 | Religious Lyrics of the XVth Century |  |
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HYMNS AND PRAYERS TO CHRIST.
58. The Seven O's of Christ
O sapiencia of þe ffader, surmountyng all thyng,
Procedyng from his mowthe his hestis to fulfill,
Alpha and Oo, both end & begynnyng,
ffrom end so to end dost atteyne and tylle,
Disposyng ich werk swetly at his wyll,
We the besiche, lord, with humble reuerence,
Come þu and teche vs þe ways of prudence.
Procedyng from his mowthe his hestis to fulfill,
Alpha and Oo, both end & begynnyng,
ffrom end so to end dost atteyne and tylle,
Disposyng ich werk swetly at his wyll,
We the besiche, lord, with humble reuerence,
Come þu and teche vs þe ways of prudence.
O adonaye, chieff duke of Israell,
Which them conduced from thrall captiuite,
Apperyng to Moyses madist hym of counsell
In þe mount of syna, ther shewyng thy maieste,
Tokyst hym thy law in a bushe fire flamme,
We lowly be-sich the, lord omnypotent,
Come and redeme in thy powre most extente.
Which them conduced from thrall captiuite,
Apperyng to Moyses madist hym of counsell
In þe mount of syna, ther shewyng thy maieste,
Tokyst hym thy law in a bushe fire flamme,
We lowly be-sich the, lord omnypotent,
Come and redeme in thy powre most extente.
O Radix Iesse, most Souerayne and excellent,
Stondyng in godly signe of euery nacion,
Tofore whome all kyngys þer mowthys shalle stent,
Beynge ryghte mywet and styll as any stone,
Shall knele in þi presence & mak deprecacione,
Them to delyuer & vs all in a throwe,
Sprakly, blyssyd lorde, be nott ther-in slowe.
Stondyng in godly signe of euery nacion,
Tofore whome all kyngys þer mowthys shalle stent,
Beynge ryghte mywet and styll as any stone,
Shall knele in þi presence & mak deprecacione,
Them to delyuer & vs all in a throwe,
Sprakly, blyssyd lorde, be nott ther-in slowe.
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O clauis dauid, of whom Isaias tolde,
Hote septure & key, to eche look welle mett
Of Israelle—I meane of Iacobus howsholde—
Thowe opynyst lokes whiche no wyghte can shett,
And closist a-geyn þat cannott be vnshett;
Lowse vs, þi presoners, boundene in wrechidnesse,
Off synne shadowed with mortalle derknesse.
Hote septure & key, to eche look welle mett
Of Israelle—I meane of Iacobus howsholde—
Thowe opynyst lokes whiche no wyghte can shett,
And closist a-geyn þat cannott be vnshett;
Lowse vs, þi presoners, boundene in wrechidnesse,
Off synne shadowed with mortalle derknesse.
O oriens splendor of euer-lastynge lyghte,
Whos bemys transcende þe commyn clerenesse
Of sonne or mone, for we of very ryghte
The clepe þe bryght sonne of trowth, ryghtwysnesse
With iustise & mercy eche wrong to redresse,
To þe we clepe with alle owre hert & brethe,
To lyght vs þat sytt in þe derknesse of dethe.
Whos bemys transcende þe commyn clerenesse
Of sonne or mone, for we of very ryghte
The clepe þe bryght sonne of trowth, ryghtwysnesse
With iustise & mercy eche wrong to redresse,
To þe we clepe with alle owre hert & brethe,
To lyght vs þat sytt in þe derknesse of dethe.
O rex gencium, whom alle people disire
To honour & love with herty affeccione,
The corner stone þat craftly browȝth nyre
The both testamentis, makyng þem one,
Oold & newe madest lawfully vnyon,
Saue, lord, mankynd, thy most noble creture,
Made of vile erthe to resemble þi fayre figure.
To honour & love with herty affeccione,
The corner stone þat craftly browȝth nyre
The both testamentis, makyng þem one,
Oold & newe madest lawfully vnyon,
Saue, lord, mankynd, thy most noble creture,
Made of vile erthe to resemble þi fayre figure.
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O emanuel, owre souerayne lord & kyng,
In whom we crystene mene trust in especiall,
Geue to thy suggetis grace, by good lykyng
Wele to perfourme þi preceptis legalle,
And saue vs, thy seruauntis, fro myscheff all.
Thus we pray, owre graciouse sauyowre,
Owr lord, owre good, owre louyng redemptore.
In whom we crystene mene trust in especiall,
Geue to thy suggetis grace, by good lykyng
Wele to perfourme þi preceptis legalle,
And saue vs, thy seruauntis, fro myscheff all.
Thus we pray, owre graciouse sauyowre,
Owr lord, owre good, owre louyng redemptore.
O uirgo uirginum, alle pereles in uertu,
Wymmen of ierlm̄, muse on þis mater,
How þu, a maydyn, art the moder of Ihū.
Natheles, if ony of them þis secretly enquire,
Swet lady, then shortly make to þem þis an-swere:
‘The hye myght of god þis mystery first be-gane.
Ȝe dameseles of Ierlm̄, why wonder ȝe so thane?’
Wymmen of ierlm̄, muse on þis mater,
How þu, a maydyn, art the moder of Ihū.
Natheles, if ony of them þis secretly enquire,
Swet lady, then shortly make to þem þis an-swere:
‘The hye myght of god þis mystery first be-gane.
Ȝe dameseles of Ierlm̄, why wonder ȝe so thane?’
59. Jesus, My Lord and Protector
Ihū almygty, and mary, maydyn fre,By the mediacion off court eternall,
Preserue my liffe in such felicite
That uertu may increce & vyce may haue a falle.
ffor to none odur wul i neuyr calle,
But only to the, my lord & protector,
Aȝenst alle myn enmys to be my defendor.
amen.
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60. Christ, Defend Me from My Enemies
[N]ow rightwis Iuge, crist lord Ihū,
of kyngis kyng and lord also,
With thi fadir þow regnes so trew
the haly gost & elles no mo.
Gudely þow take my praier now,
and twrne noght þin ere þer fro.
of kyngis kyng and lord also,
With thi fadir þow regnes so trew
the haly gost & elles no mo.
Gudely þow take my praier now,
and twrne noght þin ere þer fro.
To erth when þow come downe fro hevene,
& cled þe in a virgyne clene,
þe verray flesch þow tuke full evene,
& visitt all þis warld be-dene,
and clensed vs of oure synnes sevene—
With þi blude þi luffe was sene.
& cled þe in a virgyne clene,
þe verray flesch þow tuke full evene,
& visitt all þis warld be-dene,
and clensed vs of oure synnes sevene—
With þi blude þi luffe was sene.
Thi glorius passioun I þe beseke,
gracius god, þat marked all,
Defend my saule I be noȝt seke
fro all perilles þat may be-fall;
in thi servis for to be meke,
& duelle with þe in stede & stall.
gracius god, þat marked all,
Defend my saule I be noȝt seke
fro all perilles þat may be-fall;
in thi servis for to be meke,
& duelle with þe in stede & stall.
Thy vertew, lord, ay be me nere,
of thy defence þat I noȝt faile,
myne enemyse þat my saule noght dere
When þat þai seke forto assaile:
body and saule þow kepe infere,
þat þaire frawdis neuer me prevaile.
of thy defence þat I noȝt faile,
myne enemyse þat my saule noght dere
When þat þai seke forto assaile:
body and saule þow kepe infere,
þat þaire frawdis neuer me prevaile.
Thow þat, with þi myghty hand,
brake vp þe ȝate of hellys pitt,
breke myne enemyse þat þai noght stand;
and all þaire waytyngis þow vnknytt,
be þe whilk þai ere all way wirkand
me fro þe right way for to flytt.
brake vp þe ȝate of hellys pitt,
breke myne enemyse þat þai noght stand;
and all þaire waytyngis þow vnknytt,
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me fro þe right way for to flytt.
Criste, me criand now þou here,
Wrich vmsett with synnes fele,
Askand þi pite with hevy chere.
Of thi solace send me some dele
þat myne enemyse rise noȝt to dere
ne of my schame me to apele.
Wrich vmsett with synnes fele,
Askand þi pite with hevy chere.
Of thi solace send me some dele
þat myne enemyse rise noȝt to dere
ne of my schame me to apele.
Destrued be þai þat me wald spill!
Welke þai oway right vnto noght!
ffalle þai in gildre þai will
thurgh envy thai for me wroght.
Ihū, meke withoutyne ill,
fforsake me nevir þat þow dere boght!
Welke þai oway right vnto noght!
ffalle þai in gildre þai will
thurgh envy thai for me wroght.
Ihū, meke withoutyne ill,
fforsake me nevir þat þow dere boght!
Be my defendour and my scheld
& my protectour be all-way!
Vnder þi baner þu me beld,
þat thurgh strengh gayne-stand I may,
and myne detractours make to held
&, þai oure-commyne, be glad for ay.
& my protectour be all-way!
Vnder þi baner þu me beld,
þat thurgh strengh gayne-stand I may,
and myne detractours make to held
&, þai oure-commyne, be glad for ay.
Send me fro þi sete aboue
þe haligaste es comfortour
to clere my counsell, þat es in drove,
thurgh his counsell & his splendour;
and all my haters hy to reprove,
and þaire hatered turne to dolour.
þe haligaste es comfortour
to clere my counsell, þat es in drove,
thurgh his counsell & his splendour;
and all my haters hy to reprove,
and þaire hatered turne to dolour.
The figure of þi crosce haly
all my wittis vmbelappe,
With þe baner of þi victory
ourecome my fo—grawnt me slike happe,
and putt hem to þe vilany,
als þow with crosce gaffe hym a knappe.
all my wittis vmbelappe,
With þe baner of þi victory
ourecome my fo—grawnt me slike happe,
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als þow with crosce gaffe hym a knappe.
Crist, þu haue mercy on me now,
of lifand god þe Sone allone,
mercy, I pray! on þe I trow.
lord of Angelles, sittand in trone,
mynde on me, lord, evir haue þow,
gifer of grace, take þu my mone!
of lifand god þe Sone allone,
mercy, I pray! on þe I trow.
lord of Angelles, sittand in trone,
mynde on me, lord, evir haue þow,
gifer of grace, take þu my mone!
God þe fadir & þe Sone infere
and þe haligaste also,
þat lord ert called lefe & dere
and onefald god withoutene mo,
endeles vertew ay be þe nere
and wirschippe þat sall neuer say ho.
and þe haligaste also,
þat lord ert called lefe & dere
and onefald god withoutene mo,
endeles vertew ay be þe nere
and wirschippe þat sall neuer say ho.
Amen.
61. Jesus of Nazareth, Have Mercy on Me
Oracio bona de ihū xi
[I]hū crist of Naȝareþ,
That for vs all suffriddist deþ
Vpon þe rode tree,
Thorow vertu of ȝowre woundis v.
That ȝe suffryd in ȝoure lyue,
Haue mercy on me!
AmeN.
62. A Prayer by the Wounds against the Deadly Sins
[I]hū, for thi blode þou bleddest
And in the firste tyme þu sheddest
In thy membre pryve,
Clense me oute of lecherye,
And oute of all Maner folye,
And haue Mercy on me.
And in the firste tyme þu sheddest
In thy membre pryve,
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And oute of all Maner folye,
And haue Mercy on me.
[I]hū, for the dropus swete
That þou swettest on olyvete
ffor drede all to thy dethe,
Oute of wrath clense my life,
Haue mercy on me, synful caytife,
Ihū of nazarethe.
That þou swettest on olyvete
ffor drede all to thy dethe,
Oute of wrath clense my life,
Haue mercy on me, synful caytife,
Ihū of nazarethe.
[I]hū, þi peynes weron ful stronge
When the scorges, both smert & longe,
Made thy body to blede.
On thee, Ihū, mercy y crye
To clense me oute of glotonye
And helpe me at myn nede.
When the scorges, both smert & longe,
Made thy body to blede.
On thee, Ihū, mercy y crye
To clense me oute of glotonye
And helpe me at myn nede.
[I]hū, for thi þorny crowne
That made þi blode to renne a-downe
Aboute thi fayre face,
Let no pride my soule drecche;
Haue mercy one me, synful wrecche,
Ihū, for thi grete grace.
That made þi blode to renne a-downe
Aboute thi fayre face,
Let no pride my soule drecche;
Haue mercy one me, synful wrecche,
Ihū, for thi grete grace.
[I]hū, as y vndurstond,
Thou bleddist blode at boþe þine hond
When þat þei were nayled;
Clense me oute of covetise
And graunte me grace sone to ryse,
Of synnes when y am assayled.
Thou bleddist blode at boþe þine hond
When þat þei were nayled;
Clense me oute of covetise
And graunte me grace sone to ryse,
Of synnes when y am assayled.
[I]hū, þu bleddest more blode
When þou were nailed on þe rode
Thoru þi fete with nayles.
Let me nevere in slowthe synke,
But graunt me grace for to swynke
Thynges that me avayles.
When þou were nailed on þe rode
Thoru þi fete with nayles.
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But graunt me grace for to swynke
Thynges that me avayles.
[I]hū, blessid be thi bones!
Blode and watire ran at ones
Oute of þi precious herte;
Oute of envy clense þou me,
And graunte me loue and charite,
Ihū, for thy woundes smerte.
Blode and watire ran at ones
Oute of þi precious herte;
Oute of envy clense þou me,
And graunte me loue and charite,
Ihū, for thy woundes smerte.
[H]aue mercy on me, ihū criste,
ffor thi dethe and þine vpriste,
And for thi modere loue,
And for thi strong passioun,
Of al my synnes pardoun
And bryng vs to hevene aboue.
ffor thi dethe and þine vpriste,
And for thi modere loue,
And for thi strong passioun,
Of al my synnes pardoun
And bryng vs to hevene aboue.
A. M. E. N.
63. Let not the Fiend Overcome Me
Ihū cryste, þat dyed on tre
And sofurred pyne for Adam syn,
Gyf me grace to worschepe þe,
For þe to plese I wolde begyn.
Swete Ihū, of mercy fre,
Graunt me grace þi luf to wyn,
And fleschely luf þu do fro me,
For Mary luf þat þu lyght in.
Lord, for þat ded þu dyed for me,
Late me neuer no luf begyn
Ware-thrugh þu suld dysplesyd be,
Nor I be blemyst wyt schame or syn.
And sofurred pyne for Adam syn,
Gyf me grace to worschepe þe,
For þe to plese I wolde begyn.
Swete Ihū, of mercy fre,
Graunt me grace þi luf to wyn,
And fleschely luf þu do fro me,
For Mary luf þat þu lyght in.
Lord, for þat ded þu dyed for me,
Late me neuer no luf begyn
Ware-thrugh þu suld dysplesyd be,
Nor I be blemyst wyt schame or syn.
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Ihū, begynnere of my wele
And coueryng of my cares colde,
Me, soro-full, I pray þe hele,
Þat syn as wondyd many folde.
As þu had for me wondys fele,
And of þi sogette was þu salde,
Wen dede sall my days dele
My saule þu take into þi halde.
Swete Ihū, my luf lele,
Þat sofurd for me bothe hungur & colde,
Lat neuer þe ffend so wyt me mele
Þat he ouercome ȝong nor olde.
And coueryng of my cares colde,
Me, soro-full, I pray þe hele,
Þat syn as wondyd many folde.
As þu had for me wondys fele,
And of þi sogette was þu salde,
Wen dede sall my days dele
My saule þu take into þi halde.
Swete Ihū, my luf lele,
Þat sofurd for me bothe hungur & colde,
Lat neuer þe ffend so wyt me mele
Þat he ouercome ȝong nor olde.
Ihū, thynk, þu boght me dere
Wyt harde payns & wondes sore,
Ryghtwys prince wytoutyn pere,
Lat me noȝt rest in syn no more;
And gyf me grace, hwyles I am here,
Wyt hert & wyll to do þi lore,
And wyt þi grace my saule þu clere,
Þat þe ffend as fyled wyt syne sore.
Swete Ihū, þu stand me nere
Wen he assayles me any more,
And lat hym neuer ourecome here,
To gar me syn as I dyd ore.
Wyt harde payns & wondes sore,
Ryghtwys prince wytoutyn pere,
Lat me noȝt rest in syn no more;
And gyf me grace, hwyles I am here,
Wyt hert & wyll to do þi lore,
And wyt þi grace my saule þu clere,
Þat þe ffend as fyled wyt syne sore.
Swete Ihū, þu stand me nere
Wen he assayles me any more,
And lat hym neuer ourecome here,
To gar me syn as I dyd ore.
64. Richard de Caistre's Hymn
Oracio venerabilis viri Richardi de Caystre quondam vicarius
Sancti Steffani Norwyc quam oracionem ipse composuit.
Ihū lorde, þat madest me
And with þi blyssyd blode hast bowght,
fforyeue þat I haue greuyd þe
In worde, werke and thowght.
And with þi blyssyd blode hast bowght,
fforyeue þat I haue greuyd þe
In worde, werke and thowght.
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Ihū, for þi woundys smerte
On fote and handys too,
Make me meke and lowe in hert,
And þe to loue as I schulde doo.
On fote and handys too,
Make me meke and lowe in hert,
And þe to loue as I schulde doo.
Ihū [criste], to þe I calle!
As þu art god full of myght,
Kepe me clene, þat I ne falle
In fleshely synn as I haue tyght.
As þu art god full of myght,
Kepe me clene, þat I ne falle
In fleshely synn as I haue tyght.
Ihū, grante me myn askyng,
Perfyte pacyonis in my desesse,
And neuer I mot doo þat thyng
Þat schulde yn onythyng dysplese.
Perfyte pacyonis in my desesse,
And neuer I mot doo þat thyng
Þat schulde yn onythyng dysplese.
Ihū, þat art heuene kyng,
So[þ]-fast boþe god and man also,
Ȝeue me grace of [gode] endyng
And hem þat I am beholdyn to.
So[þ]-fast boþe god and man also,
Ȝeue me grace of [gode] endyng
And hem þat I am beholdyn to.
Ihū, for þoo dulful teris
Þat þu gretyst for my gylt,
Here and spede my preyorys,
And spare [me] þat I be not spylt.
Þat þu gretyst for my gylt,
Here and spede my preyorys,
And spare [me] þat I be not spylt.
Ihū, for hem þat I beseche
That wrathyn þe in ony wyse;
Withhold from hem þi hande of wreche
And lete hem leuyn in þi seruyse.
That wrathyn þe in ony wyse;
Withhold from hem þi hande of wreche
And lete hem leuyn in þi seruyse.
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Ihū, yoyfull [for] to sen
Of all þi seyntes euerychone,
Chomfort hem þat carfull ben,
And helpe hem þat ar woo begone.
Of all þi seyntes euerychone,
Chomfort hem þat carfull ben,
And helpe hem þat ar woo begone.
Ihū, kepe hem þat ben goode,
And mende hem þat han greuyd þe,
And sende men frutes of erdely foode,
As eche man nedyth to hys degre.
And mende hem þat han greuyd þe,
And sende men frutes of erdely foode,
As eche man nedyth to hys degre.
Ihū, þat art withowteyn lese
Almyghty god in trynyte,
Cese þise werrys and send us pees,
With lestyn[g] loue and cheryte.
Almyghty god in trynyte,
Cese þise werrys and send us pees,
With lestyn[g] loue and cheryte.
Ihū, þat art þe gos[t]ly stone
Of all holy cherche and erde,
Bryngge þi foldys floke in one
And reule hem ryghtly with on herde.
Of all holy cherche and erde,
Bryngge þi foldys floke in one
And reule hem ryghtly with on herde.
Ihū, for þi blyssyd blode,
[Bryng tho soules in-to blys]
Of qwom I haue had ony goode,
And spare þat þei han done amysse.
[Bryng tho soules in-to blys]
Of qwom I haue had ony goode,
And spare þat þei han done amysse.
Amen.
65. Make Me Loathe Earthly Likings
Swete Ihū
Good god, make me for þi love & þi desyre
ley doune þe birden of fleshly myre
And erthly lykingis to lothe:
My wille of þe flesh haue ladiship,
Reson of my wille haue lordship,
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And so throw me withinne & withowte
to be soget ondir þi wille alle abowte
to alle þat is reson Right & soþe.
66. Grant Peace to Thy True Lovers
A deuoute prayer
O Ihū, to all thy true louers
Graunt peace of hert and stedffast mynde;
To theym that þi loue dothe seke
Thou graunt theym thy grace and solas eke.
Graunt peace of hert and stedffast mynde;
To theym that þi loue dothe seke
Thou graunt theym thy grace and solas eke.
O ffader dere, most of powere,
Gyff thy children thy loue in fere,
And grace to keepe the same.
Gyff thy children thy loue in fere,
And grace to keepe the same.
O Ihū, flowre moste of honour,
O swete sapoure, moste of dulcoure,
Blessed be thy name!
O swete sapoure, moste of dulcoure,
Blessed be thy name!
O spirit, inspire loue and desire,
Accende thy ffyre, defende frome ire,
And keepe vs from blame!
Accende thy ffyre, defende frome ire,
And keepe vs from blame!
O Lady bryght, launterne of lyght,
Swettist wyght, moder of myght,
And mayden of goode fame!
Swettist wyght, moder of myght,
And mayden of goode fame!
O true loue, true, knytt in vertue,
Thy loue to grow in vs euerr newe
Gyff vs grace withoute reclame.
Thy loue to grow in vs euerr newe
Gyff vs grace withoute reclame.
102
O blessed mary, virgyn of nazareth
And moder of almyghty lorde of grace,
Which his peple saued hase [frome deth
And] frome the paynes of the infernall place.
And moder of almyghty lorde of grace,
Which his peple saued hase [frome deth
And] frome the paynes of the infernall place.
Nowe, blessed lady, kneele afore his face,
And pray hym soone my sowle to saue from losse
Which with his blessed bloode bought hase
thorow hys greate passion nailed on the crosse.
And pray hym soone my sowle to saue from losse
Which with his blessed bloode bought hase
thorow hys greate passion nailed on the crosse.
Amen.
67. Close in My Breast Thy Perfect Love
Ihū, my luf, my ioy, my reste,þi perfite luf close in my breste
þat I þe luf & neuer reste;
And mak me luf þe of al þinge best,
And wounde my hert in þi luf fre,
þat I may reyne in ioy euer-more with þe.
68. Lord, I long after Thee
Ihū, for þe mourne I may
As turtel þat longeþ boþe nyȝt & day
for her loue is gone hyr froo,
for aftur þe, lorde, me longeþ ay;
And þat is al my myrþe & pley,
Where I sitte or goo.
As turtel þat longeþ boþe nyȝt & day
for her loue is gone hyr froo,
for aftur þe, lorde, me longeþ ay;
And þat is al my myrþe & pley,
Where I sitte or goo.
103
Þerfore, lord, þou rewe on me
And helpe me sone, þat I may see
Þe feyerhe[d] of þi face
With angelys þat byn bryȝt & clere
And holy soules þat þou bouȝtes dere
Into holy place.
And helpe me sone, þat I may see
Þe feyerhe[d] of þi face
With angelys þat byn bryȝt & clere
And holy soules þat þou bouȝtes dere
Into holy place.
| Religious Lyrics of the XVth Century | |