Digital Index of Middle English Verse: No. 1265

DIMEV 1265

IMEV 765

NIMEV 765

Farewell my friends the tide abideth no man

An epitaph, frequently inscribed on monuments or brasses — one stanza rhyme royal

Note: Forms the last stanza of 1271; see also 2959, 5047; Ringler Jr. (1988)

XRingler Jr., William A. Bibliography and Index of English Verse Printed 1476-1558. London: Mansell, 1988

, TP 765

Subjects: epitaphs; farewells, epitaph

Versification: — seven-line — ababbcc

Macaronic: Latin

Bibliographic Ghosts: olim olim Maldon, Essex, Church of All Saints brass tomb: see 1271; Higham Ferrars, Northamptonshire, Church of St. Mary the Virgin tomb of William and Beatrice Chichele on floor at west end of south aisle, to right of Lady Chapel altar: see 5047

Manuscript Witnesses:

1.Source: London, British Library Lansdowne 762, f. 19v

Editions:

Wright, Thomas, and James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps, eds. Reliquiae Antiquae. 2 vols. London: Smith, 1845: 1.268.

Inscriptions:

1.Source: olim Baldok, Hertfordshire, Church of St. Mary the Virgin tomb of William Crane (d. 1483) and his wives Jane and Margaret Crane

Transcription:

Farwel my frendys the tyd abidyth no man
I am departed hens and so sal ye
But in this pasage the best song I can
Is Requiem Eternam now Ihesu grant it me
When I haue ended all myn aduersity
Grant me in Paradys to hav a mansion
That shedst thy bloud for my redemption

Note: No longer extant.

Editions:

Weever, John. Ancient Funerall Monuments within the United Monarchie of Great Britaine. London: T. Harper, 1631 (STC 25223); repr. Amsterdam: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum; and NY: Walter Johnson, 1979: 545.

Gray, Douglas. “A Middle English Epitaph.” Notes and Queries n.s. 8 [206] (1961): 132-5: 133.

2.Source: London, St. Michael’s Church, Crooked Lane, brass tomb of John Shrow, stockfishmonger (d. 1487)

Transcription:

Farewell my friendes the tide abydeth no man
I am departed hence and so shall ye
But in this passage the best song that I can
Is requiem eternam now Ihesu grant it me
When I haue ended all mine aduersitie
Grant me in Paradise to haue a mansion
That shedst th[y] blood for my redemption

Note: Variant; no longer extant.

Editions:

Stow, John. A svrvay of London: contayning the originall, antiquity, increase, moderne estate, and description of that citie: written in the yeare 1598. London: Imprinted by Iohn Wolfe, Printer to the honorable citie of London, and are to be sold at his shop within the Popes head Alley in Lombard street, 1598 (STC 23341): 175.

Gray, Douglas. “A Middle English Epitaph.” Notes and Queries n.s. 8 [206] (1961): 132-5: 133.

3.Source: olim London, St. Martin’s Church, Ludgate Hill tomb of John and Anne Benson

Transcription:

Farewell my freyndes the tyde abydeth no man
We be departed fro hence and so sall yee
But in this passage the best song that we say can
Is Requiem eternam now Ihesu grant hit mee
When wee haue endyd all our aduersitee
Grant vs in Paradise to haue a mansion
That shced [sic] his blood for our redemption
Therefore wee tendyrlie requier yee
For the souls of John Benson
And Anne his wyff of your charitie
To say a Pater Noster and an Aue

Note: With additional lines, for total of 11 lines, rhyming roughly, ababbccbcbb; no longer extant.

Editions:

Gray, Douglas. “A Middle English Epitaph.” Notes and Queries n.s. 8 [206] (1961): 132-5: 134.

4.Source: Northleach, Gloucestershire, Church of Saints Peter and Paul tomb of William and Elizabeth Midwinter (d. 1501 and 1502), brass tomb on floor, northeast corner of nave (east end of north aisle), in brass border

Transcription:

ffarewell my frendes the tyde abideth no man
I am departed from hense and so shall ye
But in this passage the best songe that I can
Is requiem eternam now Ihesu graunte it me
Whan I haue ended all myn aduersite
Graunte me in paradise to haue a mansion
That shed thy blode ffor my redempcion

Editions:

Gray, Douglas. “A Middle English Epitaph.” Notes and Queries n.s. 8 [206] (1961): 132-5: 133-4.

5.Source: olim Romford, Essex, Church of St Edward the Confessor tomb of Elizabeth Hannys and Avery Cornburgh

Transcription:

Farwel my frendys the Tyde abydeth no man
I am departyd fro hens and so sall ye
But in my pasage the best song I can
Is Req[u]iem eternam now Iesu grant it me
When I haue endyd all my auersite
Grant me in Paradys to haue a mansion
That shed thy blood for my redemption

Note: No longer extant: church rebuilt 1839.

Editions:

Gray, Douglas. “A Middle English Epitaph.” Notes and Queries n.s. 8 [206] (1961): 132-5: 133.

6.Source: Royston, Hertfordshire, Church of St John the Baptist, small rectangular brass on east wall of north aisle

Transcription:

Now farewell my frendys all
The tyde Abydethe no man
I Am departyd hens and so ye shall
yn thys passage e best songe that I can
Requiem eternam now Ihesu graunte yt me
When I haue endyd all myne aduersite
Graunte me yn paradyse to haue a mancion
That shed thy blod for my Redempcioun

Note: Variant; text written as if a quatrain.

Editions:

Gray, Douglas. “A Middle English Epitaph.” Notes and Queries n.s. 8 [206] (1961): 132-5: 134.