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3. It is my Father's Will

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Bodleian MS. Add. A. 106 (Sum. Catal. No. 29003)

Lullay, lullay, my lityl chyld, slepe & be now styll;
If þu be a lytill chyld ȝitt may þu haue þi wyll.
‘How suld I now, þu fayre may, fall apone a slepe?
better me thynke þat I may fall apone & wepe
Fore he þat mad both nyght & day, cold & also hette,
now layde I ame in a wispe of hay I cane noder go nore crepe
Bot wel I wate as well I may—slepe & be now styll—
Suffre þe paynes þat I may; it is my fader wyll.
4

Seys þu noȝte, þu fayr may, & heris þu noȝte also
How kynge herod, þat keyne knyght, & of his peres mo
þat be a-bowte nyght & day my body fore to slo?
þai seke me both nyght & day at werke me mekyll wo,
bot well I wate as well I may—slepe & be now styll—
Suffre þe paynes þat I may; it is my fader wyll.
How suld I now, þu fayre may, how suld I now myrth make?
My songe is mad of walaway; fore dred I begyne to whake,
Fore drede of þat ilk day at I my deth sall take
& suffre þe paynes þat I may fore synfull man sake.
Fore well I wate as well I may—slepe & be now styll—
Suffre þe paynes þat I may; it is my fader wyll.
bot ȝitt me thynk it well besett If man haue of me mynd,
& al my paynes well besett If man to me be kynd.
þare is no deth at sall me let, & I hym trew fynd,
One þe rode fore to sytt, my handis for to bynd.
bot well I wat as well I may—slepe & be now styll—
Suffre þe paynes þat I may; it is my fader wyll.’
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