IV. Unprinted texts from MS. Trinity College, Cambridge, R. 3. 21.
The present offering of Lydgatiana contains the texts of poems in a MS. of Edward IV's time, left anonymous by the scribe, but wrongly ascribed by John Stow, the Elizabethan anti∣quary, to Lydgate. His reason for this ascription must be that many genuine poems by Lydgate are found in the same codex. The Trinity MS., as may be inferred from a colophon, was in the possession of Roger Thorney, a citizen of London, and the patron who furthered the printing by Wynkyn de Worde of Tre∣visa's version of the De Proprietatibus Rerum. [So de Worde tells us in his preface.] It no doubt came originally from London. The ownership of the MS. by Thorney raises an interesting question as to the authorship of the two little childlike Prayers at bed and at uprising which are given below. They markedly resemble in metrical form and in tone the little God me Speed [Printed by the editor, 'The Nation', N. Y., July 30, 1908.] which Trevisa inserted at the beginning of his translation from Bartholomew. Thorney's interest in this work by Trevisa makes it possible that he had access to some other MS. by that author, from which he had the prayers copied.
Among the other poems printed here, that on the Battle of Barnet is the most interesting. It presents the popular London view of Edward IV, who had endeared himself to the citizens by knightly displays and by other means hardly so honourable. Of the religious poems little can be said. The Lament of Mary is a late attempt to rival the beautiful earlier lyrics in this manner, and does not bear the comparison well. The Life of St. Anne and the Psalms of the Passion seem to be the work of the author of Magnificentia Ecclesia, printed by me from this MS. some time ago. [Publications of the Mod. Lang. Ass. of Am., Dec., 1909.] The Birds' Matins, printed from MS. Harley 2251 as Lydgate's in Halliwell's edition of the Minor Poems, may also be by the same hand. Of all the poems, that on the Seven Deadly Sins approaches most closely in its imitation to the genuine work of Lydgate.