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The Digital Index of Middle English Verse
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Found Records:
Oxford, Balliol College 354
Number 2533-4
1.   p. 20   In March after the first C
How to find Easter Day according to the new moon (C) — three couplets
Number 5224-2
2.   p. 21   The book of marshalcy here shall begin
A verse introduction to a prose treatise on horses — seven couplets
Number 4984-1
3.   pp. 39-112   Sometime there was a noble man
The Seuyn Sages of Rome — in short couplets; ‘A’ text
Number 4229-3
4.   pp. 113-195; pp. 364-371   Of them that written us tofore
Confessio Amantis
Number 1599-2
5.   pp. 199-206   God that died for us all
‘The Frere and the Boy’ or ‘The Chylde and hes Stepdame’ — in 6-line stanzas
Number 6640-5
6.   p. 206   Whoso will beware of purchasing
‘Twelve points for purchasers of land to look to’, sometimes attributed to Sir John Fortescue — ten or twelve couplets
Number 5203-2
7.   pp. 207-208   The best tree is ye take entent
‘A treatise of wyne’ — twenty-three macaronic quatrains
Number 3514-1
8.   pp. 213-217   Mine high estate power and authority
The preface to the Book of Fortune, on the cast of the dice, by Thomas More — thirty-seven stanzas rhyme royal
Number 979-3
9.   f. 219   Children profit and liquor failing
Riddles concealing names of ladies — in couplets
Number 1601-2
10.   pp. 261-282   God that died upon a tree
The Siege of Rouen, ascribed to John Page, sometimes inserted into the prose Brut — in couplets
Number 2777-3
11.   pp. 283-286   I-written I find a good story / The Pope it wrote Saint Gregory
The Trental of St. Gregory
Number 3134-1
12.   pp. 289-291   Little children here you may lere / Much courtesy that is reckoned here
‘The Lytylle Childrenes Lytil Boke’ — fifty-four couplets
Number 3829-1
13.   p. 3091   O angel dear wherever I go
A prayer to the Guardian Angel — five quatrains plus burden (c): ‘To þe gud angell’
Number 3870-1
14.   pp. 3092-311   O dear God peerless Prince of Peace
‘Miserere mei deus’ — eleven 8-line stanzas with this refrain, ‘Off miserere mei deus’
Number 631-2
15.   pp. 311-313   As I wandered here by west / Fast under a forest side
‘Ay Merci God and Graunt Merci’ — twelve 8-line stanzas (ababbcbc), alliterative, including refrain, ‘With marcy Lorde & gramarcy’ or ‘mercy god and graunt merci’
Number 822-1
16.   pp. 313-314   Benedicta sit sancta trinitas
The Sacrament of Matrimony — seven 8-line stanzas (ababbcbc) including refrain, ‘Quod Deus coniunxit homo non separet’
Number 1724-1
17.   pp. 314-315   Hail lovely Lady leman so light
‘Salue sancta parens’ — seven 8-line stanzas with this refrain
Number 1691-1
18.   pp. 315-316   Hail be Thou Mary the mother of Christ
Ave regina celorum — six 8-line stanzas (ababbcbc), each with Latin final line
Number 3356-1
19.   p. 3161   Man if thou a wise man art / Of they goods take thy part
Against leaving goods for executors; one seven-line stanza.
Number 1137-1
20.   p. 3162   Do some good man in the life quell thou hast the mind
On the need to do good deeds — four lines
Number 6820-3
21.   pp. 317-333   Ye folks all which have devocion
Interpretacio Misse
Number 6824-1
22.   pp. 330-331   Ye holy priests remembreth in your heart
‘An exortacion to Prestys’
Number 6819-3
23.   pp. 331-332   Ye devout people which have observance
John Lydgate, On Kissing at ‘Verbum caro factum est’ — four 8-line stanzas
Number 2453-1
24.   p. 332   In a noon tide of a summers day
‘Reuertere’ — fifteen 8-line stanzas
Number 603-1
25.   p. 333   As I gan wander in an evening / Between the corns
Advice to Prelates — six 8-line stanzas, with refrain, ‘To kepe ther shepe well in fold’
Number 5608-1
26.   p. 334   Therefore be thine own friend
Verses urging reader to know thyself — 44 lines in eight-line stanzas with refrain, ‘And know thyself wysely I rede’
Number 3112-1
27.   pp. 335-337   Listeneth lordings and ye shullen hear
‘How the Wyse Man Tawght His Son’ — nineteen 8-line stanzas (ababbcbc)
Number 3588-9
28.   pp. 338-339   My dear child first thy self enable / With all thine heart…
Stans Puer ad Mensam, ascribed to Lydgate — fourteen stanzas rhyme royal, with Envoy
Number 560-1
29.   p. 3401   Arise early / Serve god devoutly
Precepts in -ly; the texts show much variation — 16 lines in most witnesses, monorhyming
Number 4778-2
30.   p. 3402   Salue with all obeisance to God in humblesse
Prayer to the Virgin, in which first words of each line are the Latin words of a prayer to the Virgin (read down the left edges of lines); 5 eight-line stanzas
Number 6709-4
31.   p. 3403   Wit hath wonder that reason ne tell can
‘Sensus miratur que racio dicere nescit’, etc., often ascribed to Reginald Pecock (see Babington (1860), 2.623) — two couplets
Number 6621.7-2
32.   p. 3411   Whoso of wealth taketh none heed
A warning against the fickleness of Fortune — one couplet, followed by five related couplets
Number 5794-1
33.   p. 3412   This world is mutable so sayeth sage
One couplet — for similar content, see 712
Number 2662-1
34.   p. 3413   In wealth beware of woe what so thee haps / And bear thee even for dread of after claps
A proverbial couplet in a series of six (see 6621.7)
Number 1433-1
35.   p. 3414   Fortune is variant ay turning her wheel / He is wise that is ware ere he harm feel
A proverbial couplet included in a series of six
Number 835-3
36.   p. 3415   Better is to suffer and fortune abide
The Golden Mean — a couplet
Number 3009-1
37.   p. 3416   Know ere thou knit and then thou mayest slake
A proverbial couplet on marriage included in a list of six (6621.7)
Number 3133-1
38.   pp. 3417-351   Little child sithen your tender infancy
‘The Book of Courtesy’ — seventy-six stanzas rhyme royal
Number 1820-1
39.   p. 3521   He bore him up he bore him down
A Corpus Christi carol — six couplets and burden: ‘Lulley lulley lulley lulley / The fawcon hath born my mak away’
Number 4335-1
40.   p. 3522   Out of the east a star shone bright
An Epiphany carol — eight quatrains (aaab) plus burden (bb): ‘Be mery all þat be present / Omnes de saba venient’
Number 4420-1
41.   pp. 353-360   Problems of old likeness and figures
John Lydgate, ‘The Chorle and the Birde’ — fifty-four stanzas rhyme royal including 2-stanza envoy, plus one 8-line ‘Verba translatoris’ (ababbcbc)
Number 5918-1
42.   pp. 360-362   Throughout a palace as I gan pass
‘The Lamentacioun of the Duchess of Glossester’ (1447) — 13 eight-line stanzas including refrain: ‘All women may be ware by me’
Number 4256-1
43.   pp. 362-364   On a dear day by a dale so deep
‘Fortis vt mors dileccio’ — ten 12-line stanzas including refrain, ‘Fortis vt mors dileccio’
Number 4118-1
44.   pp. 371-373   O ye that put your trust and confidence
The lamentacioun off quene Elyȝabeth
Number 1999-1
45.   p. 373   Here lieth the fresh flower of Plantagenet
Epitaph on Queen Elizabeth, wife of Henry VII — nine couplets
Number 1251-1
46.   p. 3741   Fair maiden who is this bairn
A carol of the Nativity — four quatrains (aabb) and four-line burden (aaaa): ‘Mater ora filium / Vt post hoc exilium / Nobis donet gaudium / Beatorum omnium’
Number 6121-1
47.   p. 3742   Upon a lady fair and bright
A song of the Virgin Mary — four five-line stanzas (ababc) including refrain, ‘Newell’ or ‘Nowell’ plus burden (cc): ‘Newell newell newell newell / I thank a maydyn euery dele’
Number 633-2
48.   p. 3743   As I went in a merry morning
A carol with refrain, ‘Timor mortis conturbat me’ — seven quatrains (aaab) including this refrain, and burden (bb): ‘In what state that ever I be / Timor mortis conturbat me’
Number 695-1
49.   pp. 3744-375   At a place where he me set
A carol of Hunting — three 5-line stanzas (aaabb) including refrain, ‘We shall have game and sport ynow’ plus burden: ‘As I walked by a forest side / I met with a foster he bad me abide’
Number 2357-1
50.   p. 3751   If God send thee plenteously riches
‘Nolite cor apponere’ — three quatrains (aaab) and burden: ‘Diuisie si affluant / Nolite cor apponere’
Number 181-1
51.   p. 3752   A virgin pure
A Nativity carol — four 5-line stanzas (abccb in which first and third lines have leonine rhyme) including refrain, ‘Deo gracias’, plus burden (bb with medial rhyme): ‘Now let vs syng both more & lesse / Of Criste commyng Deo gracias’
Number 6358-1
52.   pp. 3753-376   When Jesu Christ baptized was
An Epiphany carol — four quatrains (aaab) including refrain, ‘Hic est filius meus dilectus ipsum audite,’ plus burden (bb): ‘Ihesus autem hodie / Egressus est de virgine’
Number 2192-1
53.   p. 376   I have twelve oxen that be fair and brown
A poem about oxen, possibly erotic — four couplets and two-line refrain
Number 1320-1
54.   p. 376   First two and then one then three and then five
‘Seynt Thomas Lottis’, a puzzle — one couplet
Number 6699-2
55.   p. 402   Winter eateth / What summer getteth
A proverbial saying about famine after winter, translating ‘Brume tempestas vorat hec que procreat estas’ — one short couplet
Number 1863-2
56.   p. 402   He that heweth too high / The chips will fall in his eye
A proverbial couplet translating, ‘Qui nimis alta secant hos quisqui[ ]e cito cecant’
Number 1039-1
57.   p. 402   Climb not too high / Lest chips fall in thine eye
Proverbial saying on the theme of overreaching — one couplet
Number 6520-2
58.   p. 402   While the foot warmeth
A proverbial saying, translating ‘Calceus ignescit quando pes igne calescit’ — one couplet
Number 53-3
59.   p. 402   A good beginning / Maketh a good ending
A proverbial couplet
Number 2072-2
60.   p. 402   Hope ne were / Heart bursten were
A proverbial couplet [Tilley (1950), H 605] translating ‘Si spes non esset cor ruptum sepe fuisset’
Number 3703-1
61.   p. 402   None sigheth so sore
A proverbial couplet
Number 1891-1
62.   p. 402   He that no good can nor none will learn
‘Who shall him warne?’ — one long couplet
Number 1841-2
63.   p. 402   He may lightly swim
A proverbial couplet
Number 6521-3
64.   p. 4021   While the grass groweth
A proverbial saying, translating ‘Gramen dum crescit equus in moriendo quiescit’ — one couplet
Number 5880-1
65.   p. 4022   Though pepper be black
A proverbial couplet
Number 5000-1
66.   p. 4023   Soon crooketh the tree
A proverbial couplet
Number 2084-1
67.   pp. 407-417   How mankind doth begin / Is wonder for to scrive so
’The Myrrour of Mankind’ — eighty-two 8-line stanzas (abababab)
Number 2503-1
68.   p. 4171   In four points my will is ere I hence depart
The Testament of one about to die — four stanzas rhyme royal
Number 1271-1
69.   pp. 4172-418   Farewell this world I take my leave forever
A Farewell to the World — five stanzas rhyme royal
Number 3164-1
70.   pp. 418-419   London thou art of towns a per se
To the City of London, attributed to William Dunbar — seven 8-line stanzas with refrain
Number 55-1
71.   p. 4191   A good scholar if thou wilt be
A proverbial couplet
Number 6465-2
72.   p. 4192   When thou art at Rome
Verses exhorting reader to conform to his surroundings — two couplets translating ‘Cum fueris Rome…’
Number 759-3
73.   p. 4193   Be it better be it worse
A proverbial couplet
Number 1140-1
74.   p. 4194   Do well while thou art here
A proverbial couplet
Number 5880-2
75.   p. 4195   Though pepper be black
A proverbial couplet
Number 900-1
76.   p. 4196   Busy in study be thou child
Advice on good behaviour — two short couplets
Number 37-1
77.   p. 4197   A fasting belly
A proverbial saying about hunger — one couplet
Number 6266-2
78.   p. 42001   When Adam delved and Eve span
A proverbial saying employed by John Ball in the Wat Tyler insurrection (1381); also found in German, Dutch, etc. Cf. 1596, lines 98-99; 3921, lines 1-4; also many early chronicles. For further references, cf. Meech (1940), 130.
Number 2263-1
79.   p. 42002   I say without boast
A proverbial couplet
Number 1828-1
80.   p. 42003   He is no good swain
A proverbial couplet [Tilley (1950), S 1022]
Number 1111-1
81.   p. 42004   Deem no thing that is in doubt
A proverbial saying on finding out the truth before believing — one couplet
Number 2440-1
82.   p. 42005   In a bushel of winning
A proverbial couplet, with Latin version
Number 6052-2
83.   p. 42006   Tongue breaketh bone
A proverbial couplet
Number 1863-3
84.   p. 42007   He that heweth too high / The chips will fall in his eye
A proverbial couplet translating, ‘Qui nimis alta secant hos quisqui[ ]e cito cecant’
Number 193-1
85.   p. 42008   A woman oft-times will do
A proverbial couplet
Number 6457-1
86.   p. 42009   When the whelp gameth
A proverbial couplet
Number 6521-4
87.   p. 42010   While the grass groweth
A proverbial saying, translating ‘Gramen dum crescit equus in moriendo quiescit’ — one couplet
Number 5415-1
88.   p. 42011   The mouse goeth abroad
A proverbial couplet
Number 6699-3
89.   p. 42012   Winter eateth / What summer getteth
A proverbial saying about famine after winter, translating ‘Brume tempestas vorat hec que procreat estas’ — one short couplet
Number 2021-1
90.   p. 422   Hi sunt qui psalmos corrumpunt nequitur almos
Macaronic lines on Tutivillus — four lines in a Latin treatise cautioning priests and other clerics regarding the saying of divine offices
Number 3179-1
91.   pp. 429-430   Look on this writing man for thy devotion
An exhortation to hear Mass — thirteen stanzas rhyme royal
Number 1765-1
92.   p. 430   Hap is hard grace hath no peer
A couplet on the evils of the age
Number 599-1
93.   pp. 431-432   As I fared through a forest free / There birds song from year to year
On the transitoriness of worldly fortune — seven 8-line stanzas with refrain, ‘Welfare hath no sikernes’
Number 2274-2
94.   pp. 432-434   I shall you tell a full good sport
The Gossips’ Meeting — twenty-five 6-line stanzas (aaabbc) with ‘Good gossips myn’ refrain and burden: ‘Hoow gossip myne gossip myn / Whan will we go to the wyne / Good gossipes [myn]’
Number 1170-4
95.   pp. 434-435   Earth out of earth is wonderly wrought
‘Erthe upon Erthe’
Number 1893-1
96.   p. 436   He that oweth much and hath nought / and spendeth much and getteth nought
Proverbial rhymes on ‘Nought’ — two quatrains and a couplet
Number 1519-1
97.   pp. 437-438   Glorious cross that with the holy blood / of Christ Jesu
A Litany (to the Cross, God the Father, the Trinity, the Virgin Mary, angels, apostles, saints, etc.) — the complete text comprising sixteen stanzas rhyme royal
Number 3990-1
98.   p. 4391   O merciful God maker of all mankind
An epitaph — two 6-line stanzas (aabaab) and burden (cc): ‘To dy to dy what haue I / offendit þat deth is so hasty’
Number 2659-1
99.   p. 4392   In twenty year of age remember we everyone
The Four Ages of Man — four monorhyming quatrains and six-line burden: ‘So dye shall then / All cristyn men / No man wottith his tyme ne when / Wherfor thow may / Yf thou behye / Thynk non other but thou shalt dye’
Number 2144-3
100.   p. 4393   I boast and brag ay with the best
The Seven Deadly Sins in the Speculum Christiani (Quarta Tabula) — seven quatrains
Number 761-1
101.   pp. 440-446   Be it right or wrong
The Notbrowne Mayde — in 18-line stanzas or 6-line stanzas with alternating refrains, ‘He is a banysshed man’ and ‘She loved but hym alone’
Number 4810-4
102.   p. 446   Serve thy God truly
Precepts in -ly — usually two quatrains, but sometimes in expanded versions
Number 2988-2
103.   p. 4461   Keep well ten and flee from seven / spend well five and come to heaven
Number rhymes — a single couplet
Number 1867-6
104.   p. 4462   He that in youth no virtue used / In age all honor him refused
A proverb — one couplet, here isolated, also found incorporated into longer texts
Number 6341-2
105.   p. 4463   When I think things three
Three sorrowful things — six lines
Number 3375-1
106.   pf. 4464   Man remember whence thou come and wither thou shalt
On just dealing: ‘& to thyn evyn Cristyn do no wronge’ — one couplet
Number 118-2
107.   p. 4465   A man without mercy mercy shall miss
On mercy — one couplet
Number 1492-2
108.   p. 4591   Gaude maria Christs Mother
John Audelay, A hymn of the Five Joys — six 8-line stanzas with burden: ‘Aue maria now say we so / Moder & maydon was neuer non mo’
Number 1180-2
109.   p. 4592   Eight is my love if nine go before
Riddle on the word ‘HIESUS’, Jesus — three or four monorhyming or irregular lines
Number 1468-1
110.   p. 4601   From heaven was sent an angel of light
A carol of the Annunciation — seven 5-line stanzas and burden: ‘Now we shuld syng and say newell / Quia missus est angelus Gabriel’
Number 1485-2
111.   p. 4602   Gabriel of high degree / Came down from the Trinity
Annunciation carol — seven 4-line stanzas (aaab) including refrain, ‘With noua’, plus burden (bb): ‘Nova Nova / Ave fit ex Eva’
Number 5691-2
112.   p. 4611   This flower is fair and fresh of hue
John Audelay, The Flower of Jesse, a song in praise of the Virgin Mary — seven six-line stanzas (aaaabb) and burden: ‘There is a floure spr[u]ng of a tre / The rote þerof is callid jesse / A floure of pryce / Þer is non seche in paradise’
Number 2641-1
113.   p. 4612   In this time Christ hath us sent
A Christmas carol — five quatrains (aaab) and burden: ‘Make we mery in hall & bowr / Thys tyme was born owr savyower’
Number 3128-2
114.   p. 4621   Lithe and listen both old and young
A carol of the Nativity — seven quatrains (aaab) and burden: ‘Of a rose a louely rose / Of a rose I syng a song’
Number 3350-2
115.   p. 4622   Man have in mind how here before
Of Divine Mercy — six quatrains (aaab) + burden (bb): ‘Aske þou mercy whill þou may’, and burden (bb): ‘Man assay assay assay / and aske mercy quyls þat þu may’
Number 3412-1
116.   p. 4631   Mary flower of flowers all
A Christmas carol — seven quatrains (aaab) including refrain, ‘Puer natus est nobis’, plus burden: ‘Now syng we wyth joy and blys / Puer natus est nobis’
Number 702-1
117.   p. 4632   At Doomsday when we shall rise / And come before
A song of Doomsday — five quatrains (aaab) plus two-line burden (bb): ‘Mary moder I you pray / To be owr help at domys day’
Number 1320-2
118.   p. 4633   First two and then one then three and then five
‘Seynt Thomas Lottis’, a puzzle — one couplet
Number 5477-1
119.   p. 4641   The Son of the Father of heaven bliss
A Christmas carol—four quatrains (aaab) with refrain, ‘Processit ex virgine’ and burden: ‘Verbum patris hodie / Processit ex virgine’
Number 1486-2
120.   p. 4642   Gabriel that angel bright
Annunciation carol — five quatrains (aaab) including refrain, ‘Regina celi letare,’ plus burden (bb): Now synge we syng we ‘Regina celi letare’
Number 3-1
121.   p. 4643   A babe is born all of a may / In the salvation of us
An Epiphany carol — five quatrains with Latin caudae
Number 6020-2
122.   p. 4651   To thee now Christs dear darling
Hymn to St. John the Evangelist — four quatrains (abac) including refrain, ‘Amice Christi Iohannes’, plus burden(dc): ‘Pray for vs to the prince of peace / Amice Crysty Iohannes’
Number 204-2
123.   p. 4652   About the field they piped full right
The Angels appearing to the Shepherds, a carol — seven quatrains (abab) including refrain, ‘Terly terlow tirly terlow’, plus burden (bb): ‘Tyrly tirlow tirly terlow / So merily the sheperdis began to blow’
Number 608-2
124.   p. 4653   As I lay upon a night
A carol of the Annunciation — five quatrains (aaab) including refrain, ‘Redemptoris mater’ plus burden (bb): ‘Now syng we all in fere / Alma redemptoris mater’
Number 2481-2
125.   p. 4661   In Bethlehem that fair city
A Christmas carol — four quatrains each ending with a Latin line, and burden: ‘To blys God bryng vs al & sum / Christe redemptor omnium’
Number 5566-1
126.   p. 4662   There is a blossom sprung of a thorn
An Epiphany carol — nine quatrains (aaab) with refrain, ‘Deo Patri sit gloria’ and burden: ‘Alleluya alleluia / Deo Patri sit gloria’
Number 5653-1
127.   p. 4671   This blessed babe that thou hast born
A carol of the Passion — five six line stanzas (aaaabb) including refrain, ‘Mari moder cum and se / Thy swet son nayled on a tre’ plus burden (bb): ‘Mary moder cum and se / Thy swet son nayled on a tre’
Number 4099-1
128.   p. 4672   O worthy Lord and most of might
A macaronic song to Christ — four quatrains (abab) with Latin caudae and burden (bb): ‘Into this world now ys cum / Christe, redemptor omnium’
Number 3379-1
129.   p. 4673   Man that in earth abides here
A song of the Host — three five-line stanzas with refrain ‘Mirabile’, plus burden (bb): ‘Mirabile misterium / In forme of bred ys Godis son’
Number 3059-1
130.   p. 4681   Let no man come into this hall
A carol of Christmas sports — three quatrains (aaab) and burden: ‘Make we mery bothe more & lasse / ffor now ys þe tyme of crystymas’
Number 3081-1
131.   6. 4682   Lift up your hearts and be glad / In Christs birth the angel bade
A New Year song of Good Cheer — four quatrains (aaab) and burden: ‘What cher gud cher gud cher / Be mery & glad this gud new yere’
Number 3413-2
132.   p. 4683   Mary for the love of thee / Glad and merry shall we be
On the Five Joys — seven quatrains (aaab) and burden: ‘A a a a / Gaude celi domina’
Number 5459.4-1
133.   pp. 469-470   The shepherd upon a hill he sat
The song of Wat the Shepherd — ten 8-line stanzas (aaaabbbb; except 1st stanza which has 9 lines, aaaaabbbb) with refrain, ‘For in hys pype he made so mych joy’ and burden: ‘Can I not syng but hoy / Whan the joly sheperd made so mych joy’
Number 1971-1
134.   p. 470   Here have I dwelled with more and less
Farewell to Christmas — seven quatrains (aaab) and burden: ‘Now haue gud day now haue gud day / I am crystmas and now I go my way’
Number 2306-1
135.   p. 471   I was born in a stall / Between beasts two
The Story of Christ’s Sufferings — thirteen quatrains (abab) and burden: ‘Shall I moder shall I / Shall I do soo / Shall I dye for mannys sake / And I never synned thereto’
Number 5-2
136.   p. 472   A babe is born our bliss to bring
A dialogue between the Virgin Mary and her Child — eleven quatrains (aaab) plus burden (cc): ‘Now synge we with angelis / Gloria in excelsis’
Number 4930-1
137.   p. 4731   So blessed a sight it was to see
Dialogue between the Virgin Mary and her Child — eight quatrains aaab and six-line last stanza ababaa with refrain, ‘Myn own dere moder syng lulley’ and burden: ‘Lulley Jhesu lulley lulley / Myn own dere moder syng lulley’
Number 5729.2-2
138.   pp. 4732-474   This lovely lady sat and sang
Dialogue between the Virgin Mary and her Child — seven l0-line stanzas (ababccdeed) including refrain, ‘To syng by by lully lulley’ plus 7-line burden (aaabccb): ‘This enders nyght / I sawe a sight / A sterre as bryght / As any day / & euer a monge / A maydyn songe / Lylley by by lully lulley’
Number 2309-1
139.   p. 474   I was with pope and cardinal
Well is he that has enough and can say, ‘Whoa!’ — four quatrains (aaab) and burden: ‘Forsothe I hold hym well and withowt woo / That hath ynowgh and can say whoo’
Number 6141-2
140.   p. 4751   Vices be wild and virtues lame
A song on the Abuses of the Age — six quatrains (aaab) plus burden (bb): ‘God þat sittith in trinite / Amend this world yf thy will be’
Number 1521-1
141.   pp. 4752-476   Glorious God had great pity
A Christmas carol — six 7-line stanzas (aaabccb) plus burden: ‘Synge we with myrth ioye and solas / In honowr of this cristemas’
Number 5652-1
142.   p. 4761   This babe to us that now is born
A Christmas carol — five six-line stanzas (ababcc) with three-line refrain, ‘And thus it is / forsothe iwys / He askyth nouth but that is hys’ and burden: ‘Now may we syngyn as it is / Quod puer natus est nobis’
Number 3113-1
143.   pp. 4762-477   Listeneth lordings both great and small
Song in honour of St. Thomas of Canterbury — in quatrains (aaab) with Latin caudae and burden: A a a a / Nu[nc] gaudet ecclesia
Number 6402-1
144.   p. 4771   When Saint Stephen was at Jerusalem
A carol for St. Stephen’s Day — five quatrains with refrain element, ‘…lapidauerunt stephanum’ and burden: ‘Nowe syng we both all & sum / Lapidauerunt stephanum’
Number 5220-1
145.   p. 4772   The boars head in hands I bring
A Boar’s Head carol — three quatrains (aaab) and burden: ‘Caput apri Refero / Resonens laudes domino’
Number 1495-1
146.   p. 4781   Gaude to whom Gabriel was sent
A song of the Five Joys — five quatrains (abab) and burden: ‘Gawde for thy ioyes five / Mary moder maydyn & wyff’
Number 4261-1
147.   p. 4782   On Christs day I understand
A song of Christ, an Ear of Wheat — five quatrains (aaab) and burden (bb): ‘A blessid byrd as I you say / Þat dyed & rose on good fryday’
Number 5821-1
148.   pp. 4783-479   Thou dearest disciple of Jesu Christ
An orison to St. John the Evangelist — five quatrains (aaab) with Latin caudae and burden: ‘Pray for vs to the trinite / Johannes christi care’
Number 2435-1
149.   p. 4791   Illa iuventus that is so nice / Me deduxit in to vain devise
A macaronic carol of five quatrains and refrain: ‘Terribilis mors conturbat me’
Number 1358-1
150.   p. 4792   For His love that bought us all dear
A song of Christ the Fleur-de-lys — four quatrains including refrain, ‘can the flowr de lyce’ (aaab) plus burden (bb): ‘Synge we all for tyme it is / Mary hath born the flowre-de-lice’
Number 2683-1
151.   p. 4801   Into this world this day did come
A song of the Nativity — four quatrains (aaab) and burden: ‘I pray you be mery & synge with me / In worship of cristys nativite’
Number 5952-3
152.   p. 4802   Tidings true there become new
A song of the Annunciation — 4 stanzas, 1st and last with 6 lines (abbccc and abcbdd), middle two with 8 lines (abcbdbeb) plus burden (ff): ‘Newell newell newell newell / This ys þe salutacion of Gabryell’
Number 6423-1
153.   p. 4811   When that my sweet son was thirty winter old
A song of the Passion by the Virgin Mary — five monorhyming quatrains and burden: ‘O my harte is woo mary she sayd so / For to se my dere son dye & sonnes haue I no mo’
Number 5392-1
154.   pp. 4811-482   The Mass is of so high dignity
Against swearing by the Mass — six quatrains (aaaa) and burden (bb): ‘Y concell yow both more and lasse / Beware of swerynge by the masse’
Number 889-1
155.   p. 4812   Bought and sold full traitorously / And to a pillar bound
A Song of the Passion — five quatrains (abab) and burden (cc): ‘To see the mayden wepe her sones passion / It entrid my hart full depe with gret compassion’
Number 2275-1
156.   p. 4821   I shall you tell a great marvel / How an angel for our avail
A song of the Annunciation — six 3-line stanzas (aaa) and burden: ̴What hard ye not the kyng of Jherusalem / Is now bor in Bethelem’
Number 3776-1
157.   p. 4822   Now joy be to the Trinity / Father Son and Holy Ghost
A Christmas carol — five quatrains (abab) and burden: ‘Wassaill wassayll wassaill syng we / In worshipe of cristes natiuite’
Number 766-1
158.   p. 4831   Be merry and suffer as I thee vise
Suffer and be Merry — five quatrains (aaab) and 2-line burden (bb): ‘He is wise so most I goo / That can be mery & suffer woo’
Number 495-1
159.   p. 4832   An old sad saw unknown uncast
Cast not away thine Old for New — four 5-line stanzas (aaabb) including refrain, ‘…elles most we drynk as we brew’, and burden (aa): ‘An old sawe hath be fownd trewe…’
Number 6098-2
160.   pp. 4833-484   Under a forest that was so long
‘Asay þi frend or þu haf nede’ — six quatrains (abab) including refrain, ‘Asay a frend or þu haue nede’, plus burden (bb): ‘Man be ware & wise in dede / & assay a frend or þou haue nede’
Number 596-1
161.   p. 4841   As I came walking by the way / I saw a sight seemly to see
A song of the Angels appearing to the Shepherds — four 8-line stanzas (ababbcbc) including a Latin refrain, ‘Veritas de terra orta est’ plus burden (cc): ‘Man move thy mynd and ioy this fest / Verytas de terra orta est’
Number 5740-1
162.   p. 4842   This night there is a child born
A Christmas carol — four quatrains (aaab) with refrain, ‘Verbum caro factum est’ and burden: ‘All this tyme this songe is best / Verbum caro factum est’
Number 3400-2
163.   p. 503   Many a man blames his wife pardie
Women will have their word — fourteen quatrains (aaab) including refrain, ‘In villa’ plus burden (b): ‘In villa In villa quid vidistis in villa’
Number 2256-1
164.   p. 5041   I saw a dog seething souse
A nonsense carol of ‘tall stories’ — seven quatrains (aaab) and burden: ‘Hay hey hey hey / I will haue the whetston and I may’
Number 997-1
165.   p. 5042   Christ keep us all as He well can / a solis ortus cardine
A macaronic carol of the Nativity — four quatrains (abab) and burden: ‘Now syng we syng we / Gloria tibi domine’
Number 96-1
166.   p. 505   A little tale I will you tell
Strife in the house! a carol — fourteen quatrains (aaab) including refrain, ‘At þe townys end’ plus burden (cc): ‘Alas sayd þe gudman thi ys an hevy lyff / And all ys well þat endyth well said þe gud wyff’
Number 2035-1
167.   p. 5061   Hogyn came to bowers door
Old Hogyn and his Girl Friend, a ribald lyric — six 6-line stanzas, with refrain ‘Hum ha trill go bell’ in lines 4 and 6 of each stanza
Number 410-1
168.   p. 5062   All ye mowen of joy sing / Fro heaven us come
A carol in praise of the Virgin Mary — six quatrains (aaab) with Latin caudae and burden: ‘Virgo rosa virginum / tuum precare Filium’
Number 4404-1
169.   p. 5063   Pride is out and pride is in
A song against Pride — five quatrains (aaab) and burden (bb): ‘Man be war er þu be wo /Þink on pride & let hym goo’
Number 2497-2
170.   p. 5071   In every place ye may well see
The excellence (or not!) of women — ten quatrains (aaaa) with burden: ‘Of all creatures women be best / Cuius contrarium verum est’
Number 4956-2
171.   pp. 5072-508   Some be merry and some be sad
Carol on the different kinds of women — six 6-line stanzas (aaabccb) including refrain, ‘Yet all be not so / For sum be lewde & sum be shrewed / Go shrew wher so euer ye go’, and burden (dd): ‘Women women love of women / Makeþ bare pursis wiþ sum men’.
Number 6384-2
172.   p. 508   When nettles in winter bring forth roses red
When to trust women — seven stanzas rhyme royal including refrain, ‘Than put in a woman your trust & confidence’
Number 1957-1
173.   p. 5091   Here beside dwelleth a rich barons daughter
The Juggler and the Baron’s daughter — fourteen long couplets and bob with two-line burden
Number 2039-1
174.   pp. 5092-510   Holly beareth berries red enough
Holly against Ivy — four monorhyming quatrains and burden: ‘Nay nay ive it may not be iwis / For holy must haue the mastry as the maner is’
Number 2696-1
175.   p. 5101   Is there any good man here
A Minstrel’s Greeting — six 8-line stanzas (aaabcccb) and 3-line burden: ‘Bon jowre bon jowre a vous / I am cum vnto this hows / Vith par la pompe I say’
Number 1501-1
176.   pp. 5102-511   Gentle butler belle ami
Fill the Bowl, Butler — five 5-line stanzas (aaabb) including refrain and burden: ‘How butler how Bevis a towt / Fill the boll jentill butler & let the cup rowght’
Number 2332-2
177.   p. 5111   I would fain be a clerk / But yet it is a strange work
The Schoolboy’s Lament — six 5-line stanzas (aaaab) with refrain, ‘What avaylith it me thowgh I say nay’, and burden: ‘Hay hay by this day / What avayleth it me thowgh I say nay’
Number 3202-1
178.   pp. 5112-512   Lord how I shall me complain
A burlesque love song — eight 8-line stanzas with refrain, ‘When I sleep I may not wake’