Lydgatiana / [ed. H. N. MacCracken].

Lydgatiana.

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.

Incipit Vita Beate Anne matris Beate Marie Virginis. [Lydgate added by Stow.] [fol. 221]

O] blessyd Iesu that art full of myght, The ground of vertu and of all goodnes, Quykyn my derkenes and send me som lyght, For in the ys verrey sykernes; Be my comfort and streyngth my febylnes, [ 5] In that I wold take on me for to wryte Mekely Besechyng thy grace to endyte.

For in my-self ryght well I vndyrstand My wytte but sympyll and lak eke of connyng, Full vnabyll to take suche thyng on hand, [ 10] Weyke of spyryt and febyll in doyng, Sauyng oonly by the gret supportyng Wherfore, good lord, now make I my request, To quyte me lyke as hyt pleseth the best.

Gret foly were, and also presumpsioun [ 15] In hym that ys both naked and bareyn As in makyng to lak discrecioun There nothyng ys to harde were to constreyn The throuth to sey, I wyll be to yowe pleyn, I am vnpurueyed and in no wyse sure, [ 20] Safe my good wyll feyne wold I put in vre.

Thus half in feare, somdell in cowardyse, Whyche ys in maner a gret dyspleasure, Sore I am trobled many sondry wyse, Nothyng accordyng vnto my plesure; [ 25] But euyn clene contrary to my desyre, I wold be sory truly to offend, Natwithstandyng to labour I entend.

From heuen commeth helpe, ys an old prouerbe; Wherfore I wyll take now to me corage; [ 30] God yaue vertu both to stone and herbe, Whiche be vnresonable as in parage; He were to blame and also gret damage That hath hys wyttes ioynyd to resoun, But yef he occupy well hys sesoun. [ 35]

Hyt ys a vertu to rede in storyes, [fol. 221vo] And holy seyntes lyfes to translate; Hit causeth to be in the memoryes Of well disposyd pepyll in good state To theym where grace ys nothyng desolate [ 40] But by perseueraunce theym to apply Sore repentaunce puttyng awey foly.

For he that ys repentaunt, as I rede, Mercy to hym cannat be denyed; Gentyll Iesu hys owne body dyd sprede [ 45] For all synners on the crosse besyed, And of the cruell Iewes defyed Wherfore take we now vnto that good hede, He neuer faylyd creature at nede.

He that for helpe lyst mekely to hym call, [ 50] He ys redy to euery good entent. To let I wyll nat, what-soeuer befall, I wyll kepe forth my purpose as I ment, More hardynes the good lord hath me sent A gret dell, than I had at the begynnyng, [ 55] I trust hys grace shall bryng hit to endyng.

To be rebukyd, lo, I were to blame, In myn owne mynde, for doyng my dewte.

Of vertuous labour cam neuer yet shame, For Idylnes ys nought, in no degre, [ 60] The moder of vyce ys, I am in suerte; Therfore I wyll besy me to procede And call aboue for help when I haue nede.

In hym ys mercy, in hym ys pyte; Beware, ye cruell hertes mercyles, [ 65] Remembre hym well, take good hede and se Put clene fro yow your froward crewelnes, Ye shall repent hit tofore els dowteles, For man without mercy, mercy shall mys, He shall haue mercy that mercifull ys. [ 70]

Bethynke yow well on this noble story, [fol. 222] Of pore Laȝar and Diues in your mynde, How ryche he was, and now ys so sory, Because to Laȝar he was so vnkynde, For lak of grace he was to blynde, [ 75] In worldly ryches withouten pyte, For-euermore therfor dampnyd ys he.

O noble vertu callyd pyte, That art so gret in the hygh court aboue, Well ys hym that endewed ys with the, [ 80] Whyche came downe clerely for verrey loue, For worldly ioy neyther to heue ne shoue, Neuer man yet rad in holy scripture, A piteous man dampnyd, thys am I sure.

O parfyte charyte, whyche art withouten pere, [ 85] Thow art best worthy forto haue the gre, And to be worshippyd both ferre and nere, For all vertues byn groundyd apon the Feythe and hope of thy consanguinite; He that these iij. lacketh ys but clene shent, [ 90] Woo shall he be, that hath hys tyme so spent!

I lowly make now my peticion To all masteres that thys shall here or rede, Submyttyng me to youre correccioun For vnconnyng my symple penne doth lede [ 95] As a voyce in feare and eke in drede. Thys ys the fyrst and eke the begynnyng, Besechyng yow of your good supportyng.

Explicit Prologus [Lydgate: in Stow's hand].

O] blessyd Anne aboue predestinate, [fol. 223vo] Chose by the godhede of hys gret goodnes [ 100] To be moder of that inuiolate Most glorious vyrgyn, grounde of mekenes, Moder to the secund person pereles, Abydyng styll in pure virgynyte And euer shall in perpetuyte! [ 105]

Most dere brethern, thys day to vndyrstond As hit apereth by the story,

We halow and worshyp in euery lond Of seynt Anne chef the festfull memory, Whyche ys departyd and is in glory, [ 110] And hath forsaken the carnall pryson Of the body; to the soule a dongeon.

Thys gloryous Anne, happy, full of grace, Ys caryed vp most worshipfully To the hyghest of seyntes in that place, [ 115] With the seruyce of aungelles truly, Vnto the euerlastyng company Of patriarkes and prophetes old She ys comyn, with ioyes manyfold;

Of whom she hath takyn hyr begynnyng, [ 120] And hyr flesshly habite by trew discent, That God shuld send so by hyr forth-bryngyng Vnto hys peple, thys was the entent, Of the pure godhede, sothly, by assent, By the frute of hir wombe redempcioun, [ 125] And vtterly distroy discencioun.

Therfore oure modyr, all-holy chyrche clere, Of thys holy matrone doth both ioy and syng, Gardyd and holdyn vp, both fer and nere, By hyr suffragys, and that in euery thyng, [ 130] Wherfore with all deuocioun yeuyng In preysyng of her gret laude and thanke, ffor of oure wele she was the verrey banke.

She ys forsoth that blessyd hygh erthe fyne, [fol. 223] Of the whyche the heuynly potter hath made [ 135] Of the most swete shoure of hys dewe dyuyne, The pot of oure hope whiche shall neuer fade, The son of God conceued vs to glade In oure nature hath brought forth incarnate, Whyche of the hygh influence was create. [ 140]

She ys the goodly felde circumspect With floures of the heuynly bames, Of whos swetnes the verrey preelect Diffuse odour, clene withouten blames, Hath wellyd out with hys fragraunt floures [ 145] Of lyfe by the costes, so louyngly, Of all the world to comfort feythfully.

And in thys felde the spouse of virgyns all Hath medled his myrre most delycious With hys swete flauoures, whyche byn eternall, [ 150] Hath tempred with the swetnes precious By the infinite power glorious Of hys most excellent diuinite The bitternes of oure sore mortalite.

Blyssyd Anne, whyche in operacioun [ 155] Of oure redempcioun ys gone out, Lyke as the rote hath dominacioun Of the tre and the braunches round about, Of whom the heuynly rodde, withouten dout,

Ys comen out that most blyssyd virgyne; [ 160] Seynt Mary, thys derk world to enlumyne;

Whyche gret with chylde, hyr owne begotyn son, The hygh almond of the most dyuyne floure, Hath brought forth to sease oure dyuysion, Of whos swetnes dayly and euery houre [ 165] The ioyfull refeccioun and socoure Fedeth the aungellys in heuyn aboue And men in erthe of verrey pure loue.

Of Bethlem, forsoth, that nobyll cyte [fol. 223vo] Of Dauid, Anne ys gone out sycurly, [ 170] And come out of the hygh rote of Jesse Whos blyssyd chyld that holy seynt Mary Cryste hath brought forth, and borne most parfytely, Whyche the captiuite had turnyd clene Of Jacob and all comyng of hys strene. [ 175]

And also the most harde durabyll wall Of oure old auncyen enmyte [enimyte MS.] Betwene God and man clerely ouerall, And by the mene of hys natyuyte God in hys manhode, of his gret pyte, [ 180] Hath distroyed, oonly of his grace, And ordeynyd hath, vs to his hygh palace.

How gloryous, how worthy, and dere Ys thys modyr. & eke how precyous To be takyn with hyr solempne prayere [ 185] Whyche hath brought vs a moder most famous, Of oure redempcioun verrey ioyous, And in hyr includyd the testament Of the hygh heritage by consentement,

Wherfore we ought to preyse thys holy Anne, [ 190] Modyr of thys most holy virgine, With all worshyp that may be had or canne, And with the holy pryuylege diuine She hath begoten hyr that ys most dygne, Whereyn she passeth other moders all, [ 195] More happier, and in especiall

Of suche a chylde to ioy the priuilege Truly that shuld hyr owne maker begete, And of all other the trouthe to allege; Therfore ioy thow and be glad in thy fete, [ 200] Thow happy modyr! before other grete, In conceuyng and bryngyng forth also Suche oon that hath sesyd all oure wo,

By whom the Aungelys haue theyre gladnes [fol. 224] And the ryght wisemen haue theyre parfyte grace [ 205] And synners foreuer forgeuenes, By mercye of thys modyr in thys cace, Of the modyr of Cryst, oure chyef solace

Euer styll abydyng virgyn, pure and clene, And euer shall, she ys oure parfyte mene. [ 210]

The name of Anne, to sey hyt ys but grace, For whyche, dere brethern, ye shall vndyrstond She ys of grace full of the hyghest place, In whom the herytage most surely doth stond Of oure fadyr Jacob, lowsyng the bond, [ 215] By hyr most ennobelyd magnificence, Puttyng awey clene all vyolence.

The twelue sonnes of Jacob, verryly, Support the ground of the fundacioun, Of the holy place of Anne, truly; [ 220] They lyste hit clene by hygh elacioun, The most noble regale formacioun, Eȝechias, and Oȝias, also, Whyche byn bryght shynyng with other many mo,

As precious stones incomperabyll, [ 225] In the felyshyp yeuyng theyre beames, And in the hous of the modyr stabyll, Regale of god hath sent out hys stremes With so craftyous shynyng and lemes, No tong can telle how meruelously, [ 230] Of the hygh influence copiously.

Among whom Judas and Leui do shyne Before all other, there most myghtyly, Of whom the kyngdom and presthode, by lyne Of the same pepyll, ys gon out truly; [ 235] The corner stone Cryst hath bound hem, surely, Togedyr as two stone walles most sure, In the blyssyd Anne, modyr clene and pure.

In hyr holsom formacioun onely [fol. 224vo] She ys that most clere matere capious, [ 240] Of the hyghest beldyng to magnify, Of the kynrede of whom God gloryous The fadyr, all-myghty, most precyous Fouchesafe to make a syngler place new, Of the glorious modyr and vyrgyn trew. [ 245]

Of hys owne only begoten son dere, Thys day, dere brethern, most specyally In honour of thys matrone ferre and nere, Most worshipfull and blessyd entyerly, As we haue seyde before, now verryly, [ 250] And in thys day togedyr we byn come We stedefastly beleue both all and some,

Out of thys world she ys departyd clene, And worthy hit ys yet, neuertheles, To laude and preyse hyr housbond by som mene, [ 255] Blessyd Joachim the man of nobles, And of the most parfyte hygh holynes Whyche were both oon flesshe ioynyd parfytely, Of whom procedyd euyn naturally

The most blessyd and glorious virgyn [ 260] As God wold haue hym in oure worshippyng, Forsoth the storyes shewyn by dyuyne, That the most clere and parfyte begynnyng Of thys worshipfull virgyn forth commyng Out of the stok of Dauid, veryly, [ 265] Allwey styll pure, yeuyng lyghte feythfully

Vnto thys derk world most prosperyously. Hyr fadyr Joachim neuertheles And Anne forsoth hyr modyr eke truly Of worldly goodys lackyd none doutles [ 270] They were myghty and puissaunt in nobles; Of erthely thynges so gret influence Passyng all other ferre in excellence.

But yet were they more myghty a gret dele [fol. 225] Of prouyd vertues, so euydently, [ 275] As for theyre worldly ryches yet, and wele, In the encresyng toke none hede onely, Hyt was a thyng they set but lytell by; But rather iustly ioyed in vertew, Lawfully to lyue, all vice[s] to eschew. [ 280]

Ne theyre appetyte was so mykell In the ioy of thys world to folow here, But more a gret dele redy to fulfyll The heuynly Justyse that bothe ferre and nere, They besyed hem, where that the pepyll were, [ 285] And labored bothe sore in studying, In the law of God, without quarellyng.

For the whyche they lyued in the pepyll of God, But moche more studiously they were, And in theyre deuocioun was to gret od, [ 290] Passyng all other of that same pepyll clere In theyre lyuyng they were withoutyn pere, Whyche brought forth of theyre most noble kynrede Most shynyng sterre coueryd with the godhede.

Whyche of hys pyte hath brought forth a Roose [ 295] Of the thorny pepyll, yet, notwithstandyng, The fadyr and modyr, withouten gloose, Of thys most holy pure virgyn beyng Were clene withouten thornes hauyng, But yet of theym byn they com reseruyd, [ 300] By goddes speciall grace preserued.

The Jewes be lykenyd to thornes, For theyre obstinate froward crokydnes, They may be callyd thorny well, ywys, For why, the thorne ys bareyn and fruteles; [ 305] So in theym is nomaner of goodnes, But byn perseueraunt in theyre erroure, Forsakyng clene the heuynly socoure.

Also they cam bothe verrey felowly, [fol. 225vo] All of one wyll in parfyte charyte, [ 310]

They were ioyned togeder lawfully In the nobyll cyte of galyle, The contrey callyd ys Nazareth, parde, Where Joachim the fadyr was borne sure, And Anne the modyr in Bethlem so pure. [ 315]

And for they were bothe vn to God so iust And all men aswell, withoutyn fable, For in hym was theyre verrey inward trust, To the tempyll of God nothyng varyable, To nedy pylgryms eke bothe ferme & stable, [ 320] Yeuyng two partys of theyre p[ro]pre goodis By oon assent, and with ryght good moodys,

The thryd part to theyre owne vse reseruyd, Wheron they lyuyd bothe temporally, And were susteynyd and so preseruyd [ 325] For to sey bareyn they were both truly, About the seson of yeres twenti The tempyll of God where that they hauntyd, Deuoutly praying there god worshippyd,

Certayn dayes as they were wonyd to done [ 330] That they myght bothe deserue, and in that case Some worthy frute to God thys was theyre bone, Of theyre owne flessh bryng forth withyn a space A son or a doughter onely by grace And whan that they had made theyre solempne a vowe [ 335] There as they were, in goddes seruice, howe

What maner chylde soeuer they shuld begete, By Goddes yefte besechyng inwardly, Aftyr thys Joachym hys wo was grete Heryng the rebuke, that so vnkyndely [ 340] Of Isacar the bysshop thretyngly, As for to sey he callyd hym bareyne, "There ys no frute brought forth betwene yow tweyne,

In Israell", and when he thus had seyde, [fol. 226] Anon both sory and eke confusyd [ 345] Went forth hys wey, and was euyn dismayed Nat to hys howse as he somtyme vsyd, Ne to hys wyfe, he was clene abusyd, But to hys shepardes sothly he went Tyll bettyr tydynges to hym were sent. [ 350]

And the pyte dyuyne dyd recomfort Hys greuous anguysshes and hys gret peyn. An aungell from heuyn downe to hym resort Bothe syght and spekyng made hym verrey feyn, And promysyd hym a mayden souereyn [ 355] Of hys begetyng truly to be born, To releue all that were but clene forlorn.

Sothly that a meruelous dignite Of the chyld, pronouncyd by the aungell, Shuld opynly be knowyn in all degre [ 360] And also a meruelous clerete be fell, The aungell of lyght sent there for to tell

To Joachym the fadyr with gret lyght, The aungell dyd appere to hym in syght.

And to hym declared of that virgyne [ 365] That shuld be borne callyd the verrey lyght, Commyng forth of the heuynly lyght to shyne, So mekyll thys holyest virgyn bryght, Modyr to com and chose by Goddes myght, To be the modyr of all holynes [ 370] Whyche that was born sure in clene parfytenes,

Of the most holy couple lawfully; Therfore forsoth of ryght hit most nede be, That of all good the best ys she suerly. And of all holy the holyest ys she [ 375] Of bareyns frutefull virgynyte And the most habundaunt frutefulnes Whyche shuld be born clere in parfyte goodnes.

As a good tree bryngeth forth a ioyfull floure, [fol. 226vo] And of that floure a verrey frute of lyfe, [ 380] The furst were good, parfyte in euery houre, The secund bettyr ferre, withouten stryfe, That blessyd vyrgyn modyr, mayde, and wyfe; At the last of these best incomparabyll Whyche bryngyng forth was most alowabyll. [ 385]

That commeth of a good fadyr and modyr The commyng of the most blessed virgyne, Mary ys bettyr passyng all other Of whom the chylde that she brought forth most digne, As for to sey that blessyd frute dyuyne [ 390] Of her wombe ys good chyef aboue all thyng, For he was verrey lord of all and kyng.

Thys holy vyrgyn of these good commyng Ys bettyr, and best of all hyr kynrede, Borne in the house of hir fadyr beyng [ 395] As by the space of iij yere in dede Brought forth, and kept with aungelles by theyr rede; Hyt ys beleuyd, thereyn no dout ys To lytyll and moche the trouth cannat mys.

Also the trouthe techyng that hyt ys thus, [ 400] Knowyn playnly by informacioun, And ys proued moche truer vnto vs; For to make a trew declaracioun There ys non hath suche dominacioun, Insomoche there can be nothyng so trew, [ 405] She chaungyd oure sorowes vnto ioyes new.

That from the begynnyng she was kept sure With holy aungeles allwey hourely, Thys holyest virgyn that was so pure, Forsoth for they had knowlege certeynly [ 410] Of hyr gret power, to com so myghtyly Aftyr allmyghty God aboue all clene, They knew she shuld of heuyn and erthe be quene.

Begynnyng of the holy euangell [fol. 227] Sheweth by tretyng aftyr Mathew, [ 415] The boke of the genology doth tell The nobyll discent, how that they came a rew, Lynyally the playn trouthe for to shew, Of Iesu cryst the son of Dauid kyng, Son of Abraham, so forth downe commyng. [ 420]

And so forth the verrey pleyne Omely Of dyuerse tretyse ys drawyn oute, Therfor Matthew, euaungelist holy, Wrytyng the booke clerely, without doute, And besyed hym to bryng hit aboute [ 425] Of Iesu Crystes generacioun, Makyng pleynly the declaracioun;

And callyd hym the son of these above By other promyssys made certeynly, Whyche was done of verrey speciall love [ 430] To these two Cryst made repromyse, onely, Long before thys to Abraham, truly, And seyde that "all the pepyll in thy sede Shalbe blessyd on erthe with the godhede".

And also to Dauid forsoth he seyde: [ 435] "Of the frute of thy wombe shall syt on thy sete." Abraham brought forth Isaac to eyde And Isaac Jacob he dyd begete, Thys foloweth forsoth the trouth for to trete, The manhode of Crystes generacion [ 440] Whyche that he toke for oure sauacion.

Mathew fro the begynnyng of the promyse That ys to Abraham remembryng The most noble progenitours and wyse, Whiche lyneally procedyng doth bryng, [ 445] Vnto Joseph a verrey chosyn thyng, Housband of the blessyd virgyn Mary Of whom was borne swete Iesus sycurly.

Whoso beholdeth and redeth onely [fol. 227vo] The hystory pleyn of the euaungell, [ 450] In Crystes most noble genology All of habundaunce renneth, as a welle, Downe vnto Anne, as the story doth telle, That she shuld be a verrey chosyn merke Of lawe and grace forto fulfyll thys werke; [ 455]

By whom ys seyn that the gret dygnyte Of all mankynde in Cryste shuld floryssh new, And of hyr wombe, forsoth hyt ys to se, She brought the floure forth, chyeff of all vertew, Long before thys whyche nedys most be trew, [ 460] The holygost seyde, that of holy chyrche A whyte clothe was made all oure wele to wyrche.

Figuryng of this whyte cloth she hath made Of whytenes the coloure incomperable,

Hyt ys the same the whyche shall neuer fade, [ 465] The holygost spake of most laudable, That blyssed virgyn, euer immutable; She ys the whyte clothe and syndony, That brought vnto all synners remedy.

Whyche was most pure and that she solde [ 470] And toke a gyrdyll to the Canane, The snowy whytenes passeth manyfolde, Of thys syndony betokeneth purete, And the virginall clennes to beholde In the whyche the blessyd modyr Anne [ 475] Abydyng styll whyche that she weued thanne.

The vndyrstandyng of this Canane Ys he that loueth wonder feruently; So dyd the good lord in hys mageste, She was the self and eke the same truly [ 480] That she toke to the gyrdyll certeynly, And for the gyrdyll what that hit dothe mene Certys hyt ys the virgyne pure and clene.

She was gyrdyll to the most louly lombe, [fol. 228] The secund persone of the Trynyte, [ 485] When that he was withyn hyr blessyd wombe, The most feythfull trew louer yet was he That euer was of hys gret pyte; He suffred peynes and oppressioun Euyn wyllyngly for oure transgressioun [ 490]

When the moder of good blessyd Mary, That day she sprang in oure nature humayne, And brought hyr forth in forme temporally Out of the palace of hyr wombe certayne, To the redempcioun of mankynde playne, [ 495] Whyche she solde to God the fadyr aboue And in that virgyn was nothyng but loue.

Hyt well appereth the son incarnate Of the fadyr all myghty made shuld be, Pryce of the modyr clene immaculate [ 500] And that precious virgyn Mary fre Shuld appere to those in captyuyte, Clene to delyuer hem out of thraldom By hyr gret goodnes and blyssyd wysdom.

Wherof the holy aungell fro God was sent [ 505] To shew vnto the fadyr and modyr Of thys most holy vyrgyn the entent That shuld be borne excedyng fer all other, Of oure feythe to be the guyde and rother, Shewyng to hem hyr name and eke hyr lyfe [ 510] Hyr comyng pleyne to seasyng of all stryfe.

Also pronounced hyr in the tyme commyng The modyr of the son of God to be, To whom the gret aungell seyde accordyng, Gabriell, when he gret hyr on hys kne, [ 515] When she was come to full age in the gre,

Of maryage spousyd, certeynly, To holy Joseph, but nat carnally,

Ne couplyd by carnall affeccioun, [fol. 228vo] The coniunccioun was verrey heuynly; [ 520] The godhede toke holely direccioun Notwithstandyng hit was lawfully Aftyr the course and fourme vsually, There was no sensuall part that greued, Hyt was all godly; and so hyt preued. [ 525]

Sothely aftyr thys salutacioun, Holy and worthy, sent fro the hyghest To suche a virgyne of probacioun, Excedyng all other, both most and lest, She was the verrey modyr of behest [ 530] To thys world, that hath brought feythfully The tresure of oure fynaunce fynally.

She was the vessell of eleccioun, Chosyn by the deyte gloryous To bere hym, that shuld make redempcioun, [ 535] For all mankynde shent and dolorous The aungell seyde to hyr gracious, The holyest that euyr was or shal be Thow blessyd virgyn shal be borne of the.

"He shalbe called verrey goddes son." [ 540] She was kept therfor most souerenly In kepyng of aungellis that seson, They wallyd hyr clene round about, surely, Such obseruaunce they dyd, and gret cause why, They knew ryght well she shuld bryng forth the kyng [ 545] Of aungellys, passyng all erthely thyng.

And a gret whyle before that she was borne Hyr name was knowyn, hyr lyfe, and dignite, To bere hym that shuld were the crowne of thorne, Preuyded by the blessyd Trynyte; [ 550] She was predestinat, and none but she To be the worldes verrey chief comfort By hym that shuld out of hyr wombe resort.

But vnto this maner of kepyng most sure, [fol. 229] That ys fortosey heuynly and aungelike, [ 555] Was gret in the fadyres hous and pure, But more excedyng ferre and autentyke, In the holy houshold of God and lyke, Whyche forto speke of ys incomparable, No tong can tell how delectable. [ 560]

Of whom forsoth she was offryd vp pleyn In the temple, bothe fadyr and modyr To God presentyd hyr, there both tweyn And he receuyd hyr and none othyr Whyche passeth before all the othere, [ 565] Natwithstandyng the other was ryght good Thys ys verre[y] bettyr whoso vndyrstond.

God that hath takyn here to hym self truly, He hath kept hyr of hys inly goodnes By hys holy aungelys besyly, [ 570] He hath preseruyd hir full of mekenes, Euyn at hys owne sanctuary pereles, Hys owne dere son whyche was most pure and clene Of God and men to be the verrey mene.

When the fulnes of tyme and the sesoun [ 575] Preuentyd before by tyme prefynyte God sent hys son, whyche passyth all resoun, Made of a woman without lawe to quyte And theym redeme that lost were by delyte By the lawe ageyne that were oppressyd, [ 580] Lowsyng theyre bondes that had transgressyd.

Also thys mayden, of God thus elect And preelect, abode and dwellyd styll In the temple of God, to hyr most dilect, And she also set holyly all hyr wyll [ 585] The plesure of God onely to fulfyll The worshipfull tempyll of god to preyse, In that she myght the honoure for to reyse,

That with hir worthiest most precious [fol. 229vo] Parfyte feyre speche, inly delectable, [ 590] Holy blessyd and eke mellyfluous That she myght therto be ryght acceptable, That he that strong kyng Dauid & stable, Of the rote of whom she ys descendyd, As the trouthe before ys comprehendyd. [ 595]

Hyt ys red in the psalme of Dauid pleyn "Thow good lord, part of myn enherytaunce". [Dominus pars hereditatis mee] Forsoth forsaken was she now certeyn Of fadyr and modyr clerely in substaunce, And there betakyn to Goddes vsaunce [ 600] Commyttyd to hym truly for to plese And the old sorowes sothly to appese.

And how she lyuyd from that tyme forth, Or how in the tempyll she behad hyr Hyt ys nat possyble to sey for-soth, [ 605] To any man that euer was nygh or fer To thynke or devyne all but veyne hyt were, Hyt passeth to fer all mannys resoun No tong can tell how she dyd that sesoun.

And all feyne speche that can bethougt truly [ 610] Shall fayle, hit ys incomprehensible; And all the coniecturyng eke, sothely, Vanyssheth, and ys clere impossible To mannys resoun, clene insensible, From the face of hyr superhabundaunt [ 615] Vertues, innumerable, extendaunt.

Of thys virgyns most excellent grace In the conspect, of the hygh mageste

Of hym whyche chase hyr for hys restyng place Preuydyd by the parfyte Trinite, [ 620] The mayde, the lyfe, the tyme, when hit shuld be, Wherfore to yeue hyr dew laude and presysyng Accordyngly hit passeth all connyng.

O happy Joachim! therfor ioy thow [fol. 230] And be glad that thus hast deserued, [ 625] To be callyd the verrey fadyr now Of suche a chylde, ioy thow, thus preserued; But thow Anne that art also reserued Joye now to gedyr, long tyme happyere Then Anne the modyr of Samuel fere. [ 630]

Thow hast brought forth the heuynly myrrour chyeff And the parfyte lyly of chastyte, The ground and mene off all oure bonechyeff, The houshold of clennes and honeste, The lanterne of lyght and welle of pyte, [ 635] The consolacioun of all wrechys, And of all trew pepyll the hope of blys.

Quene of aungellys, fountayn of mercy, Mediatrice of thy ineffable grace, Whyche to all synners art euyr redy [ 640] To helpe and comfort in euery space, And to vs all worshippyng in what place Of thys same day the gret solempnyte She bryngeth grace of hyr benygnyte.

Lady of the world, make vs glad with the, [ 645] And with Cryst Iesu, oure lord, thyn owne son, In euerlastyng ioy, for thow art verrey she, The blessyd moder of redempcioun, Bryng vs vnto thy sonnys hygh mansioun, To whom be parfyte honoure and glory, [ 650] By all the worldes now infinitely.

Now blessyd seynt Anne, of thy gret goodnes, With my trew hert I mekely beseche the, Here my prayere and do thy besynes, Be mene for vs all with thy doughtres thre [ 655] To that most holy blyssyd Trynyte Of hys gret mercy, that we may be hys, And when we dy to haue eternall blys.

Amen.

Explicit vita sancte Anne Matris beate Marie virginis.

Incipiunt Psalmi Passionis domini. [fol. 174vo]

o] Lord omnipotent, fader of oure creacyoun, All thing producyng only by volunte, Thy son transmysyng from hys habytacyoun, Tendryst oure nature with pure virgynyte, Whyche son immortal, with deth vs raunsomyd he, [ 5] To stable oure kynde suffryng better passyoun To oure pore frealte spred hys myld compassyoun.

I the beseche, with soule humble and meke, Pylgrym here on erthe and toward thy glory, Beset with vice, in vertu dull and seke, [ 10] That these X psalmes in spyryte of prophesy Pronouncyd of Dauyd, conquerour of Goly, May be refuge and pauyce of defencyon, To garde my spyryt when I of theym haue mencion.

And as thy sayd son, when he shuld nedys dy, [ 15] Behelde thy chyrche full rawe and yet remysse, Exortyng thy peple to haue a specyall ey, That the to prayse they neuer cese ne mysse, So thow, my guyde, dyspysyng worldly blysse, By thys fyrst psalme to ryse from wylfull syn, [ 20] And grace to purchase when I shall hens twyn.

Psalmus. Deus deus meus respice in me &c. Ver. Adoramus te christe & benedicimus tibi. Quia per sanctam crucem &c.

Caput misericordie qui propter nos descendisti. Oracio in vtero virginis appensus ligno perfossus clauo. Vesti∣mentis insuper sorti diuisis / surrexit liber ab inferis / precamur ergo vt huius commercii non immemor sis populis ab ore leonis ereptis rector qui fuisti quondam in te spectantibus liberator. Per.

Now by thy passyoun the churche clensyd ys From all pollucioun of orygynall syn, And we renate vnto eternall blys, By watyr of baptym both we and all oure kyn, [ 25] And fatly to fostre oure soules withyn, Norysshed with sacramentis of thy lawe new, Where feyth vs sheweth dyspeyre to eschew.

Refresshe my mynde with stabyll perseueraunce, [fol. 175] That I nat wandre in doute or in ambiguyte, [ 30] Let trew deuocioun myn hert so avaunce, That thy loue be my felycite; Rule so my resoun that I ne rely from the, My maker, my keper, in all my welth, Preserue from syn, conseruer of myn helth. [ 35]

Psalmus. Dominus regit me. Ver. Esto nobis domine turris fortitudinis. A facie inimici. Oracio.

Rege nos suauibus precepcionis bonis. vt eterni ha∣bitaculi habitacione percepta plenitudine perhennis po∣cula repleamur. Per.

The erthe ys thyne, the world thow dost enbrace, Expellyng vyce from the yates of oure credence, Excludyng Idols, oure mynde they nat purchace. Thow vs exortyst that we cause noon offence, But gladly receue with hert and dylygence, [ 40] The kyng of glory, stroyer of Portas infernall, Losyng oure bondage to entyr hys heuynly hall.

Graunt, lord, to me by tythe of prescyence, The lyues to sew of that generacioun,

Whyche the ay seketh with full pure innocens, [ 45] In werk, in thought, in euery occupacioun, And that no fende haue in hys domynacioun On my pore soule my neyghbour to begyle But that thys psalme enbarre may hys fals wyle.

Psalmus. Domini est terra. Versic. Saluum fac populum tuum domine. Et rege eos vsque ineternum. Oracio. stabilior terre deus cui cuncta mundi plena deseruit. restitue nobis innocenciam vite. vt possimus te preuio montem sanctificacionis ascendere. Per.

Ryght as thy pepyll chosyn of thy grace [ 50] [fol. 175vo] Shuld thorough repentaunce confesse thyne infinite name, So lat my mynde on thy love to arrace Enforsyng my soule in ernest and in game, The to remembre, that dred of worldly shame. Me nat affaynte thorough synfull cowardyse, [ 55] And yef I stumble I shame nat sone to aryse,

And stable my flessh by vertuous conuersacioun To myn approche, and guerdoun eke eternall, So that my foes haue noon occasioun With scornyng mockes, to kepe bond or thrall, [ 60] Dyrect my steppys that I from the nat fall; Enbar confusyoun from hert, wyll, and speche, And graunt thys psalm to be my gostly leche.

Psalmus. Ad te domine Leuaui animam meam &c. Versic. Ostende nobis domine misericordiam tuam. Et salutare tuum da nobis. Oracio libera nos ab omnibus angustiis nostris iustissime deus quia animas nostras exigimus obliuiscere quesumus delicta iuuentutis & ignorancie prioris nostre. vt siquid negligenter delin∣quimus clementer ignoscas. Per.

Besecheth thy grace with humble consecracioun, Thy churche here halowed and consecrat with thy blood. [ 65] To be theyre justyce, ioy, and gostly food, In ryght to sew all thyne obseruacioun, Now kepe thy peple from all malignyte That vice withdraw nat oure loue, ay dew to the.

And as for my tyme and werk, [ 70] [fol. 176] Graunt me defensioun from all my gostly foone, That they my wyll, myn hert, ne conscience breke, But that my plesure be set to the allone, And of thy mercy stable me as a stone, That hope me comfort in euery sore temptacioun, [ 75] So that I voyde the nett of dylectacioun.

Psalmus. Judica me domine quoniam ego in inno∣cencia &c. Versic. ffiat misericordia tua domine super nos quemadmodum sperauimus in te. Oracio.

Largire quesumus misericordiam tuam famulis tuis supplicibus et fac nos in veritate tua deuotos vt arti∣bus nostris in innocencia restitutis liberari mereamur ab impiis per christum.

Thow art oure lyght illumynyng conscience clere, To entre thy lawe, with feyth to lyue and dy, Lat hope and ioy defend vs from all wyere, And lovely drede let banyssh oure gostly spy [ 80] Thow beyng oure protectour we for no fals enuy, Who shuld aproche with woo vs to assayle, Where thow art present euer to our avayle.

Now gentyll lord, benygne and liberall, As to Dauid yaue mercy thorough repentaunce [ 85] And shewdyst hym grace to suppryse vices [vicell sic MS.] all, Let of thy pyte som vertu me avaunce, Lyft vp myn hert in continuall remembraunce My conscience to serche, clensyd with charyte, Offryng mysylf, sacryfice pure to the. [ 90]

Psalmus. Dominus illuminacio mea &c. Ver. Exurge domine adiuua nos. Et libera nos propter nomen tuum. Oracio.

Defende nos a castris & preliis inimicorum adiutor omnium deus vt in domo tue perpetuitatis durantes mereamur vultum tuum spirituali contemplacione sus∣picere. Per.

Thy martyrs cryen with hert deuout and meke, [fol. 176vo] Theyre voyces byn herd in suffrage of theyre meryte, Applaudyng thy presence syth lyfe thorough deth they seke, And to tryumphe eternally be knyt, Suche ys thy guerdoun [guerdoin sic MS.] from troubyll in pese to syt [ 95] For losse erthely to purchase and possede The glory of heuyn to be theyre fynall mede.

Thy streynght of power, thy waraunt of proteccioun, Ys sure saufcondute from all oure gostly foon, And I beleue the plenytude of thy dyleccyoun, [ 100] Ys bawme sufficient to hele vs euerychon, [This line in margin, same hand.] And though my soule be festred to the boon, I shall neuer cease on the to call and cry, The welle of pyte, multiplyed with mercy.

Psalmus. Ad te domine clamabo. Ver. Domine fiat pax in virtute tua. Et habundancia in turribus tuis. Oracio.

Fortitudo omnium fortissime deus salua populum tuum & descendentibus in lacum et ita nos in templo sancto tuo vnamiter in mente vt pacem cum proximis ore proferimus puris cordibus teneamus. Per. X.

Stedfast in credence, exhorteth thys psalme present, [ 105] With mynde deuout to obey all sacryfice, As thy deth shuld cause vs to repent, Thy ioyfull lyfe shall glade vs euery wyse, With herty love oure passyons to suppryse, And as Dauid the knew in spyryt of prophesy, [ 110] We ought the to worshyp with vs now man bodyly.

Eke as thy chyldren in templys of thy law Offred theyre wethers in homage and fewte, Make me a wreche in vertues dull and raw, Thy polysshyd Arke garnysshyd with beawte, [ 115] Of good thewes that I may to the Present myn hert, contryte, humble, and meke, That at my commyng [connyng MS.] I be nat for to seke

Psalmus. Afferte domino filii dei. Versic. Emitte [fol. 177] spiritum tuum & creabuntur. Et renouabis faciem terre. Oracio.

dona domine virtutem populo tuo & effice nos tem∣plum spiritus sancti vt tibi de corde puro holocaustum preparemus. Per.

And as thy prophetys thow yauest in a clowde, To know thy pask, thy deth, and resurreccion, [ 120] And to vs shewdyst thy propre voyce alowde, Thow art the persone that breke all suspensioun, And of oure bondage made for eleccyoun, So thow, swete lord, cast thy mercyfull ey On my pore soule, that I in clennes dy. [ 125]

And as myn hert, my wyll, and full purpose Ys the to serue, thy lawes, and thy plesaunce, Graunt me deserue to be thy chylde ychose, By actuall dede and trew perseueraunce, And though my frealte me whilom doth greuaunce, [ 130] From consent to syn, that dede me nat assaile, Yeue me defensioun, grace, and good counsaile.

Psalmus. Exaltabo te domine. Versic. Saluos fac seruos tuos et ancillas tuas . Deus meus sperantes in te. Oracio.

Susceptor omnium clementissime ne permittas de∣lectari inimicos nostros super nos . sed ita in virtute tua nos corrobora. vt conuersum planctum nostrum in gaudium sanctitatis tue memorium iuigiter extollamus. Per christum

Oure feyth beleueth confessioun of thy name, Yef we dyspose in vertu to perseuere, That iustyce shall breke the panters of blame, [ 135] And we delyueryd to possede for euer, By successioun, and waraunt, nat to disseuer, Thy ioyfull place where thow takest entre, With wytnes sufficient of men of Galyle.

And with this psalme, my yest of meditacioun, [ 140] [fol. 177vo] Myne hert, my wyll, my love, and lyvely gost, In to thyne handys, mekely, without elacioun I holy yelde in sacryfyce for myn host, In the for refuge my feyth and hope ys most, Whyche I the pray in vertu me to nory, [ 145] That when I passe I may atteyne thy glory.

Psalmus. In te domine speraui. Versic. Mittenobis domine auxilium de sancto. Et de syon tuere nos. Oracio.

Immensam multitudinem dulcedinis tue piissime deus suppliciter exoramus . vt dum veritatem tuam requiri∣mus execrabilem . conteramus. Per.

Now to conclude the effect of my prayere, What I desyre of thy hygh mageste I wold beseche, with mynde and hert entyere, To graunt me grace so disposyd [to] be, [ 150] Thy wyll to sue, all vyces for to flee, Both of the fende and worldly elacioun, And flesshly lust to haue in detestacioun.

And Sathan thow puttest to repreef, When he approchyd to tempt the on the hyll, [ 155] Lat nat thys gyle on me haue bonnchief, Ne to suppryse my most vnstabyll wyll, Thow art my lord, lat nat my cause spyll; Syth thow hast payed the raunsom of my lyfe, Dystroy hys malcye, hys fraude, and all hys stryfe. [ 160]

Thow hast me wasshe with water of thy passyoun, Mengyd with blood as long as hyt wold rynne, Thy chyrche me wis out of hys possessyoun, When I abiured hys pompe and all hys kynne, Now wasshe my conscience with teares clene withyn, [ 165] That mynde and dede be set, the to honoure, With lastyng feyth vnto my dedly howre.

Amen.

Expliciunt Psalmi Passionis Domini.

A deuout prayere toward thy bedde at nyght. [fol. 276]

nOW Ihesu lord, welle of all goodnes, For þy gret pyte I the pray Foryeue me all my wykkydnes, Wherewith I haue greuyd the to day. [ 4]

Honoure & praysyng to the be, And þankyng for þy yeftys all, That I thys day receuyd of the Now, curteyse Cryst, to þe I call. [ 8]

Thys nyght from parell thow me kepe My bodyly reste whyle that I take, And as long as myn eyen slepe Late my hert in þy seruyce wake. [ 12]

For feryng of þe fende oure fo Foule dremes, and fro fantasies, Kepe me this nyght fro syn also In clennes þat I may vpryse. [ 16]

Saue my good doers fro greuaunce, And quyte hem þat þey on me spende, Kepe myne enemyes from noyaunce, And yeue hem grace to amende. [ 20]

Mercy, Ihesu, and gramercy, My body and soule I the beken, In nomine patris & filii Et spiritus sancti, Amen. [ 24]

Explicit.

A devout prayere at thy vprysyng. [fol. 276vo]

[i]N nomine patris & filii, Et spiritus sancti, Amen, Mercy, Iesu, and gramercy, My body and soule I the beken. [ 4]

Now Iesu lord blessyd þou be For all þys nyght þou hast me kept, From the fende and hys postee, Whether I wakyd or slept. [ 8]

In gret dissese, in dedly syn, Many on thys nyght fallen hase, That mysylf shuld haue fall in, Had þou nat kept me of thy grace. [ 12]

Lord yeue me grace to þy worshyp Thys day to spende in þy plesaunce, And kepe me fro wykyd felyshyp And from þe fendes encombraunce. [ 16]

Iesu, my tong þou rewle also That I nat speke but hit be nede, Hertyly to pray for frend or fo And harme noman in worde ne dede. [ 20]

Cryste yeue me grace of mete and drynke Thys day to take mesurably, In dedely syn þat I nat synke Thorough outrage of foule glotony. [ 24]

Iesu, my lord, Iesu, my loue, On all þat I am boundyn to Thy blessyng sende from heuyn aboue, And yeue hem grace þy wyll to do. [ 28]

My good Angell, þat art to me sende From god to be my gouernoure, From euyll spyrytes thow me defende, And in my desease be my socoure. [ 32]

Amen.

Explicit.

A Lament of our Lady at The Passion. [fol. 276vo]

Sequitur Meditacio de Passione Domini Nostri Iesu Cristi (John Lydgate: added in Stow's hand)

T]here stood besyde the crosse of Iesu Hys moder, hyr sustyr, and also Iohn, Beholdyng hys woundes bledyng all new They syghyd, þey sobbyd euer in on; [ 4] Hys modyr þus mornyng made her mon:

"Dere son, delyuer vs out of pyne, Take me with the, my Ioyes be gone, Lat bothe be lyke, thy deth and myne. [ 8]

"Thy peynes to me they be so smert, My sorow so sore, hit wyll nat slake, That ys a swerde they perse my hert, And euer wyll do, tyll dethe me take; [ 12] The peyne wherof hit maketh me quake, But well I wote to com to the, And euer ioy and myrthe to make Full long therto now thynketh me. [ 16]

She lokyd vp hygh vnto the crosse, [fol. 277] She saw her son opon hit hyng, How myght þat may haue had more losse Than lese her son þat was a kyng? [ 20] She myndyd well, he made all thyng, And myght haue sauyd hymsylf fro wo, Therfore sorow to her hert dyd hyng That he suffred suche wreches to sle hym so. [ 24]

"Allas, dere son, thynkest þou nat on How thow thyne angell to me sent, And seyd þou wold become a mon To saue mankynde þat þan was shent? [ 28] He gret me with grace & good entent And seyd I shuld conceue with ryght The lord on whom my loue ys lent For thow art my son and God of myght. [ 32]

Gabryell gret me all with grace And all with myrthe he myngyd my mode, And now I loke opon thy face And se the, kyng, there on the rode [ 36] Spoylyd and sprynklyd all with blode, Scornyd and scorgyd & all to-shent Now may ther nothyng do me goode, For sorow and care so hath me hent. [ 40]

Somtyme I lappyd the in myne arme, And thought full kyndely the to kysse I weryd the wyll fro all kyn harme, On the was all my ioy and blysse; [ 44] But now methynke hit ys all amysse To se thy blood renne from the hert. But I most take hit as hyt ys, And sofre sorow with peynes smert. [ 48]

Dere son, thow sokyd vppon my breste And coueryd me well fro all kyn care; I know well þou made bothe man and beste, Heuyn & erthe & mekyll mare, [ 52] But now þou lernyst another lare And suffrest dethe withoutyn skyll; Allas, dere son, how shall I fare, Rewle me & gyde me euen as þou wyll. [ 56]

I lappyd the, I lullyd the, I layde the soft, I kyssed the oft opon my kne,

And now thow makest me syng full oft, To se the thus hang on thys tre. [ 60] Allas, wyll hit no better be, Shall all my Ioyes þus fro me go? Make here my ende, take me with the, And lat me neuer abyde thys wo. [ 64]

Than spake þat lorde wordys full mylde, As he hyng vppon the tre: "Woman take Iohn here to thy chylde," And þan anone to Iohn seyd he, [ 68] "Lo, here þy modyr, þow may her se." And euer aftyr with all hys myght He socoryd þat lady, blessyd mot she be, And seruyd her truly, bothe day & nyght. [ 72]

Yet mornyd that mayden in her mynde When she saw þat her chylde was slayne. Blame her nat, hit was but kynde; Yet was there oo þyng made her fayne, [ 76] She wyst that he shuld ryse agayne: But for all that she was rull wo To se her chylde suffre suche payne, And hang there dede boþe pale & blo. [ 80]

Euer she syghyd & seyde allas: [fol. 277vo] A carefull woman what sall I do? My ioy, my comfort in euery cas My owne dere chylde ys slayne me fro; [ 84] Why wold þese wyked Iewes do so To sle my son with-outyn cause? Wyte me nat þaugh I be wo, For I may neyther bynde ne lause. [ 88]

That blessyd lady, chosyn for chaste To bere þat lord þat all thyng wrought Heuen and erthe, wode and vaste, Water and wynde, & all of nought; [ 92] Her sorow was suche þat she ne rought To dy for dole of her son dere, Her sorow so suyd her vnsought, That nothyng myght amende her chere. [ 96]

O lorde, sythe þou wold nat her spare, That of her body toke flesshe & blood, But as a caytyf let her haue care When thow hynge nakyd on the rood, [ 100] Why shuld we wreches, þat neuer dyd good, Groge with peyne or aduersite But thanke & blysse the with myght & mood In ioy or sorow, whether that we be. [ 104]

Remembre, lord, of thy goodnes, Howe with thy blood þou bought mankynde, And brought hym frely out of dystres, Fro the foule fende þat dyd hym bynde, [ 108] Where-euer for syn he shuld haue pynyd, But þat þou for hym dethe wold take, Let neuer þat sorow renne fro our mynde That thow wold suffer for our sake. [ 112]

And late þy Godhede graunte vs grace That we mat mekely with all our myght Thanke þe & looue, whyle we haue space, Serue þe & blesse, boþe day & nyght; [ 116] And at oure (ende) come to þat lyght Wheryn þou art & euer shall be, And euer abyde þere in þy syght,— Amen, Amen, for charyte. [ 120]

Explicit (Iohn Lydgate: added by Stow.)

An Exortacion to auoyde and to put awey the seuyn synnes.

Syth in þys world þer can noþyng be sewre, [fol. 275vo] Helthe ne lyfe, worshyp ne yet Ryches, Profyte ne plesure, ne nought þat may endure, But all ys changeable, bytter and swetnes, Than were hit wysdom, a man to take sadnes, [ 5] And take to hym a perfyte remembraunce That euery day he know hys owne gouernaunce.

And call hymself before hys owne conscience Euery day ones to wete what he hath wrought, Whether he haue do any thyng by neglygence, [ 10] Or elles of purpose and long contynued thought, Wherby þat he in any syn were brought, So þat he myght þan take hys confessour, And se hys soule stond clene at euery hour.

And to reduce it quykly to hys mynde [ 15] Whether he haue synnyd by any wantones In worde or dede by any maner of kynde, Dedely or venially, let hym serche expres And to make amendys haue a sekernes, That he may thynke opon hys synnes sere, [ 20] Euery day rede thys lessoun þat ys here.

Contra Superbiam. [fol. 276]

When we by pride & foule presumpsioun Exalte our-sylf and set our hertes on hyght, Then þynke we nat, lord, of þy bytter passioun, How þow were taken & led forþe in þe nyght, [ 25] Boundyn & bobbyd, & stoppyd was þy syght; Haue mercy, lord, and pardone þat offence, As þou dyd Petyr þat denyed þe in þy presence.

Contra Iram.

When we be mouyd by þe syn of Ire, And steryd by angor to fall to any stryfe, [ 30] Or ellys by malyse so ferre be set on fyre Eyther to chyde or smyte with swerde or knyfe, Lord, of þy grace remembre vs þan blyfe, Howe þou were scorgyd & crownyd eke with thorn, Than yeue vs charyte & let vs neuer be lorn. [ 35]

Contra Inuidiam.

When we wykydly by þe syn of enuy Hurt our soules by ded or wykyd þought, Then foryete we how þe Iewes dyd hy To make the, lord, before Pylat be brought, And to accuse þe falsly þey sparyd nought, [ 40]

Yet þou foryaue hem of þy blessyd grace; So, lord, foryeue vs all our foule trespace.

Contra Accidiam.

When we be dullyd with slouþe or slogardy, And set awey so ferre fro deuocioune, Lord, of þy grace lyft vp our gostly ey, [ 45] That we may þen remembre þy passion, Howe of þy blessyd body þer ran doune Water and blood opon a mount on hyght, Yet sesyd þou nat to wache & pray þat nyght.

Contra Gulam.

O lorde, when we for lust of mete or drynke, [ 50] By smellyng or tastyng fall in-to glotony, Than of þy grace, lorde, make vs for to thynke How fourty dayes þou fastyd by and by, And aftyr þat þow were takyn on hy Scornyd and scorgyd, troblyd & torment, [ 55] Withoutyn cause, for þow were innocent.

Contra Luxuriam.

Our fylþy flesshe, so full of corupcion, So sone assauteth our carnall freelte, And putteþ vs oft in suche tribulacion, That of our flesshe we haue no remedy; [ 60] Then, lord, for þy passion and pyte, Helpe vs & saue vs as þou dyd Poule, by grace, And of þy mercy pardon our trespace.

Contra Auariciam.

Worldly desyre by wrechyd Couetyse Of worshyp or profyte, by meanes vnmesurable, [ 65] Or in worldly þynges to be to wyse, Ys as þe see euer insaciable; Refrayne þat wyll, lord, & make vs able To holde ys content of þy yeftys all So þat þe worlde neuer make our soulys thrall.

Explicit. (John Lydgate: in Stow's hand.)

A Song on The Battle of Barnet.

Gaudete iusti in Domino, [fol. 244vo] For now regneth ryghtwysly oure souerayn, Trew enherytour to the crowne, hys quarell preueth so, Edward the fourth, by grace to attayn With the crowne of England, on vs to rayn, [ 5] By iust tytle of hys descendyng, All mys creatures to reconsyle agayn Conuertimini, ye comons & drede your kyng. [The last line of each stanza is written, like a refrain at the side of the other, bracketed lines.]

Conuertimini, and leue your opinion, And sey Credo, hyt wyll noon other wyse be, [ 10] For he ys gon, that louyd dyuysion, Mortuus est, ther can noman hym se; Now ys Iusticia in hys owne contre,

Prosperyng hys purpose to menteyne, All myscreatures to reconsyle ageyne. [ 15] Conuertimini ye comons & drede your kyng.

Drede your kyng and your souerayn lord, For he ys worthy to be louyd and dred; Hys gloryous victory bereth record That he ys both pacyent and sad, [ 20] Of a more famous knyght I neuer rad Syn the tyme of Artors dayes, He that loueth hym nat, I holde hym mad Conuertimini ye comons, and drede your kyng.

Vppon Ester day befelle a pyteous case, [ 25] Many a man hys lyfe lost in that mornyng, Cristus resurgens was song with "alase!" "Allas!" may he syng that causyd all thys, Sorow and care causyd many a day, Orate pro anima, that he may com to blys, [ 30] Ye that [be] hys frendys, yow prestys, to pray, Conuertimini ye comons, and drede your kyng.

Homo proponit, oftymes in veyn, But deus disponit, The boke telleth pleyn. quy serra serra. [ 35]

Finis. (Lydgate, in Stow's hand.)

The Birds' Matins.

aS I me lenyd vnto a ioyfull place, [fol. 196vo] Lusty Phebus to superuyde, How god almyghty of hys gret grace Had florysshyd the erthe on euery syde The woodes and the medewes wyde [ 5] With gret habundaunce of verydyte; Whyche causyd me so gret felycyte,

That styll I stood in a perplexyte To Phebus my wyttes gan referre, And on thys wyse he seyde to me [ 10] "Abyde a whyle, and thow shalt here Hym commendyd, whyche dyd conquere Thy sowle from peynes perpetuall And of hys blysse to make the parciall."

Then herde I a noyse celestiall, [ 15] Reioysyng my sprytes inwardly, Of diuerse fowles, both gret and small, Preysyng God with swete melody In all hys werkes full reuerently With an heuynly hympne and an holsom, [ 20] Conditor alme siderum.

The popyniay alone can syng And seyde, "thys ys my propurte With Aue or Kirie salute a kyng, As scripture maketh mension of me, [ 25] In bookes of nature, who lyst to se, Wherfore me thynk I do nat amysse To welcome the king of heuyn blysse;

"That from the sete of the hygh trynyte Into a vyrgyns wombe immaculate, [ 30] Descendyd thys tyme of fre volunte, And so became man incarnate, To restore hym to hys furst estate, Wherfore I syng of his Natyuyte, A solis ortus cardine." [ 35]

The Pellycan seyde with mornyng chere, [fol 197] "Of cristes passyon I do compleyne That mankynde hath bought so dere, With greuous hurtes and bytter peyne, And yet man cannat loue hym ageyne, [ 40] Wherfore I syng as I was wount, Vexilla regis prodeunt."

The nyghtyngale lepyd from bow to bow, And on the Pellycan she made a cry, And seyde Pellycan why mornyst thow now, [ 45] Cryste ys rysyn from dethe truly Mankynde with hym to gloryfy, Wherfore syng now as I do Consurgat Christus tumulo."

The larke also full naturally [ 50] Crystes ascension in humanyte Comendyd with song, specially, And seyde, "blessyd be thow, lord of felycyte, That hast callyd man to so hygh degre, That neuer deseruyd of equyte, [ 55] Eterne rex altissime."

The dove also that ys so whyte, In hert bothe meke and beauteuous, Vnto the erthe she toke her flyte And sang a song full gracious, [ 60] Of all songes most verteous, And as I perseuyd she sang thus Veni creator spiritus."

These byrdys all present apon a tre Were gaderyd to gedyr, as couenant was, [ 65] Praysyng oon God in trynyte That all thys wyde world doth enbrase, And thus they sang, both more and lase, The melodyouse ympne with gret solase, O lux beata Trinitas. [ 70]

London.

H. N. MacCracken.