179

4

Sith thou art quene of euery coost
And thy sonne king of myghtes moost,
So that for synne we be not loost,
Tuo nato nos consigna.

5

Sith Crist, thy sonne, hath take of the
Fourme of mankynde, like as we be,
To bringe vs fro captiuitee,
Tuo nato nos consigna.

6

Sith man to god by the is knytte
And aboue alle aungellis doth sitte,
That we come not into helle pitte,
Tuo nato nos consigna.

XI. O virgo summe decora,
Pro nobis Cristum exora.

1

Sith of right thou mayst not forsake
Mankyende, the whiche thy sonne hath take,
Oure care and woo forto a-slake
Pro nobis Cristum exora.

2

Sith thou arte quene and thy sonne king
Of blis, that shalle haue noon endyng,
To that swete place vs alle to bring
Pro nobis Cristum exora.

3

Of alle women sith thou art floure
And moder of oure sauyoure,
To save and kepe vs froo doloure
Pro nobis Christum exora.

4

Sith thou arte the lanterne of light
Shynyng aboue alle aungellis bright,
Of hym that we may haue a sight,
Pro nobis Christum exora.

5

Sith thou arte made emperesse of helle,
The payne wherof no tunge can telle,

180

That we for synne therin not dwelle,
Pro nobis Christum exora.

6

Sith oure trust is in the allone
Next god, that is bothe iij. and one,
To here oure moone and graunte oure boon,
Pro nobis Christum exora.

XII. O clemens, o pia,
O dulcis Maria.

1

O quene of mercy and of grace,
O oure comforte in euery case,
To whome we calle in euery place,
O clemens, o pia;

2

O lady fre, o quene of blis,
Of thy conforte lete vs not mys,
For why thy name nowe called is
O dulcis Maria.

3

O oure lodesterre bothe bright and clere,
O quene of blis havyng no pere,
O spowse of Criste moost swete and dere,
O clemens, o pia;

4

Moder and mayde in one persone
Was neuir noon, but thou allone;
Wherefor, good lady, here oure mone,
O dulcis Maria.

5

O lanterne of eternall light
Moost pure and clene, moost clere and bright,
Cause vs of Criste to haue a sight,
O clemens, o pia.

6

O virgyne Mary meke and myelde,
For vs thou pray vnto thy chielde,
Fro blis that we be not exielde,
O dulcis Maria.

181

7

O flos campi of swete odoure,
O Iesse yerde full of honoure,
O moder of oure sauyoure,
O clemens, o pia;

8

O virgyne pure, on vs thou rue
And for oure synne vs not eschew,
But represent vs to Crist Ihesu,
O dulcis Maria.

9

O floure of alle virginitie
Replete with alle diuinite,
O triclyne of the trinitie,
O clemens, o pia;

10

O welle of vertu and of grace,
Returne to vs thy louely face;
Forsake vs not for oure trespace,
O dulcis Maria.

11

O fragrant roose, o lilly chaste,
O ardent busshe, that did not wast,
Thyne eye of grace vpon vs cast,
O clemens, o pia.

12

With louely chere pray thy sonne dere,
King Assuere, in blis so clere
That we in fere to hym may appere,
O dulcis Maria.

XIII. Salue, sancta parens
Omni labe carens.

1

O heuenly sterre so clere and bright,
In whome did light the sonne of right;
Wherefore we singe with alle oure myght:
‘Salue, sancta parens’.

2

As the sonne beame goth thurgh the glas,
The sonne of god thurgh the did pas
Taking nature, as his wille was,
Omni labe carens.

182

3

Whenne Criste, thy sonne, had suffred payne
And rose fro deth to lyfe agayne,
To the he seide and not in vayne:
‘Salue, sancta parens.’

4

As grete peyne tho it was to the
Thyne owne dere sonne in peyn to se,
As vnto hym nayled on tree,
Omni labe carens.

5

But with alle ioye thou were replete,
Whenne thy dere sonne with the did mete
And grette the with thies wordes swete:
‘Salue, sancta parens.’

6

No wonder was, yf thou were gladde
Seyng, for whome thou haddest be sadde,
Thy sonne, of whome alle ioye is hadde,
Omni labe carens.

7

O moder of bothe god and man,
Aftur oure myght and, as we can,
We sey to the, as he seide than:
‘Salue, sancta parens.’

8

Pray Criste, that he vs not forsake,
That benignely of the hath take
Nature mankynde fre forto make,
Omni labe carens.

XIV. Aue, regina celorum,
Flos et decus beatorum.

1

Haile, full of grace: Criste is with the;
Of alle women blessed thou be,
And blessed be the frute of the,
Mater regis angelorum.

2

Haile, swete moder of Crist Ihesu;
Haile, virgyne pure: on vs thou rue

183

And for oure synne vs not eschewe,
O Maria, flos virginum.

3

Haile, flos campi of swete odoure;
Haile, moder of oure sauyoure;
Haile, virginall floure of grete honoure,
Velud rosa vel lilium.

4

Haile, lanterne of eternall light,
As the sonne beame, as clere and bright,
Of Criste that we may haue a sight,
Funde preces ad filium.

5

Haille, quene Hester with louely chere:
King Assuere, thy sonne so dere,
Thy prayer clere pray thou to here
Pro salute fidelium.

XV. Gaude, mater gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa.

1

Haile, spowse of Criste, oure savioure;
Haile, lilly floure of swete odoure;
Haile, quene of blis of grete honoure,
Super omnes speciosa.

2

Haile, vessell of all purite;
Haile, moder of humilite;
Haile, chaste floure of virginite,
Super omnes speciosa.

3

Haile, Iesse roote full of vertue;
Haile, holy moder of Ihesu;
Haile, fragrant rose moost faire of hue,
Super omnes speciosa.

4

Haile, lylly floure withouten thorne;
Haile, of whome Criste Ihesus was borne;

184

Haile, virgyne afture and beforne,
Super omnes speciosa.

5

Haile, spowse of Criste louely and dere,
As the sonne beame, as bright and clere;
Haile, oure conforte bothe ferre and nere,
Super omnes speciosa.

6

O moder myelde, for vs thou pray
Vnto thy childe, that we come may
To heven blis, that lasteth aye,
Super omnes speciosa.

XVI. ‘Rarissima in delicijs,
Iam ueni: coronaberis.’

1

‘Come, my dere spowse and lady free;
Come to thy sonne in heven blis,
For why next me thy place shalbe.
Iam veni: coronaberis.

2

Come, my myelde dove, into thy cage,
With ioye and blis replete whiche is;
For why it is thyne heritage.
Iam veni: coronaberis.

3

Moost faire and swete, moost meke and myelde,
Come to thy sonne and king of blis.
Moder and mayden vndefielde,
Iam veni: coronaberis.

4

Thou art alle fayre, my spowse moost dere,
And spotte of synne in the noon is:
Come fro Liban, to me appere.
Iam veni: coronaberis.

5

Thy stature is assymylate
To a palme tree and thy bristis
To grapes, spowse inmaculate.
Iam veni: coronaberis.

185

6

Off alle clennes I am the floure,
The felde wherof thy pure soule is.
O virginall floure moost of honoure,
Iam veni: coronaberis.

7

Thy blessed body was my bowre,
Wherefore my blis thou shallt not mys,
And alle seintes shalle the honoure.
Iam veni: coronaberis.

8

With thy brestes so pure and clene
Thou haste me fedde, wherfore, i-wis,
Of heven blis thou shalt be quene.
Iam veni: coronaberis.’

XVII. Ecce, quod natura mutat sua iura:
Virgo parit pura dei filium.

1

Beholde and see, how that nature
Chaungith here lawe: a mayden pure
Shalle bere a chielde (thus seith scripture),
Ihesus, oure sauyour.

2

Beholde, the flease of Gedeon
Wexed wete, that no dewe fel on;
Beholde, the yerde of Aaron
Vnmoysted bare a floure.

3

The prophete Isay seith thus:
‘A mayde shall bere a childe to vs,
Whose name shall be called Ihesus,
Oure helpe and our socour.

4

A yerde shall goo oute of Iesse rote,
Wherof a floure shall ascende full soote.’
This floure is Crist, oure helth and boote,
This yerde Mary, his boure.

5

Seynt Mathew seith in the gospell:
‘A mayde shall bere Emanuell,

186

That is to sey, god with vs to dwell,
That louely paramour.’

6

Forsoth, to vs is borne a chielde,
A sonne is yeven to vs full myelde
Of virgyne Marie vndefielde
To cease oure grete langoure.

7

This is the stone cutte of the hille,
Criste borne of Marie vs vntille
Without synne in thought, dede and wille
To save vs fro dolour.

8

This chielde shall be the prince of peas,
Whose kingdome shall euir encrease,
Wherof the peas shall neuir ceas,
But encreace day and houre.

9

Seint Anselme seith: ‘So Criste did pas
Thurgh Marie myelde, as his wille was,
As the sonne beame goth thurgh the glas,
That mayde full of honoure.’

XVIII. Ecce, quod natura
Mutat sua iura:
Virgo parit pura
Dei filium.

1

Bothe yonge and olde, take hede of this:
The cours of nature chaunged is:
A mayde, that neuir did amys,
Hath borne oure sauyoure.

2

What tyme mankynde had done amys
And for his mys was put fro blis,
A roose, a valent floure, i-wis,
Crist made springe of a thorne.

3

Criste hath made springe oute of a thorne
A mayde, that hym mekely hath borne

187

Beyng bothe afture and beforne
As pure, as lilly floure.

4

As a swete floure berith his odoure,
This mayden myelde of grete honoure
Withouten maternall doloure
Oure sauyour hath borne.

5

Vpon a nyght an aungell bright
From blis downe light saiyng full right:
‘Thurgh goddes myght a worthy wight
Hath borne oure savyoure.’

6

Than kingis three fro ferre cuntre
In her degre came for to se
This king so free of magestee,
That in Bedleme was borne.

XIX. A Roose hath borne a lilly white,
The whiche floure is moost pure and bright.

1

To this roose aungell Gabriell
Seide: ‘Thou shalt bere Emanuell,
Both god and man with vs to dwell;’
The which floure is most pure and bright.

2

This roose, the prophete Ysaye
Seyde, shulde conceyve and bere Messy
Withouten synne or velonye;
The which flour is moost pure and bright.

3

As the sonne beame goth thurgh the glas,
Thurgh this roose that lilly did pas
To save mankynde, as his wille was;
The whiche floure is moost pure and bright.

4

This roose so myelde aye vndefielde
Hath borne a childe for man so wilde

188

By fraude begiled, from blis exiled;
The whiche flour is moost pure and bright.

5

This roose so good at the cros stode
With wofull moode, when Crist, oure foode,
Shed his hert bloode for man so woode;
The which flour is moost pure and bright.

6

This swete roose pray bothe nyght and day,
Withoute denay that we come maye
To blis for ay the redy waye;
The which flour is moost pure and bright.

XX. There sprunge a yerde of Iesse moore:
There was neuer none suche before,
Ne non shalbe.
This yerde was Marie, virgyne fre.

1

As Aaron yerde withoute moistoure
Hath florisshed and borne a floure,
So hath she borne oure savyoure
Withouten touche of dishonoure
Of mannes sede;
For god his self in her did brede.

2

King Assuere was wrothe, i-wis,
Whenne quene Vasty had done amys,
And of her crowne priuat she is;
But, when Hester his yerde did kis,
By hir mekenes
She chaunged his moode into softnes.

3

King Assuere is god almyght,
And quene Vasty synagoge hight,
But, when Vasty had lost hir lyght,
Quene Hester thanne did shyne full bright,
For she forth brought
The sonne of god, that alle hath wrought.

189

4

As Moyses yerde, that was so goode,
Turned the waters into bloode,
So did Mary moost myelde of moode
Vnder the cros, where as she stoode
Full sore weping:
Her teres ran with blode bleding.

5

She is that yerde, that yevith vs light
Of Criste, oure king, to haue a sight.
She is redy bothe day and nyght
To yelde oure cause to god almyght
To save oure sore,
That quene of blis for euirmore.

6

Now beseche we that yerde so free
Mediatrix for vs to be
Vnto that king of magestee,
In blis that we his face may see
Withoute ending
Afture this fynalle departing.

XXI. Vnto Marie he that loue hath,
To here synge he: ‘Magnificat.’

1

Thus seide Mary of grete honoure:
‘My soule my lord dothe magnifie,
And in my god and sauyoure
My spirite reioyseth, verily.

2

For he the mekenes hath beholde
Of his handemayde, that lorde so good.
That I am blessed manyfolde,
Alle kynredes shall sey of myelde moode.

3

For he, that is so full of myght,
So grete thingis to me hath done.
Holy his name is ay of right,
By whome oure goostly helth is won.

4

And in alle tho, that hym doth drede
(Truly, thus seithe holy scripture),

190

His mercy dothe bothe spring and sprede,
And of heven they be fulle sure.

5

This myghty lorde of grete renowne
By his swete sonne the helthe hath wrought
Of meke people and hath put downe
Prowde people onely with a thought.

6

Tho, that desireth that lorde, oure helth,
That king of grace soo goode and swete,
Fro whome cometh alle goodenes and welth,
With alle vertue they be replete.

7

Of his grete mercy havyng myende
He toke nature in Ysraell
And became man to save mankynde,
To oure faders as he did telle.’

8

Ioye be to god in trinitie,
Fader and sonne and holigoost,
That was and is and ay shall be,
Bothe iij. and one, of myghtis moost.

197

XXXI. Angelus inquit pastoribus:
‘Nunc natus est altissimus.’

1

Vpon a nyght an aungell bright
Pastoribus apparuit,
And anone right thurgh goddis myght
Lux magna illis claruit.
For loue of vs (scripture seith thus)
Nunc natus est altissimus.

2

And of that light, that was so bright,
Hij valde timuerunt.

198

A signe of blis to vs it is,
Hec lux, quam hij viderunt.
For loue of vs (scripture seith thus)
Nunc natus est altissimus.

3

‘Drede ye nothing: grete ioy I bringe,
Quod erit omni populo;
For why to you Criste is borne nowe
Testante euuangelio.’
For loue of vs (scripture seith thus)
Nunc natus est altissimus.

4

‘With good Ioseph and Mary myelde
Positum in presepio
Ye shall fynde that hevenly childe,
Qui celi preest solio.’
For loue of vs (scripture seith thus)
Nunc natus est altissimus.

5

The aungell songe thoo with many moo:
‘Gloria in altissimis!
In erthe be peas to man also,
Et gaudium sit angelis.’
For loue of vs (scripture seith thus)
Nunc natus est altissimus.

6

The shepeherdes ran to Bedleme than
Et inuenerunt puerum,
The whiche is perfecte god and man
Atque saluator omnium.
For loue of vs (scripture seith thus)
Nunc natus est altissimus.

7

When in suche wise founde hym they had,
Vt dictum est per angelum,
Ayene they came beyng full glad
Magnificantes dominum.
For loue of vs (scripture seith thus)
Nunc natus est altissimus.

8

Nowe lete vs singe with angelis:
‘Gloria in altissimis’,

199

That we may come vnto that blis,
Vbi partus est virginis.
For loue of vs (scripture seith thus)
Nunc natus est altissimus.

XXXII. Gloria in altissimis,
For nowe is borne the king of blis.

1

Whenne Criste was borne, an aungell bright
To shepeherdes keping shepe that nyght
Came and seyde with heuenly light:
‘Now Crist is borne, the king of blis.’

2

They dred gretely of that same light,
That shone so bright that tyme of nyght
Thurgh the vertu, the grace and myght
Of goddis son, the king of blis.

3

The aungell seyde: ‘Drede ye nothing.
Beholde, to you grete ioye I bringe
And vnto alle, that be lyving;
For now is born the king of blis.

4

Go to Bedleme, and there ye shall
With Marie myelde in an oxe stall
Fynde an infante, that men shull call
The son of god and king of blis.

5

They went furth to Bethelem that stounde,
And, as he tolde, a childe they founde
In an oxe stalle in raggis wounde,
The son of god and king of blis.

6

The sheperdes tho went home ageyn
Magnifiyng god, in certayne,
In alle, that they had hard and seyne
Of goddis sonne, the king of blis.

7

On new yeresday (scripture seith thus)
Circumcided for loue of vs

200

The name tho was called Ihesus
Of goddis sonne, the king of blis.

8

On xij.th daye came kingis three
With golde, encense and myrre so free
Vnto Bedlem to seke and see
The sonne of god and king of blis.

XXXIII. In terra pax hominibus,
Quia natus est dominus.

1

To the shepeherdes keping theire folde,
That Crist was borne, an aungell tolde,
And in Betheleem fynde hym they sholde
Positum in presepio.

2

They went furth to Bethelem that stounde,
And, as he tolde, that chielde they founde
In an oxe stalle in raggis wounde,
Qui regnat sine termino.

3

The sheperdes tho went home agayn
Magnifiyng god, in certayne,
In alle, that they had hurde and sayne
De Ihesu, dei filio.

4

On new yeres day (scripture seith thus)
Circumcided for loue of vs
His name tho was callid Ihesus
Testante euuangelio.

5

On xijth day came kingis thre
With golde, encense and myrre so free
And founde that king of maiestee
In virginali gremio.

6

When they came to Herode, that king,
He bade them goo axe inquiring,
Where this childe was (and worde hym bringe),
Qui celi preest solio.

201

7

Sleping an aungell bade them wake
And to Herod no waye to take:
Another way, no dought to make,
Reuersi sunt cum gaudio.

202

XXXV. O Christe, rex gencium,
O vita viuencium.

1

O orient light shynyng moost bright,
O sonne of right, adowne thou light
And by thy myght now geve vs light,
O Christe rex gencium.

2

O savyoure moost of honoure,
Cum fro thy towre, cease oure doloure
Bothe day and houre waityng socoure,
O vita viuencium.

3

O we in payne wolde, in certeyn,
Thou woldest refrayne, lorde, and restreyn
Thyne hande ageyn of myght and meyn,
O Christe, rex gencium.

4

O Iesse rote moost swete and soote,
In ryende and rote moost full of boote,
To vs be bote bounde hande and foote,
O vita viuencium.

5

O Assuere, prince without pere,
Come fro thy spere, to vs draw nere;
Oure prayer here, o lorde moost dere,
O Christe, rex gencium.

6

O cornere stone, that makist both one,
Here oure grete mone and graunt our bone:
Cume downe anone, save vs echeone,
O vita viuencium.

7

O prince of peas, oure bonde release,
Oure woo thou ceas and graunt vs peas
In blis endeles, that shall not cease,
O Christe, rex gencium.

8

O king of myght and sonne of right,
O endeles light so clere and bright,
Of the a sight thou vs behight,
O vita viuencium.

203

XXXVI. Nowe in this fest, thys holy fest
Saluator mundi natus est.

1

Auctor of helthe, Criste, haue in myende,
That thou hast take fourme of mankyende
Of a pure virgyn beyng borne
To save mankyende, that was forlorne.

2

O brightnes and light of the fader of myght,
O eternall hope of euery wight,
What prayers thy seruauntis myelde to the
Thurgh alle this worlde doth yelde, thou see.

3

This present day berith witnesse clere
Now come by compas of the yere,
That thou art come fro blis an hy,
The welthe of this worlde alone onely.

4

Heven and erthe, the see and althing,
That is theryn, ioyeth lawding
The fader of blis, thyne auctor of birth,
With songe of melody and myrthe.

5

And we also, that with thy bloode
Be bought ageyn vpon the roode,
For the daye of thy natiuitie
A newe songe we do singe to the.

6

Glorie mote be, good lorde, to the,
That arte borne of a virgyne free,
With the fader and holy goost,
Bothe three and one, of myghtis moost.

XXXVII. Now in this fest, this holy fest
Nunc puer nobis natus est;
Nunc puer nobis natus est,
Et puer nobis datus est.

1

Thus it is seide in prophecye
(I take witnesse of Ysay):

204

A mayde shall bere a chielde, truly,
Whose name shall be called Messy.
Now in this fest, this holy fest.

2

He is oure lorde, seith Iheremy,
And none like hym is ferre ne nye.
In erthe he is seyn, verily,
Conuersaunt with people playnly.
Now in this fest, this holy fest.

3

This is the stone cut of the hille,
Crist borne of Mary vs vntille
Without synne in dede, thought and wille
The wille of god forto fulfille.
Now in this fest, this holy fest.

4

Alle kingis vnto hym shall pray,
And alle people hym shall obay
And serue hym bothe by nyght and day:
Thus seith Dauid, as ye rede may.
Now in this fest, this holy fest.

5

O sonne of god, Abacuc sayde,
By whome althing is wrought, now layde
In an oxe stalle, borne of a mayde
And man become for mannys ayde.
Now in this fest, this holy fest.

6

Nowe preyse we alle this prince of peas
Now borne oure bondes to release
And alle oure care and woo to cease,
Oure ioy and myrth forto increase.
Now in this fest, this holy fest.

XXXVIII. Be we mery now in this fest,
In quo saluator natus est.

1

Now in Betheleme, that holy place,
To bringe man oute of woofull case
Of virgyn Marie full of grace
Saluator mundi natus est.

205

2

To the sheperdes keping theire folde
On Cristemas nyght an aungell tolde,
That in Bethelem with bestis bolde
Saluator mundi natus est.

3

They were compassed all aboute with light,
And they dredde of that heuenly sight.
‘Drede not,’ he seyde, that aungell bright:
‘Saluator mundi natus est.

4

Beholde, to you grete ioye I bringe:
This daye of Mary, that good thinge,
In the citie of Dauid, that king,
Saluator mundi natus est.

5

And this infant there fynde ye shalle
In pore clothing in an oxe stalle.’
The aungellis tho lawded god alle:
Saluator mundi natus est.

6

‘Glorie to god,’ the aungellis songe,
‘And peas in erthe good men amonge.’
To save mankyende, that had done wronge,
Saluator mundi natus est.

7

They toke theire way with good entent,
And to Bethelem right sone they went
To see and know, what that worde ment:
‘Saluator mundi natus est.’

8

They founde Ioseph and Mary myelde,
Wyfe, moder and mayde vndefielde,
And in a stalle they founde that childe:
Saluator mundi natus est.

9

Now seke we alle with hert and myende
This yonge infant, tille we hym fyende,
That of a mayde to save mankyende,
De virgine, nunc natus est.

206

XXXIX. The sonne of god man bicome is
Of virgyn Marie, quene of blis.

1

Oute of youre slepe arryse and wake,
For god oure manhode now hath take
Of oure synnes vs free to make
Of virgyn Marie, quene of blis.

2

To the sheperdes keping theire folde,
That Crist was borne, an aungell tolde,
And in Bethelem fynde hym they sholde
With virgyn Marie, quene of blis.

3

To Bethelem than they toke theire wey
And founde that chielde there, where he ley
In an oxe stalle in poore arraye
With virgyn Mary, quene of blis.

4

Fro ferre cuntree came kingis three
To seke that king of magestee,
The whiche was borne to make vs free
Of virgyn Mary, quene of blis.

5

Golde and myrre and swete encense
Thise kingis gave with gret reuerence
To this king borne without offence
Of virgyn Mary, quene of blis.

6

Into Egipte Ioseph fledde thoo
With the chielde and moder alsoo:
The aungell bade hym thidder goo
With virgyn Mary, quene of blis.

7

King Herode thanne chaunged his moode,
When Cristes birthe he vndrestoode,
The whiche hathe take bothe fleshe and blode
Of virgyn Mary, quene of blis.

8

And in Betheleme in his grete fure
Children he slewe, that were full pure,

207

For Cristes sake, that toke nature
Of virgyn Mary, quene of blis.

9

Nowe beseche we that king of grace,
In blis that we may haue a place
Therin to see his glorious face
With virgyn Mary, quene of blis.

208

XLI. A meyden myelde a chielde hath bore
Mankyende to blis forto restore.

1

As longe before prophesy seyde,
With vs to dwelle now Criste is come
Borne of Mary, moder and meyde,
To make vs free bothe alle and sume.

2

As the sonne beame goth thurgh the glas,
And as a floure berith his odoure,
So Criste Ihesus conceyved was
And borne of her withoute doloure.

3

‘Haille, full of grace: Criste is with the,’
To her seide aungell Gabriell.
‘Of alle women blessed thou be!
Thou shalt conceyve Emanuell.’

4

This meyden myelde to hym seyde than:
‘How shall this be, that thou doest telle,
Sith I purpose to know noo man
And shall conceyve Emanuell?’

5

‘The holy goost shall light in the,
And god shall shadew the eche dele
And worke right so, that thou shalt be
The moder of Emanuele.’

6

‘The handemayde of oure lorde beholde,’
She aunswerd hym, that mayden myelde.
‘To me be done, as thou hast tolde;’
And furthwithall she was with chielde.

7

And withoute maternall doloure
She hathe borne Criste, that heuenly king,
That virginall floure moost of honoure,
Out of thraldom mankyende to bringe.

8

Glorie mote be, good lorde, to the
With the fader and holy goost,
That art born of a virgyn free,
Bothe god and man, of myghtis moost.

209

XLII. Bothe man and chielde, haue myende of þis,
How god is sonne of blis
Of Marie myelde man become is
To deye for mannys mys.

1

A mayden myelde hath borne a chielde,
A chielde of full grete price,
And is a moder vndefielde
And quene of paradice.

2

The king of blis his fader is,
And Ihesus is his name:
To bringe mankyende to heven blis
He hathe borne mannes blame.

3

He was and is and ay shall be
(I take recorde of Iohn),
Ay thre in personalite,
In deite but oon.

4

And in a stalle this chielde was born
Bitwene bothe oxe and asse
To save, for synne that was forlorn,
Mankyende, as his wille wasse.

5

Whenne he was borne, that heuenly king,
Of Mary, quene of blis,
Than: ‘Gloria,’ aungellis did synge,
‘Deo in excelsis.’

6

The prophecy of Isay
And prophetes alle and sume
Now ended is thus finally,
For god is man become.

7

Nowe laude we god of heven blis
With hert, with wille and myende,
That of a mayde man bicom is
To blis to bringe mankyende.

210

XLIII. My herte is sette alone
On god bothe thre and one.

1

I loue a louer, that loueth me well,
To alle mankyende whiche is socoure,
And his name is Emanuell:
Of alle louers he is the floure.

2

His moder is a virgyne pure
In worde, in dede, in wille and thought,
Of whome he toke mortall nature
To save mankyende, that had myswrought.

3

He was dede and beried in sight
And rose ayene on the iijde daye
And steyed to blis by his grete myght,
That was and is and shall be ay.

4

He is called king Assuere,
Hester his moder callid is:
Crowned they be bothe ij in fere,
He king, she quene of heven blis.

5

Oure lorde Ihesus of Nazareth,
That for oure sake shed his hert bloode
And on the crosse did suffre deth,
To vs mote be eternall foode.

XLIV. Ther is a chielde, a heuenly childe
I-borne this nyght of Marie myelde.

1

This chielde is, was and ay shall be,
One in godhede, in persones thre.
There is a childe, a heuenly childe.

2

This chielde is named Criste Ihesus,
That nowe is borne for loue of vs.
There is a chield, a heuenly chield.

211

3

Mortall nature this chielde hath take
Of oure thraldome vs free to make.
There is a chield, a heuenly chield.

4

This chielde is god and man also
Now borne to bringe vs out of wo.
There is a chield, a heuenly chield.

5

His fader is god of heven blis,
And virgyne Mary his moder is.
There is a chield, a heuenly chield.

6

Fro heven to erthe this chielde come is
To suffre dethe for mannys mys.
There is a chield, a heuenly chield.

7

On good friday vppon the roode
To save mankyende he shed his bloode.
There is a chield, a heuenly chield.

8

This chielde was dede and in graue laye
And rose ayene on the thirde daye.
There is a chield, a heuenly chield.

9

By his grete myght to blis he stide
And sittith on his faders right side.
There is a chield, a heuenly chield.

10

Whenne he shalle come and iugement make,
To blis with hym this chielde vs take.
There is a chield, a heuenly chield.

XLV. God bothe iij and one
Is oure comforte alone.

1

Adam and Eve did geve concent
Vnto the feende, that vile serpent;
Wherfore mankyende to helle was sent
Without comfort alone.

212

2

Whenne it therin long tyme hadde layne,
Crist, goddes sonne, came, in certayne,
To take nature and suffre payne
To comfort it alone.

3

As the sonne beame gothe thurgh the glas,
Thurgh virgyne Marie he did pas
Taking nature, as his wille was,
To save mankynde alone.

4

That lorde so good vpon the roode
Suffred vile dethe and shed his bloode;
Whoos flesshe and bloode is endeles foode
To feithfull man alone.

5

Now beseche we that king of grace
In blis for to graunte vs a place
And hym to se there face to face,
That is bothe iij. and one.

XLVI. The sone of god alone
Hath made vs free echeone.

1

The faders sonne of heven blis
Of a pure mayde man bicome is
To for-geve man, that did amys,
By his mekenes allone.

2

Bothe yonge and olde we were forlorn
For synne, that Adam did beforne,
Till of a mayde this chielde was born
To make vs fre alone.

3

Moder Mary and virgyne pure
Clothed hym with mortall vesture
And closed hym in her clausure
Of chastite allone.

4

When he was xxx.ti winter olde,
For xxx. plates he was solde

213

To the Iewes wikked and bolde
By fals Iudas alone.

5

Vpon his hede a crowne of thorne
The Iewes sette than with grete scorne,
And with scourgis his flesshe they torne
For our trespas alone.

6

The Iewes thanne of wikked moode
Nayled his bodye on the roode,
Wheron he shed his precious bloode
To make vs free alone.

7

He was dede and in his graue leyde
And rose ayene, as scripture seide,
On the iij.de daye and to blis steyde,
Both god and man alone.

8

Now beseche we this king of grace,
That we may haue a dwelling place
And euir to see his glorious face
In heven blis echeone.

XLVII. Honoure to the alone,
That art bothe iij. and one

1

O lorde, by whome althing is wrought,
And withoute whom is wrought right nought,
With hert, with myende, with wille and thought
Honour to the alone.

2

O, whiche haast made bothe day and nyght,
The firmament and sterres bright,
The sonne and mone to yeve vs light,
Honour to the alone.

3

O, whiche hast take mortall nature
Of moder Marie, virgyne pure,
For to redeme eche creature,
Honour to the alone.

4

O fader withoute begynnyng,
O sone of the fader beyng,

214

O holy goost of bothe ij. proceding,
Honour to the alone.

5

O fader, in whome alle strength is pight,
O sone also, that wisdome hight,
O holy goost, fro whome alle grace doth light,
Honour to the alone.

6

O iij. persones in one vnite
Beyng but one god and one light,
One in substance, essens and myght,
Honour to the alone.

7

O fader, o sonne, o holigoost,
O iij and one, of myghtis moost,
Of lest and moost in euery coost
Honour to the alone.

XLVIII. The sone of god is man become
Pro salute fidelium.

1

The sonne of god and king of blis,
Whoos ioye and blis shall neuir mys,
Of a pure mayde man become is
Pro salute fidelium.

2

What tyme Adam, oure first parent,
Had geve consent to the serpent,
As man to die was his entent
Pro salute fidelium.

3

Whenne he was xxx. winter olde,
For xxx plates he was solde
By fals Iudas to Iewes bolde
Pro salute fidelium.

4

Vppon his hede a crowne of thorne
The Iewes sette thanne with gret scorne,
And with scourgis his flesshe was torne
Pro salute fidelium.

215

5

The Iewes than of wikked moode
Nayled his body on the roode,
Wheron he shed his precious bloode
Pro salute fidelium.

6

He was dede and in his graue leyde,
And the iij.de day, as scripture seyde,
He rose ayene and to blis steyde
Pro salute fidelium.

7

He toke with hym withoute delay
Moder Marie, wyfe and may,
The whiche incessantly doth pray
Pro salute fidelium.

8

That lorde and king by his grete myght
Cause vs to dwell in blisse so bright,
That fro blis into Mary light
Pro salute fidelium.

XLIX. Amende we vs, while we haue space,
For why nowe is the tyme of grace.

1

That holy clerke, seint Augustyne,
Seith, now is tyme for to inclyne
To vertue and synne to resyne,
For why now is the tyme of grace.

2

Now, while we lyve, to do penaunce
It is oure soules to avaunce
And into blisse for to enhaunce,
For why now is the tyme of grace.

3

Are we departe this worlde fro,
Oure soules we may save fro woo;
Whenne we be gone, we may not so,
For why now is the tyme of grace.

216

4

Do we so now, while we here be,
In worde and dede, that we may see
Almyghty god in mageste,
For why now is the tyme of grace.

5

In wille, in dede, in worde and thought
Axe we hym grace, that vs hath bought,
Ayenst his wille that we haue wrought,
For why now is the tyme of grace.

6

Criste, that ay was, shall be and is,
Graunte vs forgeuenes of oure mys
And graunte vs grace to dwell in blis,
For why now is the tyme of grace.

L. Of thy mercy lete vs not mys,
Fili Marie virginis.

1

O king of grace and indulgence,
By whome alle thyng hath existence,
Forsake not man for his offence,
Fili Marie virginis.

2

Haue mercy, lorde, haue mercy on me
For thi mercyes, that so grete be,
For why my soule dothe trust in the,
Fili Marie virginis.

3

My prayere, lorde, as swete encense,
Be directed to thy presence:
Forgeve my synne and negligence,
Fili Marie virginis.

4

Thou shalt not, lorde, despise, but know
A contrite hert and meked lowe:
Lorde, fro thy face thou me not throw,
Fili Marie virginis.

217

5

With thy grace, lorde, thou vs enspire,
Inflame vs with goostely desire
And of thy loue burne vs with fire,
Fili Marie virginis.

6

That we may come vnto that blis,
Wherof the ioye eternall is,
Graunte vs, thou prince of alle princis,
Fili Marie virginis.

LI. Hec sunt verba saluatoris:
‘Nolo mortem peccatoris.’

1

‘Haue myende, for the how I was borne,
How with scourgis my flesshe was torne,
And how I was crowned with thorne:
Nolo mortem peccatoris.

2

Haue myende also, how lowe I light
Into a mayde so pure and bright
Taking mercy, leving my myght:
Nolo mortem peccatoris.

3

Thinke, how mekely I toke the felde
Vpon my bak bering my shelde;
For payne ne dethe I wolde not yelde:
Nolo mortem peccatoris.

4

Lyft vp thy hert now, man, and see,
What I haue done and doo for the.
Yf thou be lost, blame thou not me:
Nolo mortem peccatoris.’

LII. Thus seith Ihesus of Nazareth:
‘Of a synner I wille noo deth.’

1

Yf thou thy lyfe in synne haue ledde,
Amende the now; be not a-dredde,
For god his grace for the hath spredde:
Of a synner he wille no deth.

218

2

Yf thou haue done as mekill ylle,
As hert may thinke and dede fulfille,
Yf thou axe grace, thou shalt not spille:
Of a synner he wil no deth.

3

Mary Magdalene did grete offence,
And yet with hir Crist did dispence
And gave her grace and indulgence:
Of a synner he wille no deth.

4

She asked grace with hert contrite
And foryeuenes of hir delicte,
And he forgave here anone right:
Of a synner he wille no deth.

5

Man, yf thou wilte thy synne forsake
And vnto Crist amendes make,
Thy soule to blis then wil he take:
Of a synner he wille no deth.

LIII. ‘Reuert, reuert, reuert, reuert:
O synfull man, geve me thyn hert.’

1

‘Haue myende, howe I mankyende haue take
Of a pure mayde, man, for thy sake,
That were moost bonde, moost fre to make:
O synfull man, geve me thyn hert.

2

Haue myende, thou synfull creature,
I toke baptyme in thy nature
Fro filthe of synne to make the pure:
O synfull man, geve me thyn hert.

3

Haue myende, man, how I toke the felde
Vpon my bak bering my shelde;
For payne ne dethe I wolde not yelde:
O synfull man, yeve me thyn hert.

4

Haue myende, I was put on the rode
And for thy sake shedde my hert blode.

219

Beholde my payne, beholde my moode:
O synfull man, yeve me thyn hert.

5

Beholde myne hede, hande, foote and side,
Beholde my woundes fyve so wyde,
Beholde the payne, that I abyde:
O synfull man, yeve me thyn hert.

6

Haue myende, man, how fast I was bounde
For thy sake to a pilloure rounde,
Scorged, till my bloode fell to grounde:
O synfull man, yeve me thyn hert.

7

Haue myende, how I in fourme of bred
Haue left my flesshe and blode to wedde
To make the quyk, whenne thou art dedde:
O synfull man, yeve me thyn hert.

8

Haue myende, man, how I haue the wrought,
How with my bloode I haue the bought,
And how to blis I haue the brought:
O synfull man, yeve me thyn hert.

9

O synfull man, beholde and see,
What I haue done and do for the:
Yf thou wilte be in blis with me,
O synfull man, yeve me thyn hert.

10

Bothe for my dethe and paynes smert,
That I suffred for thy desert,
I aske nomore, man, but thyne hert:
Reuert, reuert, reuert, reuert.’

LIV. Hec sunt verba prophetica:
‘Amittes mundi prospera.’

1

O man, whiche art the erthe take froo,
Ayene into erthe thou shalt goo.
The wyse man in his lore seith soo:
‘Amittes mundi prospera.’

220

2

Bysshop or emperoure though that thou be,
Kynge, prince or duke of high degree,
Emperesse or quene or lady free,
Amittes mundi prospera.

3

Though of richesse thou haue thy wille
Of mete and drinke having thy fille,
When dredefull dethe shall come the tille,
Amittes mundi prospera.

4

Iob seith: ‘Good lorde, of me haue myende,
For why my lyfe is but a wyende:
To erth I shall ayene by kyende.’
Amittes mundi prospera.

5

Thou shalt not, man, abyde here ay,
But, as a floure, shalt fade away;
Therfore to the I dare wele say:
‘Amittes mundi prospera.’

6

Criste graunt vs grace, that we come may
To heven blis, that lasteth aye,
Where is no nyght, but ever day
Et infinita prospera.

LV. ‘Alle worldly welth passed me fro:
Nunc in puluere dormio.’

1

‘I had richesse, I had my helthe,
I had honoure and worldely welth,
Yet deth hath take me hens by stelthe:
Nunc in puluere dormio.

2

Of alle solace I had my wille
Of mete and drinke having my fille,
Yet dethe hathe smyt me with his bille:
Nunc in puluere dormio.

3

I had beawte in hande and face,
I had comforte in euery case,

221

Yet arested with dethys mace
Nunc in puluere dormio.

4

I hadde musyk, I hadde swete songe
And other game and myrthe amonge,
Yet dethe hathe felde me with his pronge:
Nunc in puluere dormio.

5

I hadde konnyng, wisdome and witte,
Manhoode and strengthe in me were knyt,
Yet dethe hath brought me to my pitte:
Nunc in puluere dormio.’

6

O man, whiche art erthe by thy kyende,
Whose lyfe is but a blast of wyende,
This dredefull worde bere in thy myende:
‘Nunc in puluere dormio.’

7

While thou art here, man, wele the guyde,
For thou shalt not ay here abyde,
But thou shalt sei, man, at a tyde:
‘Nunc in puluere dormio.’

8

Almyghty god graunte vs alle grace
Wele to expende oure tyme and space,
Or that we come vnto that case:
‘Nunc in puluere dormio.’

LVI. Ete ye this brede, ete ye this brede
And ete it so, ye be not dede.

1

This brede geveth eternall lyfe
Bothe vnto man, to chielde and wyfe;
It yeldeth grace and bateth stryfe:
Ete ye it so, ye be not ded.

2

It semeth white, yet it is rede,
And it is quik and semeth dede,
For it is god in fourme of brede:
Ete ye it so, ye be not ded.

222

3

This blessed brede is aungellis foode,
Mannes also perfecte and goode;
Therfore ete ye it with myelde moode:
Ete ye it so, ye be not dede.

4

This brede fro heven did descende
Vs fro alle ille for to defende
And to geve vs lyfe withoute ende:
Ete ye it so, ye be not dede.

5

In virgyne Mary this brede was bake,
Whenne Criste of her manhoode did take
Fre of alle synne mankyende to make:
Ete ye it so, ye be not dede.

6

Ete ye this brede withouten synne,
Eternall blis thanne shall ye wynne.
God graunte vs grace to dwell therin.
Ete ye it so, ye be not dede.

LVII. O, o, o, o, o, o, o, o,
O deus sine termino.

1

O fader withoute begynnyng,
O sonne and holigoost also,
O iij. and one without ending,
O deus sine termino;

2

O iij. persones in one vnyte
Beyng but one god and nomoo,
One in substance, essens and myght,
O deus sine termino;

3

O, whiche hast made bothe day and nyght,
Heven and erthe rounde like an O
By thy wisdome and endeles myght,
O deus sine termino;

4

O, whiche of nought althing hast wrought,
O verbum in principio,

223

O, without whom is wrought right nought,
O deus sine termino;

5

O prince of peas, o heven king,
O fynall ender of oure woo,
O, whose kingdome hath non ending,
O deus sine termino;

6

O maker of eche creature,
O supplanter of oure foo,
O sonne of Marie, virgyn pure,
O deus sine termino;

7

We beseche the with alle oure myght,
Or we depart this worlde fro,
Of forgevenes of oure delicte,
O deus sine termino.

8

Criste graunte vs grace, that we come may
To heven blisse, whenne we hens goo,
That deyed for vs on good friday
Et regnat sine termino.

224

LIX. Ortus est sol iusticie
Ex illibata virgine.

1

Thre kingis on the xijth daye
Stella micante preuia
Vnto Betheleem they toke theire way
Tria ferentes munera.
Hym worship we now borne so fre
Ex illibata virgine.

2

They went alle thre that chielde to se
Sequentes lumen syderis,
And hym they founde in raggis wounde
In sinu matris virginis.
Hym worship we now born so fre
Ex illibata virgine.

3

For he was king of mageste,
Aurum sibi optulerunt.
For he was god and ay shal be,
Thus deuote prebuerunt.
Hym worship we now born so fre
Ex illibata virgine.

4

For he was man, they gave hym than
Mirram, que sibi placuit.
This infant shone in heven trone,
Qui in presepe iacuit.
Hym worship we nowe borne so fre
Ex illibata virgine.

225

5

Warned they were, these kingis, tho
In sompnis per altissimum,
That they ayene no wyse shuld go
Ad Herodem nequissimum.
Hym worship we nowe born so fre
Ex illibata virgine.

6

Not by Herode, that wikked knyght,
Sed per viam aliam
They be gone home ageyn full right
Per dei prouidenciam.
Hym worship we now borne so fre
Ex illibata virgine.

7

Ioseph fledde thoo, Mary also
In Egiptum cum puero,
Where they abode, till king Herode
Migrauit ex hoc seculo.
Hym worship we now born so fre
Ex illibata virgine.

8

That heuenly king to blis vs bringe,
Quem genuit puerpera,
That was and is and shall not mys
Per infinita secula.
Hym worship we nowe borne so fre
Ex illibata virgine.

LX. Beholde, to you gret ioy I bring,
For nowe is born Crist heuen king.

1

On xij.the day came kingis thre
With golde, encense and myrre so fre
Vnto Bethelem to seke and see
The son of god, Crist heuen king.

2

In here way tho Herode, that kyng,
Bade them goo and axe inquiring,
Where this chielde was (and worde hym bring),
The sonne of god, Crist heuen king.

226

3

They passed furth, and the sterre bright
Went before them and gave them light,
Till they came, where they had a sight
Of goddis son, Crist heuen king.

4

Warned they were in theire slepe thoo,
They shulde not go to Herode, theire foo:
Another way home they be goo
By vertu of Crist heven king.

5

Into Egipte Ioseph fledde thoo
With the chielde and moder alsoo:
The aungell bade hym thider goo
With Mary and Crist heven king.

6

Herode seyng, he hadde a trayne,
Alle children of Israell hath slayne
For this chielde Crist, that is, certayn,
The son of god and heven king.

LXI. A sterre shone bright on xij day
Ouer that place, where Ihesus lay.

1

On xij.the day this sterre so clere
Brought kingis iij oute of the eest
Vnto that king, that hath no pere,
In Betheleem Iude, where he did rest.
This sterre that day tho went away
Fro that swete place, where Ihesus lay.

2

Bothe golde, encense and swete myrre thoo
Alle thre they gave vnto that chielde,
The whiche is god and man alsoo
Borne of a virgyne vndefielde.
This sterre that day tho went away
Fro that swete place, where Ihesus lay.

3

For he was king of mageste,
They gave hym golde with grete reuerence.

227

For he was god in persones thre,
Mekely to hym they gave encense.
This sterre that day tho went away
Fro that swete place, where Ihesus lay.

4

For he was man, they gave hym than
Mirre in token, that he shulde dye
And be buried for synfull man
And arise ayene and to blis stye.
This sterre that day tho went away
Fro that swete place, where Ihesus lay.

5

Whenne theire offring alle thre had made
To Crist, that king and lorde of alle,
Right sone the sterre away did fade,
That brightly shone ouer that halle.
This sterre that day tho went away
Fro that swete place, where Ihesus lay.

6

As they were goyng in theire way,
They mette Herode, that mody king:
He bade them wite, where that chield lay,
And come by hym and worde hym bring.
This sterre that daye tho went away
Fro that swete place, where Ihesus lay.

7

King Herode fayne wolde them haue slayne,
But they were warned on a nyght,
They shulde not goo by hym agayne,
By an aungell bothe faire and bright.
This sterre that day tho went away
Fro that swete place, where Ihesus lay.

8

They were full glad, and, as he badde,
They be gone home another way,
And king Herode was wrothe and sadde,
That he of them had lost his pray.
This sterre that day tho went away
Fro that swete place, where Ihesus lay.

9

Into Egipte Ioseph thoo fledde
With the moder and with the chielde,

228

Where they abode, till he was dedde,
And of his wille he was begiled.
This sterre that day tho went away
Fro that swete place, where Ihesus lay.

10

Kyng Herode thanne in his grete wreth
Seyng of them his purpose lorne
Infantis full yonge he put to deth
Thurgh alle Betheleem, that tho were borne.
This sterre that daye tho went away
Fro that swete place, where Ihesus lay.

11

Thanne, as the prophete Ysay
Had prophesied long tyme before,
A voice was hurde in blisse an hye
Of grete weping and wayling sore.
This sterre that day tho went away
Fro that swete place, where Ihesus lay.

12

Honoure to Criste, that now was borne,
As prophecy had saide before,
To save mankyende, that was forlorne,
And to his blisse for to restore.
This sterre that day tho went away
Fro that swete place, where Ihesus lay.

236

LXVIII. Of a mayden to vs borne is
The sonne of god and king of blis.

1

Nowe this tyme rex pacificus
Is man become for loue of vs,
And his name is called Ihesus,
The sonne of god and king of blis.

237

2

On xij.the daye came kingis thre
With golde, encense and myrre so fre
Vnto Betheleem to seke and see
The sonne of god and king of blis.

3

On xij.th daye by grace dyvyne
Atte the fest of Architriclyn
Crist turned water into wyne,
The sonne of god and king of blis.

4

On xij.the daye in Iordan floode
Of Ihon baptist with a myelde moode
Criste was baptized, that lorde so goode,
The sonne of god and king of blis.

5

Ouer his hed there stode a dove,
A voice was hurde in blis aboue:
‘This is my chielde, the whiche I loue,
The sonne of god and king of blisse.’

6

Bothe god and man, in oure nature
He sanctified the waters pure
Of heuen blisse to make vs sure,
The sonne of god and king of blisse.

238

LXX. Fare wele, aduent: cristemas is cum.
Fare wele fro vs both alle and sume.

1

With paciens thou hast vs fedde
And made vs go hungrie to bedde:
For lak of mete we were nyghe dedde.
Fare wele fro vs both alle and sume.

239

2

While thou haste be within oure howse,
We ete no puddyngis ne no sowce,
But stynking fisshe not worthe a lowce.
Fare wele fro vs both alle and sume.

3

There was no fresshe fisshe ferre ne nere,
Saltfisshe and samon was to dere,
And thus we haue had hevy chere.
Fare wele fro vs both alle and sume.

4

Thou hast vs fedde with plaices thynne
Nothing on them but bone and skynne;
Therfore oure loue thou shalt not wynne.
Fare wele fro vs both alle and sume.

5

With muskillis gaping afture the mone
Thou hast vs fedde at nyght and none
But ones a wyke and that to sone.
Fare wele fro vs both alle and sume.

6

Oure brede was browne, oure ale was thynne;
Oure brede was musty in the bynne,
Oure ale soure, or we did begynne.
Fare wele fro vs both alle and sume.

7

Thou art of grete in-gratitude
Good mete fro vs for to exclude:
Thou art not kyende, but verey rude.
Fare wele fro vs both alle and sume.

8

Thou dwellest with vs ayenst oure wille,
And yet thou gevest vs not oure fille:
For lak of mete thou woldest vs spille.
Fare wele fro vs both alle and sume.

9

Aboue alle thinge thou art a meane
To make oure chekes bothe bare and leane:
I wolde, thou were at Boughton Bleane.
Fare wele fro vs both alle and sume.

240

10

Come thou nomore here nor in Kent;
For, yf thou doo, thou shallt be shent:
It is ynough to faste in lent.
Fare wele fro vs both alle and sume.

11

Thou maist not dwelle with none eastate;
Therfore with vs thou playest chekmate:
Go hens, or we will breke thy pate.
Fare wele fro vs both alle and sume.

12

Thou maist not dwell with knyght nor squier:
For them thou maiste lye in the myre;
They loue not the nor lent, thy sire.
Fare wele fro vs both alle and sume.

13

Thou maist not dwell with labouring man;
For on thy fare no skille he can;
For he must ete bothe now and than.
Fare wele fro vs both alle and sume.

14

Though thou shalt dwell with monke and frere,
Chanon and nonne ones euery yere,
Yet thou shuldest make vs better chere.
Fare wele fro vs both alle and sume.

15

This tyme of Cristis feest natall
We will be mery, grete and small,
And thou shalt goo oute of this halle.
Fare wele fro vs both alle and sume.

16

Aduent is gone, cristemas is cume:
Be we mery now alle and sume.
He is not wise, that wille be dume
In ortu regis omnium.

LXXI. Te patrem nostrum inuocamus,
Te deum verumque laudamus.

1

Thy creatures terrestriall,
Te patrem nostrum inuocamus,
With the high courte celestiall
Te deum verumque laudamus.

241

2

By daye and nyght, as it is right,
Te patrem nostrum inuocamus,
With aungellis bright with alle oure myght
Te deum verumque laudamus.

3

O heuenly king, that aye shall reigne,
Te patrem nostrum inuocamus,
With potestatis of myght and mayn
Te deum verumque laudamus.

4

By whome althing, lorde, did begynne,
Te patrem nostrum inuocamus,
With cherubyn and seraphyn
Te deum verumque laudamus.

5

O lorde moost dere, that hast no pere,
Te patrem nostrum inuocamus,
With the swete quere of apostles dere
Te deum verumque laudamus.

6

O endeles god and man so fre,
Te patrem nostrum inuocamus,
With thy prophetes in theire degree
Te deum verumque laudamus.

7

O prince, that put oure foo to flight,
Te patrem nostrum inuocamus,
With thy hoost of martres so bright
Te deum verumque laudamus.

8

Fader and sonne and holy goost,
Te patrem nostrum inuocamus,
Bothe iij. and one, of myghtis moost,
Te deum verumque laudamus.

LXXII. Alpha et o quem vocamus,
Te deum verumque laudamus.

1

O god and man sempiternall,
That hast made vs free, that were thrall,

242

Bothe grete and small, to the we call:
‘Te deum verumque laudamus.’

2

O oure fader celestiall,
Oure foo committe so bestiall.
We, thy children terrestriall,
Te deum verumque laudamus.

3

To the, o lorde so full of myght,
Aungellis alle of heuen so bright
Be assistent bothe day and nyght:
‘Te deum verumque laudamus.’

4

The hevens also so bright and clere,
Moost specially the heuen empere,
Dothe laude the aye, o lorde so dere:
‘Te deum verumque laudamus.’

5

The potestates vniuersall
In thy high courte imperiall
Geveth the honoure perpetuall:
‘Te deum verumque laudamus.’

6

Cherubyn and seraphyn with loue ardent
Euirmore crie with one assent:
‘O lorde god Sabaoth omnipotent,
Te deum verumque laudamus.’

7

Of the appostles the glorious quere,
O king and prince and lorde moost dere,
Geveth the laude and honoure in fere:
‘Te deum verumque laudamus.’

8

The prophetes alle in theire degree,
O endeles god in persones thre,
Thanke and preysing they geve to the:
‘Te deum verumque laudamus.’

9

O heuenly prince moost glorious,
The tryumphe wonne laborious

243

Thy martirs singe victorius:
‘Te deum verumque laudamus.’

10

O endeles god, fader of light,
Alle holy churche, as it is right,
Lawde and preyse the bothe day and nyght:
‘Te deum verumque laudamus.’

11

Thy sonne with the also, Ihesus,
Now man become for loue of vs
We laude and honoure seying thus:
‘Te deum verumque laudamus.’

12

The holygoost, that dothe procede
Of you both ij., as seith oure crede,
We laude and preyse in worde and dede:
Te deum verumque laudamus.

13

Bothe iij. and one we knowleche the,
One in godhede, in persones thre,
That euir were and ay shall be:
Te deum verumque laudamus.

14

O swete Ihesu, that on the roode
Hast redemed vs with thy hert bloode,
With contrite hert and with myelde moode
Te deum verumque laudamus.

LXXIII. Dulciter pangamus:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

1

O fader of high maieste,
The sonne and holigoost with the,
Bothe iij. and one the knowlege we.
Te deum laudamus.

2

O sonne of god, Criste heuen king,
On his rightside in blisse sitting,
Oure iuge to be in tyme comyng,
Te deum laudamus.

244

3

O holy goost ay proceding
Of the fader euirlasting
And of the sonne withoute ending,
Te deum laudamus.

4

O iij. persones in one vnite
Beyng but one god and one light,
One in substaunce, essens and myght,
Te deum laudamus.

5

Incessantly, lorde, aungellis alle,
Apostles, potestatis vniuersall,
Cherubyn and seraphyn to the doth call:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

6

Fro day to day, lorde, we blesse the,
And withoute ende thy name prayse we,
Of whose kingdome noon ende shall be:
Te deum laudamus.

LXXIV. Alpha et o quem vocamus,
Te deum verum laudamus.

1

Fader and sonne and holigoost,
We knowlege the in euery coost
Bothe iij and one, of myghtis moost:
Te deum verum laudamus.

2

Thre persones, one god, one light,
One in substaunce, essence and myght,
By day and nyght, as it is right,
Te deum verum laudamus.

3

O high fader, by whome althing
Onely hathe take a begynnyng,
Of whose kingdome is none ending,
Te deum verum laudamus.

4

O sonne of the fader of myght
Onely bigote of hym by right,

245

As god of god and light of light,
Te deum verum laudamus.

5

O holygoost, that doost procede
Of the fader and sonne in dede
Onely by loue (this is oure crede),
Te deum verum laudamus.

6

O endeles god of myghtis moost,
That thou hast made, lete not be lost,
Sith, thy seruauntis, in euery cost
Te deum verum laudamus.

LXXV. Singe we alle this tyme thus:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

1

The high fader of blisse aboue
Sent his owne sonne to oure behove,
Whome alle this worlde is bounde to love.
Te deum laudamus.

2

To become man he lothed nought
Of a pure mayde in dede and thought
To make man fre, that he had wrought.
Te deum laudamus.

3

Whenne he was borne, that lorde and king,
Oute of thraldome mankyende to bringe,
With one accorde aungellis did singe:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

4

Cherubyn and seraphyn with voices clere,
The appostles, the prophetis and martirs in fere
Euirmore laudeth that lorde so dere:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

5

The ierarchies with ordres nyne
To hym assiste and aye incline
And honoure hym with laude diuine:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

246

6

Alle holy churche with melodie,
As it is right, dothe magnifie
His holy name and glorifie:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

LXXVI. Dulciter pangamus:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

1

Of a mayde Criste did not forsake
Mankyende to take man fre to make
And into blisse with hym to take.
Te deum laudamus.

2

Alle erthily creatures, that be,
Mote laude and preyse that lorde so fre,
With hert and myende to whom singe we:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

3

O perfecte god, o perfecte man,
That for vs hast take woundis wan,
With hert, wille and thought, as we can,
Te deum laudamus.

4

O shaper of heuen, erthe, se and sonde,
O lorde and prince of euery londe,
That hast made vs fre, that were bonde,
Te deum laudamus.

5

For thy grete gyftes manyfolde
Lent to seruantis bothe yonge and olde,
The whiche thou hast create of molde,
Te deum laudamus.

6

O Criste, that thus hast take nature
Of myelde Marie, that virgyne pure,
Of heuen blis to make vs sure,
Te deum laudamus.

7

O fader, o sonne, o holigoost,
O thre and one, of myghtis moost,
Thy myelde seruantis, in euery coost
Te deum laudamus.

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LXXXVI. In Criste Ihesu be we alle gladde,
By whome oure ioye endeles is hadde.

1

The high fader of blisse aboue
Hathe sent his sonne to take nature
For his grete charite and loue
Of Marie myelde, that virgyne pure,
And so on vs to do his cure
And to bringe vs fro endeles woo
And fro the feende, oure goostely foo.

2

Gabriell of so high degre
Was sent fro god (scripture seith soo)
To Nazareth of Galilee,
And to Marie thus seide he thoo:
‘Haile, full of grace withouten woo:
The lorde god is dwelling with the;
Of alle women blessed thou be!’

3

Whenne she hurde this, she was afrayde
And thought, what greting this myght be.
‘Drede not, Marie,’ the aungell seyde:
‘Thou hast founde grace, thou mayden free,
Before one god in persones thre.

259

Thou shalt conceyve and bere the same,
The sonne of god, Ihesus by name.

4

He shalle be grete and called shall be
The sonne of the highest of alle,
And god shall geve hym Dauid see,
And ay shall reigne in Iacobes halle;
Whose high kingdome is eternall;
For of heuen and erthe alsoo
He is the lorde: there is nomoo.’

5

Marie seide to the aungell than:
‘Howe shall this be, that thou doest hight,
Sith I purpose to know no man
And shall conceyve the king of myght?’
He aunswered her, that aungell bright:
‘The holygoost shall light in the;
By whome Criest shall conceyved be.

6

Elizabeth, thy cosyn, loo,
In her olde age, that bareyn went,
Hath conceyved a chielde alsoo
By grace of god omnipotent;
Wherefore, good lady, geve concent;
For there shall be neuir a worde
Inpossible vnto that lorde.’

7

Magnifiyng god manyfolde
Vnto the aungell then seide she:
‘The handemayde of oure lorde beholde.
As thou haste seyde, be done to me.’
Thus conceyved this mayden free
By her mekenes god and man thoo
To bringe mankyende fro endeles woo.

8

This mayden myelde hath borne a chielde,
As prophetis seide longe tyme before,
To save mankyende, that was exielde,
And to blisse it for to restore.
Oure ioye is wonne for euirmore;
For Criste hath brought mankyende fro woo
And fro the fende, oure mortall foo.

260

LXXXVII. As Gabriell archaungell seyde,
Now Criste is borne of a pure meyde.

1

That archaungell shynyng full bright
Came vnto Marie, that myelde mayde,
Bringyng tydingis fro god almyght,
And vnto her mekely he sayde:
‘Haile, full of grace: be not afrayde.
God is with the in euery place.
Thou shalt conceyve the king of grace.’

2

‘Howe shalle this be,’ this mayden than
Seyde to that archaungell so bright,
‘Sith I purpose to knowe no man
And shall conceyve the sonne of myght?’
‘The holygoost in the shall light,
And thurgh his working thou shalt be
Moder of god in persones thre.’

3

‘Ecce, ancilla,’ thenne seide she,
‘Beholde the handemayde of oure lorde.
The wille of god be done in me
In dede, in thought, in wille and worde.’
And thus, as scripture bereth recorde,
Marie, that mayde moost of honoure,
Hath borne Ihesus, oure sauyoure.

4

The prophesy fulfilled is
Of the prophetis nowe alle and sume;
For why the faders sonne of blis
To save mankyende is man becume.
To hym therfore be we not dume,
But lete vs singe and make alle myrth
In honoure nowe of his swete birth.

LXXXVIII. ‘Awake, Ioseph, awake, awake,
And to Marie thy way thou take.’

1

Iosephe wolde haue fled fro that mayde,
Not for noo synne ne for offence,
But to abyde he was affrayde
In here so good and pure presence

261

Extans virgo concipiens,
The mysterie for cause he knew
In her of so full grete vertue.

2

‘With her,’ he seide, ‘why shulde I dwell?
Than I, of degre she is more,
And in vertue she doth excelle:
I wille departe from her therefore.’
But god, that hath alle grace in store,
Sent an aungell, that was full bright,
Vnto Ioseph vpon a nyght.

3

[And vnto hym that aungell seide:]
‘Drede not, Iosephe, sonne of Dauid,
To take Marie, thy wyfe, that mayde,
For why the chielde, that she goth with,
Is goddes sonne: be not afrayde.
Long tyme before scripture hath sayde,
That a pure mayde shulde bere a chield
To save mankyende, that was exield.’

4

Ioseph a-rose and went full right
Vnto Marie, that mayden myelde,
And thurgh vertue of god almyght
He founde that mayden grete with chielde,
And yet she had hym not begielde,
For why Ihesus, the sonne of right,
Fro blis into her wombe did light.

5

Beholde, how Eve, that woman wielde,
Hath borne hir frute in care and woo,
But virgyne Marie, moder myelde,
Hath borne her frute, but nothing soo;
For she hath borne Criste and nomoo
Forto defende vs fro the feende
And geve vs blisse withouten ende.

6

The frute of deth Eve gave to vs,
But that pure mayde and moder dere
Gave vs the frute of lyfe Ihesus,
Wherfore next god she hath no pere
Aboue in blisse ne in erthe here,
For why her sete is next the trone
Of god, that is bothe iij. and one.

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XC. O synfull man, beholde and se,
What thy maker hath done for þe.

1

“O my dere sonne, why doest thou soo?
Why doest thou suffre alle this payne?
Thou bringest my hert in care and woo
Without offence to se the slayne,
To see the blede at euery vayne
And to beholde thy louely syde
With a sharpe spere wounded so wyde.

2

To se thy hede crowned with thorne
The blode rennyng vppon thy face,
Thy flesshe also with scourgis torne
Thus cruelly in euery place,
This is to me a woofull case,
Sith that thou art myne owne dere chielde
And I thy moder vndefiled.”

3

‘My dere moder, wepe thou nomore
And moorne nomore, moder, for me,
For why it greveth me full sore
In care and woo the forto see,
Sith I haue take nature of the
And am thy sonne, as thou hast seide,
Thou beyng bothe moder and meyde.

4

This wofull payne now will I take
And bitter dethe, moder, also
Onely for synfull mannes sake
To bringe hym out of payne and woo
And fro the fende, his mortall foo:
Though that he be vnkyende to me,
Yet will I die to make hym free.’

5

“Sith thou art king of heven blis
And lorde of alle, dere sonne, also,
Why shuldest thou die for mannes mys
And suffre alle this payne and woo,
Sith that he is thy mortall foo
Thus with scourgis forto scourge the
And thus to nayle the on a tre?

264

6

Myne owne dere sonne, it greveth me
For to beholde thy woundes smert,
To se the nayled on a tree
Thy blode bleding oute of thyn hert.
Why doest thou bere mannes desert,
Sith that to the he is vnkyende
And loue of hym thou cannest non fynde?”

7

‘Scripture, moder, I must fulfille,
Wherefore I toke nature of the,
For why it is my faders wille,
That I shall die to make man fre.
It is the wille also of me
To suffre deth for mannes mys
And bringe hym to eternall blis.

8

Sith man of me mercy doth craue
And I am lorde of indulgence,
Of my pite I will hym save
And forgeve hym alle his offence.
With hym, truly, I will dispence
And pay his raunsom on the rode
With the treasoure of my hert blode.’

272

XCIX. Right, as the aungell tolde, it is,
That nowe is borne the king of blis.

1

The prophesy fulfilled is
Of the prophetes now alle and sume,
For why the faders sonne of blis
To save mankyende is man bicome.
And why is this, but for oure mys,
That now is borne the king of blis?

2

His loue to vs was so feruent,
That he came downe, that lorde so good,

273

Fro blisse in to this vale present
And of Mary toke flesshe and blode.
And why was this, but for oure mys,
That now is borne the king of blis?

3

And so oure nature he hath take
To his godhede withouten synne
And hath brought vs oute of that lake,
That oure parent had brought vs in.
And why was this, but for oure mys,
That nowe is borne the king of blis?

4

By vertu of the holy goost,
Into here wombe that downe did light,
The sonne of god of myghtis moost
She hath brought furth, that mayden bright.
And why was this, but for oure mys,
That nowe is borne the king of blis?

5

As the sonne beame goth thurgh the glas,
And as a floure berith his odoure,
So Crist of her conceyved was
And borne of her withoute doloure.
And why was this, but for oure mys,
That now is borne the king of blis?

6

Beholde and see the lowe descence
Of Criest, that is so high in trone,
To take nature for oure offence,
The whiche offence did neuir none.
And why was this, but for oure mys,
That now is borne the king of blis?

7

When he was borne, that lorde and king,
Oute of thraldome to bringe mankyende,
‘Ioye be to god’, aungellis did synge,
In holy scripture as we fyende.
And why was this, but for oure mys,
That now is borne the king of blis?

8

Now beseche we this king of grace
For to graunte vs a place in blis

274

And hym to se there face to face,
There ioye and peas shall neuir mysse.
And why is this, but for oure mys,
That nowe is borne the king of blis?

C. A chielde is borne with vs to dwell:
Nomen eius Emanuell.

1

‘This is the stone kut of the hille,’
Thus seith the prophete Daniell,
‘Borne of a mayde in dede and wille.’
Nomen eius Emanuell.
Scripture full welle to vs doth tell,
Nomen eius Emanuell.

2

Thus seide the prophete Ysay
Long tyme before, or it befell:
‘A meyde shall bere a chield, truly,
Nomen eius Emanuell.’
Scripture full well to vs doth tell,
Nomen eius Emanuell.

3

‘He is oure lorde,’ seith Ieramye,
‘This chielde now borne with vs to dwell,
And non like hym is fare ne neye.’
Nomen eius Emanuell.
Scripture full well to vs doth tell,
Nomen eius Emanuell.

4

‘The sonne of god,’ Abacuc seyde,
‘By whome althing was made full well,
In an oxe stalle was porely leyde.’
Nomen eius Emanuel.
Scripture full well to vs doth tell,
Nomen eius Emanuell.

5

‘Alle kinges vnto hym do pray,’
Thus seith Dauid, as I you tell,
‘And alle peoplez hym shall obay.’
Nomen eius Emanuell.
Scripture full well to vs doth tell,
Nomen eius Emanuell.

275

6

Nowe lete vs pray bothe alle and sume
To this aungell of alle counsell ,
To heuen blisse that we may cume.
Nomen eius Emanuell.
Scripture full well to vs doth tel l,
Nomen eius Emanuell.

CI. Mary so myelde of hert and myende
Hath borne a childe to save mankyende.

1

Mary so myelde and good of fame
By vertu of the holygoost
Hath borne a chielde, Ihesus by name,
To save mankyende, the whiche was lost.

2

Marie so myelde in hert and myende,
As Gabriell to her behight,
Hath borne a chielde to save mankyende,
The son of god and king of myght.

3

Marie so myelde, that quene of grace,
Hath borne a chielde (scripture seith soo)
To bringe mankyende out of that place,
Where is bothe peyne and endeles woo.

4

Mary so myelde in worde and thought
Hath borne a chielde, Ihesus soo good,
The whiche ayene mankyende hath bought
On the roode tree with his hert bloode.

5

Mary so myelde in dede and wille
Hath borne a chielde, that made alle thing,
To whom althing obeyeth by skille,
As to theire prince, theire lorde and king.

6

Mary so myelde, so pure and clene
Vnto hir chielde, that hath no pere,
By hir mekenes she is a meane,
That we shalle come to heven quere.

276

7

Mary so myelde, moder and may,
Hath borne a chielde by hir mekenesse,
That shall bringe vs at domes day
Fro thraldom, peyn, woo and distresse.

277

8

Pray we to hym with worde and thought,
That myelde Marie now furth hath brought,
Whose infinite goodenesse may nought
Esse seca.

CIII. Mary hath borne alone
The sonne of god in trone.

1

Thus to her seide an aungell thoo:
‘Haile, full of grace withouten woo;
Thou shalt conceyve and bere alsoo
Both god and man alone.’

2

This mayden seide to the aungell:
‘How shalle this be (to me thou tell),
A mayde sith I entende to dwell,
Witnesse of god alone?’

3

The aungell saide: ‘O mayden free,
The holygoost shall light in the,
And thurgh his workyng thou shalt be
Moder of god alone.’

4

‘Goddes handemayde beholde,’ seide she.
‘As thou hast seide, be done to me:
As oure lorde wille, so moote it be;
His wille be done alone.’

5

He toke his leve, that aungell bright,
Of hir and went to blisse full right,
And she hath born, as he behight,
Both god and man alone.

CIV. Mary myelde made grete mone
For her dere sonne alone.

1

When fals Iudas her son had solde
To the Iewes wikked and bolde,
As he before to hir had tolde,
She was wofull alone.

278

2

When he came to Cayphas and An
To be iuged for synfull man,
In her hert she was woofull than
For hir dere son alone.

3

When that she sawe his flessh to-torn
And on his hede a crowne of thorn
And, how the Iewes hym did shorn,
She was wofull alone.

4

When hir dere son, Ihesus so goode,
Was nayled fast vppon the roode,
She sobbed and wept watre and bloode
For hir dere son alone.

5

Whenne hir dere son on the thirde day
With hir did mete and thus did say:
‘Hayle, holy moder, wyfe and may,’
She was ioyfull alone.

CV. Salue, regina glorie,
Mater misericordie.

1

Hayle, oure lod sterre bothe bright and clere;
Hayle, welle of grace and of pitee;
Hayle, spowse of Criest louely and dere,
Mater misericordie.

2

Hayle, floure of alle virginitee;
Hayle, full of grace: Criest is with the;
Hayle, temple of the trinitee,
Mater misericordie.

3

Hayle, quene of blisse, emperesse of hell;
Hayle, doughter Syon full of beautie;
Hayle, closed gate of Ezechiell,
Mater misericordie.

4

O fragrant rose, o lilly chast,
O violete of puritee,

279

Thyn ey of grace vpon vs cast,
Mater misericordie.

5

O quene of blisse, o virgyn pure,
For confort we resorte to the;
On vs therfore do thou thy cure,
Mater misericordie.

6

In tyme of nede, bothe grete and small,
For subsidie we calle to the,
And by thy name thus we the call:
‘Mater misericordie.’

7

What tyme mankyende had done amys,
By thy mekenesse it was made free
And brought ayene to heven blisse,
Mater misericordie.

8

As the son beame goth thurgh the glas,
The son of god passed thurgh the
Takyng nature, as his wille was,
Mater misericordie.

9

With the glorie of thy son swete,
O quene of blisse, o lady free,
Heven and erthe bothe be replete,
Mater misericordie.

10

Moder and mayde in one persone
Was neuir noon ne noon shall be,
But thou alone, o heven trone,
Mater misericordie.

11

O lantern of eternall light,
That gave them light, that myght not see,
Cause vs of Criest to haue a sight,
Mater misericordie.

12

O virgyne pure, o quene of blis,
Cause vs to be in blisse with the,
Wherof the ioye eternall is,
Mater misericordie.

280

CVI. Mary so myelde alone
For her chielde made grete mone.

1

In prophesy thus it is saide,
The whiche no wyse may be denayde,
That Criest shulde be borne of a mayde
To save mankyende alone.

2

‘Mielde Mary’ thus this mayden hight,
Her son Ihesus so full of myght
For to bringe vs ayene to light
Died for vs alone.

3

Symeon seide, the swerde shulde goo
Thurgh hir myelde hert of care and woo,
For her son shuld dey (and nomoo)
To save mankyende alone.

4

This mayden wept watre and blode
To see her son so myelde and goode
To suffre deth vpon the rode
For synfull man alone.

5

Noo hert can thinke, noo tunge tell can
The peyne, that this mayde suffred than
To se her son, both god and man,
To die for man alone.

6

As grevous payne to her and woo
It was to see her sone die soo,
As vnto hym, that died thoo
To save mankyende alone.

CVII. Stella celi, micaris clare;
Regina celi, letare.

1

O quene of blisse, thy son Ihesus,
Quem meruisti portare,
God and man is, we bileue thus:
Regina celi, letare.

281

2

O lady free, the king of grace,
Quem meruisti portare,
Hath ordeyned the a ioyfull place:
Regina celi, letare.

3

O spowse moost bright, thy son alone,
Quem meruisti portare,
Thy place hath dight next to the trone:
Regina celi, letare.

4

O moder dere of god and man,
Quem meruisti portare,
Thou art more clere, than tunge tell can:
Regina celi, letare.

5

O moder myelde, thy son so good,
Quem meruisti portare,
For man so wielde died on the rode:
Regina celi, letare.

6

O meke of myende, thy son also,
Quem meruisti portare,
Hath brought mankyende fro peyn and woo,
Regina celi, letare.

7

O virgyn pure, as he behight,
Quem meruisti portare,
He rose, full sure, by his grete myght:
Regina celi, letare.

8

O emperesse, that emperoure,
Quem meruisti portare,
In oure distresse he is socoure:
Regina celi, letare.

9

O heuenly sterre, the prince of peas,
Quem meruisti portare,
Oure goostly werre by the doth seace:
Regina celi, letare.

10

For vs thou pray Emanuell,
Quem meruisti portare,
So that we may in heven well:
Regina celi, letare.

283

CX. O quene of pitee, moder of grace,
In the high citee graunt vs a place.

1

O quene of pitee and of grace,
O swete lady, to thy dere chielde,
That king, that lorde of euery place,
Pray thou for vs, thy seruauntis myelde,
Fro blisse that we be not exiled
For oure offence, trespas and synne,
But that swete place that we may wynne.

2

O princesse of eternall peace,
O lady of aungellis moost bright,
Pray thy dere sonne oure woo to seace
And bring vs fro derkenes to light,
Of hym that we may haue a sight,
That died for vs on the roode tree
And shed his blode to make vs free.

3

O emperesse withouten pere,
O queen also of heven blisse,
Of Criest Ihesu, thy son so dere,
What thou wilt aske, thou shalt not mysse;
For he is thyne, and thou art his.
O swete lady, sith it is soo,
Defende mankyende fro endeles woo.

4

O floure of alle virginitee,
O moder of oure savioure,

284

O chast bowre of the trinitee,
O virgyne pure moost of honoure,
Be oure comfort, help and socoure,
And vttirly thou not forsake
Mankynde, the which thy son hath take.

5

O gate of lyfe, moder and wyfe,
O hope and trust of synners alle,
In angwishe, woo, trouble and stryfe
For thy comfort we crie and calle,
Bothe olde and yonge, both gret and small;
Therfore oure help and comfort be,
Sith oure trust is onely in the.

6

O louely spowse and paramoure
Of Criest, that is bothe god and man,
Thou hast born chielde without doloure,
And so noon other woman can.
Do thou thy cure, swete lady, than,
Sith thou haast borne the lord of alle,
So that mankyende be not made thralle.

7

O lantern of eternall light,
O myrroure of humilitee,
In whom the holy goost did light
Bicause of thy virginitee,
Kepe mankyende fro captiuitee
And fro that woofull place of helle,
With the fowle fende that it not dwelle.

8

O heuenly sterre most bright and clere
Of alle sterres of hevyn so bright,
O swete lady, oure prayere here
And be oure guyde both day and nyght,
That we may please that king of myght,
So that we may come to that blis,
Wherof the ioye eternall is.

Explicit liber ympnorum et canticorum, quem composuit frater Iacobus Ryman ordinis Minorum ad laudem omnipotentis dei et sanctissime matris eius Marie omniumque sanctorum anno domini millesimo cccc.mo lxxxxij.o

288

CXIII. ‘Heyle, Mary, meyden meke and mylde:
Thou shalte conceyue and bere a chylde.’

1

An angelle, thatte was fayre and bryght,
Came to Mary with fulle grete lyght,
And vnto here he seyde fulle ryght:
‘Thou shalt conceyue and bere a chyld.’

2

When she hurde this, that blessid meyde,
Sore in here mynde she was a-freyde
Of theys wordys, thatte he hadde seyde:
‘Thou schalt conceyue and bere a chyld.’

3

‘Drede notte,’ he seide, thatt angelle bright;
‘Thou hast founde grace in goddys sight:
Withyn thy wombe by his grete myght
Thou schalt conceyue and bere a chyld.’

4

She seide vnto the angell than:
‘Hou shall this be (telle, if thou can),
Sith I purpose to knowe no man,
Thus to conceue and bere a chyld?’

5

He seyde: ‘God, thatt is withowte ende,
The holigost to the shall sende,
And by grace, thatt he shall extende,
Thou shalt conceyue and bere a chyld.

6

Thou shalte calle hym Ihesus by name,
A chyld of grete vertu and fame;
The sonne of god shalbe the same.
Thou shalte conceyue and bere a chyld.

7

In the highe sete of mageste
Of his fadere ay reigne shalle he;

289

Of whoys kyngdome none end shall be.
Thou shalt conceyue and bere a chylde.’

8

Sche answerde hym, thatt meyden fre:
‘As thou hast seide, be done to me.
The wille of god fulfyllyd be
Thus to conceyue and bere a chylde.’

9

He toke his leve, thatte angelle bright,
Of here and went to blysse full right,
And by the grace of god almyght
She conceyuyd and bore a chylde.

CXIV. Thys ys fulle tru, þis ys fulle tru
(Who can sey ‘Nay’ to thys?):
Mary ys modere of Ihesu,
And god hys fadere ys.

1

An angelle bright came downe with light
A message for to do
Vnto that meyde, and thus he seyde
Fulle mekely here vnto:

2

‘Haylle, Mary mylde ay vndefylde:
The lorde god ys wyth the,
And his owne chylde so meke and mylde
Of the nowe born wylle be.’

3

Also he seyde vnto thatte mayde,
Thatte was so meke and fre:
‘Of women alle bothe grete and smalle
Ay blessyd motte thou be!’

4

Off thatte tydyng, thatt he dydde bryng,
This meyden meruelde sore,
Hou thatte hyghe kyng, þatt made althyng,
Of here wombe wolde be bore.

5

Thatte angelle bright þan seide full right:
‘Drede not, Mary so fre:
Thou hast founde grace before the face
Of god in persons thre.

290

6

In thy wombe thow shalt conceyue now
A chylde and bere the same.
Of highe degre this childe shall be:
Ihesus shalle be his name.

7

The lord of alle to hym gyffe shalle
A sete of mageste
A-bove in blysse, as right itte ys,
Wheroff none ende shalle be.’

8

Sche answerd than: ‘Telle, if thou can,
Hou this dede shalle be wrought,
Sith I intende notte to offende
With man in dede ne thought.’

9

‘The holigost of myghtys most
Fro blysse shalle lyght in the;
By whoys vertu of Crist Ihesu
The moder thou shalt be.

10

Beholde alsoo: Elizabeth, loo,
Thatte barayn long hath gon,
In here old age by highe suffrage
Hath conceyuyd saynt Ihon.

11

Thatt kyng and lord, þat with a worde
Hath made althyng of nought,
This dede in the now do shalle he
Atte his wylle with a thought.’

12

‘Beholde,’ she seyde, ‘goddis handmeyde,’
To hym, thatt maydyn mylde:
‘Thy worde in me fulfyllyd be;’
And soo she was with chylde.

13

Thatte angelle bright þo went full right
A-yen to heuyn blys,
And, as he seyde, thatt blessyd meyde
The modere of god ys.

291

CXV. A meyden mylde hath born a chylde
Mankynde a-yene to by:
Hys name Ihesus ys callyd thus
And here name mylde Mary.

1

O man of molde, mekely beholde,
Hou god mankynd hath take,
As prophetis told many a folde,
Of a meyde for thy sake.

2

An angelle bright came downe with light
True tydyngys forto telle.
He seyde fulle right: ‘The kyng of myght
In the, truly, wylle dwelle.’

3

Alsoo he seide vnto thatte meyde:
‘Thou shalte conceyue a chylde,
And thou shalt be, as I telle the,
A meyden vndefylde.’

4

Of this thatt meyde was sore a-freyde,
Butte yett she dydde inclyne,
And so fulle sone this dede was done
By goddys grace dyuyne.

5

‘Behold,’ she seyde, ‘goddys handmeyde:
Thy worde be done in me;’
And a-non ryght by goddys myght
That tyme with chyld was she.

6

The holigost of myghtys most
Did make thatte meyde in dede
To conceyue than bothe god and man
Wythowten mannys sede.

7

Bothe day and howre lete us honowre
Mary, thatte meyden mylde,
Thatt nowe to us hath born Ihesus,
And she neuere defylde.

292

CXVI. Mary so myld (scripture seyeth þus)
Hath borne a chyld namyd Ihesus.

1

An angelle came vnto thatte mayde
And knelyd downe vppon his kne,
And vnto here mekely he seyde:
‘Haille, fulle of grace: god ys with the.

2

Of alle women blessid thou be!
Thou shalt conceyue and bere alsoo
The sone of god, o lady fre,
Withowten peyn, dolowre and woo.’

3

‘Telle me,’ she seyde, thatt meyden, þan,
‘Hou I shalle conceyue and bere a chyld,
Syth I entende to knowe no man,
Butte ever to be clene, vndefyld.’

4

The angelle seyde: ‘The holigost
Fro blysse a-boue shall lyght in the,
And goddys sone of myghtis most
By his vertu conceyuyd shall be.’

5

‘Ecce, ancilla,’ then seyde she
And thankyd god manyafold:
‘The wille of god fulfyllyd be
In me, angelle, as thou hast told.’

6

And, as god wold, so itte was done:
By here mekenes in virginite
Sche conceyued thatte tyme ful sone
The secunde persone in trinite.

293

CXVIII. Mirabile misterium:
The sone of god ys man becum.

1

The faders sone of heuen blys,
Thatte is the lorde of every cost,
Of a pure meyde man becum ys
To saue mankynd, the whiche was lost.
Mirabile misterium.

2

An angelle came to thatte meyde so fre
And seide: ‘Haile, Mary fulle of grace:
The lord of alle now is with the
In hert, in wombe and euery place.’
Mirabile misterium.

294

3

He seide alsoo, withowten bost,
Vnto thatt meyde, thatt angelle, þan:
‘By vertu of the holigost
Thowe shalt conceyue boþe god and man.’
Mirabile misterium.

4

And so withowten mannys sede
By vertu of the holygost
Sche hath conceyuyd and born in dede
The sone of god of myghtis most.
Mirabile misterium.

5

The glasse is more pure, and itte wasse,
Thorughe the which the sonne did schyne:
So ys this meyde, throughe whom did passe
The sone of god by grace dyuyne.
Mirabile misterium.

6

Aaron yerde withowte moystowre,
Thatte longe was sere, a flowre haþe born:
So sche hath born oure sauyowre
To saue mankynde, thatt was forlorn.
Mirabile misterium.

7

A stone was kutte owte of an hylle
Withowten helpe of mannys honde:
A meyden pure in dede and wylle
Hath born the lord of euery londe.
Mirabile misterium.

CXIX. Mary so mylde, so meke, so fre
Hath borne a chylde of hyghe degre,
And his name ys Ihesus.

1

An angelle seide to thatte meyde so fre:
‘Hayle, fulle of grace: god is with the;
Of alle women blessid thou be!
Thou shalt conceyue Ihesus.’

295

2

When she hurde this, thatt blessid meyde,
Sore in here mynde she was afreyde
Of theys wordys, thatte he hadde seyde:
‘Thou shalt conceyue Ihesus.’

3

‘Drede not,’ he seide, thatte angelle bryght;
‘Thou hast founde grace in goddys syght:
Withyn thy wombe by his grete myght
Thou shalt conceyue Ihesus.’

4

Sche seide vnto thatte angelle than:
‘Hou shalle this be (telle, if thou can),
Sith I entende to knowe no man
And shalle conceyue Ihesus?’

5

He seide: ‘God, thatt is withoute ende,
The holigost to the shalle sende,
And by grace, thatte he shalle extende,
Thou shalt conceyue Ihesus.

6

Elyzabeth by highe suffrage
Hath conceyuyd in here old age
A chyld alsoo: withowte bondage
Thou shalt conceyue Ihesus.’

7

Sche answerd hym, thatt meyde so fre:
‘As thou hast seide, be done to me;
The wille of god fulfyllyd be
Thus to conceyue Ihesus.’

8

He toke his leue, thatt angell bryght,
Of here and went to blysse full ryght,
And forthwithall, as he behyght,
Sche conceyuyd Ihesus.

CXX. Salue, regina glorie,
Mater misericordie.

1

O Iesse yerde florigerat,
The fruyte of lyff is sprunge of the,

296

The prynce of peas desiderate,
Mater misericordie.

2

O quene of blisse celestiall,
Childryn of Eve, we call to the
Here in this vale terrestriall,
Mater misericordie.

3

When all mankynde for syn was lost,
The kyng of grace was born of the
By vertu of the holygost,
Mater misericordie.

4

As the sonne beame goith through the glasse,
The sonne of god passid throughe the,
And so bothe god and man he wasse,
Mater misericordie.

5

Thatte lord, thatte in thy wombe did rest,
The whiche hath made and create the,
Thou hast fedde with thy holy brest,
Mater misericordie.

6

Thatte Eve hath take a wey fro us,
Thou yeldist with thi fruyte Ihesus;
Therfore thy name is callyd thus:
‘Mater misericordie.’

7

The ierarchies with ordres nyne,
For cause that Crist is born of the,
They honowre the with laude dyuyne,
Mater misericordie.

8

Besiche thatt kyng of myghtis most,
The whiche hath take mankynd of the,
For oure syn thatte we be not lost,
Mater misericordie.

297

CXXI. Salue, regina glorie,
Mater misericordie.

1

O stronge Iudith so full of myght,
By thy vertu we be made fre,
For thou hast putte oure foo to flyght,
Mater misericordie.

2

O meke Hestere so fayre of face,
Kyng Assuere for loue of the
Hath take mankynd vnto his grace,
Mater misericordie.

3

O benigne meyde, modere and wyff,
Oure ioye is wonne only by the:
Sothly, thou art the gate of lyff,
Mater misericordie.

4

Whom alle this world, þatt ys so wyde,
Myght not receyue, he lyght in the
And became man to be our gyde,
Mater misericordie.

5

We be most fre, that were most þrall,
By thi mekenes, o lady fre,
Wherfore of right þus we þe call:
‘Mater misericordie.’

6

Sith thou hast born oure sauyowre
And alle oure trust is leyde in the,
Defende us ay fro all dolowre,
Mater misericordie.

7

Lete notte the fende with all his fraude
Make thrall, thatt thy sone hath made fre,
In blysse thatte we may gyff you laude,
Mater misericordie.

8

Pray Crist, thy sonne, that high iustyse,
Thatte we may dwell with hym and þe
In the sweete blysse of paradyse,
Mater misericordie.

298

CXXII. Salue, regina glorie,
Mater misericordie.

1

O fayre Rachel semely in syght,
Ther is no spotte of syn in the;
Therfore of ryght thy name shall hight
‘Master misericordie.’

2

As holy writte thus concludith,
For cause oure helthe is wonne by þe,
Thou art bothe Ester and Iudith,
Mater misericordie.

3

Holofernes, the fende, is hede
With his owne swerde, o lady fre,
Thou hast smytte of and made hym dede,
Mater misericordie.

4

Aman alsoo, the fende, oure foo,
Thou hast hangyd vppon a tre:
Thus thou hast brought mankynd fro woo,
Mater misericordie.

5

O spowse of Crist so sweete and dere,
Ther is no creature like the:
In heuen ne erthe thou hast no pere,
Mater misericordie.

6

Alle creaturys dothe the honowre
And doith o-bey, lady, to the,
For thou hast born oure sauyowre,
Mater misericordie.

7

Blessid thou be of wommen alle,
For the sweete fruyte, that came of þe,
Hath made us free, thatte ay were þralle,
Mater misericordie.

8

Sith thou hast borne the kyng of grace
And alle oure trust restith in the,
In blysse cause us to haue a place,
Mater misericordie.

299

CXXIII. Salue, regina glorie,
Mater misericordie.

1

Adam and Eve, thatte were vnwyse,
Were putte with there posterite
Fro the swete blysse of paradyse,
Mater misericordie.

2

Butte thy swete sone Ihesus so good
To bryng us fro captiuite
Hath sufferd deth and shed his blood,
Mater misericordie.

3

Ihesus, thy swete sone (and no moo),
Thatte kyng of alle felicite,
Hath take us fro derknes and woo,
Mater misericordie.

4

By vertu of his woundys wyde
Thatt lorde of alle humylyte
Hath ouercome the prynce of pryde,
Mater misericordie.

5

Pray Crist, thatte he us not forsake
For oure syn and iniquite,
Butte into blysse thatt he us take,
Mater misericordie.

CXXIV. Dulciter pangamus:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

1

O fader of eternall blys,
Qui semper es ingenitus,
Of whom alle grace procedyng ys,
Te deum laudamus.

2

O kyng of myght and lyght of lyȝt,
Qui patris extas filius,
By day and nyght, as itte is ryȝt,
Te deum laudamus.

300

3

O Crist, thatt art becum alsoo
Marie primogenitus
To bryng us owte of payn and woo,
Te deum laudamus.

4

Of the fadere and sone in dede,
O amor, sancte spiritus,
Eternally thatte doist procede,
Te deum laudamus.

5

Fadere and sone and holigost,
Alpha et .oo. quem credimus,
Bothe .iij. and .i., of myghtis most,
Te deum laudamus.

CXXV. Te patrem rite uocamus,
Te deum uite laudamus.

1

O endles god of mageste,
Te patrem rite vocamus,
Lord of alle thyng, we knowlege þe,
Te deum uite laudamus.

2

O sone of god namyd Ihesus,
Ad te sine lite clamamus,
That sheddist thi bloode forto ese us,
Te deum uite laudamus.

3

O holygost, alsoo in dede
Te fontem uite pulsamus,
Of them bothe .ij. þat doist procede,
Te deum uite laudamus.

4

Fadere and sone and holigost,
Vi tibi rite credamus,
Bothe .iij. and .i., of myghtis most,
Te deum uite laudamus.

301

5

O lorde and kyng, to blysse us bryng,
Deuote qui te oramus,
Withowte endyng þatte we may syng:
‘Te deum uite laudamus.’

CXXVI. Syng we alle thys tyme þus:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

1

Fadere of blisse omnipotent,
For thou hast made and create us,
Mekely therfore with on assent
Te deum laudamus.

2

The ierarchies of ordyrs nyne,
They sey: ‘Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus.’
Lorde of vertu, with laude diuine
Te deum laudamus.

3

O kyng of myght and lyght of lyght,
Ihesu, that hast redemyd us,
By day and nyght, as it ys ryght,
Te deum laudamus.

4

Of the fadere and sone in dede,
O holigost (scripture seieth thus),
Eternally thou doist procede:
Te deum laudamus.

5

Fadere and sone and holigost,
As holy chyrche so techith us,
Bothe iij. and .i., of myghtis most,
Te deum laudamus.

CXXVII. Alpha et .oo. quem vocamus,
Te deum verum laudamus.

1

O endles god of maieste,
Alpha et .oo. quem vocamus,

302

Of whoys kyngdom none ende shall be,
Te deum verum laudamus.

2

O sone of god, thatt Ihesus hight,
Ad te pia mente clamanus;
For thou camyst downe to geue us light,
Te deum verum laudamus.

3

Fader and sone and holigost,
Vt in fide maneamus,
Bothe .iij. and .i., of myghtis most,
Te deum verum laudamus.

4

By day and nyght, as it is ryght,
A laude tua non cessamus,
Butte with the tyght of all oure myght
Te deum verum laudamus.

5

O lorde and kyng, to blysse us bryng
(Te toto corde rogamus),
Withowte endyng thatt we may syng:
‘Te deum verum laudamus.’

CXXVIII. Syng we alle thys tyme thus:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

1

The sonne of god, thatte all hath wrought,
To take nature he lothyd nought
Of a pure meyde in dede and thought.
Te deum laudamus.

2

This lorde was born in an oxe stalle
To make us fre, the which were thralle;
Therfore syng we bothe sum and alle:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

3

The ierarchies with ordrys nyne
To hym assiste and ay inclyne;
Therfore syng we with laude dyuyne:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

303

4

This childe, thatte nowe is born to us,
Ys goddis sonne (scripture seyeth thus),
And his name is callyd Ihesus.
Te deum laudamus.

5

Alle holy chirche with melodie,
As itte is right, dothe magnyfie
His holy name and glorifie:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

CXXIX. Nowe syng we thys tyme thus:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

1

O endles god of maieste,
On in godhede, in persons thre,
Lorde of all thyng, we knowlege þe:
Te deum laudamus.

2

Angellis of heuen, that be so bryght,
And potestatis so full of myght
Sey vnto the, as itt is ryght:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

3

Cherubyn and seraphyn with loue ardent
Sey vnto the with on assent,
Lorde of vertu omnipotent:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

4

With endles voice they seye to the:
‘Heuyn and erthe, lorde, replete be
With glorie of thy maieste:
Te deum laudamus.’

5

The quere of the apostlys dere
Laudeth the ay with voicis clere,
And thus they sey with louely chere:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

6

The number of the prophetis alsoo
Laudeth the ay with many moo

304

Seying to the, alpha et .oo.:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

7

The hoste of martirs bright and clere
Laudeth þe, lorde, thatt hast no pere,
And thus they seye to the in fere:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

8

Fadere and sonne and holigost,
Bothe .iij. and .i., of myghtis most,
We knowlege the in euery cost:
Te deum laudamus.

CXXX. Syng we alle thys tyme thus:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

1

O swete Ihesu, we knowlege this,
Thatte thou art kyng of heuen blis
And endles god thy fader is:
Te deum laudamus.

2

The virgyns wombe thou hast not forsake,
Butte thou of itte mankynd hast take
Man, thatte was bonde, fre forto make:
Te deum laudamus.

3

Deth ouercome and sette a side
Thou hast openyd heuens full wide
To feithfull men, thatt the abyde:
Te deum laudamus.

4

Thou sittist atte thi faders right honde
A-boue in blisse, we vnderstonde,
The iuge to be of euery londe:
Te deum laudamus.

5

Therfore helpe us, thou lorde so goode,
Thatt hast bought us with thi hert bloode,
To whom we syng nowe with mylde moode:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

305

6

Make us, goode lorde Ihesu most fre,
Withe endles ioye rewardid to be
With thy saynctys in blysse with the:
Te deum laudamus.

7

Saue us, goode lorde Ihesu, alsoo
And defende us fro endles woo,
Into thi blisse thatte we may goo:
Te deum laudamus.

8

Goode lorde, by day and eke by nyght
We laude and prayse the with oure myght
And blisse thy name, as itt is right:
Te deum laudamus.

9

Thatte itte may please the, lord, we pray,
Forto kepe us fro syn this day,
In blisse thatte we may sing for ay:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

10

Thy mercy, lorde, on us mot be,
Thatte with thy bloode hast made us fre,
Sith we do trust only in the:
Te deum laudamus.

CXXXI. Synge we alle thys tyme thus:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

1

O fader of high maieste,
O sonne and holigost, all thre,
On god, on lyght, we knowlege þe:
Te deum laudamus.

2

O sonne of the fader of myght
Ay procedyng of hym by right,
As god of god and lyght of lyght,
Te deum laudamus.

306

3

O holigost, thatte doist procede
Of the fadere and sonne in dede
Only by loue, as seyeth oure crede,
Te deum laudamus.

CXXXII. Nowe syng we thys tyme þus:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

1

The sonne of god, oure lorde Ihesus,
Ys man becum for love of us;
Therfore syng we and sey we thus:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

2

He hath bought us, thatt lorde so goode,
And made us fre with his hert bloode;
Therfore syng we now with mylde moode:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

3

The holigost he didde us sende
To dwelle with us ay withowte ende
And fro alle ille us to defende:
Te deum laudamus.

CXXXIII. Dulciter pangamus:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

1

The faders sonne of heuen blis
Of a pure meyde man becum ys
To saue mankynde, thatte did amys.
To deum laudamus.

2

When he was born, thatt lorde and kyng,
Owte of thraldome mankynde to bryng,
With on accorde angellis didde synge:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

307

3

Cherybyn and seraphyn alsoo,
Tronis, potestatis and many moo
Fulle sweetly sunge to that lorde þo:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

CXXXIV. Te patrem inuocamus,
Te deumque laudamus.

1

To Crist Ihesu, thatte lorde and kyng,
Of whois kyngdome is none endyng,
With melody nowe lete us syng:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

2

Thatt blessid lorde didde not forsake
To his godhede mankynde to take
Man, thatte was bonde, most fre to make.
Te deum laudamus.

3

The bitternes of dethe alsoo
Thatte lorde hath take with peyn and woo
To take us fro the fende, oure foo.
Te deum laudamus.

4

His sowle went downe tho into helle
And toke oute man, thatte there did dwelle,
Fro the fowle fende, thatt is so felle.
Te deum laudamus.

5

He rose ayen on the .llj.de day
Forto schewe us the ioyfull way
To heuen blisse, thatt lastith ay.
Te deum laudamus.

CXXXV. Dulciter pangamus:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

1

The sonne of god hath take nature
Of mylde Mary, thatt uirgyn pure,
To saue mankynde (thus seith scripture).
Te deum laudamus.

308

2

When he was born, thatte lorde and king,
Owte of thraldome mankynd to bring,
With on accorde angellis didde sing:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

3

O lorde most dere, that hast no pere,
With the sweete quere of apostlys dere
Bothe farre and nere with ioyfull chere
Te deum laudamus.

4

The potestatis vniuersall
In thi highe court imperiall
Geuyth the honowre perpetuall:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

5

Cherubyn and seraphin with loue ardent
Euermore crie with on assent,
O lorde of vertu omnipotent:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

6

O endles god in persons thre,
Thi prophetis alle in ther degre
Laude and honowre they geue to þe:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

7

O heuenly prince most glorious,
The triumphe wonne laborious
Thi martirs sing victorious:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

8

With confessours, virgyns alsoo,
With heremitis and many moo,
For thou hast brought us owte of woo,
Te deum laudamus.

CXXXVI. Te deum laudamus,
Te dominum confitemur.

1

Eternall god, fader of light,
Thatt madist althyng by þi grete myght,

309

With worde and dede, as itte is right,
Te deum laudamus.

2

All thyn angellis in ther degre,
Heuens and all, thatte in them be,
Incessantly they seye to the:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

3

Cherubyn and seraphyn with loue ardent
Sey vnto the with on assent,
Lorde of vertu omnipotent:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

4

With endles voice they seye to the:
‘Heuen and erthe, lorde, replete be
With glory of thy mageste:
Te deum laudamus.’

5

The quere of thy apostlys dere
Laudith the ay with louely chere
And thus they seye with voicis clere:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

6

The number of thy prophetis alsoo
Geuyth the honowre with many moo,
And thus they seye, alpha et .oo.:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

7

The hoste of martirs bright and clere
Laudith the ay, thatte hast no pere,
And thus they seye to the infere:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

8

O highe fader of mageste,
Thy sonne and holigost with þe,
On god, on lorde in persons thre,
Te deum laudamus.

9

O sonne of the fader of myght
Ay procedyng of hym by right,

310

As god of god and light of light,
Te deum laudamus.

10

O holigost, thatte doist procede
Off the fader and sonne in dede
Only by loue, as seieth oure crede,
Te deum laudamus.

CXXXVII. Te deum laudamus,
Te dominum confitemur.
O sweete Ihesu, we knowlege this, cetera.
With hert and mynd, with will and þouȝt
Dulciter pangamus
To god most kynd, thatt all hath wrouȝt:
‘Te deum laudamus.’

1

O endles god, bothe .iij. and one,
Fader and sonne and holigost,
Euere sitting in heuen trone,
As lord and king of myghtis most,
Therfore to the in euery cost
Carmen istud modulamus,
With contrite hert withowten bost
Te deum verum laudamus.

2

For thou art god omnipotent,
The ordres .ix. of angellis bright
With on voice and with on assent
Sey: ‘Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus’ to the of right;
Therfore to the by day and nyght
Carmen istud modulamus,
With all oure strenthe, with all our myght
Te deum verum laudamus.

3

Thi creaturis celestiall,
Thatte be in blisse with the so clere,
And we alsoo terrestriall
Laude and preyse the bothe farre and nere
And vnto the, o lord most dere,
Carmen istud modulamus,
With melody and louely chere
Te deum verum laudamus.

311

CXXXVIII. Mekely we syng and seye to the:
‘Maria, spes nostra, salue.’

1

Childryn of Eve bothe grete and small,
Here in this vale of wrechidnesse
With grete wepyng to the we call
For helpe and grace in oure distresse,
And, as oure tungis can expresse,
Mekely we synge and seye to the:
‘Maria, spes nostra, salue.’

2

Thou art, lady, and euer shalt be
Quene of mercy, moder of grace;
Therfore atte nede, o lady fre,
Turne vnto us thi glorious face
And confort us in euery case,
Syth we do syng and seye to the:
‘Maria, spes nostra, salue.’

3

Thoughe itte be muche, thatte we offende,
Yeit we be thyne foreuermore;
Therfore thy grace to us extende,
Pure virgyn after and before,
For syn that we be notte forlore,
Syth we do sing and seye to the:
‘Maria, spes nostra, salue.’

4

Thow doist habunde so in all wise
With goodnes, grace and all vertu,
So thatte oure laude can nott suffice
To the, sweete moder of Ihesu;
But yet oure prayers not eschewe,
Sith we do sing and seye to the:
‘Maria, spes nostra, salue.’

5

Sweete and benigne mediatrise,
Thyn eyen of grace on us thou cast,
Sith thou art quene of paradise,
And lete not oure hope be in wast,
Butt schewe us thy sonne atte the last,
Sith we do sing and seye to the:
‘Maria, spes nostra, salue.’

312

6

O meke and mylde, full of pite,
For us pray to thatt prince of pease,
Thatte we may cum to thatt cite,
Wheroff the ioye shall neuer sease,
Butte multiplie and euer encrease,
Sith we do sing and seye to the:
‘Maria, spes nostra, salue.’

CXXXIX. O regina clemencie,
O mater indulgencie.

1

O floure of all uirginite,
O moder of oure sauyoure,
O chast boure of the trinite,
Be oure confort, help and socoure
And defende us fro all doloure,
Atte nede to the sith we do fle,
O mater indulgencie.

2

O louely spowse and paramoure
Of Crist, thatte is bothe god and man,
Fro peyn of helle bittere and sowre
Pray hym kepe us, as he best can,
Thatt for oure sake hadde woundis wan
And with his bloode hath payede oure fe,
O mater indulgencie.

3

O gate of liffe, moder and wyffe,
O hope and trust of synners all,
In care and woo, sorowe and stryffe
Confort thou us, bothe grete and small,
Mekely to the sith we do call
With hert and mynde, o lady fre,
O mater indulgencie.

CXL. Maria, mater gracie,
Mater misericordie.

1

O prynces of eternall peas,
O lady of all angellis bright,
Pray Crist oure bondage to releas

313

And brynge us fro derknes to lyght,
Of hym thatte we may haue a syght,
Thatt toke bothe flesshe and bloode of þe,
Mater misericordie.

2

O quene of pite and of grace,
Pray thou for us, thy seruantis myld,
Thatte the dothe serue in euery place,
Fro blisse thatte we be nott exyld:
Thoughe thatt we be wickyd and wyld,
Yeitt we do hope and trust in the,
Mater misericordie.

3

O emperesse withowten pere
With Crist reignyng a-bove in blys,
For us pray to thy sonne so dere,
Thatt we may reigne with hym and his
And of his ioye neuere to mys,
But withowte ende theryn to be,
Mater misericordie.

319

CXLIV. Regina celi, letare
With god and man alsoo,
Quem meruisti portare
Withowten peyn and woo.

1

Regina celi, letare,
For Crist, thy sonne so dere,
Quem meruisti portare,
With gladde and ioyfull chere
Nunc te gaudet amplexare
In blisse, thatt is so clere,
Et corona coronare,
As quene withowten pere.

2

Resurrexit, sicut dixit,
Thy sonne Ihesus so fre,

320

Quem gens seua crucifixit
And naylde vppon a tre:
Mortem uicit et reuixit,
And them with hym toke he,
Quos amara mors afflixit,
In blisse with hym to be.

3

O Maria, flos uirginum,
Most fayre and sweete, i-wys,
Velud rosa vel lilium,
Whoys blossome schalle not mys,
Funde preces ad filium,
Bothe god and man thatt ys,
Pro salute fidelium,
Thatt he may graunt us blisse. Amen.
Ihesu, fili Dauid, miserere nobis.

CXLV. O regina clemencie,
O mater indulgencie.

1

O Iesse yerde florigerat,
The fruyte of liffe is sprunge of þe,
The prynce of pes desiderat
And kyng of highe regalite.

2

O quene of blisse celestiall,
Childryn of Eve, we calle to þe
Here in this vale terrestriall,
Bothe highe and lowe in oure degre.

3

Thatte lorde, thatte in thy wombe didde rest,
The whiche hath made and creatt þe,
Thou hast fedde with thy holy brest
In all clennes and purite.

4

O meke Hester so fayre of face,
Kyng Assuere for loue of the
Hath take mankynde ayen to grace
And fro all syn hath made it fre.

321

5

O benigne meyde, moder and wyffe,
Oure ioy is wonne only by the:
Sothly, thou arte the gate of liffe,
The whiche Ezechiel didde se.

6

Pray thy sweete sonne, þat high iustice,
Thatt we may dwell with hym and þe
In the sweete blisse of paradyce,
Wherof endyng never shall be. Amen.

CXLVI. Mary hath borne alone
The sonne of god in trone.

1

That meyden mylde here childe did kepe,
As moders dothe echone,
Butt here dere sonne full sore did wepe
For synfull man alone.

2

Sche rockyd hym and sunge “Lullay”,
Butt euer he made grete mone.
“Dere sonne,” she seyde, “telle (I the pray),
Why thou doist wepe alone.”

3

‘Moder,’ he seyde, ‘I schall be sclayn,
Thatt syn did neuer none,
And suffer dethe with woofull payn;
Therfore I wepe alone.’

4

“Lullay,” she seyde, “sclepe and be still
And lete be alle thy mone,
For alle thyng is atte thyn own will
In heuen and erthe alone.”

5

‘Modere,’ he seyde, ‘hou schulde I sclepe?
Hou shulde I leve my mone?
I haue more cause to sobbe and wepe,
Sith I shall die alone.’

322

6

“Dere sonne,” she seyde, “the kyng of blisse,
Thatt is so highe in trone,
Knowith, thatt thou diddist neuer amys:
Why schuldist thou dy alone?”

7

‘Modere,’ he seyde, ‘only of the
I toke bothe flesshe and bone
To saue mankynde and make it fre
With my hert bloode alone.’

8

“Dere sonne,” she seyde, “thou art equall
To god, thatt ys in trone;
For man therfore, thatt is so thrall,
Why shuldist thou dye alone?”

9

‘Moder,’ he seyde, ‘my faders will
And myn, they be butte one;
Therfore by skylle I most fulfill
My faders will alone.’

10

“Dere sonne,” she seyde, “sith þou hast take
Of me bothe flesshe and bone,
Yff it may be, me notte forsake
In care and woo alone.”

11

‘For man I most the raunsome pay,
The whiche to helle is gone,
Moder,’ he seyde, ‘on goode fryday,
For he may notte alone.’

12

“Dere sonne,” she seyde vnto hym thoo,
“When thou fro me arte gone,
Then shalle I lyff in care and woo
Withowte confort alone.”

13

‘Moder,’ he seyde, ‘take thou no thought,
For me make thou no mone:
When I haue bought, þat I haue wrought,
Thou shalt not be alone.

323

14

On the .iij.de day, I the behyght,
After thatt I am gone,
I wyll aryse by my grete myght
And confort the alone.’

CXLVII. To the we make oure mone,
Moder of Crist, alone.

1

Sith thou hast born the kyng of grace,
Thatt sittith so highe in trone,
Therfore atte nede in euery case
To þe we make our mone.

2

Sith thou art quene of euery place,
Thou maist graunt us oure bone;
Therfore, while we haue tyme and space,
To þe we make our mone.

3

Sith of mercy thou berist the mace
And so doth othere none,
Therfore before thy sonnys face
For us make thou thy mone.

4

Sith all oure trust is putte in the
Next vnto god alone,
Therfore, moder of Crist so fre,
At nede here þou our mone.

5

When we shall dye and yelde our gost
And owte of this worlde gone,
Besiche thatte lorde of myghtis most
Mekely to here our mone.

6

When we shall stonde atte domys day
Before thy sonne echone,
Be oure confort then, we the pray,
Modere of Crist, alone.

324

CXLVIII. The sone of god in trone
Hath take mankynd alone.

1

The sone of god so full of myght
Came downe fro heuen trone,
And into Mary he dyd lyght
To saue mankynde alone.

2

He, that of nought althyng wrought, þan
(I take witnesse of Ihon)
Withowte syn he is made a man
To saue mankynde alone.

3

As the sonne beame goith þroughe þe glasse
And hurt to itt dothe none,
Throughe meyde Mary so did he passe
To saue mankynde alone.

4

Bothe withowte peyn, woo and dolowre
In flesshe, in felle and bone
Thatt meyde hath born oure sauywre
To saue mankynde alone.

5

For syn mankynd in helle was cast,
And confort it hadde none,
Till Crist Ihesus came atte the last
To saue mankynde alone.

6

In derknes, peyn, dolowre and woo
Olde faders made grete mone
Callyng for Crist (scripture seyeth soo)
To saue mankynde alone.

7

Prophetis prechyd, as seyeth scripture,
In tyme full longe agone,
Thatt Crist scholde come and take nature
To saue mankynde alone.

325

8

Kutte of the hill withowte mannys hond
Crist is the cornere stone
Born of a meyde, I vnderstond,
To saue mankynde alone.

327

CLII. Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis.

1

O moder mylde, mayde vndefylde,
Thatte we so wylde be notte begylde
And euere exylde fro Crist and hys,
Ora pro nobis.

2

O quene of grace most fayre of face
Of alle solace ledyng the trace,
Off the highe place thatte we nott mys,
Ora pro nobis.

3

O lady fre off highe degre,
Thatte we may se thy sone and the
And euer to be, where alle ioy ys,
Ora pro nobis.

4

Thatte Crist us sende grace to amende
Oure tyme myspende, or we hense wende,
And atte oure ende to graunte us blys
Ora pro nobis.

328

CLIII. Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis.

1

O uirgyn chast both furst and last,
That in tyme past by feith stedfast
Conceued hast the kyng of blys,
Ora pro nobis.

2

Oure wickydnesse we do confesse,
And oure excesse we do expresse:
In oure distresse haue mynde of this
Et ora pro nobis.

3

O lady fre of high degre,
That we may se thy sone and the
And euere to be, where all ioye ys,
Ora pro nobis.

CLIV. Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis.

1

O lilly flowre of swete odowre,
In whois chast bowre oure sauyour
With grete honowre conceyued is,
Ora pro nobis.

2

O moder mylde, mayde vndefylde,
Thatte we so wylde be not exylde
Fro thy swete chylde and fro all his,
Ora pro nobis.

3

Thatte Crist us sende grace to amende
Oure tyme myspende, or we hense wende,
And atte oure ende to graunt us blys
Ora pro nobis.

CLV. Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis.

1

O spowsesse most dere, most bryȝt, most clere
In heuen quere hauyng no pere,
To Assuere, the kyng of blys,
Ora pro nobis.

329

2

O quene of grace most fayre of face
Of alle solas ledyng the trace,
Of the highe place thatte we not mys,
Ora pro nobis.

3

O highe prynces of blys endles,
To the prynce of pes for us thou pres,
Vita et spes nostra cum sis,
Et ora pro nobis.

CLVI. Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis.

1

O tryclyn of the trinite
Replete with alle diuinite,
O flowre of alle uirginite,
Ora pro nobis.

2

O blessid quene of heuen blys,
Wheroff the ioye eternalle is,
Of the whiche blis thatte we not mys,
Ora pro nobis.

3

O emperesse of helle alsoo,
Into thatte place thatt we not goo,
Where is derkenes and endles woo,
Ora pro nobis.

4

O spowsesse of Crist, oure sauyowre,
The whiche restyd in thy chast bowre,
Thatte he kepe us fro alle dolowre,
Ora pro nobis.

5

O sweete lady so meke and mylde,
Vnto Ihesu, thy blessid chylde,
Fro blysse thatt we be notte exylde,
Ora pro nobis.

6

Holy moder of Crist Ihesu,
Thatte is the lorde of alle vertu,

330

Thatte he with grace may us renu,
Ora pro nobis.

7

Holy virgyn of virgyns alle,
Thatt thy sweete sone Ihesus may calle
Vs vnto hym, bothe grete and smalle,
Ora pro nobis.

8

Thatte we, whiche be terrestrialle,
May leve this lyff so bestialle
And come to blysse celestialle,
Ora pro nobis.

CLVII. Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis.

1

O spowsesse of Crist and paramour
Most of vertu, most of honowre,
O moder of oure sauyowre,
Ora pro nobis.

2

O emperesse of helle alsoo,
Where is bothe payn and endles woo,
Vnto thatte place thatt we not goo,
Ora pro nobis.

3

O blessid quene of paradise,
Thatt Crist, thy sone, that high iustise,
Att his comyng us notte despise,
Ora pro nobis.

4

O prynces of eternalle pese,
Thatt Crist oure care and woo may sese
And oure solas and ioy increse,
Ora pro nobis.

5

O pure uirgyn of uirgyns alle,
Thatte we may dwelle, both gret and smalle,
With Crist and the in heuen halle,
Ora pro nobis.

331

CLVIII. Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis.

1

O meke Hester so mylde of mynde,
Thatte hast fownde grace for alle mankynde
Of god, thatt we mercy may fynde,
Ora pro nobis.

2

O stronge Iudith, thatte of dydde smyght
The hede of Holoferne, thatte knyght,
Thatte we may putte the fende to flight,
Ora pro nobis.

3

O closyd gate, throughe whiche alone
Ihesus didde passe and othere none,
To Crist, thy sone, sittyng in trone
Ora pro nobis.

4

O Iesse yerde, the whiche didde flowre
And bare the fruyte of alle honowre,
That Crist defende us fro dolowre,
Ora pro nobis.

5

To god, that is of myghtis most,
Fadere and sone and holigost,
So thatte for syn we be not lost,
Ora pro nobis.

CLIX. Cum sola sis spes hominum,
Ora pro nobis dominum.

1

O blessid mayde, moder and wyffe,
Graunter of pease, seaser of stryffe,
When we schalle die and ende our lyffe,
Ora pro nobis dominum.

2

The flesshe, the worlde, the fende alsoo
Assawte us ay to worke us woo:
Into ther snare thatte we notte goo,
Ora pro nobis dominum.

3

O swete lady, thou be oure gyde
By nyght and day atte euery tyde:

332

Into no syn that we notte sclyde,
Ora pro nobis dominum.

4

Of syn and vice thatte we may sease
And in uertu ay to encrease
And lede oure lyffe in goostly pease,
Ora pro nobis dominum.

5

Thatte we by grace so may procede
In wylle, in thought, in worde and dede,
Thatte heuyn blysse may be oure mede,
Ora pro nobis dominum.

CLX. O clemens, o pia,
O dulcis Maria.

1

Sith thou hast born the kyng of grace,
The lorde, the prynce of euery place,
Be oure confort in euery case,
O dulcis Maria.

2

Whatte thou wilte axe of thy swete sone,
In heuen and erthe itte schalle be done:
For thy mekenes this hast thou wonne,
O dulcis Maria.

3

Therfore, sith thou art quene of blys,
In tyme of nede haue mynde of this:
Of thy conforte lete us notte mys,
O dulcis Maria.

4

O dere suster, o mylde moder,
Pray to thy sone Crist, oure broder,
Sith thou mayst best of alle oder,
O dulcis Maria.

5

Vppon mankynde do thou thy cure,
So thatte of blysse we may be sure,
Wherof the ioy schalle ay endure,
O dulcis Maria.

333

CLXI. Pater de celis, deus, miserere nobis.

1

O highe fader of heuen blys,
Sith Crist, thy sone, our broder is,
For his swete loue forgyff our mys
Et miserere nobis.

2

O sone of god namyd Ihesus,
Sith with thy bloode þou hast bought us,
Therfore to the we sey all thus:
‘Miserere nobis.’

3

O holygost, thatt doist procede
Of the fader and sone in dede,
Wyth thy vertu and grace us fede
Et miserere nobis.

4

O .iij. and .j., of myghtys most,
Fader and sone and holygost,
As thou art lorde of euery cost,
Miserere nobis.

CLXII. Fili Marie uirginis,
Succurre nobis miseris.

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O sweete Ihesu so meke and mylde,
Fili Marie virginis,
Fro blysse thatt we be notte exylde,
Succurre nobis miseris.

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We scholde be lost for oure offense,
Set tue matris meritis,
As thou art lorde of indulgense,
Succurre nobis miseris.

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Oure sowlys made to thi likenesse
Natura nostra fragilis;
Therfore in oure gostly sikenesse
Succurre nobis miseris.

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4

Vppon a tre thou madist us fre
Effusione sanguinis;
Therfore alle we, lorde, besiche the,
Succurre nobis miseris.

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Thoughe with the filthe we be infecte
Primi parentis criminis,
Fro blysse thatte we be not reiecte,
Succurre nobis miseris.

CLXIII. O mater summi iudicis,
Succurre nobis miseris.

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O sweete lady, o uirgyn pure,
O mater summi iudicis,
On us mekely do thou thy cure:
Succurre nobis miseris.

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Atte domys day, when we haue nede
Tuis preclaris meritis,
Then we the pray, in worde and dede
Succurre nobis miseris.

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Crist, thy sweete sone, thoughe we offende,
Qui lux est veri luminis,
Yet, sweete lady, atte oure last ende
Succurre nobis miseris.

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Haue mynde, thou art the quene of blys
Et mater expers criminis;
Haue mynde, lady, and thenke on this,
Succurre nobis miseris.

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For oure trespas and oure offense
Ne dampnemur cum impijs,
Sith thou art quene of indulgense,
Succurre nobis miseris.

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CLXIV. Vita, dulcedo et spes
Nostra, Maria, tu es.

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Perles prynces of euery place,
Of heuen, of erthe, of see, of sonde,
Moder of mercy and of grace,
Helpe thy seruauntys in euery londe.
Oure woo thou sese, oure ioy increse,
Graunt us that pease, that is endlese.

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Pray thy sone to vnbynde oure bonde
And brynge us owte of care and woo
And defende us with his right honde
And kepe us fro the fende, oure foo.
Oure woo þou sease, oure ioy increse,
Graunt us that pease, that is endlese.

3

Thoughe thatte Adam, oure first parent,
And Eve alsoo haue done offense,
Lete notte mankynde for ay be schent,
Sith thou art quene of indulgence.
Oure woo þou sease, oure ioy increse,
Graunt us that pease, that is endlese.

4

Oure lyffe, oure sweetnes, oure truste alsoo
Thou art only; therfore we calle
Only to the (and to no moo),
Chyldryn of Eve, exyles most thralle.
Oure woo þou sease, oure ioy increse,
Graunt us that pease, that is endlese.

5

Here in this vale of care and woo,
Sith thou art oure mediatrise,
Thyn eyen of mercy, of grace alsoo
Turne thou to us in mercyfull wyse.
Oure woo þou sease, oure joy increse,
Graunt us that pease, that is endlese.

6

O swete Mary most meke and fre,
Thatt blessid fruyte of thy wombe, Ihesus,

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After thatte we departyd be
Fro thys exyle, schewe thou to us.
Oure woo þou sease, oure ioy increse,
Graunt us that pease, that is endlese.

7

O sweete lady, atte domys day,
When the false fende schalle us accuse,
For us vnto thy sone thou pray,
For syn thatte he us notte refuse.
Oure woo þou sease, oure ioy increse,
Graunt us that pease, that is endlese.

8

Lete notte the fende with alle his fraude
Brynge us to payn and endles woo,
Butte thatte to god we may gyff laude
In blysse with the and many moo.
Oure woo þou sease, oure ioy increse,
Graunt us that pease, that is endlese.

CLXV. I bryng tydyngys, thatte be fulle tru
(Who can sey ‘Nay’ to thys?):
Mary is moder of Ihesu,
And god ys fader ys.

1

An angelle came with fulle grete light
And seyde: ‘Haylle, fulle of grace.
The lorde of alle by his grete myght
In the hath take a place.’

2

And forthewithalle the holigost
Into here wombe dyd light,
And so thatte lorde of myghtys most
Was born of here by right.

3

Laude we thatte lorde with hert and mynde,
And loue we hym alsoo,
Thatte of a mayde hath take mankynde
To bryng us owte of woo.

4

God bryng us alle vnto thatte blys,
Wheroff none ende schalbe,
Where thatte maydyn and moder ys
Wyth Crist, here sone so fre.

University of Virginia Library

[Poems of the Franciscan Jacob Ryman.]

I. Alma redemptoris mater, Quem de celis misit pater.

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II. Inquit Marie Gabriell: ‘Concipies Emanuel.’

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III. Nowel, nowel, nowel, nowel, Nowel, nowel, nowel, nowel! Inquit Marie Gabriel: ‘Concipies Emanuel.’

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IV. Stella maris, micaris clare: Regina celi, letare.

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V. O quene of grace, o Mary myelde, For vs thou pray vnto thy childe.

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VI. O virgyne Marie, quene of blis, Of thy conforte lete vs not mys.

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VII. Sancta virgo Maria, Dei genitrix pia.

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VIII. To hevyn blis that we may come, O mater, ora filium.

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