 | Religious Lyrics of the XVth Century |  |
122
SONGS FOR THE EPIPHANY.
85. A Song for the Epiphany
Welcum welcum welcum Xe redemtor omneum.
Now ys cum owre saue-owre,
And now hathe mare borne a flowre,
To al this wordill a grete soccowre,
celi terreque dominum.
And now hathe mare borne a flowre,
To al this wordill a grete soccowre,
celi terreque dominum.
Now be þe Iuys fallyn in fyȝte
of Seynt stevyne, þat nobull knyȝte;
be-cause he sayde he saw a syȝte,
lapidauerunt stephanum.
of Seynt stevyne, þat nobull knyȝte;
be-cause he sayde he saw a syȝte,
lapidauerunt stephanum.
Seynt Iohn̄, that was a martyr fre,
on crystis lappe a-slepe lay he,
of hevyn he saw þe preuete,
aduocatur conviuio.
on crystis lappe a-slepe lay he,
of hevyn he saw þe preuete,
aduocatur conviuio.
Erode, that was so full of syne,
let sle þe chyldryne of israell kyn,
of too yere age & eke withyn,
In bethelem confinio.
let sle þe chyldryne of israell kyn,
of too yere age & eke withyn,
In bethelem confinio.
Seynte Thomas, þat was a marter good—
Ther came knyȝtis bothe ferse & woode,
They steryde his brayne & schede his blode;
sic passus est martyrrium.
Ther came knyȝtis bothe ferse & woode,
They steryde his brayne & schede his blode;
sic passus est martyrrium.
Ther came thre knyȝtis with rache presens,
Offryde golde, myrre, franke-andsence—
Offryng with grete honnowre & reuerens,
adorauerunt puerum.
Offryde golde, myrre, franke-andsence—
Offryng with grete honnowre & reuerens,
adorauerunt puerum.
123
86. Angels, Star, and Magi
Ihū almyghty kyng of blys
Assumpsit carnem virginis.
Assumpsit carnem virginis.
As holy kyrke makys mynd,
Intravit ventris thalamum;
ffro heyuyn to erthe to save monkynd
Pater misit filium.
Intravit ventris thalamum;
ffro heyuyn to erthe to save monkynd
Pater misit filium.
Of mary mylde cryste wolde be borne
Sine virili semine,
To save monkynd þat was forlorne,
Prime parentis crimine.
Sine virili semine,
To save monkynd þat was forlorne,
Prime parentis crimine.
To mare come a messenger
Ferens salutem homini,
Sche aunswerd hym with mylde chere,
‘Ecce! ancilla domini.’
Ferens salutem homini,
Sche aunswerd hym with mylde chere,
‘Ecce! ancilla domini.’
Mekely on þe, þo holy goste
Palacium intrans uteri—
Of althyng meknes is moste
In conspectu altissimi.
Palacium intrans uteri—
Of althyng meknes is moste
In conspectu altissimi.
When he was borne þat made all thyng,
Pastor creator omnium,
Angellis þei began to syng,
‘Veni, redemptor gencium.’
Pastor creator omnium,
Angellis þei began to syng,
‘Veni, redemptor gencium.’
Thre kyngis come on goid xij day,
Stella mycante previa;
To seche þat chylde þei toke þo wey,
Portantes sibi munera.
Stella mycante previa;
To seche þat chylde þei toke þo wey,
Portantes sibi munera.
124
A sterne forth ladde þeis kyngis all,
Inquirentes dominum,
Lyyng in a nasse stall
Invenerunt puerum.
Inquirentes dominum,
Lyyng in a nasse stall
Invenerunt puerum.
ffor he was kyng of kyngis heghe,
Rex primus aurum optulit;
And allso lord and kyng ful ryght
Secundus rex thus protulit;
Rex primus aurum optulit;
And allso lord and kyng ful ryght
Secundus rex thus protulit;
ffor he was god, mon and kyng,
Mirra mortem retulit;
He hus all to heuyn bryng
Qui mortem cruce voluit.
Mirra mortem retulit;
He hus all to heuyn bryng
Qui mortem cruce voluit.
87. The Journey of the Three Kings
The ster he schynythe boþe nyȝte & day,
To lede iij kyngis þer Ihū lay.
To lede iij kyngis þer Ihū lay.
Ihu whas Borne in Bedlem̄ Iude,
Alle off a mayden̄, so fyndythe whe.
Owte off þe Este com kyngis iij,
Wythe ryche presente as y yow say.
Alle off a mayden̄, so fyndythe whe.
Owte off þe Este com kyngis iij,
Wythe ryche presente as y yow say.
The stuarde whas Bolde off þat contre
And Bade Errod schollde come and see
lyke as þey wentyn̄, all y[e] iij,
Goyng ffurthe yne þer Iornay.
And Bade Errod schollde come and see
lyke as þey wentyn̄, all y[e] iij,
Goyng ffurthe yne þer Iornay.
ffurthe þey wentyn, pas for pas,
And Euer þe ster schone one þer ffase,
lyke as þe sone doþe throw þe glas,
And yne-to Bedleme þey toke þer way.
And Euer þe ster schone one þer ffase,
lyke as þe sone doþe throw þe glas,
And yne-to Bedleme þey toke þer way.
125
Whene þey com yne-to þe plas,
Ihū wythe hys modyr whas,
þey knelyd a-downe & made solas,
And euer kyng tyll oder gan say—
Ihū wythe hys modyr whas,
þey knelyd a-downe & made solas,
And euer kyng tyll oder gan say—
Whene þey had made vp hyr offeryng,
gollde and myr and ryche thyng,
they lay a-downe & toke restyng,
ffor alle a nyȝte and alle a day.
gollde and myr and ryche thyng,
they lay a-downe & toke restyng,
ffor alle a nyȝte and alle a day.
As þey lay in þer slepyng,
Ther come a angell & browȝte tydyng,
And Bade theme wende nat by errod þe kyng,
But Bade þeme take a-noþer way.
Ther come a angell & browȝte tydyng,
And Bade theme wende nat by errod þe kyng,
But Bade þeme take a-noþer way.
Errod off þis he wyxyd fful gryll,
þa þis iij kyngis Came nat hyme tylle,
Alle to ffull-ffyll hys false wylle,
And tyll hys knyȝteys he gane say—
þa þis iij kyngis Came nat hyme tylle,
Alle to ffull-ffyll hys false wylle,
And tyll hys knyȝteys he gane say—
Errod Bade hys knyȝtes a-none
That þey schollde in-to bedleme gone
And sle þe chyllderyne euery-chone—
And yet he faylyd off hys pray.
That þey schollde in-to bedleme gone
And sle þe chyllderyne euery-chone—
And yet he faylyd off hys pray.
Angellys Come owre lady a-none,
And bade hyr in-to Egypte gone,
ther-yne to wonny, þer yne to dwelle.
yne tyme hyt wer errod-ys endyng day.
And bade hyr in-to Egypte gone,
ther-yne to wonny, þer yne to dwelle.
yne tyme hyt wer errod-ys endyng day.
Herrod dyyd and went to hell,
þer yne to wonny, þer yne to dwell,
And yne þe depyste pytte he fell—
And þer he ys ffor euer & ay.
þer yne to wonny, þer yne to dwell,
And yne þe depyste pytte he fell—
And þer he ys ffor euer & ay.
126
88. Balthazer, Melchior and Jasper
Out of þe blosme sprang a þorn,
quan god hymself wold be born—
he let vs neuere be forlorn,
þat born was of marie.
quan god hymself wold be born—
he let vs neuere be forlorn,
þat born was of marie.
þer sprong a welle al at here fot,
þat al þis word it turnyd to good—
quan Ihū cryst took fleych & blod
of his moder marie.
þat al þis word it turnyd to good—
quan Ihū cryst took fleych & blod
of his moder marie.
Out of þe welle sprang a strem,
fro patriarck to jerusalem—
til cryst hymself a-ȝen it nem
of his moder, etc.
fro patriarck to jerusalem—
til cryst hymself a-ȝen it nem
of his moder, etc.
In wynter quan þe frost hym fres,
a powre beddyng our lord hym ches;
betwyin an ox & an as
godes sone born he was
of his, etc.
a powre beddyng our lord hym ches;
betwyin an ox & an as
godes sone born he was
of his, etc.
It was vp-on þe twelwe day
þer come þre kynges in ryche aray,
to seke cryst þer he lay
& his, etc.
þer come þre kynges in ryche aray,
to seke cryst þer he lay
& his, etc.
þre kynges out of dyuers londe
swyþe comyn wiþ herte stronge,
þe chyld to sekyn & vnder-fonge
þat born was of marie.
swyþe comyn wiþ herte stronge,
þe chyld to sekyn & vnder-fonge
þat born was of marie.
127
þe sterre led hem a ryte way
to þe chyld þer he lay—
he help vs boþe nyȝt & day
þat born was of marie!
to þe chyld þer he lay—
he help vs boþe nyȝt & day
þat born was of marie!
Baltyzar was þe ferste kyng,
he browte gold to his offeryng,
ffor to presente þat ryche kyng
& his moder marie.
he browte gold to his offeryng,
ffor to presente þat ryche kyng
& his moder marie.
Melchiar was þe secunde kyng,
he browte incens to his offering,
for to presente þat ryche kyng
& his, etc.
he browte incens to his offering,
for to presente þat ryche kyng
& his, etc.
Jasper was þe þred kyng,
he browte myrre to his offeryng,
ffor to presente þat ryche kyng
& his, etc.
he browte myrre to his offeryng,
ffor to presente þat ryche kyng
& his, etc.
þer þey offerid here presens,
wiþ gold & myrre & francincens,
& clerkes redyn in here seqwens,
ephifanye.
wiþ gold & myrre & francincens,
& clerkes redyn in here seqwens,
ephifanye.
Knel we down hym be-forn,
& prey we to hym þat now is born:
‘& let us neuer be for-lorn,
þat born was of marie!’
& prey we to hym þat now is born:
‘& let us neuer be for-lorn,
þat born was of marie!’
89. The Three Kings and Herod
Qwan crist was borne in bedlem,
þer rose a stere os bryth [os lem],
þat gafe so glorius a glem
ouyr dale and downe.
Oure dale and downe it sprong and sprede,
þat made iij kynges to be a-drede;
In-to an unchoud lond it hem lede,
into a towne—
þer were iij kyngys of grete renowne.
þer rose a stere os bryth [os lem],
þat gafe so glorius a glem
ouyr dale and downe.
128
þat made iij kynges to be a-drede;
In-to an unchoud lond it hem lede,
into a towne—
þer were iij kyngys of grete renowne.
þe cam to seke herowd þe kyng,
and askyd hym of all þat thyng,
And speryd aftyr þe chyld so ȝyng,
þat xuld be kyng—
þat schud be kyng of all Iury.
‘we saw a stere secyrly,
þer-for we worchyp him for-þi,
þat chyld so ȝyng;
Here gold and homage we hym bryng.’
and askyd hym of all þat thyng,
And speryd aftyr þe chyld so ȝyng,
þat xuld be kyng—
þat schud be kyng of all Iury.
‘we saw a stere secyrly,
þer-for we worchyp him for-þi,
þat chyld so ȝyng;
Here gold and homage we hym bryng.’
‘Wend ȝe forth, all thre in-fere,
And of þat chyld if ȝe may here,
þat ȝe wyll com agen in-fere,
I ȝou beseke.
I ȝou beseke þat ȝe me say,
Os ȝe com homward agen in ȝore way,
þat I my-selfe hym woyrchyp may,
þat chylde so meke;
on my bare fete I wold hym seke.’
And of þat chyld if ȝe may here,
þat ȝe wyll com agen in-fere,
I ȝou beseke.
I ȝou beseke þat ȝe me say,
Os ȝe com homward agen in ȝore way,
þat I my-selfe hym woyrchyp may,
þat chylde so meke;
on my bare fete I wold hym seke.’
þe kyngys no lenger þer abode,
but forth to bedlem þan þe rode,
and þe stere before hem glode
Vn-tyll þie were—
Vntyll þie were þer ihū lay,
woondyn in a cryb of hey.
þem thowt it was a pore aray
[OMITTED]
Of prins of pes þat hast no pere.
but forth to bedlem þan þe rode,
and þe stere before hem glode
Vn-tyll þie were—
Vntyll þie were þer ihū lay,
woondyn in a cryb of hey.
129
[OMITTED]
Of prins of pes þat hast no pere.
Now knele we downe, all iij in-fere,
And offyr to þis derlyng dere
Gold soree and rekyls clere,
and myre al so—
and myre al so in tokenyng
þat he is ueri man and kyng,
Soffarond prins ouyr all thyng,
oon and no moo,
for holy wryth bere wyttenes al so.
And offyr to þis derlyng dere
Gold soree and rekyls clere,
and myre al so—
and myre al so in tokenyng
þat he is ueri man and kyng,
Soffarond prins ouyr all thyng,
oon and no moo,
for holy wryth bere wyttenes al so.
An angell warnyd hem in here slepe,
þat þie xuld hem for herowyd kepe;
þei thankyd god with deuocion depe,
and hom þie wente—
and hom þie wente on here Iornay.
quan þie-of herowd hard say,
he sayd ‘alas! and welaway,
for I am schente;
þis chyld he wyll my kyndam hente.’
þat þie xuld hem for herowyd kepe;
þei thankyd god with deuocion depe,
and hom þie wente—
and hom þie wente on here Iornay.
quan þie-of herowd hard say,
he sayd ‘alas! and welaway,
for I am schente;
þis chyld he wyll my kyndam hente.’
þen erowd was both wode and wroth,
with mekyll Ire he made hys othe,
þat all þe londe it xulde be loth
þat he was borne—
þat he was borne þat xuld be kyng.
he bade to doo a spythfull thyng,
to slee chyldyrn both elle and ȝyng,
in bedlem borne
with-in ij wyntrys þer beforne.
with mekyll Ire he made hys othe,
þat all þe londe it xulde be loth
þat he was borne—
þat he was borne þat xuld be kyng.
he bade to doo a spythfull thyng,
to slee chyldyrn both elle and ȝyng,
in bedlem borne
with-in ij wyntrys þer beforne.
130
þe chyldryn sprongyld an þe sperys,
þe moderys wept ful bytyr terys
þat herowd dyd hem gylte-les derys,
þat fend so felle—
þat fend so fell, fowle mut hym befalle!
þat þus þeis chyldyrn martyryd all;
On-to marie we crye & calle,
þer in blys well,
to scheld us from þe pyth of helle.
þe moderys wept ful bytyr terys
þat herowd dyd hem gylte-les derys,
þat fend so felle—
þat fend so fell, fowle mut hym befalle!
þat þus þeis chyldyrn martyryd all;
On-to marie we crye & calle,
þer in blys well,
to scheld us from þe pyth of helle.
90. Hostis Herodes Impie
hostis herodis impie, Xpm̄ venire quid times; non eripit mortalia.
Enmy herowde, þu wokkyd kyng,
qwy dredes þu þe of cristes comyng?
he deȝyryt here non erþely þing
þat heuene haȝt at his ȝeuyng.
qwy dredes þu þe of cristes comyng?
he deȝyryt here non erþely þing
þat heuene haȝt at his ȝeuyng.
þre kynges þer saw a sterre ful bryȝt,
þei folwyd it wiþ al here myȝt;
bryȝtnesse þei saw þrow þat lyȝt,
þei knewe god wiþ here ȝyftes ryȝt.
þei folwyd it wiþ al here myȝt;
bryȝtnesse þei saw þrow þat lyȝt,
þei knewe god wiþ here ȝyftes ryȝt.
þe welle haȝt waschyn vs fro wo,
þe lomb of heuene is comyn vs to;
he þat synne neuere wold do
haȝt waschyn clene our synnys vs fro.
þe lomb of heuene is comyn vs to;
he þat synne neuere wold do
haȝt waschyn clene our synnys vs fro.
131
his myȝt is chawngyd of newe maner,
þe water wyx red in pecher;
þe water is turnyd to wyn ful cler,
ageyn þe kynde þow it were.
þe water wyx red in pecher;
þe water is turnyd to wyn ful cler,
ageyn þe kynde þow it were.
louyng, lord, be to þe ay!
þat haȝt schewyd þe to vs þis day,
wiþ fader & holy gost veray,
þat in þe word neuer fayle may.
þat haȝt schewyd þe to vs þis day,
wiþ fader & holy gost veray,
þat in þe word neuer fayle may.
| Religious Lyrics of the XVth Century | |