University of Virginia Library

[Songs from the Fairfax Ms.]

(Add. 5465 Brit. Mus.)

CXXXII.

[A my dere a my dere son sayd mary, a my dere]

A my dere a my dere son sayd mary, a my dere

[bis]

kys þi moder Jhesu with a lawghing chere.
This endurs nyght
I sawe a syght
all In my slepe
mary þat may
she sang lullay

bis

and sore did wepe.
To kepe she sawght
fful fast abowte
her son fro colde

[bis]

Joseph seyd wiff
my Joy my leff
say what ye wolde
no thyng my spouse
is In þis howse
vnto my pay
my son a kyng
þat made all thyng
lyth in hay.
A my dere

[ut supra].

my moder dere
amend your chere
and now be styll
thus for to ly
it is sothely

bis

my fadirs will
derision
gret passion
Infynytly
as it is fownde
many a wound
suffyr shall I
on caluery
that is so hye
ther shall I be
man to restore
naylid full sore
vpon a tre
A my dere

[ut supra].

CXXXVI.

[A gentill Jhesu]

CXLVIII.

[Smale pathis to the grene wode]

Smale pathis to the grene wode
will I loue and shall I loue
will I loue and shall I loue
no mo maydyns but one.
loue is naturall to euery wyght
Indyfferent to euery creature
chaungyng his course now hevy now lygt
As fortune fallyth I yow ensure
so rennyth the chaunce from one to one.
Smale pathis

[ut supra].

One is good but mo were better
Affter my reason and Jugement
consideryng dyvers fayrer and fetter
plesaunt buxum and obedient
till sum of them begynne to grone.
Smale pathis

[ut supra].

But I will do as I saide furst
so it is best as thynkyth me
to put in one my faithfull trust
ffor euer yff she will trew be
and loue her only whereuer she gone
Smale pathis

[ut supra].

CXLIX.

[Enforce yourselfe as goddis knyght]

Enforce yourselfe as goddis knyght
to strenkyth your comyns In ther ryght
Souerayn lord In erth most excellent
Whom god hath chose oure gyde to be
with gyffts grete and euydent
of marshiall power and also hye dignite
sith it is so now lett your labour be
Enforcyng yourself

[etc. ut supra].

God hath gyff you of his goodness
wisdome with strenkyth and soueraynte
all mysdone thyngs to redress
and specially hurts of þi commynalte
which cry and call vnto your maieste
In your person all þer hope is pyȝt
To haue recover of ther wryȝt
Enforce

[etc. ut supra].

CLI.

[In a slumber late as I was]

In a slumber late as I was
I harde a voice lowde call and cry-
amende the man of thi trespace
and aske forgeveness or euyr þou dye
Beholde he saide my creature
Whom I did make so lyke vnto me
what paynys I sofferd I the ensure
Where þou were thrall to make the ffre
vpon the cross with naylis thre
fast I was naylyd for thyne offence
therfore remembir the or þou go hens.
In a slumber

[etc. ut supra].

[Songs from Ritson's Folio-Ms.]

(Ms. Add. 5665)

3. De Sancta Maria

Syng we to this mery companey
Regina celi letare
Benyng lady blessed mote thow be
that barest god in virginite
therfor syng we to the
Regina celi letare
O Quene of heuen þat syttist in se
O comforte of all captiuite
Ryght causeth vs all to syng to the
Regina celi letare.
O blessed branche of Humilite
O causer of all felicete
With ioy and gladdenesse syng we to the
Regina celi letare.

5. De innocentibus

Sonet laus per secula
innocentium gloria
Dic erodes impie
what awayleth thy crueltis
in vinculis pro sanguine
yputte in payne with grete dystresse,
Adiuuat te milicia
Membra figi tenera
Thow gauest thy comowndment
Matrum terens viscera
Thy hope þou loste and thyn entent
Sternit dum militia
Deus nunc extinguere
Infynyte and most of pyte
Verens regnum perdere
In sorwe and woo thy see ys dyztte
Vixit dei milicia.

7. In die natiuitatis

Nowell nowell nowell nowell
Who ys there that syngith so nowell nowell nowell
I am here syre cristesmasse
Wellcome my lord sir cristesmasse
wellcome to vs all bothe more and lasse
come nere nowell
Dievs wous garde byews
sirs, tydyngs y zow bryng
a mayde hathe born a chylde full yong
the weche causeth for to syng
nowell
Criste is now born of a pure mayde
In an oxe stalle he ys layde
Wherfor syng we all atte abrayde
Nowell
Bevvex bien par tutte la company
Make gode chere and be ryght mery
And syng with vs now ioyfully
Nowell.

9. In die natiuitatis

10. In die circumcisionis

Make vs meri this new yere
thankyng god with hertely chere
Gabriell bryzther then the sonne
graciesly grette that mayden fre
thorffe hir mekenesse crist haue whe founde
ecce ancilla domini
Aue maria virgin bryght
we ioyeth of thy virginite benignite
The holy goste ys vn the lyght
þou hast conceyued thy sone so fre.
Now ys that mayde gret with chylde
Hir selue a lone also credebily
ffor the fende she shall vs shylde
So sayeth bokys in hure story.

12.

[In euery state in euery degre]

In euery state in euery degre
the mene ys the beste as semyth me
The hyer men clemmeth the sorer ys the falle
Banckes that lawe buthe sone ouerflow
the dender sownys perischeth castill ryall
the mene ys best as semyth me.
Hill that buth hye sufferith many showrs
A law vpon the yerthe ys merey to be
Then in hey howsys other grete tours
the mene ys best as semyth me.
Where the hegge ys lawest men doth ouerskyppe
To hew abow thy hedde, hit is but vanite,
lest in thy yee ther ffalle a chyppe
The mene ys best as semyth me.

15. In die natiuitatis

Haue mercy of me kyng of blisse
as much as thy mercy ys.
Of mary criste was bore
with owte wem of aney hore,
To saue vs that were forlore
kyng of all kyngs.
To vs he gaffe a somple abowte
That we shulde nozt be prowte
For he was wrapped in a clawte
kyng of all kyngs.
Pray we Ihesu heuen kyng
All so after owre endyng
To hie blysse euerlastyng
kyng of all kyngs.

17. In die natiuitatis

O radix iesse simplices
te nos inuocamus
Veni vt nos liberes
quem iam expectamus.
O of iesse thow holy rote
that to thi pepill arte syker merke
We calle to the be thow our bote
In the that we gronde all owr werke.
Thy laude ys exalted by lords and kyngs
No man to pryse the may suffice
Off the spryngith vertu and all gode thyngs
Come and delyuer vs fro owre malice.
Off the may no malice growe
That þou thy selue arte pure godenesse
In the be rotedde what we showe
And graunte ows blisse after owr decesse.

18. In die natiuitatis

O clauis Dauid inclita
Dans viam in portis
Educ nos de carcere
Et de vmbra mortis
O clauis

[ut supra]

O Dauid thow nobell key
cepter of the howse of israell
Thow opyn the gate and geff vs way
and saue vs fro owre ffendys ffelle
We be in prison, vn vs haue mynde
And lose vs ffro the bonde of synne
ffor that þou losest no man may bynde

[bis]

And þat þou losest may no man bynde
Lord bowe thyn yer to the we calle
Delyuer þou vs ffro wyckednesse
And bryng vs to thy ioyfull halle
Wher euer ys lyff with owten desstresse.

Trouloufe Ihon [and] Smert Ric.

19 Sancti Stephani

Pray ffor vs that we saued be
prothomartir stephane
In this vale off wrecchednesse
yprewed was thy mekenesse
ther thow art in ioye and blisse
circumfultus vndique.
With ffaith yarmed in feld to fyzth
Sad þou stodest as godys knygth
prechyng the pepill of gods myzth
manes plenus gratie
Before the tyrand þou were brozt
Stroks of payne þou dredest nozt
God was with the in all thy thozt
Spes eterne glorie.
With synfull wrecchys þou were take
Thy feyth þou woldest not forsake
But rather to dye for gods sake
Circumfusio sanguine.

20 De innocentibus

Psallite gaudentes, infantum festa colentes
When god was born of mary ffre
herode the kyng of galalee
was meued to malice by kyngs thre
munera portantes, Regem natum venerantes
Herode sende for men armed bryzth
To seke and sle the kyng of lyzth
The blessed chylde drow fro herods myzth
Armati sunt perimentes.

21 De innocentibus.

Worchepe we þis holy day
that all innocentis
ffor vs pray
Herode þat was bothe wylde and wode
ful muche he shadde of cristen blode
To sle þat chylde so meke of mode
that mary bare þat clene may
Mary with Ihesu forthe y frawzt
As the angell hur towzt
To flee the londe till hit wer sowzt
te epytte she toke hure way.
Herode slow with pryde and synne
Thowsands of II zer and with ynne
The body of criste he thozst to wynne
and to destrye the cristen fay.
Now Jhesu þat dyest for vs on the rode
And cristendest innocents in hir blode
By the prayer of thy moder gode
Bring vs to blysse þat lastith ay.

22 De natiuitate Dei.

O laudamus Te dominum confitemur
O blesse god in trinite
grete cause we haue to blesse thy name
þat now woldest sende downe fro the
the holy gost to stynte our blame
te deum laudamus
Syng we to god fader eternall
That luste to June with oure nature
The sone of hym celestiall
Man to be borne, oure saulis to cure
Te deum laudamus.
All te seynts in heuen on hye
And all that buthe in erthe all so
Geff laude and thangks deuotelye
To god abowe and syng hym to
Te deum laudamus.

26

[Spes mea in deo est]

Spes mea in deo est
When lordechyppe ys loste and lusti lekyng with all
When felichepe fayleth, and frendechepe dothe falle
then can y no comfort but crye and call
Spes mea in deo est.
When maystery ne mayntenaunce manhode ne myght
When reson ne rechesse may rewell me aryght
Then y with sorwe and care with in my herte plyght
Spes mea in deo est.
When age dothe growe then grucche y and grone
When febelnesse fallith then fawte y sone
Then can y non other but crye and call anone
Spes mea in deo est.

28

[Ihesu fili dei miserere me]

Ihesu fili dei miserere me
Glorius god in trinite
well of man and pyte
thus cryed the woman of canany
miserere mei, miserere mei

[Trouluffe].

Thou came fro heuen fro thi se
To this worlde a man to be
Ther for y crye deuoteli
Miserere mei
As þou haddest vn hir pyte
So y pray thou haue vn me
Glorius god in trinite
Miserere mei

[Smert].

29 De natiuitate

Tydyngs trew
ther buthe come newe
Blessed be ihesu
Tydings trew tolde ther ys trewe
iesu to be born of a mayde
now ys fulfillede that prophesie sayde
Blessed be ihesu
Tydings trew an angell bryght
song how ther ys sprong a lyzth
To all þat leued aryzth
Blessed be ihesu.

30 De natiuitate

Nascitur ex virgine
sine viri semine
A childe ys born of a mayde
in redempcion of vs all
worshipe we both nyzt and day
ffor vs was born in a oxe stall.
We buthe muche bonde to god allmyght
That sende his sone with gode entent
To be born of a mayde that ys bryght
That all mankynde shall nozt shent—

[Smert].

31

[Do well and drede no man]

Do well and drede no man,
the beste concell ys þat y can.
Now to do well how shalt þou do
herke to me and y shall the telle
thu with saule and mynde allso
hertely þou pray then doiste þou well.
Euen as thy selue with hole entent
To loue thy neizbore as saith the gospell
Thow hast by commaundement
Obserue thees too then doist þou well

34

[How shall y plece A creature uncerteyn]

How shall y plece A creature uncerteyn
your light [greuans] shall not me constreyn,
to avoyde your custumabyll dysdayn
þat ye loth y love wrappe þat yn your trayn
How shold y

[vt supra]

your on syttyng spech puttyth me to payn
with owt cause god knowyth y do not fayn
with hert y wyll you plece and your love attayn
How shold y plece A creature vncertayn
When y fynd you stedfast and certayn
y am right glad trstyng hit well remayne
but light [grevens?] turnyth your love agayne
How sholde y plece A creature oncertayne.
An old seyd saw hasty men sone slayn
love me lytyll and longe. Hote love doth not Rayne
speke or ye smyte, barke or ye byte
hold yowr handes twayn
How shold y plece a creature oncertayne.

35 De natiuitate

Proface welcom wellcome
This tyme ys born a chylde of grace
þat for vs mankynde hath take, proface
A kyngs sone and an emperroure
ys comyn oute of a maydynys toure
with vs to dwelle with grete honowre—proface
This holy tyme of cristemesse
All sorwe and synne we shulde relese
and caste away all honynesse—proface
The gode lord of this place entere
Seith welcome to all þat now apere
Vnto suche fare as [?] ye fynde here—proface
Wellcome be this new ere
And loke ye all be of gode chere
Oure lorde god be at oure denere—proface

36 Epiphanie

Jhesus autem hodie
Regressus est a iordane
When Jesus criste baptyzed was
the holy gost descended with grace
the faders voys was herde in the place
Hic est filius meus ipsum audite
There were thre persons and oo lorde
The sone baptized with on accorde
The fader sayde this blessed worde
Hic est filius meus.
Considere now all cristiante
How the fader sayde bycause of the
The grete mistery of the trinite
Hic est filius meus.
Now Jesus as þou art bothe god and man
And were baptized in flom iordayne
Atte oure last ende We pray the say than
Hic est filius meus.

37 Sancte Thome

Clangat tuba martir Thoma
vt liberet sic cristi vinea
Oute of the chaffe was pured this corne
and else the cherch had ben forlorne
To gods grange now where thow borne
O martir Thoma, o martir Thoma, o martir Thoma.
In london was bore this martir sothyly
Of c[anterbur]y Hadde he primacy
To whom we syng deuotely
O martir Thoma etc.

38.

[Man asay and axe mercy while þou may]

Man asay and axe mercy while þou may
In synne yf þou thi lyffe haue ledde
amende the man and be not adrad.
God for the his mercy hathe sprade
Asay asay
For thof thy synne be neuer so ille
Amende thy sylue man yf that þou wille
God will not that þou spylle
asay, asay
For he that the so dere hathe bozste
mercy he wolde that þou sozste
Iff þou hit axske he nayes hit nozste
asay asay
Thy lyffe vn erthe her thus þou spende
Prayng to Jhesu þat þou notte shende
Then ioy and blisse shall be thyn ende
Asay, asay.

39 De natiuitate

Jhesu fili virginis
miserere nobis
Jhesu of a mayde þou woldest be born
to saue mankynde that was forlorn
and all for owr synnes
miserere nobis.
Angelis ther wer mylde of mode
song to þat swete ffode
with ioye and blisse.
miserere nobis.
In a cracche was þat chylde layde
bothe oxe and asse with Hym playde
with ioye and blisse
miserere nobis.
Then for vs he shadde his blode
and all so he dyedde on þe rode
And for vs ywysse
miserere nobis.
And then to helle he toke the way
to raunson him þat there lay
with ioye and blisse
miserere nobis.

41.

[The best song as hit semeth me]

The best song as hit semeth me
peccantem me cotidie
While y was yong and hadde carage
I wolde play with grome and page
But now y am ffalle in to age
Timor mortis conturbat me
Yowthe ys now ffro me agon
and age ys come me vpon
Now shall y say and pray anon
parce michi domine.
I pray god y can no more
þou bozsteste me with wondes sore
To thy mercy thow me restore
saluum me fac domine.

45.

[O blessed lord full of pete]

O blessed lord full of pete
mane nobiscum domine
This worlde ys but a vanite
subtile and fals and no surte
Wher for we pray for charite
mane nobiscum domine—O blessed etc.
Extorcion hathe putte a downe
owt of oure syzth ryzt and resone
wherfor we pray vnte sone
mane nobiscum etc.
What shull we do a domys day
Ther shall we crye a well away
But oure lady helpe vs to say
mane nobiscum etc.
O lord þat arte in trinite
In ioye and blisse and vnite
Helpe vs of this mortalite
mane nobiscum etc.

46.

[The beste rede that I can do]

The beste rede that I can do
do well and drede no man
God sende vs pese and vnite
In engeland with prosperite
and geffe vs grace to ouer come
all our enemys and putte adowne
þat we mow syng As y sayde than
do well and dred no man

[vt supra].

Now pride and couetise all so
A downe ye most and many mo
A downe bolsteris and peked shon
for hit is derision, þerfor y say as y can
Do well and drede no man.
Alas this worlde kepith no sertayne
þorwfe fals lyuyng and more no refrayn
hit is in wayne þat y complayne
Butte þat oure lorde and souerayne
Graunte vs grace þat we mow say than
Do well and drede no man.
Now to the lady we do crye
with thy swete sone sende vs mercy
And geffe vs perfecte charite
Grace and loue with humilite
That we mow say as y began
Do well and drede no man.

48 De natiuitate

Blessed mote þou be swete Jhesus
qui hodie natus es nobis.
By thi burthe þou blessed lord
ys made of variaunce now on acorde
therfor we may s[h]yng this
Blessed mote þou be swete Jhesus

[bis]

qui hodie natus es.
Vpon this heygh blessed day
Jhesu in hys moderes armys lay
Where for to hym lete vs all say
Blessed mote þou be swete Jhesus.

[Smert].