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The Minor Poems of John Lydgate

edited from all available mss. with an attempt to establish The Lydgate Canon: By Henry Noble MacCracken
Lydgate, John (1370?-1451?)

collapse sectionI. 
Part I. RELIGIOUS POEMS.
 1. 
1. BENEDIC ANIMA MEA DOMINO.
 2. 
2. BENEDICTUS DEUS IN DONIS SUIS.
 3. 
3. DEUS IN NOMINE TUO SALUUM ME FAC.
 4. 
4. AN EPISTLE TO SIBILLE.
 5. 
5. THE PATER NOSTER TRANSLATED.
 6. 
6. A PRAYER IN OLD AGE.
 7. 
7. TE DEUM LAUDAMUS.
 8. 
8. VEXILLA REGIS PRODEUNT.
 9. 
9. GOD IS MYN HELPERE.
 10. 
10. A DEFENCE OF HOLY CHURCH.
 11. 
11. A PROCESSION OF CORPUS CRISTI.
 12. 
12. AN HOLY MEDYTACION.
 13. 
13. LETABUNDUS.
 14. 
14. AN EXPOSITION OF THE PATER NOSTER.
 15. 
15. MISERICORDIAS DOMINI IN ETERNUM CANTABO.
 16. 
16. ON DE PROFUNDIS.
collapse section 
17. POEMS ON THE MASS.
 I. 
I. An exortacion to Prestys when they shall sey theyr Masse.
 II. 
II. The Interpretation and Virtues of the Mass.
 III. 
III. On Kissing at Verbum Caro Factum Est.
 18. 
18. THE FIFFTENE TOKNYS AFORN THE DOOM.
 19. 
19 PRAYERS TO TEN SAINTS.
 20. 
20. TO ST. EDMUND.
 21. 
21. A DEVOWTE INVOCACIOUN TO SAINTE DENYS.
 22. 
22. A PRAISE OF ST. ANNE.
 23. 
23. AN INVOCATION TO SEYNTE ANNE.
 24. 
24. A PRAYERE TO SEYNT MICHAELL.
 25. 
25. A PRAYEER TO GAUBRIELL.
 26. 
26. TO ST. KATHERINE, ST. MARGARET, AND ST. MARY MAGDALENE.
 27. 
27. A PRAYER TO ST. LEONARD.
 28. 
28. TO ST. OSITHA.
 29. 
29. TO ST. ROBERT OF BURY.
 30. 
30. A PRAYER TO SEYNT THOMAS.
 31. 
31. A PRAYER TO ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY.
 32. 
32. TO ST. URSULA AND THE ELEVEN THOUSAND VIRGINS.
 33. 
33. THE LEGEND OF ST. GEORGE.
 34. 
34. THE LEGENDE OF ST. PETRONILLA.
 35. 
35. HOW THE PLAGUE WAS CEASED IN ROME.
 36. 
36. THE LEGEND OF SEYNT GYLE.
 37. 
37. THE LEGEND OF SEYNT MARGARETE.
 38. 
38. THE LEGEND OF ST. AUSTIN AT COMPTON.
 39. 
39. THE EIGHT VERSES OF ST. BERNARD.
 40. 
40. THE EIGHT VERSES OF ST. BERNARD.
 41. 
41. A PRAYER FOR KING, QUEEN, AND PEOPLE, 1429.
 42. 
42. CRISTES PASSIOUN.
 43. 
43. A SEYING OF THE NIGHTINGALE.
 44. 
44. THE CHILD JESUS TO MARY, THE ROSE.
 45. 
45. CRISTE QUI LUX ES ET DIES.
 46. 
46. THE FIFTEEN OOES OF CHRIST.
 47. 
47. THE DOLEROUS PYTE OF CRYSTES PASSIOUN.
 48. 
48. A PRAYER UPON THE CROSS.
 49. 
49. BALLADE AT THE REVERENCE OF OUR LADY, QWENE OF MERCY.
collapse section50. 
50. THE FYFFTENE IOYES OF OURE LADY (II).
 1. 
Primum gaudium.
 2. 
Secundum gaudium.
 3. 
Tercium gaudium.
 4. 
Quartum Gaudium.
 5. 
Quintum gaudium.
 6. 
Sextum Gaudium.
 7. 
Septimum Gaudium.
 8. 
Octauum Gaudium.
 9. 
Duodecimum Gaudium.
 10. 
Terciumdecium Gaudium.
 11. 
Quintumdecimum Gaudium.
collapse section51. 
51. THE FIFTEEN JOYS AND SORROWS OF MARY.
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
Lenvoye.
 52. 
52. AVE MARIA!
 53. 
53. TO MARY, THE STAR OF JACOB.
 54. 
54. TO MARY, THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN.
 55. 
55. GAUDE VIRGO MATER CHRISTI.
 56. 
56. THE IMAGE OF OUR LADY.
 57. 
57. AVE REGINA CELORUM.
 58. 
58. REGINA CELI LETARE.
 59. 
59. STELLA CELI EXTIRPAUIT (I).
 60. 
60. STELLA CELI EXTIRPAUIT (II).
 61. 
61. A PRAYER TO MARY IN WHOM IS AFFIAUNCE.
 62. 
62. ON THE IMAGE OF PITY.
 63. 
63. AVE, JESSE VIRGULA!
 64. 
64. A VALENTINE TO HER THAT EXCELLETH ALL.
 65. 
65. THE LEGEND OF DAN JOOS.
 66. 
66. GLORIOSA DICTA SUNT DE TE.
 67. 
67. QUIS DABIT MEO CAPITI FONTEM LACRIMARUM?
collapse section68. 
68. THE TESTAMENT OF DAN JOHN LYDGATE.
  
IESUS.
 69. 
69. A KALENDARE.
collapse sectionII. 
Part II. SECULAR POEMS.
collapse section 
[Poems of Courtly Love.]
 1. 
1. A BALLADE, OF HER THAT HATH ALL VIRTUES.
 2. 
2. A COMPLAINT, FOR LACK OF MERCY.
 3. 
3. THE COMPLAINT OF THE BLACK KNIGHT.
 4. 
4. THE FLOURE OF CURTESY.
 5. 
5. A GENTLEWOMAN'S LAMENT.
 6. 
6. MY LADY DERE.
 7. 
7. A LOVER'S NEW YEAR'S GIFT
 8. 
8. THE SERVANT OF CUPYDE FORSAKEN.
collapse section 
[Satirical Poems.]
 9. 
9. A BALLADE ON AN ALE-SELLER.
 10. 
10. BALLADE PER ANTIPHRASIM.
 11. 
11. BYCORNE AND CHYCHEVACHE.
 12. 
12. BEWARE OF DOUBLENESSE.
 13. 
13. EXAMPLES AGAINST WOMEN.
 14. 
14. A BALLADE OF JAK HARE.
 15. 
15. AGAINST MILLERS AND BAKERS.
 16. 
16. THE ORDER OF FOOLS.
 17. 
17. THE PAIN AND SORROW OF EVIL MARRIAGE.
 18. 
18. RYGHT AS A RAMMES HORNE.
 19. 
19. SO AS THE CRABBE GOTH FORWARD.
collapse section 
[Narrative Poems.]
 20. 
20. THE CHURL AND THE BIRD.
 21. 
21. FABULA DUORUM MERCATORUM.
 22. 
22. GUY OF WARWICK.
 23. 
23. THE DEBATE OF THE HORSE, GOOSE, AND SHEEP.
collapse section24. 
24. ISOPES FABULES.
 I. 
PROLOGUE AND FABLE I. The Tale of the Cok, that founde a precyous stone, groundyd by Isopus, the phylosopher of Rome, that yche man shuld take in gree suche as God sent.
 II. 
FABLE II. The Tale of the Wolfe and the Lambe groundyd opon Isopus, the phylosophor of Rome, ayenst raueyn & tiranny.
 III. 
FABLE III. The Tale of the Frogge and þe Mowse foundyd by Isopus, þe philosophor, groundyd ayenst deceyte.
 IV. 
FABLE IV. The Tale of þe Hownde and þe Shepe groundyd ayen periure & false wytnes founde by Isopus.
collapse sectionv. 
FABLE V. How the wollffe diseyvyd the crane, Isopus, translatyd by Iohn Lydgat.
  
[Moralization.]
 VI. 
FABLE VI. THE SUN'S MARRIAGE
 VII. 
FABLE VII. Thys ffable is of þe hound that bare the chese, gronddyd on Isopus agaynst covetousness, translatyd by Iohn Lydgat, made in Oxforde.
collapse section 
[Political Poems.]
 25. 
25. A BALLADE, IN DESPYTE OF THE FLEMYNGES.
 26. 
26. ON GLOUCESTER'S APPROACHING MARRIAGE.
 27. 
27. A COMPLAINT FOR MY LADY OF GLOUCESTER AND HOLLAND.
collapse section28. 
28. THE TITLE AND PEDIGREE OF HENRY VI
  
Þe prolog.
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
[section]
 29. 
29. ROUNDEL FOR THE CORONATION OF HENRY VI.
 30. 
30. THE SOTELTES AT THE CORONATION BANQUET OF HENRY VI (1432).
 31. 
31. BALLADE TO KING HENRY VI UPON HIS CORONATION.
 32. 
32. KING HENRY VI'S TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO LONDON, 21 FEB., 1432.
 33. 
33. BALLADE ON A NEW YEAR'S GIFT OF AN EAGLE, PRESENTED TO KING HENRY VI.
collapse section 
[Occasional Poems.]
 34. 
34. VERSES ON CAMBRIDGE.
 35. 
35. DEATH'S WARNING.
 36. 
36. ON THE DEPARTING OF THOMAS CHAUCER (1417).
 37. 
37. OF THE SODEIN FAL OF PRINCES IN OURE DAYES.
 38. 
38. HORNS AWAY.
 39. 
39. LYDGATE'S LETTER TO GLOUCESTER.
 40. 
40. THE MUMMING AT BISHOPSWOOD.
 41. 
41. A MUMMING AT ELTHAM.
 42. 
42. A MUMMING AT HERTFORD.
 43. 
43. A MUMMING AT LONDON.
 44. 
44. A MUMMING AT WINDSOR.
 45. 
45. A MUMMING FOR THE MERCERS OF LONDON.
 46. 
46. A MUMMING FOR THE GOLDSMITHS OF LONDON.
collapse section 
[Didactic Poems.]
collapse section47, 48. 
47, 48. A DIETARY, AND A DOCTRINE FOR PESTILENCE.
  
[THE DIETARY.]
 49. 
49. DUODECIM ABUSIONES.
collapse section50. 
50. FOUR THINGS THAT MAKE A MAN A FOOL, AND OTHER SAYINGS OF DAN IOHAN.
 I. 
I. A seying of Daun Iohan.
 III. 
III. Another Version of the Four Things.
 IV. 
IV. On Worldly Worship.
 V. 
V. Balade de Bone Counseyle.
 51. 
51. THE KINGS OF ENGLAND SITHEN WILLIAM CONQUEROR.
 52. 
52. A TRETISE FOR LAUANDRES.
 53. 
53. THE NINE PROPERTIES OF WINE.
collapse section54. 
54. A PAGEANT OF KNOWLEDGE.
  
[prologue]
  
Septem Pagine sequntur sapiencie.
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
The dysposicion of the xij. sygnes.
  
The disposicion of þe iiij. elementes.
  
The disposicion of þe iiij. complexyons.
  
The dysposicion of þe .iiij. tymes of þe yere.
  
[section]
 54B. 
54B. A PAGEANT OF KNOWLEDGE, ANOTHER VERSION OF THE LAST PART.
 55. 
55. STANS PUER AD MENSAM.
collapse section 
[Little Homilies with Proverbial Refrains.]
 56. 
56. AMOR VINCIT OMNIA MENTIRIS QUOD PECUNIA.
 57. 
57. CONSULO QUISQUIS ERIS.
 58. 
58. A FREOND AT NEODE.
 59. 
59. A DITTY UPON HASTE.
 60. 
60. LOOK IN THY MEROUR, AND DEEME NOON OTHIR WIGHT.
 61. 
61. A SONG OF JUST MESURE.
 62. 
62. MESURE IS TRESOUR.
 63. 
63. AS A MYDSOMER ROSE.
 64. 
64. A PRAISE OF PEACE.
 65. 
65. RYME WITHOUT ACCORD
collapse section66. 
66. SAY THE BEST, AND NEVER REPENT.
  
[Text.]
 67. 
67. SEE MYCHE, SAY LYTELL AND LERNE TO SOFFAR IN TYME.
 68. 
68. EVERY THING TO HIS SEMBLABLE.
 69. 
69. THAT NOW IS HAY SOME-TYME WAS GRASE.
 70. 
70. THE COK HATH LOWE SHOONE.
 71. 
71. THEY THAT NO WHILE ENDURE (TWO VERSIONS).
 71B. 
71B. THEY THAT NO WHILE ENDURE
 72. 
72. A THOROUGHFARE OF WOE.
 73. 
73. TIMOR MORTIS CONTURBAT ME.
 74. 
74. TYED WITH A LYNE.
 75. 
75. A SONG OF VERTU.
 76. 
76. A WICKED TUNGE WILLE SEY AMYS.
 77. 
77. THE WORLD IS VARIABLE.

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6. MY LADY DERE.

[_]

[MS. B.M. Adds. 16165, leaves 249, back, to 251, back.]

Amerous balade by Lydegate made at departyng of Thomas Chauciers on þe kynges ambassade into Fraunce.

1

Euery maner creature
Disposed vn-to gentylesse,
Boþe of kynde and of nature,
Haþe in hert[e] moost gladnesse
Fo[r] tabyde in sothfastnesse
Wher his ioye is moost entier,
And I lyve euer in hevynesse
But whenne I se my lady dere.
421

2

Eke euery wight of verray kynde
Is glad and mury for to abyde
Wher þat [h]is wille, þought, and mynde
Beo fully sett on euery syde,
And wher-so þat I go or ryde,
I ne can be glad in no maner,
As God and Fortune list provyde,
But whanne I seo my lady der.

3

Who parteþe out of Paradys,
Frome þat place so ful of glorye,
Wher as Mirthe is moste [of] prys,
And Ioye haþe souerain victorye,
What wonder whane he haþe memorye,
Of al, þoughe he beo dul of chere,
For I am euer in Purgatorye
But whanne I seo my lady dere.

4

Þe sterres of þe heghe heven
Feyrest shyne vn-to oure sight,
And þe planetis alle seven
Moost fulsomly yif þer hir light;
And Phebus with his bemis bright
Gladdest shyneþ in his speere,
But I am neuer glad ner light
Save whanne I seo my lady dere.

5

Eke Phebus in oure emyspirye,
Affter derknesse of þe night,
At his vpryst [yolowe as golde clere]
Erly on morowe, of kyndely right,
Whanne cloudis blake haue no might
To chace awey his bemys clere;
Right so frome sorowe I stonde vpright
Whane þat I se my lady der.
422

6

Þe fooles þat flyeþe in þe eyre,
And freshly singe and mirthes make,
In May þe sesoun is so feyre,
With all þe right oþe hem awake,
Reioyesseþe eueryche with his make,
With hure heuenly notes cleer;
Right þus al sorowe in me doþe slake
Whanne þat I se my lady der.

7

Þe hert, þe hynde in þe forest
Moost luste beo of þeyre corage,
And euery maner oþer beest,
Boþe þe tame and eke sauvage,
Stonden most at avauntage
In laundis whanne þey renne efeer;
Þus euer glad is my visage
Whanne þat I se my lady dere.

8

I dare eke seyne þat buck and do
Amonge þe holtis hore and gay,
Þe reynder and þe wylde roo,
In mersshes haue þeyre moste pley,
Wher þey beo voyde frome al affraye;
And even-lyke, with-oute were,
Myn hert is glad, boþe night and day,
Whane þat I seo my lady dere.

9

What is a fisshe out of the see,
For alle his scales siluer sheene,
But ded anoon, as man may se?
Or in ryuers crystal clene,
Pyke, baþe, or tenche with ffynnes grene,
Out of þe water whane þey appere?
Þus deethe darteþe myn hert[e] kene
Þer I seo naught my lady dere.
423

10

Þe ruby standeþ best in þe ryng
Of gold whanne hit is polisshed newe,
Þemeraude eke is ay lasting
Whil hit abydeþe with his hert truwe,
Þe saphyre with his hevenly hewe
Makeþe gounded eyen clere;
Þus my ioye doþe ay renewe
Whanne þat I se my lady dere.

11

Þe floures on þeyre stalkis vncloose,
Springyng in þe bavmy med,
Þe lylyes and þe swoote roos,
Þe dayesyes, who takeþe hede,
Whanne Phebus doþe his bemys spred
In somer, lyke as men may lere;
So glad am I in thought and ded,
Whanne þat I seo my lady der.

12

In somer whanne þe sheene sunne
Haþe shewed bright a gret space,
And towardes night þe skyes dunne
His clernesse doþe awey enchace;
Right so dedly and pale of face,
Mortal of look and eke of chere,
I wexe, suche wo me did enbrace
At partyng fro my lady der.

13

Summe folk in signe of hardynesse
Takeþe hem to colour þat is red,
And summe in token of clennesse,
Weren whyte, takeþe heed,
And summe grene for lustynesse;
But I allas in blak appere,
And alwey shal, in sorowe and dred,
Til I seo nexst my lady dere.
424

14

Now God, þe which art eternal,
And hast eche thing in gouernance,
And art also inmortal,
Stabled with-oute variaunce,
Fortune and guyde so my chaunce,
Of Þy power moste entier,
In abreggyng of my penaunce
Soone to seo my lady dere.

Lenuoye.

Go, lytel bille, in lowly wyse,
Vn-to myn hertes souereyne,
And prey to hir for to devyse
Summe relees of my mortel peyne,
And wher þou er, rest not, ne feyne
Oonly of pitee to requerre
Þat she of mercy not disdeyne
To be my soueraine lady dere.

Devynayle par Pycard.

Take þe seventeþ in ordre sette
Lyneal of þe ABC,
First and last to-geder knette
Middes e-ioyned with an E,
And þer ye may beholde and se
Hooly to-gidre al entiere
Hir þat is, wher-so she be,
Myn owen souerayne lady dere.
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