Hymn to the Virgin.
BY WILLIAM HUCHEN.
[MS. no. cccxx. in the Library of New College, Oxford.]
THE MS., written about 1460, contains the Psalter in the later Wyclif version (Purvey), and prose translations of various canticles. The hymn, which is on the last page, appears to be in the same handwriting as the rest. Each of the seven stanzas (in "rime royal") is an acrostic on the name Stanlei. The person meant may possibly be Sir Thomas Stanley, who was created Baron Stanley in 1456, and died in 1459.—HENRY BRADLEY.
(1)
Swete and benygne moder and may,
Line 1
Turtill trew, flowre of women alle,
Aurora bryght, clere as the day,
Noblest of hewe, þus we the calle;
Lyle fragrant eke of the walle;
Line 5
Ennewid wiþ bemys of blys,
In whom neuer was founden mys.
Line 7
(2)
So fayre, so good, was neuer non;
Line 8
Transcendyng is ther-for þi place
Aungels alle and seyntis echone;
Next vnto god, such is þi grace.
Lo, þi mekenes þe did purchace
Line 12
Euer in ioy so to endure
In þi grete lande [sic], o princes pure.
(3)
Surmountyng is þin excellence,
Line 15
Thou rose of prys, thou flowre of may;
And phebus lyke in his ascence,
Natyff of blys where þou art ay,
Lady saunzpere, þis is no nay.
Line 19
Empres of helle also of righte,
In þe is eke owre anker pight
Line 21
