The Minor Poems of John Lydgate :: :: University of Virginia Library

Blesse him and preyse, and forget him nought.
Alle myn entraylles booþe in deed and word,
And al þat euer is in myn Inward thought,
Gyf thank to hym þat þee so deere haþe bought.
Of kyndenes he was no thing to blame,
Late serche þyn hert with al þat may be thought,
And ofre al vp vn-to his hooly name.

2

And þou my soule, yit blesse him efft ageyne,

Benedic anima mea domino & noli oblinisciomnes retribuciones eius.

Haue euer in mynde his consolacyons,
Be not forgetful, but be truwe and pleyne,
Ay to remembre his retribuciouns.
To him haue ay þy contemplacyouns,

Sith he þee bought with his precyous blood,
Be not vnkynde, but in þyne orysouns
Thenk for þy saake he starff vpon þe rood,

3

Qui propiciatur omnibus iniquitatibus qui sanat omnes infirmitates tuas.

Which is alwey to þine Iniquytees
So pacyent ay, and mooste suffrable;
Heleþe and rekureþe alle þyne infirmytees
Of lordes alle þe moost mercyable,
Moost loving eeke, euer oon and not vnstable,
Voyde of chaunge and of al doublenesse,
God graunt my preyer beo to þee acceptable,
Þat schewest to me so muche kyndenesse.

4

Qui redimitur de interitu vitam tuam qui coronat te in misericordia & miseracionibus.

For he byeþe euer and makeþe redempcyoun,
Þy lyf frome deeth and frome captyvytee:
With his blood he made þy raunsoun,
And with his mercyes he corowneþe þee,
And in his mercyes he gyveþe þee liberte,
Whane for þy synne þe feonde doþe þee manace,
And condescendeþe of mercyful pytee
Ay whan þou axest for to do þee grace.

5

Qui repletur in bonis desiderium tuum renouabitur vt aquile inuentus tua.

He accomplissheþe in goodnes þy desyres,
He is in loue so stedfast and so trewe.
Þyne hert enamoureþe with his goostely fyres,
And lyke an Egle þy youþe shal renuwe
Elyche fresshe of face and eek of huwe,
Cladde with a mantel of Inmortalyte,
With-oute appalling, of aage elyke nuwe,
With Citeseyns of þyne hevenly Cite.

6

ffaciens miseri ordias domine et iudicium omnibus iniuriam pacientibus.

Þowe art þe lord, prophetes doon recorde,
Moost renommed of power and of might,

Doyng mercy and misericorde,
And doome to alle wheche þat souffre vnright.
Cast on me lord þy mercyable sight,
And graunt me mercy toforne er þat þou deeme,
Set pees to-forne & modefye þy right,
For of my self I haue nought þee to qweeme.

7

He made hees weyes vn-to Moyses

Notas fecitum vias suas moysi filiis Israel voluntates eius.

For to be knowe, þe byble can weel telle,
His willes also, by vertuous encresce,
Vn-to his loued people of Israell,
And Pharao þat on hem was so felle
Out of his daunger made hem free to goo,
So let þy mercy, O lord, þy right precelle,
Ageynst þacusing of oure goostly foo.

8

Mercy, lord, on wrecches in distresse,

Miserator & misericors dominus longanimis & multum misericors.

Which on þy mercy beon ay awayting,
With-oute vengeaunce souffrest of goodenesse
Synners repent hem, þeyre leyser abyding
Moost mercyable þou art in forgyving
To suche as beon redy to do penaunce,
Nowe graunte me grace, lord, in my lyving
Or I passe hennes, to haue ful repentaunce.

9

Þis lord shal not perpetuelly be wrothe,

Non in perpetuum irascetur dominus.

Nor he shal not eternally manace
For mercy euer toforne his right it gooþe,
And alle his werkis pacyence dooþe enbrace,
And he is redy euer to doo grace
Who axeþe mercy, he wil him not forsaake;
Þerfore O lord, whane we shal hens passe,
To-fore þy doome vs to þy mercy take.

10

After oure synnes þe lord moost gracyous

Non secundum pecca nostra facit nobis neque secundum iniquitates nostras.

List for noon haast avenged for to be,

Nor lyke oure trespasses he is not rygorous
To do vengeaunce of his benignyte,
Mercy preferring to-forne his equyte;
For but his mercy sooþely passed his right—
I cane namore, but I seye for me,
Whane he shal deeme I durst not come in sight.

11

Quoniam secundum altitudinem.

For affter þe hevens heghe altytude
Passeþe þe eorþe in comparysoun,
He haþe made strong his mercy to conclude
On alle þat drede him of truwe affeccyoun.
I cleyme mercy and voyde away reysoun,
And to his grace lowly me submitte,
For vpon mercy stant my saluacion,
On which to trist myn hert shal neuer flytte.

12

Quantum distat ortus ab occidente.

Als fer in seoþe as þe cleer oryent
Is in distaunce whane Phebus shyneþe bright
Frome þe west party of þoccydent,
Right so þe lord which is moost of might
Haþe sette oure synnes asyde out of his sight,
His doome delaying þat we may come to grace,
Making appeel to mercy frome his right,
What synfull ellys durst peer afore his face?

13

Quomodo miseretur filiorum misertus est dominus timentibus se.

And as a fader mercyful is founde
Vpon his childre for to haue pytee,
Right so þe lord of mercy most habounde
Is mercyful to alle þat dreedful be,
For he allone knoweþe our freeltee,
And who of hert can dreed him, loue, and serve;
Nowe graunt vs lord, of þy benignytee,
Mercy toforne or we þy doome deserue.

14

Recordatus est quoniam puluis sumus.

He is Remembred þat we but poudre be,
A mannys dayes beon but welked hay,

Or lyke a floure ful feyre and fresshe to se
Which in feelde faadeþe and goþe awey,
For whane beautee is cloosed vnder clay,
Fare weel of youþe al þe lustynesse,
Which tyme O lord, ne sey not to vs nay
To haue mercy vpon oure wrecchednesse.

15

Þe spiryt of man shal soone frome him passe

Quoniam spiritus per transibit in illo.

Al sodeynly, and no whyle abyde,
In þis worlde here no more knowe his place,
And fare weel þanne al worldly pompe and pryde,
Sette lordship and ricchesse þanne a-syde,
Al tresor here nys but transytorye;
Wherfore, O lord, let mercy so provyde
Þat we wiþ þee may regnen in þy glorye.

16

Þy mercyes, lorde, beon preysed frome eterne,

Misericordias autem ab eterno et vsque.

Euer lasting, who can beholde and se,
Who loueþe þee and can with dreed conserne
Þy kyndenessis and þy gret bountee,
To alle suche þy mercy is mooste free,
And of a mayde thorughe mercy þou were borne,
Thorughe whos preyer and humylytee,
For lack of mercy ne lat vs nat be lorne.

17

And of þis lord þe gret rightwysnesse,

Et iusticia illius in filios filiorum hiis qui seruant testamentum eius.

Meynt with his mercy by lyneal discent,
Shal sprede to children þat doon hir bysynesse
For to obserue of hert his testament,
And truly keepe his comaundement,
Þeyre issu no mescheef shal encoumbre;
Nowe, goode lorde, of feythful truwe entent,
Graunt me grace I may beon of þe noumbre.

18

Et memores sunt mandata tua.

For þey beon fully, as in þeyre ententys,
Of oon hert stable as any stoone,
Remembring ay of his comaundementes,
For to fulfille hem and forget noon,
But hem conserve, what so þey ryde or goon,
Now goode lord, moost stedfast and moost kynde,
Rent on þe Roode bytwixe Marye and Iohn,
To-fore þou deeme vs haue mercy in þy mynde.

19

Dominus in celo.

God in his palays above celestyal
Haþe bylt a see and a manysoun;
And his regne moost Imperyal
Haþe ouer al his domynacyoun,
And al stant vnder his subieccyoun;
Wherfore, O lord, thenk on oure freeltee,
And late þy mercy beon oure proteccyoun
For oþer saufconduyt haue I noon for me.

20

Benedicite domino omnes angeli.

Alle þe Aungelles of euery Ierarchye,
Blesseþe þee lord with al your ful might,
Mighty of vertu his preceptis to applye,
His worde tacomplisshe, as it is skil and right;
His voyce, his speeche, herkenyng day and night,
By attendaunce aboue þe sterres cleer.
Nowe, goode lord, of mercy sheed þy lyght
Myn hert tenlumyne þat boughtest me so deer.

21

Benedicite domino omnes virtutes.

And alle þe vertues of þee lord also,
Gyveþe laude and prys to his magnyfysence
And blesseþe him as yee aught to doo,
Alle hees mynistres with duwe reuerence,
Which þat doon with duwe diligence
His wille, his word, and may not disobeye.
O lord do mercy ageyne my gret offence,
Or cruwel deeþe me sodeynly werrey.

22

Blesseþe þee lord, O yee his werkes alle,

Benedicite domino omnia opera eius et omnia.

Yche place where he haþe domynacion,
O þou my soule vn-to þee lord do calle,
And to his lord gif benediccyoun,
For lyff and dethe, and oure saluacion
Eternally dependeþe in his grace,
Asseele oure quytaunce with þy redempcion,
Whane þou shalt deme vs stondyng to-fore þy face.

Explicit Anima mea domino &c.

2. BENEDICTUS DEUS IN DONIS SUIS.

[_]

[MS. Laud 683, leaves 31, back, to 33.]

1

God departeth his gyftes dyuersly,
To summe he yeveth wit and dyscressioun,
To synful peple at leyser doth mercy,
Yeueth to summe grace and perfeccyoun,
Summe he enspireth with devossioun
Be influence of mercyfull pyte,
For wich we oughte conclude of resoun
In alle his werkis blyssed mot he be.

2

He in his gyfftys moost gracious is and good,
Shewed in story be plentyvous largesse,
Fro deth preserved Noee in the fflood
For his famous prerogatyf of clennesse;
Gaff Abraham ffeith, trust, and stabylnesse,
Credence assured, the byble who lyst se,
For wich Example we may seyn & expresse
In al his gyfftes, “lord, blyssed mot ye be.”

3

To Ysaak this lord gaff gret Encres,
Graunted Jacob plentyvous habundaunce,
Also he graunted to horned Moyses
To lede from Egypt al Israel, in substaunce,
Maugre Pharao and al his ffell puyssaunce,
Promys parfourmed be myhty Iosue;
Lat us therfore say for a remembraunce
“In all his gyfftes blyssed mot he be.”

4

God gaff Dauyd roiall excellence,
As seith the byble, moost ffor his meeknesse,
To Salamon souereyn pacyence,
And therwith all plentyvous Rychesse,
And Absolon excellent ffayrnesse,
Strengthe, victorie, to Iudas Machabee,
Whos woord was this of knyhtly hih prowesse
In alle his gyfftes blyssed mot he be.

5

He suffred Iob lese al hys tresour,
But ther ageyn he gaff hym pacyence;
Made Alysaundre a myghty conquerour,
Pore Dyogynes lyst do hym no reuerence,
Be-tween hem two ther was gret difference,
The toon in pride, the tother in poverte,
Texempleffye, breffly in sentence,
What euer Iesu sent blyssed mot he be.

6

Other stories ther been of womanheede,
God gaff Iudiht feith, trust, and stabilnesse,
To Sibile, in Austyn as I reede,
Cristis comyng be writyng did Expresse,
Crowned Hester quen for hir famous humblesse,
Iesabell prowd was cast doun from hir see;
Thus God avaunceth folk for her meeknesse,
In alle his gyfftes blyssed mot he bee.

7

Thouh God to wives hath yove gret suffraunce,
They be not alle a-lyk pacyent,
To suffre wrong it were a greet penaunce,
Or be mysbode in herte whan they be brent;
God and nature hath yove hem a patent
Of tonge and mouth to haue ther lyberte,
Sum meek, somme crabbid, summe be elloquent,
In alle his gyfftes blyssed mote he bee.

8

To conclude breeffly in this mater,
Let alle folk thank the lord of his goodnesse,
Whateuer he sent, with hool herte & entyer,
Whether that it be poverte or Richesse,
Strengthe of body, helthe, or long syknesse,
Wordly ffavour, Ioye, or prosperyte
Reste on this word for the more sekirnesse,
In alle your gyfftes, lord, blissed mot ye be!

9

He may the riche with þe wheel turnyng,
Witnesse of Iob, make the to dyscende,
Of a shepperde he made Dauyd a kyng,
Nabugodonosor with bestis Eet provende;
Pryde in a beggere is nat to comende,
For wich, ye folk of hih and lowe degre,
That grace and fortune your statis may amende,
Seith, what god sent, blyssed mot he be.

3. DEUS IN NOMINE TUO SALUUM ME FAC.

[_]

[From MS. B. M. Cotton Caligula A II, leaves 64, back, to 65.]

1

God, in thy name make me safe and sounde;
And in thi vertu me deme & Iustifie,
And as my leche serch vnto the grounde
That in my soule ys seke, and rectifie:
To haue medicine afore thi dome y crye,
Wherfore of endeles mercy ax y grace
That y desposed be vch day to dye,
And so to mende, whyll y haue tyme & space.

Deus exaudi.

God, graciously here thou my prayere,
The wordes of my mouth with ere perceyue,
And as thou on the rode hast bought me dere,
So make me able thi mercy to receyue;
Yf that the fende with frawde wolde me deceyue,
In thi ryght syde ther be my resting place;
Ther ys my confort, as y clere conceyue,
Whych may me mende, whill y haue tyme & space.

Quum alieni.

For alienes, lord, haue ryse agaynes me,
And peple stronge my sely soule haue sought;
But for they purpose not to loke on the,
Gramercy, lord, hir malyce greueth nought.
Thi passioun be emprinted in my thought,

The chefe resort my fleschly foo to chase;
On hit to be remembred well y aught,
Which may me mende, whyll y haue tyme & space.

Ecce enim deus.

Behold, for soth, þat god hath holpen me,
And of my soule our lorde ys vp-taker;
Wher y was thrall, lord, thou hast made me fre;
Whom shall y thank bot the, my God, my maker?
When y shall slepe, my keper and my waker,
In eueri peryll my confort and my grace;
For of the synfull art thou not forsaker,
That wyll amende, whill they haue tyme & space.

Auerte mala.

Turne euell thynges vnto my mortall foon,
And in thi treuth disperpyll hem and spylle,
So that they be confounded euerychone
That wolde me stere to dysobaye thi wyll,
The dewe of loue and drede on me distyll,
That dedely synne ne do me not deface;
That y thi hestys fayle not to fulfille,
Whech may me mende, whyll y haue tyme & space.

Voluntarie sacrificabo.

I shall do to the wylfull sacrifice,
And knoulech to thi name, for it is good.
All oder worldely weele y wyll dispice
That floweth oft, and ebbeth as the floode.
Thy blesed body, sacred flesh and blode
With all my hert beseche y euer of grace
Hit to receyue, in clennes for my foode,
Hit may me mende, whill y haue tyme & space.

Cuum ex omni tribulacione.

For fro all trouble thou hast delyuered me,
And on enmyes myn eye hath had despite,
Wher-fore y wyll perseuer all way with the
In full entent that kyndenesse for to quite;
And that y may performe thus my delite,
Helpe, mayden clene, & modyr full of grace!
That neuer the fende me finde in oder plite,
But euer to mende, whill y haue tyme & space.

Gloria patri et filio.

Ioye to the Fader, full of grace & might,
Whos hye powere all thyng may preserue!
Ioye to the Sone, that in a virgyn lyght
And for oure gylt vpon a cros wold sterue!
Ioye to the Holy Gost, that doth conserue
Oure clere conceyte by confort of his grace!
O blessed Trinite! well owe we to reserue
Louynge to the, whill we haue tyme & space.

Sicut erat in principio.

That ys and was, with-owte begynnyng,
Thre in oo substaunce, hye god in commvtable,
With-owte ende, eternall, enduryng,
All-myghty, ryghtwys, and mercyable,
Gracious to all contrite, and confortable;
Both lord and leche to all that lust haue grace;
Wyth oyle of mercy, to myscheue medcynable,
Hele all myn hirt of synne with tyme & space.

Explicit.

4. AN EPISTLE TO SIBILLE.

A Paraphrase of Proverbs xxxi. 10–31.

[_]

(MS. Ashmole 59, leaf 59 back–62.)

Lenvoye by Lidegate. Here foloweþe an Epistel made by þe same Lidegate sende to Sibille with þeschewing of ydelnesse.

1

The chief gynnyng of grace and of vertue
To exclude slouþe is ocupacioun,
Martha minystred to our lord Iesu,
And Maria by contemplacioun,
Þeos boþe tweyne, of clene entencyoun,
For to exclude al maner ydelnesse
Þeire labour sette in vertuous besynesse.

2

Who is it þat cane nowe fynde suche tweyne,
Or of þeire secte one verraily in dede,
Whiche þat list in labour do suche peyne,
Thorugh diligence longinge to womanhede?
By excercyse þeire werkes oute to sheede
To gif ensaumple, voyding ydelnesse,
How þey in vertue shoulde do þeire besinesse.

3

Þe lavde of hem and þe price goþe ferre
As by reporte to many fer cuntree,
Labour with vyces of custume holdeþe werre,
Where as it falleþe that femyninytee
Cawseþe slowþe frome housholdes for to flee,
Þat he dar nought have none Interesse
To interupte vertuous besinesse.

4

Suche a woman, mayde, widowe, or wyffe,
Men shoulde of right comende and magnefye,

Namely alle þeo þat beon intentyffe
In diligence þeire wittes to applye,
For alle suche, I dar wel specefye,
Namely wyves bencresce of gret richchesse
Gretly delyte in hooly besynesse.

5

An housbande which þat suche one doþe possede
May hertly truste in hir governaunce,
To robbe or spoyle for he haþe no neode
He fyndeþe in hir so muche suffisaunce,
Of worldely plentee fulsum habondance,
And in hir soule ful goostely gladnesse,
Ay moste reioyssing vertuous besynesse.

6

Sheo shal preserve him frome al damage
At alle tymes, and of hir gret bountee,
With right gode chere and a glad visage
Shewe him gret signes of huge humylite;
In cloþemakinge sheo shal eke besy be,
Wolle and flexsse vn-to hir servantȝ dresse,
Sette hem on werke in vertuous besynesse.

7

Sheo resembleþe a shippe of marchandyse,
From ful fare providing hir victayle,
With wache also sheo cane aught devyse
Þat hir housholde of stuffe shal not fayle.
In truwe pourchace ful muche sheo shal avayle,
Bigynge in tovne on feelde muche besinesse,
Alwey in trouthe vsinge avisynesse.

8

With hir handewerk and hir houswyfrede
Sheo besy aye amonge in hir gardynes,
Provydence did aye hir brydel lede,
Plauntynge amonge hir lousty fressh vynes,
Which þat brought forþe delytable vynes
Vsinge a girdel aboute hir of clennesse,
Her lyff tenbrace in vertuous besinesse.

9

And for sheo saughe þat hir werke was goode
Hir clere lanterne shal never qwenche his light,
And of hir porte to telle yowe howe it stode;
With truwe Lucre concluding vp-on right
[OMITTED]
Hir fingers smale, lyche a truwe maystresse,
In silke and weving did hir besynesse.

10

To the poure folke did hir almesdede,
Hir armes oute a-fer she gaue to reeche,
Of colde in wynter hir meynee thare not dreede,
For in suche cas sheo was a prudent leche,
Alle hir servantes vertues ay to teche,
Were twyes cladde, hem kepinge frome distresse
In somer and wynter by hir besynesse.

11

Rayed motleys of divers silke and golde free,
Of fyne pourpur was wrought hir garnement,
Amiddes þe gates of þat royal cytee
Sete hir housbande, so noble and prudent,
On trespassours to give his Jugement,
With Senatours his doome he can dresse,
Refourmynge wronge with vertuous besynesse.

12

Of golde and silke sheo made a ryche cloþe
And solde it affter thorughe hir providence,
And for þat fame ful far in vertue goþe
Sheo made a girdel of gret excellence
For to represse þe mighty vyolence
Of Canandus wilful wrecchednesse,
Sheo brideld hir with vertuous besynesse.

13

Of force, of clennesse, and of honestee,
And of fayrrenesse made was hir vesture,
Hir to defende in al adversitee
Of feyth, of trouþe, shal beo hir armure,
And sheo shal love, of entente moste pure,

Hir last daye of verray perfytenesse,
Deservinge heven by vertuous besynesse.

14

Hir mouþe sheo opunde for to be enspyred
With þe grace of goostly sapyence,
Þe trouþe of hir was specially desyred
Lowe of hir speche, of womanly clemence;
And sheo considerd of wit and hye prudence,
Of hir housholde þe paþes for to dresse
Þat al concluded of vertuous besynesse.

15

In ydelnesse sheo eete not hir bred
Her childre aroose and blest did hir calle,
And hir housbande prudently toke hede
And preysed hir amonge hir folkes alle,—
So finally it is now þus byfalle,
Thourgh his wisdame and gret avisynesse
Sheo al governed by vertuous besynesse.

16

Many doghtren of olde antiquytee
Gadred golde, goode, and gret tresore,
But sheo surmounted by autoritee,
To reken hem alle, by diligent labour,
She gate hir price, lawde, and gret honnour,
By þat worching of gracious richchesse
Shutte in hir coffres by vertuous besynesse.

17

Al worldly besynesse nis but vanytee,
Grace of fayresse as a floure doþe fade;
Fresshnesse abydeþe in mutabilitee
And persinge eyene with þeire lookis glade;
Al froyte doþe falle, whane trees beon overlade,
And al dooþe waste sauf oonly perfytnesse
Slouþe to exclude with vertuous besynesse.

18

But a woman provident in dede,
I mene suche one þat prudent is and wyse,
Þe whiche of Herte þe lorde above doþe drede,
Sheo worþy is to haue a ful gret pryce,
For sheo conceyveþe by circumspecte avycc,
Whatever sheo doþe and with gret redynesse
Texclude slouþe with vertuous besynesse.

VERBA FACTORIS.

O yee wyves and wydowes moste entiere,
And godely maydens yonge and fresshe of face,
What ever be sayd as in þis matere,
Ful humbully I putt me in youre grace,
And remembreþe every houres space
Þat moder of vyces is wilful ydelnesse,
And grounde of grace is vertuous besynesse.

LENVOYE.

Go, lytel pistel, and recomande me
Vn-to my ladye which cleped is Cybille,
Pray hir to haue rouþe and eke pitee
Of þe dulnesse of þis my rude style,
And as þis dytee doþe also compyle,
Let hir labour, avoydyng ydelnesse,
Vsinge hir handes in vertuous besynesse.

5. THE PATER NOSTER TRANSLATED.

[_]

[MS. Trinity Coll. Camb. R. 3. 21, leaf 274.]

Hic sequitur Oracio dominica per dominum Johannem Lydegate translata.

1

Oure glorious ffadyr þat art in heuen,
Kepe vs þy chyldre þat þow has wrought,
Graunt vs these petycions seuen,
As thy son taught þat hath vs bought,

Thy name be halowyd in all oure thought,
The fende confusyd with all hys wylys,
Thy Image we been, forsake vs nought,
O Pater noster qui es in celis!

2

Thy kyngdom, Fadyr, late come tyll vs,
That we had lost þorough dedely synne,
But now thy son, oure Lord Ihesus,
Hath brokyn þe prysoun þat we were ynne,
The dyse were cast, þow dydyst vs wynne,
The fende confoundyd with all his wyles,
Let come þy kyngdom, we ben þy kynne,
Pater noster qui es in celis.

3

As þy wyll, Fadyr, ys done aboue,
So here in erthe þy wyll be done,
Make clene oure hertes, set þere þy loue,
For without þy helpe oure labour ys none;
Teche vs thy wyll or grace be gone,
The fende confusyd with all his wyles,
And with thy mercy graunt vs pardone
Pater noster qui es in celis!

4

Oure dayly brede yeue vs thys day,
Bothe bodyly and gostly sustenaunce,
Ellys we shull fayle here in þys way
But yef þou make som purueaunce,
Of gostly foode sende vs habundaunce,
The fende confusyd with all his wyles,
And erthely frutys aftyr þy plesaunce,
O Pater noster qui es in celis!

5

Also, good Fadyr, foryeue oure dettys
To all oure dettors as we foryeue,
Oure gostly sauour somtyme hit lettys,
When other be temptyd vs for to greue.
To bere hyt esyly þow can vs releue,
The fende confusyd with all hys wyles,
Helpe vs þy chyldre of Adam & Eue,
O Pater noster qui es in celis.

6

Suffre vs nat fall in-to temptacion,
Whether hit com of flesshe or fende,
Kepe vs from all foule delectacion,
For bytternes ys euer þe last ende,—
Yeue vs now grace oure lyfe to amende,
The fende confusyd with all his wyles,
And neuer þy goodnes more to offende,
O Pater noster qui es in celis.

7

And whateuer offence ys done before
In þought, worde, dede, or countenaunce,
For þe furst day þat we were bore,
We aske now grace of repentaunce,
And here to performe oure dew penaunce,
Kepyng oure wyttes and þy hestes ten,
And gracious Fadyr take no vengeaunce,
Sed libera nos a malo.

Amen.

6. A PRAYER IN OLD AGE.

[_]

[MS. Bodley Hatton 73, leaf 116 to 116 back].

1

All the trespas of my tender youthe,
Wyth grevous gyltes rekenyd of yonge age,
Wyth the gode lord make hem not couthe
Iesu, till tyme that thy wrath aswage.
Myn ignoraunce with insolent outrage,
Lyke my deserteys, lord, doo not recorde
Tyll pees be leyde, and pitee for ostage,
That ryght and mercy may graciousli acord.

2

The myspende tyme of all my mydle yeris,
When lust with fors was fresh yn that sesoun,
My froward fals foren desires,
Wyth many olde diuerse transgressioun,

Fer fro vertu, contrarye to resoun,—
O lord, late pite thy rygore qveme
Or that Iugement do execucioun;
Blyssid Iesu! do mercy or thou deme.

3

Duryng that age I coude not aduertyse,
Of necligens in my memoriall,
By providens to see this straunge gyse,
Alle wordely fresshnesse by processe shall appalle;
And how fortune amonge hir chaunges alle
When folk lest wenyth, her servauntis cast doun;
Then is no mene, but to clepe and calle
To mercy and grace and Cristes passioun.

4

Forsake me not, lord, in my dayes olde,
Whenne febylnesse hath crokyd bak and chyne,
Currage and blode appalle, and wexe colde;
My blyndnesse, lord, with grace do illumyne,
And lat the lyght of mercy ouer me shyne,
Or that the rolle be rad of myn outrages:
Thy blode, thy passioun, graunt me for a signe,
Mercifull Iesu, to patyse my passages.

Amen.

7. TE DEUM LAUDAMUS.

[_]

[MS. Harley 2275, leaves 43, back, to 45, back.]

1

Te deum laudamus! to the lord sovereyne
We creaturys knowlech the as creatoure;
Te, eternum patrem, the peple playne,
With hand and herte doth the honoure;
O ffemynyn fadir funte and foundoure,
Magnus et laudabilis dominus,
In sonne and sterre thu sittyst splendoure,
Te laudat omnis spiritus.

2

Tibi omnis chorus angelorum,
With the principal Ierarchyes of the pretence,
Tibi coriously cantant celi celorum,
Cherubyn et Seraphyn in thy precious presence;
Incessauntly syngyng this solempne sentence,
Sanctus! Sanctus! tu summus Sanctus!
Lord God of hostis, omnipotence,
Te laudat omnis spiritus.

3

Pleni sunt celi with plentevousnesse
Of grace, of vertu, and of charyte,
This travailous erthe, ful of unsurnesse
That to man is maad of thy maieste,
Proclamyng and praysyng thy glorious fraternyte
Qui es alpha et Oo et virtus,
O Infynyt fontayn ful of felicite!
Te laudat omnis spiritus.

4

Te chorus glorious of apostolate,
Memorial make, modulacioun,
The laudable nombre of the prophetys astate
Evir Ioyng gaudent in Iubilacioun,
Te letabilem laudat in laudacioun,
Te martirum candidatus exercitus
Principium polorum in al pausacioun
Te laudat omnis spiritus.

5

The chirches as by the worldis circuyt
Te fratrem ostendunt of moost power,
verum et venerabilem thyn oune sone of myght,
The hoolygoost counfortere of sapience cler,
Substancial above al angelys qwer;
Perfectus deus, altissimus,
In hertly tongis that usid been her
Te laudat omnis spiritus.

6

Tu rex Christe glorie Iesu,
The sone of the fadir eternal beyng,
ffor to delyvere man thu tokyst ful dew,
Humanyte in a mayden yong,
Hir virginal cloistre cleene conservyng,
Nat disdeyned to take dei filius;
Eternal glory to that excellent kyng!
Te laudat omnis spiritus.

7

Victoriously whan thu ovircomyn had
The sharpe showrys of deth and payne,
To thyn belouyd thu appertly rad,
In heuenly kyngdam wherin thu reyne,
Tu ad dexteram dei, in thy demeyne,
In gloriam patris, thu sittist summus,
In psalmys the which sanctly seyne,
Te laudat omnis spiritus.

8

Tu iudex Ihesu we beleve that thu art,
At the Iudicial day of Iugement,
Dyvynely there shal come, for to depart
The goode from the Ille in a moment;
Wherfor we pray the as thu art glorious goddes sone so sent,
To thy servauntys esto propicius,
That with thy precious blood thu boutist fervent,
Te laudat omnis spiritus.

9

Lord make us rewardid, with thy celical seyntis,
In eendless glory, wher is al grace,
Saluum fac populum fram peynly compleyntis,
That our Odious Enmy ageyns us haase,
Blisse lord al thyn heritage that is base
Qui es qui eras sanctissimus;
Infynyt to beholde thy formous face,
Te laudat omnis spiritus.

10

Per singulos dies with spiritis heuenly,
The with obsecraciouns we blisse and do observaunce;
And thy blissid precious name we preyse Infynytly,
In this presenti seculo with humyliaunce;
And in the world of worldys as is thyn avaunce,
Ubi celicus cetus syngen sanctus,
To thy preysyngis, lord in thy laudaunce,
Te laudat omnis spiritus.

11

Deere lord of thyn digne excellence,
This day conserve us from confusioun,
The which is synne, slouth, and necligence;
Haue mercy on us, and make an vnyoun
Lat misericord discend from thy domynyoun
Miserere nostri lord, as thu art gracious,
And put us nat in-to perpetual prisoun,
Te laudat omnis spiritus.

12

ffiat misericordia tua upon al mankynde,
As our hoope and trust is fully in the;
Thouh thy creacioun somewhat be to the unkynde
Yit send mercy doun lord, from thy maieste,
That closyd was in virgynyte,
The which is sempiternus filius,
Te fratrem of heuene of gret pouste
Te laudat omnis spiritus.

13

Lord with this glorious psalme of the prophete,
This is the ffynal eende of this ympne and song,
In te domine speram my saviour swete,
Lat us nat be lost lord evirlastyng long,
From this erthly synne fadir thu vs fong,
Tu primus & nouissimus
O sapiencia of whom al goodnesse sprong
Te laudat omnis spiritus.

Explicit.

8. VEXILLA REGIS PRODEUNT.

[_]

[MS. Univ. Lib. Cambr. Kk. 7. 6, leaves 198–199.]

Here enduth þis preyere to our lord Iesu / And begynneth the ymne Vexilla regis Prodeunte.

1

Royal Banerys vnrolled of the kyng
Towarde his Batayle, in Bosra steyned reede,
The Crosse his standart Celestyal of schynyng
Wyth purple Hewe depeynt, I tooke good heede,
Vita was Capteyne, whech lyste hymselff be ded,
And to slee deth his conqueste to termyne,
Fygure of Isaak from patriarkys seed
And downe descendid ffrom Abrahamis lyne.

2

Frute of a tree caused al our lose,
Wheche to recure he weryd a purple weede,
Lyff sleyng deth, deyde vpon þe Crose:
In prophesies þe mysteryes ȝe may rede,
Thus deth geyne deth lyste his blood to schede,
Callid carnis conditor, prophetis wroote also;
To make vs partable of his trivmphal mede
Criste was suspensus in patibulo.

(Confixus clauis Innocens)

Sone of kyng Dauit was sleyne, & his ayre,
Pure Innocent, nayled to a tree,
Moriens ful hygh vp in þe Eyre,
Slouth the Tyrant for al his cruelte,
Pride was bore downe with humilite,
Senum tirannum vinciens,
Where we were thrall ffauȝt for our liberte,
Et nos ab morte liberans.

(Quo vlneratus in super)

Ouer al this he, woundyd to the deth,
To scowre þe Ruste of our mortal grevaunce,
Vnto his fader clamans ȝalde vp the breth,
Than Rooff his hert Longeus with a launce,
Blood & watur ran out in habondaunce,

Vt nos lauaret crimine,
O synful man! haue this in remembraunce,
Manauit vnda sanguine.

(Inpleta sunt quae conciuit)

Al thyng acomplyssched, deth & his woundes scharpe,
With all þe misteries of olde prophesie,
The ffuneral compleyntis Dauit songe with his harpe,
With wepyng tvnis, notyd in Jeremie,
Whose Coote Armure was lyke a bloody skye
Dicendo nacionibus,
Recoorde Esdras & Recoorde Isaye
Regnauit aliguo deus.

(Arbor decora & fulgida)

Fayrest of trees celestial fresche schynyng,
Wyth Royal purplys al bloody was thyn hewe,
Aftur þy Batayle Inperyal of schewyng,
For a memorial regystred newe & newe,
Palme of þis conqueste be repoort is so trewe
Electa digno stipite,
Cheeff gryffe of Paradise who so þe greyne wel knewe,
Tam sancta membra tangere.

(Beata cuius Brachiis)

Blesset þat stoke, [of] whiche thys ryche frute
Armys & body Ranson Incomperable
Henge on þy braunchis, repaaste & cheeff refute,
Restouratyff set in oure feyth moost stable,
Geyne all oure hurtis & soorys incurable,
This stok statera facta est corporis,
Wheche spoylled Hell & sathan mooste vengable
Predam que tulit tartaris.

(O crux aue spes vnica)

O only hope to wrecchis in distresse!
O Cristus Cros! scheeld & proteccyon
Oure medycyne, oure Bawme in al sikenesse,
Oure rycheste triacle geyne al goostely poyson,
And cheeff refuge in our tribulacyon,

Auge piis Iusticiam,
Be the .v. woundes & thi passion
Reis que dona veniam.

(Te summa deus trinitas)

Thow þat arte called Oon, too & thre,
Hiest of Lordes in the heuenly consistorie,
Alle thre, O God! in perffite vnite,
To whome be ȝoue laude honour & glorie,
Myght to þe Fader, conquest & victorie
Vnto þe sone, for oure redempcyon,
To þe holy Gooste grace to haue memorie
On his ffyue woundes & his passion.

Here enduth the ymne Vexilla regis prodeunt

9. GOD IS MYN HELPERE.

[_]

[MS. Harl. 2255, leaves 148–150.]

1

God is myn helpere and ay shal be,
My cheef protectour and diffence
Ageyn all maner of aduersite,
And ageyn al sturdy violence,
And of his mighty excellence.
He me supportith in al my nede
And to bern vp myn Impotence
God is myn helpere, no man I drede.

2

My souereyn trust at hym began,
Chees hym to be my cheef socour;
In this wourld here I drede no man,
Prynce, Kyng, Duke, nor Emperour.
For he is the ffyn of my labour,
Guerdoun of all myn eternal neede,
And fro deeth he was my redemptour,
Whyl God lyst helpe no man I dreede.

3

He hath me holpe in many a wyse,
And preservyd fro many greet grevaunce,
Bet than my-self cowde devyse,
Myn hope, myn helpe, my suffisaunce,
My soule in virtu for to avaunce.
That lord my brydel best may lede,
Seying thus withoute varyaunce
Whyl God lyst helpe no man I drede.

4

And yif the trouthe be weel conceyved
I dar weel seyn, whoo so lyst adverte,
Nevir man yit that was disceyved
That trustith on hym with al his herte.
For which it shall me nevir asterte
What wrong that any wyght me bede,
For to seyn in al my bittyr smerte,
Whyl God lyst helpe no man I drede.

5

I haue been offte in dyvers londys
And in many dyvers regiouns,
Haue escapyd fro my foois hondys
In Citees, Castellys and in touns,
Among folk of sundry naciouns
Wente ay forth, and took noon hede,
I askyd no manere of protecciouns,
God was myn helpe agayn al drede.

6

Fals fortune in this wourld here,
Whan she semyth moost agreable,
Moost blaundysshyng of face and chere,
Suych tyme she is moost disceyvable.
Hire wheel ay ffekyl and vnstable,
Hire sylf Clad in a double weede,
And for she is to varyable,
Whyl God lyst helpe I haue no drede.

7

And in al wourldly greet prosperite
Men fynde nevir but litel sekirnesse,
But chaunge and moche mutabilyte,
Now poverte and now greet rychesse,
Now tresour and now in greet distresse,
Now strong, now myghty, now bedreede,
For which in helthe and in seknesse
Whyl God lyst helpe, no man I drede.

8

Now in gladnesse, and now in sorwe,
Now in Ioye and now in greet aduersite,
To-day good freend, my foe to-morwe,
Now flouryng in greet felicite.
Now lowe cast doun from hih degre,
As fortune lyst hire stoormys shede.
Do what she lyst, I sey for me
Whil God lyst helpe no man I drede.

9

In ellementys is offte greet trouble,
Now brightnesse, now a clowdy skye,
Chaunge of weedir, the wourld is double,
Now helthe, now sodeyn maladye,
Vpryght to-day, to-morwe dye,
It is smal frenshippe at suych a nede,
Thus al thyng stant in Iupartye,
Wher God lyst helpe ther is no drede.

10

Ful offte the somyr shene sonne
In the Oryent rysith cleer and bryght,
Yit longe or Eve the Clowdys donne
Difface the fresshnesse of hir lyght;
When day is passyd, the dirke nyght
Closith al the wourld with his blak weede;
Above al thyng is Goddys moche myght,
Wheer he lyst helpe ther is no drede.

11

Yif men leve in greet parfightnesse,
Folk calle hym thanne an Ipocryte;
Yif he hym drawe to gladnesse,
Of ffooly men wyl hym attwyte.
Lawhe beforn, and bakward byte,
And mysdeme ech mannys dede,
Wherfore ther malyce best taquyte,
Whan God lyst helpe ther is no drede.

12

Who seith the best he shal not repente,
Wheer he be yonge or Olde of age,
He that demyth weel in his entent
Shal fynde therin greet avauntage;
And Catoun wrytt in pleyn language
The first vertu whoo so lyst it rede,
Keep your tonge froom al Outrage,
And God shal helpe, it is no drede.

13

Whoo lyst to hym for helpe calle,
Of helpe at nede he may nat faylle,
His helpe nevir doth appalle,
Nowther in pees, nor in bataylle,
What Enemy euir doth hym assaylle,
On lond or see whoo lyst weel spede,
Let hym avoyde plate and maylle,
Wheer God lyst helpe, ther is no drede.

Explicet quod Lydgate.

10. A DEFENCE OF HOLY CHURCH.

[_]

[MS. Harley 1245, leaves 182 back to 183.]

1

Most worthi prince, of whome the noble fame
In vertue floureth, and in high prudence,
Laude and honour be un-to thi name,
And to thi worthi roial excellence,
The which hast been protectour and diffence

Though thy manhode, ageyn thy mortall foon
Off Cristus spouse douhtir of Syoun,

2

That was oppressid almost in thy rewme
Even at the poynt of hir destruccioun,
Amyd his Citee of Ierusalem,
Al bysett with enmyes envyroun;
Tamade a new transmygracioun,
When she allas! disconsolat, allone,
Ne kneugh to whame for to make hir moone,

3

But on the floodis of fell Babiloun,
Al solitair and trist in compleynyng,
Sat with hir children aboute hir euerichoun,
Almost fordrowynd with teerys in weepyng;
And wher as she was wonde to play and syng
In prys and honour of hir eternall lorde,
On instrumentis of musik in accorde,

4

Constreyned was, and almost at the prikk
Talefft hir song of holy notis trewe,
And on the salwys olde foule and thikk
To hang hir orgnes, þat were entvned newe,—
O Goddis knyght! till þu list to rewe
Upon hir pitouse lamentable woo,
Off reuth and mercy to deliyuer her froo

5

The mortall howndis, that wroughte hir al þis soore,
Hir to have put in captyuyte,
Off the Tyraunte Nabugodonosor,
Ferr frome the boundis, allas! of hir citee;
Till though of grace grauntest libertee
Zorobabell and also Neemye
Ierusalem ageyn to edyfye,

6

And kepe the Temple hoole and sounde bi grace,
That stoode in way of perdicioun,
Thorugh hem þat gan to threten and manace
The libertees of Cristys mansioun,
And for to pynch att her fundacioun,
In preyudice of the olde and new lawe,
The Patrymony of Petir to withdrawe;—

7

That ther was noon her malis to withstonde,
Cristys quarell manly to sustean,
Til thow were chose for to lay to honde,
Only by grace hir champioun to been,
For to delyuer out of woo and teen
Noees shipp, bysett with many a wawe,
Tyl thow the watres madist to withdraw,

8

That Karibdis myght it nat devour,
Nor fierce Silla with hir bittyr rage,
ffor noon but thow myght yt tho socour
To make the floodis fully to aswage,
Thoruh the straytis to holden the passage
Thi silff of goodnesse the rother list to guye,
Til on the hillys hy of Armonye

9

The shipp gan rest out of all dawngeer,
Maugre the rokkis of vengeaunce mercilesse,—
And that the skies wexe faire and clere
And thorugh thyn helpe that the do we chese
For to repaire with a braunch of pes,
When as the raven hath a careyn take
Oute of the shipp, upon his praye to wake,

10

With coverte tresoun falsely to lachche,
When he seeth tyme his desired praye
Liche a Bosarde, unwarly for to cachche

Smale briddys, that thynke on noon affraye;
Wher-for I rede, both nyght and day
Too Goddys knyght, so goode wachch to make
Off Philistees the [Arke] be nat take,

11

All Israel to bryngen in distresse,
Whos Ioy and helth lith in thi persoone,
The welfaire eke, and hooly þe gladnesse
In every thyng, of what thai ha to doune;
Wherfor be ware of chaungyng of the moone
Eclipse of falsehed betrassh nat the liht
Off thi goodnesse, that shyneth yitt so briht.

12

Thynke, how to Dauid full Innocente
Saul was fals for all his othis sworne,
Nad God by grace makid resistence,
His chose knyght hadde be forlorne,
Wherfor I rede þe greyn & purid corne
Thow cherissh wel, and lay the chaff aside,
That trouth han voided, for to been her gide.

13

And thynke how Dauid ageyn Iebusee,
When that he fouht, in Regum as I fynde,
How he made voide from Syon his Citee
Unweldy, crokid, both lame and blynde,
By which example alway have in mynde
To voide echon, & for to do the same
Oute of thi sight, that in the faith be lame.

14

For who is blynde or haltith in þe faith
For any doctryne of these Sectys newe,
And Cristes techyng therfor aside laith,
Unto thy corone may he nat be trewe;
He may dissymule with a feynyd hewe,
But take good heede, what way þat he faire,
Thy swerde of knyghthoode, that no swich ne spaire.

15

And Cristis cause alway fyrst preferre,
And althirnexte thi knyhtly state preserue
And lat this lawe be thi loode-sterr,
Than grace shall thyn honour ay conserve,
And Goddys foon manly make to sterue;
For any fals feynyd repentaunce,
Of right lat rigour holden the ballaunce.

16

Thynke how Saule, from his kyngly place,
And frome thonour of his royall see,
Whilome was abiect, for he did grace
To Amalech ageyn the voluntee
Of Goddys precepte, of feynyd fals pitee
To spare his swerde rihtfully to bite,
When as God bad that he shulde smyte,

17

Wher Samuel, the perfite hooly man,
Chosen of God to execute trouth,
With a swerde the rightfull doome he gan
And slough Agag, withouten any routh,
In Galgalis, wher Saule for his slouth
fforsaken was, and hoolly al the lyne
That cam of hym in myscheff did fyne.

18

Slough nat Helye in all his holinesse
The fals prophetis langyng to Baal?
O noble prynce! exaumple of rightwisnesse,
Off God preservid to be the myghty wall
Of hooly churche in thyn estate royall,
Distroye hem tho, that falsely now werrey
Her own modir, to whome thai shulde obeye!

19

And namely hem that of presumpcyoun
Dispraven hir, and hir ornamentes,
And therwithall of indignacioun

Withdrawe wolde hir rich paramenteȝ.
O prudent prynce! thynke what her entent is,
Who falsely the hooly church accuse,
For thay hemsilff the riches wolden use.

20

Remembre also for swich transgressioun
What was the fyne of kyng Antiochus,
That proudely tooke by extorsioun
The sacred Iewels from Goddis hooly hous,
Was he nat slawe, this tiraunt trecherous,
With smale wormys hym fretyng manyfolde,
Whan he fill down from his chare of golde?

21

What myght availe his pompe, or all his pride,
Or all the gliteryng of his riche chare,
In which that he so proudely did ride?
The surquedye also of Baltasar
Was it nat abatid or that he was war,
In Babiloun, with a soden fall,
Whan that the honde wrote upon the wall?

11. A PROCESSION OF CORPUS CRISTI.

[_]

[MS. Trin. Coll. Cam. R. 3. 20, pages 349–356.]

And nowe here foloweþe an ordenaunce of a precessyoun of þe feste of corpus cristi made in london [OMITTED] by daun John Lydegate.

1

Þis hye feste nowe for to magnefye,
Feste of festes moost hevenly and devyne,
In goostly gladnesse to governe vs and guye,
By which al grace dooþe vppon vs shyne;
For now þis day al derkenesse tenlumyne,

In youre presence fette out of fygure,
Schal beo declared by many vnkouþe signe
Gracyous misteryes grounded in scripture.

2

First, þat þis feste may more beo magnefyed,

Adam.

Seoþe and considerþe in youre ymaginatyf
For Adams synne howe Cryst was crucefyed
Vppon a crosse, to stinten al oure stryff.
Fruyt celestyal hong on þe tree of lyff,
Þe fruyt of fruytes, for shorte conclusyoun,
Oure helpe, oure foode, and oure restoratyf
And cheef repaste of oure redempcioun.

3

Remembreþe eeke in youre Inwarde entente

Melchisedech.

Melchysedec, þat offred bred and wyne,
In fygure oonly of þe sacrament,
Steyned in Bosra, on Calvarye made red,
On Sherthorsday to-fore er he was ded,
For memoryal mooste souereyne and goode,
Gaf hees appostels, takeþe here off goode heed,
His blessid body and his precyous bloode.

4

Chosen of God þis patryarch Abraham,

Abraham.

Example pleyne of hospitalytee,
Recorde I take, whan þat þe aungel came
To his housholde, wheeche were in noumbre three,
In figure oonly of þe Trynyte,

ponam bucellam panis / Genesis xliijo

Set to hem brede with ful gladde chere,
Of gret counforte, a token who list see,
Þe sacrament þat stondeþe on þe awter.

5

To Ysaake God list his grace shewe

Isaake.

Lyneally adowne frome þat partye,
In eorþes fatnesse, aud in hevenly dewe

In pinguedinis terre et rore celi.

Frome þeolly gooste descending to Marye;
Þat braunche of Gesse God list to glorefye,

Þis Roos of Iherico fresshest on lyve,
Blest among wymmen, Luc dooþe specefye,
Whos name is fygurde here with lettres fyve.

6

Jacob saughe aungels goyng vp and doune

Jacob.

Vppon a laddre, he sleeping certeyne

pinguis est panis christi Genesis xl. ixo

Lowe on a stoone for recreacyoun,—
Þe whete glene crowned aboue þe greyne,
Forged of golde an hooste þere Inne eseyne;
Þis Crystes bred, delicyous vn-to kynges,
With goostly gladnesse, gracious and souereyne,
Gayue forreyne damage of alle eorþely thinges.

7

Þis noble duc, þis prudent Moyses,

Moyses.

With goldin hornes lyche Phebus beemys bright,
His arche so ryche, his vyole for tencresce,
With þe manna to make oure hertes light;
Figure and liknesse, who so looke aright,
Þis goostly manna being here present
To vs figureþe in oure Inwarde sight
A symilitude of þe sacrament.

8

Þis chosen Aaron bering a liknesse,

Aaron.

In hoolly writte as it is clerly founde,
Of trewe preesthode and goostly parfytnesse,
Þis Innocent, þis lambe with large wounde,
Þe feonde oure enemy outtraye and confounde,
Is token and signe of Cristes passyoun,
Spirituel gladnesse & mooste fer to habounde,
Þis day mynisterd til oure Reffeccion.

9

Þou chose of God, Dauid þat sloughe Golye,

Dauid.

With slyng and stoone called þe Chaumpyoun,
Of al Isrel, as bookis specefye,
Þat sloughe þe Bere and venqwysshed þe lyoun,
Figure of Ihesu, þat with his passyoun

And verraye victoire of hees woundes fyve
Brought Philisteys vnto subieccyoun,
Whan Longeus spere did thorgh his herte ryve.

10

Ecclesiaste, myrrour of sapience,

Ecclesiaste.

With cloose castel besyde a clowde reed,
Þat same token by virgynal vydence
Sette in Marye flouring of maydenhede,
Which bare þe fruyt, þe celestial bred,
Of oure counfort and consolacyoun,
In to whos brest þe Hoolly Gooste, taþe heede,
Sent to Nasareth gracyously came doune.

11

Beholde þis prophete called Jeremye,

Geremye.

Bavisyoun so hevenly devyne
Tooke a chalyce and fast cane him hye
To presse owte lykoure of þe rede vyne
Greyne in þe middes, which to make vs dyne,
Was beete and bulted floure to make of bred,
A gracyous fygure þat a pure virgyne
Shoulde bere manna in which lay al our speede.

12

Þis Ysayes, in token of plentee,

Ysaye.

A braunche of vynes mooste gracious and meete
At a gret feest him thought þat he did see,
And þere-with-al a gracyous glene of whete,
Token of Joye frome þe hevenly seete,
Whan God above list frome Jessyes lyne
To make his grace as golde dewe doune to fleete,
To stanche our venymes wheeche were serpentyne.

13

Holly Helyas, by grace þat God him sent,

Helyas.

Þe noble prophete benigne and honurable,
Made strong in spirit fourty dayes wente
In his iourney, þe brede made him so stable,
Cristallyne water to him so comfortable,

Al his vyage booþe in brede and lenkeþe,
A blessid fygure verray coumfortable,
Of þe sacrament komeþe oure goostly strenkeþe.

14

Zacharye holding þere þe fayre sensier,

Zacharye.

With goostely fumys as any bawme so swoote,
Beo meditacyouns and grete preyer
Þat vppe ascendiþe frome þe hertes Roote,
Goostely tryacle and oure lyves boote,
Ageynst þe sorowes of worldely pestylence,
Alle infect ayres it putteþe vnder foote
Of hem þat take þis bred with reuerence.

15

Blessed Baptyst, of clennesse locke and keye,

Baptist.

Mooste devoutly gan marken and declare
With his fingur, whan he seyde Agnus Dei,
Shewing þe lambe which caused oure welfare
On Good Frydaye was on þe crosse made bare,
And offred vp for oure Redempcyoun
On Eestre morowe, to stinten al oure care,
Ageynst seeknesse our Restauracyoun.

16

Þis holly man, þevangelist saint Jehan

John Evangelist

Þappocolips wrote, and eke dranke poysoun,
In Crystes feyth als stable as þe stoone,
Aboode with Ihesu in his passyoun;
And for to make a declaracyoun,
O þe chalyce patyn a chylde yong of age
Shewed affter þere þe consecracyoun
Þis brede is he þat dyed for oure outrage.

.id est Jhesus.

17

Þis blessed Mark, Resembling þe lyoun,

Marcus.

In his gospel parfyte, stable and goode,
Of bred and wyn for confirmacion

On Sherthorsday Remembreþe howe it stoode;
Seyde at his souper with a ful blessed moode
To hees discyples, aforne er he arros,
Þis bred, my body, þis wyne, it is my bloode

hoc est corpus meum.

Which þat for man dyed vppon þe crosse.

18

Hooly Mathewe þis elate gospeller,

Matheus.

Stable, parfyte, and truwe in his entente,
He wrote and seyde, of hole herte and entiere,
Touching þis blessed gloryous sacrament,
“Þis is þe chalyce of nuwe testament
Þat schal beo shadde for many and not for oon,
For Cryste Jhesu was frome his fader sent,
Excepcion noone, but dyen for ech oone.”

19

Lucas confermeþe of þis hooly bloode,

Lucas.

Tavoyde aweye al Ambeguytee,
“Þis is my bodye þat schal for man beo ded,
Him to delyver frome infernal powstee;
To Jherusalem, þemperyal citee,
Him to conduyte eternally tabyde,
Adam oure fader and his posteritee,
By Cryst þat suffred a spere to perce his syde.”

20

Paulus doctor wryteþe in his scripture,

paulus doctor gencium et apostolus.

Þe which affermeþe and seyþe vs truly,
“Yif þere beo founden any creature
Which þat þis bred resceyveþe vnworþely,
He eteþe his doome moste dampnabully,
For which I counseyle, and pleynly þus [I] mene,
Ech man beo ware to kepe him prudently,
Not to resceiue it, but yif he beo clene.

21

He þat is cleped maystre of sentence,

Magister historiarum.

Sette in a cloude holde here a fresshe ymage,
Remembreþe eeke by gret excellence,

In this mater avoyding al outrage,
Given to man here in oure pilgrymage,
Þis sacrament affter his doctryne
Is Crystis body, Repaste of our passage,
By þe Holly Gooste take of a pure virgyne.

22

Þe noble clerc, þe doctour ful famous,

Jeronimus.

Wryteþe and recordeþe Remembring truly
Geyns heretykes, hoolly Jeronimus,
Howe þat þis hoost is hole in ech partye,
Boþe God and man, Cryste Jhesus verraily,
In eche partycle hoole and vndevyded,
Þis oure byleve and creance feythfully,
Oute of oure hertes alle errours circumcyded.

23

Þis glorious doctour, þis parfyte hooly man,

Gregorius.

Touching þis bred doþe thus determyne,
Moral Gregore, ful weele reherce he can
In his wryting and vertuous doctryne,
Howe it is flesshe toke of a pure virgyne.
Geynst al seeknesse our cheef restoratyff,
Oure helth, welfare, Richchest medisyn,

sic medisyn in a later hand.

Þis sacrament þis blessed bred of lyff.

24

Blessed Austyne reherseþe in sentence,

Augustinus.

“Whan Cryste is ete or resceyved in substaunce,
Þat lyff is eten of hevenly excellence,
Oure force, oure might, our strenkeþe, oure suffisaunce,
Qwykenyng oure herte with al goostly plesaunce,
Repast ay lasting, Restoratyff ternal,
And remedy geynst al oure olde grevaunce
Brought Ine by byting of an appul smale.

25

Ambrosius, with sugerd elloquence,

Ambrosius.

Wryteþe with his penne and langage laureate,
With Crystis worde substancial in sentence,

“Þe sacrament is Justely consecrate
Oure daily foode, Renuwyng oure estate,
Recounseylling vs whan we trespas or erre,
And maþe vs mighty with Sathan to debate
To wynne tryumphe in al his mortal werre.”

26

Maistre of storyes, þis doctour ful notable,

Maystre of storyes.

Holding a Chalys here in a sonne clere,
An ooste alofft gloryous and comendable,
A pytee pleyning with a ful hevy cheere,
With face doune caste, shewing þe manere
Of hir compleynte with her pytous looke,
Ellas! she bought hir sones deþe to deere,
Whan he for man þe Raunsoun on him tooke.

27

Þis hoolly Thomas, called of Algwyne,

Thomas de Alquino.

By hie myracle þat sawghe persones three,
An ooste ful rounde, a sunne about it shyne,
Joyned in oon by parfyte vnytee,
A gloryous liknesse of þe Trynitee,
Gracyous and digne for to beo comended,
With feyth, with hope, with parfyte charitee,
Al oure byleeve is þere Inne comprehended.

28

With þeos figures shewed in youre presence,
By diuers liknesses you to doo plesaunce,
Resceiueþe hem with devoute reverence,

Þis bred of lyfe yee kepe in Remembraunce

eucaristia

Oute of þis Egipte of worldely grevaunce,
Youre restoratyff celestyal manna,
Of which God graunt eternal suffysaunce
Where aungels sing everlasting Osanna.

“Shirley kouþe fynde no more of þis Copye.”

12. AN HOLY MEDYTACION.

[_]

[MS. Trin. Coll. Camb. R. 3. 20, pp. 111–116.]

Nowe here filoweþe an holy medytacion.

Affter þe stormy tyme cesing þe rayn,
Whane for þabsence of colde þeorþe is fayn,
And þe qwyck thinges resceyue þeire vygour,
And trees bringen foorþe leeff and flour,
And by þe glad lusty sesoun of veer
Alle þe thinges, which þat wintour eyr
Consumed had by his coldes gret,
Releeued weren by þe sonnes heet,
And swoote gan to smellen euery mede,
Þe briddes eeke, warisshed of hir drede,
With lusty herte singing in þeyre greves,
Desporting hem amonge þe greene leves,
And þat þe dayes gonnen for to lenkeþe
And þe cleer wedir, by þe sonnes strenkeþe,
Echaced had awey wyntours derknesse
By þe beemys of his shyning cleernesse,

Þe which sesoun caused men for to be
Qwyckest in witt of any tyme, parde,
At whiche tyme nuwe mutacyoun
To alle grene thinges doþe consolacyoun,
And mennes thoughtes dulle in ydelnesse,
Ocupieþe and clensiþe by swettnesse,—
Of studying, loo, þus hit happend me,
Amiddes þis sesoun, lusty for to see,
With greuous study annoyed was myn hert,
Oute of þe which ne wist I howe tastert,
But to þe grenes fast I can me hye,
Wening þer to fynde remedye,
But al for nought certain it wolde not be;
For whane I hade sette me vnder a tree,
What for þe floures and þe herbes greene,
And noyse of briddes singing ay bytweene
In hir wyse me thought crafftely,
Þat suche a mirthe neuer noon herde I.
Hir song made so myn herte for to accende
Þat vnto studye holly I gan attende;
And studying enforced I my thought
To spirituel thing, and to noon oþer nought:
But flesshly lust crepte in myn hert anoon
So slelely, þat neghe past was and goon
Al my spirituel affeccion,
Til oure lord god for my correccion
Of his gret might putte þane into my mynde
Repreving my flesshe in þis kynde,
My soule, I seye, spake þus my flesshe vn-to,
If yee wol here, þus he sayde, loo,—
“O filthy flesshe þou suget vnto synne
Whome foule afeccion haþe his herbarowe Inne,
Þy foule delyte and þyne Iniquytee
Of vertuous study offten destourbeþe me,

Consider of what mater þou art ewrought,
And howe þou art into þis worlde ebrought.
Of þi conceyving ne wol I not devyse,
Ne howe þou art efedde, ne in what wyse.
I wol eschuwe it for þyne honeste,
Wherfore of þat þou getest nomore of me,
But þis I knowe and seye þat at þy birthe
Þer nys desport, Ioye, ne no mirthe.
Whane þou art borne, anoon þou gynnest wayle,
For þou þe way entrest, with-outen fayle,
Of wrecched deeth, and whyle þee lasteþe lyf
Encreesest ay of woo, annoye, and stryff.
And whan þat deeþe whome þou ne mayst astert
Þee crepiþe in and takeþe þee by þe hert
So greuously, and streyneþ þee so sore,
Þat in þis worlde þou lyve mayst no more,
Þane forþe-with al þou wexest wormes mete
Wheche shoul þy flesshe vn-to þy boones frete.
Þane affter þat lord God, Iuge of vs alle,
Schal þee and euery wight before him calle
At þe day of his steorne Iugement,
And deeme þee to ioye or to torment;
Weel if þou hast doone, to Ioye eendelesse
Of heven, wher is mirthe, rest, and pees,
Dwelling with God and with his moder deer,
And with his seyntes shyning ful cleer,
And also with þe hooly companye,
Of þaungelles, wheeche þat maken melodye
So delytable and in so goodely wyse
Þat þer nys mannes tonge to souffyse,
Þoughe þey alle were sette and put in oon
And hadde þe konnynges of þe, Omer, echoon,
To telle þe mirthe and Ioye is in þat place,—
And passing al, þe sight of Crystes face,

For it surmounteþe thorughe his dignytee,
Al Ioye and mirthe þat may erekened bee.

Also bewar nowe on þat oþer syde,
Þat if it vnto þy soule so betyde
Þat þy desertes deeme it vn-to helle,
Þer is such torment shortly for to telle
And suche noyse, and showting of feondes blaake,
So besying hem ay fyres for to make,
Þat alle men whiche haue beon or þis
Or yit beon might not þe peyne þer is
Descryven of þexcessyf tourmentrye,
Ne neuer more shoule þey þer dye,
But in þe fuyre brennyng with-owten ende.
Beware of þis or þat þou hennes weende,
O man! with-stonde þy flesshly freeltee,
Lest þat þy soule be lust ymaysterd be;
For thing þat to þy flesshe semeþe ful sweete
Is bitter to þy soule, I þee byheete.
Sith God of his bennigne courtesye
Haþe sent þe witt and reson þee to guye,
Let not þy flesshly lustes beestyal
Vnto þe feonde do make þy soule thral,
If þou canst see þyn owen wrecchednesse,
Þou hast no mater but of hevynesse,
Whyle þou art in þe mutabilitee
Of þis wreeched worldes vanytee,
Wherfore take heede and pryde þee not, I prey,
In flesshly luste, but herken what I sey,
Trees bring foorþe, þou wost weel, as I gesse,
Branch, leef, and floure, wyn oyle, and suche swettnesse,
For þy behooue by Goddes ordeynaunce,
For þou him shuldest serve to plesaunce.
Shewe foorþe þe fruyt, nowe, man þat comeþe of þee,
Howe proufitable and fayre is it? let see:

Of þee kemeþe dung, vryne, vomyt and spitting,
Lysse, nyttes, flees, and suche filthy thing.
If þat þy filthes I reherce shal,
Men shal well wit þou art nought worth at al.
O filthy man! contrarye of al clennesse,
Vessel of dung, heep of rotunnesse,
Vessel in whoome þe heete of leecherye
Lurkiþe and abydeþe þer til þat þou dye!
O wreeched man! ful varyant and vnstable
Is þy condicyoun, and right deceyvable,
Right nowe þou art, nowe stintest þou to be,
Wheþer euer þou fleest deeþe ay wol suwe þee.
His cruweltee ne wol no wight spare,
For euery man he kaccheþe in his snare.
Correcte þee, whyles þou hast tyme and space,
And preye to God oure lord, þat of his grace
He wol forgyve þee al þy wickednesse,
And sende þee might to lyven in clennesse;
And þou shalt fynden him so mercyable,
Þat þaughe þy gilt be neuer so abhomynable,
He of þe digne and worþy excellence
Of his mercy wol gif þee indulgence
Of alle þy giltes, wher-of I þee rede
Þat suche a lorde þou serve and loue and drede.
Lat not þy flesshly foule affeccyoun
Þy soule putte from his dyleccyoun,
Looke þat by raysoun þou so brydelde bee
Þat oure lord God ne bee not wroth with þee.
Sith God haþe made þee vn-to þe liknesse
Of him-self by infynyte goodnesse,
And made þee moost worþy creature

Þat in þis worlde is while þat it shal dure,
And haþ þee gyven gret posessyoun
And every thing, heer in þis eorþe adowne,
Ordeyneþe oonly for to serven þee,
And for noon oþer cause, trust þou me
Þane thenke on þis, and be þou not vnkynde
To God, which haþe þee þus preferred in kynde.
Eschuwe þou þerfore him to displeese
For dreed of him, and for þy soules eese.
Considre eeke þis, and haue it in memorye,
Þat al þis wrecched worldes Ioye and glorye,
And mighte of kynges, and hir dignytee,
And ooþer lordes mightes, what soo þey bee,
For alle hir castelles and hir toures hye
And hir possessyouns, yit shal þey dye.
Hir goode ne catel ne may hem not avaylle;
Cruwel deeþe of his pray wol not faylle.
Lifft vp þyn hert vn-to þy God abouve,
And think howe þat he dyed for þy love.
Howe might he shewe gretter kyndenesse
Þane dyen for þy synful wrecchednesse?
Looke in þyn hert þer beo contrycon,
And by thy mouþ þou make confessyon
Of þy trespas, man, whyles þou art here,
And satisfaccion þou doo eeke in feere.
Þeos three thinges shul beo þy defence,
And strenkeþe þee weel to make resistence
Ageyns þe feonde, þat wayteþe night and day
Þy soule to ouercome, if þat he may.
If þou do þus þane shal þy soule weende
To hevens blisse which þat haþe noon eende.

Amen.

13. LETABUNDUS.

[_]

[From MS. B.M. Harley 2255, leaves 120–126.]

1

Grounde take in vertu by patriarkys Olde,
From Abraham lyneally brought doun
In the Scripturys as prophetys tolde,
Shewyd to them by Revelacioun
On kyng and prophete, moost souereyn of Renoun,
Dauid fro Iesse for Royal excellence,
Frute of whoos wombe, by Iust successioun,
To al the Clausys songe in this sequence

2

May cleyme a title by lyneal discent,
How Letabundus to hym doth appartene,
By the Hooly Goost moost graciously doun sent
In a skye lyk gold dewh, bright and shene,
Tenlvmyne that gloryous hevenly queene
That bar Iesu, a verray clene mayde;
In whoos worshepe this sequence as I mene
In hire feestys is songen, as I seyde.

3

Ek in the queer above celestial
Querestres gadryd of euery Ierarchye,
Out of nyne Ordrys chose in Especial,
With ther moost hevenly melodyous Armonye,
Wher nubes lucida, the saphir hewyd skye
Be-syde Cherubyn, bright brennyng as þe glede,
To for themperesse, which is callyd Marye,
Synge Letabundus, and Seraphyn indede

4

With Principatus moost Imperial,
And Potestates, bright as the sonne beem,

To-for that lord, that with his blood bought al,
Wher as Chorus nove Ierusalem
For ioye of hym, that was born in Bedleem,
Sang in excelsis, whos refreyt, to conclude,
Was Letabundus, in that hevenly Reem
With al the noumbre, and glorious multitude

5

Of hevenly spiritis, with al the Ordrys nyne,
To Reioysshe Iuda and Israel,
By Royal frute born of Dauid-is lyne,
A form figuryd by feithful Samuel;—
First book of kynges can the processe tel,—
Chorus prophetarum graciously syngyng,
To plese the lord Callyd Emanuel
With Letabundus, to-for that myghty kyng

6

Which callyd is Kyng of Cristemasse,—
I take Record of Isaye,—
To glade Reemys, provyncys more and lasse,
In his worshepe this Court to magneffye,
Be assent of Danyel, Ioel and Ieremye;
This mydwyntir glad tydynges hoom to bryng,
Alle the prophetys with O voys to yow crye,
Letabundus devoutly that ye synge.

Regem regum intacte profu[n]dit chorus res miranda.

This goostly Chorus figured in the Byble,
As prophetys Remembre in ther writynges,
—Beheest of God may nat be inpossible,—
How Gabriel brought first Tydynges

Regem regum

That thilke lord, callyd kyng of kynges,
Born of a maide, moost souereyn of degre,
With Sceptre and Crowne, former of alle thynges,
Cleymyng of right to sitte in Dauid-is se,—

8

His fadir Dauid, of prophetys principal,
Wrot longe be-forn by goostly knowlechyng,—
That Crist Iesus, lord lastyng eternal,
Shal sitte, Crownyd as souereyn lord and kyng.

Sedebit rex dominus in eternum.

Isayas, his power Remembryng,
Seyde and wroot, with fervence set a-fyre,
Grace of our lord shal fortune his comyng;

Multiplicabitur eius imperium

With greet encrees multeplye his empyre.

9

Among alle Cristene prynces and monarkes,
Foure and twenty prop[h]etys accordyng,
First rekne in Ordre twelve patryarkes,
With glad reffreytys there consceytes out shewyng.
Was nevir seyn so merveyllous a thyng
As for to seen in Abraham-is lyne,
A yong Melchisedeck, bysshop, preest and kyng,
In Bedleem born of a pure virgyne.

10

Regem Regum this sequence doth hym calle,
Set a-syde, make no comparysoun,
Isaak, Iacob, Rekne vp kynredys alle,

generacionem quis enarrabit.

Whoo can Remembre his generacioun?
Mathew-is gospel makith mencioun,
And concludeth in his Genalogye,
Off Letabundus al the perfeccioun
Parformyd is in Ioseph and Marie.

11

Doth your deveer in al your best entent,
Off verray right, lyk as ye ar bounde,
Chorus prophetarum beeyng her present,
Goostly considered mysteryes that be founde;
Which that doth moost vertuously habounde,

Of moralyte conceyved the menyng,
On Letabundus your consceyt for to grounde,
Regem Regum ffresshly that ye synge.

Angelus concilij natus est de virgine sol de stella.

This Aungel, callyd the Aungeil of counsayl,
Born of a maide be spirit of prophecye,
Clenly concevyed, and for our greet avayl
By the Hooly Goost to governe vs and guye;
This same Aungel, the byble may nat lye,
To Tobye sent, whan he was falle in age
To lede his sone, callyd also Tobye,
Oonly by grace to conduyte his passage.

Angelus qui portat claues abissi.

Off Abyssi this Aungel bar the keyes,
Callid Clauis Dauid to shettyn and vnshette,
Whom hevene and helle and al the world obeyes.
This same Aungel cam doun to paye our dette;
In a pure mayde his Royal throne he sette,
Mawgre Sathan and al his mortal werre,
Out of whoos dongoun prysonnerys he fette,
Lyk a bright sonne that sprang out of a sterre,

14

Out of which sterre our helthe was first gonne,
Off the Hooly Goost the Chosen habitacle;
Sterre of the se that brought forth a sonne,

stella maris

Was nevir in erthe noon so greet myracle;
Of Salamon aureat tabernacle,
Flees of Gedeon, with sylvir dewh moost shene,

vellus gedeonis.

To all virgines merour and spectacle
Off hire merites, of hevene crownyd queene.

15

Off Isaak seed, of Iacob our day sterre,

Orietur stella ex iacob

Geyn worldly trouble our governeresse,
On lond and se, bothe in pees and werre,
Our Sauffconduit to kepe vs fro distresse.
Now to this sonne and sterre of moost brightnesse.
Lefft vp your voys in this solempnite,
And ffresshly syngeth this Reffreyt with gladness,
Sol de stella natus de virgine.

Sol occasum nesciens semper clara. Stella semp[er] Rutilans semper clara.

Off this bright sonne Iohn in his Apocalyps
Seyth nevir Phebus was so cleer shynyng,
Weestest nat nor suffryth noon eclyps,
Callyd Esperus at Eve the nyght gladyng,
Al cloudy skyes dirk mystes avoydyng,
Malachias can bern herof witnesse,
Cause his bryghtnesse is alwey abydyng
He Callyth hym sonne of Ryghtwysnesse,

17

His rightwysnesse abydyng and Eterne,

iusticia tua iusticia iusticia in eternum

With his moost fervent hevenly bryght beemys,
Ther is no torche laumpe nor lanterne
May be comparyd to his Celestial streemys,
For thorugh the world he launchith out his beemys,
Specially his bryghtnesse he doth sprede
This hih feeste to alle Crystene Reemys
By a prerogatyff that love the lord and drede.

18

Afftir Aurora in the morowe gray
Tytan ascendyng out of the Oryent,
The Amerous larke massageer of day
Hath tydynges brouht froom Est tyl Occident,
That alle querestrys of Cristes hool Covent

Off Letabundus, lyk as ye haue gonne
Sol occasum nesciens in al your best entent
This vers tencountre in worshepe of this sonne.

Sicut sidus Radum profert Virgo filium pari Forma.

So as a sterre shedith out his beemys,
Hool and nat lassyd, conservith euere his light,
So Maria, queen of alle Reemys,
Modir to Iesu, and mayde of verray ryght,
Whoos virginite, Euere y-lych bryght,
Eclypseth nat, so cleer his beemys sprede,
In scripture was nevir so glad a sight
As a pure modir to floure in maydenhede.

20

Rekne in Ordre alle sesouns of the yeer,
Wynter frostys, snowes whyte and shene,
March with his buddys at comyng in of veer,
Fressh aprylle, with prymerolles grene,
Al stant on chaunge; but this hevenly queene
With-oute appallyng conservith hire clernesse;
Callyd Stella celi, this pryncesse that I meene,
Off hevene and erthe lady and Emperesse.

Neque sidus radio.

Anothir vers accordyng well her-to,
Bothe tweyne to-gidre to Conbyne,
That neque sidus ffulgens suo Radio,
Lefft nat his light, so this pure virgine
Doth Letabundus with gladnesse enlvmyne,
On Crystes birthe, as writeth Isaye,
O blissed queen! thy light lat on vs shyne,
Off worldly trouble voyde euery troubly skye.

22

A sterre is nat voyded of cleernesse
Though hys stremys ferre abrood do sprede,
Nor Maria of virginal clennesse
Though she bar Iesu, flouryng in maydenhede,
Abacuk of this matere took hede,
Seyde opynly in lawde of his memorye,
Hevene and erthe Enlumyned wern in dede,
And al the hevenly gloryous consistorye

23

Sang in his laude, by Recoord of scripture,
Splendor eius lyk lyght this world shal glade.

Splendor eius ut lux erit

Bedleem heerdys with sheep in ther pasture
Toward mydnyght abraydyng in the shade,
Among hem sylf greet Ioye and myrthe made,
In Reioysshyng of this sterrys streem,
More bright of shynyng, nevir lyk to ffade,
Brought out of Calde three kynges to Bedleem.

24

Gloria in excelsis was nat songe in veyn,
Song of Aungellys was so delicious,
The wyntrys nyght was nat spent in veyn
Whoos refreyt was pax in hominibus;
And Letabundus, this sequence gloryous,
To this feeste accordyng wel also,
In whoos worshepe, ye querestrys vertuous,
Syng with hool herte neque sidus Radio!

Cedrus alta libani.

Royal Cedrys, growyng on hih mounteyns,
And Cipressys vpon the mount Syon,
Knet with Isope In gardynes that be pleyns,—
Out of Danyel take out the Angle stoon,

Ibid testamenta lapis Angula

Two testamentys for to Ioyne in Oon,
Of Cedre and Isope tak the morallyte,

Lyk as prophetys wrot of yoore agoon,
The godheed Ioyned with oure humanyte.

26

The hih Cedre his braunchis lyst enclyne
To Recounforte our Infirmyte,
Whan the Hooly Goost sent to a pure virgine,
Callyd Clennest Ysope that sprang out of Iesse,
That al oold figurys of Antiquyte
In Letabundus acomplysshed been in dede,
Engrossyd vp in the natiuite
Off Crist Iesu, this sequence whan ye Rede.

27

Somyr flours, that did in wyntir dare,
Lowe in the Roote shewyng no fresshnesse,
Braunche, bough and tree & medewes Rude & bare,
Whan Marche approcheth, put out ther grennesse.
And semblably prophetys ber witnesse,
Al that they wrot was curteyned in scripture,
Of Cristes comyng was but a lyknesse,
The light was cloos, hyd vndir ffigure.

28

Oold shadwes wer torneyd to bryghtnesse,
Dyrkyd fygurys Recuryd haue ther lyght,
Moyses lawe, veyled with dirknesse,
Haue drawe ther curtyn, shewyd a sonne bright.
Foure Gospeleerys clareffyed our sight
With Letabundus, and the foure doctours
Haue maad cleer day, that afforn was nyght,
In stede of wyntir shewyd somyr flours.

29

Cedre and Isope be Ioyned in the vale,
Cristes birthe hath voyded Oold ffigurys.
The husk is falle, brokyn is the shale,
The noote kernel, Closyd in scripturys,

In Reioysshyng of alle Creaturys,
Al openly shewith his swetnesse.
Was nevir seyn be wrytyng nor picturys
Suych a Restoratyff to save vs fro syknesse.

30

In Levitico, whoo so lyst take heed,

leuitici .co.iijo.

Cedre and Isope, of Syon the Cipresse,
To-gidre bounde with a litel threed
Of colour Reed, which colour doth expresse
Cristes hooly blood, lycour of moost clennesse
To wasshe away al Oold infeccioun
Of Corrupt leprys, contagious of syknesse
Watir of baptem with Crystes passioun.

31

Nyght is passyd, dirknesse is forth went,
Fressh Aurora and a glad morwenyng;
The sonne of lyff to Bedleem is doun sent
Thorugh Ierusaleem and al this world shynyng.
Cedrus, Cipresse and ysope conbynynge
With Letabundus in Ysrael and Syon,
In Reioysshyng of Crystes glad comynge;
Two testamentys that day wer maad bothe Oon.

Verbum eius Altissimi.

The beeyng woord of hym that is hyhest,
Sone of the Fadir, as seyn Iohn vndirstood
Whan he seide verbum caro factum est;
Circumcised first he shadde his blood,
Next at the Pyleer bounden whan he stood,
Vpon the Cros afftir nayled soore,
Last, for our sake starff vpon the Rood
To Paradys mankynde to Restore.

Ysaias Cecinit sinagoga.

Ysaias song of this matere,
The Synagoge put in Remembraunce,
Ay contrarye froward of look and chere,
Wilfully blynded with ygnoraunce.
Prophetys wrote they gaff noon attendaunce,
To ther wrytyng they wer so Indurat,
Crystes doctryne was to them displesaunce,
In ther malys they wer so obstynat.

Si non suis vatibus credat vel gentilibus.

To ther prophetys, for they gaff no Credence,
De Vetula, lat hem Rede Ovyde
Cibilys vers, ful notable in sentence,

Credat vel gentilibus cibilinis versibus

The Capitallys let hem clerly devyde,
In Ordre sett as Austyn doth provide,
Wher they shal fynde a processe vertuous,
Mawgre Iewes and al ther froward pryde,
This name wryte in Ordre Cryst Iesus.

Infelix propera Crede vel vetera.

[A! frowarde peple; vnhappy and vnstable,
Inueterat in þin opinion
Come nere, yeue feith, take counsail, be tretable,—
Why wilt þu be contrary to Reson?]
To be dampnyd to thy confusioun
Lyk a wrecche, allas! why wyltow so?
Cryst was now born for thy savacyoun,
And thow of malyce takest noon heed therto.

Natum considera. Quem Docet littera. Ipsum genuit puerpera.

Considre his comyng and his natiuitie
As thow art taught by al Oold prophecie,
And as the lettre pleynly techith the
Bothe of scripture, Cybile, and Poetrye;
Al thyng concludyng vpon Isaye,
And fulfilled, tyme of Octavyan,
Whan a pure maide, which is callid Marye
In Bedleem bar our lord bothe God and man.

37

Thus in worshepe of this hevenly queen
That bar Iesu is songyn this sequence,
Porely brought forth, his loggyng set a [twene]
Asse, Oxe, and Rakke, no costful greet dyspence;
Kynges cam doun, did hym Reuerence,
Bedleem, be glad, grace is to the falle,
Prynce of Iuda of moost magnificence
Born in thy boundys besyde an Oxes stalle.

38

O Royal Bedleem! Cite of our Reffuge!
In al our worldly desolacioun
Our havene of lyff, Ryoaylle in this deluge
Geyn al tempest of trybulacioun,
Cite of Citees, moost souereyn of Renoun,
Berthe of our lord grauntyd vnto the;
And to Ierus eem thy gloryous passioun;
Al this was doon to make man go free.

39

Now al ye peple that be present heer,
Berith Letabundus in your Remembraunce
At the begynnyng of this newe yeer,
Tokne of Ioye, figure of al plesaunce,

Of gladnesse plentevous habundaunce,
Lyght of that sonne that Roos vp in decembre,
Which in Ienyveer shal voyde al old grevaunce,
This newe yeer doth theron Remembre.

Explicit quoþ Lidgate.

14. AN EXPOSITION OF THE PATER NOSTER.

[_]

[MS. Laud 683, leaves 81–87.]

Here begynneth the Pater noster.

1

Atwyxe dred and tremblyng reuerence
Astoned I am, for fer der nat be bold
To shewe my face, or comyn in presence
Feynt of ffantasyes, dulled many fold,
My wit but feble, my memorye dulled for old,
To medele of thyng solemply be-gonne;
Mak no comparisoun attwixen led and gold,
Tween a smal sterre and a mydday sonne.

2

I may be wyllyng and fervent in my desirys,
Though for vnkonnyng I dar nat procede,
In aysshis olde a lytel ffer there ys
Wich yeveth no light nor clernesse at a neede;
My torche is queynt, his brihtnesse doth nat procede,
Wherfore I sholde pleynly me Excuse,
Neer that good hope doth my brydel leede
Toward Pernaso, to fynde there som muse,

3

I dar nat calle, nouther of old nor newe,
To Euterpe for dytees of plesaunce,

That be depict with roial purpil hewe,
Rad and recordyd, vertuous of substaunce,
Such as calle ageyn to remembraunce
Excyte hertys with devout mateerys,
In Cryst Iesu to ffynde at suffysaunce
As they be tauht by the sevene praieris.

4

In pater noster, breeffly comprehendyd,
While he was here, of trouthe it is thus fall,
Tauht his discipulis, wich may nat ben amendyd,
For it transcendith other prayerys all,
Most auctorised, whan we for socour Call,
Most celestyall and moost of dygnyte,
Crowned among praieris in þe hevenly stall
Yif it be said in parfight Charyte.

5

Foure be remembrid, in Especyall,
Wich appertene on to this mateer,
And been in dede verray Celestyall,
Wich passe in Shynyng þe hevenly sterris cleer;
And been foure thyngis longyng to prayeer,
Lyk as myn auctour maketh mencyoun,
But I am dul and clypsed of my cheer
To telle what vertu restith in Oysoun.

6

I speke of foure, first in myn avys,
Nat of the foure hevenly Gospelerys;
Nor of foure floodys that come fro paradys
That norisshe al Egypt with ther fressh Reverys;
Nor how Ezechiel with his ffoure speerys
Callid Quatuor rote wich in al vertu schyne;
But of a mater longyng to prayeerys
Tauht by Iesu, our rudenesse tenlumyne.

7

I nat remembre of the foure Elementys,
Nor of the foure sesouns of the yeer,

Of foure complexiouns dyuerse of ententys,
Of sonne or mone, why they be dirk or clee;
Nor of foure wyndys wich dyuersly appeer,
But under support and correccyoun
I me submytte to alle that schall now heer
This symple processe of my translacyoun.

8

I dar nat speke of foure Cardynall,
Fortitudo nor of attemperaunce,
Of rightwysnesse oon the pryncipall,
Wich al policie set in good gouernaunce,
For wich I caste my rudenesse to avaunce
So that prudencia lyst to be present,
And grace also, thorough Goddys purviaunce,
List to prouyde taccomplisshe myn Entent.

9

Malapertnesse and presumpcyoun,
With vnfeyned trewe humylyte
In despit of ffals ambycyoun
I take counsayl of feith, hope, and charyte,
Callyd virtutes Theologice
To dyrecte my desolacyoun,
And on this processe to haue mercy and pite,
With favour benygne to do correcyoun.

10

Nat apperteneth on to this partye
The foure wheelys, brennyng briht as gleede,
That ladde the chaar to paradys of Helye,
Nor of Perseus the firy wynged steede,
Whos goldene trompe thoruh-out Perce and Mede,
To blowe ther trivmphes sent out his bloody souns;—
I passe al this, grace shal my penne leede
To speke of prayer and sevene peticiouns,

11

The wich sevene, groundid in al vertu,
I dar weel seyn, passen alle prayerys,

Maad and compiled of our lord Iesu,
Most covenable to alle our goostly desirys,
Nat withstondyng alle old astronomerys
Seyn and conferme in ther phylosophie
Soun and mevyng of the nyne Speerys
Passe and surmounte al wordly armonye.

12

I haue no mouthe, pleynly to devyse,
First to remembre the grete dygnyte,
Ferfull to take on me so hih Empryse,
Moost celestial, most angelyk of degre,
For to the hih myghty Trynyte
It is direct, lord of moost puyssaunce,
Which callid is oon, two, and thre,
Al oon in vertu, and al oon in substaunce.

13

This woord Pater shewith in substaunce
His myght ys moost grettest of excellence,
Of hevene and erthe hath al the ordenaunce,
Callyd welle of grace, myrour of sapience,
Wich to his children, of ffadirly providence,
Hath yeue a fraunchise aboue fraunchises alle,
That we may boldly with devout reuerence
Ageyn al myschef to hym for helpe calle.

14

First this woord Pater set us in assuraunce,
And this woord Noster geveth us homlynesse,
Him to requere, with devout obeysaunce,
Remedye geyn al worldly dystresse,
So that charite, with hir suster meeknesse,
Feith, trust, and hope be with hem present,
Than, whan we prei and seyn of feithfulnesse
Pater noster, we shal haue our Entent.

15

In this woord Pater stant al our confydence,
Our hool beleue whan we seyn Qui es,
Our stedefast feith and fully our credence,
In heuene abidyng as souereyn lord of pes,
Where thre Ierarchies day nor nyght nat ses
To crie in celis, with heuenly mellodye,
Cherubyn nor Seraphyn nat slouh nor rekles
Syngen Osanna with fervent armonye.

16

Whos glorious name for to magneffye
Mouth and tonge be lame of ther langage,
But the Hooly Goost by grace lyst us guye,
Us to enspire in our mortal passage,
As goostly children, born of hih parage,
Neuer to thyn hihnesse by no mortal offence
In this dredful perlous pylgrymage
Tyl cleer confessioun our gyltes recompense.

17

We wer renewyd ful nyh to thyn allye
By the Hooly Goostys gracious influence,
First be baptem, to gynne at that partye,
Next confermed be thy magnyfycence,
To been accepted to thy benyvolence
As chose children to thyn herytage,
That we may seyn, with devout reuerence,
Lord haue mercy on al our old outrage.

18

Thes sevene peticiouns been of vertu moost,
Only to God of hooll herte applyed
To the sevene vertues of the Hooly Goost;
First whan we seyn thy name be sanctyfyed.
Name of alle names halwyd and gloryfyed,
As the gospel pleynly doth comaunde,—
But her my symplesse with Argus nat cleer eied,
Meue this questioun, aske this demaunde,

19

How myhte in us be kyndelyd suych desire,
Boldly to seyn conceyued our febylnesse,
Though charite in us brente as flawme of fyre,
Lyk as in Seraphyn brenneth al parfitnesse?
I answere thus, a ground take of meeknesse,
Vertu of vertues, doctours sey the same,
Vnder support of his paternell goodnesse,
To seyn or thynke, Halwyd be thy name,

20

With-oute addicioun to sette our herte at reste
That therwithal we haue this sentence,
For our party, to conclude for our beste
In our Inward goostly Intellygence,
First that his name, name of most excellence,
With-Inne hym-silf, euery hour and space,
Be sanctyfied, so by his provydence
It may in us be sanctyfied be his grace.

21

Thy kingdam, lord, enlumyned with thy face,

adueniat regnum tuum.

Where is ful gladnesse of al goostly lyght
Mot come to us, tyme set and space,
Whan thow assignest be thyn eternal myht,
Of thy presence that we may haue a sight;
O gracious lord, our tyme so provyde
Cleymed with meknesse, of mercy more than riht,
Mene of thy passioun that we may there abyde.

22

Thy kingdam, lord, first in this present lyf
Come to us, to rewle us and gouerne
Geyn the assautys and the treble stryf
Of our enmyes, lord, hold so the lanterne
By thy grace, which that is Eterne,
Regne so in us, of resoun hold so our brydell, y

Tween good and evell we may so dyscerne
Geyn thy plesaunce, to do no thyng in Idell.

23

Lord, by thy mercy regne in us so heere,
Of alle vices we may haue victorye,
To cleyme a title aboue the sterris cleere,
Thy passioun cheef set first in memorye
With the to regne in thyn eternall glorie,
Axed by bille, wreten with thy precious blood,
For folk alyve, and folk in purgatorye,
Doosed and asseled at Calvary on the rood.

24

So as thy will fulfelled is in hevene,
Right so in erthe fulfellyd mot it be,
Lyk as the court aboue the sterrys sevene
Of ordrys nyne and Ierarchies thre
Syngen sanctus thries to-for the Trynyte,
So make us lord, with devout observaunce
Day and nyht knelyng on our kne,
Thy deth, thy passioun, to haue in remembraunce.

25

First thy preceptys and ten comaundementis
We may fulfylle, attwixen hoope and dreede,
And for-sake with al our hooll ententys
Al that sholde dysplese the in deede.
Sith to a peler thow lyst for us to bleede
Therwith to doon al that thow lyst comaunde,

ffiat voluntas tua.

Suffre thy mercy so vp-on us spreede,
Part to receyue, that thow gaf at thy mawnde

26

To thy dyscyplys for a memoryall,
For a perpetuall commemoracyoun,
Of thy flessh and thy blood, take in especiall,
Of a pure maydyn thyn Incarnacioun,

Thy meek suffraunce for our Redempcioun,
With mynde also thow lyst for us be ded,
That we may cleyme for our savacioun
Receyve thy boody among in forme of bred;

panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie.

27

That we dar seyn, with al humylyte,
Vnder the wynges of thy proteccyoun,
Panem nostrum da nobis hodie,
Knoden afforn Pilat, baken in thy passioun,
Our dayly bred, our Restauracioun,
Our foode, our manna, geyn fendis violence,
Strong with Helias, Bible maketh mencyoun,
To mount Oreb, to haue there residence.

28

This bred of lyf yeveth us force and myht
Geyn goostly enmyes, whan they wolde assayll,
Helthe of the sowle, our boody strong in fight,
With spiritis infernall to holden a batayll,
Sathan abitt nat, for all his apparayll,
Wher this bred is sacred with Crystis mouth,
Clenly receyved, the ffend may nat avayll,
So gret vertu this bred hath est and south.

29

This bred of angelis, bred celestyall,
Bred that excelleth resoun and nature,
Callid bred of lyf, and repast eternall,
Yeueth lyf ay-lastyng and euer shal endure;
Most comended by prophetis in Scripture,
To sowle and boody bred of moost comfort,
Folk in siknesse, this bred doth hem recure,
To pore pilgrymes restoratyf and support.

30

In this peticioun, O lord, do us socoure,
First consydryng our ffragylyte,
For-yeve our dettys as we for-yeve oure,
Above al thyng to love and drede the,

Next our neihebour in parfit charite,
First deme my-silf werst of any man,
Void of presumpcioun, bowyng doun my kne,
And to remembre vp-on the publican,

31

Durst nat lefft vp his eie vp to the hevene,
To looke up ferful on-to the sonne streem;
And I am soyled with the synnes sevene,
Can In myn eien nat seen a large beem,
Though it spradde al abrood this Rewm,
Can seen weell motys in other menhis sight,
A smal sparck, that casteth out no beem,
Blent in my fauhtys thouh torchis wer cler light.

32

This to seyne, I can be weell vengable,

Et dimitte nobis debita nostra.

Whan my neihbour doth a smal trespace,
Thouh I be gylty and horrybly coupable
Can fynde weies lyghtly for to passe,
Ageyn my brother grete gyltes compasse,
My-silf excuse, and put on him the wrak,
Lyk fawssemblaunt shewe out a fair face
As in my-silf ther founde were no lak.

33

And to conclude, who wil no mercy haue,
At his most neede he shall go mercylees;
And who is besy his neihbour to deprave,
By fals report escapeth nat harmlees,
Mordre at the bak and language reklees,
Ipocrysie, fraude, compassed guyle,
Symylacioun, and fflatery put in prees,
This soort wil out, thouh they dare a while.

34

But yf thou stonde in parfit charite
To love thy frend and also thyn enmye,

With-oute feynyng or duplycyte
That ther be no fraude Couertlye,
To shewe oon outward another Inwardlye,
In suych wyse thy prayer is nat good,
I dar afferme, and wryte trewlye,
God lovyd neuer two facys in oon hood.

35

O Lord Ihesu, of mercyfull pyte

Et ne nos inducas in temptacionem.

Vnder the baner of thy passioun,
Ageyn our dedly dredful foys thre
Suffre us to falle in no Temptacioun,
The flessh, the fend, by fals collusioun,
With olde serpent with many thousand treyne,
With-oute blood shad for our Redempcioun,
We may in charite nat weell this praier seyne.

36

It is remembred of Mathew the gospell,
Of a servaunt, as maad ys mencyoun,
Cause his lord was ageyn hym ffell,
He was fetryd and signed to prysoun;
In signe who wyll do no remyssioun
At such a streit, his servaunt for to save,
Dimitte nobis put from this Orysoun,
Who doth no mercy, he shall no mercy haue.

37

Of thy benygne mercyfull pyte,

libera nos a malo amen.

Lord, in this perlous dredful pilgrymage,
Saue us from daunger and al aduersyte,
And us delyuer from al foreyn damage,
From perellys passed with our present passage,
Future swolwys of fortunys ffloodys,
Dredfull Caribdys, Syrenes mortal rage,
And transmutacyoun of al worldly goodys.

38

Pater noster, thys prayeer vertuous,

pater noster

Yif it be sayd with dewe Reuerence,

Of alle prayerys is moost victoryous,
Geyn our thre enmys to stondyn at dyffence,
So that Maria lyst shewen her presence,
And fervent charyte be capteyn of the ffeld,
Fy on all Infernall vyolence,
So Crystys passioun be portrayed in our sheeld.

39

Lyk as a glenere on a large lond
Among shokkys plentyvous of auctours,
Thouh I were besy to gadren with myn hond,
Lyk my desire, to haue founde out som flours,
The grene was repen, russet were the colours,
I ffond no sugre in my smal lybrarye,
Soyll dryed vp of my sylver schours,
Ferful and dul there lenger for to tarye,

40

In this processe any more to seye;
Good will abood in myn Inward Entent,
The aureat lycour was in my study dreye,
Of Calliope and al hir favour spent,
Fond there no clauses, but shrowes al to-rent,
No thyng enlumyned with gold, asour, nor red,
Wich shall be Ioyned with my testament,
Leyd on my brest, hour whanne I shall be ded.

41

Though I was dul in my devocyouns,
Duryng my lyf with cordyall Reuerence
Dayly to seyn thes sevene Petycyouns,
Herte and mouth accordyng in sentence,
With circumstaunces of Intellygence
To plese the lord, with hooll affeccyoun,
Veyn thoughtis voide slouthe and necclygence
Mor than a thousand with-oute devocioun.

42

To alle my maystris knelyng on my kne

lenvoye.

That shall reede this Compylacyoun,

I pray them meekly of ther benyngnyte
First dewly doon Examynacyoun,
And folwyng affter Iust correccyoun
When they haue leyser and covenable space,
That I may ffynde Supportacyoun
By goodly ffavour to correcte of ther grace.

Explicit.

15. MISERICORDIAS DOMINI IN ETERNUM CANTABO.

[_]

[From MS. B. M. Harley 2255, leaves 17–21.]

1

Alle goostly songis & ympnes that be songe,
Of Oold and newe remembrid in scripture,
Hevenly symball or bellis that be ronge,
To preyse the lord, by musyk or mesure,
Fynal intent of euery creature
Shulde resounne to Goddys hih preysyng,
For which, O lord! whil that my lyff may dure,
Eternally thy mercies I shal syng.

2

Dauid with his harpe sang solempnely
This hooly Salme in his estat Roial,—
Misericordias domini,
His herte, his boody, mynde, thouht and al
Erect to godward in especial,
With goostly love moost fervently brennyng,
With this refreyt, verray celestial,
Eternally thy Mercies I shal syng.

3

And whan he shuld fihte with Golye,
Pryde was slayn, the palme gat meeknesse;

Figure of Iesu, prophetys speceffye,
Whan he slouh Sathan with his gret humblesse.
The slynge, the stoonys, v. woundys did expresse,
Off the iij nayles, the spere deep persyng:
Which to remembre, Iesu our hertys dresse,
That we thy Mercies eternally may syng.

4

Than was his song, the sawter tellith thus,
In signe of victory, the stoory who can reede,
Benedictus dominus meus.
Conquest of Dauid famous in length & breede!
Ther is no tryumphe in knyhtood nor manheede,
Marcial sheltrouns, nor baners brood splayeng;
Which thyng remembryng, lord, I am bounde in deede,
Eternally thy Mercies for to syng.

5

Ther be Canticulis of Conquest and victorye
That be songe at feestis marcial,
And ther be songis of palmys transitorye,
With corious meetrys that be poetical;
Laureat tryvmphes, proud and Imperial,
With boosty blowe in charys cleer shynyng,
Al this left off, with voys memoryal,
Eternally thy Mercies I shal syng.

6

Virgile sang the Conquest of Enee,
Dites Grec, of Hercules and Iason,
Frigius Dares sang in ther Cite
Prowesse of Ector, the Troian champioun:
Lucan of Iulius made gret boost and sown,
Slayn by the Senat, thempyre vsurpyng;
Set al asyde, make no comparisoun,
Eternally thy mercies I shal syng.

7

Off Alisaundre clerkys synge and reede,
Afftir his Conquest slayn in Babilon;

Men synge of Cresus, kyng of Perce and Meede,
Of Hanybal and the gret Scipioun,
Of Adrastus and Agamenoun;
Alle set a-bak, and fully remembryng
Of hym that made our redempcioun,
Eternally his Mercies I shal syng.

8

Gret boost is maad,—but as for me no fors,—
Bildyng of Ylioun in many stoory told;
Getyng of Troye by the brasen hors;
Of bolys, serpentys, that kept the flees of gold;
Of Belleferon, that was so proud and bold,
And cam to nouht, ther storyes rehersyng;
But of Iesu, as I am bounde and hold,
Eternally his Mercies I shal syng.

9

At funeral feestys men synge tragedies
With wooful ditees of lamentacioun;
In thorpys smale be songe Comedies
With many vnkouth transmutacioun;
Ech man folwyng oppynyoun,
Somme in reioisshyng, somme in compleynyng;
But for moost sovereyn consolacioun
Eternally thy mercies I shal syng.

10

The Musis nyne sang the weddyng song
Of Mercurye And Philologye.
Thebes the Cite was reysed and maad strong
By touch of harpe and sugryd melodye,
As Oold Stace saide in his Poetrye;
But what so evir they wroot in ther feynyng,
Our lord Iesu to preise and magneffye
Eternally his Mercies I shal syng.

11

Circes whiloom, the gret enchaunteresse,
With song and drynk made folkys bestial,

And Syrenes with warblys of swetnesse,
And with ther sugryd tvnys Musical,
Blente ther resouns and ther memorial;
Made hem vnwarly fal in a slombryng,
But for to preise hym that is Immortal
Eternaly his Mercies I shal syng.

12

Many Canticles in hooly writ be founde,
Write and entitled for sovereyn remembraunce,—
Children of Israel that were in thraldam bounde
Vndir Pharaoo by many gret grevaunce,
By myracle accomplisshid ther penaunce,
With drye feet the rede see passyng
They sang Cantemus, but now for my plesaunce
Eternally thy Mercies I shal syng.

13

In Iudicum, the woman Delbora
Sang a Canticle, Genesis tellith soo,
Thankyng the lord by-cause Sisara
Distroyed was, that did so gret woo,—
To Goddys peple he was a mortal foo,—
Qui sponte optulistis, was of hir song gynnyng,
Takyng exaumple, wher evir I ride or goo,
Eternally thy Mercies I shal syng.

14

The firste Canticle remembryd in Regum
Was maad by Anna, moodir of Samuel,
Which began thus, Exultauit cor meum,
Ageyns hire whan Hely was so fel;
Hyr preyer herd, hooly writt can tel
In what wise she maad hir offryng.
Thynkyng on Iacob and on Israel
Eternally thy Mercies I shal syng.

15

Duke Moises, Israel tenlumyne,
Audite celi he sang, as it was riht;
Fluat ut ros, or reyn spred his doctryne,
And as deuh dropys verray silvir briht
Fallith on the greyn on morwenys aftir nyht,
He tauhte his peeple at his departyng
To love ther lord, with boody, hert, and myht,
Eternally his Mercies for to syng.

16

Amyd the ffires the Innocentys thre
Ananye, Misael, and with hem Azarye
Sang the Canticle Benedicite;
No flawme of fyr men myht in hem aspye.
Ilich fressh with heuenly Armonye
Sang lyk Angelys, the fyr nat hem harmyng;
Now al the heuene with sugryd melodye
Eternally thy Mercies they do syng.

17

Off Betulia the peeple was maad fayn
By cause they wer delyueryd out of dreed,
Whan the Tyraunt Olofern was slayn
By prudent Iudith, flowryng in womanheed;
Canticles songe for hir Conquest in deed,
Thankynges youe, for hir discret werkyng:
But hym to preyse that for vs list & blede,
Eternally his Mercies I shal syng.

18

Isaias, for conclusioun,
To save the peeple from adversite
Of ful meeke herte, by contemplacioun,
Sang Confitebor tibi domine;
And Iudith eft, by gret hvmylite,
Gan Cantate, the peeple confortynge

Geyn ther Enmyes furyous cruelte;
But I thy mercies eternally shal synge.

19

Dauid remembrith of a Pellican
Figure of Crist which in seyntuarye
Offryd his blood for the lyf of man;
To whom the Iewes of malys were contrarye;
And he was callyd passer solitarye,
Moost paciently his passioun suffryng.
On hym remembryng, God graunt that I nat varye,
Eternally his Mercies for to syng.

20

The noble kyng, callyd Ezechie,
Sang Ego dixi, restoryd fro syknesse;
Benedictus made Zacharie,
And Symeon with ful devout swetnesse
Sang Nunc Dimittis, with ful devout gladnesse
Withinne the temple at Cristes presentyng.
And now with Iesu this Symeon, in sothnesse,
Eternally his Mercies he doth syng.

21

Abacuk, that brouht the potage
To Danyel lyeng in prisoun,
Off hool herte and deuout corage
Domine Audiui was his Orisoun,
In exitu Israel, canticle of gret renoun,
Sang Israel, Iordan his cours tornyng.
Now blised Iesu, lyk our affeccioun
Graunt we thy Mercies eternally may syng.

22

Vpon a mounteyn beside Nazareth,
Fro Dauid-is lyne, cheef braunche of Iesse,
Sang Magnificat meetyng Elizabeth,
With goostly gladnesse, blyssed mot she be!
Cheef examplayre of virginite,
Socour to man, our damages refourmyng.

Marie, be mene of trouthe and of pite
That we his Mercies eternally may syng.

23

Patriarkys and prophetis alle,
Apostlys, Martirs, bisshopis, confessoures,
To save the peeple to the, Iesu, they calle.
Wives, widwis, maidnys with ther floures
Synge Osanna in the heuenly cristal toures,
Wher evir is ioye and brihtnesse ay lastyng.
Now graunt vs, Iesu, out of al mortal shoures
That we thy Mercies eternally may syng.

24

Moost gracious song to syng in every Reem
Ecce quam bonum, whan brethren been al oon,
Synge to-gidre Lauda Ierusaleem,
Preyse of hool herte Deum tuum Syon;
With thre Ierarchyes and angelis euerychon
Syng Sanctus Sanctus, there hedis enclynyng,
In feith, hoope and Charite, stable as a stoon,
Eternally thy mercyes they do syng.

Explicit quod Lidgate.

16. ON DE PROFUNDIS.

[_]

[MS. Bodley, Laud 653, leaves 8–11 back.]

Here begynnyth De profundus in Englyssh.

1

Hauyng a conseit in my sympill wyt
Wich of newe ys come to memorye,
The prossesse to grounde on hooly wryt,
Grace of our lord shal be my Dyrectorye

In myn Inward hertyly Orratorye,—
What availleth most while we ben here
To the sowlys that lyue in purgatorye,
Fastyng, almesse, massys, or prayere,

2

Another charge was vpon me leyd,
Among psalmys to fynde a cleer sentence,
Why De Profundus specyally ys seyd
For crystyn sowlys, with devout reuerence,
Of fervent love, and benyvolence,
Seid as folk passe by ther sepulturys,
Though yt so be I haue noon Elloquence
In hooly wryt, I shall seke out ffygurys

3

Vnto purpos set in lytyll space,
Nat konnyngly, but affter my symplesse,—
To symple folk god sent doun his grace
Them preferrith, & fortherith for meeknesse,—
Vndyr whos support I shal my stile dresse
Onto thys psalme, rehersed here to-fforn,
With ffygurys, wych I schall Expresse,
Voyde the chaff, & gadryn out the corn.

4

Ground of thys psalme, tytyl & orygynall,
Vnto purpos a ffygure ful palpable,
Jonas whylom devouryd with a whaall,
Made hys clamour, pytous & lamentable,
To hym that ys of myght Incomperable,
Wich hath power & domynacyoun
On lond and se, and ys moost mercyable
To here þe compleyntys for soulys in prysoun.

5

Austyn, Ierom, accordyng bothe in Oon
Vpon thys psalme, as maad ys mencyoun,

Whan Abackuk, of ffull yore agoon,
Broughte potage in to Babyloun,
Wher Danyell lay ffeteryd in prysoun,
Affter figure, this mater to Conveye,
How almesse-dede and vysytacyoun
Gretly avaylleth to sowlys whan they deye.

6

Thys psalme in viij Dauyd doth devyde,
A morall fygure of viij blyssidnessys,
Wich that our lord of grace doth provyde
To shewe his mercy ageyn ther wikkidnesses,
By massys songe, suffragiis, and almesseys;
His passioun cheef do helpe at suych a nede,
Ageyn the compleynt of ther peynful dystressys,
His blood most vayleth that he did blede.

7

By auctoryte to fynde out dyverse groundys,
Set on vertu the ffundacyoun,
Why in especyall this psalme De Profundys
Ys seid for sowlys for ther purgacyoun;
Jonas remembryd, and Danyell in prysoun,
And Sely Joseph, cast in a deep systerne;
Thynk how Jesu from the Infernal doungeoun
Brought many sowlys to lyf that ys Eterne.

8

Sampson, of strengthe whilome most souereyn,
Brake the gatys of Gaza the Cyte
And bar hem vp onto an hih mounteyn.
Language of Judiht made hir to go ffre,
Of Betulya saued the Cyte,
Whan she gat of Olofferne vyctorye.

Thus devout prayeris, seid with humylyte,
Delyuereth sowlys out of purgatorye.

9

The thre childryn delyuered were also
With devout syngyng of Benedycyte,
Danyel, Mysaeel, and Abdenagago
Fro flawmy feer wente at lyberte;
On ther was seyn appere among hem thre,
Them to preserve fro daunger and damage,
Tookene the masse seid of the Trynyte
Of synful sowlys the torment doth asswage.

10

Dyuerse massis remembred been also
Of our lady, with other massys tweyne,
Of the Hooly Goost ageyn the mortal wo
In purgatorie, whan they morne & pleyne;
Eek hooly churche of costom doth ordeyne
In especyall the masse of Requiem,
Synguler reffuge to brynge hem out of peyne,
To forthe ther way toward Jerusalem.

11

Prestys profite to sowlys with syngyng,
Thorugh al þe world lasteth ther auctorite,
Almesse-dede is a notable thyng,
And lettryd folk loweer of degre
With Deprofundus, placebo, and dirige,
Our ladys sauhter, seid with devocyoun,
In chirche yerdis, of what estat they be,
Whan for sowlys they go processioun.

Fiant (?) aures tue intendentes in vocem deprecacionis mee.

Lat our prayer been this in sentence
On-to that lord which ys moost of myght,
O cryst Ihesu, yiff benyngne audyence
To our requeste of mercy more than riht;
On us synnerys cast doun thy gracious sight,
That our prayer thyn erys may atteyne,
Thylke sowlys that brenne day and nyght
In purgatorye to relesse ther peyne.

Si iniquitates obseruaueris domine domine quis sustinebit.

Yif thow them punisshe, lord, as they dysserve,
With-outyn pite, tempryd thy Rygour,
Ther wikkednessis yif thow do Observe,
Tabyde thy doom yt were to hard a schour,
Thy bloody woundys schall stille doun lycour,
Staunche ther peynes, doolfull, sharpe, and kene;
For but they ffounde in thy mercy ffavour,
Lord who is he, that myghte the bronte sustene?

Quia apud te propiciacio est et propter legem tuam sustinui te domine.

Pyte, mercy, haue ther cheef dwellyng place
Above the hevenly sterryd mansyoun,
Our advocatys to plete affore thy fface,
Cleymyng a tytle be thyn hooly passioun,
Surest patent ffor ther Redempcyoun,
Other sauffcondit seyn on no party,
Cros best standard to patyse ther raunsown,
Right of thy lawe to modyfie with mercy.

Sustiniut anima mea in uerbo eius sperauit anima mea in domino.

In thy woord, lord, my sowle doth abyde,
Born vp with hoope and ffeithful attendaunce,
This is my trust all wanhoope set asyde
Hooll in thy passioun abyt myn affyaunce,
Fyx as an anker stable in hys creaunce,
Remevable nouther ffer nor neer,
As thow lyst assigne me my penaunce,
With hope tascende aboue the sterris cleer.

A custodia matutina usque ad noctem speret Israel in domino.

Fro the custodye of the morwe gray
Toward Aurora with hir pale lyght,
Whan Lucyfer at droukyng of the day
Bryngeth Kalendis to glade with our sight,
From phebus vprist to sprede his bemys bright,
Fresshest ffygure off Consolacyoun,
Hoope of Israell tendure tyl yt be nyght,
Grownd take of Crystys glad resureccyoun.

17

This is to seyne as Cryst Iesu a-roos
On Esterne morwe by record of scripture,
The stoon vp lefft, though it afforn was cloos,
Whos glorious rysyng doth our feith assure,
That affter deth, out of our sepulture,
To lyff Eternal, that we schall a-ryse,
Cleyme be his passioun and mercy to recure
Favour to fynde, or than he do Iustyse.

Quia apud dominum misericordia et copiosa apud eum redempcio.

This mater groundid Dauit doth recorde,
Kyng and prophete of moost auctoryte,
Affore thy fface abyt myserycorde,
With hir ij sustryn, pacyence and pyte,
To put vp our bylle of mercy ful plente,
Enclosed above for our Redempcyoun,
With bloody dropis shad on the roode tre,
At Paradys gate to haue ingressioun.

Et ipse redimet Israel ex omnibus inqiuitaliis iniquitatibus eius.

The same lord most souereyn & most good
Of Israel hath bought al the wykkydnessis,
Our raunsom payed with his hooly blood,
Sowlys to brynge as prisoneris fro distressis,
Feith, hoope, & charyte, prayer & almessis,
Thy meek suffraunce geyn feer of purgatorie,
Maugre the malys of Infernal dirknessis
Schal them conveie in-to thy regne of glorie.

[_]

[Added from Harley 2255, leaf 43 back.]

[Quid Cirus quid Esdras quid Machabeus in compartione ad dominum iesum qui nos redimet sanguine suo proprio super lignum.

By myhty Cirus kyng of Perce and Mede
God brouht israel out of Captyuyte,

And by Esdras, his book who so list rede,
Renewyd ageyn Ierusaleem the Cite,
And Eek in wourthy Iudas Machabe
God list shewe gret conquest and victorye;
Tryvmphe of Iesu doon on the Roode tre
Delyverith soulys out of purgatorye.

Conclusio final.

Off this processe to make no delayes
Breeffly complied of humble true entent,
Late charchyd in myn oold dayes
By William Curteys,

[_]

Abbas de Bury

which gaf comaundement
That I shulde graunte myn assent
Of that kyndrede make a memorial,
With De Profundis whan so that it be sent
At his chirche to hang it on the wal.

Explicit quod lydgate.]

17. POEMS ON THE MASS.

[_]

[Trinity Coll. Cam. R. 3. 21, leaf 205.]

I. An exortacion to Prestys when they shall sey theyr Masse.

1

y]E holy prestes, remembreth in your herte,
Toward masse when ye do yow dresse,
With loue and drede furst mekely doth aduerte

The dignite of vertuous noblesse,
The gostly tresour, the heuynly gret rychesse,
Good incomparable, who can aryght conceyue,
Quaketh for drede, trembleth with mekenesse,
Lord of lordys when ye shall receyue.

2

Next remembreth on that other syde
Gayne hys goodnesse, youre gret iniquite,
Peyseth hys mekenesse ageyne your froward pryde,
Voydeth all rancour, thynke on his charyte,
Weyeth his pacience ayenst your cruelte,
Shryuen and contryte aforn with humble entent,
Seye, “Iesu Mercy,” knelyng on your kne,
Or ye receue that holy sacrament.

3

Bethe wysely ware, and taketh good heede,
Of no presumpsion nor wilfull hardynesse,
Take nat on yow that offyce but with drede,
With contryte hert your surfettes doth oppresse,
Late byttyr teares wasshe your wykydnesse,
With wepyng eyen scowre your conscience,
Than receyueth with spirituall gladnesse
The lord of lordes of most magnificence.

4

Ye byn eke holde to do your diligence
With wyt and mynde and all your gostly peyne
To pray for all, present and in absence,
Vnto that lord of lordes most souereyne,
Callyd chyef welle and condute, in certeyne,
Of grace and vertew, as clerkes can descryue,
And that ye may his mercy sone atteyne,
Goyng to masse, thynke on hys woundys fyue.

5

Ye shall also most louyngly remembre
Vppon hys most peynfull passyoun,
Howe he was hurt and bled in euery membre,
Suffryd dethe for your redempcioun,
Yeueth thanke to hym of humble affeccioun
Whyche for your sake was woundyd on hys syde,
Beseketh that lord of mercy and pardoun,
In parfyte charyte, long with yow to abyde.

6

Next, that ye haue a gostly appetyte,
By influence oonly of his grace,
In hym alone to set all youre delyte,
With feruent loue, your ioy and your solace,
In youre hert make hys dwellyng place
For your eternall consolacion,
Lat hym nat out of youre mynde pas,
Repast of aungelles in the heuynly mansyon.

Explicit.

Envoy
[_]

[Caius Coll. 174, p. 454.]

Go, lityll byll, with all humylite
Pray holy prestes that have devocion
To syng ther masse, of there benyngnite
Off this dyte to have inspeccion,
Mekely compylede vnder correccion,
Dyrecte of hert, both to more & lasse,
Of humble wyll & no presumpcion,
To prestes dysposyd ech day to syng þer masse.

Explicit.

II. The Interpretation and Virtues of the Mass.

[_]

[MS. Trin. Coll. Cam. R. 3. 21, leaves 205, back, to 214.]

1

y]E folkys all, whyche haue deuocioun
To here masse, furst do your besy cure
With all your inward contemplacion,
As in a myrrour presentyng in fygure
The morall menyng of that gostly armure,
When that a preest, with mynystres more & lasse,
Arayeth hymsylf, by record of scripture,
The same howre when he shall go to masse;

2

Furst, with your eyen verray contemplatyfe,
Calleth to mynde, of hoole affeccioun,
Howe the masse here in thys present lyfe
Of gostly gladnesse ys chyef direccioun,
To haue memory of Crystes passioun,
As doctors remembre in theyr doctryne,
Geyne gostly sekenesses oure restauracioun,
Our bawme, our tryacle, our helthe, our medycyne.

3

Of hygh dyscrecion, yef ye lyst consydre,
As ye Arn bound of verray trowthe and ryght,
Best preseruasioun that ye do nat slydre
In all that day for lak of goostly lyght,
Furst euery morow, or Phebus shyne bryght,
Lat pale Aurora condute yow and dresse
To holy churche, of Cryste to haue a syght,
For chyef preseruatyf gayne all goostly sykenesse.

4

Entryng the churche with all humylyte
To here masse a morow at your rysyng,
Dysposyth your self, knelyng on your kne,
For to be there at your begynnyng,
From the tyme of hys reuestyng
Departeth nat, tyll tyme that he haue do.
To all your werkes hit shalbe gret furtheryng
To Abyde the ende of In Principio.

5

Kepe yow from noyse and Ianglyng importune,
The howse of god ys ordeynyd for prayere,
With syght and sylence sadly doth contynew,
In your defaute that noman noyse here,
Gase nat abowte, demure of looke and chyere,
As I sayd erst, tyll tyme the preest haue do,
Your good, your catall shall encrese yfeere,
To abyde tyll In Principio.

6

In sacryfyces of the old[e] lawe
With the heede men offred vp the tayle,
From a good gynnyng men shuld nat withdrawe
Tyll hit were endyd, Moyses gafe counsayle.
A werke begon ys of more avayle
Yef a good ende accorde well therto,
For encrese of your goostly trauayle
Abyde at masse tyll In Principio.

Explicit Prologus.

Qui vult audire missam non debet abire
Donec dicatur & plene perficiatur
Principio si sis & et non in fine manebis
Pars sua parua datur que laus in fine probatur.

7

The holy man, Pope Celestyne,
Lyke as I fynde wrytyn in hys lyfe,
Of gret deuocion and grace whyche ys dyuyne,
By God inspyryd in hys ymagynatyfe,
To oppresse the power of feendes mortall stryfe,
Ageyn theyr malyce to make resistence,
Bad prestys shuld, with voyce contemplatyf,
To fore the Autere in Crystes hygh presence

Cause why Iudica me deus ys seyde before masse.

Sey furst thys Psalme, with looke erect to heuyn,
Iudica me deus, of hoole hert entyer,

Theyr conscience purge from the synnes seuyn
Or they presume to go to the Awtyer;
The same Psalme set in the sawtyer
For a memoriall of the captyuyte,
Howe Ierusalem stod in gret daungyer
At Babyloun, that froward fel cyte,

9

Thys Psalme compleyneth, as Lira doth recorde,
Theyr long abydyng withyn Babylon;
Songes of theyr exyle myght nat acorde
With the Cantyclys of Iuda and Syon.
Of hope dyspeyred, theyr comfort was nygh gon,
Lyke as thys Psalme sheweth a fygure,
But God by grace restoryd hem euerychon
Home to Ierusalem, by recorde of scripture.

10

Take of thys Psalme the moralyte,
Afore rehersyd on that other syde,
Be diligent with all humylyte,
Vppon the masse folowyng to abyde,
Have thys in custom, and god shalbe thy gyde,
All that day to gouerne thy passage,
In what peryle that thow go or ryde,
The forto defende fro trowbyll and all damage,

11

And for to yeue folk occasioun
To haue thys Psalme in more reuerence,

And here theyr masse with gret deuocioun,
As they ar bounde of trowthe and conscience,
I am full set to do my dylygence,
Aftyr my sympylnesse, this lytyll Psalme to translate,
With humble support of your pacience,
Where as I fayle, the defaute ys [in] Lydegate.

Iudica me deus & discerne causam meam de gente non sancta ab homine iniquo & doloso erue me.

O thow my lord most myghty and eterne,
O gracious Iesu, of mercy and pyte
Deme thow my quarell, my cause also dyscerne,
Among myne enemyes or I encombred be,
My dredfull foon, that byn in nombre thre,
The fende, the flesshe, brygauntes most mortall,
The false world, full of duplycyte,
O Iesu, helpe or they yeue me a fall.

Quia tu es deus fortitudo mea quare me repulisti quare tristis incedo dum affligit me inimicus.

For thow lord oonly, bothe in brede and leyngth,
Of ryght consyderyd, I dar ryght well expresse,
Thow art my support and my gostly streyngth;
Why wylt thow, lord, suffyr my sympylnesse
Forto procede in sorow and in trystesse,
Whyle my sayde enemyes prowdly me assayle?
O blyssed Iesu, of mercyfull goodnesse,
Graunt of thy grace that they may nat preuayle.

Emitte lucem tuam & veritatem tuam ipsa me deduxerunt & adduxerunt in montem sanctum tuum & in tabernacula tua.

Sende downe thy lyght, sende downe thy ryghtwysnesse,
Thy lyght of grace for consolacioun,
Thy ryghtwysnesse my passage for to dresse,
By parfyte prayer and deuocioun,
To reste in quyete, lord, sende thy grace downe,
Me to conuey that ther be noon obstacle,
Toward the hygh hilles of Sioun,
Withyn thyne holy celestiall tabernacle.

Et introibo ad altare dei ad deum qui letificat iuuentutem meam.

And I shall enter vp to thy Autere,
Made strong in spyryt, groundyd in sadnesse,
For as me semeth, corage, face, & chere
Reioysyd byn with spirituall gladnesse;
My yowthe ayene renewyd to hys fresshnesse,
Whyche of olde custome in vyces was apallyd,
Tyll thyne expert gracious goodnesse
Hath my last ende, Agein to mercy callyd.

Confitebor tibi in cithara deus deus meus.

I shall [be] shryue & confesse vnto the,
In that harpe whyche for owre alther goode
Was set and wrestyd on Caluary, on a tre,
When all thy senewys were streynyd on the roode.
Mary and Iohn, vndyr thy crosse they stoode,

With wepyng eyen, sownyng oft[e] tyme,
Tyll the repaste of our eternall foode
On Estyr morow rose vp afore pryme.

Quare tristis es anima mea & quare conturbas me.

O thow my soule, how mayst thow heuy be,
Syth Cryst hath bought the with hys passion?
What cause hast thow [for] to trobyll me?
Thy lord was sleyne for thy redempcion,
Gafe he nat also for thy refeccion,
On Sherethursday, in fourme of wyne & brede,
Hys blessyd body in consolacion,
And on Good Fryday he was for the dede.

Spera in deo quoniam adhuc confitebor illi salutare vultas mei & deus meus.

Trust in God, and be ryght well certayne,
Voyde of dyspeyre or ambiguyte,
For vnto hym I shall shryue agayne,
My gostly ioy gayne all aduersyte,
Whyche of my chere ys the felycyte,
Whyle he ys my socour, allas, whom shall I drede?
Gayne worldly perylles and infernall powste
He sparyd nat hys blood for me to blede.

The Moralysacion of hys Aray when he goth to Masse. [In Stow's hand] Iohn Lydgate.

Vppon hys heede An Amyte furst he leythe.
Whyche ys a sygne, a token, and a fygure,

Owtward a shewyng, groundyd on the feythe.
The large Awbe, by record of scripture,
Ys ryghtwysnesse, perpetually to indure.
The long gyrdyll, clennesse and chastyte,
Rounde on the arme, the fauon doth assure
All soburnesse, knyt with humylyte.

Cause why the stoole and Chesypyll ys.

The stoole also, strechyng fer in leyngth,
Ys of doctors the Angelyk doctryne,
Mawgre herytykes to stonde in his streyngth,
Fro Crystes law neuer to declyne.
Chesypyll aboue, with charyte shall shyne,
Bryght as Phebus in hys mydday spere,
Holde euer hys course in the ryght lyne,
To frende and foo streche out his beames clere.

21

A parfyte preste made strong with thys Armure,
Tofore the Auter as Crystes champioune,
Shall stond vpryght, & make a discomfyture,
All our .iij. enemyes venquysshe and bere downe,
The flesshe, the world, Satan that fell dragowne,
Furst to begynne or he further passe,
With contryte hert and lowe confessiowne,
And so procede deuoutly to the masse.

22

To God aboue, set hath hys desyre,
So that his charyte shyne clere and bryght,

Afore the gospell he nedys must haue fyre,
Torche, tapyr, or wex candyll lyght,
Token that Cryst, who consydyr aryght,
Ys verray bryghtnesse of lyght, whyche ys eterne,
To chase away all derkenes of the nyght,
In parfyte lyfe to guyde vs, and gouerne.

Gynnyng the offyce thre tymes rehersyd.

Begynnyng the Offyce, by trebyll rehersayle,
Of custom vsyd the repeticion,
Tokeneth the fuyre brennyng in the entrayle,
Of olde prophetes by inspiracion,
Whiche had a feythfull feruent inspeccion
Of Crystes commyng, by all theyr prophesyes,
Of hys byrthe and incarnacion,
For whyche the Offyce is rehersyd thryes.

Declaracion of the Kyrie.

Kyrie and Cryst, in nombre thryes thre,
Wordys of Greke, playnly to determyne,
Of mer[c]y callyng to the Trynyte
With gostly grace hys pepyll to enlumyne.
The nombre ys token of the ordres nyne,
Our orysons and prayers to present,
To Cryst Iesu most gracious & benygne
Goodly to accept the fyne of oure intent.

Gloria in excelsis.

Gloria in excelsis deo, next in ordyr song,
Tokyn of vnyte and parfyte pese,

At Crystes byrthe herde in Latyn tong,
Hygh in the eyre by Aungellys doutlese,
Present shepardys, whyche for theyr encrese
Toward Bethleem beholdyng a bryght sterre,
By grace inspyryd, put hemsylf in prese
To see that chylde, whyche stynt[e] shall our werre.

26

Thus trebyll pease in Bethleem furst began,
When Cryst was born, of grace hit dyd fall,
The furst[e] pese betwyxt God and man,
Twene man And Aungell, and nacions all;—
Grounde of thys pese lay in An ox stall,
Porely wrappyd, lord of the hygh empyre;
Lat vs echone to hys mercy call
To send hem pese that hertly pese desyre.

Then foloweth the Oryson.

For all Crystyn deuoutly for to prey,
The prest at masse shall sey an oryson,
For lyuyng pepyll that they may, or they dey,
Haue repentaunce, shryft, and communyoune,
Soules in peyne, relese and pardoune,
Grace thorow all nacions, loue and charyte,
Pacience to folkes, that byn in prisoune,
Helpe to all nedy that lyue in pouerte.

The Epystyll next And what hit betokeneth.

The Epistyll next ys fygure of the sonde
When Cryst furst sent, the booke maketh mension,

Hys disciples, and made hem take on honde
To preche hys name in euery regioune;
Petyr, Poule, Iohan, Iames, sent doune
Theyr epysteles, by whos vertew gan cease
The synagoges dominacion,
And Crystes feythe by vertew gan encrease.

29

The Epystyll ys a tokyn and a fygure,
As seyen doctors of law and prophesy,
Of Crystys commyng, by euydent scripture,
As patryarkes Aforne dyd specyfy.
And baptyst Iohan, sone of Zachary,
As a bydyll tolde howe Emanuell,—
Aforne remembryd by olde Isay,—
Howe on that name shuld grow[e] the gospell.

30

And semblably, so as the morow gray
Ys messynger of Phebus vprysyng,
And bryngeth tydynges of the glad[e] day,
So the Epystyll, by processe of redyng,
To vs declareth most gracious tydyng,
Of the gospell, recorde for that party
Mathew the euangelyst, affermeth by wrytyng
Of Cryst Iesu all the Genology.

The Grayle next.

Aftyr the epystyll foloweth the grayle,
Token of Ascendyng vp from gre to gre,
In vertew vpward procedyng stound[e]mele,
The grounde furst take at humylyte,
Reysyd by grace, feythe, hope, and charyte,

With parfyte connyng and humble pacience,
With compassion and fraternall pyte,
In Crystes passion set hoole theyr confydence.

The Alleluya the Sequence and the Tract.

Alleluya, in ordyr next folowyng,
Tokeneth prayer for our saluacion,
Twyes remembryd, for lawde and for praysyng,
With deuout hert and hole affeccion,
To Cryst dyrect, that suffryd passion,
Our souerayn lord, most parfyte and most goode,
The tracte, the sequence, for short conclusion,
Sung in his lawde that for vs shed his bloode.

The Gospell.

The gospell gynneth with tokenes of Tay,
The book furst crossyd, and aftyr the forhede,
Iesus our shylde, our streyngth, in all vertew,
On Good Fryday clad in purpyll rede,
A crowne of thorne set sharply on his hede,
Foure Euangelystes remembre hit in substaunce,
Vs to defende from all worldly drede,
In Crystes gospell stant hoole our cheuysaunce.

Credo in solempne dayes.

The gospell rad, A Crede aftyr he seyth,
Solempne dayes for a remembraunce,

Of twelfe Artycles longyng to our feyth,
Whyche we ar bownde to leeue in our creaunce;
Rather to dy than Any varyaunce
In any poynt were in our herte founde,
For feythe with werke to God doth gret plesaunce,
Lat vs therfore beleue as we ar bounde.

35

By interpretacion, who wysely can aduerte,
The Offertory ys namyd of offryng,
As when a man offreth to God hys herte,
Rychest oblacion rekenyd by wrytyng,
And for Melchysedech, bothe preest and kyng,
Gaue brede and wyne to Abraham for vyctory,
Whyche oblacion in fygure remembryng
Eche day at masse ys sede an offertory.

36

Tokyn that Iesu, our souerayne and our lorde,
Agayne our febylnesse and our impotence,
Left on the Awter callyd Crystes owne borde
Hys body, hys blood, relyques of most reuerence,
We to receue hem with deuoute diligence,
In forme of brede and wyne for a memory,
Fygure that the chyef lambe of Innocence
Offryd vp hys body, grounde of our offertory.

100

The Secrete and the Preface

Next the secrete aftyr the offertory,
The prefas foloweth afore the sacrament,
Aungellys reioyse with lawde, honour, and glory,
From the heuynly court by grace they ar sent,
And at the Masse abyde and be present,
All our prayers deuowtly to report
To hym that syt aboue the firmament,
Sowlys in peyne they refresshe and comfort.

The Sanctus sung thryes

The oolde prophete, holy Isay,
Saw hygh in heuyn a trone of dignyte,
Where Seraphyn sang with euery Ierarchy,
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, before the Trynyte;
Aftyr the preface, rehersyd tymes thre,
With voyce melodyous, and aftyr that Osanna,
Hygh in excelsis, tofore the mageste,
Afore the sacrament of our gostly manna.

Of .ij. Memento.

Of memento at masse ther byn tweyne,
The furst remembreth of folk that byn alyue,
And the secund for theym that suffre peyne,
Whyche by the masse byn delyueryd blyue
Out of torment, as clerkes can dyscryue,

101

Syngyng of massys, and Crystes passion,
And remembraunce of hys woundys fyue,
May most avayle to theyr remission.

40

With all your myght, and in your best intent,
Awayteth aftyr the consecracion,
At lyftyng vp of the holy sacrament
Seythe “Iesu, mercy!” with hooly affeccion,
Or seythe som other parfyte oryson,
Lyke as ye haue in custom deuoutly,
Or ellys seythe thys compilacion
Whyche here ys wrete in ordyr by and by.

Here foloweth a lytyll prayer made and compyled by hym that made thys tretyse vndyr correccion. [John Lydgate: Stow.]

Hayle, holy Iesu, our helthe oure goostly foode,
Hayle, blyssyd lord, here in forme of brede,
Hayle, for mankynde offryd on the roode,
For oure Redempcion with thy blood made reede,
Stung to the hert with a speres heede;
Now, gracyous Iesu, for thy woundys fyue,
Graunt of thy mercy, to-forne or I be dede,
Clene hosyll and schryft, whyle I am here alyue.

42

O lambe vp offryd for man in sacryfyce,
Naylyd to the crosse of mercyfull mekenesse,

102

Whos bloode downe raylyd on most pyteous wyse,
To scowre the rust of all my wykydnesse;
Of all my synnes to the I me confesse,
Now lord, mercy put nat in delay,
But graunt me, Iesu, of thyne hygh goodnesse,
Meke shryft and hosyll before myne endyng day.

43

O blessyd frute, borne of a pure virgyne!
Whyche with thy passion boughtest me so dere,
For Maryes sake, thyne eares downe enclyne,
Here myne Oryson by meane of her p[r]ayere,
The forto please, teche me the manere,
Voyde of all vertew, saue oonly of thy grace;
Graunt in the fourme that I see the here,
The to receue, I haue lyfe and space.

44

My lord, my maker, my sauyour, and my kyng,
When I was lost, thow were my redemptoure,
Supporte and socour here in thys lyuyng,
Agayne all enemyes my souerayn protectoure;
My chyef comfort in all worldly laboure,
Graunt me, lord, confession, repentaunce,
Or I of dethe passe the sharpe shoure,
The to receue vnto thy plesaunce.

45

Late thy modyr be present in thys nede,
That I may clayme, of mercy more than ryght,

103

Myne herytage, for whyche thow dedyst blede,
And graunt me, Iesu, of thy gracious myght,
Eche day of the for to haue a syght,
For gostly gladnesse to my lyuys ende,
And in spyryt to make myn hert[e] lyght,
The to receue or I hense wende.

46

O pascall lambe in Isaac fyguryd,
Owre spirytuall Manna, brede contemplatyf,
Sent downe from heuyn, in whyche we byn assuryd
Geyne all owre foone, strengest confortatyf,
Tokenyd in paradyse vppon the tree of lyfe,
Whyche shuld Adam restore vnto hys place,
Graunt me, Iesu, for a restoratyf,
Thee to receue or I hen[e]s pace.

47

Thow art in fygure, O blessyd lord Iesu!
Agayne sathan myne heuynly champion,
My Iosue, my prince of most vertu,
That hyng .vij. kynges vp at Gaboon,
My gostly Sampson, whyche strangyldest the lyon,
And slowe the dragon with all hys hedys seuene;
Graunt, or I dy, Cryst, for thy passyon,
I may receue thys brede sent downe from heuene.

48

As I seyde erst, of Aungellys thow art foode,
Repaste to pylgryms in theyr pylgremage,
Celestiall brede to chyldren that byn goode,
Figuryd in Isaac, thrytty yere of age,
Vp to Caluary when thou toke thy passage,

104

O Iesu, mercy, graunt or I be dede,
And or decrepitus put me in dotage,
To haue a repaste of thy celestiall brede.

49

My gostly trust, charyte, hope, and feythe,
Myne aduertence, my mynde, and my memory,
All of Acorde my sowle vnto the seythe,
Haue on me mercy, O souerayne kyng of glory,
Whyche syttyst hyghest in the heuynly consystory,
Iesu, lat mercy surmount thy Rygour,
That thy passyon allay my purgatory,
Furst by receuyng of thee, my sauyour.

50

Furst, to excyte and meue your corages
To deuout prayer of hole affeccion,
The Pater-noster to all maner of Ages
Ys most accordyng, most souerayne of renowne;
Iesus hymsylf made that orysowne,
Taught his dyscyples how they shuld prey,
Muse not hereon, make no comparysowne,
To hys doctryne all crystyn men must obey.

51

Short and compendyouse, vp strechyng to heuene,
Vnto that hygh celestiall mansyons,
Eche clause out-tolde, dyuydyd into seuene,
As most notable gracyous petycyons,
Clerkes all conclude in theyr resons,
Aboue all prayers hath the soueraynte,
So hit be seyde in your affeccyons,
Of gostly loue, and parfyte charyte.

105

52

Without charyte auayleth noone Almesse,
To clothe nakyd, or hongry folk to fede,
Vysyte the seke, or prysoner in theyr nede,
Herborow the pore, ne noon Almesdede,
Yef charyte fayle, your iorne may nat spede,
Nor all these vertues of trowthe be well sought,
Your Pater-noster, your Aue, nor your Crede,
Where charyte fayleth, profyteth lytyll or nought.

53

Beware, ye prestes, when ye your masse syng
That loue and charyte be not fer absent.
O gostly pepyll! aforne make goode rekenyng
That your conscience and ye be of assent
Or ye receue the holy sacrament,
Enuy and rancour that they be set asyde
And parfyte charyte be ay with yow present,
That grace to godward may be your souerayn gyde.

Pater-noster

Pater-noster, yef hit be sayde aryght,
Hit doth include all parfeccion,
So that grace holde the torche lyght
That charyte, by trew affeccion
And feruent loue, haue dominacion
From hys place all haterede to remewe,
That false enuy haue no possessyon,
Then ys thys prayer seyde in hys ordre dewe.

106

Why Agnus ys seyde iij tymes

Of Agnus Dei at masse byn seyde thre,
The furst[e] tweyne besechyng for mercy,
The thryd[e] prayeth for pease and vnyte,
Agayne peryll mortall and worldly,
And agayne trowblys dredefull & flesshly;
Cryst as a lambe was offryd on the crosse,
Grogyd nat but suffryd pacyently,
To make redempcion, and reforme our losse.

Dilectus meus candidus & rubicundus

Thys lambe remembryd in Salamon[y]s songys,
Callyd Canticorum, most amerous of delyte,
In reformacion of our contagyous wrongys,
Whylom was song thys lambe, both rede and whyte,
Rede and rubyfyed by full gret dyspyte,
Hys blessyd body with blood was so dysteynyd,
The Angelyk whytnesse cowde fynde no respyte,
With blody dropys hys face was so bereynyd.

57

Thys Paschall lambe on Estyr day he rose,
Callyd bothe a lambe and a lyon,
A lambe for offryng, whyche lay .iij. dayes close,
Lowe in the erthe for oure sauacion,
But at hys myghty resurreccion
He namyd was the lyon of Iuda,
For whyche the churche, reioysyng that seson,
Syngeth for gladnesse full oft Alleluya.

107

Agnus dei

Thys Agnus dei brought with hym pease
To all the world at hys Natyuyte,
Grace, gladnesse, of vertew gret encrease,
For whyche the pepyll of hygh and lowe degre
Kysse the pax, a tokyn of vnyte,
Whyche kyssyng doth playnly signyfy
Howe Pease ys cause of all felycyte
Of folk gouernyd by prudent polycy.

Postcomon

At the Postcomon the preste doth hym remew,
On the ryght syde seyth Dominus Vobiscum,
Fyue tymes the pepyll doth salew
Duryng the masse, as made ys mencyon,
Fygure the day of hys Resurreccyon,
Fyue tymes sothly he dyd appere
To hys dyscyples for consolacion,
And furst of all to hys modyr dere.

Salue sancta Parens

“Salue sancta parens,” he to hys modyr sayde,
Whyche was to her reioysyng souerayne,
With these wordys when cryst Iesu abrayde,
Vppon whos vpryst Mary Magdalayne
With wepyng eyen, for constreynt of hyr peyne
Abode the rysyng of hyr lord Iesu
With other Maryes the gospell telleth tweyne
Brought oynementis most souerayn [of] vertu.

108

61

Poetys seyen howe loue hath no law,—
Thyng well expert in these ladyes thre,
Wyche woke anyght, rose or the day gan daw,
Of womanhede and femynyte,
Desyre and loue, and womanly pyte,
Causyd theym theyr iorney for to take,
Erly on morow, the sepulture for to se,
Of Cryst Iesu almyghty they dyd wake.

62

Lat vs as trewly, in our inward intent,
As erly ryse, masse for to here,
With suche deuocion as these ladyes went,
In parfyte charyte, and with loue as entyere,
To seke theyr lorde and theyr spouse dere;
Take we ensampyll, lat vs do no lasse,
By morall menyng folow we the manere,
Erly eche morow for to here masse.

Ite missa est

Aftyr the prest seyth Ite missa est,
Graunteth the pepyll a maner of lycence
To depart, and he toward the Est
Lyfteth vp hys handes, with dew reuerence,
Praying for all that were in presence,
To haue theyr part of all that he hath do,
Takyng theyr leue, deuoutly with sylence,
The ende abydyng of In Principio.

109

64

Partyng from masse, with pese and vnyte,
Fyguryed was whylom in Exodo,
When chyldren of Israel, fer from theyr contre,
Retornyd agayne, mawgre kyng Pharao,
The Rede See partyd was on two,
A pronostyk in theyr pylgremage,
That Crystes masse shuld vs delyuer also
From Sathanas myght, owt of all seruage.

65

And as clerkes in bookes eke reherse,
In conclusion accordyng all in oon,
Howe that Cyrus, whylom kyng of Perse,
To prysoners, that were in Babilon,
Gafe lycence and fredom for to gon,
Ierusalem agayne to edyfy,
Ryght as the fredome of vs euerychon,
Renewyd was by commyng of Messy.

66

As in desert the chyldren of Israell,
Fedde with manna, abode there fourty yere,
We, Crystes pepyll, folowyng the gospell,
Lat vs by grace be of ryght good chere,
Oure gostly food at mete and at sopere,
Thorowgh his desert, all peryles for to passe,
Best refeccion to glade all our chere
Ys euery morow erly to here masse.

67

Lord, of thy grace graunt whyle we byn here,
In this desert of worldly wyldyrnesse,

110

With lyfe accordyng our masse so to here,
That pease and charyte, compassion and clennesse,
May so contynew and shyne in theyr bryghtnesse,
With fulsom hand of almesdede,
To enspyre the ryche to part theyr rychesse,
With poore folk in heuyn shalbe their mede.

The vertu of heryng of the masse aftyr the opynyon of Seynt Bernard. [Lydgate: Stow.]

Heryng of masse yeueth a gret rewarde,
Gostly helthe agayns all sykenesse,
And medycyne, recorde of Seynt Bernarde,
To pepyll impotent, that playne for febylnesse,
To feynt refresshyng in theyr werynesse,
And vnto folk that goon on pylgremage,
Hit maketh hem strong, set hem in sekyrnesse,
Gracyously to explete theyr vyage.

69

The myghty man, hit maketh hym more strong,
Recomforteth the seke in hys langour,
Yeueth pacience to theym that suffren wrong,
The laborer bereth vp in hys labour,
To thowghtfull pepyll refresshyng and socour,
Gracyous counseyll to folk dysconsolate,
Susteyneth the febyle, conueyeth the conquerour,
Maketh marchauntes theyr feyres fortunate.

111

70

Maketh men more meke to theyr correccion,
In gostly loue feruent and amerous,
Hyt yeueth swetnesse and delectacion
To all the pepyll, that byn gracyous,
Trewe obedyence to folke relygyous,
Grace at departyng, seyth Seynt Iohn to borow,
Good spede, good happe, in Cyte, towne, & hous,
To all that here deuoutly masse at morow.

71

Heryng of masse doth passyng gret auayle,
At nede, at myschyef, folk hit doth releue,
Causyd Seynt Nycholas to yeue good counsayle,
And Seynt Iulyan good herburgh at eue,
Beholde Seynt Crystofer, noone enemy shall yow greue,
And Seynt Loy your iorney shall preserue,
Horse ne caryage that day shall nat myscheue,
Masse herde aforne, who doth these seyntes serue.

72

Partyng from masse, gynning our iorne,
Call Seynt Michael, your pase to fortyfy,
For sodayne haste, and goode prosperyte,
And for glad tydyng, Seynt Gabryell shall yow guy,
And Raphael, recorde of Thoby,
Shalbe your leche and your medycyne,
Masse herde aforne, your hertes doth apply,
These obseruaunces to kepe[n] or ye dyne.

73

Albon for Englond, Seynt Denyse for Fraunce,
Blessyd kyng Edmund for royall gouernayle,

112

Thomas of Caunterbury for hys meke suffraunce,
At Westmynster Seynt Edward shall nat fayle,
That none enemy shall hurt or preuayle,
But that Seynt George shall make yow frely passe,
Holde vp your baner in pease and in batayle,
Eche day when ye deuoutly here masse.

74

Thus ys the masse the spere and eke our shylde,
Our myghty pauyse, our swerde, and oure defense,
Our myghty castell, our sheltron in the fylde,
Our stre[n]gest bolwerk, agayn all violence,
For who that euer abydeth with reuerence
Tyll In Principio, conclusion of the masse,
Grace shall guyde hym, and conducte hys presence,
Agayne all hys foon of hygh estate or lasse.

[lydgate: Stow.]

Wordys of Seynt Augustyne In fasciculo Mortis of the medys of the Masse. [Iohn lydgate: Stow.]

75

That day a man deuoutly hereth masse,
Whyl he ys present he shall nat wexe[n] olde,
In goyng thedyr, hys steppes more and lasse
Ben of Aungell nombred and [y]tolde,
Hys veniall synnes, rekenyd manyfolde,
Of neglygence and othes that byn lyght,
They byn foryeuen, for grace passyth golde,
And all that tyme apeyreth nat hys syght.

76

Herying of masse letteth no viage,
As hit hath well be preuyd in certeyne,

113

Prayer at masse doth gret avauntage,
With Crystes passion, to soulys in theyr peyne;
The masse also doth other thynges tweyne,
To soule and body yeueth consolacion,
Yif he passe that day by deth sodeyne,
Stant for hosyll and hys communyon.

77

Of mete and drynke receuyd at the table,
Masse herde aforn ar more confortatyf,
In dowbyll wyse, playnly, thys ys no fable,
To encrese the vertew callyd vegetatyfe,
By resemblaunce, so as the tre of lyfe
Shuld haue preseruyd Adam from sekenesse,
So the sacrament agayne all gostly stryfe,
Reneweth a man that day he hereth masse.

78

So as Manna was a Restauratyf
To chyldren of Israel, gayne bodyly trauayle,
Lat vs well trust in our ymagynatyf,
How moche the syght may helpe[n] and preuayle,
Of the sacrament impossybyll for to fayle
Vs to susteyne in bodyly gladnesse,
Geyne goostly foon, more then may plate or mayle,
Namely that day when we here masse.

79

So as the hede hath a precellence
Aboue all membres in comparyson,
So Cryst Iesu of hys magnyfycence,
Thorow his dyuyne dysposycion,
Set the masse, for short conclusion,

114

On Sherethursday, the gospell ye may rede,
For a prerogatyf aboue eche oryson,
To helpe all tho that call hym in theyre nede.

80

Masse herde aforne, the wynde ys nat contrary,
To Maryneres that day in theyr saylyng,
And all thyng that ys necessary,
God sent to porayle that day to theyr fedyng;
Women also that goon on trauaylyng,
Folk well expert haue therof founde a prefe,
That herde masse in the mornyng,
Were delyueryd and felt no myschefe.

81

Som folk afferme in theyr opynyon,
Seyen that they haue rad hit in story,
A Masse ys egall to Crystes passion,
To helpe sowlys out of purgatory,
Masse to all vertu, grettest directory,
Whyche conveyeth and ledeth a man to grace,
Heryng masse, enprynte in thy memory,
To knele or stonde and chaunge nat thy place.

82

All [these] thynges peysyd in balance,
Lat folk a morow erly vp aryse,
Furst of entent, to God to do plesaunce,
In theyr hertes wysely aduertyse,
No tyme ys lost duryng that seruyce,
For whyche lat noman playnly be in dowte,
But that God shall dyspose in any wyse
To encrese all thyng that they gone abowte.

115

Lenuoy.

Go lytyll tretyse, requyre the folk of grace
That shall of the haue inspeccion,
Be nat to bolde to appere in no place
Of malapertnesse nor presumpcion,
Thyne Auctor sympyll, though of affeccion
He meneth well, pray hem that shall the rede
With goodly support to do correccion
Thee to reforme where as they se nede.

Explicit [Lydgate: Stow.]

116

III. On Kissing at Verbum Caro Factum Est.

A Lytyll compilacion declaryng when men kysse in Churche stoone or erthe Tymbre or Iron. What they shuld remembre therby. [John Lydgate Verbum Caro factum est: Stow.]

1

O] deuout pepyll whyche kepe an obseruaunce
Lowly in churche to kysse stoone or tre,
Erthe or yron, haue in remembraunce
What they do meane, take the moralyte;
Erthe tokeneth furst the pure humanyte
Of Cryst Iesu, the stone hys sepulture,
The spere of steele, the sharpe nayles thre,
Made large his woundes, remembryd in scripture.

2

Thynke on the crosse, made of four dyuerse trees.
As Clerkes seyn, of Cedyr and Cypresse,
To hygh estates and folkes of lowe degrees
Cryst brought in pease, the Olyfe bereth wytnesse;
The Cedre aloft, contemplatyf swetnesse,

117

Graue all these sygnes depe in thy memory,
And howe hys passion was groundyd on mekenesse,
Geyne cruell Sathan to make vs haue vyctory.

3

These .iiij. fygures combynyd in-to oon,
Put in thy mynde for a memoryall,
Erthe and yron, iiij trees and the stoon,
To make vs fre where as we were thrall,
Beholde the baner vyctoryous and royall,
Crystes crosse as standard of most pryse,
Thynke howe the thyef for mercy dyd call,
Tawght by thys tre the way to paradyse.

4

Your hertes ey lyft vp in-to the Est,
All yowre body and knees boweth downe,
When the preest seyth Verbum caro factum est,
With all your inward contemplacion,
Your mowthe furst crossyd of hygh deuocion,
Kyssyng the tokenes rehersyd here toforn,
And euer haue mynde on Crystes passion
Whyche for your sake weryd a crowne of thorne.

Explicit [John Lydgate: Stow.]

18. THE FIFFTENE TOKNYS AFORN THE DOOM.

[_]

[From MS. B. M. Harley 2255, leaves 117–118, back.]

As the doctour Sanctus Ieronimus,
Which that knew by inspiracioun

118

Fiftene toknys, the scripture telleth þus,
And therof makith a declaracioun,
Afor the Iugement; and for conclusioun

The First day, the se shal ryse on heighte
Above al hillys, to ther inspeccioun,
Fourty kybitys in euery mannys sight.

II

The Secunde day, the se shal ek discende
That vnnethe it shal nat wel be seyn.
Wilde beestys vpon the flood Rorende,

III

The thridde day herd on mount and pleyn,
Foul, beeste and fyssh, shal tremble in certeyn,
Compleynyng in ther hydous moone
Vp the skyes; this noyse nat maad in veyn,
For what they mene, God shal knowe alloone.

IV

The Fourthe day, the watir and the see
Shal brenne as only flawme light.

The fiffte day, herbe, foul and tree
Shal be bloody dewed to the sight;
And alle foulys for feer shal take ther flight,
As they were echoon of assent
Nouthir Ete nor drynke, but lese strength & myght,
Oonly for feer of Cristes Iugement.

VI

The Sixte day, howsys Oon and alle,
Grete Castellys, tours maad of lym and stoon
Playn with the Erthe to grounde shal doun falle.
Fyry floodys, and watrys euerychoon,
Brennyng as Coolys with flawmys ovir goon.
Sparyng no thyng, tyl al be wast and spent
This Firy flood shal ovir sprede anoon,
And Reche in heyghte face of the firmament.

VII

The Vijte day, stoonys Oon and alle
Alle they to-gidre shal mete sodeynly
On foure partyes shal assondir falle,

119

And in ther hurtlyng noyse dredfully.
And no man shal knowe Opynly
What al thyng menyth, the hyd previte,
Nor enpowne the toknys secrely,
But God alloone, in his hih maieste.

VIII

The Viijte tokne in Ordre ye shal haue,
Folwyng in soth as ye shal vndirstonde,
Ther shal been so gret an erthe-quave
That man nor beeste on ther feet shal stonde.

The ny[n]the day, pleynly as is the stronde,
Shal hyh mounteyns tourne in-to poudir smal,
As men shal seen, bothe fre and bonde,
Bothe hyl and dale of mesour so Egal.

X

The tenthe day, from kavernys & ther kavys
Men shal come out, lyk folk that kan no good,
And renne abrood lyk drounke men þat Ravys,
Or as they weren frentyk, outhir wood,
Dedly pale, and devoyde of blood;
Nat speke a woord Oon vnto anothir,
As witles peple of resoun and of mood,
No queyntaunce maad, brothir vnto brothir.

XI

The xje signe, pleynly to devise,
As it is Remembrid in scripture,
Ded boonys that day shal aryse,
And grisly stonde on ther sepulture,
And shewyn outward a dredful foul figure;
So to stonde al day, with boonys blak and donne;
Of doom abyde the dredful aventure,
Tyl goyng doun of the bloody sonne.

XII

The xije day, mor dredful than is werre,
Ageyns which shal be no Resistence,
Doun from hevene shal fallen euery sterre,
With firy levene and ferful violence,
And beestys alle shal comyn in presence

120

With-Inne a feeld, and of verray drede
Nouthir Ete nor drynke for noon Indigence,
But krye, and howle, and dar hemsilf nat fede.

XIII

The xiij day, men that ben alyve
Shal deye echon, this is wel certeyn,
And aftir that they shal aryse blyve,
With othir bodyes to come to lyve ageyn,

XIV

The xiiije day, ther shal also be seyn
Hevene and erthe, verrayly in dede,
Withoute refute or any maneer geyn,
Conswme and al into asshes dede.

11

The laste [day], accountyd ful fifftene,
As Seyn Jerom pleynly doth devise,
Hevene and erthe al newe shal be sene,
And alle bodyes shal that day aryse;
As this doctour setteth the emprise
Of this mateer, God graunte, as I wisse,
Afor this day that al men been so wyse
Thorugh Cristes passioun, that they may come to bliss.

Explicit.

19 PRAYERS TO TEN SAINTS.

[_]

[MS. Bodley Laud, 683, leaves 24, back, to 27.]

These holy seyntys folwyng ar preuyledged of our lord Ihesu that what man or woman praieth to them rightfully shal haue his bone.

To Seynt Denys.

Blissed Denys, of Athenys cheef sonne,
Sterre of Grece, charboncle of that contre,

121

Wich by prechyng to Cristis feith hast wonne
The reem of ffraunce and Paris the Cyte,
Pray for þi servauntis and alle þat trust in the,
To Crist Iesu in the hevenly consystorye
And them preserve from al aduersyte
That on þi passioun devoutly han memorie.

To Seynt George.

Glorious George, o marter moost enteer,
To saue þe mayde outraydest the dragoun,
Remembre on us in thy devout prayer,
Of Ynglond callyd protectour & patroun
Pray for sixte Herry and al this regioun
Of our enmyes by grace to han victorye,
And for alle tho, that with devossioun
On thy passion haue euery day memorye.

To Seynt Crystofre.

Holy Christoffre, Geaunt of Stature,
That bar Iesu over the sterne fflood,
To pray for us do thy besy Cure,
On to that lord moost souereyn & most good,
Wich for mankynde was offred on the rood,
And pray for alle in the hevenly glorie,
To hym that shadde for us his precious blood,
Wich on þi passiown han euery day memorie.

To Seynt Blasy.

Bysshop Blasy, among haue on hem mynde,
That be þi servauntis treuly of Entent
Wich by meek suffraunce, in story as I ffynde,
Haddist þi body with Iren kombes rent,
And euer a-lich stable in thy torment,
Lat thy praier been our dyffensorye,
That mercy passe rigour of Iugement,
To alle tho that haue þi passioun in memorie.

122

To Seynt Gyle.

Holy seynt Gyle, wich in þe woodis wylde,
And among bestis tame and sauagyne,
Myd sharpe busshes dist þi paleis bylde
And to kyng Charlis, as bokis determyne,
Thou gaf comfort, tryacle, and medycyne,
By devout prayer, doon in thyn Oratorie,
Pray for alle tho, that grace vp-on hem shyne,
Wich euery day haue the in memorye.

6

O blissed seyntes, that been in noumbre ffyve,
Foure holy marteris, and o confessour,
Alle of assent doth your dever blyve,
To alle your servauntis for to do socour,
Them to releve in al worldly labour,
Doun from þe hevenly goldyn reclynatorie,
Your grace distylleth, beth sheld & protectour,
To alle that haue your names in memorie.

7

Callith to mynde, how that in your lyves
God graunted yow, while that ye were here,
To ech of yow synguler prerogatyves,
Who praieth to yow of hooll herte & enteer,
Alle ther requestis graciously to heere,
Geyn worldly tempestis & troublis transetoryie,
For wich remembreth in your special praier
On alle that haue yow devoutly in memorye.

To Seynt Kateryne.

O Kateryne, born of the blood Royall,
Of Alysaundre thy fader whilom kyng,
Thou brak the wheel, ful dredful & mortal,
Outraiest the tiraunt, philisofres convertyng,
The queen with Porphirie to Cristis feith tornyng,

123

To suffre deth thyn hed dyst doun declyne,
Pray for þi servauntis to Crist above regnyng
Glorious pryncesse, marter and virgyne.

To Seynt Margarete.

With tholigost Margarete supported & socoured,
Thy tendre youthe flouryng in beute,
Of a dragown for Crystys feith devoured,
O Mergarete, Example of chastyte,
Wich suffredist deth by greet humylyte,
Stable as a stoon by grace wich is devyne,
Pray for þi servauntis and alle that love the,
O blyssed lady, marter and virgyne.

To Seynt Martha.

Holy Martha to crist Ihesu Ostesse,
And his mynystre to serve hym of his foode,
While Maudeleyn wepte in gret dystresse
For hir synnys ther knelyng for hir goode,
Thou slouh þe dragoun for al his furious woode,
Ded in gret age, buried be ffrontyne,
Pray for þi servauntis to hym þat starrff on roode,
Wich all þi lyff were a pure vyrgyne.

To Seynt Cristyne.

Blissed Cristyne, of Cryst, be hym-silf baptysed,
Thou took thy name, in bookis as I reede,
Suffredist peynes most mortally practysed,
Swerd, flawme, & feer, mylk meynt with dropis reede,
Whan they þi brestis gan fro þi boody shreede,
And sith lik Crist thou callid art Cristyne,
Pray for þi servauntis & help hem in ther nede
Wich for our feith were slayn a pur virgyne.

To Seynt Barbara.

Blissed Barbara, baptysed in a welle,
The water halwed, name of þe Trynyte,

124

Whos holynesse hath power to Repelle
The strook of gonnys, for folk that trust in the,
Saue þi servauntis from al aduersite,
Pray hym, that sit among the ordris nyne,
For thy sake on vs to haue pyte,
As thou art verray marter and virgyne.

Explicit.

20. TO ST. EDMUND.

Here begynneth a praier to Seynt Edmund.

[_]

[MS. Bodley Laud Misc. 683, leaves 19–21.]

1

Glorious Edmund! kyng of Estynglond,
Callid of marteris charboncle and Ruby,
Pray for thy servauntis, hold ouer hem thyn hond,
Wich of hooll herte truste in the feithfully,
Be mene to Jesu of grace and of mercy,
His hevenly deuh plentyvously to scheede
On us echoon, that clepe to hym meekly
Us to refresshe and helpe in our most neede.

2

Benygne and blissed, o gemme purpurat!
With arwes woundyd only for Cristis sake,
With grace endued and goostly fortunat,
A greet empryse thow dyst vndirtake,
Lyst rather deie than Crists feith forsake,
For love of Jesu, for whom thow dedist bleede,
Pray to the lord, wheir so we slepe or wake,
Us to releue and helpe in our moost neede.

125

3

O gracious kyng! of favour do thy peyne
To pray to Jesu, sothfast God and man,
As he gaf mercy to Mary Maudeleyne
And rewed of pite vp-on the Publican,
Moost benyngnely halpe the Samarithan,
Of Petris wepyng lyk as he took heede,
We pray to þe, right as we began,
Be mene to Jesu to helpe in our most neede.

4

Our helpe, our socour, our mediatour most cheff,
As thou art kyng and prynce of this contre,
Pray hym that gaf mercy to the theeff,
And nat disdeyned the woman Chananee,
Cured hir douhter of mercyful pite,
Of our requestis helpe that we may speede,
Sith al our trust and feith abit in the,
Be mene to Jesu to helpe in our most neede.

5

Geyn Lucyfer, fader of pompe and pride,
Pray Crist to sende us dreed with humylyte;
Geyn fals rancour, envie to sette a syde,
That we may leue in parfit charite.
Geyn flesshly lustys, clennesse & chastite,
Through al þi fraunchise lat vertu spryng and spreede,
That pees be kept in euery Comounte,
As ther cheef patroun diffende hem in þer neede.

6

Next Crist in erthe thou art our protectour,
Our bolewerk, our bastyle and dyffence
Geyn fals extorcioun our castel & our tour,
Our sheeld, our pavis of most magnyficens,
Support to alle that do reuerence
To þe and thyne, ageyn al foreyn drede.
Among all marters kyng of gret excellence,
Socour all tho that calle þe in ther neede.

126

7

Affter þi deth of marteris callid flour,
For newe florisshyng ay fro yeer to yeer,—
To me thy legende is cheef & best Auctour:—
Thyn hooly nailles and thy royal heer
Greuh be myracle, as seith þe cronycleer,
Kept clos in gold and siluere, as I reede,—
Cast doun of mercy on us thyn hevenly cheer
And vp-on alle that calle þe in ther neede.

8

Which be conserved yit in thyn hooly place,
With other relyques, ffor a memoryall,
Frute of this marter growyng vp by grace
With iij prerogatives, ful solempne and roiall,
As kyng and marter a crownet virgynall,
Half of lillies and half of rossis reede;
O laureat marter! stable as a stoon wall,
Pray for all tho that calle the in ther neede.

9

The reede rosis, with white lillies meynt,
Paradys flours, riht fressh and fair to see,
With bloody dropis whan thou were al be-spreynt,
These buddis spredde ther levis of beute,
Medeled with lyllyes of virgynyte;
Of two colours thus parted was þi weede,
Kyng, mayde, and marter of mercy & pite,
Pray for alle tho þat calle the in ther neede.

10

Trust of þi servauntis founde faithful in serteyn,
I mene of them that sette her trust in the,
Expert of old, and preued on kyng Sweyn,
Maugre the tiraunt in his most cruelte
Slain at Geynesboruh, þe cronycle who lyst se,
For extort tribute deth was his fynal mede.
Graunte þi seruauntis pees, reste and liberte,
With grace & support and helpe in þer most neede.

127

11

And pray for alle that kome on pilgymage
From euery party of this regioun,
For syk and hool, for old and yong of age,
For folk that dwelle here in thyn owne toun,
Kepe and preserue hem fro tribulacioun
Ageyn all tho þat wolde hem ou[gh]t mysbede;
With Cristis helpe be ther proteccyoun,
And to alle tho that calle þe in ther neede.

12

Thy nyh servauntis, goostly mak hem merie,
Pray Crist in spirit for to make hem strong,
Folk of thy toun and of thy monasterye,
In riht conserve hem, suffre hem haue no wrong,
Pees and good love with hem tabyde long,
Brennyng in charite, fervent as the gleede;
Aue rex gentis shal ech day be ther song
Callyng to þe for helpe in ther most neede.

Explicit.

21. A DEVOWTE INVOCACIOUN TO SAINTE DENYS.

[_]

[MS. Ashmole 59, leaves 65–66.]

And nowe foloweþ here a devowte Invocacioun made by Lydegate to Sainte Denys at þe request of Charlles þe Frenshe kynge to let it beo translated oute of Frenshe in-to Englisshe.

1

O þow chosen of God protectour of ffraunce,
Þow richchest rubye of þeire felicitee,
Welle of al þeire welfare, floure of felicitance,
Sovereine of al þeire prosparite
þowe blessed Denys! remembre of grace, and se

128

How Cryste Ihesu graunteþe of love entiere
To alle þat for socour vnto þee calle
At þeire requeste to here wele þy preyer.

2

Resceyve vs goostly on-to þy governaunce,
Geyne goostely enmys graunt vs libertee,
In worldely troble defende vs fro meschaunce
Frome alle oure fomen make vs to goo free,
And vs preserve from all adversitee,
And with þine holy oven feyre and cleere
Caste dovne þy looke, of mercy and pite
Benignely nowe, taccepte oure preyer.

3

From vicious lyff sette vs in assuraunce;
Ageinst pryde graunte vs humilite;
Geinst coveityse, vertuous governaunce;
Geinst Lecherie, clennesse and chastitee;
Geinst wrathe and yre, stedfast vnytee;
Þassaute of feondes and infernal daunger
Make vs to venqwysse, oute of þy powestee,
Enclyne þyne eeris vnto þy preyer.

4

And of þy mercy and mightyful haboundaunce
Or we passe, graunte oportunyte
Of schrifft, of howsell, contryte repentaunce,
And with þe vertues þat beon in noumbre thre,
Called of clerkis feyth, hope, and charite,
To beo enspired whilest we beon here,
By grace cleyminge in heven to haue a see
Thorughe þy requeste and mercyful preyer.

5

Graunte vs in vertu with longe perseuerance
Reystreyne oure hertis frome worldely vanite,
And souffre vs to haue none attendance
Ay in fals fortunes mutabilite,
But to þat lord þat dyed vppon a tree
O help Saint Denys! nowe in this matere,
Vnder þy winge þat we may surly flee,
To cleyme his mercye by þe meene of þy preyer.

129

6

In þee Saint Denys, is holly oure affiaunce,
Oure hertly socour, oure souereyne suyrtee,
Fully concludinge and knitting in substaunce,
For in þy grace may beo no scarcitee,
Whane ever we calle to þy benignyte,
Til vs þy men þy mercy let appeere,
In oure moste treyte dredfull prosperitee
Prey til oure lord taccepte oure preyer.

7

Whan deth vs manassethe with his launce,
Beo present þere for to sustene þe launce
Mercy to peyse geinst oure inyquitee;
But or þowe Iuge, procede of equytee [OMITTED]

8

For þere is none so sure purveyaunce
Whane we offende thorughe flesshly freelte,
In goostly langour to fynden allegeaunce,
Þane at þy wille of mercyful plente
To wesshe þe filthe of oure enfirmytee
Nowe mercyful Denys, of mercy we requere [OMITTED]
In every mescheef accepte oure preyer.

9

[OMITTED] O lodesterre of Parys þe Citee
Light of Athenes Lanterne of þeire creaunce
Summe of al grace tenlumyne þeire cuntre
O Philosophre of most autoritee [OMITTED]
O blessed Denys! lyfft vp þine hevenly chere
To fore the heghe devyne magestee,
And preye þe lord taccepte oure preyer.

130

22. A PRAISE OF ST. ANNE.

[_]

[MS. B. M. Harley 2251, leaf 76, back.]

1

He that intendeth in his herte to seke
To love the doughter of any womman fre,
He must, of gentilles, love the moder eke,
In honest wyse, by fygure as ye may see;
Right as for the fruyte honoured is the tre,
So he that to this lady Reuerence list to do,
Hir moder, Seynt Anne, worship he also.

2

And to that ende, lo, here a devoute oreyson,
In honour of hir oonly, my friendes deere,
That whilom A holy man in his contemplacioun,
Had in Remembraunce, with all his hert entier,
By whiche, at his dyeng, he saugh hem both appere,
This blessid mayden and hir moder fre,
Delyveryng his soule from all aduersite.

23. AN INVOCATION TO SEYNTE ANNE.

[_]

[MS. B. M. Adds. 16165, leaf 247, and back.]

Invocacioun by Lydegate to Saynte Anne.

1

Þou first moeuer, þat causest euery thing
To haue his keping thoroughe þy prouydence,
And rightfully art called lord and kyng,
Having þe lordship of eche Intelligence,
Destille adoune þy gracious Influence
In-to my brest þat dulle is for rudenesse,
Of holy Anne some goodly word expresse.

131

2

ffor but þou help, my wit is to bareyne,
My mynde derk and dul is my memorye
But yif þey beo emoysted with þe reyne
Þat doun descenden frome þy see of glorye
Whos golde dewe dropes fro þy reclynatorye
In-to my soule, awhaped and amaate,
Shed from abouen þy licour aureate,

3

I mene þe grace of þe culuer whight
Þat with his plente doþe euery thing enspyre
Haboundantly, wher þat him list talight
In herties colde to setten hem a-fyre,
To brenne in lone, and feruently desyre;
With which flamme myn herb aquyche and reyse,
Marye moder! Sainte Anne for to preyse,

4

Þat was descendid of þe stocke and roote
Of olde Iessye by ordre lynyallye,
Þe seed of Dauid, whos braunches feyre and swoote
Ben so comended of noble Ysaye
O holy Anne! haue pytee and mercy,
Þoughe in þy laude I can no bette endyte,
And helpe me forthe of þat I thenk to wryte.

5

A! holy Anne, þat bare þe feyre fruyt
Of al oure helpe and oure saluacioun,
Þat art chief help, comfort and refuyt,
Unto mankynde sheelde and proteccioun,
Now thorugh þy preyer and medyacioun
þat whylome were of Ioachim þe wyff,
Holy to stynten al oure werre and stryffe.

132

6

Be þow oure socour to saue us and defende
In euery sorowe, boþe neghe and ferre;
For to þy grace we holy us comende,
Out of whos brest sprange þe lode-sterre
Þat is oure guyde in euery wo and werre,
Whane þat hir bemys to us appeere and shyne
Þer may no meschief in oure hertis myne.

7

Bennigne matronne, o blisful moder Anna!
Þat Broughtest ferþe with-Inne þy-self ful cloos
Þe halowed ark þat bare þe holy manna,
Foode of mankynde wherthorugh oure helpe aroos
Whiche holy prestes haue in hir depoos
To given it swiche, in þis desert and nede,
As shul be saued for hir eternal mede,

8

For þou by grace were predestynate
Ful longe aforne by prescyence devyne,
To bere the virgyne pure, Invyolate,
Þat shoulde be tryacle and medecyne
Ageyne þe cruwel venyme serpentyne,
Þat was out shad tenspyren with mankynde,
Whane Adam ate þapple as we fynde.

9

Nowe sith þat God haþe gyve þe excellence
Aboue alle wymmen moder for to be
Of hir þat shoulde remedye oure offence,
Haue on us wrecches mercy and pitee
So þat we may bope fynde hit and esee
Þat þow þe wrathe of þe Iuge qweeme,
To graunt us mercy to fore er þat he deeme;

10

So þat we may fully in þe affye;
Thoroughe þin help, O blissful sugre-canne!

133

We may aboue in þe heuenly Ierarchy,
Where þat þese Aungels be wont to singe Osanne,
To thanke and preyse, and worship as we cane
Þe blisful lambe, þat for oure aldre goode
Thoroughe his meeknesse starff upoun þe Roode.

11

To slee þe serpent þat was so venymous
He faught for synners right as a champyoun,
And in his sight, as moost victoryous,
He killed deathe, of Iuda þis leoun,
To whome þowe praye þat for his passyoun
He graunt us mercy in þis exyle heere
Sith he us bought with his blood so deer.

24. A PRAYERE TO SEYNT MICHAELL.

[_]

[MS. Laud 683, leaf 24.]

O Myghell! by grace of Cryst Iesu
Callid among angelis þe hevenly champioun,
Be a prerogatyf synguler of vertu,
Held a batayll, venquysshed the dragoun,
Be thow our sheld and our proteccyoun,
In euery myschef of daungeris infernall,
Dyffende our party, presente our orisoun,
Vp to the lord that gouerneth all.

25. A PRAYEER TO GAUBRIELL.

[_]

[Ibid.]

Blissed Gabriel, wich broughtest first tydyng
On-to Marye, knelyng on thy kne,
Touchyng þe berthe of that hevenly kyng,
Of his conseyvyng and his natyvyte,
And how Maria, in pure virgynyte
Sholde bere a child, to socoure us alle,
For wich, O Gabriel! geyn all aduersyte
Be thow our helpe whan we to the calle.

134

26. TO ST. KATHERINE, ST. MARGARET, AND ST. MARY MAGDALENE.

[_]

[From MS. B. M. Harley 2255, leaf 115.]

Incipit de tribus Virginibus, Katerina, Margarita, & Magdalene.

1

Kateryne with glorious Margarete,
That be virgines and martirs both tweyne,
Make the heuenly deuh of grace vpon vs shyne,
Of your chaast lyf som drope lat doun reyne;
Thu choose of God, Maria Magdaleyne,
Ye alle, echoon, crownyd for gret vertu,
Ageyn al myscheef doth your besy peyne
To pray for vs vnto our lord Iesu.

2

Lord, that sittist in the heuenly consistorye
Of special grace heere myn Orisoun,—
As thu gaff grace of conquest and victorye
To thes too maidenys, to suffre passioun,
And as thu gaff verray contricioun
To Mawdeleyne, weepyng with terys smerte,
By whos request, graunt vs remyssioun
Of alle our synners, that crye to the of herte.

3

And, lord Iesu, as thu knowest weel,
Seyn Margarete venquysshyd the dragoun,
And seyn Kateryne brak the strong[e] wheel
Thoruh Goddys myht, tyme of hir passioun,
And Mawdeleyne kneelyd lowe doun
At thy feet, moost amerously weepyng,
And with hir heer displayed enviroun
Dryed vp the terys, mercy ay cryeng.

135

4

Iesu, for love of thes women thre,
I the beseeke, oonly for ther sake,
Of thy moost merciful gracious bounte,
Sauf vs fro daungeer of hidous feendis blake,
Bi the prayeer of thes seyntis alle,
Iesu, haue mercy whan we to the calle.

Explicit quoþ Lidgate.

27. A PRAYER TO ST. LEONARD.

[_]

[From Bodley Laud Misc. 683, leaves 21, back, to 22.]

Here begynneth a praier to Seynt Lethenard.

1

Reste and reffuge to folk dysconsolat
Fader off pyte and consolacyoun,
Callid recomfort to folk desolat,
Souereyn socour in Trybulacioun,
Vertuous visitour to folkis in prysoun,
Blissed Leonard! graunte of thy goodnesse,
To pray Iesu with hooll affeccyoun
To saue þi servauntis fro myschef & distresse.

2

Remembre on hem that lyn in cheynes bounde,
On folk exsiled far from ther contre,
On swich as lyn with many grevous wounde
Fetryd in prisoun and haue no lyberte;
For-get hem nouht þat pleyne in pouerte
For thrust & hunger constreyned with siknesse;
Pray to Iesu of mercyfull pite
To saue alle tho þat calle þe in distresse.

136

3

Lat thy praier and thy grace avaylle
To alle tho that calle þe in ther neede,
And specially of women that travaille,
To ache of bonys and gontes þat do sprede;
Help staunche veynes, wich sese nat to bleede,
Help furious folk that tremble in þer accesse,
And haue in mynde of mercy & take heede
To pray for alle þat calle þe in dystresse.

4

Sobre & appese suych folk as falle in furie
To trist and heuy do mytygacyoun,
Suych as be pensiff, mak hem glad & murie,
Distraut in thouht, reforme hem to resoun;
Releue þe porayle fro fals oppressioun
Of tyranye, and extort brotylnesse,
Take hem of mercy in thy proteccyoun
And saue þi servauntis fro myschef & distresse.

5

This signys groundid on parfit charite,
In þi persone encresyng ay by grace,
O glorious Leonard! pray Iesu on thy kne
For þi servauntis resortyng to þis place,
That they may haue leiser, tyme, & space,
Alle olde surfetis to refourme and redresse
Hosil & shryfft or they hens passe,
With þe to regne in eternal gladnesse.

6

Merciful Leonard! gracious & benygne!
Shewe to þi servauntis sum palpable sygne,
Passyng this vale of worldly wrecchidnesse
With the to regne in eternal gladnesse,
Ther to be ffed with selestyal manna,
Wher as angelis ar wont to synge osanna!

Explicit.

137

28. TO ST. OSITHA.

[_]

[MS. B. M. Harley 2255, leaf 116, back.]

Incipit'de Sancta Ositha.

1

Heyl hooly Sitha, maide of gret vertu,
Which with hool herte and devout obseruaunce
Wer evir besy to serve our lord Iesu,
Nyht and day hym for to do plesaunce,
To poore folk refut of ther grevaunce,
Nakyd to clothe, the hungry for to feede,
Alle disconsolat of feithful attendaunce,
Them to refressh and help them in ther neede.

2

In thy riht hand thu heeld a litil stoon
To bete thy brest of hool affeccioun,
Wakir in prayeer, abide evir in Oon,
With contrit terys makyng thyn Orisoun,
Socour to sorweful in tribulacioun,
Gracious expleit ther iourne for to speede,
That haue in the set ther devocioun
Geyn al myscheef, to helpe hem in ther neede.

3

O blissid Sitha! flouryng in chastite,
Which of clennesse hast sovereyn excellence
To such as stonde in gret aduersite;
For los of good by casuel negligence,
In al such caas do thy dilligence
Them to restoore, to wisse hem, and to Reede,
Geyn worldly trouble and feendys violence,
Supporte alle tho that calle the in ther neede.

Explicit.

138

29. TO ST. ROBERT OF BURY.

[_]

[MS. Laud 683, leaves 22, back–23.]

Here beginneth a praier to Seynt Robert.

1

O blyssid Robert, Innocent and Virgyne,
Glorious marter, gracious & riht good,
To our prayer thyn eris doun Enclyne,
Wich on-to Crist offredyst thy chast blood,
Ageyns the the Iewys were so wood,
Lyk as thy story makyth mencyoun,
Pray for alle tho, to Crist that starff on rood,
That do reuerence on-to thy passioun.

2

Slayn in childhood by mortal violence,
Allas! it was a pitous thing to see
A sowkyng child, tendre of Innocence,
So to be scourged, and naylled to a tre;
Thou myghtyst crie, thou spak no woord, parde,
With-oute langage makyng a pitous soun,
Pray for alle tho, knelyng on thy kne,
That do reuerence on-to thy passioun.

3

Fostrid with mylk and tendre pap þi foode
Was it nat routhe to se þi veynes bleede?
Only for Crist, crucyfied for our goode,
In whos despit al sangweyn was thy weede,
Slayn in erthe, in hevene is now thy meede,
Among marteris, vp-on thyn hed a crown,
O gracyous Robert! to pray for hem tak heede
That do reuerence on-to thy passioun.

4

Suffredist deth or thou koudist pleyne,
Thy purpil blood allayed with mylk whiht,
Oppressid with turment koudest no woord seyne,
Fer fro thy norice, founde no respight;

139

Be grace enspired, Iesu was thy delight,
Thy sowle vpborn to the hevenly mansioun,
Pray for alle folk that haue an apetyght
To do reuerence on-to thy passioun.

5

Haue vpon Bury þi gracious remembraunce
That hast among hem a chapel & a shryne,
With helpe of Edmund, preserve hem fro grevaunce,
Kyng of Estynglond, martir and virgyne,
With whos briht sonne lat thy sterre shyne,
Strecchyng your stremys thoruh al þis regioun,
Pray for alle tho, and kepe hem fro ruyne,
That do reuerence to both your passioun.

Explicit.

30. A PRAYER TO SEYNT THOMAS.

[_]

[MS. Bodley Laud, 683, 23, back.]

1

Blyssed Thomas! rubyfyed with blood,
For Iesus sake stable in thyn entent,
Bysshop and marter, holy and riht good,
Born in Londoun, and charboncle of Kent,
Crownyd with Crist abooff þe firmament,
Stood as a peeler for hooly chirchis right;
On us haue mercy, wher we haue out myswent,
And from al trouble diffende us with þi myht.

Oracio.

O hooly marter! be our proteccyoun
And our dyffence in Tribulacioun,
And for the love of our lord Iesu
Kepe us ffro synne, encrese us in vertu,
And or we deie, graunte us in substaunce
Shrifft and hosil, contriccyoun with repentaunce,
For Iesus sake, wich is most parfit good,
For whom at Caunterbury shad was thyn holy blood.

Explicit.

140

31. A PRAYER TO ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY.

[_]

[MS. Tanner 110, leaves 245, 245, back; 242–243.]

1

Synguler shepperde! gardeyn of Cristis folde,
Geyn raueynous wolues protectour and diffence,
Of holy cherche the riht as thou wer holde
Stood therby, and maadest resistence
Ageyn the froward furious violence
Of tirantis, þat put thy sheep in drede;
Glorious martir, do thy diligence
To pray for alle þat calle the in ther neede,

2

Strong in vertu, by grace which is diuine,
Keptest the wach by thy-silff allon
Of Cristis gardyn, and of chose vyne,
Which bi hys passioun was plauntyd in Syon,
To Ioyne the corneris, Iesu the Angle ston,
In whos diffence deep scarlet was thy weede,
Be our protectour geyn al our gostly foon,
And pray for alle tho þat calle the in ther neede,

3

Turnyd fyue tymes water off thy welle,
Onys to mylk for virginal clennesse
To blood four tyme, thy story doth vs telle,
Whos martirdam red colour dede expresse.
Take mylke and blood for spiritual witnesse,
Lillies joyned and fressh rosis rede,
As thy deth was growndid on rihtwisnesse
Pray for alle tho þat calle the in ther neede.

4

Lik as this milk was tokne of chastite,
And the red blood figur of thy suffraunce,
Bothe mylk and blood groundid on charite,
Which of all vertues hath most suffisaunce,

141

Name of Thomas put in remembraunce
Treuly expownyd, concludeth on manheede,
With feith and hope, our trust is in substaunce
To saue alle tho that calle the in ther neede.

5

Vertuous primat off Ingelond, thou wer callid,
Cros of Canturbury set vp-riht in thyn hond,
In which See Anon as thow wer stallid,
Thy labour was thoruhout al this lond,
Lyk thyn office and thy spiritual bond,
Fro whete greyn fals cokel out to weede
Sparest no daunger by trouthe for to stonde,
To saue thy sheep and help hem in ther neede.

6

Blessid the kyngdam in which that thou wer born,
London enlumyned with thy Natyuyte,
Be grace of God predestinat afforn
For hooly chorche martired for to be;
Daysterre of Kent, Cantirbury thy See,
Crownid among martires in heuene now thy meede,
O glorious Thomas! of mercifull pite,
Pray for alle tho þat calle the in ther neede.

7

Laureat martir the chose whete greyn;
Which from the chaff was tried out and pured,
Spreynt on the pament, purpurat blood was seyn,
Maugre thy foon, the palme thou hast recurid,
Compleet thy conquest, with gret labour enduryd,
Chaar of thy tryumphe Angelis dede vp leede,
A crown of gold with martirs ful assuryd,
Pray for alle tho that calle the in ther neede.

8

Callid among martirs charboncle and ruby,
Trouthis champioun, Achaat of hih prowesse,
Sampsoun the secounde, diamaunt sturdi,
Emeraud greene, voide of doubilnesse,

142

Kepyng thy ground named of rihtwisnesse
Fortis Armatus, geyn falsenesse to proceede,
Reknyng thy meritys, precellyng in goodnesse,
Pray for alle tho þat calle the in ther neede.

9

To thy noblesse may nat be comparid
Off Cesar Iulius the magnanimyte,
Lat Hanybal and Pompeye eek be sparid,
Set aside ther marcyal dignyte;
For thou to sette Syon in liberte
List not spare thy sacrid blood to bleede,
Pray to Iesu, knelyng on thy kne,
For alle tho þat calle the in ther neede.

10

For loue off the and in thy memorie
Our lord Iesu of hys grete myht
A thyn[g] to been remembrid in historie
On tapris queynt in the peeplis siht
Only be grace from heuene cam doun a liht
In thy story pleynli as we reede;
Merciful martir, remembre day and nyht
On alle tho that calle the in ther neede.

11

Remembre on alle that come to Visite
Thyn hooly place with deuoute pilgrymage,
Shod or bare, ther vowes to aquyte,
Wher-soo thay be olde or yonge of age,
Lat thy support refressh hem at ech stage,
Comynge, goynge, ther Iurneie for to speede,
Benigne Martre, preserue hem from damage,
And pray for alle that calle the in ther neede.

12

Sith Crist ech day doth miracles for the werche,
Of grace and mercie haue first in Remembraunce,
Pray for the states of all hooly Cherche,
For the kynges vertuous gouernaunce,

143

For hys Prynces Marcial Puissaunce,
That high discrecioun may ther Brydel leede,
Lyke ther degrees lyue to thy plesaunce,
And pray for alle that calle the in ther neede.

13

Pray for thy Capeleyns, be to hem gracious,
Which euer in oon abide in thy servise,
Monckes professed, Preestes religious,
To pleese Ihesu at mydnyght thay arise,
Thou as ther Patroun, defende hem in sich wise,
Thy Cherch, thy Toun, that noman hem mysbede,
For thy Monasterie soo graciously deuyse
To be ther support and cheef help at ther neede.

14

For Knyghtes, Squyeres, and yomen for the werre,
In al juste Title make hem to preuaile,
Pray for marchauntes that saile fro soo ferre,
For Artificeres that lyue by ther trauaile,
For trew ti[t]he[r]es, and pray for the poraile,
Lat thy blessynge on all these ffolkes sprede,
Pray Iesu stynt blood-shedynge and Bataile,
And pray for alle that calle the in ther nede.

Lenvoye.

Quakynge for fere, goo forth, litle Table,
Be not to bolde for noo presumpcioun
Toffir this martre, glorious and notable,
To shew thy c[l]auses, sauf of Deuocioun
I them present with humble affeccioun,
Praynge echoon that shal thes seen or rede
Nat to disdeigne but doo Correccioun,
In hoop this martre shal help vs in our nede.

Amen. Deo gracias.

144

32. TO ST. URSULA AND THE ELEVEN THOUSAND VIRGINS.

[_]

[From MS. B. M. Harley 2255, leaf 116.]

1

Ye Brytoun martirs, famous in parfitnesse,
Of herte avowyd in your tendir age
To persevere in virginal clennesse,
Free from the yok and bond of mariage,
Lyk hooly Angelis heuenly of Corage,
Stable as a stoon, groundid on vertu,
Perpetually to your gret avauntage,
Knet to your spouse callid Crist Iesu.

2

O ye maidenys, of thousands ful helleuene,
Rad in the gospel with five that wer wyse,
Regnyng with Crist above the sterrys sevene,
Your lampys liht for tryumphal emprise;
Vpon your hed your stoory doth devise,
For martirdam crownyd with Roosys rede,
Medlyd with lilies for conquest in such wise,
Fressh, vndiffadid, tokne of your maydenheede.

3

Graunt vs, Iesu, of merciful pite,
Geyn our trespas gracious indulgence,
Nat lik our meritis peised the qualite,
Disespeyred of our owne offence,
Ner that good hoope with thy pacience,
With help of Vrsula and hir sustris alle,
Shall be meenys to thy magnificence,
Vs to socoure, lord, whan we to the calle.

145

33. THE LEGEND OF ST. GEORGE.

[_]

[MS. Trinity College, Cam. R. 3. 20, pp. 74–81.]

Next nowe filowing here bygynneþe þe devyse of a steyned halle of þe lyf of Saint George ymagyned by Daun Johan þe Munk of Bury Lydegate / and made with þe balades at þe request / of þarmorieres of London for þonour of þeyre broþerhoode and þeyre feest of Saint George.

þee poete first declareþe—

1

O yee folk þat heer present be,
Wheeche of þis story shal haue Inspeccion,
Of Saint George yee may beholde and see
His martirdome, and his passyon;
And howe he is protectour and patroun,
Þis hooly martir, of knighthood loodsterre,
To Englisshe men booþe in pees and werre.

2

In whos honnour siþen goon ful yoore
Þe thridde Edward of knighthoode moost entier
In his tyme, bassent at Wyndesore
Founded þordre first & þe gartier,
Of worþy knightes ay frome yeere to yeere
Foure and twenty cladde in oo lyueree
Vpon his day kepte þer solempnytee.

3

Þis name George by Interpretacioun
Is sayde of tweyne, þe first of hoolynesse,
And þe secound of knighthood and renoun,

146

As þat myn Auctour lykeþe for to expresse,
Þe feond venqwysshing of manhoode and prowesse,
Þe worlde, þe flesshe, as Crystes owen knight,
Wher-euer he roode in steel armed bright.

4

Capadoce, a mighty strong Citee,—
As þe story of hym list to endyte,—
Ordeyned was to his natyvytee;
And in his youþe he gaf him-self delyte
Frome day to day, as Clerkis of him wryte,
To suwe vertue, so gynnyng his passage,
Vyces excluding, al Ryot, and oultrage.

5

And Cristes feyth for to magnefye
At gretter age his cuntree he forsooke,
And thoroughe his noblesse and his chyuallerye
Trouthe to sousteene, who-so list to looke,
Many a Iournee he vpon him tooke,
Þe chirche defending with swerd of equytee,
Þe Right of wydowes, and of virgynytee.

6

And in þis whyle an aventure is falle,
Importable þe people to sousteene,
Amiddes þe provynce whiche men lybye calle,
In a Cytee þat named is Lysseene;
A gret dragoun, with scales siluer sheene,
Horryble, dreedful, and monstruous of sight,
To-fore þe Citee lay booþe day and night.

147

7

Þe kyng, þe queene, þe lordes taken heed
Of þis sodeyne wooful aventure,
And þe people fellen in gret dreed
Consydering howe þat þey stonde vnsure,
As þey þat might þe mescheef not endure
Maade by assaute of þat felle dragoun
By pestylence vpon þeyre wooful toun.

8

But whane þe counseyle of þeyre toun took keep
Howe þat þeyre peyne was Intollerable,
Þey senten out euery day twoo sheep
To þis beest foule and abhomynable,
To staunche his hunger whiche was vnstauncheable,
But whane þeyre sheep by processe gan to fayle
Þey most of nuwe provyde more victaylle,

9

And whanne þey foonde no Refuyt ne coumfort
For þe dragoun to make pourveyaunce,
Þane þey tooke by lotte oþer by soort
Man or chylde, þeyre vytayle to avaunce,
Lyche as hit felle on by mortal chaunce
Allas, ellas, it was to gret pytee
To seen þe sorowe þat was in þat Citee.

10

Þe statuit made noon excepcyoun
Of heghe ne lowe, þey stoode in so gret doute
Touchant þat monstre and þat foule dragoun,
Eche maner man, as it came aboute,
To be devoured, allas, þey were sent oute,
Til at þe last þe lott in þis maner
Fel right vpon þe kynges doughter deer,

148

11

Þat sche most nexst of necessytee
Beo so deuowred, helpe may no meede,
But to beo sent oute of þat cytee,
Þis cely mayde quakyng in hir dreed;
Vpon hir hande a sheep she did leed,
Hir fadir wepte, hir moder, booþe tweyne,
And al þe Cytee in teerys did so reyne.

12

At hir oute goyng hir fader for þe noones
Arrayed her with al his ful might
In clooþe of golde with gemys and with stoones,
Which shoone ful sheene ageyne þe sonne bright,
And on hir wey sheo mette an armed knight
Sent frome þe lord as in hir diffence
Ageynst þe dragoun to make resistence.

13

Saint George it was, oure ladyes owen knyght,
Þat armed seet vpon a ryal steed
Which came to socour þis mayden in hir right,
Of aventure in þis grete neode,
“Ellas!” quod she, whane she takeþe heed,
And bade him fleen in hir mortal feer,
Lest he also with hir devowred were.

14

And whane he saughe of hir þe maner,
He hadde pytee and eeke compassyoun,
To seen, allas, þe cristal streemys cleer

149

On hir cheekys reyne and royle adowne,
Thought he wolde beon hir Chaumpyoun,
For lyff nor deeth frome hir not to depart
But in hir quarell his body to Iupart.

15

Hooly Saint George his hors smote on þe syde
Whane he þe dragoun sawe lyfft vp his hede,
And towardes him he proudely gan to ryde
Ful lyche a knight with outen fere or dreede;
Avysyly of witt he tooke goode heed,
With his spere sharp and kene egrounde
Thoroughe þe body he gaf þe feonde a wownde.

16

Þe cely mayde, knelyng on hir kne,
Vn to hir goddes maked hir preyer,
And Saint George, whane he did it see,
To hir he sayde, with debonayre cheer,
“Ryse vp anoon, myn owen doughter deer,
Take þy girdell, and make þer-of a bande,
And leed þis dragoun boldly in þyn hande

17

In to þe cyte, lyche a conqueresse,
And þe dragoun meekly shall obeye.”
And to þe cytee anoon she gan hir dresse—
Þe Ouggely monstre dourst it not withseye—
And Saint George þe mayden gan conveye,
Þat whane þe kyng hade Inspeccyoun,
With palme and banner he gooþe processyoun,

150

18

Yiving to him þe laude of þis victorye,
Which haþe þeyre cytee delyverd out of dreed;
And Saint George, to encresce his glorye,
Pulled out a swerde and smote of his hed,
Þe people alwey taking ful good heed,
How God þis martyr list to magnefye,
And him to enhaunce thorughe his Chiuallerye.

19

Þanne he made þe dragoun to be drawe,
With waynes and cartes fer out of þe towne,
And affter þat he taught hem Crystes lawe,
By his doctryne and predicacyoun,
And frome þerrour by conuersyoun,
He made hem tourne, þe kyng and þe cyte,
And of oon hert baptysed for to be.

20

Þe kyng affter in honnour of Marye
And in worship of Saint George hir knight,
A ful feyre chirche gan to edefye,
Riche of bylding and wonder feyre of sight,
Amiddes of which þer sprang vp anoon right
A plesaunt welle, with stremys cristallyne,
Whos drynk to seek was helthe and medecyne.

21

Saint George þanne enfourme gan þe kyng
Of foure thinges of great excellence,
First þat he shoulde aboue al oþer thing
Crystes chirche haue euer in reuerence,
Worship preesthood with al his diligence,
Haue mynde on poore, and first his hert enclyne
Frome day to day to here servyce devyne.

151

22

Þis same tyme, þe stoory telle cane,
Ageynst Crysten þer was a thyrant sent,
Þe which was called þeo-Dacyan,
Of paynyme lawe he was a presydent,
And to destroye was hooly his entent
Þe feyth of Cryst, and sleen his confessours,
With dyuers peynes wrought by his tormentours.

23

Whane þat Saint George gan here of take heed
Howe þis thyraunt gan Crystes feyth manace,
He of pourpos lefft of his knightly weede,
And pourely cladde mette him in þe face,
Mannely cheered, fulfilled al with grace,
In his presence lowde he gan to crye
“Oon God þer is, fy on ydolatrye.”

24

Þe false Thyraunt by gret vyolence
Commaunded haþe anoon þat he be taake,
And to be brought vnto his presence;
Bade þat he shoulde Crystes feyth forsake,
But he ne liste noo delayes maake,
Aunswerd pleynly, his lyff by deth to fyne,
Frome Crystes lawe no thing shall him declyne.

25

Þe Thyraunt þanne, of verray cruweltee,
Bad þat he shoulde þis martir moost entier
Naked beon hanged vpon a galowe tree,
With scowrges beet in ful felle maner,
And with brondes brennyng bright and cler,
His sides brent, were not hes peynes strong?
His entraylles opende, salt cast in among.

152

26

Þe nexst night, Cryst to him did peere,
And gracyously gan him to coumfort,
And beed him souffre his peynes with goode cheer,
And in no wyse him-selven discoumfort,
For he þe palme of victor schal report,
By his souffraunce, and wynnen þe laurier
Of martirdame aboue þe sterres cleer.

27

Þis mighty Geaunt, Crystes Chaumpyoun,
Drank bitter venyme made benchauntement,
Crystes crosse was his proteccion,
Preserving him þat he was not shent,
And he þat made hit of ful fals entent
Saughe ageyne God he hade no puissaunce,
Forsooke his errour and fel In repentaunce.

28

Axeþe mercy in ful humble wyse,
And bycame cristen, bytwix hope and dreed,
Þe false Iuge, voyde of all Iustyce,
Comaunded haþe þat he shuld leese his heed,
And in his blood, as any roose reed,
He was baptysed, whoo þat can discerne,
By deeþe deserving þe lyff þat is eterne.

29

Þanne Dacyan, furyous and cruwel,
Gane of nuwe devysen in his teene,
Reysed alofft a ful large wheele,
Ful of swerdes grounden sharp and keene,
And Saint George, in his entent moost cleene,
Tourned þer on in þat mortal rage,
Þe wheel to braake he felt no damage.

153

30

Eeke in a vessel boylling ful of leed,
Þis hooly martir was eplounged downe,
He enterd In with-outen feer or dreed,
Þe grace of God was his saluacioun,
[And liche a bath of consolacioun]
He founde the metal coumfortable and clere,
Escaping oute devoyde of al daunger.

31

He was eeke brought, þe story dooþe devyse,
In-to a temple ful of mawmetrye,
Off entent to haue doo sacrefyce,
But alle þeyre goddes he knightly can defye,
And sodyenly oure feyth to magnefye
A fyre frome heven was by myracle sent,
Wher thorughe þe temple was till asshes brent.

32

And with al þis we fynden in his lyff,
Thorugh Goddes might and gracyous purveyaunce
Þat Alexandrea of Dacyan þe wyff
Forsooke ydolles and al hir fals creaunce
And became crysten with humble attendaunce,
Suffred deeþe baptysed in hir bloode
For loue of him þat starff vpon þe Roode.

33

And Dacyan þanne, by ful mortal lawe,
Comaunded haþe in open audyence,
Þat Saint George be thorughe þe cyte drawe
And affter þat þis was his sentence,
[He to ben heueded by cruwel violence],
And in his dying þus it is befalle,
He made his preyer for hem þat to him calle.

154

34

“O lord,” quod he, “þou here myn orysoun
And graunte it beo vn-to þe plesaunce
Þat alle folk þat haue deuocyoun
To me, O lord, haue hem in Remembraunce
And condescende with euery circumstaunce
Of þy mercy, O souerein lord moost deer
Al for my saake to heren þeyre preyer.”

35

And al þe peple being in presence,
A voyce was herd dovne from þe hye heven,
Howe þat his preyer was graunted in sentence
Of him þat is lord of þe sterres seven.
And Dacyan, with a sodein leven
Was brent vnwarly by consumpcyoun,
As he repayred hoome to his mansyoun.

Explicit.

34. THE LEGENDE OF ST. PETRONILLA.

[_]

[Reprinted from “Fugitive tracts:” I, First Series, from an early Pynson print.]

1

The parfite life to put in remembraunce
Of a virgyn moost gracious and entere,
Which in all vertu had souereyn suffysaunce,
Callyd Petronylla Petyrs doughter dere,
Benygne of porte, humble of face and chere,
All other maydyns excelled in fairenesse,
And, as hir legende pleynly doth vs lere,
Though she were fayre more commendyd for meknes.

155

2

And more-ouer, as hir story sayth,
By Petyrs doctryne and informacion,
In Crystis lawe and stable in that feyth
She was so groundyd, for short conclusion,
Called the clere myrroure of all perfection,
For good exaumple, by Goodys prouidence
Preuyd in sekenesse, hir lyf maketh mencion,
In all hir sekenesse had parfyte pacience.

3

Though she had of brennynge greate feruence
Twene colde and hote, vexacion inportable,
There was no grutchinge, but vertuous Innocence,
Gaue thanke to God, of hert and thought most stable,
From hir entent nat found variable,—
So was she groundyd on parfyte charite,—
Professyd to God to perseuere immutable,
In hir auough made vnto chastyte.

4

Hir perfection breuely to discryue,
She was acceptyd so in the lordys sight,
To be noumbryd one of the maydyns fyue
Afore Ihesu that bare their laumpys light,
Which may nat clipse no derkenesse of the night,
But euer Ilych abydinge in vertue,
This Petronylla might cleyme of very right
To hir spouse oure blessyd lord Iesu.

5

And as hir lyfe recordeth by scripture
Of this virgyn by myracles full notable,
It fyll onys of sodeyne auenture,
Petyr sittinge sadly at the table
With his disciples, such as were moost able
In all vertue, Titus did abrayde
And of compassion with langage resonable
To Saynt Petyr euyn thus he sayde,—

156

6

“With humble support of youre audience,
Peysed youre power and youre holynesse,
What may this mene, concludynge my sentence,
That ye make hole all theym that haue sekenesse,
And Petronella quaketh in hir accesse,
Youre owne doughter in full pitous wise,
And ye alas hir langoure to represse,
Lyst nat onys byd[den] hir arise?”

7

Saynt Petyr thanne, of faderly pyte
Bad hir arise, and serue theym at the table,
And she all hole of hir infirmyte,
He gaue hir charge to be seruysable;
She lyke a virgyn, of port moost agreable,
What euer he bad she alwey diligent
Of humble wyll, by tokenes moost notable,
Lowly to accomplissh his commaundement.

8

And she fulfylled his byddynge, in certeyn,
Withoute grutchinge, of virgynall mekenesse,
Petyr bad hir goo into hir bed ageyn
Lyke as toforne, brennynge in hir sekenesse,
For Cristes sake, she dempt it for rightwysnesse,
And of humylite, groundyd in all vertue,
Hir maladye was to hir a gladnesse,
All that she felt for loue of Crist Ihesu.

9

On whom alone she dyd hir hert[e] grounde,
Withoute chaunge or foreyn doublenesse,
In hir prayers she was so stable founde,
Folke that were seke their langoure to represse,
And as hir life can truly bere wytnesse,
Her inwarde herte so brent in charyte,
Though God and nature gaue hir great fayrenesse,
Yit more commendyd was hir humylite.

157

10

A pure virgyn perseuered all hir lyfe
Both for condicions and great semelynesse.
The Erle Flaccus desired hir to his wyf,
Cam and requeryd hir, did his besynesse,
For hir port and womanly noblesse,
Hir demenynge and gracious visage,
Albe that he excellyd in richesse,
He besy was to haue hir in mariage.

11

To yeue answere she was nat recheles,
But alwey one of thought and [of] corage
Toke him asyde, oute of all the prees,
Benygnely and demure of langage,
Gaue answere for hir auauntage
That he shulde the day of hir weddynge
Bringe matronys, wyues, maydyns yonge of age,
Hir to conuey vnto his dw[e]llinge.

12

He gan reioyse Flaccus anone right
In his inwarde hertly aduertence,
Lyke hir request, this Erle, this proude knight
Made him redy to come to hir presence;
She all this while lay in abstynence
In prayer wakynge, this virgyn vertuous,
With Fellicula moost preuy in sentence
Of hir secnees, brought forth in one hour.

13

Of Petronylla thus it is concludyd,
Who so list her lyfe playnly to rede,
Of his purpos Flaccus was deludyd,
And by a preest callyd holy Nychomede
Brought to hir couch and lyenge there bedrede,
As God list for her graciously to wurch,
With hosyll, shrift, yeldyd vp hir goost in dede,
A parfite mayde preuyd of all holy church.

158

14

Fellicula gan afore prouyde
Maugre Flaccus to lyue in maydynhede,
His loue, his hate, both she set asyde,
Lyued vii dayes metles in dede,
Slayne by this tyraunt, which made hir sides blede,
Lyke rede roses ran doun hir chast blode,
And after that he slough Nychomede,
Last by despite at Tybre in the flode.

15

Their martyrdome they dyd thus fulfyll,
With rosys rubyfyed complete their passyon,
With white lyllyes was holy Petronylle
Magnefied for chast affection,
Saynt Petyrs doughter, hir lif maketh mencion,
Exsaumple of pacience in sekenes whan she lay,
With purple wede to the heuenly mancyon
Hir soule went vp the last day of May.

16

Which is a seson playnly of the yere
That all foulys make melodye,
And nightyngalys with amerous notys clere
Salueth Esperus in hir armonye,
The sharpe thorne towadre the partye
Of hir herte, kepeth wakyr hir corage,
That nouther cokkowe nor howle by enuye
May for no slouth fynde in hir avauntage.

17

Take of this mater an applycacion,
To say Parnell of herte glad and light
That euer was wakir of hole entencyon
To serue Ihesu, nat sluggy day nor night,
Callyd the nightyngale with heuenly fethers bright,
Gaue thanke to God in langoure and sekenesse,
Venquesshid iii enmies thrugh grace of Goddis might,
And made hir ende in vrgynall clennesse.

[Ballade.]

Petronilla, virgyn of great vertu,
Clad all in floures of spirituall freshnesse,

159

Petyrs doughter, for love of Crist Ihesu
Ladest thy lyf in prayer and clennesse,
Of herte ay founde moost meke in thy sekenesse,
To do seruise with humble diligence
Unto thy fader, thy story be-reth witnesse,
Callyd for thy merytes myrrour of pacience;

19

God and nature gaue the greate fayrenesse
To excelle all other of port and of beutye,
Trauaylyd with feuerys and many stronge accesse,
Gaue thanke to God, thy legende who list se,
Vertu was preuyd in thyn infirmyte,
Wherfore we pray with humble reuerence
Do mytigacion of all that seke the,
And with their accesse vertuous pacience.

20

Be-mene to Ihesu for vs in all myscheef
That he of mercy oure sekenesse list aslake,
And of thy meritys more to make a preef
Socoure thy seruauntys where they slepe or wake,
O blessyd Pernell! nowe for thy faders sake
Ageyne all accessys and stroke of pestilence,
All that deuoutly their praier to the make,
Sende theym good helth with vertuous pacience.

21

And who that cometh vnto hir presence,
On pylgrimage with deuocion,
Late him trust[e], pleynly in sentence,
Shall fynde grace of his peticion.

Emprynted by Rycharde Pynson.

35. HOW THE PLAGUE WAS CEASED IN ROME.

[_]

[MS. B. M. Adds. 29729, leaves 4 back–5.]

how the plage was sesyd in Rome / John Lidgat.

1

So noble medesyne, ne so sovereyne,
So speciall stronge gayn ffever pestilent,

160

Avicen, Ypocras, nor yet Galien
Cerapion nothar for all his jugement
Nor Esculapius, for all his medicament
Coulde nevar make in all his lyves space
Medecene lyke to the lord omnipotent
When to his peoples he lyste send his grace.

2

It is remembryd in gestys of Lumbardy,
Reynynge kynge Gilberte, a cruell pestilence,
An vgsom dethe environde Italy,
Where crafti cure coude make no resistence
As provyd was, by dredfull experience
In Rome and Pavy, to carefull Citees
Wher pestilence regnyng dyd tyrannees.

3

In sondry placys this furious syknes
So cruelly racyd, that mo were dede
Then lefte on lyve, and thus with hevynes
The lytell nomber lyvynge in gret drede,
Seynge so myche caren, the Erthe dyd sprede
Scant they myght them bery, gret was theyr payne
For nothynge erthly, from deth myght them restrayne.

4

Ther were to Aungels visibly sene with eyne
The good before, the evyll dyd hym folowe,
How ofte the good to smyte dyd assigne,
That oder smote, to folkes full grete sorowe,
So thousands died, nyght, myddaye, & morowe
Oute of eche place, whiche tokened thus,
That thoos Aungels wer pestiferus.

5

In the meane seson, an holy man
Had revelation, when that in Pavye
Was made an Auctor to sent Sebastian,
Shulde cese that pestilence & that malady,
This Auctor made in the chirche callid Petry
Advincula, to the martirs Reverence
The plage cesid, and eke the pestilence

161

6

Not golde potable, nor pured quintessence,
Not Rewe barbaryn, nor Alpharike Triacle,
Surmounte the power of myghti pestilence,
But God [thorugh] his seyntis doth his miracle
To everi person, by grace Receptakle,
Worshipynge this martir, he instillith his grace,
Moste sovereyne diaprodest, in all pestilence case.

Explicit John lidgate

36. THE LEGEND OF SEYNT GYLE.

[_]

[Bodleian MS. Laud 683, leaves 33, back, to 44, back.]

Here begynneth the lyff of Seynt Gyle.

1

Of Agamenoun vnder the large Empyre,
Born in Athenys of Grekes royall lyne,
Blyssed Gyles, thy grace lat Enspyre,
In-to my penne, the tracys tenlumyne;
Cast down thy look, lat the stremys schyne,
Of thy tweyn Eyen, this prosesse to conveie,
Be influence of grace which is devyne,
Me to dyrecte of that I wolde seye,

2

In thy Wurship compendyously to wryte,
By a maner breeff compylacyoun,
To remembre, so as I can Endyte,
Thy gloryous lyff, thy conversacyoun,
Thorugh al the world in euery regyoun
Rad and rehersid, be examples ful notable,
Lyk a merour of Contemplacyoun,
To ffolk that caste hem in vertu to be stable,

162

3

A lytel glene, gadryd in the ffeld,
Betwen large shokkys of parfight holynesse,
Mong grete schevys that I ther be-held,
To gadre up heerys dyd my besynesse,
Greyn tryed out, selestyall of swetnesse,
To ffostre and ffeede ffolk Contemplatyff,
Full in purpos breeffly to Expresse
Centenciously thy myracles and thy lyff,

4

Wher-vp-on my purpos to ffulfylle,
By Goddis grace, fortune, or aventure,
Ther was to me brouht a lytell bylle
Of greet devossionn by a cryature,
Requyryng me to do my besy Cure,
Affter the tenour only ffor Gyles sake,
Out of Latyn translate that scripture.
Folwyng the copie, this labour vndertake;

5

To whos requeste lowly I dyd Obeye,
Breeffly this story to put in remembraunce,
Long prossesse lefft, took the nexte weye,
For short metris do gladly gret plesaunce,
By cler report rehersed the substaunce,
Prolyxite ffor to sette asyde,
Bood no lenger but gan my penne avaunce,
Trustyng Seynt Gyle for to be my guyde.

6

Compendyously was remembrid thus,
So far in ordre I schall rehersyn here,
Thy ffader was named Theodorus,
Callyd Pellagia was thy moder dere,
Of roial blood bothe borne yffere;
Thy youthe ffostryd, bokys determyne,
With dyllygence vertu for to lere,
And profyte in vertuous dyscyplyne.

163

7

Thus dysposed in vertu to profyte,
Lyk thy mastres wich tauht þe spelle and reede,
Tendre of age, gretly lyst delyte,
As seith thy lyff, in almesse-deede,
Of compassioun castyst of thy weede,
Gaff it freely to oon that quook for cold,
Wich was maad hool reffresshed in his neede,
The ffirste myracle in thy legende told.

8

Fader, moder, anoon as they were ded,
Thow dyst reioysshe ther tresour & richesse,
Thy patromonye for more goostly sped,
Thow gaff to pore, of mercyful almesse,
Another poysounned, þe venym dist represse,
To oon also with a ffend Travaylled,
Thy preyer and Expert hoolynesse
To his recure hath sovereynly avaylled.

9

This myracles spred in thy Contre,
For teschewe veynglorie and fals pryde,
Of perfectyon ffleddyst ouer see,
Preysyng of people for to sette a-syde,
On-to shipmen sauacyonn and gyde,
Madyst þe tempest graciously asswage,
And fro perysshyng dist so for hem prouyde
From al perell to fortune ther passage.

10

Seke and pore thou lyst also vysite,
And alle that were in Trybulacioun,
Of the wedewe callyd Theocryte,
To hir douhter thou were sauacioun,
Of old langour hir Consolacyoun,
To al the contre pleynyng for skarsete,
By thy prayer and medyacyoun,
They did habounde with gracious plente.

164

11

Whan the hermyte Veredemyus
Was ffer absent, thy story doth expresse,
Thoruh thy merit notable & vertuous
Thou madist a penaunt hool from al siknesse,
Toward dissert the Iourne thou dist dresse
With cold water, and herbis rauhe and grene,
Complet iij yeer thy story berith witnesse,
Laddist thy lyff, of colour pale and lene,

12

God of his grace hadde vpon the mynde,
Lyst ordeyne ffor a Restoratyff
To thy repast, whight as snow, an hynde,
With plentyvous mylk to fostre therby thy lyff,
Myd sharpe breris thou were Contemplatyf,
Thy body peyned with rigerous contynence,
Ageyn Sathan of costom was thy stryff
Dauntyng thy flessh by vertuous abstynence.

13

Thy ffoode was nouther on flessh nor ffyssh,
Sool by thy-silff in a desert place,
Other deyntes kam noon in thy dyssh,
But frute and rootis wich thou dist vp race,
Bestis reioysshyng to loke vp-on thy fface,
Mong sharpe busshes keptist thy hermytage,
As I told erst, among by Goddis grace
Sook of an hynde wich that was savage.

14

Thus of costom the hynde kept þi tyme
At serteyn houris duryng ful thre yeer,
Wente in pasture gresyng fro the pryme,
Toward mydday she kam with ful glad cheer,
Of God provided to be thy vytayller,
With a repast of hir mylk most soote,
She was thy cook, she was thy boteleer,
Ageyn the constreynt of hunger to do boote.

165

15

This myracle, and this vnkouth thyng,
Was at Tuskan, to Gasceygne adiacent,
Vpon Burgoyne regnyng there a kyng,
As I reede hys name was Fluent,
Wich in huntyng sette at his Entent,
Curteys, gentyl, in al his gouernaunce;
To conclude, shortly in sentement,
He was soget to the kyng of ffraunce,

16

At mount Pilleris holding his soiour,
As thy story, Guyles, maketh mynde
Vpon a day the kyng with gret labour,
Alle his meyne, noon was lefft be-hynde,
Houndis on-coupelyd to chasyn at thyn hynde,
Roial lymeris with alauntys huge,
Thy beste swyfft lefft hem echon be-hynde,
Ran to thy ffeet for socour and reffuge.

17

The kyng, the bysshop, thy story who lyst rede,
Of that kyngdam cam to thy presence
Hurt with an arwe, sauh thy wounde bleede,
Profred amendis and gold for ther offence;
The kyng in wyl thy wrong to recompence,
By the assigned of hooll affeccyoun,
To bylde of monkis in Goddis reuerence,
A monasterie with-Inne his regioun.

18

At thy requeste the bisshop and the kyng,
Condescendid, with a Condycyoun,
That thow woldist accomplissh ther askyng
To ben abbot of that relygyoun,
Sette a ground of hih perfeccyoun,
By good example take of thy persone,
And of desert leue thy mansyoun,
For comoun profyght and leue nat so allone.

166

19

At ther prayer with al humylyte,
In thyn avis thou were Condescendyd,
That the religioun myhte Encresed be,
By thy presence and vertuously amendid,
Circumstaunces breeffly comprehendyd,
Thorugh o persone offtyn hath be prevyd,
All a regioun myhte been amendyd
By o good man socoured and releued.

20

In this mater it nedith not to tarye,
To daunte thy flessh, þe trouthe was wel sene,
Whan thou lefftyst to be solytarye,
Fedyng thy-silff with rotys rauh & grene,
Drank welle water, of colour megre and lene,
Thy wounde open, thy blood dystellyng doun,
As deuhy dropis, ageyn the sonne schene,
Ay to remembre on Crystys passyoun,

21

Prayeng þe lord duryng al thy lyve,
Be experience as it was affter ffounde,
On remembraunce of Cristis woundis ffyve,
That euer bledyng sholde be thy wounde,
That no leche with salue sholde sownde
Thy grevous hurt, to staunche it, or to bynde,
Cristis carectis large, wyde, and rownde,
Eternally enprente hem in thy mynde.

22

The saide abbey accomplisshed & I-walled,
The kyng present in his royal astaat,
With the bisshop whan thou were stalled,
Meek of thy port, nat pompous nor elat,
Loved and drad with grace ffortunat,
Laumpe and lanterne of perfeccyoun,
Tauhtest þi soggettis, erly and eek late,
To profyte in ther Relygyoun,

167

23

Fastyng, wakyng, and liggyng harde a-nyht,
To thy discyples patroun and examplarie,
Fyrst at matynes settyst vp the lyght,
In ech party of the seyntewarye,
Knelyng in churche, or in thy lybrarye,
Euer in study or Contemplacyoun,
Pastor callid, nat a mercenarye,
With a brydell of Castygacyoun.

24

Madist thy flessh meekly to obeye
To the spirit, voyde of rebellyoun,
Of alle þi werkis discressioun bar the keie,
With hih prudence and no presumpcioun,
Tweyne of consayl, equyte and resoun,
Lyk a ffader peised rigour and clemence,
Twen thextremytees hate or affeccyoun,
Reulyng thy convent vnder obedience,

25

Wyt and discrecioun kept egal the ballaunce
A-tween cherisshyng and just correccyouns,
Thou bar the torche of prudent gouernaunce,
Fro parcial drauht of fals deuysiouns,
Resoun repressed fforeyn occasiouns,
With soffte speche and with woordes ffayre
Were set a-syde alle rebelliouns,
To thy precept was no soget contrarye.

26

Swyfft of wynge flight of thy good fame,
By cleer report kam to the audyence
Of kyng Charlys, and of þi parfit name,
Wherof supprised with spiritual fervence,
By auctorite of royall excellence,
Sente to the deuoutly by massage,
Beyng thy-silff at Aralatence,
Toward hym holdyng thy viage,

168

27

Mettyst a man, wich in his entrayll
Was oppressed by the ffendys myght,
A wikkyd goost so dyd him assayll,
Al men ferful to kome[n]in his sight,
But of compassion and grace of Cristis myht,
By thy prayer he was maad hool, by grace,
Affter this myracle Charlis the noble knyht
On bothe his armes the meekly did embrace,

28

The kyng lowly with deuout obeysaunce
Prayde thou woldyst in thyn Orysouns
Haue hym dayly in thy remembraunce,
Sith it stood so, ffor short conclusiouns,
He hadde offendyd of froward mocyouns,
In a synne terryble to descryve,
Weuer of purpos in his oppynyouns
Therof to been confessed in his lyve.

29

Nat longe affter beyng at thy masse
By gret avys praydest ffor the kyng,
In thy memento lyst nat lyghtly passe
Tyl Cryst Iesu grauntyd thyn askyng,
In a bylle the trespas rehersyng
With goldene lettrys cast on the auhter,
Brouht by an angel from hevene discendyng
Of al the cas declared the maner,

30

To more encres of this vnkouth myracle
As the bylle in ordre dyd Expresse,
To thy requeste was maad noon obstacle,
Cryst hath for-ȝoue of his gret goodnesse,
The kyngys gylt thoruh thy parfitnesse,
Alle circumstaunces pleynly out declaryd,
Atween you two, as thou lyst hym confesse,
Treuly in ordre there was no poynt I-sparyd,

169

31

This vnkouth bylle, by an angell brought,
Cast on the auhter, briht as þe sonne schoon,
What was wretyn no man knew riht nouht,
Woord nor sillable but thy-silffe alloon,
They gaff a lyght lyk a charboncle stoon
Thorugh the chapel the skrowe schoon so shene,
Among hem alle sothly was nat Oon
Except thy-sylff knew what they did mene.

32

Graunted to the ffor a prerogatyff,
In this bylle with thys addycyoun,
What synful man lyst amende hys lyff,
Full repentaunt with contrycyoun,
And the sacrement of confessyoun,
The lord aboue schal hem to mercy take,
Throuh thy prayer and hooly orisoun
So that they lyst ther synne to for-sake.

33

Charlys restoryd on-to goostly helthe,
By thy notable Informacyoun,
To gret encres of hys worldly welthe,
And gret prosperyte of all his regioun;
At thy departyng from his roial doungoun,
To dysceuere ye tweyne were so loth
Of ffervent love and trewe affeccyoun
Thy lyff remembreth that ye wepte bothe.

34

Repeyryng hom by thy decert ay moryd,
Be encres in vertu Crist Iesu was thy sped,
A dukys sone was to lyff Restoryd,
By thy prayer wich lay affore the ded,
Among þi bretheren with obeisaunce and dred,
Komyng hom brouht in with glad vysage,
Abood nat longe, clad in a pilgrym weede,
Toward Rome madyst thy vyage.

170

35

Cause of thy goyng in þi lyff expressed,
Was of greet zeel and gret affeccyoun,
Ful weel expert for grace hath so dressed
Thy pylgrymage toward Rome toun,
And to expleyte all thyn entencyoun,
Noon obstacle, as it is comprehendyd,
To thy requeste and Iust petycyoun
Gracyously the Pope ys condescendyd.

36

Gret heed he took to thyn holynesse,
And to thy famous greet humylyte,
Sette thy chirche for euer in sekernesse,
And thy relygioun in Tranquyllyte,
By bulle asseled with many lyberte,
Peynes annexed by ful hard sentence,
Ageyn alle tho that of Inyquyte
To thy convent dyde vyolence.

37

And by a-nother favourable sygne,
Of God enspired the Pope dyd his peyne,
Lyk a ffadder gracyous and benygne,
Put thy ffredamys to stondyn in serteyn,
On-to thyn hous he gaff dorys tweyne,
By crafft out korve wrouht with fressh entayl,
Maugre alle tho that lyst at it dysdeyne
Thyn hous tenpugne they shal nat prevayll.

38

This seide dooris korve out of Cypresse,
Brought to Tybre they fond noon obstacle,
Next to that stronde, thy story seith expresse,
They fro Tybre conveyed by myracle
To thy closet and lytell tabernacle,
Brought to londe with gret solempnyte,
Affore thy stepill with many fressh penacle,
In wich dorys who lyst thy story see,

171

39

Was hool complet lyf of thapostelys xij,
In fressh picture with lyffly quyk Images,
Though Pigmaleon had be there hym-selve
He koude haue maad no goodlyere vysages.
Reysed bentayll vp-on smale stages
Garnysshed with gold, freet with stonys ryche,
Blissed Gyles by thy pylgrymages,
Thou gat these loukis to wich þer be non lyche.

40

Kept in thy chirche ffor a memoryall,
Tokene of ful graunt and confirmacioun,
That thy menstre in Especyall
Fraunchised was, for pleyn conclusioun,
From all maner Iuredyccyoun,
Of foreyn power be thyn holynesse,
Prelat nor prynce of no presumpcioun
Thy lybertees nor fraunchise to oppresse,

41

By a spirit only of prophesye,
Knew afforn whan thou sholdyst passe,
Thy bretheryn present with many wepyng eie,
On a Sunday knelyng in the place,
Spreynt with teris, lokying on thy fface,
Whan that thou gaf, as I can remembre
Thy oost to God conveyed vp by grace,
With holy angellis mon[e]the of Septembre.

Explicit.

A Praier to Seynt Gyle.

O gracious Gyle, of pore folk chef patroun,
Medycyne to seke in ther dystresse,

172

To alle needy sheeld and proteccyoun,
Reffute to wrecchis, ther damages to redresse,
Folk that were ded restoryng to quyknesse,
Sith thou of God were chose to be so good,
Pray for our synnys, pray for our wikkidnesse,
To Crist Iesu that boughte us with his blood,

43

Caste vp-on us thy goodly pitous yee,
To our requestis thyn eris doun enclyne,
For the love of Iesu and Marye,
Born in Bedlem, she a pure virgyne,
And as thou were tryacle and medycyne
To kyng Charlis, whan he in myschef stood,
Teche us the weye by þi gostly doctryne,
To love that lord that bought us with his blood.

44

Geyn our enemyes wich ben in noumbre thre,
The flessh þe world þe dredful fel serpent,
Of thy grace and mercyfull pyte,
To þi servauntis that serve the of entent
Ageyn al trouble be with hem present,
Maugre þe fend and his furious mood,
Gracious Gyle, be neuer from us absent
For love of Iesu þat bouhte us with his blood,

45

We putte our trust and our affeccyoun
In þi most feithful prudent gouernaunce,
Be thow our sheld, [our] pavys, and sheltroun,
That were so famous by myracles in substaunce,
Wrought by thy merit in Germanye & Fraunce,
Maugre leviathan, mankyndes fo moost wood,
Ageyn whos werre haue us in remembraunce
To-fore that lord wich bouht us with his blood.

173

Lenvoye.

O myn [avowe], wich callid art Seynt Gyle,
Tween hope & dred most mekely I requere,
Thynk on þi man þat laboureth to compile
This lytel dete, of hooll herte and entyeer,
Haue mynde on alle that trust in þi praier,
For love of hym that starff vpon þe rood,
Yif thou be mene, we stonde no thyng in were,
To haue his mercy þat bouhte us with his blood.

Explicit.

37. THE LEGEND OF SEYNT MARGARETE.

[_]

[MS. Durham Cosin V. II. 14, leaves 97, back, to 106, back.]

Here begynneth the prolog of the holy Seynt, Seynt Margarete, compendyously compiled in balade by Lidgate dan Johan, Monk of Bury, Ao VIIIo h VIi.

1

At the reuerence of Seynt Margarete
My purpos is hir lyfe to compile;
Though I haue no Rethorikes swete
Nor colour noon tenbelisshe with my style
Yet dar I seyn, it happeth so somen while,
Vnder writyng rude of apparence
Mater is hid of grete intellygence.

2

Ful ofte falleth, in this Chestys blake
Gold and perlys and stones of grete prys

174

Ben ylooke and into warde ytake;
And by sentence and the prudent avys
Of philosoffres, that holden were so wys,
A Royal Ruby in whiche ther is no lak,
May closed ben in a ful pore sak.

3

And though that I haue noon eloquence
For to discryue hir parfit holynesse
Hir chaste lyf, hir tendre Innocence.
Hir martirdam wrought by grete duresse,—
Ay vnmutable in hir stablenesse,
Vn-to the dethe ay one in hir suffraunce,
So was hir herte roted on constaunce.

4

In Crystes feith she gan hir so delyte,
For whom she lyste despyse al worldly glorye,
This daysye, with leves rede and white,
Purpul hewed, as maked is memorye,
Whan that hir blode was shad oute by victorye,
The chaste lely of whos maydenhede
Thorugh martyrdam was spreynt with roses rede.

5

Margarete, the storye dothe hir calle,
After a stone ynamed Margarite,
A precyous gemme amonge these stones alle,
In there bokes as clerkys liste to write;
For of nature perlys echone ben white,
Right vertuous of kynde, rounde and small—
Whiche propurtees resemblen hir at alle.

6

She was first white by virginyte,
In al hir lyvyng preuyde vertuous;

175

And smal she was by humylite;
Right strong in God, this maide glorious;
And for she was thurgh deth victoryous,
Thurgh hir triumphe she gate the palme in heuene,
With laurer crowned above the sterres seuene.

7

This stone in vertu is a cordyal,
To the spirit a grete confortatyf;
Right so hir herte was imperyal
I mene, in vertu duryng al hir lyf;
For she venquesshed with al hir mortal stryf
The deuel, the worlde, her storye dothe devyse,
And of hir flesshe she made a sacryfice

8

Vnto the lorde, that starf vpon the rode,
Whan he liste deye for oure redempcyoun;
So this virgine, taquyte him, shad hir blode
Ful benygnely in her passyoun.
O gemme of gemmes, vyrgyn of most renoun,
Thy lif to write be thou my socoure,
And shede of grace the aureat lycoure

9

In-to my penne, quakyng of verray drede,
Of retoryke for I haue no muse
Duely to write this martirdom: in dede,
Ne were oo thyng, I wolde me excuse,—
That thou of grace wylt me not refuse
But dyrectyn, O blysful lode-sterre,
Me and my penne to conveye, whan I erre.

10

Lat thi lyght in derkenesse be my guyde
Tochyng this processe whiche I haue vnder-take.

176

Remembre, O virgyne, vpon that other side
On hir that caused, oonly for thi sake,
Thyn holy lyf me to compile and make,—
My lady Marche I mene, whiche of entent
Yafe firste to me in commaundement

11

That I shulde considre welle and see
In Frensshe and Latyne thyn holy passyoun,
Thi martidam and thi virginite,
And thereof make a compilacyoun;
So, as I cowde, vnder correccioun,
And vnder supporte of alle that shal it rede,
Vpon this storye thus I wylle procede.

Here endeth the prolog of Seynt Margarete, and next folwyng begynneth the storye of hir.

12

In Anthiochye, a famous grete Citee,
This blyssed mayde, this martir gloryous
Whilom was born, hire legende ye may see,—
Hir fader callid Theodosius;
And as the storye playnly telleth vs,
A patryark he was of Paynym lawes
After the ryghtes vsed in tho dawes.

13

To a Noryce this mayde was ytake,
Right gracious of shape and of visage:
The Paynym lawe of herte she hath forsake
And was baptised in hir tendre age,
For whiche hir fader gan fallen in a rage
And to hir-ward bare ful grete haterede,
Whan that he knewe she crystened was in dede.

177

14

And whan that she by processe dede atteyne
Vnto the Age of xv. yere,
With othir maydnes of beaute souereyne,
This holy virgyne, benygne and glad of chere,
Flouryng in vertu, moste goodly and entere,
Humble of hir porte, this gracyous creature
Kepte of hir Noryce the shepe in theire pasture.

15

Devoyde of pride, of rancour and of Ire,
She called was a mirrour of mekenesse,
The Holy Gost hir herte so dede enspire
That wille and thought were sette on parfitnesse,
To thynke on Criste was holy hir gladnesse,
And chere benygne to alle she dede shewe,
Softe of hir speche, and but of wordys fewe.

16

She gat hir love vpon euery syde,
By cause she was so inly vertuous,—
For God and grace with hir dide abide—
Al thyng eschewyng that was vycious;—
Til that the Prefette, called Olibrius,

Prefectus no mie Olibrius

Of auenture rode on his pleyng,
Where he sawe first this mayde, hir shepe kepyng.

17

He was rauesshede anoon with hir beaute,
Hir grete fairnesse whan he dide aduerte,
Hir fresshe face eke whan he dide see;
Hir heuenly Iyen perced thurgh his herte,
Brent in his corage with importable smerte:
This cruel wolfe, for love inpacyent,
Cast him devowre this cely Innocent.

178

18

Firste to him-self thus he spake and sayde:
“What is she this, where dothe this goodely duelle?
Who saw ever to-forn so faire a maide,
Whiche alle othir in beaute dothe excelle?
Of wommanhede she is the verray welle;
For me semeth myn herte in euery weyne
Is thurgh perced with hir Iyen tweyne.”

19

And with that thought he made for to gone
His seruauntes to hir Innocence,
Bad thei sholde enquere of hir anoon,
What that she was, with al hir diligence,
And reporte vnto his presence
Of hir lynage playnly how it stode
And where she were born of gentil blode;

20

“And of hir birthe if that she be fre,
I wille hir haue sothly to my wyfe,
Loue and cherysshe for hir grete beaute,
As it is skyle, duryng al my lyfe,
That atwene vs ther shal be no stryfe;
And if she be born of foreyne lyne,
I wille hir take to my concubyne.”

21

Whan she was brought vnto his presence,
First he enquerede of hir condicyoun,
Bad hir declare platly in sentence
Of hir lawe and hir religioun,
And of hir kyn, by short conclusyoun,
Clerly dyscure, and the trouthe attame,
Hooly hir purpos, and what was hir name.

179

22

She, not to Rekel for noon hastynesse,
But ful demure and sobre of contenaunce,
Gan looke on him, by grete avisenesse,
Dressyng to God hir hertes remembraunce,
Of chere nor colour ther was no variaunce;
Constaunt of herte, this holy blyssed mayde
To the Prefecte euene thus she saide:

23

“Touchynge my lynage, by successyoun
My bloide conveied is fro grete noblesse,
My name Margarete; and of religioun
I am cristen, in verray sothfastnesse;
And in that lawe, with-oute doublenesse,
For lyf or dethe playnly I wille abide,
Perseuere stable, and varien on no side.”

24

Wher-of the Iuge in manere gan disdeyne,
To hir saide, for short conclusioun,—
“Margarete, ther ben thinges tweyne
Ful couenable to thi condicyoun:
And this the first, to myn oppinioun,
Of thi byrthe the grete nobilite,
And the seconde is thi grete beaute,

25

“Whiche in thi persone Ioyned ben y-fere,
Worthi to be called a Margarite,
Of fairenesse of shape and eke of chere,
A chose gemme among these perles white;
And in this tweyne for I me delite,
Sewyng my counsaille thou mustest condiscende
Better avysed the thride to amende.

180

26

“To thi beaute it were a ful grete loos,
To thi youthe and to thi maydenhede,
To leve on him that deied on a croos,
I holde it foly; wherfore take goode hede,
For-sake his feithe, and do as I the rede;
First lat that God of the be denyed
Which on a tre was hange and crucified.”

27

“Certes,” quod she, “what euer that thou seye,
He wilfully suffred passioun,
And humbely liste for mankynde deye
And sched his blode for oure redempcioun
To make vs fre, and payen oure raunsoun,
Of his Ioye that we ne sholde mysse
Where now he regneth eternaly in blysse.”

28

The Iuge, wrothe, sent hir to prisoun,
There to abide tille on the next day,
Makyng as thoo, no dilacioun,
Bad she sholde in al the haste thei may
Be brought aforn him, to seyn yee or nay
Touchyng hir creaunce, what was hir lawe or feithe;
And to hir evenne thus he seithe:

29

“Margarete,” quod he, “haue pite on thyne age,
And haue eke mercy on thi grete fairnesse.
Spille not thi thought of foly ne of rage,
But tourn thyn herte, and thi wittes dresse
To our goddes, and do thi besynesse
Hem to honour and plese her deyete,
As thou desirest to lyue in prosperite.”

181

30

Quod she ageyn: “with hert, wille and thoughte
I worship him verrayly in dede
That made man, and after hath him bought,
Whom heuene and erthe and the see dothe drede.
Alle elementes he dothe conveie and lede,
For wynde, nor weder, nor no creature
With-oute his mercy may no while endure.”

31

Quod the Iuge: “Anoon but thou consente
To my desire as thou hast herde devyse,
Truste fully that thou shalt repente.
For first I shal in ful cruel wyse
Mercyles thy body so chastyse,—
Trust me welle, this no feyned tale,—
Thi flesshe assonder kerve on peces smale.”

32

Quod Margarete, “while that me lastethe brethe,
I shal abide in this oppinioun.
Sytthe Criste for me suffred peyne and dethe,
Shad al his blode for my redempcyoun,
So for his sake, of hole affeccyoun,
Be assured that I haue no drede
To deye for him, and al my blode to shede.”

33

The Iuge thanne vpon a galowe tre
Lete hangen vp this holy pure virgyne,
Hir flesshe be rente in his cruelte,
Whos blode ran doun right as eny lyne;
Lyke a quyke this maiden in her pyne
Shad oute hir blode, hir veynes al to-rent,
Til of hir body the lycour was al spent.

182

34

Allas the while! thei that stode beside,
Full sore wepten of compassyoun;
Allas! for doole! thei myght vnnethe abide
To sene hir blode so renne and rayle doun
So importable was hir passyoun
For Cristes feithe, that the peple abraide
And of pite thus to hir thei saide:

35

“O Margareta, allas, whan we take hede
Hou thou whilom were faireste vn-to see,
But now, allas! thi body is al rede,
Steyned with blode, whereof we han pite,
Allas! allas! hou myght it euere be
To sene a mayde yonge, fresshe, and tendre of age
Mighty to endure of tourment suche arage?

36

“Whi hast thou lost thyn excellent fairenesse,
Whi hast thou lost this shape and thy beaute?
And fynal cause of thi mortal distresse
Is thi wilful incredulite.
Lete fantasies out of thyn herte fle
Now at the last, that thou maist in eese
Of thy turment the bitternesse appese.”

37

Quod she: “Goth hens, ye fals counsaylirys,
Ye worlde peple, vnsad and euer vntrewe,
Flesshely, chaungeable, and in youre desirys
Delityng euere in thinges that be newe;
Amonge remembreth—and wolde God ye knewe—
That of my flesshe the mortal tourmentrie
Is to my soule chief salve and remedie.”

183

38

And to the Iuge thus she saide and spake:
“O gredy hounde, lyoun insaciable,
On my body thou maiste welle taken wrake,
But the soule shal perseuere stable,
For Cristes feith abiden immutable.
For thilke lorde Crist Ihesu, whom I serve,
From al mischief my spirit shal preserve.”

39

The Iuge, confuse sittyng in the place,
To beholde myght not sustene
The rede blode rayle aboute hir face,
Like a ryver rennyng on the grene;
Toke his mantel in his mortal tene,
Hid his visage, whanne that he toke hede
In herte astoned to sene hir sydes blede.

40

Made hir in hast to be taken doun
Myd of hir peyne cruel and horrible,
And efte ageyne putte hir in prisoun,
Where she prayde,—if it were possible,
Hir mortal foo, dredful and odible,
The lorde besechynge that she myght him see,
Whiche cause was of her aduersite,

41

Hir impugnynge thurgh his mortal fight
That man first brought to distruccyoun.
And sodeynly appered in hir sight,
Where as she lay bounden in prisoun,
In the lykenesse of a felle dragoun
The olde serpent, whiche called is Sathan,
And hastyly to assayle her he began;

184

42

With open mouthe, the virgyne to deuour,
First of alle, he swolwed in hir hede,
And she deuoutly, hirself to socoure,
Gan crosse hirself, in hir mortal drede;
And by grace, anoone or she toke hede,
The horrible beste, in relees of hir peyne,
Brast assondre, and partyd was on tweyne.

43

And efte ageyne to assayl hir he began,
The story seith, and after dothe appeere
By gret disceit in lykenesse of a man;
And she deuoutly, with hir yen clere
Lyfte vp to God, gan maken hir prayere.
And as she lay in hir orisoun,
Vnder hir fete lyggyng the dragoun,

44

The deuel, venquysshed, toke hir by the honde,
Spake thes wordes, as I shal devyse:
“Thou hast me bounde with invisible bonde,
Whiche victorie ought ynogh suffice!
Cese of thy power, and lat me now aryse,
For I may not abiden thi constreynt,
In this batayle thou hast me made so feynt.”

45

And she aroos with-oute fere or drede,
This cely ma[i]de, this tendre creature,
By grace of God hent him by the hede
And cast him doun, for al his felle armure,
Vnder hir fete—he myght[e] not recure;
And on this serpent for to do more wrake,
Hir ryght fote she sette upon his bake.

185

46

“Oo feende,” quod she, “of malyse serpentyne,
Remembre of the how I haue victorye,
A clene mayde, by powere femynyne,
Whiche shall be rad to myn encrees of glorye,
Perpetuelly putte eke in memorie,
How a mayde hath put vnder fote
Sathan, that is of synne crope and roote.”

47

With that the serpent lowde gan to crie,
“Thou hast me brought shortly to vttraunce,
I am ve[n]quysshed, I may it not denye,
Ageyns the ful feble is my puyssaunce,
Thyn Innocence hath brought me to myschaunce,
And a mayde, but of yeeres tendre,
Hath me outrayed with hir lymmes sklendre.

48

“Yif that a man, whiche had force and myght,
Had me venquysshed, I myght it welle sustene;
But now, allas, ageyn al skele and ryght,
A cely virgyne, a mayde pure and clene,
Hath me bore down in al my felle tene;
And this, allas, bothe at eve and morowe
Is grettest cause of my dedly sorowe.

49

“This encreseth grete party of my peyne,
Whan I consydre with-ynne my-self and see
How thi fader and moder bothe tweyne
Were in their tyme friendly vnto me;
But thou allone, thurgh thy virginite,
Thi chast[e] lyf, thy parfyt holynesse
Han me venquysshed and outrayed in distress.”

186

50

Whan she bigan the serpent to constreyne
To discure, and no thinge to hyde
By what mene and what manere treyne,
Outher by malys, outher by envye and pryde
That he assailed man on any syde.
“The kynde of man, telle on anoon,” quod she,
“And be welle ware thou lye nat to me.”

51

“Sothely,” quod he, “I may it not denye,—
To seyn the trouthe playnly, and not spare,
My nature is of custume for to lye,
As I that am of trouthe and vertue bare,
Lyggynge awayte ayenste the welfare
Of folkes goode, and alway envyous
To alle that ben parfite and vertuous,

52

“Naturelly to hem I haue envye,
Though thei thurgh vertu me ofte put abak,
And whan it falleth thei haue of me mastrie,
Ageyn to me resorteth al the wrak;
Of charite I haue so grete a lak,
So grete sorowe only for lak of grace
That man in heuene sholde occupye my place.

53

“Yet, wote I welle, I may it not recure,
Nor in that place shal I neuer abide,
But in helle sorowe and peyne endure,
From heuene caste for my grete pryde—
This foule vice fro thennes was my guyde,
Yet of malys, thye trouthe for to telle,
Envye I haue that man ther sholde duelle.

187

54

“This eke trouthe that whilom Salamon,
As bookes olde recorden and conclude,
Closed in a vesselle fendes many on
And of spiritus a grete multitude,
Whiche Innocentes ful often can delude;
But after dethe of that prudent kynge
Fro that vessel thei caste out fire sparklynge.

55

“Men supposyng in theire oppinioun
There was closed grete tresour and rychesse,
Brak the vessel of entencyoun,
And sodeynly the fendes gan hem dresse
Oute of that holde fer fro that distresse,
At her oute-goyng enfectyng al thayre,
Where thei abiden and haue theire repaire;

56

“Which to mankynde do ful grete damage
By their malys and ther temptacions,
To olde and yonge and euery manere age,
By ther conspired fals illusyouns;
But fynally all ther collusyons
Goth vnto nought, and al ther violence,
Whan ther is made myghty resistence.”

57

Whan the serpent malicyous and olde
To the mayde, whos fote dede him oppresse,
Had his processe and his tale tolde,
She with-drowe to done him more duresse;
And the dragoun upwarde gan him dresse,
Disapered, and forth his wey is goo;
And she, assured of hir gostly foo,

188

58

Wenquysshed hath the prynce of al derkenesse,
And sitthe she hathe ouercome the hede,
It faylethe nat she nedes moste oppresse
His cruel mynystre, and haue of him no drede.
And sewyng on, this floure of goodelyhede
The next[e] day, voyde of all refuge
Save of the lorde, was brought afore the Iuge,

59

Ful moche peple beyng in presence.
And for she wolde do no sacryfice
The fals goddes, by mortal violence
She was dispoiled in ful cruel wyse
And naked stode, that folke myght hir despise;
And after that this gemme of maydenhede
Was brent with brondus bright as eny glede,

60

Hir sydes skorched, whilom white as melke,
The cruel mynystres liste hir nat to spare,
For Crystes sake, hir body, softe as selke,
Mercyles, naked stode and bare;
And to avment and encrese hir care,
In boylyng water she was caste and bounde,
The [wawys burblyng] [with bolles grete & round].

61

The folkes alle, that stonden enviroune
Of doo[l]ful pite, that sawe this auenture,
Gan wepe and pleyne, and of compassyoun
Merueyled sore a tendre creature
Sustene myght suche tourment and endure;
For the tyraunt, to make hir peynes straunge,
In fire and water gan hir tourment change.

189

62

And sodeynly there fille an erthe-quave.
The people, in drede, dempte it was vengeaunce;
And fyve thousand, for God wolde hem save,
Conuerted weren from there myscreaunce,
For Cristes sake heveded by vengeaunce,—
Se how a mayde in al hir tourmentrie
The feith of Crist coude magnifie.

63

The blynde Iuge, all voyde of happe and grace,
Last that othre conuerted wolde be
To Cristes feith, withoute lenger space
Commaunded hath that this mayde fre,
In youth flourynge and virginite,
To ben heueded, withoute more tarying,
In hir praier as she lay knelynge.

64

But first she praied of humble affeccyoun
To the Iuge, to graunten hir leysere
That she myght make hir orisoun,
And haue a space to lyue in hir praiere.
And ful deuoutly with hert hole and entere
Vpon the poynte when she sholde deye,
The blessed virgyne thus bygan to preye.

65

First she praide of parfite charite

primo orauit pro suis persecutoribus.

For hir enemys and hir tourmentours,
For hem that caused hir aduersite
And had hir pursued with mony sharpe shours,
Of parfit loue she gadrid oute the flours,
Praying also for thoo folkes alle
That after helpe vnto hir grace calle.

190

66

And for alle thoo that haue hir in memorie,

Peticio & per eius memoriam agentibus & se inuocantibus.

And swiche as truste in hir helpe at nede;
That God hem graunte, sittinge in his glorie,
Of his grace that thei may welle spede,
And ageyn right that no man hem myslede,
“And, lorde,” quod she, “to alle be socoure
That for thi sake done to me honoure.

67

“And specyally to the I beseche

Etiam denote orauit ad deum ut quecunque in partu parielitans se inuocauit ille sa prolem emittet.

To alle wymmen whiche of childe trauayle,
For my sake, oo lorde, be thou her leche,
Lat my prayere vn-to hem availe,
Suffre no myschief tho wymmen, lorde, assaile.
That calle to me for helpe in theire greuaunce,
But for my sake save hem fro myschaunce.

68

“Lat hem, lorde, not perisshe in theire childynge,
Be thou her comforte and consolacyoun,
To be deliuered thurgh grace of thyn helpynge,
Socoure hem, lorde, in theire tribulacyoun.
This is my praier, this is myn orisoun,
And specially do alle folkes grace
That calle to me for helpe in any place!”

69

And fro that high[e] heuenly mansyoun
Was herde a voys in open audience
That God had herde hir peticioun,
To be parfourmed with-oute resistence.
And than this maide, moste of excellence,
Roos vp deuoutly, and no thynge afferde
Seide vnto him whiche that helde the swerde:

191

70

“Come nere,” quod she, “myn oune brother dere,
Smyte with the swerde, and loke thou spare nought.
My body shal behynde abiden here,
But my soule to heuene shall be brought.”
Her hede enclynynge with an humble thought;
The mynystre with al his myght and peyne
Lefte vp his swerde and smote hir necke on tweyne.

71

The peple of pite gan to crie and soun
That stode and sawe hir bitter passioun;
Of martirdam thus she toke the croun[e]
For Cristes feithe, with hole affeccyoun.
Threttene kalendes, the boke maketh mencyoun,
Of Iul this maide, a merour of constaunce,
Was laureat thurgh hir parfit suffraunce.

72

An holy seynt writeth of this maide, and seithe:
“This Margareta, parfyt of hir creaunce,
With drede of God moste stable in hir feythe,
Vn-to the deth hauyng perseueraunce
Sette hoole to God with thought and remembraunce,
In herte ay compunt, she was so vertuous,
Euery-thing eschewyng that was vicious.

73

“Hir blyssed lyf, hir conuersacioun
Were example of parfite pacience,
Of grounded clennesse and of religioun,
Of chastite founded on prudence;
God gaf to hir souerayn excellence
In hir tyme that she shulde be
To all a maisterasse of virginite.

192

74

“Hir fadir, modir, hir kynred she forsoke,
Hir holy lyuynge was to hem odious,
To Cristes lawe al holy she hir toke,
This blissed mayde, this virgin glorious,
Of alle hir enemyes she was victorious,
Til at the laste, in vertu complet goode,
For Cristes sake she shad hir chaste bloode.”

Explicit vita sancte Margarete.

Lenvoy.

75

Noble princesses and ladyes of estate,
And gentilwomen lower of degre,
Lefte vp your hertes, calle to your aduocate
Seynt Margarete, gemme of chastite.
And alle wymmen that haue necessite,
Praye this mayde ageyn syknesse and dissese,
In trayvalynge for to do yow ese.

76

And folkes alle that be disconsolat
In your myschief and grete aduersite,
And alle that stonde of helpe desolate,
With devout hert and with humylite
Of ful trust, knelyng on your kne,
Pray this mayde in trouble and alle dissese
Yow to releve and to do yow ese.

77

Now, blissed virgyne, in heuene hy exaltat,
With othir martirs in the celestialle se,
Styntith werre, the dredfulle fel debat
That vs assailith of oure enemyes thre,
From whos assaute inpossible is to fle,
But, chaste gemme, thi servauntes sette at ese
And be her shelde in myschief and dissese.

Explicit.

193

38. THE LEGEND OF ST. AUSTIN AT COMPTON.

[_]

[From MS. Harl. 2255, leaves 24–32.]

Offre vp yowre Dymes.

1

Lyk as the Bible makith mencioun,
The original ground of devout offryng,
Callyd of clerkys iust decimacioun,
In pleyn Ynglissh trewe and iust tithyng;
Abel began Innocent of lyving,
Oonly to God for to do plesaunce,
Of frut, of beestys, reknyd euery-thyng,
Gaff God his part, tenthe of his substaunce.

2

Melchisedech, bisshop, preest, and kyng,
To Abraham, a prynce of gret puissaunce,
For his victorye at his hoom-Comyng,
Whan Amelech was brouht unto uttraunce,
Offryd bred and wyn with devout obeisaunce,
Of alle Oblaciouns figurys out to serche;
On bred and wyn, by roial suffisaunce,
The feith is groundid of al hooly cherche.

3

Of good greyn sowe growith up good wheete,
With gret labour plantyd is the vyne,
The tenthe part is to our lord moost meete,
To whose preceptis, heuenly and divyne,
We muste our heedys meekly doun enclyne,
Paye our dymes by his Comaundementis,
Moyses lawe and Eek bi the doctryne,
Foure Ewangelistis and too Testamentis.

194

4

Fro Melchisedech doun to Abraham,
To sette of tithes a fundacioun,
Th'encrees of frute and al that therof cam
They trewly made ther oblacioun;
Whan Iacob sauh in his avisioun,
Tyme that he slepte upon the cold[e] stoon,
Sauh on a laddere goon angelis up and doun,
To God above made his avowh anoon.

5

This was his vowh, with gret humylite,
Lik his entent in ful pleyn language;
“Lord, yif thou list to conduite me,
Of thy grace, Fortune my passage,
To retourne hoom to myn herytage,
My fadris hous come therto by-tymes,
Of good and tresour, with al the surplusage,
I shal to the offren vp the dymes.”

6

Among al frutys in especial,
By a prerogatif excellent and notable,
In worthynesse verray imperial,
Of reverence condigne and honourable,
By antiquite in templys custumable,
In hooly writ remembryd ofte sithes,
Wyn, Oyle, and wheete, frutis moost acceptable,
To God above were offryd vp for tythes.

7

The Patriark of antiquyte,
Callyd Isaak next by Successioun,
To Abraham which with thes frutys thre
Gaff to Iacob his benediccioun:
The which thre in comparisoun,
Of the moralité who-so takith heed,
To preesthood first and kynges of renoun,
Gret mysteries in Oyle wyn and breed.

195

8

Breed and wyn to bisshopis apparteene,
Oyle longith for to anoynte kynges,
Offryng is maad of frutys ripe and greene,
Of Foul and beeste and of al othir thynges;
Breefly conclude alle folk in there livynges,
That trewly tithe with glad herte and face,
Patriarkis, prophetis in ther writynges,
Shal evere encreese with fortune, hap, and grace.

9

And who fro God with-halte his dew[e]te,
Lat hym knowe for pleyn conclusyoun,
Of warantise he shal nevir the,
Lakke grace and vertuous foysoun;
Of ther tresour discrece in ech sesoun,
To hoolychirche that wil nat pay hys dyme,
Lat hym adverte and haue inspeccioun,
What ther befyl in Awstynes tyme.

10

I meene Austyn that was fro Rome sent,
By Seyn Gregory in to this regioun,
Graciously arryued up in Kent,
Famous in vertu, of gret perfeccioun;
His liff was lyk his predicacioun,
As he tauht, sothely so he wrouhte:
By his moost hooly conversacioun,
Into this lond the feith of Crist he brouhte.

11

Thoruh al the parties and provynces of the lond,
Of Cristis gospel he gan the seed to sowe,
Unkouth myracles wrouhte with hys hand,
Worshipped he was bothe of hih and lowe;
With-outen pompe grace hath his horn so blowe,
Thoruh his merites that the hevenly soun,
He callid was as it is wel knowe,
Cristes Apostil in Brutis Albioun.

196

12

He was Aurora whan Phebus sholde arise,
With his briht beemys on that lond to shyne,
Callyd day-sterre moost glorious to devise;
Our feith was dirkid undir the Ecliptic lyne;
Our mysbeleeve he did first Enlumyne,
Whan he out-sprad the briht[e] beemys cleere,
Of Cristes lawe by his parfit doctryne,
Thoruh al this land to make his liht appeere.

13

This was doon by grace or we wer war,
Of tholygoost by the influence,
Whan foure steedys of Phebus goldene char,
List in this regioun holde residence;
Who droff the char to Conclude in sentence,
By goostly favour of the nyne speerys,
Til blissed Austyn, by goostly elloquence,
Was trewe Auriga of foure gospelleeris.

14

Or Austyn cam, we slombryd in dirknesse,
Lyk ydolastres blyndid in our siht,
Of Cristes feith was curteyned the cleernesse,
Tyl Sol justicie list shewe his beemys briht;
Of his mercy to clarefye the liht,
Chace away our cloudy ignoraunce,
The lord of lordys of moost imperial myht,
Tavoyde away our froward mescreaunce.

15

First fro the Pope that callid was Gregory,
Awstyn was sent, who that list adverte,
Tyme and date be put in memory,
To Cristes feith whan he did vs converte,
Our goostly woundys felte as tho gret smerte;
Deed was our soule, our boody Eek despised,
Tyl Awstyn made vs cast of cloth and sherte,
In coold watir by hym we wer baptised.

197

16

Kyng Ethelbert regnyng that tyme in Kent,
Touchyng the date whan Awstyn cam first doun,
Noumbryd the tyme whan that he was sent,
By Pope Gregory into this regioun,
Yeer of our Lord by computacioun,
Compleet five hundryd fourty and Eek nyne,
As cronyclers make mencioun,
In ther bookys fully determyne.

17

Thus he began by grace of Goddis hond,
Wher God list werche may be noon obstacle,
By his labour was cristened al this lond,
Feith of our lord wex moor cleer than spectacle;
Whan tholygoost made his habitacle
In tho personys that wern in woord and deede,
By Awstyn tournyd, God wrouhte a gret myracle,
To make hem stable in Articles of the Creede.

18

But to resorte ageyn to my mateere,
With thOlygoost Austyn sett a-fire,
Gan preche and teche devoutly the maneere
Of Cristes lawe abrood in every shire:
Grace of our Lord did hym so inspire,
To Enlwmyne al this regioun,
Of aventure his herte gan desire
To Entre a village that callid was Comptoun.

19

The parissh preest of the same place,
Aforn provided in ful humble wyse,
Bosouhte hym meekly that he wolde of grace
Here his compleynt as he shal devise:
In pleyn language told hym al the guyse,
Lord of that thorpe requeryd ofte sithes,
He ay contrayre tobeye to themprise,
Of hooly chirche list nat paye his tithes.

198

20

“Entretid hym lik to his estat,
First secrely, next afforn the toun,
But al for nouht I fond hym obstynat,
Moost indurat in his oppynyoun;
Toold hym the Custom groundid on resoun,
He was bounde by lawe of oold writyng,
To pay his dymes, and for rebellioun
I cursyd hym, cause of fals tithyng.

21

“This mateer hool ye must of riht redresse;
Requeryng you of your goodly heede,
By your discrecioun to do rihtwisnesse,
Peysen al the cas and prudently take heede
That hooly chirche haue no wrong in deede;
Al thyng commytted and weyed in ballaunce,
Ye to be Iuge, and lyk as ye proceede
We shall obeye to youre ordynaunce.”

22

Hooly Awstyn, sad and wel avised,
Kneuh by signes this compleynt was no fable,
And in maneer was of the caas agrised,
Fond that the lord was in that poynt coupable;
To reduce hym and mak hym moor tretable,
As the lawe ordeyned hath or riht,
Blissid Awstyn, in Cristes feith moost stable,
Took hym apart seyde unto this knyght,

23

“How may this be that thou art [so] froward
To hooly chirche to pay thy dewtee,
Lyk thy desert thou shalt haue thy reward;
Thynk that thou art bounde of trouthe & equitee,
To paye thy tithes; and lerne this of mee,
The tenthe part fro God yif thou withdrawe,
Thou myste incurre, of necessite,
To been accursyd by rigour of the lawe.”

199

24

The knyht, astonyd somwhat of his cheer,
“Sire,” quod he, “I wol wel that ye knowe,
My labour is ay from yeer to yeer
By revolucioun that the lond be sowe,
Afore this peple stondyng here arowe,
By evidence to maken an open preef,
What maner boost that ony man list blowe,
I with the nynthe wil have the tenthe cheef.

25

“Sey what ye list, I wyl have no lasse.”
This was the answere pleynly of the knyht;
Hooly Austyn dispoosid hym to masse,
Ful devoutly and in the peeplys siht,
Tornyd his face, comaundith anoon riht,
Ech cursyd man that wer out of grace
Tyme of his masse that euery maneer wiht
That stood accursyd, voyde shulde his place.

26

Present that tyme many creature,
Withoute abood or any long taryeng,
Ther roos up oon out of his sepulture,
Terrible of face, the peeple beholdyng,
A great paas the chircheyeerd passyng,
The Seyntuarye bood ther a greet whyle,
Al the space the masse was seyeng,
Feerfully afore the chirche style.

27

With-oute meevyng, alway stille he stood,
The peeple feerful in ther oppynyoun,
Almoost for dreed they gan to wexen wood,
Afftir masse alle of assent cam doun,
To hooly Austyn made relacioun,
Of al this caas riht as it was falle,
Gaff hem a spirit of consolatioun,
Ful sobirly spak unto them alle.

200

28

Sad and discreet in his aduertence,
Sauh by ther poort that they stood in dreede,
First of alle with ful devout reverence,
Cros and hooly watir he made aforn proceede;
The Crucifix their baner was in deede,
Blissid Austyn the careyn gan compelle:—
“In Iesu name, that lyst for man to bleede,
What that thu art trewly for to telle.”

29

“Disobeisaunt my tithes for to paye,
Of yoore agoon I was lord of this toun,
My dew[e]tees I did alwey delaye,
Stood accursyd for my rebellioun,
Made in my liff no restitucioun,
Geyn thy biddyng I myht no socour haue;
My cursed Careyn, ful of corrupcioun,
By Goddis angel was cast out of my graue.

30

“Thy precept was upon ech a side,
Beyng at masse whil thou were in presence,
No stynkyng flessh myht in the poorche abyde,
I was take up, lad forth by violence;
On me was yove so dreedful a sentence
Of Curs, allas! which to my diffame,
Now as ye seen, for disobedience
Disclaundrid is perpetuelly my name.

31

“Tyme whan Britouns wer lordis of this lond,
Hadde the lordship and domynacioun,
The same tyme as ye shal undirstond,
Of this village in soth I was patroun;
To hooly chirche hadde no devocioun,
Offte sith steryd of my Curat
To paye my dymes, hadde indignacioun,
Was ay contrayre, froward, and obstinat.

201

32

“This hundryd yeer I have enduryd peyne,
And fifty ovir by Computacioun,
Greet cause have I to moorne and to compleyne,
In a dirk prisoun of desolacioun,
Mong firy flawmys, voyd of remissioun.”
And whil that he this wooful tale toold,
Hooly Austyn with the peeple enviroun,
Wepte of compassioun, as they to watir woold.

33

Austyn gan muse in his oppynyoun,
To fynde a mene the sowle for to save,
Of this terrible doolful inspeccioun
The peeplis hertys gretly gan abave,
Whom to behoolde they cowde no coumfort have
Al the while the careyn was in ther presence,
Austin axith yif he knew the grave,
Of thilke preest that gaf vn hym sentence,

34

“So longe aforn for thy fals tythyng,
As we have herd the mateere in substaunce.”
“Sothly,” quod he, “ther shal be no taryeng,
But ye shal have a reconysaunce,
So ye wil digge and doon youre observaunce,
To delvyn up his boonys dul and rude,
Loo! heer he lith, cheef cause of my grevaunce,
So fel a curs he did on me conclude.”

35

Austyn fulfilled of grace and all vertu,
As ony pileer in our feith moost stable,
The deed preest, in name of Crist Iesu,
He bad arise with woordys ful tretable;
Requeryd hym, by tokenys ful notable,
Yif he hadde sith tyme that he was born
Seyn that Owgly careyn lamentable,
The deed body that stood hem beforn.

202

36

“Sothly,” quod he, “and that me rewithe soore,
That evir I knewh hym for his frowardnesse,
I gaf hym counseil, daily moore and moore,
To paye his tithes, the pereil did expresse;
He took noon heed his surfetys to redresse;
I warnyd him many divers tymes,
But al for nouht, I can weel bere witnesse,
Deyed accursyd, rebel to paye his dymes.”

37

Whan the preest hath toold euery deel,
With evy cheer and voys most lamentable,
Quod Seyn Austyn, “Brothir, thou knowest weel,
Thynk he that bouht us is evir merciable,
By whose exaumple we must be tretable,
As the Gospel pleynly doth recoorde,
And for thy part be nat thu vengable,
So that with rigour mercy may accorde.

38

“Thynk how Iesus bouht us with his blood,
Oonly of mercy suffryd passioun,
For mannys sake was nayled on the rood,
Rive to the herte for our redempcioun;
Remembre how thu dist execucioun
Upon this penaunt ploungid in greet peyne,
Withdrawe thy sentence and do remissioun,
Fro purgatorye his trowblys to restreyne.

39

“On hym thu leydist a ful dreedful bond,
To the it longith the same bond to unbynde;
Tak this flagelle devoutly in thy hond,
On Cristes passion in this mateer have mynde,
Many exaumple to purpoos thu mayst fynde,
Of trespasours relesyd of ther peyne,
Of Petir, Poule, and Sein Thomas of Ynde,
Of Egipsiacha, and Mary Mawdeleyne.

203

40

“[Take] to mercy for ther greet repentaunce,
Ther was noon othir mediacioun,
Thu must of riht yeve hym his penaunce,
With this flagelle of equite and resoun;
Sette on this careyn a castigacioun,
As he requerith kneelyng afor thy face,
Best restoratif next Cristes passioun,
Is thyn assoylyng for his gret trespace.”

41

Al this was doon by the Comaundement
Of Seyn Austyn, the Careyn ther knelyng,
Lord of that village was also ther present,
Al the peeple moost pitously sobbyng;
From ther eyen the teerys distyllyng;
The last[e] preest reised from his grave,
The tothir corps with bittir fel scorgyng,
Assoyled him his soule for to save.

42

Oo ded man assoiled hath anothir,
An unkouth caas merveilous texpresse;
Oon knelith doun, requerith of the tothir,
Pleyn remissioun of Oold cursidnesse,
Bete with a scorge, took it with meeknesse,
Hopyng that Iesus shuld his soule save.
Seyn Austyn bad him in hast he shuld hym dresse,
Thankyng our Lord, ageyn unto his grave.

43

Circumstaunces in ordre to accounte,
Of this myracle peised euery thyng,
Mercy of our Lord doth every-thyng surmounte,
To save and dampne he is lord and kyng;
Hevene and helle obeye to his biddyng,
By many exaumple expert in this mateer,
Traian the Emperour for his just deemyng,
I-savid was by meene and the prayeer

204

44

Of Seyn Gregory, Pope of Rome toun,
Cause in his doomys he did so gret riht,
Rigour was medlyd with remyssioun,
For he that is of moost imperial myht,
List advertise in his celestial siht,
Tween rihte and favour, rigour and pite,
By doom and sentence of every maneer wiht,
Mercy of vertues hath the sovereynte.

45

Unto the preest aforn that I you toold,
Seyn Austyn made a straunge questioun,
To cheese of tweyne whedir that he woold,
To goon with hym thoruh this regioun,
The feith of Crist by predicacioun,
For his part groundid on Scripture,
To doon his deveer of hool affectioun,
Or to resoorte ageyn to his sepulture.

46

“Fadir,” quod he, “with supportacioun,
Of your benygne fadirly pite,
I you requeere to graunte me pardoun,
Unto my grave I may restooryd be;
This world is ful of mutabilite,
Ful of trouble, chaung, and varyaunce,
And for this tyme I pray you suffrithe me,
Tabyde in reste from worldly perturbaunce.

47

“I reste in pees and take of nothyng keep,
Rejoisshe in quiete and Contemplacioun,
Voyd of al trouble, celestial is my sleep,
And by the meene of Cristes passioun,
Feith, hoope, and Charite, and hool affecioun,
Been pilwes foure to reste upon by grace,
Day of the general resurrectioun,
Whan Gabriel callith tappeere a-forn his face.”

205

48

O brothir myn, this choys is for thy beste!
Contemplatiff, fulfilled of al plesaunce,
I pray to God sende the good reste,
Of goostly gladneese, sovereyn suffisaunce;
Pray for vs and have in remembraunce,
Al hooly chirche in quiete to be crownyd,
That Crist Jhesus dispoose so the ballaunce,
That Petris ship be with no tempest drownyd.

49

I meene as thus, that noon heresye
Ryse in thes dayes, nor noon that was beforn,
Nor no darnel growe nor multeplye,
Nor no fals Cokkyl be medlyd with good corn;
Cheese we the roosys, cast away the thorn,
Crist boute us alle with his p[r]ecious bloode,
To that he bouht us lat no thyng be lorn,
For our redempcioun he starf upon the rood.

50

The knyht present lord of the same toun,
Thes myracles whan he did se,
Austyn axith of hym this questioun,
“Wilt thu,” quod he, “paye thy dew[e]te?”
He grauntith his axing, and fyl doon on his kne,
Moost repentaunt forsook al the world as blyve,
With devout herte and al humylite,
Folwith Seyn Austyn duryng al his live.

LENVOYE.

Go litil tretys, void of presumpcioun!
Prese nat to ferre, nor be nat to bold;
This labour stant undir Correccioun,
Of this myracle remembryd many fold,

206

In many shire and many Cite toold,
To you echon to whom I it directe,
By-cause I am of wittis dul and old,
Doth your deveer this processe to corecte.

Explicit quod Lidgate.

39. THE EIGHT VERSES OF ST. BERNARD.

[_]

[MS. Laud 683; leaves 27 to 29.]

These be the viij verse folwyng of hooly Seynt Bernard who-so-euer seith hem euery day devoutly shal neuer be dampned but he may neuer be þe bolder to synne.

Illumina oculos meos ne vnquam obdormiam in morte nequando dicat inimicus mens preualui aduersus eum. O adonay.

O sothfast sonne of al brightnesse,
Enlumyne with thy cleer lyght
Myn eien, that thorugh no dirknesse
Slombre nat in the blake nyght
Of cruel deth, so that no myght
Sathan haue me to assaylle,
Tavaunce in his ffelle ffyght,
Ageyns me he may avaylle.

In manus tuas domine commendo spiritum meum redemistime domine deus veritatis. O messias.

In-to thyn handis I comende
My spirit with all humylite,
In hope be mercy thou shalt extende
To brynge me theder thou boughtest me,

207

For be that parfyght hooly tre,
Where thow were nailed on the rood,
For þi fyve woundis, lord, haue pite
To saue me be thy precious blood.

Locutus sum in lingua mea notam fac michi Domine finem meum O rex noster fili dauid.

In my tonge I seyde and spak,
Lord, myn ende make me to knowe,
Or the serpent take wrak
With treynes of his perlous bowe,
Corupt to erthe whan I lihe lowe,
Shal rise ageyn, whan thou list assigne,
That Gabriel his dredfull horn shal blowe,
Iesu my soule to the I schall resigne.

Et numerum dierum meorum quis est ut sciam quid desit michi. O Eloy.

The noumbre of my daies alle,
Lord, and it be to thy plesaunce,
Make me to mynde ageyn hem calle,
In ordir to haue a remembraunce,
With schryfft, hosell, and repentaunce,
By grace that I may plese the,
Make mercy to sette the ordenaunce
Thereby to knowe what fayleth me.

Dirupisti domine uincula mea tibi sacrificabo hostiam laudis & nomine domini in vocabo. O emanuel.

My bitter bondis thou hast brooke,
Them onshette in goodly wyse,
By cleer confessioun them onlooke,
Out of synne to make me ryse,
For wich I schall do sacryfyse,
By grace remembred, oon and alle,
Do meek penaunce and sacryfyse,
Ay to thy name ffor mercy calle.

208

Periit fuga a me et non est qui requirat animam meam. O Christe.

On-to me, lord, ther ys no fflyght,
Nor of reffuge noon other place
Saue I Caste to goon ffull right
Maugre my ffoon that me manace,
Bothe to ffynden leyser and space
In euery Trybulacyoun
I looke vp-On thy blody fface
And on thy bytter passyoun.

Clamaui ad te domine dixi tu es spes mea porcio mea in terra uiuentium. O agios.

To the I crye lord ffor socour,
I sey thow art my suffysaunce
Myn hoope, my trust, my protectour,
Reffreyt of my goostly plesaunce,
Ageyn al fflesshly perturbaunce,
Reffute ageyn al wordly stryff,
And fortunys troubly varyaunce,
My porcioun in the lond of lyff.

Fac mecum signum in bono ut uideant qui oderunt me et confundantur quoniam tu domine adimuisti me & consolatus es me. O robam.

Make me a sygne in my fforhed,
Of that hooly vyctoryous tre,
On wich thow were maad blood red,
That alle my ffoon wich looke on me,
My goostly enmyes whan they me se
May dreede to ther confusioun,
Be-cause my trust ys hooll in the
Comfort and Consolacyoun.

Amen.

209

This is an holy verse also ageyn goostly enmyes. Delicta iuuentutis mee et ignorancias meas me memineris domine.

The trespacis of my tendir youthe,
Nor the gyltes of my grene age,
On-to thy right lat nat be kouthe
Tyl tyme that thy Ire asswage,
Myn ignoraunces nor Outrage
As I dysserve nat recorde,
Tyl pes be leyd as ffor Ostage
That right and mercy may accorde.

Explicit.

40. THE EIGHT VERSES OF ST. BERNARD.

[Another version.]

[_]

[From MS. B.M. Adds. 29729, leaves 126, back, to 127, back.]

Here begyneth verses of þe sauter whiche þat kynge Herry the V. whom god assoyle by gret devocion vsyd in his chappell at his hyȝe masses by-twene þe levacion and þe concecracion of þe sacrament translatid by þe Monke Lydegat dan John.

1

O sothefast sonne of all bryghtnes,
Enlumen withe thy clere lyght
Myn yen, that throughe no darkenesse
Slepe not in the blake nyght
Of cruell deth, so that no myght
My ennymy have, as he massayle,
To seyne in all [thys] fell[e] fyght
Agaynst me he myght avayle.

210

2

Into thy handes I comende
My spirit withe all humilite,
Thy mercy ever besechende;
Syth with thy bloode thow boughtest me,
Thow sothefast lord, one, too, & thre,
Agayn everyche tribulacion
Me governe through thy benyngnite,
And take to thy proteccion.

3

In my tonge I seyde and spake:
“Lord, make me myn ende know,
Or the serpent take wrake
With the treynes of his bow;
And of my day[e]s all by row
The nomber what it is let se,
Or I be layd in erthe low,
To wete ther-of what fayleth me.

4

“My bondis and my byter chaynes
Thou hast I-broke in goodly wyse,
And savede me fro the develes traynes;
Wherfore to the I shall devyse
Of laud and prayse and sacrefyce,
Of clene entent, withoute blame,
Now lord, my preyeer not despyse,
That clepe and cry vnto thy name,

5

“For unto me ther ys no flyght,
Benigne lord, but to thy grace,
For ther is non to [s]erche aryght
The trowbull that doth my hert enbrace;
So sore my syne dothe me chace
That I can no remedy,
But mekely knele afore thy face
Tyll thou by mercy lyst me guye.”

211

6

To the, lorde, I clepe and call,
And say; “Thow art my suffysans,
My trust, my hope, and therwithall
My Ioye, and all my [full] plesaunce;
The cheeffe eke of my remembraunce
My part ayeyn ech woo and drede
Withe-in the lond of lyfe mavaunce
By mercy for myne eternall mede.

7

“Make me a signe throw thy goodnes,
And marke me in my for-hede,
That my enmyes in my destres,
When they me se, have of me drede;
And of pyte and godelyhede
Be thou my consolacion,
Coumfort and refute, and all my spede,
In every maner of tribulacion.

8

“Remember, lord, ounly by grace
Of thy merytes, and take good hede
And thynke how they surmount and pas
All thy werkis, and excede;
For throue the worlde in length & brede
Thy merytes every-thyng excelle,
Syth thow allone, ther is no drede,
Of mercy art the fullsome welle.

9

“The trespas of my tender youthe,
Nere the gyltes of my gret age,
Unto thy ryght lat not be couthe,
Tyll tyme that thyne Ire asswage;
My ygnorance, nor owterage,
As I desarve, not recorde,
Tyll pes be leyde, as for ostage,
That ryght and mercy may accorde.

212

10

“After thy mercyes on me have mynde,
O lorde God, of thy hygh bounte;
Thynke that thou toke our kynde
Whylome in thy humanyte,
Whan thou come downe in lowe degre
For owr offense to be raunson,
And seth for our captiuite
Thy bloode was our redempcion.

11

“O lord, seth that I am thy servant,
Thy servant ryght as it is skyll,
By mekenes & by min avaunt,
And humble chylde of thyn ancill,
By grace graunt me to fullfyll
All that to the may be plesauns,
And when I ere ageynst thy wyll,
Have mercy or thou do vengeance.”

Explicit. Lidgatt.

41. A PRAYER FOR KING, QUEEN, AND PEOPLE, 1429.

[_]

[MS. Bodley Fairfax 16, leaves 199, back, to 200, back.]

Ab inmicis nostris defende nos christe.

Most souereigne lord, O blessed Crist Iesu!
From oure enemyes delyuer vs, and oure foon;
Vnder whos grace and vnder whos vertu

213

We ben assured, where so we ryde or goon,
Now lord, that art two, and three, and oon,
Kepe and preserve vnder thy myghty honde,
The kynge, the quene, the peple, and thy londe.

Affliccionem nostram benignus vide.

And blessed lorde, of thy benyngnytee
Considre and see oure affliccioun,
And lat thyn eye of mercye on vs see,
Vs to releve in tribulacioun,
And shadwe vs, lord, with thy proteccioun,
And ay preserue, vnder thy myghty honde,
The kynge, the quene, the peple and thy londe.

Dolorem cordis nostri respice clemens.

And, good lord, beholde and eke aduert
Of thy mercy and thy grete grace,
Thinwardes sorwes of oure troubled hert,
And look vpon vs with a benigne face,
And lat thyn wynges of pitee vs enbrace,
And [ay] preserve vnder thy myghty honde,
The kynge, the quene, the peple, and thy londe.

Peccata populi tui pius indulgo.

Mekely foryeve the synnes olde and newe
Of thy peple, and ther grete offence,
And, good lord, vpon ther giltes rewe,
And ther demerites by dome nat recompence,
But reconcyle them with thyn indulgence;
And ay preserve vnder thy myghty honde
The kynge, the quene, the peple, and thy londe.

214

Oraciones nostras pius exaudi.

And good lord, here oure orisouns,
Whan we to the for helpe clepe or calle,
Here oure compleyntes and lamentaciouns,
And doo socour to oure offences alle,
Be oure defence that noo myschefe ne falle,
And ay preserve vnder thy myghty honde,
The kynge, the quene, the peple, and thy londe.

Fili dei viui miserere nobis.

Thow sone of God, ay lastynge and eterne,
Haue mercy on vs, and forgete vs nought,
And of thy grace guye vs and gouerne,
And reconcyle that thow so dere hast bought,
With love and drede enbrace our inwarde thought,
And ay preserve, vnder thy myghty honde,
The kynge, the quene, the peple, and thy londe.

Hic et imperpetuum nos custodire digneris.

In this lyfe here, and perpetuelly,
To kepe vs, lord, that thou nat disdeyne,
For alle oure truste stant in thy mercie,
Hopynge by grace we shal therto atteyne,
Thy passyoun shal kepe vs oute of peyne,
And ay preserve vnder thy myghty honde,
The kynge, the quene, the peple, and thy londe.

Exaudi nos criste exaudi nos criste.

Here vs, lorde, whan we to the preye,
And here vs, lorde, in myschefe and in nede,
And Crist Iesu, by mercy vs conveye,
Whiche on the Croys liste for our sake blede,

215

Fortune this Realme, and make it wel to spede,
Benigne Iesu, preserve eke with thin hande,
The kynge, the quene, the peple, and thy londe.

215

Lenvoy.

9

A lorde! A-monge haue A Remembraunce
On sixt Henry, thyn oone chose knyght,
Borne tenheryte the Regioun of Fraunce,
By trew discent and by title of ryght,
Now good lorde conserve him thurgh thy myght,
And [ay] preserue vnder thy myghty honde,
Him and his moder, thy peple and thy londe.

10

Lat him in vertu ay encresse and shyne,
Worthy thorgh vertu to be put in memorye,
And forgete nat hys moder Kateryne,
Where thou sittest in thy heuenly glorye,
Yive to the knyght, conquest and victorye,
And [ay] preserve vnder thy myghty honde,
Him and his moder, thy peple and thy londe.

11

Be thow hys consaylle and hys souereigne rede,
So as he wexeth with vertu him tavaunce,
And blessed lord be thow bothe helpe and spede,
To alle that labouren for hys enheritaunce,
Bothe in this realme and in the grounde of Fraunce,
And [ay] preserve vnder thy myghty honde,
Him and hys moder, thy peple and thy londe.

216

12

In short tyme that thow may atteyne
Withoute lettyng or any perturbaunce,
To be corowned with worthy corovnes tweyne,
First in this londe, and afterwarde in Fraunce,
And give hym grace to lyve to thy plesaunce,
And ay preserve vnder thy myghty honde,
Hym and hys moder, thy peple and thy londe.

Explicit.

42. CRISTES PASSIOUN.

[_]

[MS. Laud Misc. 683, leaves 12 to 14, back.]

Here is a compleynt þat crist maketh of his passioun.

1

Man, to refourme thyn exil and thy loos
Fro paradys, place of moost plesaunce,
The to restore, I hange vp-on this Croos,
Crowned with thorn, woundid with a launce,
Handis and ffeet, tencres of my grevaunce,
With sharpe naylles my blood maad renne doun;
Whan-euer thou felyst trouble or perturbaunce,
Looke on my woundis, thynk on my passioun.

217

2

Thynk and remembre vpon my bloody fface,
The reed, the sponge, eysel meynt with galle,
Fel rebukys, O man, ffor thy trespace!
Hatful spittyng on my vysage ffalle,
Kyng of Iewis of scorn they gan me Calle,
Blyndfellid, bobbyd by ffals derysioun;
Man, for þi comfort among þi troublis alle,
Looke on my woundis, thynk on my passioun!

3

Thynk on the veyl that went assonder than,
On Caluary, whan I gaff vp the goost;
Remembre in ffygure vp-on the pellycan
Stonge to the herte, bleedyng in euery coost,
Pale and dedly whan al my blood was loost,
Dyes on my garnement throwen vp & down;
Man, in al myschef, whan thou art troubled most,
Looke on my woundys, thynk on my passioun.

4

The bitter chalis of my mortal suffraunce,
Remembre theron, of frendly kyndenesse,
The rounde ropis streynyng with gret penaunce,
My tendre lemys maad feynt for febylnesse,
Bounde to a peleer by violent sturdynesse,
To make a seeth for thy transgressioun;
For cheef comfort in al wordly dystresse
Remembre among vpon my passioun.

218

5

Cressettys born vp with many gret lanterne,
Swerdis, stavis, scoorges Inportable,
Cryeng terryble, hydous to Dyscerne,
Fals accusacyouns verray Innumerable,
Knyves, pynsouns, hard hameris nat plicable,
Craunpisshed with deth, accused of tresoun;
And sith my deth was to the profytable,
Man thynk among vpon my passioun.

6

The scalyd ladder vp to þe cros strecchyng,
Wich vertuous baner put fendys to þe flight;
Kokkys crowyng, onkynde folk rebukying,
That slombre and slepe þe longe wynteris nyght;
Bit hem a-wake, & with ther Inward sight
Looke on my tormentis, of equyte and resoun,
With goostly gladnesse, to make ther herte light,
Ech hour & moment, thynk on my passioun.

7

Al this was doon, O man, for love of the!
A standard splayed, thy lord slayn in that fight,
On a sepulcre lay closed dayes thre,
Stonys rooff assonder, the sonne lost his lyght,
Helle robbyd thorugh myn Imperyal myght,—
Callyd of Iuda the hardy strong lyoun,—
O man, remembre, I aske of the but ryght,
Gyff me the thank, thynk on my passioun!

219

8

I ffought for the a fful greet batayll,
Ageyn Sathan the tort[u]ous serpent,
Nakyd on the cros withoute plate or mayll,
Bood in the ffeld tyll al my blood was spent;
To wynne thy love this was myn Entent,
On to that ende I was thy Champioun;
To ffynde thy salve my flessh was al to-rent,
Whan thou art woundid, thynk on my passioun.

9

Stood afore bisshopes, ther fond I no respight,
Smet by ther mynystris in the consistorie,
Brouht to Herowdis, sent hom ageyn in whight,
Clad lyk a ffoole, the gospel maketh memorye,
Pilatys wasshing for a fals veynglorye;
Salued a scorn, clad by Collusioun
In purpel hewe, blyndfellid in their pretorie,
Regystre al this, thynk on my passioun.

10

And, but thow do, sothly thow art onkynde;
Be lawe of resoun preved inexcusable,
Alle these tokenys enprente hem in þi mende,
Geyn euery-thyng that in þe is coupable,
Blood and water ben bycours most vaylable,
To wasshe of synne all old corrupcyoun,
Water of baptem, most gracious & notable,
Meynt with the blood of my fel passioun.

220

11

Of thes two lycours kam al þe sacrementis,
In noumbre sevene, by Computacyoun,
To alle that folwe my ten comaundementis,
Reffuge ordeyned to ther salvacyoun,
For hooly churche took first fundacyoun,
Whan Longious spere thorugh myn herte Ran,
And blood & water went be my sides doun,
Tyme of my passioun, þe byldyng first began.

12

Consummatum est, said whan al was doo,
The theef of paradis maad a Cyteseyn,
I Callyd Goddys Sone be Centuryo,
Of Ioseph buryed thre dayes, in serteyn,
Lay in my grave, and Marie Mawdeleyn
Waytyng devoutly my Resurecyoun;
Thynk, with al this, how Adam was ageyn
Restoryd to Ioie thorugh my meek passioun.

13

Tokenys palpable, cleer as the sonne-beem,
Were in that hour shewed ageyn nature,
Whan bodyes roos, kam to Ierusaleem,
Ther bonys Ioyned, out of ther sepulture,
Lyfly apperid to many a cryature;
Pilat also, as maad ys mencyoun,
Wroot dyuerse lettirs, merveyllous of scripture,
Greek, Ebrew, Latyn, tyme of my passioun.

14

Man, calle to minde, and meekly do aduerte,
How Symeon seide in his prophesye,
A swerd of sorwe sholde perce to the herte,

221

Of my moodir, that Callyd is Marye,
Stood with Seyn Iohn, swowned at Calvarie,
Vnder my cros for febilnesse fyl doun,
Man, at thy lyf, and hour whan þu shalt die,
Geyn froward Sathan, thynk on my passioun.

lenvoye.

Go, lytel bylle, with al humylyte
Hang affore Iesu, that list for man to bleede,
To-fore his cros pray folk that shal the see,
Onys aday this compleynt ffor to reede;
No losse of tyme, thou shalt þe better speede
Redyest weye to ther saluacyoun,
No bettir socour, nor support in your neede,
Than offte thynkyng on Crystys passioun.

Explicit.

43. A SEYING OF THE NIGHTINGALE.

[_]

[MS. Trin. Coll. MS. R. 3. 20, pp. 337 to 348.]

Loo þus endeþe here þappistel of þe Regiment of Prynces þe whiche daun Aristotiles weel avised wrote vn-to þe King Alexander and filowing nowe here nexst beginneþe a seying of þe Nightingale ymagyned and compyled by Lydegate daun Johan þe monk of Bury.

1

In Iuygne whan Tytan was in þe Crabbes hed,
Towardes even þe saphyre huwed sky

222

Was westwarde meynt with many rowes red,
And fowles singen in þeyre melodye
An hevenly complyne with sugred ermonye,
As þat hem nature taught þoo for þe best,
Þey gane hem proygne, and droughe hem to þeyre rest,

2

Þat sithe þe tyme, for sooþe, þat I was borne,
Hade I not herde suche song in dovne ner daale,
And alle were goone, sauf vpon a thorne
Þe saame tyme I herde a Nightingale,
So as I lay pensyf in a vale
To herken þe menyng of hir melodye
Whos hertely refreyde was euer “ocy, ocy.”

3

She mant, I trowe, with hir notes nuwe
And in hir ledne, on Venus to taake vengeaunce
On fals louers wheeche þat beon vntruwe,
Ay ful of chaunge and of varyaunce,
And can in oone to haue no pleasaunce,
Þis bridde ay song, “O sleþe hem, lady myn,
With-outen mercy, and bring hem to hir fyn,

4

“To shewe ensaumple, þat oþer may wel knowe
Howe þat þey shal in hir trouþe abyde:
For par dy, lady, yit þy sones bowe
Nys not broke, which called is Cupyde,
Let him mark hem and wownde hem in þe syde
With-outen mercy er any remedye,
Wher so þat he suche falshode can espye.

5

“And suche as beon for loue langwysshing,
Cherisshe hem, lady, for truwe affeccyoun,
Support and help hem with þy might to bring

223

In-to þy Castell, set in Cytheron
On dyamaundis sette is þe dungeoun,
Frette with Rubyes and Emerawdes greene
Nowe herke my song, þat art of love þe qweene.”

6

And as I lay and herde hir tonys cleere,
And on hir notes me gretly gan delyte,
Vpon þe eve þe sterres did appeere,
þe bavmy vapour of graasys gan vpsmyte.
In to myn heued of floures rede and whyte
þat with þe odour, er þat I tooke keepe,
I felle anoon in to a dedly sleepe.

7

And þanne me sempte frome þe god of loue
To me was sent an vnkoupe messagier,
Nought frome Cupyde but fro þe lord aboue;
And as me thought ful fayre and fresshe of cheere,
Which to me sayde “Foole what doost þou here
Sleping alloone, gaping vpon þe moone?
Rysse, folowe me, and þou shalt se right soone

8

An vnkouþe sight, if þou list þee spede,
Þe briddes song I shal to þee vncloose;
For trust me weel I cast þee not to lede
No thing towardes þe gardin of þe roose,
And I þy spirit shal oþer-wyse dispoose
For to declare þe briddes song ‘ocy,’
And what scheo meneþe in sentence truwly.

9

Þyne aduertence is gouuerned wrong
Touching þe toynes þou haddest here to-forne;
‘Occy, Occy’ þis was þe briddes song,
Which many a lover haþe thorugh foly lorne.
But thenk amonge vpon þe sharpe thorne
Which prickeþe hir brest with fyry remembraunce,
Louers in vertu tencresce hem and avaunce.

224

10

Þis briddes song which þat we haue on honde,
Who þat take þe moralytee,
Betokeneþe pleynly for to vnderstonde
þe gret fraunchyse, þe gret liberte
Which shoulde in loue beo so pure and free
Of truwe menyng rooted so with-Inne
Fer frome þe conceyte of any maner synne.

11

Take þowe noon heede how þis bridde so smal
Singeþe as þat she wolde hir-self dismembre,
Streyneþe hir throte, peyneþe hir brest at al,
Shakeþe and qwakiþe in euery Ioynt and membre,
O man vnkynde, why doost þou not remembre
Amonge in hert vn-to þis briddes song?
Yif þou aduert, þou doost to God gret wronge.

12

Þou art deceyued in þyne opynyoun
And al awrong al so þou doost goo,
Feynt and vntruwe þyn exposicion,
Þyne vnderstonding þy conceyte boþe two.
Þis bridde in sooþe ne meneþe no-thing so;
For hir singyng, whoso takeþe heede,
No-thing resouneþe in-to flesshlyhed.

13

Touching “Occy,” consider weel þe word,
Þis bridde it song of inpacyence,
Of Iniuries doone vn-to þe lord,
And wrong[es] gret[e] to his magnyfyence
Of worldely folk, thorugh þeyre gret offence,
Which cane not knowe for þeyre reklesnesse
Þe grete loue, þe grete kyndenesse,

14

Which he shewed for þeyre alder goode
Whane þat he, yif þey koude aduerte,

225

For þeyre saake sterff vpon þe Roode
And with a spere was stongen thorugh þe hert,
Who felt euer for loue so gret a smert
As thilke lord did for mannes saake?
And yit, allas, noon heed þer-of þey taake!

15

To paye þe raunsoun of our gret losse
He was in loue so gentyle and so free
Þat hym deyned be nayled on þe crosse,
And lyche a theof hong vpon a tree;
Lifft vp þyne hert, vnkynde man, and see
Þe nightingale in hir armonye,
Þus day and night dooþe vpon þe crye.

16

Sheo cryed “Slee al þoo þat beon vnkynde,
And cane of loue þe custume not obserue,
Nor in þeyre eyghen no drope of pyte fynde,
Nor in þeyre brest for loue no sighe conserue;
Why list þee lord, for mannes saake sterve
But for to paye of fredam þe raunsoun,
His hert[e] blood for þeyre redempcioun?”

17

Hees wowndes fyve for man he did vncloose
Of hondes, of feet, and of his fayre syde;
Make of þees fyve, in þyn hert a roose
And let it þeer contynuelly abyde,
Forget hem not wher þou goo or ryde
Gadre on heepe þees rosen floures fyve,
In þy memorye enprynt hem al þy lyve.

18

Þis is þe Roos which first gan wexen reed,
Spreynt ouer al with dropes of paurpur huwe,
Whan Cryst Iesu was for mankynde ded
And hade vpon a garnement ful nuwe, [OMITTED]
His holy moder, his Cousin eek Saint Johan,
Suche array to-fore saughe þey neer noon.

226

19

Which to beholde God wot þey wer not feyne
His blessed body to seen so al to-rent,
A crowne of thorne þat throbbed thorugh his breyne,
And al þe blood of his body spent;
His hevenly eyeghen, allas, deeþe haþe eblent,
Who might for routhe susteyne and to beholde
But þat his hert of pytee shoulde colde?

20

Þis war þe saame which þat Isaye.
Saugh frome Edome came, with his clooþe depeynt
Steyned in Bosra, eeke did him aspye
Baaþed in blood, til he gan wexen feynt.
Þis is he þat drank eysell and galle emeynt,
Þis is he þat was to-fore Pylate atteynt,
With false accusours in the Consistorye,
Oonly to bring mankynde to his glorye.

21

He was moost feyre founden, in his stoole
Walkyng of vertues with mooste multytude,
Blessed, beningne and hevenly of his scoole,
Which with his souffrance Sathan can conclude,
His humble dethe did þe deuel delude,
Whane he mankynd brought out of prysoun,
Making his fynaunce with his passyoun.

22

Ysaye þe moost renommed prophete,
Axed of him, why his garnement,
Was red and blody, ful of dropes wete,
So disguysed was his vestyment;
Lyke hem þat pressin quayers of entent
In þe pressour, boþe þe rede and whyte,
So was he pressyd þy Raunsoun for to quyte.

227

23

“Hit is I,” quod he, “þat trade it al allone.
With-outen felawe I gane þe wyn outpresse,
Whane on þe crosse I made a deolful moone
And thorough myn hert þe sperehed gan hit dresse,
Who felt euer so passyng gret duresse?—
Whane alle my freondes alloone me forsooke
And I my self þis iourne on me tooke.

24

“Excepte my moder þer durst noon abyd
Of my discyples þat weren me suwende:
Saynt Iohan for loue stoode by myn oþer syde,
Alle þe remenaunt fro me dyden weende.
Þe Iewes my flesshe a-sondre dyden reende
Who was it but I þat aboode in þe vyne
To presse out wyne, þy raunsoun for to fyne?

25

“For mannes saake with me ful harde it stoode,
For-saken of alle and eeke desconsolate;
Þey lefft no drope, but druwe out al my blood;
Was neuer noon so pore in noon estate,
Alle my descyples lefft me desolate
Vpon þe crosse, bytwene theoves tweyne,
And noon aboode to rewe vpon my peyne.

26

“Oo yee alle þat passen by þe wey,
Lifft vp þe eghe of youre aduertence!
Sawe yee euer any man so dye
With-outen gilt, þat neuer did offence?
Or is þer ony sorowe in existence
Lyche þe sorowe þat I did endure
To bye mankynde, vnkynde creature?

228

27

“For þe surfeyte of þy synnes alle,
And for þoffence of þy wittes fyve,
My touche, my taast, myn hering did appalle,
Smellyng and sight ful feoble were als blyue,
Þus in yche party þat man may contryve
I suffred peyne, and in euery membre
Þat any man can reken or remembre.

28

“Ageyne þe synnes pleynly of þyn hede
I hade vpon a crowne of thornes keene;
Bitter teres were medled with my bred,
For mannes trespas I felt all þe teene,
Myne eyen blynde þat whylome shoone so sheene,
And for man in my thrust most feel,
I drank galle tempred with eyseel.

29

“For mannys looking fulfilled with outrage,
And for his tonge ful of detraccyoun,
I alloone souffred þe damage,
And ageyne falshede of adulacion
I drank galle poynaunt as poysoun;
Ageyns hering of tales speken in veyne
I hade rebuyk and sayde no worde ageyne.

30

“Geyne pryde of beaute, where as folkes trespas,
I suffred my-self gret aduersytee,
Beten and benchyd in myn owen face,
Ageyns touching, if men list to see,
Myne handes were nayled fast vn-to þe tree;
And for misfootyng, where men went wrong,
My feet thorugh percyd, were not my peynes strong?

229

31

“Was it not I þat trespassed nought,
Þat had myne hert perced even atweyne,
And neuer ofended oonys in a thought,
Yit was it kerve thorugh in euery veyne?
Who felt euer in eorþe so gret peyne
To reken al giltles as did I?
Wher-for þis bridde sang ay, ‘occy, occy’

32

“Suche as beon to me founde vnkynde
And haue no mynde kyndely of resoun,
But of slouthe haue elefft byhynde
Þe hole remembraunce of my passyoun,
By meene of which and mediacyoun
Ageyne al poysoun of þe synnes seven
Tryacle I brought, sent hem doun frome heven.

33

“Ageyns pryde, Remembre my meeknesse,
Geyne coveytyse thenk on my pouerte,
Ageyne lechcherye thenk on my clennesse,
Ageyns envye thenk on my charytee,
Ageyns gloutonye aduerte in hert and se
How þat I for mannes gret offence
Fourty dayes lyved in abstynence.”

34

Of meeknesse he did his heued enclyne
Ageyns þe synne and þe vyce of pryde,
Ageyns envye streght out as a lyne,
Spradde his armes out on euery syde
Tenbrace his freondes and with hem abyde,
Shewing hem signes, who so list to see,
Grounde of his peynes was parfyt charyte.

230

35

Ageyns coueytyse, mankynde to redresse
Thorugh-nayled weren his hooly handis tweyne,
Shewing of fredam a bounteuouse almesse
Whane he for loue suffred so gret peyne,
To make mankynde his blisse to atteyne.
And his largesse to rekken by and by
I shal rehers his gifftes ceryously.

36

He gaf his body to man for chief repaast,
Restoratyff best in þe fourme of bred,
At his maundee or he hennes past
His blessed blood in fourme of wyn ful red,
His soule in prys whanne þat he was ded,
And of oure synnes as cheef lauender
Out of his syde he gaf vs water cleere.

37

He gaf also his pourpur vestement
To þe Iewys þat did him crucefye.
To his apostilles he gaf eeke of entent
His blessed bodye, ded whane he did lye.
And his moder þat cleped was Marye,
Þe keping of hir he gaf to Saynt John
And to his fader his goost whane hit was goon.

38

Ageyns slouthe he shewed gret doctryne
Whane he him hasted towardes his passyoun,
Agenyst wrathe þis was his dicyplyne
Whane he was brought texamynacyoun,
A sofft aunswere with-oute rebellyoun,
Ageynst gloutounye he drank eysell and galle
Toppresse sourfaytes of vycyous folkes alle.

231

39

He gaf also a ful gret remedye
To mankynd hir sores for to sounde;
For ageyne þe heete of lechcherye
Meekly he souffred many a greuous wownde,
For noon hoole skyn was on his body founde,
Nor þer was seyne oþer apparayle
But blood, allas, aboute his sydes raylle!

40

Þer he was sone and his fadres heyre
With him alloone by peternytee,
Hit was a thing incomparable feyre
Þe sone to dye to make his seruaunt free,
Him fraunchysing with suche libertee;
To make man þat was thorugh synne thralle
Þe court tenheryte above celestyal.

41

Þeos kyndnesses wheeche I to þee reherce,
Let hem devoyde frome þoblyuyoun,
And let þe nayles wheche thoroughe is feet did perce
Ben cleere myrour of þy redempcyoun.
Enarme þy-self for þy proteccioun
Whanne þat þe feondes list ageyns þee stryve,
With þe carrectes of his wowndes fyve.

42

Ageyns þeyre malyce beo strong and weel ware,
Al of his crosse aryse vp þe banyer,
And thenk how he to Caluarye it bare
To make þee strong ageyns þeyre daungier;
Which whane þey seen, þey dare come no meer,
For trust weel, his crosse is best defence
Ageynst þe power of feondes vyolence.

232

43

Hit is þe palme, as clerkis can weel telle,
To a man in eorþe to conquest and victorye,
It is þe tree, which þat Danyell
Sawe spradde so broode, as makid is memorye;
Þe keye of heven, to bring men to glorye,
Þe staff of Iacob causing alle sure grace,
With which þat hee Iordan did paase.

44

Scale and laddre of oure ascencyoun,
Hooke and snaare of þe Levyatan,
Þe strong pressour of oure redempcycoun,
On which þe bloode doune by his sydes rane,
For no thing ellys but for to saue man,
Þe harp of Dauid, which mooste might avayle
Whane þat þe feonde Kyng Saule did assayle.

45

Þis was þe paale, and þe heeghe tree
Whylome sette vp by Moyses of entent,
Al Israel, beholde neghe and see
And þer vpon off brasse a gret serpent,
Which to beholde, whoo were not necgligente.
Receyued helthe, salue and medecyne
Of all þeyre hurtes þat were serpentyne.

46

Þis banier is moste mighty of vertu
Geyns feondes defence mighty and cheef obstacle
Mooste noble staue and token of Tayu
To Esechyel shewed by myracle,
Chief chaundellabre of þe tabernacle,
Wher through was caused al his cleere light
Voyding al derknesse of þe cloudy night.

233

47

Þis was þe tree of mankyndes boote,
Þat stynt hir wrathe and brought in al þe pees,
Which made þe water of maraþe fresh and swoote,
Þat was to-forne moost bitter, doutelesse,
Þis was þe yerde of werþy Moyses,
Which made þe children of Israell go free
And drye fotyd thorough þe Red See.

48

This was þe slyng which with stoones fyve
Worthy David, as bookes specefye,
Gan þe hede and þe helme to ryve
Of þe Geant þat called was Golye,
Wheeche fyve stoones taking þalegorye
Ar þe fyve woundes, as I rehers can,
With wheeche þat Cryst venqwyssht haþ Sathan.

49

O synful soule! why nyltowe taken keepe
Of his peynes remembring on þe shoures?
Forsaake þe worlde, and waake oute of þy sleep
And to þe gardeyn of parfyt paramours
Maake þy passage, and gader þer þy floures
Of verray vertu, and chaunge al þyne olde lyff;
And in þat gardyn beo contemplatyff.

50

For þis worlde here booþe at even and morowe,
Who list consider aright in his resoun,
Is but an exyle and a desert of sorowe,
Meynt ay with trouble and tribulacyoun;
But who list fynde consolacyoun
Of goostely Ioye, let him þe worlde forsake
And to þat gardin þe right wey[e] take,

234

51

Wher as þat god of loue him-self doþe dwelle
Vpon an hille, fer frome þe mortal vale,
Canticorum þe book ful weel can telle,
Calling his spouse with sugred notes smale
Where þat ful lowd þamerous nightingale
Vpon a thorne is wont to calle and crye
To mannys soule with hevenly ermonye,

Veni in ortum meum, soror mea.

“Come to my gardyn and to myn herber grene
My fayre suster and my spouse deere,
Frome filthe of synne by vertu made al clene
With Cristal paved þaleys beon so clere.
Come, for I calle.” Anoon, and þou shalt here,
Howe Cryst Ihesu, so blessed mot he be!
Calleþe mannys soule of parfyte charyte.

53

He calleþe hir suster and his spouse also,
First his suster, who-so list to see,
As by his nature, take goode heede here-to,
Full nyghe of kyn by consanguynyte,
And eeke his spouse by affynytee,
I mene as þus baffynyte of grace
With goostely loue, whane he hit dooþe enbrace.

54

And eeke his suster by semblance of nature
Whane þat he tooke oure humanyte
Of a mayde moost clennest and pure,
Fresshest of floures þat sprang oute of Iesse [OMITTED]
As flour eordeyned for to releeve man,
Which bare þe frut þat sloughe our foo Sathan.

of þis balade daune Iohn made no more.

235

44. THE CHILD JESUS TO MARY, THE ROSE.

[_]

[MS. B. M. Harley 2251, leaf 78.]

1

My fader above, beholdyng thy mekenesse,
As dewe on Rosis doth his bawme sprede,
Sent his gost, most souerayne of clennes,
Into thy brest, (a! Rose of wommanhede!)
Whan I for man was borne in my manhede;
For whiche with Rosis of heuenly Influence
I me reioyse to pley in thy presence.

2

Benyng moder! who first dide inclose
The blessed budde that sprang out of Iesse,
Thow of Iuda the verray perfite Rose,
Chose of my fader for thyn humylite
Without fadyng most clennest to bere me;
For whiche with Roses of chast Innocence,
I me Reioyse to pley in thi presence.

3

O moder! moder! of mercy most habounde,
Fayrest moder that euer was alyve!
Though I for man have many a bloody wounde,
Among theym alle there be Rosis fyve,
Agayne whos mercy fiendis may nat stryve;
Mankynde to save, best Rosis of defence,
Whan they me pray for helpe in thy presence.

45. CRISTE QUI LUX ES ET DIES.

[_]

[Trin. Coll. Cam. MS. R. 3. 20, pp. 195–197.]

Beholdeþe here and seeþe þe translacion of þe ympne Criste qui lux es & dies, by Lydegate in wyse of balade.

236

Criste qui lux es & dies.

Cryst, þat art booþe daye and light,
And sooþefaaste sonne of al gladnesse,
Þat doost awey derknesse of night,—
And souereyne light of al brightnesse
Beleved art in soþefastenesse,
Preching þis blissful light of pees,
Be oure socour in alle distresse,
Criste qui lux es & dies.

Precamur sancte domine.

O hooly lord! to þee we praye,
In þis night þou vs defende,
Ageynst alle foon þat vs werraye,
Be þou quyete oure lyff tamende,
And þy grace to vs þou sende
With nightes reste in vnyte,
In þy servyce oure lyff to spende
Precamur sancte domine,

Ne grauis compuis irruat.

Þat vs no greuous sleep oppresse,
Ne þat oure foo vs vndermyne,
Ne þat oure flesshe of frowardnesse
Assent þe spyrit to enclyne,
For to bring it to ruyne,
Þee to gilt thorough þeyre debate,
But let þy grace on vs shyne
Ne grauis sompnis irruat.

Oculi sompnum capiantis.

Let oure eyghen rest[e] taake,
Oonly thorughe þy benigne grace,
Þat þe spirit euer awaake
Þee for to serue yche houre and space,

237

And whanne oure foomen vs manace
Let þy Right hande, as þou art wont,
Defende þy servantes in yche a place,
Dum oculi sompnum capiunt.

Defensor noster aspice.

Oure Chaumpyoun see and byhoolde,
Oure wayting enemys þou represse,
Gouverne þy servantes yonge and olde
Of þy mercy and þy goodnesse,
Whome þou boughtest in gret distresse
With þyne hooly bloode moost free,
And þat þe feonde vs nought oppresse
Defensor noster aspice.

Memento nostri domine.

Þou benigne lord! on vs remembre
In þis greuous body heere,
Keepe and preserue vs euery membre,
Sith þou boughtest vs so deere,
Which art defence, as bookis leere,
Of þe soule thorughe þe pytee,
For which in mescheef booþe fer and neere
Memento nostri domine.

Deo patri sit gloria.

To God þe Fader honnour and glorye,
And to his oonly sone also;
Worship, with hert and hool memorye,
Eeke to þe Hooly Goost beo doo,
Egale with þe first[e] twoo,
Booþe three and oon per secula,
For which we sing in Ioye and woo
Deo patri sit gloria.

238

46. THE FIFTEEN OOES OF CHRIST.

[_]

[MS. Laud Misc. 683, leaves 1 to 8, rearranged.]

Here begynnyth the xv Oys translatyd out of Latyn into Englyssh by damp John Lydgate monk of Seynt Edmundys Bury.

Assit principio sancta maria meo.

1

O blyssed lord my lord, O Cryst Iesu,
Welle and hedspryng of eternal swetnesse!
Of them that loue the, guerdoun of most vertu,
Alle other joyes surmountyng in sothnesse,
By prerogatyves, in whom ys all gladnesse,
Them to comforte that be Contemplatyf;
In ther desyres thow art her cheef rychesse
And hooll ther tresour, here in this present lyf.

2

Thow art her helthe and comfort in syknesse,
Of synfull sowlys reffute and medycyne,
And as thy-sylf, O lord, beryst wytnesse
To synfull peple thy presence lyst Enclyne,
Took our humanyte of a pure vyrgyne,
For our sauacyoun, of mercyfull plesaunce;
O Iesu! Iesu! thy grace lat down schyne
On them that love the, and have in remembraunce

3

How thow most goodly hast our kynde take,
Sent from thy ffader lowe in Erthe down,
And what thow suffredyst also for our sake—
In thy manhood ffull greet trybulacyoun,

239

Greet aduersitee, dooll, deth, and passyoun—
Afforn ordeyned by prescyence devyne
Of our captyvyte to make redempcyoun
In Abraham promysed, born of Dauyd lyne.

4

O lord, remembre vpon the hevynesse
With wich thow were Inwardly constreyned;
Thynk on thy mortall wofull byttyrnesse
Mong alle thyn enemyes with scorgis bete & peyned,
Thyn hevenly colour, thy fayr skyn dysteyned,—
Ageyns the the Iewes were so wood—
And all this, o lord, hast nat dysdeyned
To thy dyscyplys in forme of flesshe & blood

5

To yeve thy body, for ther goostly ffoode,
On Sherthursday, by mercyfull meeknesse;
Weyssh ther ffeet, for our aldyr goode,
On Olyuet of constreynt and dystresse
Swettyst blood & water, thyn eien dist up dresse
On-to thy ffader, seydyst thys Orysoun,
“O Fader myn, graunt of thy goodnesse,
Translate thys Chalys of my passyoun!”

6

Toldyst afforn, O Iesu! all the Caas
Of thy takyng, with euery cyrcumstaunce,
The fals betrayng, the kyssyng of Iudas,
Thy pacyence, thy stylle meek suffraunce,
By fals accusours tencres of thy grevaunce,
So fore thre Iuges ongoodly thow wer brouht,
Ay of O cheer, of look, and contenaunce,
Benyngne Iesu stood stille & seydyst nought.

7

Tyme of thy pask, as it ys weell kouthe,
In Ierusalem, a famous greet cyte,

240

Benyngne Iesu, flowryng in thy yowthe,
Fayrest of ffayre, moost goodly on to se,
Thow were condempned to deth of Enmyte,
Of thy clothyng dyspoyled and maad bare,
And lyk a ffool, allas! yt was pyte,
How thow were clad thy gospel doth declare.

8

Thyn hevenly eyen, thy look selestyall,
Were hyd and veylled, & þi benynge face
Bete & bobbyd with buffetys full mortall,
And to a peleer streytly they did enbrace
Thy blyssed body, and neuer did trespace:
Moost felly scorged, with blood dysteyned reed,
Torent with roopys thyn heer dyd arrace,
A crowne of thornys they set vpon thyn hed.

Oracio.

O lord Iesu! enprente in my memorye
Alle these tokenys of thy peynfull passioun;
Thy cros, thy deth, on Caluary thy vyctorye,
Gravyn in myn herte with hooll affeccyoun,
Full repentaunce with pleyn confessioun,
And as thow bouhtist me, O Ihesu! with thy blood,
Graunt of my synnys full remyssioun,
Wich for our sake starff vp-on the Rood.

10

O gracyous Iesu, forgere of the hevene,
Lord and cryator of euery cryature,
Madyst al thys world and þe planetis vij,
Vnmesured, and al thyng mayst mesure;
Erthe and mounteins round of ther fygure
Closyst in thyn hand as a lytell ball,
Remembre, O lord! what wo thow dist endure
Naylled on the cros, and lyst to be mortall.

241

11

For love of man in thyn humanyte
Feet & handis thorough percid, & maad reed,
Between two thevys vpon the Roode tre,
And for our sake, O Iesu! thow were ded,
Thy body streyned bothe in lengthe & bred
On Good Fryday, with many a mortall wounde;
Benyngne Iesu, of pyte tak now heed,
O welle of grace, of mercy most habounde!

12

Louly besechyng, Iesu, of thy goodnesse
That I may haue thy peynes in memorye,
And to remembre the wofull bytternesse
Wich thow lyst suffre, to brynge us to þi glorye;
And in our hertys pryue consystorye
Graunt us, O Iesu, with parfight love & dreed,
Of our thre enymyes þat we may haue victorye,
By thy meek passioun, þat lyst for man, to bleede.

13

O Iesu! Iesu! our helthe, our medycyne,
Our hevenly leche, our socour in syknesse,
Thy lemys strecchyd & drawe out riht as lyne
With myhty roopys, tencres of thy dystresse,
High on the cros lefft vp by greet duresse,
Thy flessh, thy sydys, torent and al to-torn,
No sorwe lyk, nor dooll, nor hevynesse
Was neuer in man seyn in this world toforn.

14

O gracyous Iesu! whan I remembre me
How from thyn hed lowe to thy ffeet, allas,
Was noon hooll skyn vntorn, nor lefft in the,
Bespreynt with blood was thyn hevenly fface,

242

Yit of thy mercy Iesu, thus stood the Caas,
Thou preidist for them on-to thy fader dere,
Seydyst, “O Fader fforgyff hem ther trespace.
For what they doon they knowe nat þe manere.”

15

Lord, for that mercy and myserycorde
Gyff me grace tenprenten in my mynde
Thy gloryous passyoun, by and by record
Alle the tokenys, that noon be lefft behynde,
Abowte thy cros in ordre as I hem fynde;
The sharpe spere, that dyd thyn herte ryve,
The scorges & peler, to wich they did the bynde,
And specyally thy glorious woundis ffyve.

16

O Iesu! callyd in thy selestyall see
Lord of lordys, lord of moost puyssaunce,
Namyd of angelys fredam and liberte,
And of paradys delycyous plesaunce;
Iesu remembre, haue mynde of the penaunce,
The ferfull orrour, with tormentis most terryble,
Wich thow sufferedist, to saue man fro myschaunce,
And for our love were pacyently passyble.

17

Alle thyn enymyes rounde aboute the stood,
Fersere than Tygrees, woder than lyowns;
Bete and bobbyd, and al be-spreynt with blood,
With fals rebukys, froward yllusyouns,
Scorgis inportable, dyverse derysyouns,
Echon thyn enemyes, & frendys but a fewe,
Ageyn our trespacys and our transgressiouns,
Benyngne Iesu! thou hast thy love shewe.

243

Oracio.

Lowly requyring of mercyfull pyte
From alle our enymyes, visible and invisible,
Dyffende us, Iesu, that we may go ffre,
—Sith to thy power nothyng ys inpossyble—
From Sathanys myght, hydous and odyble,
Vnder the wyngys of thy proteccyoun,
That sufferedyst deth vp-on an hih patyble,
Shadewe all þi servauntis with þi meek passioun.

Oracio.

O Iesu, merour of spirituall cleernesse,
Hang on the cros ffor our Redempcyoun,
Remembre of all the trouble & hevynesse,
Nakyd on the Roode taquyten our raunsoun,
Voyd of all comfort and consolacyoun
Sauff of thy moder, & thy cosyn Seynt Iohn,
To hym assyngnyng the commendacyoun
To wayte on hyr, Iesu, whan thow were goon.

20

Vndyr thy cros wepyng whan she stood,
Seydyst to hir with a ful dedly cheere,
“Behold, O woman most benyngne & good,
Behold þi sone, wich that stondeth here,”
And to Seynt Iohn seidest in this manere,
“Behold þi moder & haue hir in kepyng.”
Who myhte his eyen from salte teris stere
To seen or heryn this dolerous partyng?

21

The prophesye of Olde Symeoon
That same hour kam to remembraunce,
A swerd of sorwe shold thorgh hir soule goon.
Felt euer modyr so grevous a penaunce?

244

Iesu, whos herte was woundid with a launce,
Graunt in al myschef and trybulacyoun
We may resorte to ffynde in al greuaunce
Mercyful support, lord, in thy passyoun.

Oracio.

O gracyous Iesu, kyng moost amyable,
Aboue all kynges kyng of most puyssaunce,
Moost desyrous, our comfort most notable,
Our suppowaylle, our post geyn al grevaunce,
Thy grete sorwys calle him to remembraunce,
Wich thow suffredyst for our aldyr goode,
Nakyd allas, perced with a launce,
On Good Fryday hangyng on the Roode.

23

Thy frendys fledde, almoost euerychoon,
The bront abydyng alone al dosolaat,
Except thy moder, thevangelist Seynt Iohn,
With weping terys tryst & disconsolat,
Swownyng full offte, fil to þe ground prostrat
Spak to thy moder that alle myghtyn here,
“Woman beholde þi sone in pore estaat,”
And to Seynt Iohn, “behold þi moder dere.”

Oracio.

To the, Iesu, bothe at eve and morwe,
With contryt herte I sey this Orysown,
So as the swerd, callid þe swerd of sorwe,
Perced the herte by tribulacyoun
Of thy moder, tyme of thy passyoun,
O mercyful Iesu! graunt only of þi grace,
In sowle and body ffull consolacyoun,
By shryfft and hoosill or I hens pace.

245

25

O Iesu, that art of mercy sours and welle,
Moost habundaunt of plentyvous pyte,
Wich on the cros, þi gospell can weell telle,
How thow seydyst hangyng on the tre,
Thou haddyst a thrust, a thrust of charyte,
Thys was thrust, for short conclusioun,
To restore to goostly liberte
Alle them for whom thow suffredyst passioun.

Oracio.

Mercyfull Iesu! sette our herte affyre,
Encrese and more our dysposycyoun,
That day be day we fully may desyre
In thy seruyse of hooll affeccyoun
To growe and wexe, in full perfeccyoun,
Alle flesshly lustys ffor to sette asyde;
Wordly ffavour, and veyn ambycyoun,
Represse in vs and be our goostly guyde.

27

O Iesu! callyd most souereign swetnesse,
Of thoughtfull hertys bawme Imperyall,
Our sugre, our comfort geyn all byttyrnesse,
Wich for our sake drank eysell and gall,
Suffredyst deth for to saue us all;
O blyssed lord, graunt us for thy torment
To-forn our deth at nede whan we call,
Goostly repast of the hooly sacrement.

Oracio.

Thys to seyne for our eternall ffoode,
For our most solempne restauracyoun,
Graunt us to resceyve thy body & thy blood
Or we parte hens, with pure confessioun,

246

Our path, our weye, to the hevenly mansioun,
Callid by thy grace our gostly dyrectorye,
To saue our passage from þe infernal doungoun,
And fyry flawmys of dredful purgatorye.

29

O thow moost gracyous mercyfull Iesu!
Wich for thy synguler selestyall gladnesse
In amerous hertys brennying in vertu
Art callid the roote of royall parfightnesse,
Lord, for þe constreynt & mortall bitternesse
Thow haddyst than, this noyse whan þu dist make,
Crying for constreynt of thy pitous dystresse,
“Lord God my lord! why hastow me forsake?”

Oracio.

For that anguyssh & grevous drerynesse
Thow haddist þat hour afforn þou sholdist dye,
For love of man thorugh þi gret kyndenesse
Vp-on the cros hangyng at Caluarye,
Forsake us nat whan we to the Crye
In ony myschef or Trybulacyoun,
That we may find socour and remedye
In thy moost peynfull gloryous passioun.

31

O Iesu! Iesu! callid Alpha and Omega,
Our lyf, our vertu, support in our neede,
Thynk, & recorde, and remembre also,
From hed to foot how thow dedyst bleede,
Wasshe and steyned in a purpyll weede,
Fro þi v woundis ran so large a fflood,
Thorugh al þe world the stremys did sprede
To wasshe our surfetis with þi precious blood.

247

Oracio.

In blood & water, tyme of thy passyoun,
Of love was shewid, pleynly to conclude,
As in two lycours our Redempcyoun,
Water of baptem took a gret latytude,
Thy blood out shad, Sathan to declude,
For wich, Iesu, shewe thys avauntage,
Of grace and mercy þe grete magnytude
By blood & water to cleyme our herytage.

33

O hooly Iesu! of mercy moost habounde,
Wich on the cros boughtyst us so dere,
Be thy v. woundys depe, large, & profounde,
Thorugh skyn & flesh conseyved þe matere,
Gracyous Iesu! resceyve our mek prayere,
Whan our thre enmyes ageyn us gynne stryve,
Graunt we may hyde us ageyn ther fel daunger
Myd the kavys of thy depe woundys ffyve.

34

O sothfast Iesu! callyd cleer merour
Of trowthe, of love, of pes and vnyte,
Signacle and sel, patent and protectour,
Our sheld, our pavys geyn al aduersite,
From heed to foot by furious cruelte
All forwoundyd, torased, and to-rent,
By the Iewys conspyred Enmyte,
Bete & scorged, tyl al thy blood was spent,

35

Born & conseyued in virgynall clennesse,
Of a pure mayden brouht forth in Bedleem,
Reed & rubyfyed was affter thy witnesse,
With dolerous deth slayn at Ierusaleem,

248

For compassioun eclypsed the sonne-beem,
O Iesu! Iesu! what myghtyst thow do more,
Thow, that were kyng & lord of euery reem,
Lyst suffre deth thy servauntis to restore.

Oracio.

Mercyful Iesu! of grace do adverte
With thilke lycour wich þou dedyst bleede,
By remembraunce to write hem in myn herte
Ech day onys that I may hem reede,
Close þe capytallys vnder þi purpil weede
With offte thynkyng on thy bloody fface,
Thorugh myn entraylles let þi passioun sprede,
Marked tho karectys whan I shal hens passe.

37

O myghty Iesu! of Iuda the lyown,
Strength of pryncys, of kyngis most royall,
Invicyble, our goostly champyoun,
To saue thy peple from peynes infernall,
List make hem fre, þat Sathan maad thrall;
With pacyence thow were vyctoryous;
Thy force faylled of power Immortall,
Slouh deth with deth, conquest most gloryous.

38

Thow were maad weyk, lostist al þi strengthe,
With deth distreyned thow þat were myhtyest,
To shewe þi power bothe in brede & lengthe,
Suffredyst þi fredam, stonde vndir arest,
Phebus was dirkid, eclipsed est and west,
Our raunsoun payed, tresour of most prys,
Whan thow seydyst “consummatum est,”
By mene wherof bryng vs to paradys.

249

Oracio.

O Iesu! callid sone moost myghty
Of thy Fadrys wysdam and sapyence,
Of his substaunce the ffygure treuly
Into whos hand thow seidest with reuerence
“In manus tuas,” thes woordys in sentence
With a gret cry to-torn in euery coost;—
For wich o Iesu vp-on my greet offence
Be mercyable whan I yelde vp my goost.

40

O Iesu! named plentyvous grape and vyne,
Wich on the cros for our Redempcyoun
In a pressorye pressid with gret pyne,
Copyously the rede lycour ran down,
Thy precious blood was pris of our raunsoun,
That no drope sothly was lefft behynde,
Water of baptem, blood of thy passion,
Was al shad out, to us þou were so kynde.

Longious spere perced thorgh thyn herte,
Thy white body vpon the roode tree
Was maad al drie, with woundis fel & smerte,
O Iesu! Iesu! of mercy graunt thow me

Oracio.

With thy passioun that I may woundid be
To be partable of al thy mortal stryff,
Or I parte hens to haue this lyberte,
With bitter teris the rust of all my lyff

Oracio.

To wasshe awey, only by thy grace,
With repentaunce and ffull contrycyoun,
Hosyll and shryfft or I hen[e]s passe;
Cleymyng by mercy to haue possessioun

250

With al thy seyntys in the hevenly mansioun,
Only by tytyll cleymed by thy blood,
And by thy modrys meek medyacyoun,
The charter asselid whan þou heeng on þe Rood.

Explicit Quod Iohn Lydgate.

47. THE DOLEROUS PYTE OF CRYSTES PASSIOUN.

[_]

[MS. Bodley Laud Misc. 683, leaves 15, back, to 17.]

Here is a tretys of Crystys passyoun.

1

Erly on morwe, and toward nyght also,
First and last, looke on this ffygure;
Was ever wight suffred so gret woo
For manhis sake suych passioun did endure?
My bloody woundis, set here in picture,
Hath hem in mynde knelyng on your kne,
A goostly merour to euery Cryature,
Callid of my passioun the dolerous pyte.

2

Set this lyknesse in your remembraunce,
Enprenteth it in your Inward sight;
Myn hertys wounde, percyd with a launce,
Thorugh-out my side discendyng doun ful riht,
Yow to dyffende in your treble ffyght,
Ageyn the fend, þe flessh, þe world, this thre,
With my passioun shal yeve yow strengthe & myht
Whan ye beholde this dolerous pyte.

251

3

Make me your pavis, passith not your boundis,
Ageyn al wordly Trybulacioun,
In ech temptacioun, thynk on my blody woundis,
Your cheeff saffcondyt, and best proteccyoun,
Your coote armure, brest plate & habirioun,
Yow to dyffende in al adversyte,
And I schal be your Trusty champioun
Whan ye beholde this dolerous pite.

4

Beth not rekles whan ye forby passe,
Of myn Image devoutly taketh heede,
Nat for my-silf, but for your trespace
In Bosra steyned of purpil al my [weede],
Of my suffraunce youres is the meede,
Crownyd with thornys thoruh Iewis cruelte,
Blood meynt with water for yow I did bleede,
Lyk as witnesseth this dolorous pite.

5

The vyne of Soreth railed in lengthe & brede,
The tendre clustris rent doun in ther rage,
The ripe grapis ther licour did out shede,
With bloody dropis bespreynt was my visage,—
Man to socoure, I suffred gret damage,
I was maad thral for manhis lyberte,
I bar the bront allone of this ventage,
Lyk as witnesseth this dolorous pite.

6

My deth of deth hadde þe victorye,
Fauht with Sathan a myhty strong batayl,
Grave this trivmphe depe in your memorie,
Lik þe pellican perced myn Entrayl,
Myn herte blood maad abrood to rayl,
Best restoratif geyn old Inyquyte,
My platys seuered, to-torn myn aventail,
Lik as witnesseth this dolorous pite.

Verba compilatoris.

From yow avoideth slouthe & necclygence,
With contrit herte seith, meekly knelyng doun,

252

O Pater-noster and Auees in sentence,
A crede folwyng, seyd with devossioun,
xxvi thousand yeeris of pardoun,
Over xxx dayes, ye may the lettre see,
In remembraunce of Crystys passioun
Knelyng be-fore this dolorous pite.

Explicit.

48. A PRAYER UPON THE CROSS.

[_]

[MS. Laud 683, leaves 14, back, 15.]

Here crist Ihesu seith thus on-to man as he hangeth vp-on the roode tre.

1

Upon the cros naylled I was ffor the,
Suffred deth to paye thy raunsoun;
Forsake thy senne for the love of me,
Be repentaunt, make pleyn confessioun,
To contrit hertis I do remyssioun:
Be nat dyspeyred, for I am nat vengable;
Geyn goostly enmyes thynk on my passioun;
Why artow froward, sith I am mercyable?

2

My bloody woundis doun raylyng by this tre,
Looke on hem well, and haue compassioun;

253

The crowne of thorn, þe spere, þe nayles thre
Perced hand and ffeet of Indygnacyoun,
Myne herte reven for thy redempcyoun;
Lat us tweyne in this thyng be tretable,
Love for love by iust convencyoun!
Why artow froward sith I am mercyable?

3

I hadde on Petyr and Mawdeleyn pite
For the grete constreynt of ther contricyoun;
Geyn Thomas Indis Incredulyte,
He put his hand, depe in my syde doun;
Rolle vp this mater, grave it in þi resoun;
Sith I am kynde, why artow so onstable?
My blood, best triacle for þi transgressioun;
Be thou nat froward, sith I am mercyable.

lenvoye.

Thinke ageyn pride on myn humylyte;
Kom to scole, recorde weell this lessoun;
Geyn fals envye, thynk on my charite,
My blood al spent by dystyllacyoun;
Why did I this? to saue the from prisoun;
Afforn thyn herte hang this lytel table,
Swetter than bawme geyn al goostly poisoun,—
Be thow nat froward, sith I am mercyable.

254

oracio.

Lord on alle synful, heere knelyng on ther kne,
Thy deth remembryng of humble affeccyoun,
O Iesu, graunte of thy benygnyte,
That thy fyve wellis plentyvous of foysoun,
Callid thy fyve woundis by computacioun,
May wasshe in us al surfetis reprevable.
Now, for thy modris meek mediacioun,
At hir request, be to us mercyable.

Explicit.

49. BALLADE AT THE REVERENCE OF OUR LADY, QWENE OF MERCY.

[_]

[B.M. Sloane 1212, leaves 101 to 102, back.]

1

A thowsand storiis kowde I mo reherse
Off olde poetis, touchynge this matere,
How that Cupide the hertis gan to perse
Off his seruauntis, settyng tham affere;
Lo, here the fin of the errour and the weere!
Lo, here of loue the guerdoun and greuaunce
That euyr with woo his seruauntis doth avaunce!

255

2

Wherfore I wil now pleynly my stile redresse,
Of on to speke at nede that will not faile:
Allas! for dool I can nor may expresse
Hir passand pris, and that is no mervaile.
O wynd of grace, now blowe in to my saile!
O auriat licour off Clyo, for to wryte
Mi penne enspire, of that I wold endyte!

3

Allas! unworthi I am both and unable,
To loffe suche on, all women surmountyng,
But she moost benygne be to me mercyable,
That is of pite the welle and eke the spryng:
Wherfore of hir, in laude and in preysyng,
So as I can, supported by hir grace,
Right thus I say, knelyng to-forn hir face,—

4

O sterne of sternys with thi stremys clere,
Sterne of the see, [on]-to shipmen lyght and gyde,
O lusty lemand, moost plesaunt to appere,
Whos bright bemys the clowdis may not hide,
O way of lyfe to hem þat goo or ride,
Haven aftyr tempest surrest as to ryve,
On me haue mercy for thi Ioyes fyve.

5

O rightest Iewyl, O rote of holynesse,
And lightsom lyne of pite [for] to pleyne,
Origynal gynnyng of grace and al goodnesse,

256

And clennest condite of vertu moost souerayne,
Modyr of mercy oure troubyl to restreyne,
Chambyr and closet clennest of chastyte,
And namyd herberwe all of þe deyte.

6

O closid gardeyn al void of weedes wicke,
Cristallyn welle of clennesse cler consigned,
Fructifying olyve of foilys faire and thicke,
And redolent cedyr most derworthly ydyned,
Remembyr of pecchouris that to þe ben assigned,
Or þe wycked fend his wrath up on us wreche,
Lantyrn of light, be þu oure lyfis leche.

7

Paradys of plesaunce, gladsom to all good,
Benygne braunchelet of the pigment tre,
Vinarye envermailyd, refrescher of oure food,
Lycour aȝens all langour that pallid may not be,
Blisful bawme blossum, boundyng in bounte,
This mantel of myserycord on oure myschef spred,
And or woo awak us, wrappe us undyr thi weed.

8

Redy rose, flouryng with-outyn spyne,
Founteyn of fulnesse, as beryl corrennt clere,
Some drope of thi graceful dew to us propyne,

257

Þu lyght withoutyn nebule, shynyng in thi spere,
Medicyne to myscheuous, pucelle withoute pere,
Flawme down to doolful lyght of thyn influence,
Remembryng thi seruaunt for thi magnificence.

9

Of alle cristen protectrix and tutele,
Retour of exilid put in proscrypcyoun,
To hem þat erryn, the path of her sequele;
To weri wandrid, the tente paviloun.
[Þe feynte to fresshe, and þe pawsacion,]
Unto directe, rest and remedye,
Feythfull unto all, þat in the affye.

10

To hem that rennyth þu art [itinerarie],
O blisful bravie, to knyghtis of thi werre,
To wery workmen þu art dyorne denarye,
Mede unto mareyneris þat haue sailed ferre;
Lauriat coroun, stremand as a sterre
To hem þat putte hem in palastyr for thi sake,
Cours of her conquest, þu white as ony lake!

11

Thow myrthe of martiris, swetter than cytolle,
Of confessouris richest donatyff,
Unto virginis the eterne aureolle,
Aforn all women hauying prerogatyff,
Maiden and modyr, both wedow and wyff
In all this world nys noon but þu allon,
Now sen þu may, be sugyr to my mone.

258

12

O trest turtyl, trowest of al trewe,
O curteys columbe, replet of all mekenesse,
O nyghtyngale, with thi notys newe,
O popinjay, plumed in clennesse,
O larke of loff, syngyng in swetnesse,
Phebus awaityng, till in thi brest he lyght,
Undyr thi wenge at domysday us dyght!

13

O ruby, rubifyed in the passyoun
All of thi sone, among haue us in mynde,
O stedfast dyamaunt of duracyoun,
That fewe feris þat tyme myghtiste thu fynde,
For noon to hym was founde half so kynde
O herdy herte, O louynge creature!
What was it but looff, þat made þe so to endure?

14

Semely safyr, dep lowp, and blew ewage,
Stable as the lowpe, ay ewage to pite,
This is to sayn, O frescheste of visage,
Thu louyst hem unchaungid þat serue the,
Or ȝif ony offence or writhyng in hem be,
Þu art ay redy up-on her woo for to rewe,
And hem reseyuyst, þan reemis of thyn ewe.

15

O goodly gladid, whan þat Gabriell
With joie the grette, þat may not be noumbrid,
Or halfe the joie who cowde wryte or telle,
When the Holy Goost to the was obumbrid,
Wher thorgh þat fendys were utterly encombrid?
O wemles mayden, enbelysshed with his byrthe,
That man and aungell þer-off had[den] myrthe?

259

16

Loo, here the blossum and bud of all oure glorye,
Off whech þat prophetys spak so long aforn;
Loo, here the same þat was in memorye
Of Ysaie, long or she was born;
Loo here, [of] Dauid the delicyous corn;
Loo, here the ground þat list to onbelde,
Becomyn man, [our] raunsoun for to ȝelde.

17

O glorious viole, O vitre inviolate!
O fery Tytan percyd with the lemys,
Whos vertuous bryghtnesse was in thi brest vibrate,
That all this world enbelisshed with his bemys!
Conseruatrix of kyngdamys and Remys;
O Isaye seed, O swete Sunamyte,
Mesure my mornynge, myn owne margarite!

18

O soueraynest, sowht out of syon,
O punycall pome agens all pestilence:
And auryat urne, in whom was bouk and boon
The agnelet, that fought for oure offence
Aȝens the serpent with so high defence
That like a lyoun in victory he was founde;
To hym commende us of mercy most habounde!

19

O precyous perle, with-outyn ony pere,
Cokyl with gold dew from aboue Ireyned,
Þu busshe unbrent, ferle[s] set affere,
Flawmyng in fernece, not with hete peyned,
Duryng dayse, with no wedyr steyned,
Flesch undefoulyd of gentyl Gedeon,
And fructifyyng fayrest, the ȝerd of Aaron.

260

20

The my[ȝ]ti arke, probatyk piscyne,
Lawghynge aurore and of pees olyve,
Columpne and base up-beryng from abyme,
Why ner I connyng the for to discrive?
Chesen for Iosep, whan he took to wyve,
Unknowyng hym, childyng be myrakyll,
And of our [manhode truwe] tabyrnakyll.

50. THE FYFFTENE IOYES OF OURE LADY (II).

[_]

[MS. B.M. Titus A. xxvi, leaves 157, back, to 160, back.]

Lo my lordes and ladyes here Begynnen þe fyfftene Ioyes of oure lady cleped þe xv. Ooes translated out of Frenshe into Englisshe by daun John the Monke of Bury at þinstance of þe worshipfull Pryncesse Isabelle nowe Countasse of Warr' lady Despenser.

1

Blessed lady, O Pryncesse of mercy!
Moder ecallyd of grace and of pyte,
Welle of goodnesse, þat sprang most souerainly,
Clere as cristalle in þy virgynite,
Whiche for þy meryte of humylite
Bare Criste Ihesu, oure lorde most souuereyne,
Nyen monthis betwene þy sydes twayne,

261

2

Owt of þy brestes, sofft as any silke,
With chere and looke benigne and debonnaire,
Thow gave hym souken of þy swote mylke
Vnto þy pappes whan hym lyst repayre;
Þowe chosen of God, fayreste of all fayre!
Pray to thy sune, every houre and space
Vpon me haue mercy and gyve me grace,

3

That I may com to his miserycorde
By confessyon and trewe repentaunce,—
And thow woldest to my request acorde—
Here for my synnes that I may do penannce,
And eke my sowle with helthe so avaunce
That I may with humble and trewe entente,
Or I passe hennys, Resceyue the sacremente.

4

My Ioye, my blisse, my lorde, my saveoure!
With fayth entere here, in forme of bred,
Whanne I shal parte thowe be my protectour,
Withoute whos helpe in sothe I can no red;
And grant also, or that I here be ded,
Þat I may knele, O þowe hevenly qwene!
To-for thyne ymage tymes tolde fifftene.

Primum gaudium.

5

O qwene of heven, of helle eke Emparesse!
Alle creatures in goodnesse surmonting,—
For þilke Ioye þowe haddeste of gladnesse
When that Gabriell brought þee þe tythinge
That the lord and þe moste souerein kynge
Sente þe Holy Goste, for to alyght in the,
To take of mekenesse oure humanytee,

262

6

Pray to thy sune of mercy and pite
For me tavoyde all þat schoulde hym displaise,
And with his grace so to enspyre me
And doune descende to sette myn herte in ese,
That I by grace gostely may him pleesse
From day to day, and where as I offende,
Soone to repente and my lyff eke amende.

Aue Maria.

Secundum gaudium.

7

And, blessed lady borne in Nazarythe!
For thylke Ioye þow haddest, and pleasaunce,
Whan thoue metteste with Sainte Elisabethe,
Þyne hooly Cousyne, moste humble of countenaunce,—
And sheo agaynwarde with deuoute obayssaunce,
Lowely beholding vppon thyn holy face,
And in her armes þee lowly did embrace

8

Withe the spryte ffulfilled of prophecye,
Thoroughe grace of God þat was vpon her falle;
At youre meting þus shee gan to crye,
“Blessed be þowe among thes wymmen alle!
And alle folkes shulde þee blessed calle,
Blessed be þe frvte of þe that schall be borne,
Of whome þe prophetis so long spake to-forne;”

9

For þilke Ioye, O mayden most entyre!
Be my socoure in al meschiefe and drede,
And þat þowe liste me gracyously to here
In all distresse, O welle of goodlyhede;
For all my truste is in þy wommanhede,
And in thy mercy where as that I wende,
And euer schal be vn-to my lyves ende.

Aue Maria.

263

Tercium gaudium.

10

O sterre of hevene! O maryner[i]s gyde!
Hem to releeve in all þyre troble and payne,
For þilke Ioye þer hadist vn eche syde
Whan thoue feltest atwixe þi flankes tvene
Þy blessed sune, þe lord moste souuereyne,
To þy plesaunce moeven too and froo,
Be my deffence in al myscheef and woo.

11

And blessed lady of mooste Excellence
In eury-thing þat shoulde thy seruante greeue
Helpe to thy sonne þat I do none offence,
But him to serue, stere myn herte and meve,
And in all myscheffe þat thowe me releve,—
For to þy grace, as to mooste cheeff socoure,
For helpe I fle in all worldely laboure.

Aue Maria.

Quartum Gaudium.

12

Moste good, moste holy, and fayreste on to see!
For þilke Ioye thoue haddeste in thyne hert
Whane Cryste was born in Bedlem þe citee,
Þowe socoure me in all my peynis smert,
And pray thy sune, of mercy to aduert
To-forne his birthe and blessed passyon
When I shall dye, to my Redempcyoun.

Aue Maria.

Quintum gaudium.

13

Gracyeuse princesse! of mercy most habounde,
For þilke ioye of ful gret Excelence,
Thou haddeste þanne, whane þe shepherdes fonde
Þe ster in bedlem, and came to þy presence,
Pray to thy sonne for his magnyfysence,
That he of mercy be my protecion
Agaynst eche troble of trybulacyon.

Aue Maria.

264

Sextum Gaudium.

14

Benygne lady, moest kyndely lodesterre!
For þilke Ioye þowe hadeste in sylence,
Whane three kynges cam to the frome so ferre,
And meekly offred with digne reuerence
Vnto thy sune golde, myrre, and franke-ensence,
Pray to þat lord of mercy mooste entere,
Gracyously taccepte my preyere.

Aue Marye.

Septimum Gaudium.

15

And holy pryncesse of thyne heghe goodnesse,
For þilke hye Ioye and consolacyon
Thowe haddeste þanne whanne with all meknesse
To Symyon þowe madest oblacyone,
And of thy sune a presentacyone,
And Symyon with humble chere and face
Withe bothe hys armes hym lowly did enbrace;

16

Beseche that Lord my prayer to resceyue,
And my requeste that he note Refuse,
My meke complayntes of grace to conceyve;
And where my giltes and trespasses me accuse
Þy medyacyone moste me þer excusse
And sithe thoue arte of mercy sours and welle,
Help þat his mercy may his Ryght precelle.

Aue Maria.

Octauum Gaudium.

17

O lyght and lanterne of synfull þat been blynde!
Þeyre souerayne supporte in trybulacyne,
In Ihereusalem þy sune leffte byhynde,
Whane thoue and Ioseph went out of þe towne;
For þylke gladdest Restitucyone
Þou haddest þanne, when þowe came agayne
And in the temple haste þy sonne eseyne,

265

18

Preserue me that I be not loste thoroughe synne
But thoroughe þy mercy þat I may be fonde,
Lat þy pitee neuer fro me twynne,
And that thy grace to mewarde euer Rebounde,
Suffre none enemy þy seruant to confounde,
But in al myscheef þat shoulde me dyscoumfort,
Vn-to thy helpe þat I may ay Resorte.

aue Maria.

19

Of þe Holy Gooste, O þowe chossine tabarnacle!
At the weddyng of him Archideclyne,

Nonum Gaudium.

For þilke Ioye þowe haddeste by myracle,
Whan þe water was tornyd in-to wynne
Þere by þy sune, O blessed lady myne!
Praye him for me, O pryncesse moost notable!
Or he me deme, for to bee mercyable.

Aue Maria.

20

Fayreste of fayre moost gracieuse and benigne!
Whos goodnesse no clarke cane descryve,

Decimum Gaudium.

For that myracle and þat gloryous signe
Whanne Criste fyve thousand fedde with loves fyve,
For þilke Ioye, þowe socoure me nowe belyve,
And graunte I may, O þowe hewenly Roose!
My fyve wittes to þy plesaunce dispoose.

Aue Maria.

21

And gloryose Pryncesse, for þat hegh pytee
Þoue whylome haddest, and grette compassyoun,

Vndecimum Gaudium.

Whanne þat þy sonne thoroughe Iowys cruwelte
Hade for oure sake dethe, pyne, and passyone
Wppon þe crosse, for oure Redempcyone;
Thoroughe thy prayer my soule þoue gouerne,
Me to delyuer frome dethe which is eterne.

Aue Maria.

266

Duodecimum Gaudium.

22

And for that Ioye alle Ioyes dothe precelle,
Whyche þoue haddeste, pryncesse of moste renoun!
Vppon that daye playnly for to telle
Of his vpe-Ryste and Rysereccyone,
As he that was of Iuda þe lyone,
O gloryeuse ladye! pray hym in humble wyse
From synfull lyff by grace I may aryse.

Aue Maria.

Terciumdecium Gaudium.

23

O hevenly qwene! of mercy condescende
For þilke Ioye to here myne orysoun,
Þowe haddeste þat day, whanne he did ascende
Vp to that high hevenly mansyoun;
Pray hym for grace and supportacioun,
Affter his tracys þat I my lyffe may lede
To his plesaunce, atweene hope, love, and drede.

Aue Marya.

24

And of pryncesses, O þow moste gracyous!
& most accepted in þe lordes sight
For þylke Ioye in Erthe moste famous
Þow haddeste þat day, whan þe Holy Gooste alight
Downe from abowe, þe sterre clere and bryght;
For þylke grace þat day dede on the shyne,
With lyght of verteue myne herte þowe enlumyne.

Aue Marya.

Quintumdecimum Gaudium.

25

Of alle blessed O þowe blessedeste!—
Þere may be made no comparysoun—

267

For þylke Ioye, of Ioyes souueryneste,
Whyche þowe haddeste in þy hevenly mansyon
Vppon the day of þyne assumpcyoun,
Whan God above gan for þe to provyde,
As qvene of heven, to sitte on his ryght syde

26

With a corone of hevenly stonys cler,
Gemmes of werteue, of parfit hoolynesse,
Of Rychesse and beawte moost [e]ntiere,
For þey transcended alle oþer in noblesse;
For, þylke Ioye, O hevenly emperesse!
Pray to thy sonne with hert contemplatyff
That whan þat I schall parte oute of þys lyff

27

I may in herte haue feythe and ful creance
And mekely make my confessyoune,
And of my synnes haue deue repentaunce,
With contryte herte do satisfacyoune,
And to passe hennes with ful Remyssyoun
O blessed lady! thoroughe grace of þy prayere
To gette a place above þe sterres clere.

28

On alle my frendis haue pite & mercy,
On myne alyaunce and on my kynrede,
And vppon alle þat love þee feythfully,
Remember of grace, O welle of womanhede!
And graunte me grace with thought, worde, and dede,
The for to serve vnto my lyvys Ende,
And my soole to saue whan I schale hens wende.

Amen.

268

51. THE FIFTEEN JOYS AND SORROWS OF MARY.

[_]

[MS. B.M. Harley 2255, leaves 88 to 93.]

1

Atween mydnyht and the fressh morwe gray
Nat yore ago, in herte ful pensiff,
Of thoughtful sihes my peyne to put away,
Caused by the trouble of this vnstabil liff,
Vnclosyd a book, that was contemplatiff;
Of fortune turnyng the book, I fond
A meditacioun which first cam to myn hond,

2

Tofor which was sett out in picture
Of Marie an ymage ful notable,
Lyke a pyte depeynt was the figure
With weepyng eyen, and cheer most lamentable:
Thouh the proporcioun by crafft was agreable,
Hir look doun cast with teerys al bereyned,—
Of hertly sorwe so soore she was constreyned.

3

Vpon the said meditacioun,
Of aventure, so as I took heed,
By diligent and cleer inspeccioun,
I sauh Rubrisshis, departyd blak and Reed,
Of ech Chapitle a paraf in the heed,
Remembryd first Fifteene of her gladynessys,
And next in ordre were set hyr hevynessys.

269

4

Off ech of them the noumbre was Fifteene,
Bothe of hir Ioyes and her adversitees,
Ech after othir, and to that hevenlie queene
I sauh Oon kneele deuoutly on his knees;
A Pater-noster and ten tyme Auees
In ordre he sayde [at thende] of ech ballade
Cessyd nat, tyl he an eende made.

5

Folwyng the Ordre, as the picture stood,
By and by in that hooly place,
To beholde it did myn herte good;
Of affeccioun turnyd nat my face,
But of entent, leiseer cauht and space,
Took a penne, and wroot in my maneere
The said balladys, as they stondyn heere.

Explicit prologus.

6

Blissed braunche that sprong out of Iesse
Which were allone, as clerkys telle can,
Ground and gynnyng of our felicite,
For thilke ioye which thu haddist than
Whan thu were offryd by Ioachim and Anne
In-to the temple, by scripture as I fynde,
Pray for thy servauntis and haue upon hem mynde.

pater noster X Aue.

7

Glorious mayde, O Roote of hoolynesse,
For thilke ioy thu haddyst many wise,
From God above whan angelis gan hem dresse
For thy meritis the to do seruise,
Daily to wayte in al ther best guyse,

270

Pray for thy servauntis of mercy and tak heede,
Of al thy servauntis that calle to the at neede.

pater noster X Aue.

8

Thu that art callyd glorie of Israel,
For thilke Ioye, moost sovereyn of renoun,
Which thu haddist whan thaungil Gabriel
Brouht the tydying from the hevene doun,
First kalendys of our savacioun,
With this woord Eva turnyd to Aue,
On al thy servauntis haue mercy and pyte.

pater noster X Aue.

9

And for that Ioye thu haddist in certeyn,
When Elizabeth moost meekly with the mette,
Fulfilled with grace vpon an hih mounteyn,
Thy blissed Cosyn devoutly ther the grette,
Hir child reiosshyng, she list no lenger lette,
In hir armys moost goodly she the rawhte,—
Saide thes woordys, the Hooly Goost hir tawhte:

10

“Blissed be thu amongys women alle!
Blissed be the frute that shal be born of the!
What may this mene? or how is this befalle,
My lordys moodir, for to comyn to me?”
Now for the meritis of thyn hvmylite
Socoure alle tho that kneelyn afor thy fface,
Fro Sathanys myght whan he doth hem menace.

pater noster X Aue.

11

Among the ioyes it was a ioye in cheeff,
Occasioun souht wher it was no neede,
Whan Abiathar wold ha maad a preeff,

271

Ordeyned a drynk to preevyn thy maydenheede.
For that Ioye thu haddist than in deede,
Blissed lady fulfilled of all grace,
Pray to thy sone to rewe on our trespace.

pater noster X Aue.

12

And for that Ioye surmountyng Ioyes alle,
Which thu haddist of qweenys sovereyne,
Whan thu besyde an oxis stalle
Bar crist iesu, feelyng no soor nor peyne;
Mayde and moodir! of mercy nat disdeyne
To save thy servauntis from al adversite,
That doon worship to his natiuite.

pater noster X Aue.

13

And for that Ioye thu haddist in Bedleem,
Whan the shepherdys cam the to visite,
Thre kynges broughte, folwing the sterrys streem,
Gold, mirre, and ffranc, with offryng the tacquite,
And angelis song did gretly the delite;
Releeve alle tho fro myscheef and grevaunce.
Which the to serve haue set al ther plesaunce.

pater noster X aue.

14

And for that Ioye thu haddist eek also,
Whan thu were passyd of Herowd the power;
The angil byddyng that thu shuldist go
Toward Egipt, and fleen from his daunger;
Yeve audience vnto our prayer,
Sauff thy servauntis fro trouble and fro shame
Which of hool herte calle to thy name.

pater noster X Aue.

15

And for thy Ioyes and gladnessys moost habounde
At diuers tymes sent to the by grace,
And specially whan thu thy sone founde

272

Among doctours sittyng in the place,
Myd Ierusaleem, disputyng a long space,
For which Ioye Rewe upon the smerte
Of alle the folk that love thee of hool herte.

pater noster X Aue.

16

And for that Ioye thu haddist yore ago,
At the feeste of Archydeklyne,
Whan gracious Iesu aftir the wyn was do
Lyst of his poweer turne watir to wyne:
For which Ioye, O blyssyd lady myne!
Remembre on alle, and make ther hertys light,
That haue devocioun to serve the day and nyght.

pater noster X Aue.

17

And for that Ioye, Oon of thy Ioyes five,
That folwyd afftir thy sonys passioun,
The day whan he arroos fro deeth to lyve,
Had spoiled Sathan of his possessioun,
And fet Adam from the Infernal dongoun,
Saide Salue sancta parens whan ye mette,
For which Ioye relaxe our goostly dette.

pater noster X Aue.

18

And for the Ioye thu haddist on the day
Of thy sonys glorious assensioun,
Whan thu beheld a thyng moost to thy pay,
How he stey vp to his fadrys mansioun,
A Ioye surmountyng in comparisoun;
For which Ioye O lady, let hem fynde
Help at ther neede, that hath this feeste in mynde.

pater noster X Aue.

19

And for that Ioye thu haddist in thy thouht,
To gret encrees to thy felicite,

273

Whan Gabriel the palme hath to the brouht,
Sent fro Iesu, declaryng vnto the
Withynne thre dayes thu shuldyst with hym be,
Hih in the heuene to sitte on the riht syde,
To which place of mercy be our guyde.

pater noster X Aue.

20

For thilke Ioye of ffamous excellence
Thu haddist that day, in stoory as I reede,
Whan alle apostelis cam to thy presence
From divers partyes to plesyn thy womanheede,
Som bookys telle they made ther the Creede,
For which Ioye thu haddist than of newe,
On thy servauntis haue mercy and do rewe.

pater noster X Aue.

21

And for that Ioye moost sovereyn of renoun,
Whan Christ Iesu hath his angelis sent
The to conveye to the heuenly mansioun,
Soule and boody above the the firmament,
Ther to be crounyd as queen moost excellent,
With thy Sone eternally in glorye,
Pray for thy servauntis that have þe in memorye.

pater noster X Aue.

22

Ioyes fifteen remembrid heer to-forn
As the charg[e] was vpon me leyd,
In contemplacioun there be no tyme lorn,
The Pater-nostres and the Aues dewly seyd,
By interupcioun makyng noon abreyd,
Tyl of our lady be sayd the ful Sawteer,
As heer-to-forn is shewyd the maneer.

274

23

As ye haue herd accomplisshid the gladnessis
By a meditacioun toold in especial,
Folwyng in ordre were set his hevynessys
And remembryd his sorwys pryncipal,
Ful lamentable and somme ful mortal,
Of acts conservyd the observaunce,
As heer-to-forn is put in remembraunce.

24

Off Paternostres and aues seid betweene
The same noumbre with good devocioun,
The hevenessys rehersyd ful ffifteene
At eende of everich, as maad is mencioun,
By a maneer pitous compassioun
With our lady, hir sorwys to complayne,
Lik as the picture in ordre did ordeyne.

25

Which to reherse, outhir to remembre,
Lyk as I fond I caste me to endite,
Of dreedful herte tremblyng in euery membre,
My penne quakyng whan I gan to write,
For to beholde the terys reed and white
In sondry placys from hir eyness reyne,
Which to considre it was to me gret peyne.

26

God graunt it be to hir no displesaunce,
That I was bold to writen, seyn, or reede
Hir heuynessis, list the remembraunce
Of sorwys passyd, which she felte in deede,
In any wise shuld trouble hir womanheede,
But of compassioun they may myn herte perce,
To that entent I do hem heere reherce.

Explicit prologus.

275

27

O glorious mayde! for that heuynesse,
Which thu haddist by a maneer compleynyng,
Whan the Bisshop did his besynesse
Tween the and Ioseph to make the weddyng,
Agayn thentent of chaast livyng,
Which remembryng, flour of virginite,
On thy servauntis haue mercy and pite.

pater noster X Aue.

28

Remembre, O prynces, and rewe upon our wo,
Lat our request of the nat be refusyd,
For the heuynesse thu haddist eek also
To be with childe whan thu were accusyd,
There watir of preeff drank, as it was usyd,
Youe by the bisshop, and founde ay undefowlyd,
Pray for thy servauntis that been in synne mowlyd.

pater noster X Aue.

29

And for that sorwe, verray importable,
Which thu haddist whan the angel bad the fle,
From Herodys the tyraunt vntretable,
Slouh Innocentys of hatful cruelle,
Conspired also Iesu for to sle,
Which remembryng, don of yore agoon,
Diffende thy servauntis from al ther mortal foon.

pater noster X Aue.

30

O Emp[e]resse in heuene glorified!
Myn herte is troubleyd thy sorwys to descryve,
The dool remembryd whan thu were purifyed;
Symeon seide a sharp swerd shuld ryve
Thoruh thy soule, and perce thyn herte blyve,

276

For the trouble thu feltist of that language,
Preserve thy servauntis fro sorwe and al outrage.

pater noster X Aue.

31

I am afferyd and troublyd in my mynde
To remembre the gret hevynesse,
Which thu haddyst whan Crist was lefft behynde
In Ierusaleem, and thu in gret distresse
Soutist hym, the gospel berith witnesse,
Or thu hym founde thre dayes in greet dreede,
Socoure alle tho that seeke the in ther neede.

pater noster & X Aue.

32

Arrete it not to noon vnkyndenesse,
At the feeste, the gospel telle can,
Of Archydeclyne, nor to no straungenesse,
That Iesu ther called the a woman,
The name of moodir lefft behynden than,
A gret mysterye that he so list the calle,
For which thyng haue mercy on vs alle.

pater noster & X Aue.

33

Off mortal pite myn herte waxith coold
To remembre, thynken or expresse
The sorwe thu haddist, whan Seyn Iohn hath the toold,
Iesu was taken, by the gret felnesse
Of the Iewys hatful cursydnesse;
And as that takyng was to the gret greeff,
Releeve alle tho that calle to the in myscheef.

pater noster & X Aue.

34

Off hevynessys Oon the moost grevous
Is of Absence the Importable peyne;

277

That feltist thu weel, O pryncesse gracious!
Space of a nyght thu myhtist not atteyne,
To seen thy sone, lord moost sovereyne,
Kept by his enmyes in purpoos hym to sle;
For whos passioun on synners haue pite.

pater noster & X Aue.

35

I ffeele myn herte compleyne pitously
To noumbre the peynes thu haddyst eek, parde,
Whan Iesu bare his cros to Caluary,
And thu to meete hym ran thoruh the Cite,
Born of with prees, thu myghtist hym not see,
Whan thu hym mettist, he fel doun for ffeyntise,
Pray for alle tho that doon to the servise.

36

With newe langour, pryncesse, thu were assayled,
Quakyng and pale allas! whan thu dist see
Of blissyd Iesu feet and handys nailled,
Moost horribly streyned with crueltee
For mannys rawnsoun upon the roode tree;
Lowe by the ground, dedly of look and face,
Pray hym do mercy ech day whan we trespace.

pater noster X Aue.

37

And for the sorwe thu haddist, whan thu stood
On Caluarye upon his riht[e] syde,
And seye hym reryd high upon the rood,
The sweemful voys thu myghtist nat abyde,
Whan he the callyd in the same tyde,—
“Woman,” ageyn; “behold thy sone and see,”
For which constreynt sauf alle that truste in the.

pater noster X Aue.

278

38

O howe that hour thyn hevyness was moost,
When blissid Iesu with a pitous cry
Vnto his Fadir by deeth yald vp the goost,
Which whan thu herdist stondyng fast by,
Thu fel a swowne, no wondir trewly!
Now pray thy sone that deyde upon the roode,
Haue mercy on alle, for whom he shed his bloode.

pater noster X Aue.

39

Was evir woo that myhte be comparyd
To thy distresse, pryncesse of goodliheede,
Whan thu sauh Iesu how he was nat sparyd,
Crucified, take down whan he was deede,
Lay in thy lappe, and al his body reede
Of pitous bledyng, for whoos meek suffraunce,
O queen of mercy! sauf us fro myschaunce.

pater noster X Aue.

40

Whan he was put and leyd lowe in his grave,
Thy blissid sone Iesu, moost myhty kyng,
And al was do mankynde for to save
Thu sauh al this upon hym abyding,
Kistist ofte his stoon at thy partyng;
Haue on us mercy O blissid heuene queene,
For the peyne thu dist that day susteene.

pater noster X Aue.

41

Thes heuynessis reknyd Oon by oon,
In ordre set, pitous and lamentable,
Who hath konnyng to reknyn hem euerychoon?
For by comparisoun they were incomparable
Gloryous lady, O queen moost merciable!
Thy peynes heer set, with many gret grevaunce,
Been for this cause put heer in remembraunce,

279

42

Off humble entent that we good heed may take
Duryng our liff with gret devocioun
What Crist Iesu suffryd for our sake,
Thy deere sone, deth, peyne, and passioun.
And for we shulde haue Eek compassioun,
With the, pryncesse, that boughtist his deeth ful deere,
For that entent they been rehersyd heere.

Explicit.

Lenvoye.

43

To alle that caste hem of devocioun
To been dilligent, by daily attendaunce,
To serve Mary, pryncesse of moost renoun,
And to his hihnesse for to do plesaunce,
Lat hem empreente in her remembraunce
The ordre heer set, ffirst of hir gladnessys,
And folwyng afftir hir gret heuynessys.

44

Which remembryd, as toold is the maneer,
In hir worship by humble affeccioun,
Of the heuenly pryncesse, to seyn an hool sawteer,
Lyk as to-forn is maad heer mencioun,
Therwith conceyvyng this compilacioun,
Thouh that it halte in meetre and elloquence,
It is heer write hir for to do reverence.

45

Goo litil tretys! and meekly me excuse,
To alle tho that shal the seen or reede;
Giff any man thy rudenesse list accuse
Make no diffence, but with lowlyheede
Pray hym refourme, wher as he seeth neede;
To that entent I do the forth directe
Wher thu faylest, that men shal the correcte.

Explicit quod Lidgate.

280

52. AVE MARIA!

[_]

[MS. Trin. Coll. Camb. R. 3. 21, leaves 274–275.]

Hic sequitur Salutacio Angelica per dictum dompnum Iohannem Lydegate translata.

1

Hayle! glorious lady and heuenly quene,
Crownyd & regnyng in þy blysfull cage,
Helpe vs pylgryms in erthely tene,
In worshyp of all þy pylgremage;
Thy holy concepcion was thy furst pylgremage
Cuius honore tu nobis faue,
And here we knelyng before thyne Image
Tibi concepte dicimus Aue.

2

Hayle! glemeryng sterre now in þy byrthe,
To all þis world thow spredyst þy lyght,
Thy ioyfull name yeueth vs myrthe.
Now blessyd be he þat Mary þe hyght,
For thorow all þe worlde þow yeuest þy lyght,
O maris stella domina pia,
With all oure hert and all oure might
Tibi clamamus Aue Maria.

3

Hayle! gloryous lady, as Gabriell seyde
When he came doune on hys message,
God was made man, hys modyr a mayde,
Lo, lady thys was thy swete mariage;
So full of grace vnbynde oure bondage,
Mater diuina virgo serena,
And thus shall we sey for oure homage
Aue Maria gracia plena.

4

Hayle! ioyfull lady in the byrthe of Cryste,
God is with the, kyng in thy lappe,
With ox and asse in a crybbe þou lyest,
With Ioseph, and Iesu sokyng thy pappe,

281

Well ys þe, lady, þat dydyst hym wrappe,
Ipsum exora que manes secum
That he wold yeue oure enemy a knappe,
Gracia plena dominus tecum.

5

Hayle! floure of clennes without corrupcion,
Thow beryst þe frute of all chastite,
And yet þow madyst þy purificacion,
To puryfy oure sowles for þy charyte.
Haue mynde, good lady of oure freelte,
Et vita nostra plena reatu,
Now pray þy son of hys benignite,
Dominus tecum benedicta tu.

6

Hayle! wofull lady in hys swete passion,
Scorgyd and naylyd, dying on the roode,
Sende vs thy comfort in oure tribulacion,
For þy sonnys loue þat shed hys bloode;
But ioyfull gladnes dyd change þy moode,
Cum surrexit sanis vulneribus,
And euer in þe feyþ, full trew þou stoode,
Benedicta tu in mulier[i]bus.

7

Hayle! blessyd lady in Crystes assensioun.
Bothe glad and heuy when he dyd sty,
Make in þy prayers for vs som mencion,
That we may folow when we shall dy.
Aftyr þy socoure we call and cry
Vt mereamur luce frui,
That we may deserue þe blessyd lyght to sty,
Et benedictus fructus ventris tui.

8

Hayle! blessyd lady in thyn assumpcion,
Next to þe Trinitie syttyng in trone,
And holde excusyd our gret presumpcion
To whom we make oure carefull mone,

282

Oure hertys ar dry & hard as a stone,
Funde lacrimarum nobis consolamen,
And he be oure comfort hens when we gone,
Fructus ventris tui Iesus Christus.

Amen.

9

Now farewell, lady, and pray for vs,
For thy fyue festes and þy ioyes fyue,
That þy son swete, oure lord Iesus,
Wyll saue vs all, bothe dede & alyue,
For thyse fyue ioyes on the woll we clyue,
And aboue all angeles now ioyes hast þou seuyn,
Helpe vs fayre lady, þys lyfe whyle we dryue,
And after our endyng God send vs heuyn.

Amen.

Explicit.

53. TO MARY, THE STAR OF JACOB.

[_]

[MS. Bodl. Laud Misc. 683, leaves 29, back, to 30, back.]

Here is a praier to our lady of hir v Ioies.

1

O sterre of Iacob, and glorye of Israell!
Of alle blissed, O blyssedest vyrgyne!
For thylke tydyng wich that Gabrieell
Brouhte on-to the most hevenly and devyne,
So let þi stremys of grace vpon me schyne,
And of thyn Eyen the mercyable lyght
From al myscheff to saue me this nyght.

2

O fayrest douhter of Ierusaleem!
Flour of alle fflours,—O fflour of chastyte!
For thylke Ioie thou haddyst in Bedleem,

283

Of blyssed Iesu in the Natyvyte,
Visited affter of worthy kyngys thre,
On wich gladnesse devoutly remembryng,
Saue me thys nyght, slepyng and wakyng.

3

And ffor that Ioie, of souereyn dignyte,
Wich folwyd affter thy sonys passioun,
Whan, thorugh his royall devyne mageste,
Callid be prophetys of Iuda the lyoun,
Wich made ffro deth his Resureccyoun;
For the gret gladnesse thou haddist on þe morwe,
Kepe me thys nyght from al myschef and sorwe.

4

And for the Ioie thou haddist weel more,
A Ioie precellyng In Comparysoun,
Whan he of mercy mankynde to restore,
Toward that hevenly sterrid mansioun,
Made in our manhed hys ascencyoun,
For wich Ioie o pryncesse, I the preye,
Kepe me this nyght that no fend me werreie.

5

And for that Ioie, surmountyng Ioies alle,
Wich thou haddyst in thyn assumpcioun,
Whan thou were crowned in þat hevenly stalle,
Queen of alle quenys, most Souereyn of renoun,
Receyve thy servaunt under proteccyoun,
This nyht and euer, pavys of my dyffence!
Wich ffleeth for socour to thi magnyficence.

6

And to remembre thy famous Ioies fyve,
To myn avayll and my gret [a]vauntage,
Vnder thy support, while I am a-lyve,

284

I shal ech nyht with humble and meek vsage,
Knele before the by maner of homage,
Thy Ioies remembryng, & affter suerly slepe,
From alle assautys while thou list me kepe.

7

Most hooly pryncesse, gracious & benyngne,
And of mercy most plentivous & habounde,
Set thy fyve Ioies for a special sygne,
Affore myn herte, tabide there and rebounde,
In euery myscheef that it may be ffounde,—
While I þi servaunt haue hem in remembraunce,—
Agayn goostly enmys to stonde in assuraunce.

Explicit.

54. TO MARY, THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN.

[_]

[MS. Bodley Tanner 110, leaf 244, B version.]

1

Queen of heuene, of helle eeke emperesse,
Lady of this world, O verray loodsterre!
To maryners geyn al mortal distresse
In ther passage that they nat ne erre,

285

Thy look of mercy cast doun from so ferre,
On all thy seruantes by chast compassioun,
Graunte hem good pes, saue hem fro mortal werre,
To thy .v. joyes that haue deuocioun.

2

Celestial cipresse set vpon Syon,
Hiest Cidre of perfit holynesse,
Charboncle of charite and grene emerawd ston,
Hool & vnbroken by virgynal clennesse,
O Saphir loup al swellyng to represse,
Off cankred sores & venymous feloun,
In gostly woundes be ther gouerneresse
To thy .v. Ioies þat haue deuocioun.

3

Yerde of Aaron, gracious and benigne,
Welle of all grace and merciful pite,
Wher the Hooly Gost list to close and signe,
The cristal cloistre of thy virginyte,
Bawme of Engaddy geyn al Infirmite,
Of folk þat languissh in tribulacioun,
Preserue and keep from al aduersitee
To thy .v. Ioies þat haue deuocioun.

4

Glad Aurora, kalendis of cleer day,
Of Phebus vprist, massageer most enteer,
Rose of Iherico, groweth noon so fressh in May,
Gracious Lucifer, dirk morwenynges for to cleer,
And siluer deuh, which that did Appeer
Vpon the flees shynyng of Gedeoun,
Shew vpon all thy liht, thyn heuenly cheer,
To thy .v. Ioies þat haue deuocioun.

286

5

O bussh vnbrent, shewed to Moyses,
Iudith the secounde, þat saued al Israel,
Assenek off Egipt, of beute pereles,
Souereyn Sara of refut cheeff Rachel,
For our Sauacioun salued bi Gabriel,
Reclinatorye throne of kyng Salamoun,
For thy seruauntes al mescheeff do repelle,
To thy .v. Ioies that haue deuocioun.

6

Of al dirknesse thou dist awey the clips,
This wrechchede world tenlumyne with gladnesse,
Shewed to Seyn Iohn in thapocalips,
Clad in a Sonne surmountyng of brihtnesse,
Crownyd with sterrys of excellent cleernesse,
The stremys strechchyng to the heuenly mansioun,
Thy grace, thy pite, to alle tho folkes dresse,
To thy .v. Ioies þat haue deuocioun.

7

Palme of our conquest, grene olyue of our pes,
Of hope our Anker, at the hauene of lyff taryue,
Of feith our sheld, pauys of our encres,
No clerk hath konnyng thy bountes to descryue;
Thy Sonys passioun, knet with hys woundes fyue,
Of moodirly pite by mediacioun,
Help and supporte hem geyn Sathan for to stryue,
To thy .v. Ioies that haue deuocioun.

lenuoye.

8

Go, litel bille, pray to this pur virgine,
On vs to caste hir confortable siht,

287

Onys a day our dulnesse tenlumine,
On soule and spirit to make vs glad & liht,
Withoute slouthe, as we be bounde of riht,
Al the while þat we ben here alyue,
At morowe, at mydday, at eue toward nyht,
Ever to remembre vpon hir Ioies fyue.

9

In hir stant hoolly our grace and our counfort,
Our hope, our helthe, o[u]r trust most pryncipal,
Of our welfare the ryvall and the port,
Geyn feendes power our castel and our wal,
In worldly trouble and daungers infernal,
Geyn al the malys that feendes kan contryue
Shall vs diffende with hir mylk virgynal,
Whan we remembre vpon hir Ioies fyve.

10

Callyng to mynde hir salutacioun,
Cristis birthe, and hys natyuyte,
Hys meeke suffraunce, hys resurreccioun,
And hys ascencioun vp to the heuenly Se,
With hir Assumpcioun, grettest solemnyte
Of al hir festys, as clerkes kan descryue,
Our Salue, our socour, geyn al aduersite,
When we remembre vpon hir Ioies fyue.

11

Lat nat this mateer appallen in your thouht,
In eche temptacioun to remembre blyue
On Cristys passyoun, and on hir Ioyes fyve,
To make yow strong, bewar, forget hem nouht.

288

55. GAUDE VIRGO MATER CHRISTI.

[_]

[MS. Trin. Coll. Cam. R. 3. 20, leaves 53 to 55.]

Beholdeþe nowe filowing next here þe translacyoune of Gaude virgo mater Christi made by Daun Iohan þe Munke Lydegate by night as he lay in his bedde at London.

Gaude virgo mater christi.

Be gladde, mayde, moder of Cryst Ihesu,
Whiche conceyvedist oonly by hering,
Whane þeoholy Gooste, moost souereyn of vertu,
Entred þy brest frome hevon descending,
An Gabryel brought þee þeo tydyng,
For þilk Ioye, and for þilke gret gladdenesse,
Haue on vs mercy, and stynt our hevynesse.

Gaude quia deo plena.

Fulfilled of God, be gladde, O mayden free!
Whiche has chylded with-outen soore or peyne,
With þe lylye of mooste pure chastytee
Of all mankynde þe trouble to restreyne;
Nowe, blessed lady, of pytee not disdeyne,
To save þy servauntes for þis gret gladnesse,
Oonly of mercy, and stynt hir hevynesse.

Gaude quia tui nati.

Reioysse also, moder and pure virgyne,
Desconsolate in Crystis passyoun,
Think agaynwarde þy Ioye dyde shyne
At his vprist and resureccion,
Nowe for þat Ioye and consolacyon
Þou haddest þanne, and for þat gret gladdnesse,
Haue on vs mercy and stynt oure hevynesse.

289

Gaude Cristo ascendente.

Be gladde also of his ascencyoun,
To þy gret honnour to haue þer-of sight,
For of his might and goodely mocyon
He styeghe ful hye aboue þe sterres hight,
Wher Ioye is euer and eternal light,
Now for þat Ioye þou haddest and gladnesse
Haue on vs mercy, and stynt oure hevynesse.

Gaude que post ipsum scandis.

Be gladde also þat affter doost ascende
In-to þat heeghe hevenly mansyoun,
Þer hooly sayntes and Aungelles ay comende
Þy chaaste clennesse and þy parfeccion,
Þy famous honnour and þy qweenly Renoun,
ffor þilk[e] Ioye and for þy gret gladnesse,
Haue on vs mercy, and stynt oure hevynesse.

Vbi fructus ventris tui.

Nowe blessed lady, O qweene most mercyable!
Which for þy meryt bare þe fruyt of lyff,
In þilke Ioye make vs þer partable,
Whiche were alloone mayde, moder, and wyff;
Be oure defence ageyne þinfernal stryff
For alle þy Ioyes and þy gret gladnesse,
Haue on vs mercy, and stynt oure hevynesse.

Lenvoye.

Pryncesse of mercy, for þy Ioyes fyve
Whane we part hens be oure proteccioun;
Fraunchyse oure waye lest þe feondes wold stryve
To lett oure passage by fals collusyoun.
Conduyt vs vpe vn-to þat Regyoun
Where-with þy sone þou regnest in gladnesse
Oonly of mercy, and stynt oure hevynesse.

290

56. THE IMAGE OF OUR LADY.

[_]

[MS. B.M. Adds. 29729, leaves 9, back, to 10.]

A balad made by Iohn Lydgat of ye ymage of Our Lady.

1

Beholde and se this glorious fygure,
Whiche Sent Luke of our lady lyvynge
After her lyknes made in picture,
Lo here she is affter the same wyrkynge
As in Rome is had of Saynt Lukes payntynge,
In erthe as she was and her sone also,
And ther honoryd with solempne praysynge
In churche callyd Maria de Populo.

2

Who devotly visitith the same fygure
In worshipe of oure moste blessyd lady free,
Of .v. cardinals, perpetuelly to endure
v C yeres of Remyssyon graunted be,
Of penaunce Ingoynyd, yf he have capacite
Pardon to receyve, contrite with confession,
With satysfacion, this is the certente,
As under sealys the bulle make mencion.

3

At certayn festis in the same buke, comprisyd,—
Firste of our lady the Assumpcion;
Annuncion also it is ther-in devisyd;
Of sent Albon the passyon, and his invencion,
Of this churche also the dedycacion
At every feste who visytythe this fygure here.
Of penaunce Ingoyned hath Relaxacion
Of everi Cardinall grauntyd a C yere.

4

Nomber of ye yeres, who lyst to accompte,
That be grauntyd v tymes in the yere,
To M and vC. therto they amounte,
To eche creature with devoute prayer

291

That helpe this place, with some thynge particular,
As boke, belle, chalis, or any other guerdoun,
Ornament or lyght in devout manere,
They be copertenars of this same pardoun,

5

Whiche at the coste and contemplacion
Of a gentylman callyd Rauf Gelebronde,
Throughe the labour and meditacion
Of dampnum Iohn Thornton, ye shall understonde,
Archdecon here, whiche out of Englonde
Went to Rome and this pardon did purchase;
Christe blesse them both with his holy honde,
And for theyr labor, take them to his grace.

Explicit a balad of ye Image of our lady made by Iohn Lidgate.

57. AVE REGINA CELORUM.

[_]

[MS. Trin. Coll. Cam. R. 3. 21, leaves 162 and back.]

1

Hayle luminary & benigne lanterne,
Of Ierusalem the holy ordres nyne,
As quene of quenes laudacion eterne
They yeue to thee, O excellente virgyne!
Eclypsyd I am, for to determyne
Thy superexcellence of Cantica canticorum,
The aureat beames do nat in me shyne,
Aue regina celorum!

2

Hayle! verray Mater misericorde,
And peereles Pryncesse of excellence,
Of aungelles aloft pray Sol iusticie,
Thy swete son of most magnificence,
That no perylous plage of pestilence,
Syth thow art laus Apostolorum,
Entyr in Englond, thy dower with reuerence,
Aue regina celorum!

292

3

Hayle! holy maydyn, modyr and wyfe,
That brought Israell out of captyuyte,
As sterre of Iacob by a prerogatyfe
With the blessyd bawme of thy virginite,
The holyest roote that sprang out of Iesse,
Prymrose of plesaunce, callyd flos florum,
Thou were tryacle ageyn olde antiquite,
Aue regina celorum!

4

Hayle! gloryous lady, O. Rosa marina,
Whyche hast fostryd lying in thy lappe
Tetragramaton, that fed vs with Manna,
Of leuiathan mawgre the sleyghty trappe,
To thys worlde a lyghte sprong ys from thy lappe,
With virginall mylke vt castitas lilium,
So lyst the Holygost in the hys wynges wrappe,
Aue regina celorum!

5

Hayle! fayrest and fresshe of consolacion,
Vs to conduct by the pathe of paradyse,
Aboue all women, without comparyson,
Of bewte be thow, blessyd floure delise,
A dew diamant, most precyous of pryse,
As Gabryell seyd Dominus tecum,
O myrrour of mekenes most prudent & wyse
Aue regina celorum!

6

Hayle! condute of comfort, with watyr crystall,
Perpetually our peynes to wasshe & repell,
Geyue sorow of sekenes, o sugor celestiall,
Pese, victory, & grace graunt with vs to dwell,
Pray gentyll Iesu, of mercy the welle,
To blysse aboue that we may all come,
Where more ioy ys then tung may telle
Aue regina celorum!

293

58. REGINA CELI LETARE.

[_]

[MS. Trin. Coll. Camb. R. 3. 21, leaves 162, back, to 163.]

1

O thow ioyfull lyght! eternall ye shyne,
In glory with Laureat coronall,
Descendyd from Dauid, worthyest on lyne,
Modyr to your soueraynes, & Lord imperyall;
Elect to grace from synne oryginall,
Floure of clennes and pure virginite!
Sith ye be mayde and moder in speciall,
Regina celi, letare!

2

Remembre Lady, how synne was cause
Of youre preferryng to hygh worthynes,
Howe ye exclude by text outher clause
They that causyd you all thys worthynes,
Thynke, nature in yow dyd all hys besynes
Of all faire to set yow the soueraynte;
Yet for vs dyed the son of ryghtwsnes,
Et tu meruisti ipsum portare.

3

O felix culpa! thus may we syng,
Reioysyng in your ladyes high honour,
So many a thousand to haue vndyr your wyng
Thorough the byrthe of that blessed creatour
That lyst to dy, that were dettour,
So verrey God & man with good chere,
Thy blessyd son thyn owne fygure,
Resurrexit sicut dixit.

4

O filia Pharaonis! whom oure lady kept,
Preseruyd Moyses in hys cage,
And Iudyth þat sauyd that fayre cyte,
Fygureth Crystes modyr and Image

294

Oure verray resorte, when lost was oure herytage,
When we shuld apere before the dome,
Before thy dredefull sonnys vysage,
Ora pro nobis tunc apud deum.

5

O blysfull quene of eternall glory!
O Ioy to euery wyght with felycite!
In whos laude and worthy memory
We sey, lady y-blessed thow be!
For thy pure and meke virginite
Of thy blessyd moder, maydyn Maria,
Banysshyd ys oure sorow and aduersite,
Dicamus omnes Alleluya!

59. STELLA CELI EXTIRPAUIT (I).

[_]

[MS. Harley 2255, leaves 103 and back.]

1

Thu heuenly queen, of grace our loodsterre!
With thy chast mylk plentevous of plesaunce
Gaff Iesu soukyn, puttist awey the werre
Of pestilence, tappeesen our grevaunce;
Our welle of mercy, our ioye, our suffisaunce,
Flour of virgynes, mooder of moost prys,
Racedist vp al surfetis of myschaunce,
That our forn-ffadir plantyd in paradys.

2

Thu same sterre, of sterrys noon so briht,
Celestial sterre of beute moost sovereyne,
To the we pray, on vs cast doun thy siht,
Oonly of mercy that thu nat disdeyne,

295

Off infect heyr the mystis to restreyne,
That be thy gracious moost holsom influence
We haue no cause on hasty deth to pleyne,
Which sleeth the peeple by swerd of pestilence.

3

Our trust is fully, and our confidence,
Vndespeyred in our oppynyoun,
Ageyn al wedrys of corrupt pestilence,
By thy Request and mediacioun,
And by thy Sonys gloryous passioun,
And remembraunce of thy Ioyes alle,
Geyn froward heyres causyng infeccioun
Diffende vs lady whan we to the calle.

4

For as Phebus enchaceth mystis blake,
Toward mydmorwe with his beemys cleer,
And Lucifer biddith sloggy folk awake,
In thorient first, whan he dooth appeer,
Riht so maistow in thy celestial speer,
O sterre of sterrys, sterre of moost excellence,
Mayde and moodir, by meene of thy prayeer,
Sauf alle thy servauntis from strook of pestilence.

Explicit.

60. STELLA CELI EXTIRPAUIT (II).

[_]

[MS. Rawl. c. 48, leaves 133, back, to 134.]

1

O blissid queen, a-bove the sterrid heuene,

Stella celi.

Which of the see, art callid cheef lodsterre,
Thi dwellynge is a-bove the sterris sevene,
Where euer is Ioye, and pes withoute werre,
Cast down on vs, thi look that art so ferre
From all myscheef, be thou oure cheef deffennce,
In oure moost trouble thi socoure latt be nerre
And be oure sheeld from strok of pestilence.

296

2

In paradys withe Ioye and al plesaunce
Adam was put, talyvid withouten eende,
But thoruh his synne fil hym a grete myschaunce
Brouht in first dethe thoruh temptynge of ye feende,
But thou lady that art so good and keende

Sicut Adam primo interduxit mortem Sic maria primo interduxit vitam.

To the be pryes, with Ioye and reverence.
Thou brouhtist lyve, to me and all man-kynde,
And puttist away eternal pestilence.

3

Thou glorious sterre this world to enlumyne,

Ipsa stella.

Thi name to preise I haue no suffisaunce,
On vs synneres thi mercy lat doun shyne,
Off infect heires oppresse al there vttraunce,
Vs to infect that thei haue no puissaunce;
From theire batail be thou oure cheef deffennce,
That theire malis to vs do no grevaunce,
Off infectynge or strok of pestilence.

4

Thou splendaunt sterre, of sterris moost souereyne,

Conclusio.

Graunt me thes thre, moost excellent princesse,
The first is this, I pray the nat disdeyne,
To haue lengthe of lif nat medlid with seeknesse,
Off wordly goodis graunt me also largesse,
Withouten striff, to Goddis reverence,
The thrid is that my soule, withouten distresse,
May come to the blisse where drad is no pestilence.

Explicit. per I. pro. [sic.]

61. A PRAYER TO MARY IN WHOM IS AFFIAUNCE.

[_]

[MS. Rawl. c. 48, leaf 134.]

1

O swettest bawme of grettest excellence,
Lady of this world, of helle eeke emperesse,
To the kyng a-bove, mooder of reverence!
In the remaynynge, virgynall clennesse,

297

The Ordris Nyne of Angellis with gladnesse,
As to there queen, to the doun obeisaunce,
Pray to thi sone for me in grete distresse
For in thin helpe is al myn affiaunce.

2

Riht as the synne of Eve is grete offense,
Brouht to this world bothe sorwe and wretchidnesse,
So hast thou lady of manyficence
Brouht vnto vs bothe Ioye and grete gladnesse.
Pray thi sone, that is the lord of blisse
Off my trespas I may haue pardonaunce,
And graunt my requestis of his grete goodnesse,
For in thin helpe is all mine affiaunce.

3

My requestis offrid vnto thy presence
In noumbre be thre, moost excellent princesse,—
This first is this, nat pondrid myn offence,
To have lengthe of liffe nat medlid with seeknesse;
Off wordly goodis graunt me also largesse,
Withouten striff to Goddis moost pleasaunce;
The thrid is that my soule may come to blisse,
For in thin helpe is all myn affiaunce.

62. ON THE IMAGE OF PITY.

[_]

[MS. B.M. Adds. 29729, leaves 129 back, to 130.]

1

O wretched synner! what so ever thow be,
With hert endurat hardar than þe stone,
Turne hidder in hast, knelle doun, behold and se
The moder of Cryst, whose hert was woo begon
To se her childe, whiche synne dide nevar non,
For thyn offence thus wounded & arayd;
Rewe on that peyne, remembringe here vpon,
Pray to that quene, that moder is, and mayd,

298

2

With this conceyt, þat yf syne had not bene,
Causynge our fadar Adam his grevous fall,
Of heven had she not be crounyd quene,
Ne ther ataynyd astate emperiall;
Besechyng her þat this memoriall
Of very pitie wold meve hir for thy grace
To pray þat lord, which may pardon all,
To here her bone, & then with hasty pace

3

Rene to a prest whill this is in thi mynd,
Knelynge down lowly withe hert contryt,
Tell out bothe croppe & rote, leve nought behynd—
Thy synnes all, be they gret or lyte,
Wher they were blake, then shall they wexe whyt,
His bittar passion is thy wesshyng welle.
Continew in clennys, & then thow shalt be quyte,
And saffe fro fendes all that are in helle.

4

Enprynt thes wordes myndly thy hert within,
Thynk how thow sest Cryst bledyng on þe tre,
And yf thow steryd or temptyd be to syne
It shall sone sese and pase a-way from the.
Remembre all so this dolorus pytie,
How þat this blyssid ladye thus doth enbrace
Her dere son ded, lygyng vpen her kne,
And, payne of deth, thow shalt not fayll of grace.

5

Lerne well this lesson, it is bothe short and lyght,
For with this same the wekest creature
That ys on lyffe may putte þe fend to flyght
And saffe hym-selffe in sole and body sure;

299

To suche entent was ordeynt purtreture
And ymages of dyverse resemblaunce,
That holsom storyes thus shewyd in fygur
May rest with ws with dewe remembraunce.

finis lidgat.

Amen.

63. AVE, JESSE VIRGULA!

[_]

[MS. Harley 2251, leaf 30, back, ll. 1–56; Harley 2255, leaves 140 to 141, back, ll. 57–120.]

1

Haile blissed lady, the moder of Crist Iesu!
Of pees and concorde, haile, fresshest on-lyve!
Haile, hyest Cedre, surmountyng in vertu!
Haile! who hath konnyng thy beaute to discryve?
For there was neuer none so fayre onlyve.
Haile, bussh vnbrent, portula signata!
Haile, glorious mayde, with whom no fiend maye strive,
Haile, flos campi, O ave Iesse virgula!

2

Haile, holsom cypres, growyng in Syon!
Haile, fons signatus, most clere in cristallyne!
Haile, gold in Trone of prudent Salamon
Gostly closed, most hevenly in devyne!
Haile, to-fore whose brest alle grace dide shyne,
From phebus paleys, bilded supra sidera;
Haile, hevenly gardyn, welle in divyne,
Haile, flos campi, o Ave Iesse virgula!

3

Haile, chast lady of virginite!
Of the Holigost, haile, richest habitacle,
Aforne provided by the holy Trynite,
To be his triewe chosen tabernacle.

300

Of al vertues, myrrour and spectacle,
Brightest Aurora, cedrus exaltata,
To-fore whos face al peple by myracle
Syng of hole hert, “O Aue Iesse virgula!”

4

Of [I]esse boone, haile, holsomest piscyne!
With gostly vertues clerer than cristall
Whiche wasshed away all venym serpentyne
Brought into paradice, whan Adam had a fall.
But for thy vertues, and thy merites virginall,
We may the calle, turtur superata,
Sterre of the see, of hevene fenestrall,
Haile, flos campi, O Ave Iesse virgula!

5

Haile, fressh[e] Rose, planted in Iericho!
Swettest viola, that neuer shal fade,
Gloria Ierusalem, of Bedlem light also,
In perile palme, with fruyte of lyf I-lade;
Victorious laurus, ful of braunchis glade,
With vncouth mysteries, aforn prefigurata,
Thy merciful mantel lete cloth al in the shade,
With haile flos campi, O Ave Iesse virgula!

6

Haile, chosyn ysope of the valeys lowe!
Triewe example of humilite,
Aforne figured above the Reyne bowe,
Agenst the Indulgence of Iniquite,
Emerawdis grene, of perfite chastite,
Of merciful myrre, arbor inflammata,
Pray to thi sone, on vs he have pite,
With, haile, flos campi, O Ave Iesse virgula!

7

Haile, of Aurora the gladde Iasp[y]s skye!
Oure gostly day-sterre, oure lanterne, oure light;
Whiche broughtest kalendis, prophetis specifye,
Of Phebus vprist, after the derk[e] nyght,

301

Whan the Holygost in thy brest light,
Bilded of xij. stones, ciuitas murata,
Whiche in the Apocalyps be remembrid aright,
Haile flos campi, O Ave Iesse virgula!

8

Heyl, vertuous Iaspe, moost stedfast, & our feith
Tenchace away al Incantaciouns;
Celestial saphir, the lapidarye seith,
Cheef remedye geyn al temptaciouns;
The grene smaragd geyn fals Illusyouns,
Of this thre stoonys, heyl, conquadrata!
Fettyng of the alle our protecciouns,
In wourldly pereell, with Aue Iesse virgula.

9

Heyl, brennyng charbouncle, fervent of charyte!
Heyl, Calcedonye, & topas of clennesse!
Heyl, Crysolyte of pees and vnite!
Purpurat Ametyst, conseruyng sobyrnesse;
Moost pacient Berylle, alle Enemyes to represse,
Tu sic dicta viola & inuiolata
Heyl, strengest Achat geyn feendys sturdynesse!
Heyl, flos campi, with Aue Iesse virgula!

10

Heyl, sterre of Iacob, glorie of Israell!
Eva transformyd, the lettrys wel out sought,
Into thy Closet whan that Gabryell
With this wourd Ave hath the tydynges brought.
For meeknesse oonly, God this myracle hath wrought,
To-fore whoos face, mens mea iam prostrata,
Devoutly knelyng seith, with herte and thought,
Heyl, flos campi, with Aue Iesse virgula!

302

11

Heyl, gloryous queen! whoom the Apostyl Iohn
In his avisioun sawh, clothyd in a sonne,
With xije sterrys, and many a precious stoon,
Voydyng the dirknesse of alle skyes dunne,
In tokne, thow hast the victorye wonne
Of vices alle, in celis sublimata,
For whoom we synge, of herte as we best kunne,
Heyl Flos campi, with Aue Iesse virgula!

12

The twelve sterrys be twelve prerogatyves,
Which thow haddyst in thy virginite,
To-fore alle othir maydenys and Eek wyves;
The first callyd feith, hope, and charyte,
Namyd virtutes theologice,
With which thow were diuinitus dotata,
For which we seyn devoutely on our knee
Heyl flos campi, with Aue Iesse virgula!

13

In the foure vertues callyd Cardinal,
Force ageyn vices, and hih prudence,
And attemperaunce set in especial
In thy persone by souereyn excellence;
Pyte, compassioun, benignyte, clemence,
To-forn alle women plus preuilegiata,
To whoom knelyng with humble reuerence
We seyn of herte, O Aue Iesse virgula!

14

Vndir thy feet ther was a large moone,
Nat discresyng but alwey ful of lyght,
That was ful tokne, erly, late, and soone,
The gracious beemys of thy gracious syght

303

Shewe on-to synners, evir Ilich bryght,
With-oute eclips, tu virgo sacratissima!
For which we seyn, as we ar bound of ryght,
Heyl, Flos campi, with Aue Iesse virgula!

15

M. in Maria was first tokne of mercy,
A. of Aue, whan first our Ioye gan,
R. was redresse of Adam-is greet Fooly,
I. was Iesu, that overcam Sathan,
A. was Altissimus, whan bothe God and man
Took our manhood of the, pijssima,
Seying to the, of herte as we best can,
Heyl, flos campi, with Aue Iesse virgula!

16

M. in Maria, betokenyth Eek meknesse,
A. next in Ordre, tokne of attemperaunce,
R. remedye, our surffectys to redresse,
I. betoknyth Iesus, helpe for al our grevaunce,
A. is Amor, moost souereyn of pleasaunce,
Al set in Oon tu sola puerpera,
This name shall nevir out of our remembraunce,
Callyd fflos campi, O Aue Iesse virgula.

17

M. is also signe of thy magnitude,
Of plentevous mercyes, set in the alloone,
A. is Eek tokne of the greet altitude
Wheer thow sittyst with Salamon in his throne,
R. reformacioun of al our pitous moone,
I. for Iesu, Tu nostra aduocata,
A. efft for Ave in syknesse whan we groone,
Thy name shall helpe O aue Iesse virgula.

304

18

Maria, that art tryacle and medycine,
Salve for our soorys and our hurtys alle,
Moost habundaunt of grace which is devyne,
Off our trespacys to sugre the bittir galle
In Sathanys snarys, whan we stoumble or falle,
Tu Rosa tu lilium salus nominata,
Socoure thy seruauntys whan we to the calle,
O flos campi! O aue Iesse virgula!

19

Be with vs present, shewe thy fair face,
Help, Michael! weye with vs in the ballaunce,
Whan we shal deye, and Sathan doth manace,
Al our proteccioun stant in thy gouernaunce;
That dreedful day to save vs froo myschaunce,
Thow hevenly ffenestrall, sole radiata,
Releve alle thoo, by mercyful purviaunce,
That seyn of herte, O Aue Iesse virgula!

Explicit quod Lydgate.

64. A VALENTINE TO HER THAT EXCELLETH ALL.

[_]

[MS. Trin. Coll. Cam. R. 3. 20, leaves 145–149.]

Lo here beginneþe a balade made at þe reuerence of our lady by daun Johan Lidegate þe Munke of Bury in wyse of chesing loues at Saint Valentynes day.

305

1

Saynt Valentyne, of custume yeere by yeere,
Men haue an vsavnce in þis Regyoun
To looke and serche Cupydes Kalundere,
And cheese þeyre choys by gret affeccioun;—
Suche as beon pricked by Cupydes mocion,
Taking þeyre choyse, as þeyre soort doþe falle
But I loue oon whiche excelliþe alle.

2

Some cheese for fayrnesse and for hye beaute,
Some for estate, and some eke for rychchesse,
Some for fredame, and some for bountee,
Some for þeyre poorte and þeyr gentylesse,
Some for þeyre plesaunce and some for þeyre goodnesse,
Lyche as þe chaunce of þeyre soorte doþ falle,
But I love oone whiche excelleþe alle.

3

I chase þat floure siþen goon ful yoore,
And euery yeere my choyse I shal renuwe,
Vpon þis day conferme it euermore,
Sheo is in loue so stedfast and so truwe;
Who loueþe hir best, hit shal him neuer ruwe,
Yif such a grace vn-to his soort may falle,
Whame I have chose for she excelleþe alle.

4

Men speke of Lucresse þat was of Roome tovne,
ffor wyvely trouth founded on clennesse,
Some wryte als of Marcea Catoun
With laude and prys for hir stedfastnesse;
And some of Dydo for hir kyndenesse,
(ffortune suche happe leet vpon hem falle)
But I loue oone þat excelleþe alle.

306

5

Rachel was feyre, Lia was eke fecounde,
And ryche also was þe qweene Candace,
So in hir tyme Right fayre was Roosamounde,
And Bersabee hade a goodely face,
Of Kyng Dauid she stoode so in þe grace,
ffirst whane his look he leet vpon hir falle,
But I loue oone whiche excelleþe alle.

6

Þe noble kyng, þe mighty Assuere,
Cherisshed Hester for hir gret meeknesse,
ffor wommanhed, and for hir humble chere,
Made hir a qweene, and a gret Pryncesse;
To þe Juwes lawe she was defenseresse,
In sodein mescheef þat did vpon hem falle,
But I loue oon whiche excelleþe alle.

7

Saba came fer for kyng Salamon
To seen his richchesse and his sapience,
His staately housholde, and his hye Renoun,
Gaf him presence of gret excellence,
Herde his proverbes and his gret prudence,
Where as he seet in his royal stalle,
But I loue oone, þat excelleþe alle.

8

What shal I seyne of qweene Penolope?
Or in Grece of þe qweene Alceste?
Of Polixeene oþer of Medee?
Or of qweene Heleyne holden þe fayrest?
Lat hem farewell! and let her names rest!
My ladyes name þeyre renoun dooþe appalle,
Whome I haue chose for she excellþe alle.

307

9

Tesbe þe mayde borne in Babyloun
Þat loued so weel þe yonge Pyramus,
And Cl[e]opatre of wilful mocyoun
List for to dye with hir Antonyus.
Sette al on syde oone is so vertuous
Whiche þat I do my souerein lady calle,
Whame I loue best for she excelleþe alle.

10

Gresylde whylome hade gret pacyence,
As hit was preued fer vp in Itayle,
Pallas Mynerua haden eloquence,
And Pantasilia faught in plate and mayle,
And Senobya lyouns wolde assayle,
To make hem taame as Oxe is in a stalle,
But I love oone, þat excelleþe alle,

11

And if I shal hir name specyfye,
Þat folk may wit whiche shee sholde be,
Þis goodely fresshe called is Marye,
A braunche of kynges, þat sprange out of Iesse,
Þat made þe lord thorughe hir humylyte
To let his golddewe in-to hir brest dovne falle,
To bere þe fruyt which should saue vs alle.

308

12

I mene þus, whane þe Holy Goost alight
In-to hir brest, to saue vs euerych oone
Right as þe dewe, with siluer dropes bright,
ffell vpon þe flees of Gedeoun,
And as þe yerde also of Aaroun
Bourjourned, and bare fruyt to sugre oure galle,
Whome I loue best, for sheo excelleþe alle.

13

Sheo of oure yvel adawed haþe þe clippes,
Oure victorye of þe serpent wonne,
Þis is sheo, þat whylome in þapocolippes
Saint Iohan þapostel sawe cloþed in [a] sonne;
Mankyndes Ioye at hir was first begonne,
Refuyt to synners þat for help do calle
To hir of goodnesse, whiche excelleþe alle.

14

Þis is þe mayde, whiche on þawtere,
With chylde in armys appeered pleynly þanne,
And shoone for brightnesse as any sonne cleere,
To-fore þemperour cleped Octouyan
And he felle doune and worship hir began,
Lefft his pryde and gan hir socour calle,
To hir of goodenesse, þat excelleþe alle.

15

Sheo was cheef roote of oure saluacyoun,
Þat first for man þe helthe gan pourchace,
Whane Gabryell with salutacyoun,
Gane frome þe lord hir salue in þe place,
Sheo brought first Theofilus to grace,
Out of þe mescheef þat he was Inne falle,
Whame I loue best, for sheo excelleþe alle.

309

16

Men at þeyre lust may booþe cheese and leet,
Lyche as love dooþe þeyre hertes distreyne,
Kateryne was goode and sainte Margarete,
Agnes Agas and Marye Magdaleene,
Fydes Lucya and also sainte Eleyne,
But of my soort þe soort is so befalle,
I loue oon best, for sheo excelleþe alle.

17

Affter þeyre hertes to euery man is free,
Who euer sey nay, in loue for to cheese;
In choys of love þer is gret libertee
Euery sesoun, wheþer hit thowe or freese;
And for my part, by cause me list not leese,
Ne in my choyse þer may no meschief falle,
I haue choose oon which þat excelleþe alle.

18

Frome yeere to yeer for necglygence or rape,
Voyde of al chaunge and of nufanglenesse,
Saint Valentyne hit shal me not escape
Vpon þy day, in token of stedfastnesse,
But þat I shal conferme in sikurnesse
My choys of nuwe, so as it is befalle,
To love hir best, whiche þat excelleþe alle.

Lenvoye.

19

Noble pryncesse, braunche of flour delys,
Whas goodenesse thoroughe þe worlde dooþ shyne,
So weel avysed, so prudent, and so wys,

310

Saint Clottis blood, and of þat noble lyne!
Lowly beseeche I, conferme and termyne
To yif me love, lyche as it is befalle,
To love hir best þat excelleþe alle.

20

With humble herte beseching þat virgyne,
Whiche is moost feyre, moost bountevous and goode,
To sixst Henry, his moder Kateryne,
To sheede hir grace, and to þeyre noble bloode;
And Cryst Iesu, þat starf vpon þe Roode,
Haue on vs mercy, whane we for help calle,
For love of hir, þat excelleþe alle!

311

65. THE LEGEND OF DAN JOOS.

[_]

[MS. Trin. Coll. Cam. R. 3. 21, leaves 165, back, to 167.]

1

O welle of swetnesse replete in euery veyne!
That all mankynde preseruyd hast from dethe,
And all oure ioy fro langour dydest restreyne
At thy Natiuite, O floure of Nazareth!
Whan the Holygost with hys swete breth
Gan to enspyre the, as for hys chosyn place,
For loue of man by influence of hys grace,

2

And were inuyolate, O bryght heuynly sterre!
Mong celestynes, reynyng without memory,
That by thyne empryse in thys mortall werre,
Of oure captyuyte, gatest the full vyctory,
Whom I beseche for thyne excellent glory,
Som drope of thy grace adowne to me constyll,
In reuerence of the thys dyte to fulfyll.

3

That ovnely my rewdenes thy myracle nat deface
Whyche whylom sendest in a deuoute abbey,
Of an hooly monke thorough thy myght & grace,
That of all pyte berest bothe lok and key,
For, benygne lady, the sothe of thee to sey,
Full well thow quytyst that done thee loue and serue
An hundryd sythys bettyr then they deserue.

4

Ensample of whyche here ys in portreture,
Withoutyn fable, ryght as hit was in dede,
O refuge and welthe to euery creature!
Thy clerke to further helpe now at thys nede.
For to my purpose I wyll anone procede,
The trowthe to recorde, I wyll no lengor tary,
Ryght as hit was, a poynt I wyll nat vary.

312

5

Vincencius in hys speculatyf historiall
Of thys sayde monke maketh full mensioun,
Vnder the fourme to yow, as I reherse shall,
That by a gardeyne as he romyd vp and doune
He heerd a bysshop of fame & gret renoune
Seying v. psalmes in honour of that flowre,
That bare Iesu Cryst oure alther redemptoure.

6

In whiche Psalmes, standyng eche in here degre,
Whoso lyst take hede in syngler lettres fyue,
This blessyd name Maria there may he se
That furst of all oure thraldam can depryue,
To the hauen of dethe when we gan arryue,
And fro the wawes of this mortall see,
Made vs to escape from all aduersite.

7

Dystynctly in Latyn here may ye rede echone,
Folowyng these baladys as for youre plesaunce,
To whom the bysshop hade sayde hys meditacione,
The monke anone delytyd in his remembraunce,
And thought he wold as for his most affiaunce
Cotydyally with hem oonly oure lady plese,
That fro all greuaunce hys sorowes myght appese.

8

And there withall he wrote hem in hys mynde,
So stedfastly with deuoute and hy corage,
That neuer a day a worde he foryate behynde,
But seyde hem entyerly in-to hys last age,
Hys olde gyltes bothe to a soft and swage
Aftyr hyr matyns, as was hys appetyte,
To sey hem euer was hys most delyte.

9

Therto his dylygence with all hys hert & myght,
And forthe contynuyd in his deuoutest wyse,

313

Tyll at last hit befell apon a nyght
The hoole Couent at mydngyht gan aryse,
As ys here vsage, to do to God seruyse,
So when they were assemblyd there in generall,
The suppryour beholdyng aboute ouer all,

10

As ys hys offyce that noone of theym were absent,
But of Dan Ioos he cowde nowyse aspy,
He roose hym up and priuyly he went
In-to hys chambre, and there he fond hym ly
Deede as a stoone, and lowde he gan to cry
“Helpe,” quoth he, “for the loue of oure lady bryght,
Dan Ioos oure brother ys sodenly dede to-nyght.”

11

The couent anone gan renne halfe in a drede,
Tyll they had behylde when passyd was here afray
Owte of hys mowthe, a Roose boothe sprang and sprede,
Fresshe in his coloure as any floure in May,
And other tweyne out of his eyen gray
Of hys eares as many full fresshly flowryng,
That neuer yet in gardyne half so feyre gan spryng.

12

Thys rody Roose they haue so long beholde
That sprang for his mowthe, tyll they haue espyed
Full fayre grauen, in lettres of bornyd golde,
Marie full curyously as hit ys specyfyed,
In bookes oolde, and anone they haue hem hyed
Vnto the temple, with lawde & hye solempnyte,
Beryng the corse that all men myght hit se.

13

Whyche they kepte in ryalte & hy perfeccioune
Seuyn dayes in the tempel there beyng present,
Tyll thre bysshops of fame & gret renoune
Were comyn thedyr, ryght with deuout entent,
And many another clerk with hem by oon assent,
To se thys myracle of thys lady bryght
Seying in thys wyse, with all her hert and myght,

314

14

“Lawde, honour, pryce and hygh reuerence
Eternally be to thee .O. heuynly Iuge,
And to thy modyr that of her gret benyuolence,
Preserueth from heuynes in this derke deluge,
That doone her magnyfy and ys her hoole refuge
More then they serue sche quyteth a thowsand folde,
Hyr passyng goodnes of vs may nat be tolde:”

15

Thus when these bysshops & clerkis many oon
Had thankyd God, as ferforth as they can,
And thys lady that hathe thys grace ydoon,
So full of ioy and blysse was euery man
Of thys myracle, that syth the world began
Yet herde I neuer in Roundell, prose ne ryme,
Of halfe the gladnes þat was withyn hem that tyme,

16

Sone aftyr thys her iorney gan they holde,
Eche in hys syde, in-to hys propre place,
Ryght as they fonde ouerall so haue they tolde,
Of thys holy Monke, O lady full of grace!
Now well ys hym, that can hys hert enbrace,
To loue the best and chaunge for no new,
That art so feythfull thow canst nat be vntrew.

17

O ye fresshe louers, that lyuyn euer in doublenesse,
And hurt your-self full oft with your owne knyfe,
Your wofull ioy ys medlyd ay with byttyrnesse,
Now glad, now sory, now lyte, now pensyfe,
Thus with your-self ye fall euer at stryfe,
Betwene two wawes ay possyd to and fro,
That in contraryosnes ye stryuyn euyr mo.

18

Youre blynde fantasyes now in hertes weyue,
Of chyldysshe vanyte and let hem ouerslyde,
And loueth this lady, that can nowyse deceyue,

315

She ys so stedfast of hert in euery syde,
That for your nedys so modyrly can prouyde
And for your poysy these lettres fyue ye take,
Of thys name Maria oonly for hys sake.

19

That for youre trauayle so well [will] yow auaunce,
Nat as these wemen on ye whyche ye doon delyte,
That fedyn yow all day with feynyd pleasaunce,
Hyd vndyr tresoun with many wordys whyte,
But bet then ye deserue she woll yow quyte,
And for ye shall nat labour all in veyne,
Ye shall have heuen there ys nomore to seyne;

20

Whos passyng goodnes may nat be comprehendyd,
In mannys prudence fully to determyne,
She ys so parfyte she cannat be amendyd,
That ay to mercy and pyty doth enclyne.
Now benygne lady that dedyst oure sorowes fyne
In honour of the that done thy psalmes rede
As was Dan Ioos, so quyte hem for theyre mede.

Amen.

66. GLORIOSA DICTA SUNT DE TE.

[BALADE OF OURE LADYE BY LIDEGATE]

[_]

[From Trin. Coll. Camb. R. 3. 20, leaves 1 to 4, back.]

Loo my freendes here beginneþe þe translacyoune out of Latyne in-to Englisshe of Gloriosa dicta sunt de te, &c. translated by Lidegate daun John þe Munk of Bury at þins[t]aunce of þe Busschop of Excestre in wyse of Balade. beholdeþe and redeþe I prey yowe.

316

1

On hooly hilles wheeche peoþe of gret Renoun
Reysed on heght frome þe valeys lowe
I saughe þe grounde and þe foundacion
Of a Citye aboue þe Reynebowe.
Þe name is called, lyche as I can knowe,
Þe dwelling place of þe deyitee,
Vppon þe wallis, wryten al by rowe,
Gloryous thingis beon songe and sayde of þee.

2

Þis was þe songe which Dauid with his harpe
Sang vpon þe mountes of Syon,
With nootes sweete and warbles touched sharpe
Fer frome þe floodes of felle Babylon.
Þis cytee bylt with many a prescious stoone,
Stoones of vertue, moost ryche vpon to see,
And his refreyde resouned euer in oon,
Gloryous thinges beon song and sayde of þee.

3

Of alle cytees, who þat serche neghe or ferre,
In what regyounes þat men ryde or goo,
Þou art þy-self þe bright loode-sterre,
Mankyndes lyff, to guye in wele and woo;
Nazareth, but not Iherico,
Þe prophetes gaf to þye natyvyte,
To make vs sure ageynst our mortal foo
Howe gloryous thinges beon songe and sayde of þee.

4

Auctours whylome gaf a prys to Troye
Laude and honnour and comendacyoun
In Remembraunce of þeyre olde Ioye
Þat whylome was wel vsed in þat tovne,

317

And eeke of Roome for domynacyoun,
Cytees þat tyme of mooste souereyntee;
But al þeyre booste may nowe be layde adowne,
So gloryous thinges beo sayde and song of þee.

5

Þou art þe cyte mooste kouþe in euery cooste,
Of God þe Fader chosen by myracle
For þy clennesse vnto þe Hooly Gooste
To beon alloone chevest habytacle,
Whos meeknesse made þer was noon obstacle
To cause him light frome his souereyne see
And descende in-to þy tabernacle,
Howe gloryous thinges beon seyde and songe of þee!

6

Auctoures also maken mencyoun,
As þey in bookes wel reherce konne,
Þowe were by meryte and by deuocion
Þe table of golde offred to þe sonne,
Which fisshers foonde and with þeyre nettes wonne
And hit presented vn-to þe deytee
Of Phebus, which, with noo skyes donne
Eclippseþe neuer, for he sprang oute of þee.

7

Iepte whylome, as maked is memorye,
Made of his doughter an oblacyoun
Vndescretly, for his gret victorye,—
Saynt Austyn wryt, for lacking of resoun;
But Ioachim of pleyne entencyoun
And hooly Anne þy pure virginytee
Offred vn-to God of oon affeccyoun;
Howe gloryous thinges beon sayde and songe of þee.

8

Þou art þe temple and þe chosen toure
Moost stedfastly founded on clennesse,

318

Where Cryst Ihesu, oure blessed saueour,
Chees for tabyde for þyne hoolynesse;
What called him dovne but þy gret meeknesse
Tenclyne his godheed to þyne humylytee
I am to Rude, O lady! for texpresse
Howe gloryous thinges beon song and sayde of þee.

9

Þer was a Cyte precelling alle tovnes
Whos gret beaute no masoun might amende,
Called þe Cyte of strong Chaumpyouns,
Whos chaaste walles Sapyence list ascende,
Whos worthynesse no clerk cane comprehende;
Reclynatorye of þe Trinytee,
Reffuge of synners, whanne þat þey offende,
Howe gloryous thinges beon songe and sayde of þee!

10

Þy blessed cytee was hyeghly glorefyed,
Ecclesiastes cane þe sooþe telle,
And of þe lord moost Inly sanctefyed,
In which him-self list abyde and dwelle,
Owte of þe which, besydes a sacred welle,
To saue mankynde of lyf þer sprang a tree,
Whos hoolsome fruyt alle fruytes doþe excelle
So gloryous thinges beon seyde and songe of þee.

11

In þat cytee þe lord chose for to rest,
Recorde I taake of prudent Ysaye,
Sought it out and foonde it was þe best
And þe prophete cleped Sophonye,
In his forsight list wel specefye,
“Þis is,” quod he, “þe gloryous fayre cytee
Whome al þe warld of right shal magnefye,”
So gloryous thinges beon songe and sayde of þee.

319

12

Ezechiel expressed with his mouþe
Þat he saughe a Cyte moost hevenly,
Whiche was drawyng miche into þe southe,
With-Inne þe which, he telleþe ful goostly,
Þat þe lover is serched comunly,
Þe lord of lordes þat haþe heghe seuereyntee,
And in his wryting he meneþe truly
Þe gloryous thinges sayde and songe of þee.

13

Þowe were þe sterre of þe morowe gray,
Passing alle oþer as in comparysoun,
Þe fulle moone brighter þane þe day,
Whylome called in þy concepcyoun;
And cleerest sonne in þyn assumpcyoun,
Alle derk skyes makyng for to flee,
And brightest arke by conuersacion,
So gloryous thinges beon sayde and songe of þee.

14

A thousand sheeldes, þe byble bereþe witnesse,
Kyng Dauid hade honging in his tour,
Of golde and perlle, fret with gret Rychesse,
Made and devysed with dilygent labour,
And sooþefastly, O goodely fresshe flour,
Fayrest of fayre which sprang out of Iesse,
A thousand vertues hast loken in þy boure,
So gloryous thinges beon sayde and song of þee.

15

O braunche of Iuda! kyn to Israel!
Of hoolynesse verray Incomparable,
Lyk to Sarra daughter of Raguell,
Whiche in hir tyme off herte was so stable

320

Þat neuer man was to hir acceptable,
Til þaungel made Thobye hir to se;
But þy clennesse chaaste and Inmutable
To God was offred, as Prophetis sing of þee.

16

And amonges wymmen, to rekken hem alle,
Þou were moost parfyt and hooly of þy lyff,
Suche haboundaunce of grace is to þee falle
To beon alloone mayde, moder and wyff,
Right soletarye and contemplatyff,
Lyche hooly Iudith, to saven hir citee,
Madest Olypherne for to leese his lyff,
Þe feonde outraying, þus prophetes wryte of þee.

17

For þou hast oppressed dovne his heed
With al his dreedful venyme serpentyne,
Putte mankynde oute of mortal dreed,
Whane God his gold dewe made doune enclyne,
Þe dewe of grace, in þy brest to shyne,
Oute of oure thraldome to get vs lyberte;
Nowe let þy mercy oure synnes vndermyne,
Sith gloryous thinges bee seyde and songe of þee.

18

Of goostely helthe chevest restoratyff,
Of sinful men þe consolacion,
In fygure called þe helsome tre of lyff
And sacred temple of Kyng Salamon;
Þe Busshe vnbrende of pure affeccion,
Þe halowed Ark contening thinges three,
Þe Ourne and manna, þe yerde eeke of Aron,
Howe gloryous thinges beon songe and seyde of þee.

19

Þy goostely brightnesse may souffre noon eclipse,
But shyne ay bright, and neuer wexen olde,

321

Þou art þe Cytee which in þappocolips
Whylome Saint Iohan saughe pauyed al with golde
Whos gret beaute may not beo sayde ne tolde,
Superlatyf bove oþer of degree,
Called þe qweene of þat hevenly holde,
How gloryous thinges beon song and sayde of þee.

20

Þou art in fygure þe mansyoun royal
Þat I of spake, remembred by Saint Iohan,
On chastytee founded was þe wal,
Arered on heght with many a precyous stoone;
Twelve þer were, to rekon hem oon by oon,
Þe precyous Iasper of virginyte
Set in þe grounde first of euerych oon,

Iaspe of virginite.

Howe gloryous thinges beon sayde and songe of þee.

21

And aldernexst, I haue it weel in mynde,
Þe werk tenbelisshe of þy conscyence,
Þer was eeke sette þe goodely saphyre ynde,

Saphire of trouþe.

Tavoyde þe fraude of feondes vyolence,
And vnkynde heetes of ffeuerous pestylence
Þou canst asswage, of grace and of pytee,
With oure demerytes þy mercy lat dispence,
Sith gloryous thinges beon songe and seyde of þee.

22

O calceydoyne closed in clennesse!

Calsydonie of clennesse.

Which of nature power haste and might
To ouercome, as clerkis cane expresse,
Causis contrarye gouyn ageynst right,
Wher-for O lady haue here to a sight,—
Þou chosen charboncle of parfyte charytee!
Shewe to vs synners of grace þy clere light,
Sith gloryous thinges beo sayde and songe of þee.

322

23

O Emeraude grene stoone Incomperable!

Emeraude for sight.

Which of vertu awmentist þe rychesse,
Whos glade stremes beon moste comfortable
To mysty eghen derked with blyndnesse,
Refresshing folk feynted with werynesse,
In þeyre vyage whanne þey wery be;
Nowe towardes heven oure pilgrymage dresse
Where gloryous thinges beon songe and sayde of þee.

24

O cleerest crystual þat first such grace haste wonne

Beryle and cristal for light.

Þat þe hooly goost in to þy brest alight,
Right as þe beryle resceyueþe of þe sonne
Fyre of his nature, in euery mannes sight,
Þe parfyte beemys so persaunt were and bright
Of God provyded by his eternytee,
Þis wreched worlde to gladen and to light
Howe gloryous thinges beon songe and sayde of þee.

25

O perytot! þe which as clerkes seyþe,

Peritot magnefied of god.

Þe lord list mooste for to magnefye,
In whome thre dayes rested al oure feyth
Whan Cryst Iesu list for mankynde dye,
And in his grave meekly for to lye,
Which tyme oure feyth craumpisshed in yche degree,
Saue þou vpright stoode and list not plye
Howe gloryous thinges beon songe and sayde of þee!

26

Lyche a Iacynct vayding al drerynesse,

Jacyncte stabul.

Stabul abyding his resureccion,
Knowing allone thorugh þyne holynesse
Þat of Iuda þe mighty strong lyoun

323

Should ryse ageyne for oure saluacion,
Affter ascende to his hevenly see,
Al þis þou knewe, by cleer inspeccion,
Howe gloryous thinges beon songe and sayde of þee!

27

O Amatyst! with þy pourple huwe,

Amatyst amiable.

By influence of þyne heghe goodnesse
Causest in hertis þat beon sadde and truwe,
To founde him-self on parfyt stabilnesse
O stoone of vertu causing sobirnesse
With outen chaunge or mutabilytee;
Ruwe of pytee vpon oure wrecchednesse
Sith gloryous thinges beon songe and sayde of þee.

28

Of patryarkes þonnour and þe glorye,
And of prophetes þe chief foundacion,
To þappostilles laude to þeyre victorye,
And to þe martirs þe laureal renoun,
Of confessours þe consolacioun,
And to virgynes myrrour of Chastite
To þy servants sheelde and proteccion,
Howe gloryous thinges beon songe and sayde of þee.

29

O blessed lady! qweene of þe heghe heven,
Whome clerkes calle þemperyse of helle
Sitting ful fer above þe sterres seven,
And qweenes alle in honnour doist excelle,
Be þou oure socour, our vyces to expelle,
Þat called art of God þe cheef cytee,
Whane we passe hens, by mercy make vs dwelle
Where gloryous thinges be sayde and song of þee.

324

67. QUIS DABIT MEO CAPITI FONTEM LACRIMARUM?

Here begynneth a lamentacioun of our Lady Maria.

[_]

[MS. Bodley Laud Misc. 683, leaves 78–81.]

1

Who shal yeve vn-to myn hed a welle
Of bitter terys my sorwys to compleyne,
Or a gret condewit of troubly watrys ffelle
Down to dystylle fro myn Eyen tweyne,
To shewe the constreynt of my dedly peyne
Whan I, allas! be-holde and dyd see
My dere sone bleede in euery veyne,
Atwix two thevys nayllyd to a tre?

2

Who shal of wepyng geve me suffysaunce,
Or to my sobbyng who shal me terys ffynde,
To se my Ioie myn hertis hih plesaunce
My soote sone, that was to me so kynde,
Railled with red blood as sap doth thoruh the rynde,
Thorugh his enmyes vengable Cruelte;
Dirkened with deth his eien now maad blynde,
Atwix two thevys naylled to a tre.

3

My Ioie, my lyght, my lanterne moost Entyeer,
This hevenly Phebus is clypsed of his lyght,
This Esperus hath hyd hys bemys Cleer
And is of newe corteyned ffro my sight.

325

Whan shal this day-sterre shewe me his bemys briht,
To clere the trouble of myn adversyte?
Parde, the Iewys do me to gret vnright
To naylle my sone allas on to a tre.

4

O alle ye douhtren of Ierusaleem,
Haue som compassioun of my sihes deepe,
Nat lyk the gladnesse wich I hadde in Bedleem,
Kom neer of routhe and helpe me for to wepe,
A swerd of deth doth thoruh myn herte crepe,
I ffele it ffull weell of modyrly pyte.
Craunpisshed with deth swownyng I do slepe,
To se my sone thus naylled to a tre.

5

O gentyl pryncessis and ladyes of Estaat,
And ye virgynes, in your entent most clene,
To yeve me comfort that stonde al desolaat
Renneth a pas to se the woundys grene
Of your trewe spouce, of bledyng pale & lene;
And aduertyseth and hath now rowthe on me,
Feynt for to stonde, for how sholde I sustene
To se my sone thus naylled to a tre?

6

And alle ye women, tappese myn hewynesse,
Remembreth the processe of his dredful victorie;
Se, to-for Pilat, by many fals wytnesse
How he was dampned in the Concystorye.
Radde ye euere Or sauh in his storye
Of any sorwes that may compared be
On to the sorwys grave in my memorye
To se my sone thus naylled to a tre?

7

And yif ye lyke of routhe for to leere,
And at my terys yeve ye nat dysdeyne,

326

But of compassioun meekly lyst to heere,
How a sharp swerd myn hert hath corve on tweyne,
A swerd of sorwe thoruh perced euery veyne,
Now deth hath slayn my sone, and spareth me,
Allas! fro wepyng how sholde I me restreyne
To se my sone thus naylled to a tre?

8

O peple onkynde! why wil ye noon heed take
To se the lord of helle, erthe, and hevene,
Meek as a lamb, thus offred for your sake,
To sle the dragoun with his hedys sevene,
Dauntyng the power of his Infernal levene,
Out of his thraldam to make yow go ffre,
With many mo wowndys than any man can nevene
Whan he at Calvary was naylled to a tre?

9

Is it a mervayll or any maner wonder
Though I ful offte swowne for grevaunce?
Was euere moder outher here or yonder,
That for hyr Chyld ffelte more penaunce?
Myn Inward sorwys can ffynde noon allegaunce,
Ech hour renewyng, it wyl noon other be,
Whan-euere it cometh to my remembraunce
How that my sone was naylled to a tre.

10

The lemys ffeble vp-on my feet to stonde,
Whanne I, allas, consydre and do be-holde
This pitous mateer, that we han on honde,
Ful lytell mervayll thouh myn herte colde,
Myn handys craunpisshed, I may them nat vnfolde,
To goon vpright I haue no ffoot nor kne,
My peynes passe alle tormentys newe and olde
To se my sone thus naylled to a tre.

11

Geyn the guyse of kynges riche crownes,
My dere sone weryd a Crowne of thorn,

327

Of gold and perle, ageyn ther stately gownes,
Ageyn ther ridyng gret meyne them be-forn,
My sone on ffoote hath his cros I-born;
Ageyn ther setys of stones and perre,
And for mankynde that was thoruh synne lorn,
He, pore and naked, was naylled to a tre.

12

Ageyn the beddys, stately, hih, and soffte,
Of worldly pryncys with pelwys for their hed,
Vp-on the roode my sone was lyfft a-loffte,
With bloody purpil hys mantel maad al reed,
Marked with a spere and for mankynde ded,
And grucched nothyng thoruh his humylyte,
To me noon ese, whanne that I took heed,
And sauh my sone thus naylled to a tre.

13

For Adamhis synne thus was my sone slayn,
Thoruh the olde serpent by thassent of Eve,
When thoruh my meknesse mankynde was maad ffayn,
Hir name turned ther thraldam to Releve,
And Gabryell kam, my meeknesse ffor to preve,
Sent by on accord of al the Trynyte,
But ful sore affter it dyd myn herte greve,
Whanne I my sone sauh naylled to a tre.

14

For manhis love he faught a gret batayll,
With his sevene hedys he outrayed the dragoun,
Lyk myhty Sampson with-oute plate or mayll,
In his strong ffyght he strangeled the lyoun,
Thus was my sone mankyndys Champyoun,
Thorugh his most myghty magnanymyte,
As kyng and bysshop made his oblacyoun
Vpon the hih auhter of the Roode tre,

328

15

My sonys suffraunce to Sathan was gret wrak,
Whos gret meknesse dyd I nouh suffyse,
Cleerly ffygured whanne that Ysaak
Was by his ffader offred in sacryfyse,
Nat dysobeying in no maner wyse,
But lyk a lamb of lownesse lyst nat ffle,
But most myn herte that tyme did agryse
Whan I first sauh hym naylled to a tre.

16

He myhte be callid Eleasar the secounde,
The champioun, moost myghty and notable,
That gaf tholyfaunt his laste mortal wounde,
(Machabeorum this story ys no ffable),
And as Hercules, in his conquestis stable,
Bar up the hevenys in his humanyte,
For whom my sorwis wer maad most lamentable
Whan I be-held hym thus naylled to a tre,

17

Thus deth with deth was outraied and brouht lowe,
Mankyndys quarel maad vyctoryous,
For thanne leviathan was bounde and over-throwe,
Whan with his tryvmphes most synguler glorious,
My sone had faught with his blood precyous,
Conqueryd the dragoun for al his ffel pouste,
And dryue hym hom to his Infernall hous,
Whan first my sone was naylled to a tre.

18

Lat euery man in this mater take heede,
And euery woman in this world a-lyve
Come ner to me to seen his woundys bleede,
His love, his deth, his kyndenesse to descryve,
To se the mysteryes of his woundys ffyve,
As bawme and tryacle of most souereynte
Cleerly dystyllyng to fynde socour blyve,
Down fro my sone [I]nayllyd to a tre.

329

19

Trust in his mercy and I wyl go be tween,
And humbly knele be forn hys fface,
For almankynde be medyatrix and mene,
Of synful folk to releve the trespace,
That he with vengaunce shal them nat manace,
Lyk ther dysmeritees to shewe his cruelte,
But shewe to them his mercy and his grace,
That for ther love was naylled to a tre.

Explicit.

68. THE TESTAMENT OF DAN JOHN LYDGATE.

[_]

[MS. B.M. Harley 218, leaves 52, back, to 72.]

I. Here begynneth the prologe of damp John Lidgates testament Monk of Bury.

1

O howe holsom and glad is the memorie
Of Cryst Iesu surmountyng all swetnesse,
Name of conquest, of triumphe, & victorie.
Thassaut of Sathan to venquysshe and oppresse

330

To whiche name Seynt Poule bereth wytnesse
Of heuene and erthe, and infernal pouste
Alle creatures of ryght and dewe humblesse,
And of hole herte, bowe shall ther kne.

2

No song so sote vnto the audience
As is Iesus, nor so full of plesaunce,
Ageyn all enemyes sheld, paveys, and defence,
To heuy hertes chief counfort in substaunce;
Of gostly gladnesse most souereyne suffisaunce,
Chief directorie to heveneward the cite,
Gladdest resorte of spirituall remembraunce,
To whome alle creatures bowe shal ther kne.

3

To all folkes þat stonde in repentaunce,
With herte contrite made ther confessioun,
Of wille and thought accomplysshed ther penaunce,
And to ther power done satisfaccioun,
That cleyme by mene of Crystes passioun,
Marked with tav. T. for more suerte,
To them Iesu shall graunte full pardoun
To aske hym mercy, whan thei knele on ther kne.

4

In this name Iesu, most souereyne of vertu,
Stant alle our hope, And alle oure assuraunce,
For where þat euer named is Iesu,
Geyn gostly trouble men fynde allegeaunce;
Who trusteth Iesu may fele no grevaunce,
Whiche from all thraldome brought vs to liberte;
Out of servage he made acquytaunce
To alle that knelen to Iesu on ther kne.

331

5

In Amorous hertes brennyng of kyndenesse
This name Iesu most profoundely doth myne;
Marter Ignacius can beren therof witnesse,
Amyd whos herte, be grace whiche is dyvyne,
With Aureat letteres As gold that dyd shyne,
His herte was graven, men may his legende se,—
To teche alle cristen here hedes to enclyne
To blyssed Iesu, and bowe adovn ther kne.

6

This is the name that chaceth away the clips
Of foreyne dirknesse, as clerkes determyne,
By John remembred in thapocalips,
How lyche a lambe his hede he dyd enclyne,
Whos blood dovn ranne, ryght as ony lyne,
To wasshe the ordures of our Iniquite,
Medeled with water, clere as crystallyne,
Whiche from his herte down rayled by his kne.

7

Be blode Iesus made our redempcioun,
With water of baptem, from felthe wesshe vs clene,
And fro his herte too licours ther ran doun
On Caluerye, the trouthe was weel sene,
Whan that Longious, with a spere kene,
Perced his herte vpon the rode tre;
O man vnkende, thynke what this dothe mene
And vnto Iesu bowe adovne thy kne!

8

Ther is no speche nor language can remembre,
Lettre, sillable, nor word that may expresse,
Though into tunges were turned euery membre
Of man, to telle the excellent noblesse,

332

Of blessed Iesu, which of his gret mekenesse,
List suffre deth to make his servant fre;
Now mercyful Iesu, for thyn hygh goodnesse,
Haue mercy on alle that bowe to the her kne!

9

The prynce was slayne, þe seruaunt went at large,
And to delyuer his soget from prisoun
The lord toke on hym for to bere the charge
To quyte mankynde be oblacioun;
Sealed with .v. woundes he payed our raunsoun,
Man to restore to Parados hys cite,
Is not man bounde, I aske this questioun,
To blessed Iesu for to bowe his kne?

10

Syx hundred tyme with syxty told be noumbre
In Poules pysteles Iesu men may rede,
Multitude of fendes to encoumbre,
To paye oure raunsum his blood he did shede,
Nat a small part but alle he dede out blede,
For Adames appel plukked from the tre,
Iesu deyde, for shame! man, take hede,
Gyf thanke to Iesu, & bowe to hym thy kne,

11

Alle these thynges considered that I tolde,
Man, where-euere thou holdist thy passage,
Toward Iesu alwey that thow beholde,
With eyȝe fyx, loke on hys vysage;
Crovned with thorn, for our gret outrage,
Haue this in mende, & lerne o thyng of me,
That day non enemye shall done vs no damage,
Whan we to Iesu deuoutly bowe our kne.

12

Withinne my closet & my lytel couche,
O blyssed Iesu, And be my beddes syde,

333

That none enemy nor no fende shall me touche,
The name of Iesu with me shall euer abyde;
My lodesterre, and my souereyne guyde,
In this world here both on lond and se,
O Iesu! Iesu! for alle tho folk provyde,
Which to thy name devoutly bowe here kne!

13

With Maria called Maudeleyne,
Erly eche morowe, whil that my lyf may dure,
Fro slouthe & slombre I shal my-self restreyne,
To seke Iesu at his sepulture,
Whom for to fynde if þat I may recure,
To haue possessioun of hym at liberte,
There were in erthe no rycchere creature,
To whom ech wyght bowe shall hys kne.

14

In mercyfull Iesu to putte a veray preef,
Of his mercy, that no man disespeyre,
Vpon the cros gaf graunt onto the theef
To paradys with hym to repayre;
Toke out of helle soules many a peyre,
Maugre Cerberus and all his cruelte,
O gracious Iesu! benygne and debonayre,
Haue mercy on alle that bowe to the her kne.

15

The name of Iesu, swettest of names alle,
Geyn gostly venymes holsomest tryacle,
For who so euer to this name calle,
Of cankered surfetes fynt reles be myracle,
To [eyen] blynde light, lanterne, and spectacle,
And bryghtest merour of alle felicite,
Support and sheld, defence & chief obstacle,
To alle that knele to Iesu on ther kne.

334

16

This roiall name, most souereyne of renoun,
This name Iesus, victorious in batayle,
Of hevenly tryvmphes the laureat guerdoun,
The spiritual palme of gostly apparayle,
Celestial prowesse, whiche may most avayle,
To sitte with aungels in ther eternal se,
The imperyal conquest, nat get with plate or mayle,
But with meke knelyng to Iesu on hir kne.

17

Patriarkes and prophetes, one by one,
Thre Ierarchies, & alle thordres nyne,
Twelve Aposteles, and marteres euerychone,
Holy confessoures, and euery pure virgyne,
To blyssed Iesu most mekely shal enclyne;
Foules, bestes, and ffysshes of the se,
Kynd hath taught hem, by naturall disciplyne,
Mekely to Iesu to bowe adown ther kne.

18

There is no love parfytly Igrounded,
But it on Iesu toke his origenall,
For upon Iesu al perfitnesse is founded,
Our tour, our castell, geyn powers infernall;
Our portecoleys, our bolewerke, and our wall,
Our sheld, our pavys geyn all aduersite,
Our heritage, our guerdoun eternall,
To whom all creatures bowe shall ther kne.

19

Condigne laude nor comendacioun
Youe to this name ther can no tunge telle,
Of gostly fode rycchest refeccioun,
Hedespryng of grace, of lyf conduyt & welle,

335

Iesu named, ther dere no dragoun dwelle,
Blyssedest bawme of our felicite,
Alle cankered sores And poysouns to repelle,
From them to Iesu that knele vpon ther kne.

20

This name Iesus, bi interpretacioun,
Is for to seyn, our blessed savyour,
Our strong Sampsoun, þat strangled the lyoun,
Our lord, our makere, & oure creatoure,
And be his passioun fro deth our redemptour,
Our Orphevs that from captiuyte
Fette Erudice to his celestiall tour,
To whom alle creatures bowe shall ther kne.

21

At welles five licour I shal drawe
To wasshe the ruste of my synnes blyve,
Where al mysteryes of the olde and newe lawe
Toke oryginall, moraly to discryve,
I mene the welles of Crystes woundes five
Wherby we cleyme, of mercyful piete,
Thorow helpe of Iesu at gracious port taryve,
There to haue mercy, knelyng on our kne.

22

I in Iesu sette for iocunditas,
Gynnyng & grounde of all gostly gladnesse,
E. next in ordre is eternitas,
Tokene and signe of eternall bryghtnesse,
S sette for sanitas, socour ageyn sekenesse,
V. for vbertas, of spirituall plente,
S for suauitas, from whom comyth all suetnesse,
To them that knele to Iesu on there kne.

23

I in Iesu, is ioye that neuere shall ende,
E signyfieth euerlastyng suffisaunce,

336

S our sauacioun when we shall hens wende;
V. his fyve woundes, þat made vs acquietaunce,
Fro Sathanes myght thurgh his meke sufferaunce,
S for the sacrament, which ech day we may se,
In forme of bred, to saue vs fro myschaunce,
Whan we devoutly receyue it on our kne.

24

J fro Jacob, h from Habraham,
The lyne descendyng be generacioun,
C stant for Crist, that from heuene kam,
Born of a mayde for oure redempcioun,
The sharpe titel, tokene of his passioun,
Whan he was nayled vpon the rood tre,
O blyssed Iesu, do remissioun
To alle that aske mercy on ther kne.

25

Do mercy, Iesu, or [that] we hens passe,
Out of this perilous dredfull pilgrimage,
Besette with brygauntes, leyd wayte in euery place,
With mortall saute to lett[yn] our passage,—
Among other, I, that am falle in age,
Gretly feblysshed of old infirmite,
Crye vnto Iesu for my synfull outrage
Right of hole herte, thus knelyng on my kne.

26

Lat nat be lost that thou hast bought so dere,
With gold nor syluer, but with thi precious blood,
Our flesshe is freel, but short abydyng here,
The olde serpent malicious and wood,
The world vnstable, now ebbe, nowe is flood,
Eche thyng concludyng on mutabilite,
Geyn whos daungeres I holde this counsel gode,
To prei for mercy to Iesu on oure kne.

337

27

And vndir supporte, Iesu, of thy fauour.
Or I passe hens, this hoolly myn entent,
To make Iesu to be chief surveiour,
Of my laste wille sette in my testament,
Whiche of myself am Insufficient
To rekene or counte, but mercy & piete
Be preferryd, or thou do Iugement,
To alle that calle to Iesu on ther kne.

28

Age is crope In, calleth me to my grave,
To make rekenyng how I my tyme haue spent,
Baryne of vertu, allas, who shall me saue,
Fro fendes daunger tacounte for my talent,
But Iesu be my staf and my potent,
Ouerstreite audite is like tencombre me,
Or dome be youen, but mercy be present
To all that knele to Iesu on ther kne.

29

Now in the name of my lord Iesus,
Of ryght hole herte in all my best entent,
My lif remembryng, froward & vicious,
Ay contrarye to the comaundement
Of Cryst Iesu, now with avisement
The lord besechyng, to haue mercy and piete,
My youthe, myn age, hou þat I haue myspente,
With this word seid knelyng on my kne.

30

O Iesu, mercy! with support of thi grace,
For thi meke passioun, remembre on my complaynt!
Duryng my lyf, with many gret trespace,
By many wrong path, where I haue myswente,

338

I now purpose, be thy grace influent,
To wryte a trites of surfetes don to the,
And calle[n] it my last[e] testament,
With Iesu mercy knelyng on my kne.

II. Testamentum in nomine Iesu.

31

The yeres passed of my tender youthe
Of my fresshe Age sered the grennesse,
Lust appalled, thexperience is kouthe,
The onweldy Ioyntes starked with rudenesse,
The cloudy sight mysted with dirkenesse,
Without redresse, recure, or amendes,
To me of death han brought in the kalendes.

32

Of myspent tyme a fole may weel compleyne,
Thing impossible ageyn for to recure,
Dayes lost in ydel no man may restreyne,
Them to reforme by none aventure,
Eche mortall man is called to the lure,
Of deth, allas, vncerteyne the passage,
Whos chief marynere is called croked age.

33

One of his bedeles, named feblenesse,
Cam with his potent in stede of a mace,
Somouned me and after cam sekenesse,

339

Malencolyk, erthely, and pale of face,
With ther waraunt these tweyne can manace
How deth of me his dewe dette soughte,
And to a bed of langoure thei me brought.

34

Where onto me anoon ther did appere
Whill that I lay, compleynynge in a trance,
Clad in a mentell, a woman sad of chere,
Blak was her abyte, sobre of countenaunce,
Straunge of hir porte, froward of dalyaunce,
Castyng here looke to meward in certeyne
Lich of me she hadde but disdeyne.

35

This seid woman was called “remembraunce
Of myspent tyme,” in youthes lustynesse,
Whiche to recorde did me gret grevaunce,
Than cam her suster, named “pensifnesse
For olde surfetes,” and gan onto me dresse
A wooful bylle, which brought vnto [my] mynde
My gret outrages, of long tyme left behynde.

36

Lyggyng alone, I ganne to ymagyne
How with .iiij. tymes departed is the yere,
First how in ver, the soyle tenlumyne,
Buddes gyn open ageyne the sunne clere,
The bavme vpreysed most souereyne and entere,
Out of the rote doth naturally ascende
With new lyffre, the bareyne soil tamende.

37

The honysoucle, the fresshe primerolles,
Ther leves splaye at Phebus vprysyng,

340

Thamerous foules with motytes and carolles,
Salue this sesoun euery mor[we]nyng,
Whan Aurora hir licour distyllyng
Sent on herbes the perely dropis shene,
Of siluer dewes tenlumyne with the grene.

38

This tyme of Ver is named of grenesse,
Tyme of ioye, of gladnesse, and disporte,
Tyme of growyng, chief moder of freshnesse,
Tyme of reioysyng, ordeyned for counforte,
Tyme whan tyme maketh his resorte
In geryshe Marche toward the Ariete,
Our Emyspery to gladen with his hete.

39

Whiche sesoun prikkes fressh corages,
Reioyseth bestes walking in ther pasture,
Causeth byrdes to syngen in ther cages,
Whanne blood reneweth in euery creature,
Sum obseruance doyng to nature,
Which is of ver called chief pryncesse,
And vnder God ther worldly Emp[e]resse.

40

And for this lusty sesoun agreable
Of gladnesse hath so gret avauntage,
Be convenyent resoun full notable,
Therto ful wel resembleth chyldes age,
Quyk, grene, fressh, and delyuer of corage,
For ryght as ver ay moreth in grenesse,
So doth childhode in amorous lustynesse.

341

41

This quykyng sesoun, nutrityf and good,
Of his nature hath tweyne qualitees,
Of hote and moyst, which long also to blode,
In ther ascencyoun vpward by degrees:
Of kyndly ryght, the whiche propirtees,
By natural hete and temperat moysture,
Rekened in childhode .xiij. yeer doth endure.

42

Thus in .vj. thynges be order men may seen
Notable accord and lust convenience,
Blod, eyre, and ver, south, and meridien,
And age of chyldhood by naturall assistence,
Which, whill thei stonde in ther fressh premynence,
Hete and moysture directeth ther passages,
With grene fervence to force yong corages.

43

First Zepherus with his blastes sote
Enspireth ver with newe buddes grene,
The bawme ascendeth out of euery rote,
Causyng with flowres ageyn the sunne shene
May among mon[e]thes sitt like a quene,
Hir suster Apryll watryng hir gardeynes
With holsom shoures shad in the tender vynes.

44

This tyme of Ver Flora doth hir cure,
With soleyne motlees passyng fressh and gay,
Purpel colours wrought be dame nature,
Mounteyns, vales, and medewes for tarraye,
Hir warderobe open list not to delaye

342

Large mesure to shewe out, and to shede
Tresoures of fayre, whiche she doth possede.

45

This sesoun, Ver, most plesaunt to childhode,
With hir chapelettes grene, white, and rede,
In whiche tyme the newe yonge blode
Hote and moyste ascendeth vp in dede,
Reioyssyng hertes as it abrode doth sprede,
Wenyng this sesoun among ther myrthes alle
Sholde neuer discrecen nor appalle,

46

The variaunt sesoun of this stormy age
Abraydeth euere on newefangelnesse,
Now frounyng chiere, now fressh of visage,
Now glad, now lyght, now trouble and hevynesse;
Wylde as an herte, nowe mornyng for sadnesse,
Stormyssh as Marche, with chaunges ful sodeyne,
After cleer shynyng to turne and make it reyne.

47

Of this sesoun lust holte rene and brydell,
Selde or neuere abydyng in o poynte;
Now passyng besy, nowe dissolute, now ydell;
Now a good felowe, now all out of ioynte;
Now smothe, now stark, now like an hard purpoynt;
Now as the peys of a diall goth,
Now gerysh glad, and anoon after wroth.

48

Liche as in ver men gretly them delyte
To beholde the beaute souerayne

343

Of these blosemes, somme blewe, rede, and white,
In whos fresshenesse no colour may atteyne,
But thanne vnwarly cometh a wynde sodeyne,
For no fauour list not for to spare
Fresshnesse of braunches, for to make hem bare.

49

This sesoun ver stant neuer in no certeyne,
For summe on houre though Phebus freshly shyne,
In Marches wederes it sodeynly wyll reyne,
Which of the day all dirkenesse doth declyne,
And semblably a lyknesse to dyffyne,
Men sen chyldren of byrth[e] yong and grene,
Buryed withinne the yeres fiftene.

50

When Ver is fresshest of blosmes and of floures,
An vnware storme his fresshnessse may appayre,
Who may withstonde the sterne sharpe schoures
Of dethes powere, where hym list repayre?
Though fetures fresshe, angelyke, and fayre
Shewe out in chyldhode as ony crystall clere,
Deth can difface hem withynne .xv. yeer.

51

Veres sesoun doth but a while abide
Skarsly iij. monethes he holdeth here soiour;
The age of chyldhode, rekene on the tother syde,
In hys encrese vp growyng as a floure,
But whan that deth manaseth with his shour,
In suche case he canne no more defence
Than croked age in his most impotence.

344

52

Ver and eche sesoun mut by processe fade,
In ver of age may be no sekernesse,
Eche hath his houres, hevy and eke glade,
Ther sesouns meynt with ioye and hevynesse,
Now fayr, now foule, now helth, now sekenesse,
To shewe a maner liknesse and ymage,
Our dwellyng here is but a pilgrymage.

53

And for my part, I can remembre weell
Whan I was gladdest in that fresshe sesoun,
Lyke brotel glasse, not stable nor like stell,
Fer out of harre, wilde of condicioun,
Ful geryssh, and voyde of all resoun,
Lyk a phane, ay turnyng to and fro,
Or like an orloge whan the peys is goo.

54

Youe to onthryfte and dissolucioun,
Stode onbrydeled of all gouernaunce,
Whiche remembryng, be meke confessyoun,
Now with my potent to fynde allegeaunce,
Of olde surfetes, contrite with repentaunce,
To the Iesu, I make my passage,
Rehersyng trespaces don in my tender age.

55

But to directe be grace my matere,
Mekely knelyng, Iesu, in thy presence,
I me purpose to gynne with prayere,
Vnder thi mercyfull fructuous influence,
So thou Iesu of thy benevolence,
To my requestes be mercyfull attendaunce,
Graunt or I deye, shryft, hosel, repentaunce.

345

56

My wrecched lyf tamenden and correcte
I me purpose, with support of thi grace,
Thy deth thy passioun thy ✗ crosse shall me directe,
Which suffredest deth, Iesu, for our trespace.
I, wrecche onworthy to lok vpon thy face,
Thy fete enbracyng, fro which I shall not twynne,
Mercy requyryng, thus I wyll begynne.

III. Iesus.

57

O myghty lord, of powere myghtyest!
Without whom alle force is febylnesse,
Bovntevous Iesu! of gode godlyest
Mercy thy bedel, or thou thy domes dresse,
Dylayest rigour, to punishe my wykednesse,
Lengest abydyng, lothest to do vengeaunce,
O blessed Iesu! of thyn high goodnesse,
Graunt or I deye, shryfte, hosel, repentaunce.

58

Though thou be myghty, thou art eke mercyable,
To alle folkes that mekely hem repente;
I a wrecche contagyous and coupable,
To alle outrages redy for tassent,
But of hole herte and wyll in myn entent,
Of olde and newe all vicious gouernaunce,
Of youthe, of age, and of mystyme spent.
Graunte or I deye, shryft, hosel, repentaunce.

59

Of my confessioun receyve the sacryfice
Be my tunge vp offered onto the,

346

That I may seyn in all my best[e] guyse
Mekely with Dauid, have mercy vpon me!
Sa[l]ue alle my sores, that they ne cankred be,
With noon olde rust of dysesperaunce;
Which of hole herte crye vpon my kne
Graunt or I deye, shryfte, hosel, repentaunce.

60

O Iesu! Iesu! here myn orisoun;
Brydel myn outrage vnder thy disciplyne;
Fetre sensualite, enlumyne my resoun,
To folowe the traces of spirituall doctryne;
Lat thi grace lede me as ryght as lyne
With humble herte, to lyve to thy plesaunce;
And blyssed Iesu! or I this lyf shal fyne,
Graunt or I deye, shryfte, hosel, repentaunce.

61

Suffre me to haue savour nor sweetnesse
But in thy name that called is Iesu;
Alle foreyn thing to me make bitternesse,
Saue only Iesu, most souereyne of vertu!
To my professioun accordyng and most du,
Euere to be prented in my remembraunce,
At myn ende to graunt me this issu,
Tofore my deth, shryft, hosel, repentaunce.

62

No lord but Iesu, most mercyable and benygne,
Which of mercy toke our humanyte,
And of loue, to shewe a souereyn sygne,
Suffredest passyoun vpon the rode tre,
Only to fraunchyse our mortalite,
Which stode in daungere of Sathanes encoumbraunce.
Or I passe hens, Iesu! graunt onto me
Tofore my deth shryfte, hosel, and repentaunce.

347

63

I am excited and meved of nature
This name Iesu souereynly to preyse;
Name commended most hyghly in scrypture,
Which name hath powere dede men to reyse
To lyf eternall, whos vertu doth so peyse,
Ageyn my synnes weyed in balaunce
That grace and mercy shal so counterpeyse,
Graunt or I deye shryfte, hosel, repentaunce.

64

Lat me not reste, nor haue no quiete;
Occupye my soule with spirytuall trauayle
To syng and seyn, O mercy, Iesu suete!
My proteccioun geyn fendes in batayle!
Set asyde all odir apparayll—
And in Iesu, putte all hole myn affiaunce,
Tresour of tresoures that me may most availl,
Graunt or I deye, shryfte, hosel, repentaunce.

65

My feyth, myn hope, to the Iesu doth calle,—
Whiche glorious name shall never out of my mende.
I shall the seke what happe that euer befalle,
Be grace and mercy, in trust I shal the fynde;
And but I dede, trewly I were vnkynde,
Which for my sake were perced with a launce,
Onto the herte, Iesu! lef not behynde
Graunt or I deye, shryfte, hosel, repentaunce.

66

Ther is no God, Iesu, but thou allone;
Souerynest, and eke most mercyfull,
Fayrest of fayre! erly, late and sone,
Stable, and most strong, pietous and rightfull,

348

Reformyng synneres that ben in vertu dull,
Dauntyng the proude, mekenesse to enhaunce,
Thy tunne of mercy is euer a-liche full;
Graunt or I deye, shryft, hosel, repentaunce.

67

Suffre of mercy I may to the speke,
O blyssed Iesu! and godely do adverte;
Who shal yeue me leyser out to breke,
That thou Iesu mayst entren in myn herte
There to abyde more nere than my sherte
With aureat letres, graue there in substaunce?
Provide for me, and late it not asterte,
Graunt or I deye, shryft, hosel, repentaunce.

Dic anime mee salus tua ego sum.

Sey to my soule, Iesu, thou art myn helthe.
Heryng this voys, after I shal pursue;
Skoure that place from all gostly fylthe,
And vices alle fro thens to remewe,
Thyn Holy Gost close in that lytel mewe;
Part not lyghtly, make soche chevisaunce
Tencrece in vertu and vices to eschewe,
And or I deye shryft, hosel, repentaunce.

Illustra faciem tuam super seruum tuum.

Shewe glad thy face, and thy lyght doun shede,
The mercyful lyght of thyn eyȝen tweyne
On me thi servaunt which hath so moch nede
For his synnes to wepe[n] and compleyne.
And blyssed Iesu! of mercy not disdeyne
Thi gracious shoures lat reyne in abundaunce
Vpon myn herte, tadewen euery veyne,
And or I deye shryft, hosel, repentaunce.

349

Saluum me fac in misercordia tua domine.

Saue me thy seruaunt, O lord! in thy mercy,
For lak of which lat me not be confounded,
For in the, Iesu, myn hope stant fynally,
And all my trust in the Iesu is grounded,
For my synnes thynke, Iesu, thou were wounded,
Naked on the rode be mortall gret penaunce,
Be which the power of Sathan was confounded,
Graunt or I deye shryfte, hosel, repentaunce.

Tu es refugium meum a tribulacione.

Thou art, Iesu, my socour and refuge,
Geyn euery tempest and tribulacioun,
That worldly wawes with ther mortall deluge
Ne drowne me nat in the dredfull dongeoun,
Where Caribdes hath domynacioun,
And Circes syngeth songes of disturbaunce,
To passe that daunger be my proteccioun,
Graunt or I deye shryft, hosel, repentaunce.

Quis dabit michi venias in cor meum.

Who shal yeue me lich to myn entent,
That thou Iesu mayst make thyn herbergage,
Be receyvyng of Holy sacrament,
Into myn herte, which is to myn olde age
Repast eternall geyn all foreyn damage,
Dewly receyved with deuout observaunce?
Celestiall guerdoun, ende of my pilgrymage,
Is shryft, and hosel, and hertly repentaunce.

73

I fele myn herte brotel and roynous,
Nat purified Iesu therin to reste,

350

But as a carpentere cometh to a broken hous,
Or an artificer repareth a reven cheste,
So thou, Iesu, of crafty men the best,
Repare my thought, broke with mysgouernaunce,
Visite my soule, my herte of stele to breste,
Graunt or I deye shryfte, hosel, repentaunce.

74

With wepyng eyen and contrite chere,
Accepte me, Iesu, and my compleynt conceyve,
As most on worthy tappere at thyn autere,
Which in my-self no vertu apparceyve,
But yf thy mercy be grace me receyve,
Be synful leuyng brought onto outraunce,
Pray with good hope, which may not disseyve,
Graunt or I deye shryfte, hosel, repentaunce.

75

Cryeng to the, that deydest on the rode,
Which with thy blood were steyned & made reed,
And on Sherthursday gaf vs to our fode
Thi blessed body, Iesu, in forme of brede,
To me most synfull graunt or I be ded,
To cleyme be mercy for myn enheritaunce,
That with sharp thorne were crovned on þi hed,
Or I passe hens shryfte, hosel, and repentaunce.

76

And one request in especiall,
Graunt me, Iesu, whil I am here a-lyve,
Euere to haue prented in my memoriall,
The remembraunce of thy woundes fyve,
Nayles with the spere that dyd thyn herte ryve,
Thy croune of thorne, which was no smal penaunce,
Language and tunge, me dewly for to shryve,
The holy vnccioun, shryft, hosel, repentaunce.

351

77

Alle the toknes of thy passioun,
I prey the, Iesu, grave hem in my memorye,
Dewly marke myd Centre of my resoun,
On Calvery thy triumphall victorie,
Man to restore to thyn eternall glorie,
Be meditacioun of thi meke sufferaunce,
Out of this exile, vnseur and transitorye,
And whan I passe shryfte, hosel, repentaunce.

78

Of thy mercy requyryng the to myne
Of my mende the mydpoynt most profounde,
This word Iesu my .v. wittes tenlumyne,
In length & brede like a large wounde,
Alle ydel thoughtes tavoyde hem and confounde,
Thi cros, thy skorges, thy garnement cast at chaunce,
The rope, the peler to which thowe were bounde,
Graunt or I deye, shryft, hosel, repentaunce.

79

Of this prayere mekely I make an ende,
Vnder thy mercyfull supportacioun,
O gracious Iesu, graunt where-euere I wende,
To haue memorie vpon thi passioun,
Testimonyal of my redempcioun,
In my testament set for allegeaunce,
This clause last of my peticioun,
Graunt or I deye shryft, hosel, repentaunce!

IV. Iesus.

80

Duryng the tyme of this sesoun Ver,
I mene the sesoun of my yeres grene,
Gynnyng fro chyldhode strecched vp so fer

352

To the yeres accounted ffull fyftene,
Bexperyence, as it was weel sene,
The geryssh sesoun, straunge of condiciouns,
Disposed to many vnbrydeled passiouns.

81

Voyd of resovn, youe to wilfulnesse,
Froward to vertu, of thryfte take litel hede,
Loth to lerne, loued no besynesse,
Saue pley or merth, straunge to spelle or rede,
Folowyng alle appetytes longyng to childhede,
Lyghtly turnyng, wylde and selde sad,
Wepyng for nowȝt, and anone after glad.

82

For litel wroth to stryue with my felawe,
As my passiouns did my brydell lede,
Of the yerd sumtyme I stood in awe,
To be skowred, that was al my drede;
Loth toward skole, lost my tyme in dede,
Lyke a yong colt that ran without brydell,
Made my frendes ther good to spend in ydell.

83

I had in custome to come to skole late,
Nat for to lerne but for a contenaunce,
With my felawes redy to debate,
To Iangle or Iape was sett all my pleasaunce;
Wherof rebuked this was my chevesaunce,
To forge a lesyng, and thervpon to muse,
Whanne I trespaced, my-selven to excuse.

84

To my better did no reuerence,
Of my sovereynes gaf no force at all,
Wex obstinat by Inobedience,

353

Ran in-to gardeynes, apples ther I stall;
To gadre frutes, spared nedir hegge nor wall,
To plukke grapes In other mennes vynes
Was more redy, than for to sey matynes.

85

My lust was all to skorne folke and jape,
Shrewed turnes euer among to vse,
To skoffe and mowen like a wantoun ape,
Whan I dyd euele, other I koude accuse,
My wyttes fyve in wast I did alle vse,
Redier cheristones for to telle
Than gon to chirche, or here the sacryng belle.

86

Loth to ryse, lother to bedde at eve,
With vnwasshe hondes redy to dyner,
My pater noster, my crede, or my beleve,
Cast atte cok, lo, this was my maner!
Wawed with eche wynd, as doth a reedspere,
Snybbed of my frendes, sucche tecches tamende,
Mad deef ere, list not to them attende.

87

A chyld resemblyng which was not lyke to thryve,
Froward to God, rekles in his seruyce,
Loth to correccioun, slough my-selue to shryve,
All good thewes redy to despice,
Chief belweder of [feynyd] truandice,
This is to mene, myself I coude feyne,
Sike like a truant, and felt no maner peyne.

354

88

My port, my pas, my foot allwey vnstable,
My loke, myn eyen, vnsure and vagabound,
In alle my werkes sodeynly chaungeable,
To all good thewes contrarye I was founde,
Now ouersadd, now mornyng, now iocounde,
Wilfull, rekles, made stertyng as a hare,
To folowe my lust for no man wold I spare.

89

Entryng this tyme into relygioun,
Onto the plowe I put forth myne hond,
A yere complete made my professioun,
Consideryng litel charge of thilke bond,
Of perfeccioun ful gode exaumple I fond,
Ther techyng good, in me was [all] the lake,
With Lothes wyf I loked often abak.

90

Taught of my maystres be vertuous disciplyne
My loke restreyne, and kepe clos my syght,
Of blyssed Benet to folowe the doctryne,
And bere me lowly to euery maner wyght,
Be the aduertence of myn Inward syght,
Cast to godward of hole affeccioun,
To folowe thempryses of my professioun.

91

His holy rewle was onto me rad,
And expouned in ful notable wyse,
Be vertuous men, religious and sad,
Ful weel experte, discrete, prudent, and wys,
Of observaunces of many gostly empryse;
I herd all weel, but towchyng to the dede,
Of that thei taught I toke litel hede!

355

92

Of religioun I wered a blak habite,
Only outward as be apparence,
To folowe that charge sauoured but fullyte,
Saue be a maner connterfete pretence;
But in effecte ther was none existence,
Like the image of Pygmalyon,
Shewed lyfly, and was made but of ston.

93

Vpon the ladder, with staves thryes thre,
The .ix. degrees of vertuous mekenesse
Called in the reule grees of humylite,
Wheron tascende my feet me lyst not dresse,
But be a maner feyned fals humblenesse,
So couertly, whan folkes were present,
On to shewe outward, another in myn entent.

94

First, where as I forsook myne owne wylle,
Shette with a look of obedience,
Tobeye my souereynes, as it was ryght & skylle,
To folowe the skole of perfyȝt pacience,
To myn Eymes doon worshep and reuerence,—
Folowyng the reuers, toke all another weye,
What I was boden, I koude weel disobeye.

95

With tonge at large and brotel conscyence,
Ful of wordes, disordinat of language,
Rekeles to kepe my lyppes in silence,
Mouth, eyen, and eres token ther avauntage,
To haue ther cours onbrydeled be outrage,
Out of the reynes of attemperaunce,
To sensualyte gaf alle the gouernaunce.

356

96

Wacche out of tyme, ryot and dronkenesse,
Vnfructuous talkyng, Intemperat diete,
To veyn fables I did myn eres dresse,
Fals detraccioun among was to me swete,
To talke of vertu me thought it was not mete,
To my corage nor my compleccioun,
Nor nat that sowned toward perfeccioun.

97

One with the firste to take my disporte,
Last that aros to come to the quere,
On contemplacioun I fond but small comforte,
Holy histories did to me no chier,—
I savoured more in good wyne that was clere,—
And euery houre my passage for to dresse,
As I seyd erst, to ryot or excesse.

98

Kowde grucch, And fond no cause why,
Causeles ofte compleynyng on my fare,
Geyn my correcciouns answered frowardly,
Withoute reuerence, list no man to spare,
Of all vertu and pacience I was bare,
Of rekles youthe list non hede to take,
What Cryst Iesu suffred for my sake.

99

Which now remembrying in my later age,
Tyme of my childhode, as I reherse shall,
Wythinne .xv. holdyng my passage,
Myd of a cloyster, depicte vpon a wall,
I savgh a crucifyx, whos woundes were not smalle,
With this [word] “vide,” wrete there besyde,
“Behold my mekenesse, O child, and leve thy pryde.”

357

100

The which word, whan I dyd vndirstond,
In my last age takyng the sentence,
Theron remembryng, my penne I toke in honde,
Gan to wryte with humble reuerence,
On this word, “vide,” with humble diligence,
In remembraunce of Crystes passioun,
This litel dite, this compilacioun.

IESUS.

Vide.

101

Beholde, o man! lyft vp thyn eye, and see
What mortall peyne I suffre for thi trespace,
With pietous voys I crye, and sey to the,
Beholde my woundes, behold my blody face,
Beholde the rebukes that do me so manace,
Beholde my enemyes that do me so despice,
And how that I to reforme the to grace,
Was like a lambe offred in sacryfice.

102

Behold the paynemes of whom that I was take,
Behold the cordes with whiche þat I was bounde,
Behold the Armoures which made my herte to quake,
Beholde the gardeyn in which þat I was founde,
Behold how Iudas toke xxxti pens rounde,
Beholde his tresoun, beholde his couetyse,
Behold how I with [many a] mortall wounde,
Was like a lambe offred in sacrifice.

358

103

Se my discyple which that hath me sold,
And se this feyned fals salutacioun,
And se the monye which that he hath told,
And se his kyssing and fals decepcioun,
Behold also the compassed fals tresoun,
Take as a thef with lanternes in ther guyse,
And afterward for mannes redempcioun,
Was like a lambe offered in sacrifice.

104

Behold to Cayphas how I was presented,
Behold how Pilat lyst ȝeue me no respite,
Behold how bysshopes were to my deth assented,
And se how Herawde had me in despite,
And like a fool how I was clad in whight,
Drawn as a feloun in most cruell wyse,
And last of alle, I, after ther delyght,
Was like a lambe offered in sacryfice.

105

Behold the mynystres which had me in kepyng,
Behold the peler and the ropes stronge,
Where I was bounde my sydes dovn bledyng,
Most felly bete with [theire] skorges long
Behold the batayle that I did vnderfonge,
The bront abydyng of ther mortall empryse,
Thorgh ther accusyng and ther sklaundres wrong,
Was like a lambe offered in sacryfice.

106

Behold and se the hatefull wrecchednesse,
Put ageyn me to my confusioun,
Meyn eyen hyd and blended with derkenesse,
Bete and eke bobbed by fals illusioun,

359

Salued in skorn be ther fals knelyng dovn,
Behold al this, and se the mortal guyse,
How I only, for mannes saluacioun,
Was like a lombe offered in sacryfice.

107

Se the witnesse be whom I was deceyved,
Behold the Iuges that gaf my Iugement,
Behold the crosse that was for me devysed,
Behold my body with betyng all torent,
Behold the people which of fals entent,
Causeles dyd ageyn me ryse,
Whiche like a lambe of malys Innocent,
Was like a lambe offered in sacryfice.

108

Behold the woman that folowed me aferre,
That sore wept whan I thus was assayled,
Behold the Iewes whiche be ther cruel werre,
Han my body vnto the cros I-nayled,
Behold my tormentes most sharply apparayled,
Atwene to theves put to my Iuyse;
Behold how mychel my deth hath eke avayled,
That was for man offered in sacryfice.

109

Behold the spere most sharply grounde & whette,
Myn herte wounded vpon the ryght syde,
Beholde the reed spyre galle and eysel fett,
Behold the skornynges which þat I did abyde;
And my .v. woundes that were made so wyde,
Which no man list of rewthe to aduertyse;
And thus I was of mekenesse ageyn pryde,
For mannes offence offered in sacryfice.

360

110

Se my disceples, how thei haue me forsake,
And fro me fled almost euerychon,
Se how they slepte and lyst not with me wake,
Of mortall drede they lefte me alle alone;
Except my moder and my cosyn Seynt Iohn,
My deth compleynyng in most doolfull wyse,
Se, fro my crosse they wold neuer goon,
For mannes offence whan I did sacryfice.

111

Se how that I was Iuged to the deth,
Se Baraban gon at his liberte,
Se with a spere Longeus me sleth,
Beholde two lycours distyllyng dovn fro me,
Se blood and water by mercifull plente,
Rayle be my sydes, which ought Inow suffyce
To man whan I vpon the rood tree,
Was like a lambe offered in sacrifice.

112

Behold the knyghtes which be ther froward chaunce
Sat for my clothes at the dees to play;
Behold my modyr swownyng for grevaunce,
Vpon the crosse whan she sawe me deye;
Beholde the sepulcre in which my bones lay,
Kepte with strong wacche til I did aryse,
Of helle gates, se how I brake the keye,
And gaf for man my blood in sacryfice.

113

And geyn thi pryde behold my gret mekenesse,
Geyn thyn envie behold my charite,
Geyn thi leccherye behold my chast clennesse,
Geyn thi couetyse behold my pouerte,

361

Atweene too thevys nayled to a tree,
Rayled with reed blood, they lyst me so desguyse,
Behold, O man! all this I did for the,
Meke as a lambe offred in sacryfice.

114

Behold my loue, and gyf me thyn ageyn,
Behold, I deyde thy raunsom for to paye,
Se howe myn herte is open brode and pleyn,
Thy gostly enemyes onely to affraye,
An hardere batayle no man myght assaye,
Of all tryumphes the grettest hye empryse,
Wher-for, O man! no lenger to dismaye,
I gaf for the my blood in sacryfice.

115

Turne home ageyn, thy synne do forsake,
Behold and se yf ought be left behynde,
How I to mercy am redy the to take,
Gyf me thyn herte and be no more vnkynde;
Thy loue and myn, togedyr do hem bynde,
And late hem neuer parte in no wyse,
Whan thou were lost, thy sowle ageyn to fynde
My blod I offred for the in sacryfice.

116

Emprente thes thynges in thyn inward thought,
And graue hem depe in thy remembraunce,
Thynke on hem [wel], and forgete hem nowght,
Al this I suffred to do the allegeaunce,
And with my seyntes to yeve the suffisaunce,
In the hevenly court for the I do devyse
A place eternall, a place of all plesaunce,
For which my blood I gaf in sacryfice.

362

117

And more my mercy to putte att a preef,
To euery synnere that non ne shal it mysse,
Remembre how I gaf mercy to the theef,
Which hadde so longe trespaced and doon amys;
Went he not frely with me to paradise?
Have this in mende, how it is my guyse
All repentaunt to bryng hem to my blysse,
For whom my blood I gaf in sacryfice.

118

Tarye no lenger toward thyn herytage,
Hast on thy weye and be of ryght good chere,
Go eche day onward on thy pylgrymage,
Thynke howe short tyme thou hast abyden here;
Thy place is bygged aboue the sterres clere,
Noon erthly palys wrought in so statly wyse,
Kome on my frend, my brother most entere!
For the I offered my blood in sacryfice!

Amen.

Explicit testamentum Johanis Lydgate.

363

69. A KALENDARE.
[_]

The attribution of this poem is questionable.

[_]

[MS. Bodl. Rawlinson B. 408, leaves 1–6.]

Ianuarius.

O Iesu lorde, for þi Circumsicyon,
In þe begynnyng as of þe new ȝere,
Kepe me euer from al confusyon,
When þat I shal stonde at myne answere;
Lorde, graunt me grace wel for to apere,
And for þi worshipful Epyphanye,
Graunt þou me good lyfe, and wel for to dye.

2

Now pray for me, blessid Seynt Lucyan,
That I myght be hadde forth vnto ȝoure daunce,
There God reulith both angel and man,
In right true loue with-outen variaunce.
Ȝiffe me som comfort, as of acqueyntaunce,
Confessour and bisshop Seynt Hillary,
With good Seynt Felice, þat ioyeth þe by.

3

O sacred abbot Maure, kepe me from vyce,
With help of þe pope and martir Marcel,
I pray þe teche me, blessid Seynt Sulpice,
With þat holy virgyn Prisce, syng nowel.
O bysshop Wlstan, ȝif me good councel,
And þese martirs, Fabian and Sebastian,
With þe, virgyn Agnes, þat wel help can.

364

4

Sette my pacience, halowed Vincent,
That hit may grow withynne my inwarde saule.
Conuert þou us from al euel entent,
Glorious conuersion of Seynt Poule,
That we escape þe wikked fendes braule,
Help us, Seynt Iulyan, to be vnbound,
With þe, virgyn Agnes, now þe secound.

Kepe us dayly from al maner of synne,
Quene Batylde, in especyal from pryde,
Suffer us neuer for to dye þere ynne.

Februarius.

Iesu for þi holy virgyn Seynt Bryde,
O puryfyed lady be now our gyde,
Teche us to lyue wel, o bysshop Seynt Blase,
For þis wrecchid lyfe is but as a mase.

6

Lede þou us virgyn and martir Agas,
And þe bisshopes Vedast and Amand,
We walke now here in þis derkenes, alas,
Teche us þe trouth for to vnderstond;
Delyueryng us from the fendes bond,
Help þu us holy virgyn Seynt Scolast,
Until þis short lyfe here be ouer past.

7

Be of good comfort and ioye now, hert[e] myne,
Wel mayst þu glade and verray lusty be,
For as I hope truly, Seynt Valentyne
Wil schewe us loue, and daunsyng be with me.
O virgyn Iulyan, I chese now the
To my valentyne, both with hert and mouth,
To be true to þe, wold God þat I couth.

8

I hope and trist to lerne for to pursewe
Aftur þese valentynes be metre,
I loue þem al wel, with olde and newe,

365

With cathedracion of Seynt Petre,
Nomore of loue y me entremetre,
I pray þe now apostel Seynt Mathye,
For cristes true loue I do lyue and dye.

O true valeyntyne is oure lord to me,
Al his body on þe crosse he spredde,
And for þat my soule his spouse shuld be.

Marcius.

With his blode Seynt Dauid he did me wedde
Pray for me now, with sacred Seynt Chedde,
That I to hym my couenaunt wole holde,
That for me was both bought and solde.

10

In þis world here shul not we longe ben,
Vn-to a-noþer contrey we ben bought,
Now pray for us, moost holy virgyn,
That in oure wey no wise we erre nought,
But al oure werkes both in worde and þought,
Be made so plesaunt vnto þi hyȝe spruse,
That we may ben seruantes in his hyȝe house.

11

O holy doctour, blessid pope Gregour,
That sendist Seynt Austyn in-to Englonde,
In my temptacion I may fynde socour,
By comfort of þi moost gracyous soonde,
But ȝit by þi writyng I vndirstonde
That al þis wrecchid lyfe is here ful harde,
Now pray for us blessid kyng Seynt Edward.

366

12

We ben ful myche dayly in Goddes dette,
Good bisshop Cuthbert, pray þu now for us,
And þou holy Abbot good Seynt Benette,
Help whyle we stond in þe myre now þus,
That oure good lord now, swete Iesus,
May make us þerof a mytigacion
In reuerence of his Anunciacion.

O blessid lady, with þis Emanuel,
Now for his glorious Resureccion,
Helpe us with þine angel Gabriel,
For his worshipful salutacion,
And for his mervelous incarnacion
Which þat wrought was þorgh þe Holigost,

Aprilis.

Kepe us, lady, vnder þi blessid ost.

14

Now thenke on gentil oft chose,
For þe riȝt good prayer of Seynt Richard,
And for þe huge loue of doctour Ambrose,
For þis world is now ful fals and hard,
Turne not swete lady þi chere awayward,
For al þogh þat we ryȝt synful be,
The more nede lady haue we now to þe.

15

Who spareth to speke he spareth to spede,
Therfor we aught to cry both day & nyght,
Now helpe us, good lady, in oure nede,
For þi halowed sone ys ful of myght;
Of the blessid sonne beem ȝeue us summe light,
For Seynt Tyburce, and for Valerian,
And shew us þu art a gentil woman.

367

16

Whiles þat I lyue, y wil no wyse sese
To crye on hym þat ys my souerayn lege,
Halowed kyng Iesu now sende us pese,
For þe holy prayer of Seynt Alphege,
I wil now me walke from sege to sege,
And pray to help me now euery saynt,
For vnto hym I made þere my complaynt.

17

O sacred Seynt George, oure lady knyght,
To þat lady þu pray now for me;
Ȝeueth me, Seynt Marke, some goostely sight,
Þat I may my-self þe bettur to se,
Alas myne yȝe is blynd in his degre,
But ȝitte y pray þe marter Seynt Vital,
Helpe me to lyue wel, when þat I dye shal.

And ȝe two apostelis now both in fere,

Mayus.

Philip and Iacob, maken mencyon
To God of us al, in ȝoure good prayere,
Now, for the holy Crosse Inuencyon,
Heuen blisse we ane, for oure pension,
Thorgh meryte of þy dyuyne Ascencion
With þe helpe of Seynt Iohn at porte latyne.

19

Now glorious seynt, Iohn of Beuerlay,
I pray þe hertely, draw not a backe,
Gadre us floures of heuenly maye,
With martyrs Gordian and Epimache,
And cureth þer-with oure grete soules ache,
Now, Nerei Achille, And Pancrace
Seyth forȝeuenesse as of oure trespace.

368

20

Good seyntes, make ȝe al oure soules hole
Aȝenst þe hyȝe fest as of Pentecost,
Þat we ben cladde in a snow whyȝt stole,
Thorgh þe vertue of þe Holy Goost,
He us comfort þat is of myghtes moost,
With þe holy prayers of Seynt Dunston,
For with out hym forsoth wytte haue we noon.

21

God, þat is but one in persones thre,
Holy Trynyte with-oute begynnyng,
Sende us such grace, þat we saued may be,
When we shal passe at þis lyues endyng,
Helpe us Seynt Aldelme, for oure amendyng,
With þe feste of Corpus Christi, and Seynt Austyne,
Which þat taught us to his feyth enclyne.

O þou blessid bysshop, Seynt German,
I pray þe my petycyon fulfyl,
I pray þe same, as hertily as I can,
Helpe us gentil virgyn, Seynt Petronyl.

Iunius.

Also Seynt Nichomede, I pray þy good wille,
Teche me ȝoure daunce, Marcellyne and Petre,
To whom I syng with þis sympul metre.

23

I cry vnto ȝow now, al on a rowe,
In special to martyr Boneface,
With al þi felowes, both hyȝe and lowe,
That ȝe gete to us repentaunce and space,
Medard and Gildard, now where is ȝour grace,
Prayeth for our synnes with [Seynt Edmund],
And aftur þis lyfe to haue þe secund.

369

24

Now blessid Seynt Barnard, for us þu pray,
With þe good Batylde, þe martyr and preste,
That we be cloþed al in ȝoure aray,
Where as he sitteth at his ryal feste,
Kepe ȝoue now I pray ȝoue Vite and Modeste,
Cyryce and Iulytte, kepe us fro þe wulfe,
And lyght oure goost eclipsed Seynt Botulfe.

25

Prayeth for us, Marcellyan and Marke,
Wyth Geruase and Prothase, martyrs ylkone,
This world now, Seynt Edward! wenyth darke,
For oure ynward syght ys almost agone,
Lede us oure first martyr, Seynt Albone,
Etheldrede of Ely, I pray now helpe me,
Wyth Seynt Iohn Baptist þe natiuite.

Bryng us mydsomer of heuenly blys,
I pray ȝow martyrs both Paule and Iohn,
Wherof gladsom myrth we shal not mys,
For þat Leo Pope endureth al one,
Now Petre and Paule, I trist ȝow vpon,
And, Seynt Paule þi commemoracyon,

Iulius.

Helpe us euer to oure saluacyon.

27

O ȝe martirs, Martynyan and Processe,
Now al oure floures begynneth to fade.
In þis erth, Martyn, is but wrecchidnesse,
Syth þat Adam put þer-on his spade;
Now, mercyful God, þat al þing hath made,
For þe translacyon of Seynt Thomas
Bryng us ones to his endeles solace.

370

28

Lo now tyme passith of chyrry fayre,
Therfor I pray ȝou þen, Brethren seuyn,
That I may be one of Benet ys heyre,
Where ȝe ben yn Relyques of heuyn;
Ientyl broþer Iesu, bryng us þer euyn,
That were to me a gracyous fortune,
Now help, þe holy bysshop Swithinne!

29

I mette a while with blessid Seynt Botulphe,
Now sacred Seynt Kenelme, with þe I mete,
Prayng þe with hert þis, Seynt Arnulphe,
Bryng me to þat mery daunsyng so swete,
A, gentyl mayden, O, seynt Margarete!
And noble Praxede, lete me bere ȝoure trayne,
And ȝoure also, Lady Magdaleyne!

30

Seynt Appollinare, teche me ȝoure games,
Make us, Seynt Crystyn, heuenly lepars,
Lete us dispute with þe good Seynt Iames,
Bryng us to Seynt Anne to oure verse pars,
Make us to study þe seuen slepars,
Lede us, Seynt Sampson, to þe hyȝe scoles,
For þedir, Felice, comen no foles.

O Abdon and Sennen, I me redresse,
Good Seynt German, bring us to blys [of heuen].

Augustus.

The bondes of Seynt Petur of lammesse,

371

Unbynde us, [with þe] blessid pope Steven,
And sacred Stephen, deken [of heuen]
Help with þi merytes many a folde,
With þis kyng and martir Seynt Oswolde.

32

Seynt Sixte, þe pope, for Goddes loue and sake,
With Donate Bysshop, do þi diligence,
And with þi felowes Seynt Cyriake,
With Seynt Romane, helpe þu oure conscience.
O þow worthy martir, Seynt Laurence,
Pray for us now, with þis Seynt Fyburce,
I hope now, hit wil be neuer þe wurse.

33

Seynt Ypolyte, here my petycyon,
With Seynt Euseby, the holy confessour,
Now, lady, for þyne hyȝe Assumpcyon,
Ȝeue us þi hande, and þi holy socour,
That we nowe mowe styȝe in-to þe hyȝe toure,
Where þat glorious Seynt Magne is with þe
Lady [Agapite], only socour me!

34

To my valentyne, lady, I chese þe,
Whom þat I wyl chaunge neuer for no newe,
Now pray for me, halowed Seynt Tymothe,
To my lady þat I euer be trewe.
Helpe me nowe, I pray þe, Seynt Bartilmewe,
So worthy apostil as þow art one,
For better helpe þan prayer can I none.

Helpe us, Seynt Ruphe, þe martir of Crist,
And Seynt Austyn, þe worthy hyȝe doctour,
With Decollacyon of Seynt Iohn Baptyst

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Seynt Felice, pray Iesu xÞyst oure saviour,
With blessyd Seynt Cuthburge, þat virgyn flour,

September.

So þat we may daunse with hooly Seynt Gyle,
In heuen an hyȝe aftir þis litul whyle.

36

Al þis world ys ful of care and pyne,
Now pray for us, holy bysshop Seynt Cuthbert
With þe holy Abbot, Seynt Bertyne,
That we may now gracyously astert;
Ȝitte I pray to þe with al myne hert,
Lady for þi ioyful Natyuyte,
That with Seynt Gorgone þow þenke on me.

37

Souerayn lady, þyne Vtas we done holde,
With Prothe and Iacincte A commemoracyon,
Muche grace of the lady haue I herde tolde,
Now helpe lady in our temptacyon,
For þy holy Crosse Exaltacyon,
Pray for us now martyr atte oure moost nede,
With virgyn Edythe for þe bettyr spede.

38

Now, þow bysshop and martyr Seynt Lambert,
Pray here for us al, to swete Iesu Crist,
That he pourge and clense oure soules and hert,
Fro al wikked synful and derkely myst,
Help us Seynt Mathew þe euangelist,
And al þi felowes of Seynt Mauryce,
With þe virgyn Tecle to make a spyce.

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That heuenly spyce, hit is ful swete,
Help us þerof, good bysshop Fermyne,
Sacred Cipriane, ȝif hit wold be gete,
With Cosme and Damane wold I dyne,
Lede us þederward as ryght as a lyne,
Seynt Myghel, To þat heuenly kyngdome,
Helpyng þe holy doctour Seynt Ierome.

October.

Now holy Seynt Kemyge, with al angeles,
Thorgh þe prayer of Seynt Leodegate,
Bringe us now from al wrecchidnesse,
Beyng ful of synne, wrecchid sorow, and care.
I wyl not loue þis world I wil be wel ware,
For me hit is tyme as to leue þat warke,
By help of ȝow martirs Marcelle and Marke.

41

I wyl be as stedfast as any stone,
Helpe with þi felowes Seynt Dyonyse,
So þat I may dwelle with Seynt Gerone,
And with Seynt Nichase in hyȝe paradyse,
For of þis lyfe I sette ful litul pryce.
I pray þe, Seynt Edward, confessour and kyng,
That I may with Kalynte both hoppe and syng.

42

Teche me þe way, glorious Seynt Wolfstan,
To Myghel in þe Mount, wold I ryde,
Flessh is my hors, sowle ys þe man,
I pray þe, Seynt Luke, for to be my gyde,
Helpe me, ientyl virgyn, Seynt Fryswyde,
One of þe floures here of Englond,
With al holy virgyns Eleuen þowsond.

374

43

That was a present, made al in a day,
Ful worthy to God, Seynt Romanian,
Hys floures in October as wel as I may,
God gaderyth Seynt Cryspyn and Cryspynian,
Some of þem fadeth and wexith al wan,
Why? for her maners be so lewde and rude,
But prayeth for us now, Symon and Iude!

I chese al seyntes to my valentyne,
Trewly I hold hit ryght as for the beste,
Teche us for to Daunse, blessid Seynt Quyntyne,

Nouember.

With Al halowen in þis moost hyȝe feste,
Al Cristen sowles, God ȝeue þem good reste,
Abydyng hys mercy in purgatory,
Suffryng for her synnes, peynes bitturly.

45

Lord Iesu Crist þo peynes ben ful scharpe,
Now Seynt Leonard, Helpe us þerfore,
Make þem easy with þy moste dowcet harpe,
And þe Foure crowned, I pray ȝow euermore,
Helpyng with þy sawtry Seynt Theodore.
That hit may aswage somewhat oure grete peyne,
With þe prayere of holy Seynt Martyne.

46

For þis holy daunce mynstralcy ys goode,
Now, Seynt Bruce, helpe with þy sounded lute,
That Cryste wassh me with his precyous blode,
Pray for us now, al sacred Seynt Machute,
Edmund of Pounteney, now in ȝovre sute,
I wold þat I were, with sacred Seynt Hewe,
Wheþer hit were coloure whyte, rede, or blewe.

375

47

I wold be cloþed in Cristemasse lyueray,
Helpe me þerto, holy Edmund þe kyng,
Of al þat huge feste þere ys but a day,
Where þat Seynt Cecily ys euer beyng,
And þere Seynt Clement ys euer enduryng,
Bring me þere Grysogone with my valentyne,
So þat I may daunse with Seynt Kateryne.

Ȝeue me þy blessid hond, Seynt Lyne þe pope,
Wold God I cowth þy steppes wel to sewe,
Helpe me to daunse, in þy halowed cope,
With Seynt Saturne, þe martyr ful trewe,
Pray for us þen, Apostel Seynt Andrewe.

December.

As aȝenst oure lordes Secund aduent,
So at domes-day þat we be not shent.

49

A lord Iesu Crist, to þe now I cry,
Whome þis þat we offende with synnes, Alas,
Lord haue mercy for þy moder Mary,
And also for þe loue of Seynt Nicholas,
As truly lord as she þy moder was,
Kepte from fylthed in her Concepcyon,
Wassh us from synne with þy swete passyon.

50

Saue, lord, þy blessid spowse, holychurch,
From erroures and heresyes þat doon spryng,
And tech with feyth truly for to wurch,
With deuoute Seynt Lucy þyn own derlyng;
Graunt us þyne hert, as for to ioye and syng,
With al oþer sayntes in þy presence,
Thy worthy so grete song, O Sapience.

376

51

Kepe al þy peple which þat ben on lyue
Them especyal þat I haue of mynd
And al good sowles þat with þy woundes fyue,
Whoom hit pleasith þe from peynes vnbynde,
Graunt us for to be with Thomas of ynde,
A curyous caral þis Crystemasse
As to syng nowel when þat we hens passe.

52

Lo, now ys come þe moost glorious feste
The holy Natyuyte of oure lorde,
Goode Stephen make us al, moste and leste,
With Seynt Iohn in vertues to acorde,
That we may sitte at Innocentes borde,
With Thomas of Caunturbery, oure frende,
Now saue us fader with oure flessh þy worde,
For Seynt Siluester loue at oure laste ende.

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[END OF PART I.]

University of Virginia Library

I. Part I. RELIGIOUS POEMS. [_] Square brackets denote editorial insertions or emendations.

1. BENEDIC ANIMA MEA DOMINO.

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2. BENEDICTUS DEUS IN DONIS SUIS.

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3. DEUS IN NOMINE TUO SALUUM ME FAC.

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Deus exaudi.

Quum alieni.

Ecce enim deus.

Auerte mala.

Voluntarie sacrificabo.

Cuum ex omni tribulacione.

Gloria patri et filio.

Sicut erat in principio.

4. AN EPISTLE TO SIBILLE.

A Paraphrase of Proverbs xxxi. 10–31.

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VERBA FACTORIS.

LENVOYE.

5. THE PATER NOSTER TRANSLATED.

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6. A PRAYER IN OLD AGE.

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I. Part I. RELIGIOUS POEMS.
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Square brackets denote editorial insertions or emendations.