<County: Lincolnshire>
<Code: L0491b>
<MS reference: Oxford, Bodleian Library, Add. A.106, Hand A>
<Text: Two religious poems and Cato's Distichs>
<Tranche 1>
<fol. 6v><line 8>In a mornynge of may when~ medose schuld sprynge
Blomes & blossomes of bryght colours
Als j went by a well of my playnge
Thurght a mery orchard byddyng~ myn~ owres
The birdes on~ ye boght began~ for to syng~
And bowes to brinn~ & belde to yar~ bores
was j war~ of a may yt made mournyg~
Syghand & sekand emange yase floures <brd>So swyte</brd>
Scho made mournyg~ enogh
Hyre wypyng~ dyd me rogh
vnder a bogh j me drogh <brd>hir wyll wald j wytte</brd>
For j wald wyte of hir wyll & of hir wyld thoght
Scho kest of hir kerchyfes hir kell of hir hede
wrange scho hir handes & wrothly scho wroght
Scho sayd myld mary j aught to me red
of al ye well of yis warld j-wys j wald no3te
Send me som~ solace or son~ be j ded
<first letter missing>n~ syght of yt selcouthe yt j haue lang so3te <brd>wt care</brd>
<first letter missing>an~ spake a turtyll on~ a tre
<first letter missing>yth fayre nottes & fre
<first letters missing>rd for yi bowte <brd>whi sythes yu so sar~</brd>
<fol. 7r>Thow fayr feule fayle no3te yi speche & yi spell
Thy carpyng~ is comforth to herkyn~ & here
All my wyll & my thoght wold j ye tell
My wa & my wanderyng~ wold yu com~ nere
lufly he lyghted wold he no3te dwell
To comforth yt comly & couer hir cher~
Scho blyssed hys body wt buke & wt bell
And loued yt lady had send hir yt fer~ <brd>so free</brd>
when~ yt j was sary
be-soght j owr lady
Scho has sent me company <brd>blyssed mot scho bee</brd>
Thu fayr foule full of lufe so myld & so swete
To move of a mater now may j begyn~
A trewful luf hafe j soght be way & be strete
Jn many fayr~ orchardes yer floures ar in
Als fayr as j haue soght fand j none 3itte
fele haue j fonden~ of mare & of myn~
Bryght bird of yi ble my bale may yu bute
wold yu me wysse wysely a trew luf to wyn~ <brd>wt ryg<ill><?hte></ill></brd>
when~ j wen~ rathest
for to fynd lufe beste
So fayntenly it is feste <brd>jt fares al of flighte</brd>
The wytt of a woma~ is wond to here
js al yi sary syghinge to seke a lufe trew
Al yis syd may yu seke & neuer nan~ be ner~
Bot if yu had counsell of an~ yt j knowe
<fol. 7v>Jf yu be sett to seke 3itte sall j 3e lere
Whare it is spryngand & euer more newe
Wt-owt any fadynge full fayr & full clere
Or castyng~ of colour or chaunyng~ of hewe <brd>so 3are</brd>
Hardely dare j say
Thar~ is no luf yt lastes ay
Wt-owtyn~ treson~ & tray <brd>bot it begyn~ yare</brd>
Whar yu fyndes grewand a trew+lufe gresse
Wt iiij lefes is it sett fully a-bowte
ye fyrst lef may we lykyn~ to ye kyng~ of blys
That weldes yis wyld world wt-in & wt-owte
He wroght heuen~ wt hys hand & al paradyse
& all yis mery medyll-erth wt-owtyn~ any dowt
All ye welth of yis world fully is hys
Jn wham~ vs aw to lefe & loue hym & lowte <brd>ful w<ill><binding></ill></brd>
Hald yis lefe in yi mynd
To we his felowes fynd
That trew+luf & yt kynd <brd>That neuer sall kelle</brd>
By yis ilke second lefe j-lykyn~ god son~
vnto yis ilk fyrst lefe is felowe & fere
The iij to ye holy+gost to-geder yay won~
yase iij ar sam~ in A god & persons sere
Welder of water of son~ & of mon~
yase iij lefes of price wt-owtyn~ any per~
When~ yt comly kung~ is sett in hys tron~
Comly of colour & curtas of chere <brd>for grace</brd>
Al yis world he began~
Wt wyndes & waters wan~
And fyne made he man~ <brd>efter hys awn~ face</brd>
<fol. 8r>Fyrst made he Adam & syn~ mad he eue
putt yam~ in paradyse in gret degre
for-bed he yam~ no thyng~ hym & hys wyfe
Bott A gren~ Apyll yt grewed on~ a tree
Than~ sary Sathanas soght yam~ be lyfe
For to waken~ owr wa weryd my3t he be
Toke yai yt apill to stire mekyll stryfe
The foule fend was fayn~ yt syght for to se <brd>for tene</brd>
The first lefe was wa
When~ hys flours fell hym fra
Hys frendes suld tyll hell ga <brd>For an~ appill gren~</brd>
Than~ began~ ye fyrst lefe to morn~ for vs all
for lufe of hys handwarke yt yan~ was lorn~
Gabriell yt aungell on~ hym~ gon~ he call
Frurth com~ yt comly & kneled hym~ beforn~
Vnto mayden~ mary my message yu schall
Bere hir bodword of hire j wyll be born~
yus he sent hys der+son~ owt of hys hye hall
Vnto yt myld mayden~ on~ a mery morn~ <brd>hir grette</brd>
Gabriell yt fayre face
Sayd mary full of grace
Pereles in ilka place <brd>Wt myrth ert yu mette</brd>
Thow sall consaue a k[n]aw child comly & cler~
All ye <add>wel</add><on erasure?> of yis world in ye sall be bett
That war~ a mekyll mervayle j+suld a cheld ber~
Was j neuer mayryed wt no ma~ 3itte
Be-hald to yi cosyn~ consaued has to 3ere
Elye3abeth in hir held yt lang~ has ben~ lett
<fol. 8v>lord yi hand-mayden~ says mary is here
Full haly in yi seruice is my harte sette <brd>so still</brd>
Blessyd be yt swete wyght
yat god son~ in lyght
Be-com~ a ma~ full of my3te <brd>wt hys fader wyll</brd>
Now is yis ilk second lef for owr luf maste
lyght in yt lady yt gabriell grette
wt-owt any treson~ so trew for to treste
wt myrth in a mayden~ is god & ma~ mette
Thys is ye fader & ye son~ & ye holy+goste
Thre leues of lufe wt-owtyn~ any lette
ye iiij is a mayden~ chosyn~ for chaste <brd>for butte</brd>
Swylke ane oyer trew+luf was neuer in land sett
There iiij leues may neuer fall
Bott euermor~ yai springe schall
So gently yai grewyn~ all <brd>On A ryche rute</brd>
Now has yer iij leues a fourte fela tan~
For luf in owr~ lady is owr~ lord lyght
Joseph hir wedyd & wt hir gon~ gane
Jn ye borgh of bethleem~ beldyd yt bryght
Betwyx a oxe & a asse pride was yer nan~
A+blyssed chyld was yer born~ apon~ ye 3ole-ny3te
Thar~ rase a starn~ schaply schewed & schan~
Thre kynges of Colan~ yer-of had a syght <brd>& soght</brd>
yai offerd him~ as yai wold
Myr rekyls & gold
he thanked yam~ vij-fold <brd>To blysse he yam~ broght</brd>
Vn-sely herode yase tythandes hard tell
A knaw chyld was born~ yt kyng~ suld bee
gart he make messages & sent full snell
To seke knafe chylder in yt contre
left he non~ in wharte bot all gon~ he whell
yai putt yam~ on~ speres gret dole i was to se
Joseph wt hys wedyd wyfe wald he no3t dwell
bot led hir in-to egype wt hir leues thre <brd>to safe</brd>
Ther~ chylder gon~ yer ded take
For yt trew+luf sake
ye mar~ my[r]3th may yai make <brd>Hym~-self wald yam~ hafe</brd>
3itte wold he do mor~ for his frendes dere
his awn~ haly handwarke to hell wald he gan~
To sette vs ensample his lawe for to lere
Saynte John~ hym baptyste in flume Jordane
For xxx penys was he sald thurght a fals fer~
vnto fell fame~ yt wald hym~ hafe slane
All he sufferd for owr sake hym-self was cler~
Thurght a kysse yai knew & son~ was he tan~ <brd>also</brd>
jt was gret dole for to see
When~ he suld blynke of his ble
ye second lefe of ye thre <brd>ye fourte was wo</brd>
pylate was justes & satt apon~ hye
For to dem~ jhesuc yt judas had sald
he sayde leue lordynges ye trewth for to trie
That semely is sakeles say what 3e wald
The jewys apon~ jhesuc began~ for to cry
He says hym-self he is a kyng~ swylk wordes Ar bald
& if yu wyll not dem~ hym~ yis day for to dye
Lowd befor~ ye Emperowr~ yis tale sall be tald <brd>for dre<ill></ill></brd>
<fol. 9r>A drery dom~ gafe he yar~
Sais j can say na mar~
J red yt 3e take hym~ yar~ <brd>& forth 3e hym~ led</brd>
Allas for yt iiij lefe was left allane
when~ hir fayr felischipe was taken~ & torn~
Betyn~ wt scharpe scourges & body & bane
Syne spred on~ a crosse crowned wt a thorn~
Thurght hys handes & fett nales gon~ gan~
A bryght spere to hys hart baldly was born~
He sched his blod for our luf lyfe left hym non~
Attire & aysell yai bed hym in scorn~ <brd>wt gall</brd>
grett reuth was to se
when~ he was naled on~ ye tre
ye second lef of the thre <brd>schuld fayd & falle</brd>
The iiij lefe of ye lufe al anly scho stode
wrange scho hir handes & wepyd for wa
wt A mournande cher~ & a myld mode
The son~ blenked of his ble & wex al bla
Be hys whyt sydes ran~ ye red blode
ye hard roche gon~ ryfe ye temple in twa
Than~ swouned ye iiij lefe & to ye grond 3ode
Allas for yt trew+lufe yt it suld twyn~ swa <brd>so 3are</brd>
Scho saw hir der+son~ dye
Bot sante john~ was hir by
And comforthed yt lady <brd>yt was casten~ in car~</brd>
<Tranche 2>
<fol. 14v><line 19>Lullay lullay my lityl chyld slepe & be now styll
jf yu be a lytill chyld 3itt may yu haue yi wyll
How suld j now yu fayr~ may fall apon~ a slepe
better me thynke yt j may fall apon~ & wepe
For he yt mad both nyght & day cold & also hette
now layd j am in a wispe of hay j can~ noder go nor~ crepe
<fol. 15r>Bot wel<?> j wate as well j may slepe & be now styll
Suffre ye paynnes yt j may it is my fader wyll
Seys yu no3te yu fayr may & heres yu no3te also
how kynge herod yt keyn~ knyght & of his peres mo
yt be a-bowte nyght & day my body for~ to slo
yai seke me both nyght & day at werke me mekyll wo
bot well j wate as well j may slepe & be now styll
Suffre ye paynnes yt j may it is my fader wyll
how suld j now yu fayr~ may how suld j now myrth make
My songe is mad of walaway for~ dred j begyn~ to whake
For~ dred of yt ilk day at j my deth sall take
& suffre ye paynnes yt j may for~ synfull ma~ sake
For well j wate as well j may slepe & be now styll
Suffre ye [paynnes] yt j may it is my fader wyll
bot 3itt me thynk it well besett if ma~ haue of me mynd
& al my paynnes well besett jf ma~ to me be kynd
yar~ is no deth at sall me let & j hym~ trew fynd
On~ ye rode for~ to sytt my handes for to bynd
bot well j wat as well j may slepe & be now styll
Suffre ye paynnes yt j may it is my fader wyll
<fol. 15v>All chylder yt wyll clergy kon~
Take hed how Catonn benned his son~ <brd>of lely lyuyng~ to lere</brd>
For to hym~ he told many a skyll
To ler~ i ye gud & leue ye yll <brd>be ways many & sere</brd>
Son he sayd sen~ it is so
yt A god is wt-owtyn~ mo <brd>Maker~ of all man~ bynd</brd>
Als bukes says & [wit] yer-by
Hym~ sal yu serue all soueranly <brd>wt clen~ heart & clen~ mynd</brd>
& son~ to wake yu sal take kep
so yt yu be not gyfyn~ to slepe <brd>ne to vnrewleful rest</brd>
For ydelnes oft-sythes begynnes
To foster & forther~ many synnes <brd>wher~ vertus suld be fest</brd>
The fyrst vertu to ald & 3onge
yt is to restrene yi tonge <brd>jn al reson~ & skyll</brd>
For wt god he is worthe to prays
yt sothefastnes in seson~ says <brd>& fro harm~ haldes hym still</brd>
& yerfor~ sone yu ye awyse
whe~ yu sall y oyer me~ chastyse <brd>To putt owt all envye</brd>
Son~ if yu wyll be-hald yi lyfe
Or ye maners of ma~ or wyfe <brd>& yi condycyons knaw</brd>
yan~ sal yu proue in all ye pake
yt no ma~ lyues wt-owt lake <brd>jn dyd or els in sawe</brd>
yam~ yt yu hopes may gretely greue
Al if it lyke to yi releue <brd>leue it for~ encheson~</brd>
<fol. 16r>For mekyll praises me~ erthely gud
bot mekyll mor~ me~ praises manhed <brd>wher~ it is rewled be reson~</brd>
be myld & meke in wordes & dedes
Ay whyls me~ reson~ to ye bydes <brd>& also if men~ ryse</brd>
be nyght or day to do ye wrange
yan~ sal yu schew manhed emange <brd>so wyrke yai yt er~ wyse</brd>
& for ye wordes son~ of yi wyfe
Sall yu not wt yi seruand stryfe <brd>hir malice to mayntene</brd>
For oft sythes as ye proces proues
ye wyfe hattes yt ye husband loues <brd>som~ tym~ so it is seyn~</brd>
& if [yi] frend be-fell of mode
and e yu entyse hym vnto gud <brd>& he yi rede refuse</brd>
3itt sal yu no3te sese yer-for~
bot hym amonysche mor~ & more <brd>yi-selfe yan~ yu excuse</brd>
To yam~ yu wat hase wordes in wayn~
stire not yi steuen~ to stryn~ agayn~ <brd>jf yt yu wil wys sem~</brd>
For wordes er~ gyfyn~ to ilka schrew
& wysdom~ is gyfen~ bot to few <brd>yer-for fallyng~ is to yam~</brd>
lufe al me~ in lele charyte
bot on~ al wyse luke yt yu be <brd>vnto yi-self moste nere</brd>
& to gud me~ yu do gudely
so yt yu be not harmed yer-by <brd>yis calles me~ counsell cler~</brd>
Fle for to tell japes or jaugeloure
so yt yu be not mad none autoure <brd>of tydynges day nor~ ny3te</brd>
<fol. 16v>For to be still may no3te dysplese
& mekyll speche dose oft dysese <brd>bot it be rewled be ryght</brd>
yam~ yt is hyght ye of yi brother~
Hyght it not to none oyer <brd>Tyll yu yer-of be payd</brd>
For som~ me~ wyll hete ful heartly
yat ar~ ful faynte in-to affy <brd>when ye soth is assayd</brd>
& if any oyer ma~ ye prayse
wheder it be soth he of ye says <brd>bese yi-selfe abowte</brd>
& trew no3te mor~ of oyer men~
yan~ to ye-self yt suld ye ken~ <brd>both wt-in & wt-owte</brd>
& if yu se oyer me~ well wyrke
both to god & holy kyrke <brd>& his wirkes be vnknawen~</brd>
yu may it tell till oyer me~
& say how yai his wirkes sal ken~ <brd>bot prayse no3te yine awne</brd>
& son~ if yu be ald & wyse
of oyer sall yu not dyspyse <brd>nother~ in word ne in ded</brd>
bot vmbethynke yi-selfe alsone
Of al ye dedes yt yu hase done <brd>jn 3eres of yi 3outhe-hed</brd>
Son~ when~ yu syttes in company
wheder me~ speke lowd or~ priualy <brd>haue pese & hald þe payd</brd>
For~ whi mystrowand me~ al-wayse
weynes ilke word yt me~ stilly says <brd>of yai~-self suld be sayd</brd>
And son~ when~ yu hase hape & hele
& al yi wil of warldly well <brd>fro owtrag~ spence ye spar~</brd>
& when~ yt yu comes to elde
yu sal no3te yan~ yi-seluen~ weld <brd>To wyn~ as yu dyd ayr</brd>
<fol. 17r>Son~ mans lyf is no lastand thyng~
ne non~ wat tym~ of his endynge <brd>how ne whar~ ne when~</brd>
yerfor is foly for to abyd
Or trust in thyng~ yt sal be-tyde <brd>Efter ded of oyer men~</brd>
& if yi pore [frend] gyfe ye oghte
Resaue it & refuse it noght <brd>All be it lesse or~ more</brd>
bot take gud tente to his pouerte
& to his wil & hys gud harte <brd>& reward hym yer-fore</brd>
& son~ yu well wat yu was wroght
A+naked chyld & had ryght no3te <brd>als is ye course of kynd</brd>
And if pouert to ye fall
Thole & thanke god of all <brd>wt mekenes in ye mynd</brd>
And do son~ in al yi ded
yi last day yu thar~ no3te dred <brd>ne commyng~ of ded</brd>
For he þt thynkes on~ swylk thyng~
he loses his lyfe & lyffyng~ <brd>& is ay wyl of red</brd>
And if yu haue don~ for many frend
& non~ of yam~ will be so hend <brd>for to thanke ye yer-fore</brd>
gruche no3te vnto god for~-yi
bot rewle yi-self mor~ ryghtwysly <brd>& do yu so no more</brd>
& also j sal say ye sone
what warldly gud has yu hase won~ <brd>spare it for~ yi spede</brd>
For erthely frendes wil fayntely fall
& yan~ yi gud may most awayle <brd>To helpe ye in yi ned</brd>
A thynge yt yu may gyfe or~ lene
hyght it not twyse ne to two men~ <brd>for~ paryng~ of yi name</brd>
<fol. 17v>For what ma~ so ye fayland fyndes
wil say yi wordes ar wast as wyndes <brd>yan~ war~ yu worthy <binding> [blam<binding>]</brd>
& if yu her a ma~ ye glose
and yu dysayte in hym~ suppose <brd>yt his heart lufes ye no3te</brd>
speke yu ryght so to hym~ agayn~
So sal 3e both be vnterayne <brd>what thing~ is in 3our tho3t</brd>
& whe~ yu seyse sotelte of sawe
Frayne no3te ouer-fayr~ for to knaw <brd>poyntes of ye priuytte</brd>
For ye pipe makes gud melody
when~ ye birdes er~ begyled yer-by <brd>& son~ so may yu be</brd>
jf yu haue chylder fayr plente
& no3te to leue yam~ gold ne fee <brd>whe~ yt yu falles quarte<?></brd>
Sett yam~ to craft whils yai er~ 3inges
whar~-by yai may haue yer lyffynge <brd>& fend yai~ fro pouert</brd>
Thyng~ lytil of prese son~ sal yu prayes
& thyng~ yt takes gret wroth always <brd>praise it not lowd ne still</brd>
So sal me~ deme yt yu be wyse
And excuse ye of couetyse <brd>& of skarsenes be skyll</brd>
A thyng~ yt yu was wont to blam~
luke yt yu do no3te ye same <brd>bot fayr~ it to refuse</brd>
for ilk herd ma~ aw for to lett
To repreue seruand or sugett <brd>for~ thyng~ hym-self wil vse</brd>
& if [yu] sal aske any thyng~
luk yt ryghtwys be yine askyng~ <brd>& honest in al kyn~ wise</brd>
for it is foly for to craue
Thyng~ yt ye lawe wil no3te yu haue <brd>& yt ryght ye denye</brd>
<fol. 18r>And son~ lat no3te yi heart be drawen~
Fro yi frend yt yu lang~ has knawen~ <brd>for no new conysaunce</brd>
for of ye knawen~ yu wate ye will
& how ye new is gud or~ ill <brd>yu wat not bot be chaunce</brd>
& sen~ yu seys yi erthely lyfe
js vncertayn~ to ma~ & wyfe <brd>and fals in-to affy</brd>
Euer-ilka day yu ye a-wyse
To wirke so yt som~ profett ryse <brd>To saule or to body</brd>
& son~ whar~ yu may be mastry
Ouercom~ any of yi company <brd>jn word or~ els in dyd</brd>
Suffre yai~ & seke no wreke
So sal me~ of ye worschepe speke <brd>& helpe if yu haue ned</brd>
& if yu thynk son~ to aske oght
of any ma~ yt aw ye noght <brd>al-if ye gyfte be gret</brd>
Dred yu no3te to gyfe lytil thyng~
For yt makes neghbours mery to syng~ <brd>& grace so sal yu gette</brd>
whe~ yu has fordon~ swylk a frend
bewar~ alway whar~ yu sal wend <brd>no stirf stir~ 3our betwyn</brd>
For of hatered is jre ye rute
& acord is beyld & bute <brd>of loue & kepes it clen~</brd>
& if yi seruand or~ yi wyfe
Stir~ ye vnto n ony strife <brd>To jre or~ to enwye</brd>
lat yu yi witt yan~ pas yi wyll
To reule ye be reson~ & skyll <brd>& venge ye not vylously</brd>
For whom~ so yu ilk day may der~
yai~ semes wel somtym~ to forber~ <brd>& no3te to wreke ilk wrang~</brd>