The Life and Poems of Richard Edwards By Leicester Bradner: A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Yale University in Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy |
 | FIVE POEMS FROM MS COTTON TITUS A xxiv
IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM |
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 | The Life and Poems of Richard Edwards |  |
102
FIVE POEMS FROM MS COTTON TITUS A xxiv IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM
1
My fance fanned onne me somwhat of ye to seegood Laydies all accepte my will this thing I only pr[ay]
Hawarde is not hawghte but of such smylinge cheare
that wolde alure eche gentill harte hir love to holde full de[re]
Dacars is not dawngerus hir talke is nothinge coye
hir noble stature may compare wth hectors wife of troye
Baynam is as bewtiful as nature canne devyse
stedfastenes posesse her harte and chastitie her eyes
Arundell is aunciaunte in thes her tender yeares
in harte in voce in talke in deade a matrons wit appere[s]
Dormor is a darlinge and of suche lively hewe
that who so fedes his eyes on her may sone her bewte rue
Mancell is a merye one and is righte worthi love
whom nature wrawghte so fetusly hir coning for to prove
Coke is cumly and thereto in books setes all her care
in lernyng with the romayne dames of ryghte she may compar[e]
Briges is a blessed wighte and praythe withe harte & voise
which from her cradele hathe bene taughte in vertue to reioice
These eghte nowe serves one noble Quene but if powre were in me
for bewtise prayse and vertues sake eche one a Quene showld be
finis.
R. E.
2
Truthe withe the towche stoune triethe
eche thinge we dayly see
if truthe withe yow be hadde in pryce
then here the truthe of me
eche thinge we dayly see
if truthe withe yow be hadde in pryce
then here the truthe of me
103
Where spite hathe spon the twyne
& wrathe hathe woven the webbe
there wronge hathe noon the flowinge stream
& driven the truthe to ebbe
& wrathe hathe woven the webbe
there wronge hathe noon the flowinge stream
& driven the truthe to ebbe
What wonder is it then
thoughe Ladyes suffer blame
sines men of spighte hathe framed there wittes
and will to do the same
thoughe Ladyes suffer blame
sines men of spighte hathe framed there wittes
and will to do the same
When famies hammer bettes
there fonde and idle braynes
the wemen ar the cause see the
of all there cruel paynes
there fonde and idle braynes
the wemen ar the cause see the
of all there cruel paynes
The fishe may swimme at large
and not himselfe anoye
who badde him snatche that pleasante beate
that dothe him thus destroye
and not himselfe anoye
who badde him snatche that pleasante beate
that dothe him thus destroye
The flye playthe with the candell light
even of his owne desire
who by his vayne delite at laste
vnwares false in the fire
even of his owne desire
who by his vayne delite at laste
vnwares false in the fire
Even so yow fondlinges all
none can hit well deny:
truthe with the toche stoune triethe this true
yow arre the fishe yow arre the flye
none can hit well deny:
truthe with the toche stoune triethe this true
yow arre the fishe yow arre the flye
Ne yet ar women suche
that dayly sike for newe
who makes accounte of bothe yowre faythes
shall find men most untrewe
that dayly sike for newe
who makes accounte of bothe yowre faythes
shall find men most untrewe
And if that onne may saye
she fownde her louer trewe
a thowsande for their changynge mindes
hathe iust cause men to rewe
she fownde her louer trewe
a thowsande for their changynge mindes
hathe iust cause men to rewe
there filed flateringe tonges
suche traynes do put in vre
that simple hartes they do reclayme
as hakes vnto the lure
suche traynes do put in vre
that simple hartes they do reclayme
as hakes vnto the lure
104
with fayned sighes they grone
till fance frames his toye
as crocadiles with teares do trayne
such as they wolde destroye
till fance frames his toye
as crocadiles with teares do trayne
such as they wolde destroye
when wemens wisdome showtes owte will
that is mens only page
like Tigres spoyled of there whelpes
then do they chifely rage
that is mens only page
like Tigres spoyled of there whelpes
then do they chifely rage
And in that mode there tonges
do chatte so many lies
that reasonne saythe the grownde is nawghte
whereof suche follye ryse
do chatte so many lies
that reasonne saythe the grownde is nawghte
whereof suche follye ryse
Therefore contente yowre selves
and let them worke there spighte
agaynste wemen who ianglethe moste
at lengthe muste yelde of ryghte
and let them worke there spighte
agaynste wemen who ianglethe moste
at lengthe muste yelde of ryghte
In whom of all good giftes
and vertues liethe suche store
that soner may we tell the sandes
upon the salte fludde shore.
and vertues liethe suche store
that soner may we tell the sandes
upon the salte fludde shore.
And thus I make anne ende
if wemen do amisse
the wicked man as truthe dothe trie
is only cause of this.
if wemen do amisse
the wicked man as truthe dothe trie
is only cause of this.
finis.
R. E.
3
When wemen firste dame nature wroughte
all good quothe she none shall be naughte
all wise shall be none shall be fooles
for witte shall springe from wemens scooles
in all good giftes the shall excell
there nature all no tonge can tell
thus nature sayde I herde it I:
I praye yow aske them if I do lye
all good quothe she none shall be naughte
all wise shall be none shall be fooles
for witte shall springe from wemens scooles
in all good giftes the shall excell
there nature all no tonge can tell
thus nature sayde I herde it I:
I praye yow aske them if I do lye
105
By natures grante this muste ensue
no woman false but all arre true
non sowe debate but loue mayntaine
non ioies to see hir Louers payne
as turtels true there chosen one
thei loue and pine where he is gonne
this is moste true nonne canne denye
I pray yow aske them if I do lye
no woman false but all arre true
non sowe debate but loue mayntaine
non ioies to see hir Louers payne
as turtels true there chosen one
thei loue and pine where he is gonne
this is moste true nonne canne denye
I pray yow aske them if I do lye
No Lambe so make as women be
theire humble hartes from pride ar free
rich thinges the weare and wotte yow whie
onlye to please there husbandes eye
they neuer striue there wills to haue
there husbandes loue noughte else they craue
vayne talke in them none can espie
I pray yow aske them if I do lye
theire humble hartes from pride ar free
rich thinges the weare and wotte yow whie
onlye to please there husbandes eye
they neuer striue there wills to haue
there husbandes loue noughte else they craue
vayne talke in them none can espie
I pray yow aske them if I do lye
If vice the yearthe shoulde ouercumme
and no wyghte lefte vnder the sunne
if welthe wolde wringe the pore and mighte
withe open force wolde suppresse ryghte
if no rule were lefte one the grownde
in women iet it myghte be fownde
the stere of goodnes in them dothe lye
I pray yow aske them if I do lye
and no wyghte lefte vnder the sunne
if welthe wolde wringe the pore and mighte
withe open force wolde suppresse ryghte
if no rule were lefte one the grownde
in women iet it myghte be fownde
the stere of goodnes in them dothe lye
I pray yow aske them if I do lye
The Egle withe his persinge eye
shall borne and waste the mountaynes hye
huge rokes shall fleete as shippe with say[le]
the crabbe shall runne swime shall the snayl[e]
springes shall retorne frome whence the c[ame]
shepe shall be wilde and Tigers tame
or thes my words false yow shall trye
ha, ha, me thinkes I make a lye.
shall borne and waste the mountaynes hye
huge rokes shall fleete as shippe with say[le]
the crabbe shall runne swime shall the snayl[e]
springes shall retorne frome whence the c[ame]
shepe shall be wilde and Tigers tame
or thes my words false yow shall trye
ha, ha, me thinkes I make a lye.
4
O lorde that ruleste bothe lande [and] seae
even by thy hevenly povre
grawnte I may passe thes raginge sees
nowe in this happie howre
even by thy hevenly povre
grawnte I may passe thes raginge sees
nowe in this happie howre
106
for as the deere that seethe the darte
his bane dothe drede full sore
so do I feare the windes the see
and eke the the drenchinge showre
his bane dothe drede full sore
so do I feare the windes the see
and eke the the drenchinge showre
but if thow wilt my corse to pine
amyddes the drenchinge waves
I yelde my sprite to the o lorde
that all the worlde saves
amyddes the drenchinge waves
I yelde my sprite to the o lorde
that all the worlde saves
And to the fishe I give my fleshe
a worthi fode to be
wo worthe the time that chaunsethe thus
my contre for to flye
a worthi fode to be
wo worthe the time that chaunsethe thus
my contre for to flye
for lo even now my eres do here
how this same waves do rore
that shall forthe drive my drenched corse
unto the sowndinge shore
how this same waves do rore
that shall forthe drive my drenched corse
unto the sowndinge shore
And there summe man shall see me lye
vpon the shininge sandes
and thus shall pray unto the lorde
with liftinge vp his handes
vpon the shininge sandes
and thus shall pray unto the lorde
with liftinge vp his handes
o lorde my frendes and childerne all
guyde withe thy holy hande
and grawnte they fly the raginge seas
and dye vpon the lande
guyde withe thy holy hande
and grawnte they fly the raginge seas
and dye vpon the lande
for so even here I see won lye
while he this race didde runne
a mides the cruel seas he cauhte
his bane alas to sone
while he this race didde runne
a mides the cruel seas he cauhte
his bane alas to sone
It is alas a ruthefull thinge
to see this woofull wighte
make thow o lorde his sely sole
partaker of thy lighte
to see this woofull wighte
make thow o lorde his sely sole
partaker of thy lighte
And I to shewe the farvente love
I bere to christian bludde
here will I take the corse vnknowne
and winde hit in a shrowde
I bere to christian bludde
here will I take the corse vnknowne
and winde hit in a shrowde
107
And bring hit to the holy churche
the christiane rightes to have
and so withe in the halowed grownde
will put him in a grave
the christiane rightes to have
and so withe in the halowed grownde
will put him in a grave
Vpon his grave shall stande a stone
as wittnes of his case
and shall forbidde all suche as sayle
to attempte that dredful place
as wittnes of his case
and shall forbidde all suche as sayle
to attempte that dredful place
Thus shall I die thus shall I lie
this is my destinie
but wo worthe me that shall giue cause
eche wyhte the seas to flye
this is my destinie
but wo worthe me that shall giue cause
eche wyhte the seas to flye
Woworthe the manne that framed the shippe
whereby we cut the seas
and see the contres farre aparte
owre fances for to pleas
whereby we cut the seas
and see the contres farre aparte
owre fances for to pleas
but woworthe me yet ons agayne
that thus shall lye wnknowne
and shall not place my wretched corse
vnder summe Englishe stonne
that thus shall lye wnknowne
and shall not place my wretched corse
vnder summe Englishe stonne
O lorde whi doste thow take me nowe
amids the drowninge seas
and shorten thus my springinge yowthe
and eke my plesante deas
amids the drowninge seas
and shorten thus my springinge yowthe
and eke my plesante deas
but nowe o lorde but nowe I saye
begyns my yuthely pryme
take me in age and let me liue
as yet a longer time
begyns my yuthely pryme
take me in age and let me liue
as yet a longer time
That I may wayle my wiked ways
and eke my wantone will
and lerne to hate all erthely yoies
of whiche I hadde my fyll
and eke my wantone will
and lerne to hate all erthely yoies
of whiche I hadde my fyll
but wo is me I pray in vayne
even clene agaynste thy will
for in my sin̄es and wikednes
o lorde thow wilte me kylle
even clene agaynste thy will
for in my sin̄es and wikednes
o lorde thow wilte me kylle
108
Thi will be donne in lande and sea
to dye myselfe I bende
o dethe cumme now for god my lord
appoynted me this ende
to dye myselfe I bende
o dethe cumme now for god my lord
appoynted me this ende
o dethe how sharpe arte thow to suche
as bene in tender age
whiche by repentance thinkes at lenkthe
theire sinnes for to asswage
as bene in tender age
whiche by repentance thinkes at lenkthe
theire sinnes for to asswage
but dye I must vndowtedly
what nedes me further talke
and in the salt see fludde my corse
vnto the shore shall walke
what nedes me further talke
and in the salt see fludde my corse
vnto the shore shall walke
I yelde my sprite into thy handes
that died vpon the roode
for thow haste bowghte me god of truthe
even withe thy precious blodde
that died vpon the roode
for thow haste bowghte me god of truthe
even withe thy precious blodde
I am beset withe sinne alas
I am the childe of ire
kepe thow o lorde my sili sole
from ever lastinge fire
I am the childe of ire
kepe thow o lorde my sili sole
from ever lastinge fire
In the in the I truste o lorde
thi blodde thy blodde I crave
forget my sinnes and gravnte me sprite
the hevenly yoies to have
thi blodde thy blodde I crave
forget my sinnes and gravnte me sprite
the hevenly yoies to have
lo now I sinke lo now I drowne
and drinke the mortall floodd
o christe o christe take thow my sprite
that trowstethe in thy bloodd
and drinke the mortall floodd
o christe o christe take thow my sprite
that trowstethe in thy bloodd
finis.
R. E.
5. Mr Wylson
O catife corps that long hast feltye present panges of death
Shall that not bee thy chaunce at last
to yelde thy Natall breath
109
nor yet from flame returne
But aye alas wth trubling harte
in aethna still to burne
Alas what hevey hape haue I
that still must loue obay
Till that my daunted hart shall mone
& still in it cane staye
O greede griphes cū late my geste
no longer let mee staye
O fures all wth cruell hand
doo all my lymes arraye
Let mee not be in thraldome thus
by loue as one agaste
O death ere shee that death shall cause
cum chaūge my case at last
Cū chaūge my case that I sustaȳe
or speedey hand shall geue
Unnaturale deathe wch long I wisht
so loth I am to liue
Alas Leander why do I impute
to the a blame
For yelding lyfe to earnest loue
where I do mene the same
Nothing cane quench my aching flames
In vayne for helpe I call
In fyne therefore o sacred dame
thow shalt haue life & all
To one I come not yet yt shur[e]
that better dooth deserue
Therefore my last & gasping hes[t]
to honor the shall serue.
finis per mē
R. E.
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