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 | Songs, Carols, and other Miscellaneous Poems, from the Balliol Ms. 354, Richard Hill's Commonplace book |  |
[_]
Square brackets denote editorial insertions or emendations. Paragraphs in this text are signified by markers. The paragraphs have been captured, but the markers ignored. Poems have been selectively extracted from the source text, and thus poem numbers are not sequential.
1
I. Sacred Songs and Carols.
1. Be mery all þat be present,
Omnes de Saba venient.
1
Owt of þe est a sterre shon brightFor to shew thre kyngis light,
Which had ferre traveled day & nyght
To seke þat lord þat all hath sent.
2
Therof hard kyng Herode anon,Þat III kyngis shuld cum thorow his regyon,
To seke a child that pere had non,
And after them sone he sent.
3
Kyng Herode cried to them on hye:“Ye go to seke a child truly;
Go forth & cum agayn me by,
& tell me wher þat he is lent.”
4
Forth they went by þe sterres leme,Till they com to mery Bethelem;
Ther they fond þat swet barn-teme
That sith for vs his blode hath spent.
5
Balthasar kneled first a down& said: “Hayll, Kyng, most of renown,
And of all kyngis þou berist þe crown,
Therfor with gold I the present.”
6
Melchior kneled down in þat stede& said: “Hayll, Lord, in thy pryesthede,
Receyve ensence to thy manhede,
I brynge it with a good entent.”
7
Jasper kneled down in þat stede& said: “Hayll, Lord, in thy knyghthede,
I offer the myrre to thy godhede,
For thou art he þat all hath sent.”
8
Now lordis & ladys in riche aray,Lyfte vp your hartis vpon this day,
& ever to God lett vs pray,
That on the rode was rent.
Explicit.
Est tuus, Anna, pater Izacar,
Nasaphat tua mater.
Nasaphat tua mater.
2
2. Mater, ora filium, vt post hoc exilium
Nobis donet gaudium beatorum omnium.
1
“Fayre maydyn, who is this barn,That þou beriste in thyn arme?”
“Sir, it is a kyngis son,
That in hevyn a-bove doth wonne.”
Mater, ora [filium, vt post hoc exilium
Nobis donet gaudium beatorum omnium].
2
“Man to fader he hath non,But hym self, God alone,
Of a maydyn he wold be borne
To save mankynd þat was forlorn.”
Mater, ora [filium, vt post hoc exilium
Nobis donet gaudium beatorum omnium].
3
“Thre kyngis browght hym presens,Gold, myrre & frankynsens,
To my son full of myght,
Kynge of kyngis & lorde of myght.”
Mater, ora [filium, vt post hoc exilium
Nobis donet gaudium beatorum omnium].
4
“Fayre maydyn, pray for vsVnto thy son, swet Jhesus,
Þat he will send vs of his grace
In hevyn on high to haue a place.”
Mater, ora filium, [vt post hoc exilium
Nobis donet gaudium beatorum omnium].
3. Newell, newell, newell, newell,
I thank a maydyn euery dele.
1
Vpon a lady fayre & brightSo hartely I haue set my thowght,
In euery place, wher euer I light,
On her I thynk, & say right nowght.
Newell!
2
She bare Jhesum full of pite,Þat all þis world with his hond hath wrowght,
Soueraynly in mynd she is with me,
For on her I thynk, & say right nowght.
Newell!
3
Trewe love, loke þou do me right,& send grace, þat I to blis be browght;
Mary, moder moste of myght,
On the I thynk, & say right nowght.
Nowell!
4
God þat was on the rode don,Grant þat all men to blis be browght,
& to Mary I mak my mone,
For on her I thynk, & say right nowght.
Nowell!
Explicit.
3
5. Diuisie si affluant, nolite cor apponere.
1
Yf God send þe plentuowsly riches,Than thank hartely with all meknes,
In thy mynd þis proverbe impresse:
Nolite cor apponere.
2
And while þou hast it in thy gouernance,I consaill þe pore men to avance,
Lest deth þe apprese with his cruell lance.
Nolite cor apponere.
3
& thynk þou must also parte awayFrom all thy riches, þou mayst not say nay,
Þer-fore þe best þat I can syng or say:
Nolite cor apponere.
Explicit.
6. Now let vs syng, both more & lesse,
Of Cristis commyng Deo gracias!
1
A virgyn pure, this is full sure,Gabriell dide her grete,
& all her cure, I am full sure,
Euer dyde endure:
Deo gracias!
2
A babe was born, erly by þe morn,& layd betwen þe ox & þe asse,
Þe child they knew, þat was born new,
On hym þei blew.
Deo gracias!
4
3
An angell full sone, sang from abone:“Gloria in excelsis!”
Þat lady alon, myght mak no mone
For love of on.
Deo gracias!
4
This babe vs bowght, whan we were browghtIn to gret thowght & dredfull case,
Therfor we syng, both old & yonge,
Of Cristis commynge,
Deo gracias!
Explicit.
8. Now we shuld syng & say newell,
Quia missus est angelus Gabriell.
1
From hevyn was sent an angell of lightVnto a cyte that Nazareth hyght,
Vnto a mayd, a bryde so bryght,
And full of blis;
Nomen Maria virginis.
2
The angell went furth, & nowght he sest;Be-fore that mayden he hym sone drest;
He said: “All hayle, thou art full blest
And gracius!
Quia tecum est Dominus.”
5
3
Whan Mary this hard, a-stoned was she,And thowght what thys gretyng myght be;
The angell her shewed of grace plente,
And gret solas,
Et dixit: “Maria, ne timeas.”
4
The angell sayd: “Thou maydyn myld,Thou shalt conceyve & bere a chyld,
Thy maydynhed shall neuer be defyled,
Call hym Jhesus:
Hic erat altissimi filius.”
5
Whan Mary, as bryght as crystall ston,Thes wordis hard, answered anon,
And asked, how all this myght be done,
And sayd: “How so?
Quia virum non cognosco.”
6
The angell said: “Thou maydyn still,The Holy Gost shall the fulfill.”
The mayd answered with woyse so shryll,
And sayd mekely:
“Ecce ancilla domini!”
7
Sone after this, this chyld was borneIn Bedleme in a wynters morne.
Now make we mery hym beforne,
& syng newell,
Quia missus est angelus Gabriell.
9. Nova, nova: Aue fitt ex Eva.
1
Gabriell of hygh degre,He cam down from the trynyte,
From Nazareth to Galalye.
vt nova.
2
He mete a maydyn in a place;He kneled down be fore her face;
He sayd: “Hayle, Mary, full of grace!”
vt nova.
3
When the maydyn sawe all this,She was sore abashed, ywys,
Lest that she had done a-mys.
vt nova.
4
Then sayd the angell: “Dred not you,Ye shall conceyve in all vertu
A chyld, whose name shall be Jhesu.”
vt nova.
5
Then sayd the mayd: “How may this be,Godis son to be born of me?
I know not of manys carnalite.”
vt nova.
6
Then said the angell a-non ryght:“The Holy Gost ys on the plyght,
Þer ys no thyng vnpossible to God Almyght.”
vt nova.
6
7
Then sayd the angell a-non:“Ytt ys not fully VI moneth a-gon,
Syth seynt Elizabeth conceyved seynt John.”
vt nova.
8
Then said the mayd a-non a-hye:“I am Godis own truly,
Ecce ancilla domini.”
[vt nova.]
Explicit.
7
11. Make we mery in hall & bowr,
Thys tyme was born owr Savyowr.
1
In this tyme God hath sentHys own Son, to be present,
To dwell with vs in verament,
God þat ys owr Savyowr.
2
In this tyme þat ys be-fall,A child was born in an ox stall
& after he dyed for vs all,
God [þat ys owr Savyowr].
3
In this tyme an angell bryghtMete III sheperdis vpon a nyght,
He bade them go a-non ryght
To God þat ys owr Saviowr.
4
In thys tyme now pray weTo hym þat dyed for vs on tre,
On vs all to haue pytee,
God þat ys owr Saviowr.
Explicit.
12. Off a rose, a louely rose,
And of a rose I syng a song.
1
Herkyn to me, both old & yonge,How a rose began to sprynge,
A fayerer rose to my lykyng
Sprong þer neuer in kyngis lond.
2
VI branches ar on þat rose beme,They be both bryght & shene,
The rose ys called Mary, hevyn quene,
Of her bosum a blossum sprong.
3
The fyrst branch was of gret myght,That spronge on Crystmas nyght,
The streme shon over Bedlem bryght,
Þat men myght se both brod & longe.
4
The IIde branch was of gret honowr,Þat was sent from hevyn towr,
Blessyd be þat fayer flowr!
Breke it shall the fendis bondis.
5
The thyrd branch wyde spredTher Mary lay in her bede,
The bryght strem III kyngis lede
To Bedlem, þer þat branch þei fond.
6
The IIIIth branch sprong in to hell,The fendis bost for to fell,
Ther myght no sowle þer in dwell,
Blessid be þat tyme þat branch gan spryng.
8
7
The Vth branch was fayer in fote,Þat sprong to hevyn tope & rote,
Þer to dwell & be owr bote
& yet ys sene in priestis hondis.
8
The VIth branch by & by,Yt ys the V joyes of myld Mary.
Now Cryst saue all this cumpany,
& send vs gud lyff & long.
Explicit.
13. Man, asay, a-say, a-say,
And aske thou mercy whyle thou may.
1
Man, haue in mynd, how here befornFor thy mysded thou wast for-lorn,
To geve the mercy Cryst was born;
Aske þou mercy whill þou may.
2
Yff thou thy lyff in syn hath lede,Amend the now & be not dred,
For Crystis mercy furth ys spred:
[Aske þou mercy whill þou may.]
3
Yff thy syn be never so yll,Yet for no syn thou shalt spyll,
Amend the now yf þat thou will,
[Aske þou mercy whill þou may.]
4
He that hath the hether browght,He wold that thou mercy sowght,
Aske ytt & he denyth ytt nowght:
[Aske þou mercy whill þou may.]
5
He that dyed on the rode& shed for the his precius blod,
He ys both mercyfull & gud:
[Aske þou mercy whill þou may.]
6
Mercy ys spred on the grownd,Ther for to dwell a lytill stownd;
Lett vs seke till yt be fownd:
[Aske þou mercy whill þou may.]
7
Ytt for to fynd God geve vs grace,In this world while we haue space,
& after in hevyn to haue place:
[Aske þou mercy whill þou may.]
Explicit.
14. Now syng we wyth joy and blys:
Puer natus est nobis.
1
Mary, flowr of flowers all,Hath born a chyld in an ox stall,
That lorde & prynce ys ouer vs all:
Puer natus est nobis.
2
He was born on owre LadyWith owt weme of her body,
Godys own son truly,
Puer natus est nobis.
9
3
By an apull of a treBownd men all made were we,
That child was born to make vs fre;
Puer natus est nobis.
4
That chyld was don on the rodeWyth hys flesshe & with hys blod,
For owr helpe & for owr gud;
Puer natus est nobis.
5
The IIIde day he rose & to hevyn went,Wytt & wysedom he vs sent,
For to kepe his cumaundment;
Puer natus est nobis.
6
He shall cum down at domys dayWith blody wovndis, I you say,
As he dyed on Gud Fryday;
Puer natus est nobis.
7
Now pray we to that hevyn kyngTo send vs all his dere blessyng,
Shryft & hosyll at owr endyng:
Puer natus est nobis.
Explicit.
15. Mary moder, I you pray
To be owr help at domys day.
1
Att domys day, whan we shall ryseAnd cum be fore the hygh Justyce
And geve a cownt for owr seruyce,
What helpyth than owr clothyng gay?
2
Whan we shall cum be fore hys dome,What will vs helpe? ther all & some
We shall stond as sory grome
Yclad in a full pore a-ray.
3
That ylke day withowt lesyngMany a man hys hondis shall wryng,
And repent hym sore for hys lywyng;
Then yt ys to late, as I yow say.
4
Ther-for I rede both day & nyght,Make ye redy to God Almyght,
For in thys londe ys kyng nor knyght
That wott whan he shall wend a-way.
5
That chyld, that was born on Mary,He glad all thys cumpany,
And for hys loue make we mery,
Þat for vs dyed on Gud Fryday.
Explicit.
16. Verbum patris hodie processit ex virgine.
1
The Son of the Fader of hevyn blysWas born as thys day, I will not mys;
Man from thraldom to releve & lose,
Processit ex virgine.
2
He was born of a virgyn pure,Not knowyng a man, as I you sure,
But all only by hevynly cure
Processit ex virgine.
10
3
Gabryell the angell dyde grettMary knelyng in her closett,
Now ys fulfillyd þat sayd the profett:
Processit ex virgine.
4
Man, be glad! thou hast a cavse whyTo thanke owr Lord God þat ys on hye:
For the to sofer, & for to dye,
Processit ex virgine.
Explicit.
17. Now syng we, syng we: Regina celi, letare!
1
Gabryell, that angell bryght,Bryghtter than the son lyght,
From hevyn to erth he toke his flyght:
Regina celi, letare!
2
In Nazareth, in that cyte,Be fore Mary he fell on kne,
And sayd: “Mary, God ys with the,”
Regina celi, letare!
3
“Hayle be thou, Mary of mytis most,In the shall lyght the Holy Gost,
To saue the sowles þat were lost.”
Regina celi, letare!
4
Hayle be thou Mary, maydyn shen;From the fendis that be so kene,
Thou kepe, & save vs all from tene!
Regina celi, letare!
18. Conditor alme siderum, eterna lux credencium, etc.
1
Ther ys a chyld borne of a mayIn saluacion of all vs,
That we shuld worship euery day
With “Veni Creator Spiritus.”
2
In Bedlem, in that holy place,Thys blessid child, born he was;
Hym to serue, he geve vs grace,
With “Trinitatis vnitas.”
3
The sheperdis hard þat angels songe,And worshypped God in trynyte,
Þat so nygh was them a-monge,
Iam lucis orto sidere.
4
Eche man be-gan to cry & callTo hym that syttyth on hye,
To hys blis to bryng them all,
Jhesu saluator seculi.
12
21. Now syng we all in fere:
Alma Redemptoris mater.
1
As I me lay on a nyght,Me thowght I sawe a semly wyght,
That clepid she was ryght
‘Alma Redemptoris mater.’
2
To her com an angell with gret lyghtAnd sayd: “Hayle be þou blessid wyght,
To be cleped thou art right
[Alma Redemptoris mater.”]
3
At that word the maydyn bryghtA-non conceyved God Almyght;
Then knew Mary what she hyght:
[Alma Redemptoris mater.]
4
Whan Jhesu on the rode was dyght,Mary was sorofull of that syght,
Tyll after she sawe hym ryse vp right,
Alma Redemptoris mater.
Explicit.
22. To blys God bryng vs all & sum,
Christe redemptor omnium.
1
In Bedlem, in that fayer cite,A chyld was born of owr Lady,
Lord & prynce þat he shuld be,
A solus ortus cardine.
2
Chyldren were slayn grett plente;Jhesu, for the love of the,
Lett vs neuer dampned be;
Hostes Herodes ympie!
3
He was born of owr LadyWith owt wemb of her body,
Godis son þat syttyth on hye,
Jhesu saluator seculi.
4
As the son shynnyth thorow þe glas,So Jhesu in her body was,
To serue hym he geve vs grace,
O lux beata trinitas!
5
Now ys born owr Lord Jhesus,That mad mery all vs,
Be all mery in thys howse,
Exvltet celum lavdibus!
Explicit.
23. Alleluya, alleluia! Deo patri sit gloria!
1
Ther ys a blossum sprong of a thorn,To saue mankynd þat was forlorne,
As the profettis sayd be-forne.
Deo patri sit gloria!
2
Þer sprong a well at Maris fote,That torned all þis world to bote;
Of her toke Jhesu flesshe & blod:
Deo patri [sit gloria!]
13
3
From þat well þer strake a strem;Owt of Egipt in to Bedlem
God thorowgh his highnes torned yt a-gayn.
Deo [patri sit gloria!]
4
Þer was III kyngis of dyueris londis,They thowght a thowght þat was strong,
Hym to seke & thanke a-mong,
Deo [patri sit gloria!]
5
They cam richely with þer presens,With gold, myre & frankynsens,
As clerkys rede in þer sequens,
Deo patri sit gloria!
6
The eldest kyng of them thre,He went formest, for he wold se,
What domys man þat this shuld be.
Deo patri sit gloria!
7
The medylmest kyng, vp he rose,He sawe a babe in armys close,
In medyll age he thowght he was.
Deo patri [sit gloria!]
8
The yongest kyng, vp he stode,He made his offryng rych & gud,
To Jhesu Cryst that shed his blod.
Deo patri sit gloria!
9
Þer shon a star owt of hevyn bryght,That men of erth shuld deme a right,
Þat this was Jhesu full of myght.
Deo patri [sit gloria!]
Explicit.
24. Mary moder, cum and se
Thy swet son nayled on a tre.
1
Thys blessyd babe þat thou hast born,Hys blessyd body ys all to-torne,
To bye vs a-gayn þat were forlorne,
Hys hed ys crownyd with a thorn.
Mari [moder, cum and se
Thy swet son nayled on a tre].
2
“Crownyd, alas, with thorn or breer,Or why shuld my sun thus hang here,
To me thys ys a carefull chere;
Swet son, thynke on thy moder dere.”
Mari [moder, cum and se
Thy swet son nayled on a tre].
3
“Thes wykyd Jewes with ther falshed,Vnder ther fete they gan hym tred,
They wovndyd hym thorowgh hond & hed,
They left hym not, till he was ded.”
Mari [moder, cum and se
Thy swet son nayled on a tre].
4
“Alas, alas, now may I crye,Why myght I not with my son dye?
My hart ys replenyshed with petye,
Fulfylled with payn most pytuysly.”
Mari [moder, cum and se
Thy swet son nayled on a tre].
14
5
Mary moder, greve you not yll,From hevyn he cam this to fulfyll;
Be-cavse mankynd shuld not spill,
He toke hys deth with parfitt gud will.
Mari [moder, cum and se
Thy swet son nayled on a tre].
Explicit.
25. In to þis world now ys cum,
Christe redemptor omnium.
1
O worthy Lord, & most of myght,Eterne rex altyssime,
The to honowr me thynkyth ryght,
Iam lucis orto sidere.
2
As thou art Lord of worthynes,Conditor alme siderum,
All vs to bryng owt of derknes,
Christe redemptor omnium.
3
With bemys clere of righttuysnesAurora lucis rutilat,
In joy þer-of with all gladnes,
Vox clara ecce intonat.
4
Now glorius Lord & worthy kyng,Jhesu saluator seculi,
Grant vs thy blis euerlastyng,
Summi lorgitor primii!
Explicit.
26. Mirabile misterium:
In forme of bred, ys Godis son.
1
Man þat in erth abydys here,Thov mvst be-leve with-owten dere
In the sacrement of the auter,
Þat God made hym self at hys soper.
Mirabile!
2
Thowgh yt seme whit, yt ys rede;Yt ys flesshe, yt semyth bred;
Yt ys God in his manhed,
As he hong vpon a tre.
Mirabile!
3
Thys bred ys brokyn for you & me,Which priestis consecrate, as ye may se,
Which flesshely man in deite
Dyed for vs vpon a tre.
Mirabile!
Explicit.
15
27. Make we mery, bothe more & lasse,
For now ys þe tyme of Crystymas.
1
Lett no man cum in to this hall,—Grome, page nor yet marshall,—
But þat sum sport he bryng with-all,
For now ys the tyme of Crystmas.
2
Yff that he say he can not syng,Sum oder sport then lett hym bryng,
Þat yt may please at thys festyng,
For now ys the tyme of Crystmas.
3
Yff he say he can nowght do,Then for my loue aske hym no mo,
But to the stokkis then let hym go,
For now ys þe tyme of Crystmas.
28. What cher? Gud cher, gud cher, gud cher!
Be mery & glad this gud New Yere!
1
“Lyft vp your hartis & be gladIn Crystis byrth,” the angell bad;
Say eche to oder, yf any be sade:
What cher?
2
Now þe kyng of hevyn his byrth hath take,Joy & myrth we owght to make,
Say eche to oder, for hys sake:
What cher?
3
I tell you all with hart so fre:Ryght welcum ye be to me;
Be glad & mery, for charite!
What cher?
4
The gudman of this place in fere,You to be mery, he prayth you here,
& with gud hert he doth to you say:
What cher?
Explicit.
29. Ay, ay, ay, ay, Gaude celi domina.
1
Mary, for the loue of the,Blyth & glad may we be,
& I shall syng, as ye may se,
Sua quinque gaudia.
2
The fyrst joy was sent to the,Whan Gabryell gretyd the,
& sayd: “Hayle, Mary, in chastite!
Officiaris gravida.”
3
The second joy was full gud,Whan Cryst toke both flesshe & blod,
Withowt syn talkyng of mode,
Inexsa est puerpera.
16
4
The IIIde joy was of gret myght,Whan Jhesu was on the rode dyght,
Dede & buryed in all menys syght,
Surrexit die tercia.
5
The IIIIth joy was withowt ay,Whan Jhesu to hell toke the way,
& with hym com gret aray
Ad celi palacia.
6
The Vth joy was on holy Thursday;Vnto hevyn he toke the way,
God & man; & so he ys for ay;
Assendit super sidera.
Explicit.
30. [The Jolly Shepherd Wat.]
Can I not syng but hoy,
Whan the joly sheperd made so mych joy.
1
The sheperd vpon a hill he satt,He had on hym his tabard & his hat,
His tarbox, hys pype & hys flagat;
Hys name was called joly, joly Wat;
For he was a gud herdis boy,
Vt hoy!
For in hys pype he made so mych joy.
Can I not syng but hoy,
Whan the joly sheperd made so mych joy.
2
The sheperd vpon a hill was layd,Hys doge to hys gyrdyll was tayd;
He had not slept but a lytill broyd,
But “Gloria in excelcis” was to hym sayd.
Vt hoy!
For in hys pipe he mad so myche joy.
Can I not syng but hoy,
Whan the joly sheperd made so mych joy.
3
The sheperd on a hill he stode,Rownd a-bowt hym his shepe they yode;
He put hys hond vnder hys hode,
He saw a star as rede as blod:
Vt hoy!
For in hys pipe he mad so myche joy.
17
Whan the joly sheperd made so mych joy.
4
“Now farwell Mall & also Will,For my love, go ye all styll
Vnto I cum agayn you till,
And euermore, Will, ryng well thy bell.”
Vt hoy!
For in his pipe he mad so mych joy.
Can I not syng but hoy,
Whan the joly sheperd made so mych joy.
5
“Now must I go þer Cryst was borne;Farewell! I cum a-gayn to morn.
Dog, kepe well my shep fro þe corn,
& warn well Warroke, when I blow my horn.”
Vt hoy!
For in hys pipe he made so mych joy.
Can I not sing but hoy,
Whan the joly sheperd made so mych joy.
6
Whan Wat to Bedlem cum was,He swet; he had gon faster than a pace;
He fownd Jhesu in a sympyll place,
Be-twen an ox & an asse.
Vt hoy!
For in his pipe he mad so mych joy.
Can I not syng but hoy,
Whan the joly sheperd made so mych joy.
7
The sheperd sayd a-non ryght:“I will go se yon farly syght,
Wher as þe angell syngith on hight
& the star þat shynyth so bryght,”
Vt hoy!
For in [his] pipe he made so mych joy.
Can I not sing but hoy,
Whan the joly sheperd made so mych joy.
18
8
“Jhesu! I offer to the here my pype,My scrype, my tarbox & my skyrte;
Home to my felowes now will I skype,
& also loke vnto my shepe.”
Vt hoy!
For in his pipe he mad so myche joy.
Can I not sing but hoy,
Whan the joly sheperd made so mych joy.
9
“Now farewell, myne own herdisman Wat!”“Ye, for God, Lady, even so I hat;
Lull well Jhesu in thy lape,
& farewell, Joseph wyth thy rownd cape!”
Vt hoy!
For in hys pipe he mad so myche joy.
Can I not sing but hoy,
Whan the joly sheperd made so mych joy.
10
“Now may I well both hope & syng,For I haue bene a[t?] Crystis beryng,
Home to my felowes now wyll I flyng;
Cryst of hevyn to his blis vs bryng!”
Vt hoy!
For in his pipe he mad so myche joy.
Can I not sing but hoy,
Whan the joly sheperd made so mych joy.
Explicit.
31. Now haue gud day, now haue gud day!
I am Crystmas, & now I go my way.
1
Here haue I dwellyd with more & lasseFrom Halowtyde till Candylmas,
And now must I from you hens passe;
Now haue gud day!
2
I take my leve of Kyng & knyght,& erle, baron, & lady bryght,
To wildernes I must me dyght;
Now haue gud day!
19
3
& at þe gud lord of this hallI take my leve, & of gestis all.
Me thynke I here, Lent doth call;
Now haue gud day!
4
& at euery worthy offycer,Marchall, panter & butler,
I take my leve as for this yere;
Now haue gud day!
5
A-noder yere I trust I shallMake mery in this hall,
Yf rest & pease in Ynglond may fall;
Now haue gud day!
6
But oftyn tymys I haue hard sayÞat he ys loth to part a-way,
Þat oftyn byddyth ‘haue gud day’;
Now haue gud day!
7
Now fare ye well, all in fere!Now fare ye well for all this yere!
Yet for my sake, make ye gud cher;
Now haue gud day!
Explicit.
32. “Shall I, moder, shall I, shall I do soo?
Shall I dye for mannys sake,
And I never synned ther-to?”
1
“I was born in a stallBetwen bestis two,
To this world browght in thrall,
To leve in care & woo.
Shall I, moder, [shall I, shall I do soo?
Shall I dye for mannys sake,
And I never synned ther-to?]
2
Whan I was VIII days elde,The lawe fulfilled I thoo,
Circumsised as a childe;
Than began all my woo.
Shall I, moder, [shall I, shall I do soo?
Shall I dye for mannys sake,
And I never synned ther-to?]
3
Thowgh my fader be a kyng,My-selff I went hym froo,
In toþis world to suffre many a thyng:
See, man, what thow haste do!
Shall [I, moder, shall I, shall I do soo?
Shall I dye for mannys sake,
And I never synned ther-to?]
4
Man, I am thy frend ay;Thy self art thy foo;
To my fader, lok thow pray,
& leve thy synnes þat þou hast do.
Shall [I, moder, shall I, shall I do soo?
Shall I dye for mannys sake,
And I never synned ther-to?]
5
The Ieves were so fell,Þat to Judas cowld they goo;
They kyssed me, as I you tell,
‘Hayle, kyng!’ said they tho.
Shall [I, moder, shall I, shall I do soo?
Shall I dye for mannys sake,
And I never synned ther-to?]
20
6
They bond me to a pyler anon,Honde & fote, both twoo;
They skorged me with skorges son;
The blode ran my body froo.
Shall I, [moder, shall I, shall I do soo?
Shall I dye for mannys sake,
And I never synned ther-to?]
7
They clothed me in a mantell rede,From the toppe to the too,
With a crown of thorn on my hede:
With staves they bett it þerto.
Shall I, [moder, shall I, shall I do soo?
Shall I dye for mannys sake,
And I never synned ther-to?]
8
They browght me in to Cayfas hall,Ther he was bisshop thoo;
Fals witnes on me they gan call;
Moder, what shall I doo?
Shall [I, moder, shall I, shall I do soo?
Shall I dye for mannys sake,
And I never synned ther-to?]
9
I toke þe cros on my bak full still;To Caluary than muste I goo;
I sett it down vpon an hill,
With other crossis moo.
Shall [I, moder, shall I, shall I do soo?
Shall I dye for mannys sake,
And I never synned ther-to?]
10
They hangid me vp that tide;Hondis & fette they naylid also;
& a theff on euery side,
To lykyn my body too.
Shall I, [moder, shall I, shall I do soo?
Shall I dye for mannys sake,
And I never synned ther-to?]
11
With a spere both sharpe & keneThey clave my hart in two;
Water & blode þer owt ran;
See, man, what þou haste do!
Shall I, [moder, shall I, shall I do soo?
Shall I dye for mannys sake,
And I never synned ther-to?]
12
With a spere both sha[r]pe & hendThey clave my harte in III,
Than yeldyd I vp þe gost & dyed,
Þat here all men may see.
Shall [I, moder, shall I, shall I do soo?
Shall I dye for mannys sake,
And I never synned ther-to?”]
13
God þat dyed on the rode,& spred his armes in þe este,
Send vs all his blessyng,
& send vs all good reste!
“Shall I, moder, [shall I, shall I do soo?
Shall I dye for mannys sake,
And I never synned ther-to?”]
Explicit.
21
[33–35. The Virgin and her Son.]
33. Now synge we with angelis:
Gloria in excelsis!
I
A babe is born, to blys vs brynge.I hard a mayd lulley & synge;
She said: “Dere son, leve thy wepyng,
Thy fader is þe kyng of blis.”
Now sy[n]g we [with angelis:
Gloria in excelcis!]
2
“Lulley,” she said & songe also,“Myn own dere son, whi art þou wo?
Haue I not do as I shuld do?
Thy grevance, tell me what it is!”
Nowe syng [we with angelis:
Gloria in excelcis!]
3
“Nay, dere moder, for þe wepe I nowght,But for þe wo þat shall be wrowght
To me, or I mankynd haue bowght:
Was neuer sorow lik it, ywis.”
Now [synge we with angelis:
Gloria in excelcis!]
4
“Pesse, dere son, tell me not soo,Þou art my child, I haue no moo;
Shuld I se men myn own son sloo?
Alas, my dere son! what menys þis?”
Now [synge we with angelis:
Gloria in excelcis!]
5
“My hondis, moder, þat ye may see,Shall be nayled vnto a tree;
My fete all so fast shall be;
Men shall wepe þat shall se this.”
Now syng [we with angelis:
Gloria in excelcis!]
22
6
“A, dere son! hard is my happe,To see my child þat sokid my pappe,
His hondis, his fete, þat I dide wrappe,
Be so naylid, þat neuer dide amysse.”
Now [synge we with angelis:
Gloria in excelcis!]
7
“A dere moder! yet shall a spereMy hart in sonder all to-tere;
No wondre, yf I carefull were,
& wepe full sore to thynk on this.”
Now [synge we with angelis:
Gloria in excelcis!]
8
“A dere son! shall I se this?Þou art my child, & I thy moder ywis,
Whan Gabryell called me ‘full of grace,’
He told me no thyng of this.”
[Now synge we with angelis:
Gloria in excelcis!]
9
“A, dere moder! thorow myn here,To thrust in thornes, they will not spare;
Alas, moder! I am full of care,
That ye shall see this hevynes.”
Now [synge we with angelis:
Gloria in excelcis!]
10
“A dere son, leve thy wepyng!Þou bryngyst my hart in gret mornyng;
A carefull songe now may I syng;
This tydyngis, hard to me it is.”
Now [synge we with angelis:
Gloria in excelcis!]
11
“A! pece, dere moder, I the pray,comforte me all þat ye may,
23
To put a-way all hevynes.”
Now syng we [with angelis:
Gloria in excelcis!]
34. Lulley, Jhesu, lulley, lulley!
Myn own dere moder, syng lulley!
1
So blessid a sight it was to see,How Mary rokked her son so fre!
So fayre she rokked & songe “by, by”;
Myn own dere moder, syng lulley!
Lulley, [Jhesu, lulley, lulley!
Myn own dere moder, syng lulley!]
2
“Myn own dere son, why wepyst þou thus?Ys not thy fader kyng of blis?
Haue I not do þat in me ys?
Your grevance, tell me what it is!”
Lulley, [Jhesu, lulley, lulley!
Myn own dere moder, syng lulley!]
3
“Ther for moder, wepe I nowght,But for þe woo þat shall be wrowght
To me, or I mankynd haue bowght.
Myn own dere moder, syng lulley!
Lulley, [Jhesu, lulley, lulley!
Myn own dere moder, syng lulley!]
4
Moder, þe tyme ye shall see,Þe sorowe shall brek your hart in three,
So fowle þe Jewes shall fare with me.
Myn own dere moder, syng lulley!
Lulley, [Jhesu, lulley, lulley!
Myn own dere moder, syng lulley!]
24
5
Whan I am nakid, they will me take,& fast bynd me to a stake,
& bete me sore for manus sake.
Myn own dere moder, syng lulley!
Lulley, [Jhesu, lulley, lulley!
Myn own dere moder, syng lulley!]
6
Vpon þe crose they shall me caste,Honde & fote, nayle me faste;
Yet gall shall be my drynk [at] laste;
Thus shall my lyff passe away.
Lulley, [Jhesu, lulley, lulley!
Myn own dere moder, syng lulley!]
7
A, dere moder! yet shall a spereMy hart in sonder all to-tere;
No wonder thowgh I carefull were.
Myn own dere moder, syng lulley!
Lulley, [Jhesu, lulley, lulley!
Myn own dere moder, syng lulley!]
8
Nowe, dere moder, syng lulley,& put a-way all hevynesse;
In-to this world I toke þe way,
A-gayn to I shall me dresse,
Þer joye is withowt end ay,
Myn own dere moder, syng lulley!”
Lulley, [Jhesu, lulley, lulley!
Myn own dere moder, syng lulley!]
Explicit.
25
35. This enders nyght
I sawe a sight,
A sterre as bryght
As any day;
& euer a-monge,
A maydyn songe:
“Lulley, by, by, lully, lulley!”
1
A lovely lady sat & songeAnd to her son thus gan she say:
“My son, my lord, my dere derlyng,
Why liggis thou thus in hay?
Myn own dere son,
How art þou cum,
Art þou not God verey?
But neuer the lesse
I will not sees
To syng ‘by, by, lully, lulley.’”
Þis [enders nyght
I sawe a sight,
A sterre as bryght
As any day;
& euer a-monge,
A maydyn songe:
“Lulley, by, by, lully, lulley!”]
2
Than spake the child þat was so yong& thus me thowght he said:
“I am knowen as hevyn kyng,
In cribbe thowgh I now be layd;
Angellis bright
To me shall light;
& of þat sight
Ye may be light,
& syng ‘by, by, lully, lulley.’”
Þis [enders nyght
I sawe a sight,
A sterre as bryght
As any day;
And euer a-monge,
A maydyn songe:
“Lulley, by, by, lully, lulley!”]
3
“Jhesu, my son, hevyn kyng,Why lyest þou thus in stall?
& why hast þou no riche beddyng
In sum ryche kyngis hall?
Me thynkith by right,
The lord of myght
Shuld lye in riche aray;
But neuer the lesse
I will not sese
To synge ‘by, by, lully, lulley.’”
This [enders nyght
I sawe a sight,
A sterre as bryght
As any day;
& euer a-monge,
A maydyn songe:
“Lulley, by, by, lully, lulley!”]
4
“Mary moder, quene of blis,Me thynkith it is no lawe,
That I shuld go to þe kyngis,
And they not to me drawe;
But you shall see
That kyngis thre
To me will cum on þe XII day;
For this beheste,
Geve me your brest,
& syng, ‘by, by, lully, lulley.’”
26
I sawe a sight,
A sterre as bryght
As any day;
And euer a-monge,
A maydyn songe:
“Lulley, by, by, lully, lulley!”
5
“Jhesu, my son, I pray þe, say,As þou art to me dere:
How shall I serue þe to thy pay,
& mak the right good chere?
All thy will
I wold fulfill,
Þou knoweste it well, in fay;
Both rokke þe still
& dance the þer-till,
& synge ‘by, by, lully, lulley.’”
This [enders nyght
I sawe a sight,
A sterre as bryght
As any day;
And euer a-monge,
A maydyn songe:
“Lulley, by, by, lully, lulley!”]
6
“Mary, moder, I pray þe,Take me vp on loft,
& in thyn arme
Thow lappe me warm,
& dance me now full ofte;
& yf I wepe,
& will not slepe,
Than syng ‘by, by, lully, lulley.’”
This [enders nyght
I sawe a sight,
A sterre as bryght
As any day;
And euer a-monge,
A maydyn songe:
“Lulley, by, by, lully, lulley!”]
7
“Jhesu, my son, hevyn kyng,Yf it be thy will,
Grant thow me myn askyng,
As reason wold, & skyll:
What so euer they be,
Þat can and will be
Mery on þis day,
To blis them brynge,
& I shall syng:
“Lulley, by, by, lully, lulley.’”
This [enders nyght
I sawe a sight,
A sterre as bryght
As any day;
And euer a-monge,
A maydyn songe:
“Lulley, by, by, lully, lulley!”]
Explicit.
36. For sothe, I hold hym well & with owt woo,
Þat hath ynowgh, & can say ‘whoo.’
1
I was with pope & cardynall,& with bisshoppis & prestis gret & small,
Yet was neuer non of them all
27
For soth, I hold [hym well & with owt woo,
Þat hath ynowgh, & can say ‘whoo.’]
2
Now covitise begynneth to wake,& lechery ys to hym take,
& seyth his joy may not slake,
That hath ynowgh, & can say ‘whoo.’
For sothe, I hold [hym well & with owt woo,
Þat hath ynowgh, & can say ‘whoo.’]
3
I was with emprowr, kyng & knyght,With duke, erle, baron & lady bright,
Yet was non of them, to my sight,
That had ynowgh / & cowld say ‘who.’
For soth, I hold [hym well & with owt woo,
Þat hath ynowgh, & can say ‘whoo.’]
4
Whan all thyngis fall a-way,Than covetyse begyneth to play,
He is not here / I dare well say,
That hath ynowgh, & can say ‘who.’
For soth, I hold [hym well & with owt woo,
Þat hath ynowgh, & can say ‘whoo.’]
Explicit.
37. God þat sittith in trinite,
Amend this world, yf thy will be.
1
Vices be wyld & vertues lame,& vice is torned in to game,
Ther-for correcion is to blame
That so lesith his dignyte.
God þat sittith in trinite,
[Amend this world, yf thy will be.]
28
2
Pasciens hath tak a flight,& meladye is owt of sight;
Now euery boy will cow[n]terfet a knyght,
Reporte hym self as good as he.
God þat [sittith in trinite,
Amend this world, yf thy will be.]
3
Pryncipally amonge euery state,In cowrte men thynk gret debate,
For pees stondith at the gate,
And morneth after charyte.
God þat [sittith in trinite,
Amend this world, yf thy will be.]
4
Envy ys thik, & love ys thyn,& specyally amonge owr eme-Cristyn,
For love ys withowt / & envy ys within,
& so kyndnesse away gan flee.
God þat [sittith in trinite,
Amend this world, yf thy will be.]
5
Fortune ys a marvelus chance,& envy causith gret distance
Bothe in Ynglond & in France;
Exiled ys benyngnyte.
God þat sittith [in trinite,
Amend this world, yf thy will be.]
6
Nowe late vs pray both on & all,& specially vpon God call,
To send love & grace a-monge vs all,
And amonge all men in Cristynte.
God þat sittith [in trinite,
Amend this world, yf thy will be.]
Explicit.
29
38. Syng we with myrth, joye & solas
In honowr of this Cristemas!
1
Glorius God had gret pyte,How longe mans sowle in payn shuld be;
He sent his son to mak vs free,
Which for manus sake,
Off a maydyn pure,
Agaynst nature,
Owr flesshe dide take.
Syng [we with myrth, joye & solas
In honowr of this Cristemas!]
2
In Bedlem owr saviowr,With-owt fode, in a manjowre
Was born,—hit was his plesure,—
Bestis amonge.
Angellis hevynly
Made armonye
And joyffull songe.
Synge [we with myrth, joye & solas
In honowr of this Cristemas!]
3
The VIIIth day he was circonsisid,Leste Moyses lawe shuld be dispised;
A name to hym they haue devised,
Call hym Jhesus;
For Gabryell
His moder dide tell
That it shuld be thus.
Syng [we with myrth, joye & solas
In honowr of this Cristemas!]
4
A newe made sterre, more large & clereThan oþer sterres, than dide appere.
Fro Caldey the felosafers in fere
In to Bedlem yt browght.
Ther it dide stond
Still, till that they fonde
Hym that they sowght.
Syng we with myrthe, [joye & soals
In honowr of this Cristemas!]
5
The kyngis browght þer offrynge,Gold þat betokneth a worthy kynge,
I[n]sens, pristhode; myr, buryinge
For his manhode.
The angell com,
Bade them go home
Not by Herode.
Syng we [with myrth, joye & solas
In honowr of this Cristemas!]
6
Trust in God, man, and in non other;Mistrust hym not, he is thy broþer;
Thow hast a mediatrix of his moder.
Syke for thy synne,
Crye marcy,
He will not denye
Thy sowle to wynne.
Syng [we with myrth, joye & solas
In honowr of this Cristemas!]
Explicit.
30
39. Now syng we right as it is:
‘Quod puer natus est nobis.’
1
This babe to vs now is born;Wonderfull werkis he hath wrowght;
He wold not lesse that was forlorn,
But again he hath vs bowght.
And thus it is, / for soth ywys,
He asketh no thyng / but þat is his.
[Now syng we right as it is:
‘Quod puer natus est nobis.’]
2
A dulfull deth to hym was mente,Whan on þe rode his body was spred,
& as a theff he was ther hente.
& on a spere his liff was lede.
And thus it is, / for soth ywis,
He asketh no thynge but þat is his.
[Now syng we right as it is:
‘Quod puer natus est nobis.’]
3
“Man, why art thow vnkynd to me?What woldest thow I did for the more?
Geve me thy trew harte, I pray the;
Yff thow be dampned, it ruthe me sore.”
And thus it is / for sothe ywis,
He asketh no thyng / but þat is his.
[Now syng we right as it is:
‘Quod puer natus est nobis.’]
4
“Man, I love the, / whom loveste thowe?I pray the, torne to me agayn,
& thow shalt be as welcom nowe
As he that never in syn was seyn.”
And thus it is / for soth ywys,
He asketh no thynge but þat is his.
[Now syng we right as it is:
‘Quod puer natus est nobis.’]
31
40. [The Murder of Thomas a Beket.]
A, a, a, a! nunc gaudet ecclesia.
1
Lystyn, lordyngis both gret & small!I will you tell a wonder tale,
Howe holy chirch was browght in bale
Cum magna iniuria.
[A, a, a, a! nunc gaudet ecclesia.]
2
The gretteste clark in this londe,Thomas of Canturbury, I vnderstonde,
Slayn he was with wykyd honde,
Malorum potencia.
[A, a, a, a! nunc gaudet ecclesia.]
3
The knyghtis were sent from Harry þe kynge,Þat day they dide a wykid thynge,
Wykyd men, with-owt lesynge,
Per regis imperia.
[A, a, a, a! nunc gaudet ecclesia.]
4
They sowght þe bisshop all a-bowt,With-in his place, and with-owt,
Of Jhesu Crist they had no dowght
Per sua malicia.
[A, a, a, a! nunc gaudet ecclesia.]
5
They opened þer mowthes wonderly wide,& spake to hym with myche pryde:
“Traytor, here thow shalt abide,
Ferens mortis tedia!”
[A, a, a, a! nunc gaudet ecclesia.]
6
Beffore þe auter he kneled down,& than they pared his crown,
& stered his braynes vp so down,
Optans celi gawdia.
[A, a, a, a,! nunc gaudet ecclesia.]
32
41. [The Stoning of St. Stephen.]
Nowe syng we both all & sum:
Lapidauerunt Stephanum.
1
Whan seynt Stevyn was at Jeruzalem,Godis lawes he loved to lerne:
Þat made þe Jewes to cry so clere & clen,
Lapidaverunt Stephanum.
[Nowe syng we both all & sum:
Lapidauerunt Stephanum.]
2
The Jewes þat were both false & fell,Agaynst seynt Stephyn they were cruell,
Hym to sle they made gret ȝell,
& lapidaverunt Stephanum.
[Nowe syng we both all & sum
Lapidauerunt Stephanum.]
3
They pullid hym with-owt the town,& than he mekely kneled down,
While the Jewes crakkyd his crown,
Quia lapidaverunt Stephanum.
[Nowe syng we both all & sum:
Lapidauerunt Stephanum.]
4
Gret stones & bones at hym they caste,Veynes & bones of hym they braste,
& they kylled hym at the laste,
Quia lapidaverunt Stephanum.
[Nowe syng we both all & sum:
Lapidauerunt Stephanum.]
5
Pray we all þat now be here,Vnto seynt Stephyn, þat marter clere,
To save vs all from the fendis fere.
Lapidauerunt Stephanum.
[Nowe syng we both all & sum:
Lapidauerunt Stephanum.]
33
42. [The Boar's Head.]
Caput apri refero,
Resonens laudes domino.
1
The boris hed in hondis I bryngeWith garlondis gay & byrdis syngynge,
I pray you all, helpe me to synge,
Qui estis in conviuio.
[Caput apri refero,
Resonens laudes domino.]
2
The boris hede, I vnderstond,Ys cheff seruyce in all this londe,
Wher-so-ever it may be fonde,
Seruitur cum sinapio.
[Caput apri refero,
Resonens laudes domino.]
3
The boris hede, I dare well say,Anon after the XIIth day,
He taketh his leve & goth a-way,
Exiuit tunc de patria.
[Caput apri refero,
Resonens laudes domino.]
43. Gawde for thy joyes five,
Mary, moder, maydyn & wyff!
1
Gaude! to whom Gabryell was sent,From Nazareth to Galalie,
& said that God omnipotent
Wold haue his son be born of the.
[Gawde for thy joyes five,
Mary, moder, maydyn and wyff!]
2
Gaude! thow bare hym withowt payn,& with payn thow saweste hym dy on tre,
34
For he appered firste to the.
[Gawde for thy joyes five,
Mary, moder, maydyn & wyff!]
3
Gawde! thowe thow saweste hym assendeBy his own strenth a-bove the skye,
An hoste of angellis down he sent,
& assumpte thy sowle with thy bodye.
[Gawde for thy joyes five,
Mary, moder, maydyn & wyff!]
4
Gaude! thy dignyte ys gret;For next vnto the trynyte,
Above all seyntis, is thy sete,
& all joye is in þe sight of the.
[Gawde for thy joyes five,
Mary, moder, maydyn & wyff!]
5
Gaude, moder & maydyn pure!For thy joyes shall never cesse,—
Ther-of thow art siker & sure,—
But ever florisshe & encrese.
[Gawde for thy joyes five,
Mary, moder, maydyn & wyff!]
Explicit.
44. [Christ, an Ear of Wheat.]
A blessid byrd, as I you say,
Þat dyed & rose on Good Fryday.
1
On Cristis day, I vnderstond,An ere of whet of a mayd spronge,
XXXti wynter in erth to stond,
To make vs bred, all to his pay.
[A blessid byrd, as I you say,
Þat dyed & rose on Good Fryday.]
35
2
This corn was repyn & layd to grownd,Full sore beten & faste bownd
Vnto a piler with cordis rownd,
At his fyngers endis þe blod ran owt þat day.
[A blessid byrd, as I you say,
Þat dyed & rose on Good Fryday.]
3
This corn was repyn with gret envyeVpon þe mownt of Caluary,
Tokyn he shewed on Shere-Thursday,
Mawndy he gaff to his dissiples ther.
[A blessid byrd, as I you say,
Þat dyed & rose on Good Fryday.]
4
Jhesu vpon his body the crosse bare;Water & blode cam from hym ther;
This corn was skorged all in f[e]re,
Tyll it wexed blode rede.
[A blessid byrd, as I you say,
Þat dyed & rose on Good Fryday.]
5
A crown of thorn set on his hede,& he was done on the rode
& betyn, till his body was blody rede,
Thus they bett Jhesu, owr det to pay.
[A blessid byrd, as I you say,
Þat dyed & rose on Good Fryday.]
Explicit.
45. Pray for vs to the trinite,
Johannes, Cristi care!
1
Thow dereste disciple of Jhesu Criste,Most best belovid & beste be-triste,
Which at his last soper did lye on his breste,
Sacra fluenta potare.
[Pray for vs to the trinite,
Johannes, Cristi care!]
36
2
As he in his passion to his dere moderToke the for her keper, her son & his broþer,
Pray þat owr hartis may most of all other
Jhesum semper amare.
[Pray for vs to the trinite,
Johannes, Cristi care!]
3
And as þou þe stronge venym which II men had slayn,Drank withowt hurt, & raysed them agayn,
Pray þat þe venym of syn may vs not payn,
Non poterit alligare.
[Pray for vs to the trinite,
Johannes, Cristi care!]
4
As þou þe II men ther tresure dide restore,Þat had forsakyn & morned ther fore,
Pray þat we may fals riches forsak for euermore,
Celis tesavrizare.
[Pray for vs to the trinite,
Johannes, Cristi care!]
5
And pray þat we may haue suche grace,Here so to morne for owr trespas,
Þat we may stond siker beffore Cristis face,
Cum venerit judicare.
[Pray for vs to the trinite,
Johannes, Cristi care!]
Explicit.
46. Alas, my hart will brek in thre,
Terribilis mors conturbat me.
1
Illa juventis that is so nyseMe deduxit in to vayn devise,
Infirmus sum, I may not rise,
Terribilis mors conturbat me.
37
2
Dum juvinus fui, lytill I dred,Set semper in sinne I ete my bred,
Jam ductus sum in to my bed,
Terribilis mors [conturbat me.]
3
Corpus migrat in to my sowle,Respicit demon in his rowle,
Desiderat ipse to haue his tolle,
Terribilis mors [conturbat me.]
4
Christus se ipsum, whan he shuld dye,Patri suo his manhode did crye:
“Respice me pater, that is so hye!”
Terribilis mors [conturbat me.]
5
Queso jam the trynyte,Duc me from this vanyte
In celum, ther is joy with the,
Terribilis mors conturbat me.
Explicit.
47. [The fleur de lys, Christ.]
Synge we alle, for tyme it is:
Mary hath born þe flowre delice.
1
For his love þat bowght vs all dere,Lystyn, lordyngis, that ben here,
& I will tell you in fere,
Wher-of com þe flowr delyce.
Syng we [alle, for tyme it is:
Mary hath born þe flowre delice.]
2
On Cristmas nyght, whan it was cold,Owr lady lay amonge bestis bolde,
& ther she bare Jhesu, Josepff tolde,
& ther-of com the flowr delice.
Syng [we alle, for tyme it is:
Mary hath born þe flowre delice.]
38
3
Off þat berith witnesse seynt John,That it was of myche renown;
Baptized he was in flom Jordan,
& ther-of cam the flowr delice.
Syng [we alle, for tyme it is:
Mary hath born þe flowre delice.]
4
On Good Fryday þat child was slayn,Betyn with skorges & all to-flayn;
That day he suffred myche payn;
& ther-of com the flowr delice.
Syng [we alle, for tyme it is:
Mary hath born þe flowre delice.]
Explicit.
48 I pray you, be mery & synge with me
In worship of Cristys nativite.
1
In to this world, this day dide comJhesu Criste, bothe God & man,
Lorde & seruant in on person,
Born of þe blessid virgyn Mary.
I pray [you, be mery & synge with me
In worship of Cristys nativite.]
2
He þat was riche, withowt any nede,Appered in this world in right pore wede,
To mak vs, þat were pore in dede,
Riche with-owt any nede, trewly.
I pray [you, be mery & synge with me
In worship of Cristys nativite.]
3
A stabill was his chambre; a crach was his bed;He had not a pylow to lay vnder his hed;
With maydyns mylk þat babe was fedde,
In pore cloþis was lappid þe Lord Almyghty.
I pray [you, be mery & synge with me
In worship of Cristys nativite.]
39
4
A noble lesson here is vs tawght,To set all worldly riches at nawght,
But pray we þat we may be theder browght,
Wher riches ys everlastyngly.
I pray [you, be mery & synge with me
In worship of Cristys nativite.]
49. Newell, newell, newell, newell,
This ys þe salutacion of Gabryell.
1
Tydyngis trewe, ther be com newe,Sent from the trynyte
By Gabryell from Nazareth to a cite of Galely:
‘A clene maydyn, a pure virgyn,
By her humylite
Hath born the person second in divinite.’
Newell, [newell, newell, newell,
This ys þe salutacion of Gabryell.]
2
Whan that he presentid wasBeffore her fayre visage,
In moste demvre & goodly wise
He dide to her homage
& said: “Lady, from hevyn so hye,
That lordis herytage,
For he of the now born will be,
I am sent on the message.”
Newell, [newell, newell, newell,
This ys þe salutacion of Gabryell.]
3
“Hayll, virgyn celestiall,The mekeste þat euer was!
Hayll, temple of the deite!
Hayll, myrrowr of all grace!
Hayll, virgyn pure! I the ensure,
With-in a lytill space
40
That shall brynge gret solas.”
Newell, [newell, newell, newell,
This ys þe salutacion of Gabryell.]
4
Than bespak the virgyn agayn,& answered womanly:
“What-so-euer my lord comaundith me,
I will obbey trewly.
Ecce sum humilima ancilla domini:
Secundum verbum tuum, fiat michi.”
Newell, [newell, newell, newell,
This ys þe salutacion of Gabryell.]
Explicit.
50. “O my harte is wo!” Mary, she sayd so,
“For to se my dere son dye; & sonnes haue I no mo.”
1
“Whan þat my swete son was XXXti wynter old,Than þe traytor Judas wexed very bold;
For XXXti platis of money, his master he had sold;
But whan I it wyst, lord, my hart was cold.
O, my hart is woo!” [Mary, she sayd so,
“For to se my dere son dye; & sonnes haue I no mo.”]
2
“Vpon Shere Thursday than truly it was,On my sonnes deth þat Judas did on passe;
Many were þe fals Jewes þat folowed hym by trace,
& þer, beffore them all, he kyssed my sonnes face.
O my hart [is wo!” Mary, she sayd so,
“For to se my dere son dye; & sonnes haue I no mo.”]
3
“My son, beffore Pilat browght was he;& Peter said III tymes he knew hym not perde.
41
Than they cryed with on voys: ‘Crucyfyge!’
O my hart is woo,” [Mary, she sayd so,
“For to se my dere son dye; & sonnes haue I no mo.”]
4
“On Good Friday at þe mownt of CaluaryMy son was don on þe crosse, nayled with naylis III,
Of all þe frendis þat he had, neuer on could he see,
But jentyll the evangelist, þat still stode hym by.
O my hart [is wo!” Mary, she sayd so,
“For to se my dere son dye; & sonnes haue I no mo.”]
5
Thowgh I were sorowfull, no man haue at yt wonder;For howge was þe erth-quak, horyble was þe thonder,
I loked on my swet son on þe crosse þat stode vnder;
Than cam Lungeus with a spere & clift his hart in sonder.
O my [hart is wo!” Mary, she sayd so,
“For to se my dere son dye; & sonnes haue I no mo.”]
Explicit.
51. To see the maydyn wepe her sonnes passion,
It entrid my hart full depe with gret compassion.
1
Bowght & sold full traytorsly,And to a pylar bownde,
The Jewes bet hym full pytuowsly,
& gave hym many a wownde.
To see þe maydyn wepe [her sonnes passion,
It entrid my hart full depe with gret compassion.]
2
Full maydynly, full moderly,Whan she the crosse be-helde,
The teris from her eyen fill;
She said: “Alas, my childe!”
To see þe maydyn wepe [her sonnes passion,
It entrid my hart full depe with gret compassion.]
42
3
With sharpe thornes þe fals JewesCrowned his holy hede;
They naylid hym fast to þe crosse,
For they wold haue hym dede.
To se þe maydyn wepe [her sonnes passion,
It entrid my hart full depe with gret compassion.]
4
Eysell & gall they gave hym to drynk,& percyd hym to the harte.
His blessid moder & maydyn clene,
She swowned for his smarte.
To see þe maydyn wepe [her sonnes passion,
It entrid my hart full depe with gret compassion.]
5
Now, Mary myld, pray for vs,& bryng vs to þe blisse,
Þat we may be in joy with the,
Wher þat thy swet son ys.
To see þe maydyn wepe her sonnes passion,
[It entrid my hart full depe with gret compassion.]
44
53. What, hard ye not, þe kyng of Jherusalem
Is now born in Bethelem? etc.
1
I shall you tell a gret mervayll,How an angell, for owr avayll,
Com to a mayd, & said: “All hayll!”
What, hard ye not, [þe kyng of Jherusalem
Is now born in Bethelem?]
2
“All hayll,” he said, “and full of grace,God is with the now in this place,
A child þou shalt bere in lytill space.”
What, hard [ye not, þe kyng Jherusalem
Is now born in Bethelem?]
3
“A child!” she said: “how may that be?Þer had never no man knowlage of me.”
“Þe Holy Gost,” he said, “shall light in the.”
What, hard [ye not, þe kyng of Jherusalem
Is now born in Bethelem?]
4
“And as þou art, so shall thow be,”The angell said, “in virgynite,
Beffore & after in euery degree.”
What, hard ye not, [þe kyng of Jherusalem
Is now born in Bethelem?]
5
The mayd answered þe angell agyn:“Yf God will, þat this be sayn,
The wordis be to me full fayn.”
What, hard [ye not, þe kyng of Jherusalem
Is now born in Bethelem?]
6
Now will we all, in reioysyngeÞat we haue hard þis good tydyng,
To þat child Te Deum synge.
Te Deum laudamus.
Explicit.
45
54. Wassaill, wassaill, wassaill, syng we,
In worshipe of Cristis natiuite!
1
Now joy be to the trynyte,Fader, Son & Holy Goste,
That on God is in trynite,
Fader of hevyn, of myghtis most.
Wassaill, [wassaill, wassaill, syng we,
In worshipe of Cristis natiuite!]
2
And joy [be] to the virgyn pure,Þat euer kepte her vndefiled,
Grundid in grace, in hart full sure,
& bare a child as maydyn myld.
Wassayll, [wassaill, wassaill, syng we,
In worshipe of Cristis natiuite!]
3
Bethelem & þe sterre so shen,Þat shon III kyngis for to gide,
Bere witnesse of this maydyn clene;
The kyngis III offred that tide.
Wassaill, [wassaill, wassaill, syng we,
In worshipe of Cristis natiuite!]
4
And sheperdis hard, a[s] wretyn is,Þe joyffull songe þat þer was songe,
“Glorya in excelsis!”
With angellis voys it was owt ronge.
Wassaill, [wassaill, wassaill, syng we,
In worshipe of Cristis natiuite!]
5
Now joy be to þe blessidfull child& joy be to his moder dere,
Joy we all of þat maydyn myld,
& joy haue they þat mak good chere!
Wassaill, [wassaill, wassaill, syng we,
In worshipe of Cristis natiuite!]
Explicit.
46
55. He is wise, so most I goo,
That can be mery, & suffer woo.
1
Be mery & suffer, as I the vise,Wher-euer thow sytt or rise;
Be well ware, whom thow despise,
Þou shalt kysse who is thy foo.
He is wise, [so most I goo,
That can be mery, & suffer woo.]
2
Beware, to whom þou spek thy will,For thy speche may greve the yll;
Here & see, & goo than still,
But well is he þat can do soo.
He is wise, [so most I goo,
That can be mery, & suffer woo.]
3
Many a man holdyth hym so stowght,What so euer he thynk, he seyth it owt;
But if he loke well a-bowt,
His tonge may be his most foo.
He is wise, [so most I goo,
That can be mery, & suffer woo.]
4
Be mery, now is all my songe,Þe wise man tawght both old & yonge;
Who can suffer & hold his tonge,
He may be mery & no thyng woo.
He is wise, [so most I goo,
That can be mery, & suffer woo.]
5
Yff any man displese the owght,Suffer with a mery thowght;
Let care away & greve þe nowght,
& shake thy lappe & lat it go.
He is wise, [so most I goo,
That can be mery, & suffer woo.]
Explicit.
47
56. An old sawe hath be fownd trewe:
Cast not away thyn old for newe.
1
An old said sawe: “On-knowen, on-kyste”;“Wher is lytill love þer is lytill tryste”;
And ever beware of “Had I wyste,”
And remembre this sawe, for it is new:
Ellis must we drynk as we brewe.
2
The peple to plese, sir, it is payn,Peraventure amonge XXti not twayn;
Hold me excused, thowgh I be playn.
This sawe is old, remembre it newe,
Or ellis most we drynk as we brewe.
3
An-other thynge, sir, marke we well,Two facis in on hode, a fayre castell;
He seyth hym-self he will not medyll;
Folk fayre lest seche in cowrt to shew,
& ellis most we drynk as we brew.
4
Thyn old seruantis here thus ar meved;The tyme wyll cum they must be releved;
Geve trust to them þat thow hast preved,
& if þou do so, thow shalt not rewe,
& ellis must þou drynk as þou doste brewe.
Explicit.
48
58. Man, meve thy mynd, & joy this fest;
Veritas de terra orta est.
1
As I cam by þe way,I sawe a sight semly to see,
The sheperdis rangyng in a ray,
Vpon þe folde kepynge ther fee,
A sterre they said they dide espie
Kastyng the bemes owt of þe est,
And angellis makyng melodye:
“Veritas de terra orta est.”
2
Vpon þat sight they were a-gast,Sayinge thes wordis as I say the:
“To Bedlem shortly lett vs hast
& ther we shall þe trowthe see.”
The angell said vnto them all III
To þer comfort, or euer he seste:
“Consolamini, & mery be:
Veritas de terra orta est.”
3
From hevyn, owt of þe highest see,Rightwisnes hath taken þe way,
With marcy medled plentuowsly,
& so conseyved in a may;
Miranda res, this is in fay,
So seith the prophet in his gest:
Now is he born, scripture doth say:
Veritas de terra orta est.
4
Than passed þe sheperdis from þat place& folowed by þe sterres beme,
Þat was so bright affore þer face,
Hit browght them streight vnto Bethlem;
So bright it shon over all þe realme
Tyll they cam þer they wold not rest,
To Jury & Jerusalem:
Veritas de terra orta est.
Explicit.
49
59. All this tyme this songe is best:
Verbum caro factum est.
1
This nyght ther is a child born,That sprange owt of Jessis thorn;
We must synge & say ther forn:
Verbum caro factum est.
2
Jhesus is the childis name& Mary myld is his dame,
All owr sorow shall torn to game:
Verbum caro factum est.
3
Hit fell vpon high mydnyght,The sterres shon both fayre & bright,
The angellis song with all þer myght:
Verbum caro factum est.
4
Now knele we down on owr kne,& pray we to the trynyte,
Owr helpe, owr socowr for to be.
Verbum caro factum est.
61. Virgo, rosa virginum, Tuum precor filium.
1
Qvene of hevyn, blessyd mot þou be,For Godis son, born he was of the,
For to make vs fre.
Gloria tibi domine!
2
Jhesu, Godis son, born he wasIn a crybe with hay & gras,
And dyed for vs on the crose.
Gloria tibi domine!
50
3
To owr lady make we owr mone,Þat she may pray to her dere son,
That we may to his blis cum.
Gloria tibi domine!
Explicit.
51
II. Religious Poems and Prayers in Verse.
65
69. Ave Maria, now say we so:
Mayd & moder were neuer no mo.
1
Gaude Maria, Cristis moder!Mary myld, of the I mene;
Thou bare my Lord, thou bare my broder;
Thou bare a louly child & clene.
Thou stodyst full still withowt blyn,
Whan in thy ere that arand was done so;
Tho gracius God the lyght with-yn
Gabrielis nuncio.
2
Gaude Maria, yglent with grace!Whan Jhesus, thi son, on the was bore,
Full nygh thy brest thou gan hym brace;
He sowked, he sighhed, he wepte full sore.
Thou fedest the flowr þat neuer shall fade,
Wyth maydens mylke, & songe ther-to:
“Lulley, my swet! I bare the, babe,
Cum pudoris lillio.”
3
Gaude Maria! thy myrth was a-way,Whan Cryst on crose, thy son, gan die
Full dulfully on Gud Fryday,
That many a moders son yt sye.
66
His watery wovndis vs wisshe from wo,
The thyrd day from dethe to lyff
Fulget resurreccio.
4
Gaude Maria, thou byrde so bryght,Bryghtter than blossum þat blowith on hill!
Joyfull thou were to se that sight,
Whan the appostles, so swet of will,
All & sum dide shryk full shryll,
Whan the fayrest of shape went you fro,
From erth to hevyn he styed full still,
Motu que fertur proprio.
5
Gaude Maria, thou rose of ryse!Maydyn & moder, both jentill & fre,
Precius prynces, perles of pris,
Thy bowr ys next the trynyte.
Thy son, as lawe askyth a-right,
In body & sowle the toke hym to;
Thou regned with hym, right as we fynd,
In celi palacio.
6
Now, blessid byrde, we pray the a bone:Be-fore thy son for vs thou fall,
& pray hym, as he was on the rode done,
& for vs dranke asell & gall,
That we may wone withyn þat wall,
Wher euer ys well withowt wo,
& gravnt that grace vnto vs all
In perhenni gaudio.
Explicit de quinque gaudia.
72
III. Didactic, Moral and Allegorical Poems.
92
81. To dy, to dy! what haue I
Offendit þat deth is so hasty!
1
O marcyfull God, maker of all mankynd,What meneth dethe in his mynd,
& I so yonge of age—
Now deth is vnkynd;
For he seyth: “Man! stop thy wynde,”
Þus he doth rage.
93
2
✗ So dye shall thenAll Crystyn men;
No man wottith his tyme, ne when,
Wherfor thow may,
Yf þou be hye,
Thynk non oþer but þou shalt dye.
[Death and the Four Ages of Man.]
1
In XXti yere of age, remembre we euerychon,Þat deth will not be strange, to taste vs by on & on,
With siknes grevows, which makith man to grone,
Deth biddith beware, þis day a man, to-morow non.
2
In XL yere of age, whan man is stowt & stronge,Trow ye þat deth dare stryk hym or do hym any wrong?
Yes, for-soth, with worldly deth he vill not spare among,
& seyth: “Man, beware! þou shalt not tary long.”
3
In LX yere of age, then tyme is cum to thynk—How he will cum to þe hows, & sit on þe bynke,
Comaundyng man to stowpe toward þe pittis brynk;
Than farewell, worldis joy, whan deth shall bid a man drynk.
Explicit.
103
V. Ballads and Worldly Songs. Humorous and Satirical Pieces.
86. Lully, lulley, lully, lulley!
Þe fawcon hath born my mak away.
1
He bare hym vp, he bare hym down,He bare hym in to an orchard brown.
Lully, lulley, lully, lulley!
Þe fawcon hath born my mak away.
2
In þat orchard þer was an hall,Þat was hangid with purpill & pall;
Lully, lulley, [lully, lulley!
Þe fawcon hath born my mak away.]
3
And in þat hall þer was a bede,Hit was hangid with gold so rede;
Lully, lulley, [lully, lulley!
Þe fawcon hath born my mak away.]
4
And yn þat bed þer lythe a knyght,His wowndis bledyng day & nyght;
Lully, lulley, [lully, lulley!
Þe fawcon hath born my mak away.]
5
By þat bedis side þer kneleth a may,& she wepeth both nyght & day;
Lully, lulley, [lully, lulley!
Þe fawcon hath born my mak away.]
6
& by þat beddis side þer stondith a ston,“Corpus Christi” wretyn þer-on.
Lully, lulley, [lully, lulley!
Þe fawcon hath born my mak away.]
Explicit.
87. [How! we shall have game & sport ynow!]
1
As I walked by a forest side,I met with a foster; he bad me a-bid,
At a place wher he me sett,
He bad me, what tyme an hart I met,
104
With “hay go bet, hay go bett, hay go bett,”
How! we shall haue game & sport ynow.
2
I had not stond ther but a while,Ye, not þe montenance of a myle,
But a gret hart cam rennyng, withowt any gile;
With “Þer he goth, þer he goth, þer he gothe”!
How! we shall haue game & sport ynow.
3
I had no sonner my howndis lat goo,But the hart was over-throwe,
Than euery man began to blowe,
With “trororo, trororo, trororo,”
How! we shall haue game & sport ynow.
106
90. Hoow, gossip myne, gossip myn,
Whan will we go to þe wyne,
Good gossip[is myn?]
1
I shall you tell a full good sport,How gossippis gader them on a sort,
Ther seke bodyes to comforte
Whan they mete
In lane or stret,
God gossipis myn.
2
But I dare not, for þer dissplesans,Tell of þes maters half the substance,
But ȝet sum what of þer gouernance,
As ferre as I dare,
I will declare,
Good gossipis myn.
3
“Good gossip myn, wher haue ye be?Hit is so long sith I you see;
Wher is þe best wyne, tell you me!
Can ye owght tell?”
“Ye, full well,
Good gossippis myn.
107
4
I know a drawght of mery-go-down;The beste it is in all this town,
But yet I wolde not, for my gown,
My husbond wyste.”
“Ye may me triste,
Good gossipp[is] myn.”
5
“Call forth owr gossippis by & by,Elynore, Johan & Margery,
Margret, Alis & Cecely,
For þei will cum,
Both all & som,
Good gossippis myn, a!
6
And eche of them will sum what bryngGose or pigge, or capons wynge,
Pastes of pygynnes, or sum oþer thyng;
For we mvste ete
Sum maner mett,
Good gossippis myn, a!
7
Go beffore by tweyn & tweyn,Wisely þat ye be not seen,
For I mvste home & cum a-gayn,
To witt, ywis,
Wher my husbond is,
Good gossippis myn, a!
8
A strype or two God myght send me,Yf my husbond myght here see me.”
“She þat is a-ferde, lett her flee;”
Quod Alis than,
“I dred no man,
Good gossippis myn, a!”
9
“Now be we in þe tavern sett,A drawght of þe best lett hym fett,
To bryng owr husbondis owt of dett;
For we will spend
Till God more send,
Good gossippis myn, a!”
10
Eche of them browght forth þer disshe,Sum browght flesshe, & sum [browght] fisshe.
Quod Margret meke now with a wisshe:
“I wold Anne were here,
She wold mak vs chere,
Good gossippis myn, a!”
11
“How say ye, gossippis? Is þis wyn good?”“Þat is it,” quod Elynore, “by þe rode!
It chereth þe hart & comforteth þe blod.
Such jonkers amonge
Shall make vs leve long.
Good gossippis [myn, a]!”
12
Anne bade me fill a pot of Muscadell,“For of all wynes I love it well;
Swet wynes kepe my body in hele;
Yf I had it nowght,
I shuld tak thowght,
Good gossippis myn, a!”
13
“How loke ye, gossip, at þe bordis end?Not mery, gossip? God it amend!
All shall be well, els God defend;
Be mery & glad
& sit not so sade,
Good gossip myn, a!”
14
“Wold God I had don after your covnsell,108
He betith me lyke þe devill of hell,
And þe more I crye,
Þe lesse mercy,
Good gossippis myn, a!”
15
Alis with a lowde voys spak than:“Evis,” she said, “litill good he can,
Þat betith or striketh any woman,
And specially his wyff,
God geve hym short lyff,
Good gossippis myn, a!”
16
Margret meke said: “So mot I thryve,I know no man þat is a-lyve,
Þat gevith me II strokis, bvt he haue V:
I am not afferd,
Thowgh he haue a berde,
Good gossippis myn, a!”
17
On cast down her shot, & went a-way:“Gossip,” quod Elynore, “what dide she pay?”
“Not but a peny: loo, þer-for I say,
She shall no more
Be of owr lore,
Good gossippis myn, a!”
18
“Suche gestis we may haue ynow,Þat will not for þer shot alowe;
With whom com she, gossip?” “With you.”
“Nay,” quod Johan,
“I com aloon,
Good gossippis myn, a!”
19
“Now rekyn owr shot, & go we hens;What cummeth to eche of vs?” “But IIId.”
“Parde, þis is but a small expens
For suche a sorte,
& all but sporte,
Good gossipis myn, a!”
20
“Torn down þe stret, whan ye cum owt,& we will cumpas rownd a-bowt.”
“Gossip,” quod Anne, “what nedith þat dowt?
Your husbond is pleased,
Whan ye be eased,
Good gossippis myn, a!
21
What-so-euer any man thynk,We com for nowght but for good drynk;
Now let vs go home & wynke,
For it may be seen
Wher we haue ben,
Good gossippis myn, a!”
22
This is þe thowght þat gossippis take:Ons in þe wek, mery will they make,
& all small drynkis þei will forsake;
But wyne of þe best
Shall have no rest,
Good gossippis myn, a!
23
Sum be at þe tavern IIIse in þe weke,& so be sum euery day eke,
Or ellis þei will gron & mak them sek,
For thyngis vsed
Will not be refused;
Good gossippis myn, a!
Explicit.
109
91. In villa, in villa, quid vidistis in villa?
1
Many a man blamys his wyffe parde;Yet he ys more to blame than she,
Trow ye þat any suche ther be
In villa?
2
Ye, ye, hold your pease, for shame!By owr Lady, ye be to blame,
Wene you that womenys tongis be lame
In villa?
3
Nay, God for-bede! yt ys naturallFor them to be right lyberall,
Now I report me, overall
In villa.
4
On thyng for-soth I haue esspyed;All women be not tong-tyed;
For yf they be, they be by-lyed
In villa.
5
Yff owght be sayd to them, sertayn,Wene you þei will not answer a-gayn?
Yes, for euery word, twayn!
In villa.
6
Now, in gud feyth, the soth to say,They haue gret cavse, from day to day,
For they may nother sport ne play
In villa.
7
Þer husbondis controll them so streytly;But ȝet no force for þat hardely;
Þer skuse shall be made full craftyly
In villa.
8
How say ye, women þat husbondis haue?Will not ye ther honowr saue,
& call them ‘lowsy stynkyng knave’?
In villa!
9
Yes, so haue I hard tell or this,Not fer owt of this cuntrey ywys,
Of sum of them, men shall not mys,
In villa.
10
God wot, gret cavse þei haue a-mong;But dowt ye not, ther hartis be strong,
For they may sofer no maner wrong
In villa.
11
And yff þei dyde, ther hartis wold brest,Wher-for in feyth I hold yt best,
Lett them a-lone with evyll rest
In villa.
12
Ye, husbondis all, with on asent,Lett your wyffys haue þer yntent,
Or suerly ye will be shent
In villa.
13
Ytt ys hard a-yenst þe strem to stryve,For hym þat cast hym for to thryve,
He mvst aske leve of hys wyff,
In villa.
14
Or ellis by God & by the rode,Be he never so wyld & wode,
Hys here shall grow thorow his hode
In villa.
Explicit.
110
92. Hay, hey, hey, hey,
I will haue the whetston, and I may.
1
I sawe a doge sethyng sowse,& an ape thechyng an howse,
And a podyng etyng a mowse,
I will haue þe whetston, & I may.
2
I sawe an vrchyn shape & seweAnd a-noder bake & brewe,
Scowre the pottis as þei were newe,
I will haue þe whetston, & I may.
3
I sawe a code-fysshe corn sowe,& a worm a whystyll blowe,
& a pye tredyng a crow,
I will haue þe whetston, & I may.
4
I sawe a stokfysshe drawyng a harow,& a-noder dryveyng a barow,
& a saltfysshe shotyng an arow.
I will haue þe whetston, & I may.
5
I sawe a bore, burdeyns bynd,& a froge, clewens wynd,
& a tode, mvstard grynd,
I will haue þe whetston, & I may.
6
I sawe a sowe bere kyrchers to wasshe;The second sowe had an hege to plasshe;
Þe IIIde sow went to þe barn to throsshe,
I will haue þe whetston, & I may.
7
I sawe an ege etyng a pye;Geve me drynke, my mowth ys drye;
Yet ys not long syth I made a lye.
I will haue þe whetston, & I may.
Explicit.
93. “Alas,” sayd þe gudman, “this ys an hevy lyff”;
“And all ys well þat endyth well,” said þe gud wyff.
1
A lytill tale I will you tell,The very trowth, how it befell,
& was trew as þe gosspell.
Att þe townys end.
2
Betwen þe gudman & his make,A lytill stryf be-gon to wake;
Þe wyff was sum-what shrew shake,
At þe townys end.
3
He gafe a thyng ther hym lyst,As son as his wyff yt wyst,
Vp she stode, & bent her fyst,
At the townys end.
4
“Thou knave, þou churle,” gan she say,“In the XXte devyls way,
Who bade the geve my gud a-way
At the townys end?
111
5
Þou traytor, þou thef, þou mysguerned man!To love þe furst when I began,
I wold þou had be hangyd than
At þe townys end.”
6
He lent her a strype, two or III,“Owt, alas!” then cryed she,
“I aske a vengance, thef, on the,
At þe townys end.
7
Thou stynkyng coward! so haue I grace,Þou daryst not loke a man in the face,
Now lett them say I know the cace,
At þe townys ende.”
8
“What, dame, what hast þou but of me;& I haue no-thyng of the
But chydyng, brawlyng; evyll mvst þou the
At þe townys end.”
9
The gudman myght no lengar forbere,But smote hys wyff on the ere,
Þat she ouer threw: then lay she ther,
At þe townys end.
10
“Alas,” she sayd, “I am but dede:I trow þe brayn be owt of my hed”;
& yet þer was no blod shed
At þe townys end.
11
“Gett me a priest, þat I were shryve;For I wot well I shall not lyve,
For I shall dye or to-morow eve
At þe townys end.”
12
This tale must nedis trew be;For he þat sawe yt, told yt me;
Aske ferder, & know shall ye,
At þe townys end.
13
Now euery man þat ys a-lone,Þat shuld be weddyd to such a on,
I cownsayl hym raþer to haue non
At þe townys end;
14
Lest he be knokked a-bowt þe pate;Then to repent yt ys to late,
When on his cheke he ys chekmate,
[At þe townys end.]
Explicit.
112
95. Of all creatures women be best;
Cuius contrarium verum est.
1
In euery place ye may well seeThat women be trewe as tirtyll on tree,
Not lyberall in langage, but euer in secree,
& gret joye a-monge them ys for to be:
Cuius [contrarium verum est.]
2
The stedfastnes of women will neuer be don,So jentyll, so curtes they be euery-chon,
Meke as a lambe, still as a stone,
Croked nor crabbed, fynd ye none:
Cuius [contrarium verum est.]
3
Men be more cumbers a thowsand fold;& I mervayll how they dare be so bold,
Agaynst women for to hold,
Seyng them so pascyent, softe & cold:
Cuius [contrarium verum est.]
4
For, tell a woman all your cownsayle,& she can kepe it wonderly well;
She had lever go quyk to hell
Than to her neyghbowr she wold it tell:
Cuius [contrarium verum est.]
5
For by women, men be reconsiled;For by women, was neuer man begiled,
For they be of þe condicion of curtes Gryzell,
For they be so meke & mylde:
Cuius [contrarium verum est.]
6
Now say well by women, or ellis be still,For they neuer displesed man by þer will;
To be angry or wroth they can no skill,
For I dare say they thynk non yll:
Cuius [contrarium verum est.]
113
7
Trow ye þat women list to smater,Or a-gaynst þer husbondis for to clater?
Nay, they had leuer fast bred & water
Then for to dele in suche a mater:
Cuius [contrarium verum est.]
8
Thowgh all þe paciens in þe world were drownd,& non were lefte here on the grownd,
Agayn in a woman it myght be fownd,
Suche vertu in them dothe abownd:
Cuius [contrarium verum est.]
9
To þe tavern they will not goo,Nor to þe ale-hows neuer the moo,
For, God wot, þer hartis wold be woo
To spende ther husbondis money soo:
Cuius [contrarium verum est.]
10
Yff here were a woman or a maydThat lyst for to go fresshely arayed,
Or with fyne kyrchers to go displayed
Ye wold say “they be prowde”: it is yll said:
Cuius [contrarium verum est.]
96. Women, women, love of women
Maketh bare pursis with sum men
1
Sum be mery, & sum be sade,& sum be besy, & sum be bade;
Sum be wilde, by seynt Chade,
Yet all be not so;
For sum be lewed, & sum be shrewed;
Go, shrew, wher-so-euer ye go.
2
Sum be wyse, & sum be fonde;Sum be tame, I vnderstond;
Sum will take bred at a mannus hond,
Yet all be not so;
For sum be lewde, & sum be shrewed;
Go, shrew, wher-so-euer ye go.
3
Sum be wroth, & can not tell wherfore;Sum be skornyng evermore;
& sum be tusked lyke a bore;
Yet all be not so:
For sum be lewed, & sum be shrewed:
Go, shrewe, wher-so-euer ye go.
4
Sum will be dronkyn as a mowse;Sum be croked, & will hurte a lowse;
Sum be fayre, & good in a hows;
Yet all be not so:
For sum be lewed, & sum be shrewed;
Go, shrewe, wher-so-euer ye go.
5
Sum be snowted like an ape;Sum can nother play ne jape;
Sum of them be well shape;
Yet all be not so:
For sum be lewed, & sum be shrewed;
Go, shrewe, wher-so-euer ye go.
114
6
Sum can prate withowt hire;Sum make bate in euery shire;
Sum can play chek-mate with owr sire,
Yet all they do not so:
For sum be lewed, & sum be shrewed;
Go, shrew, wher-so-euer ye go.
Explicit.
116
99. [The Holly and the Ivy.]
Nay, nay, Ive, it may not be, iwis,
For holy must haue þe mastry, as þe maner is.
1
Holy berith beris, beris rede ynowgh;Þe thristilcok, þe popyngay, dance in euery bow[gh];
Welaway, sory ivy, what fowles hast thow
117
Na[y, nay, Ive, it may not be, iwis,
For holy must haue þe mastry, as þe maner is.]
2
Ivy berith beris as blak as any sho,Þer commeth þe woode-coluer, & fedith her of tho;
She liftith vp her tayll, & she cakkis or she go:
She wold not for C. li. serue holy soo:
[Nay, nay, Ive, it may not be, iwis,
For holy must haue þe mastry, as þe maner is.]
3
Holy with his mery men, they can dance in hall;Ivy & her jentyl women can not dance at all,
But lyke a meyny of bullokkis in a water fall,
Or on a whot somers day, whan they be mad all:
Nay, [nay, Ive, it may not be, iwis,
For holy must haue þe mastry, as þe maner is.]
4
Holy & his mery men sytt in cheyres of gold;Ivy & her jentyll women sytt with-owt in fold,
With a payre of kybid helis cawght with cold;
So wold I þat euery man had, þat with yvy will hold.
Nay, [nay, Ive, it may not be, iwis,
For holy must haue þe mastry, as þe maner is.]
Explicit.
100. [Bon jour!]
Bonjowre, bonjowre a vous!
I am cum vnto this hows,
Vt parla pompe, I say.
1
I[s] þer any good man here,Þat will make me any chere?
& if þer were,
I wold cum nere,
To wit what he wold say.
A! will ye be wild?
Be Mary myld,
I trow ye will synge gay!
Bon Jowre!
2
Be gladly, masters, euery-chon,I am cum my self alone,
To appose you, on by on;
Let se who dare say nay!
Sir, what say ye?
Syng on, lett vs see!
Now, will it be
Thys or an other day?
Bon Jowre!
118
3
Loo, this is he þat will do þe dede,He tempereth his mowth; þerfore take hede!
Syng softe, I say, leste yowr nose blede,
For hurt yowr self ye may.
But, by God þat me bowght,
Your brest is so towght,
Tyll ye haue well cowght,
Ye may not þer-with a-way;
Boniowr!
4
Sir, what say ye with your face so lene?Ye syng noþer good tenowre, treble ne mene.
Vtter not your voice withowt your brest be clene,
Hartely I you pray.
I hold you excused,
Ye shall be refused,
For ye haue not be vsed
To no good sport nor play.
Bon Jowre!
5
Sir, what say ye with your fat face?Me thynkith ye shuld bere a very good bace
To a pot of good ale or ipocras,
Truly, as I you say.
Hold vp your hede,
Ye loke lyke lede,
Ye wast myche bred,
Euer more from day to day.
Bon Joure!
6
Now will ye see, wher he stondith behynde?Iwis, broþer, ye be vnkynd:
Stond forth & wast with me som wynd,
For ye haue ben called a synger ay.
Nay, be not a-shamed,
Ye shall not be blamed,
For ye haue ben famed
The worst in this contrey.
Bon Jowre!
Explicit.
101. [Ho, butler, ho!]
How, butler, how! Bevis, a towt!
Fill þe boll, jentill butler, & let þe cup rowght!
1
Jentill butler, bellamy,Fyll þe boll by þe eye
Þat we may drynk by & by,
With how, butler, how! Bevis, a towt!
Fill þe boll, butler, & let þe cup rowght!
2
Here is mete for vs all,Both for gret & for small;
119
With how, butler, how! Bevis, a towght!
Fill þe boll, butler, & lett þe cupe rowght!
3
I am so dry, I can not spek;I am nygh choked with my mete;
I trow þe butler be a-slepe,
With how, butler, how! Bevis, a towght!
Fill þe boll, butler, [& let þe cup rowght!]
4
Butler, butler, fill þe boll,Or ellis I beshrewe thy noll,
I trow we must þe bell toll,
With how, butler, how! Bevis, a towght!
Fill þe boll, [butler, & let þe cup rowght!]
5
Iff þe butlers name be Water,I wold he were a galow-claper;
But if he bryng vs drynk þe raþer,
With how, butler, how! Bevis, a towght!
Fill [þe boll, butler, & let þe cup rowght!]
Explicit.
| Songs, Carols, and other Miscellaneous Poems, from the Balliol Ms. 354, Richard Hill's Commonplace book | |