Lyrics from the Devonshire Manuscript

A Listing of the Lyrics (by incipit)

The Lyrics

My fereful loue from me ys fledd
Devonshire 7v.

My fereful loue from me ys fledd
whyche of long tyme hast ben my gyde
now faythefull trust ys in hys stedd
and byde me sett all fere asyde

O trewthe yt ys I not denye [5]
all louers may not lyue in case
yet sum by hap doth syt truly
so lyke may I yft that she please

Why so yt ys a gyffe ye wott
by nature one to loue another [10]
and bynd that love dothe fall by lott
then why not I as well as other

yt may so be the cawse ys why
she knowethe no part to my poore mynd
but yet as one [assuredly] [15]
I speke not lyng but as I fynd

yff nature wyll yt shall so be
no reason rulythe fantasy
yet in thyscase as semythe me
I take all thyng Indyfferently [20]

yet uncertaun I wyll reioyce
and thynke to haue tho yet thow hast
I [sent] my chawnce onto her choyce
with pacyence for power ys past

No no I knowe the lyke ys fayre [25]
withowt dysdayn or cruelltye
and so to end from all dyspayre
ontyll I fynd the contrarye

Yowre fereful loue cannot preuayle
Devonshire 8r.

Yowre fereful loue cannot preuayle
nor yet faythfull trust also
sum thynke to sytt oftymes do fayle
wherby they change theyre relyshe to wo

What tho In that yet put no trust [5]
but all ways after as ye set
for say yor wyll and do yor lust
there ys no place for yow to be

No [sure therm] ye ar farr owte
yor labor lost ye loue to save [10]
but ons I put ye owte off dowte
the thyng ys had that ye wolde haue

Tho to remayn wyth owt remorse
and pytyles to be opprest
yet ys the coorse of love by force [15]
to take all thynge vnto the best

Well yet beware yft thow be wysse
and leve thy [loue] thy hete to coole
ffor fere lest she thy loue dyspyse
reportyng the but as a foole [20]

Syns thys to folow of force thow must
and by nor reason can refrayn
thy chawnce shall change thy lest mystrust
as thow shall prove vnto thy payn

When wythe suche payn thou shalt be payd [25]
the whyche shall passe all remedy
then thynke on thys that I haue sayd
and blame thy folysshe ffantasy

Shuld I take thought when she ys glad
Devonshire 22r.

Shuld I take thought when she ys glad
or shuld I wake when she dothe slepe
yet may I say that as I had
and nother sobbe nor syghe nor wepe
nor for her lowe on knee to crepe [5]
for surely thys ryght well I wott
happyest ys yt that hathe her nott

Now may I morne as one off late
Devonshire 26r.

Now may I morne as one off late
Dryuen by force from my delyte
and can not se my louely mate
to whom for euer my hart ys plyte

Alas that euer pryson strange [5]
should such too louers separate
yet though ower bodys suffreth wronge
ower harts shalbe off one estate

I will not swerue I you Insure
for gold nor yet for worldly fere [10]
but lyke as yerne I wyll Indure
suche faythful loue to you I bere

Thus fare ye well to me most dere
off all the world both most and lest
I pray you be off ryght good chere [15]
and thynke on me that louys yow best

and I wyll promyse yow agayne
to thynke off yow I wyll not lett
for nothyng could relesse my payne
but to thynke on yow my louer swete. [20]

Wyth sorowful syghes and woundes smart
Devonshire 26v.

Wyth sorowful syghes and woundes smart
my hart ys persed sodaynly
to morne off ryght yt ys my part
to wepe to wayle full greuously

the bytter teres dothe me constrayne [5]
all tho that I wold not yt eschew
to wyte off them that dothe dysdayne
faythfull louers that be so trew

The one of us from the other they do absent
wych unto us ys a dedly wond [10]
seyng we loue in thys yntent
yn gods laws for to be bownd

wyth syghes depe my harte ys prest
duryng off great paynes among
to see her dayly whom I loue best [15]
yn great and untollerable sorows strong

ther doth not lyue no louyng hurt
but wyll lament ower greuous woo
and pray to god to ease owre smart
and shortly together that we may goo.

What thyng shold cawse me to be so sad
Devonshire 27r.

What thyng shold cawse me to be so sad
as long ye reyoyse wyth hart
my part yt ys for to be glad
syns yow haue takyn me to yowr part
ye do relese my pene and smart [5]
wych wold me mery sore Insue
but that for yow my trust so trew

yff I shuld wryte and make report
what faythfulnes in yow I fynd
the terme off lyfe yt were to short [10]
wyth penne yn letters yt to bynd
wherefor wher as ye be so kynd
as for my part yt ys but dewe
lyke case to you to be as true

My loue truly shall not decay [15]
for thretnyng nor for punyshment
for let them thynke and let them say
toward yow alone I am full bent
therefore I wylbe dylygent
owr faythfull loue for to renew [20]
and styll to kepe me trust so trew

Thus fare ye well my worldly tresor
desyryng god that off hys grace
to send us tyme hys wyll and plesor
then shal I be yn as good case [25]
as a hawke that gets owt off hys mue
and strayt doth seke hys trust so true.

Alas that men be so ungent
Devonshire 27v.

Alas that men be so ungent
to order me so creuelly
off ryght they shoold themself repent
yff they regard there honesty

They kno my hart ys set so sure [5]
that all ther words can not preuayle
Tho that the thynke me to allure
wyth doubyll tongue and flaterynge tayle

Alas me thynke the do me wronge
That they wold haue me to resyne [10]
my tytle wych ys good and stronge
that I am yowrs and yow ar myne

I thynke the wold that I shold swere
yowr company for to forsake
but ons ther ys no worldly fere [15]
shold cawse ane such anothe to make

ffor I do trust ere yt be longe
that god off hys benyngnyte
wyll send us ryght where we haue wrong
for servyng hym thus faythfulye [20]

Now fare ye well my none swete wyfe
trustyng that shortely I shall here
from you the story off all my lyfe
[thy?] helth alone ys all my chere

Who hath more cawse for to complayne
Devonshire 28r.

Who hath more cawse for to complayne
or to lament hys sorow and payne
then I wych loues and louyd agayne
yet can not optayne

I can not optayne that ys my none [5]
wych cawsyth me styll to make great mone
To se thus ryght with wrong ones throwne
as not vnknowne

It ys not vnknowen how wrongfully
The wyll me hyr for to deny [10]
whom I wyll loue most hartely
vntyll I dye

vntyll I dye I wyll not lett
To seke her owt in cold and het
wych both my hart as fermly set [15]
as tonge or penne can yt repet

I may well say with Ioyfull harte
Devonshire 28v.

I may well say with Ioyfull harte
as neuer woman myght say beforn
that I haue takyn to my part
the faythfullyst louer that euer was born

great paynes he suffreth for my sake [5]
contynnually both nyght and day
for all the paynes that he doth take
from me hys loue wyll not decay

Wyth thretnyng great he hath ben sayd
off payne and yke of punishment [10]
yet all fere asyde he hath layed
to loue me best was hys yntent

Who shall let me then off ryght
onto myself hym to retane
and loue hym best both day and nyght [15]
yn reconpens off hys great payne

yff I had more more shold he haue
and that I kno he knowys full well
to loue hym best vnto my graue
off that he may both bye and sell [20]

And thus fare well my harts desyer
the only stay off me and myne
onto god dayly I make my prayer
to bryng vs shortly both in one lyne

To yowr gentyll letters an answere to resyte
Devonshire 29r.

To yowr gentyll letters an answere to resyte
both I and my penne these to wyll aply
and thowgh that I can not yor goodnes [_____]
In ryme and meter elegantly
yet do I meane as fathfully [5]
As euer dyd louer for hys part
I take god to record whych knowyth my hart

And where as ye wyll contynew myne
To reporte for me ye may be bold
That yff I had lyves as argus had yne [10]
yet sooner all them lyse I wold
Then to be tempte for fere or for gold
yow to refuse or to forsake
wych ys my faythful and louyng make

Wyth faythullnes ye dyd euer pretend [15]
and gentylnes as now I see
off me wych was yowr pore old frend
yowr louyng husband now to be
synce ye defende from yor degree
take ye thys vnto yowr part [20]
my faythful trwe and louyng hart

for terme off lyfe thys gyft ye haue
Thus now adwe my none swete wyfe
from T. H. wych nowght doth crave
but yow the stay off all my lyfe [25]
and the that wore other bate or stryfe
To be tyed wyth yn ower louyng bandys
I wold the were on goodwyn sandys

O very lord o love o god alas
Devonshire 29v-30r.

And now my pen alas wyth wyche I wryte
quaketh for drede off that I muste endyte

___

O very lord o love o god alas
That knowest best myn hert and all my thowght
what shall my sorowful lyfe donne in thys caas
Iff I forgo that I so dere haue bowght
Syns ye [_____] and me have fully brought [5]
Into your grace and both our hertes sealed
howe may ye suffer alas yt be repealed

What I may doo I shall whyle I may dure
or lyue in torment and in curel payne
Thys infortune or thys dysaventure [10]
alone as I was borne I wyl complayne
ne neuer wyl I sene yt shyne or rayne
but ende I wyl as edyppe in derknesse
my sorowful lyfe and so dy in dystresse

O wery goste that errest to and fro [15]
why wyld thow not flye owt off the wofullest
Body that euer myght on grounde go
a soule lurkyng in thys woful nest
flye forth owt my herte and yt breste
and folowe alwaye [_____] thy lady dere [20]
they ryght place ys nowe no lenger here

O ye louers that hygh vpon the whele
ben sette of fortune in good aventure
god grawnte that ye fynden aye loue of stele
and longe maye yowr lyfe in ioye endure [25]
but when ye comen by my sepulture
remembre that yowr felowe resteth there
for I louyd eke thowgh I vnworthy were.

O happy dames (Surrey)
[Complaint of the absence of her louer being vpon the sea. (Tottel)]
Devonshire 55r-v; text from Tottel B4r.

O Happy dames, that may embrace
The frute of your delight,
Help to bewaile the wofull case,
And eke the heauy plight
Of me, that wonted to reioyce [5]
The fortune of my pleasant choyce:
Good Ladies, help to fill my moorning voyce.

In ship, freight with rememberance
Of thoughts, and pleasures past,
sailes that hath in gouernance [10]
My life, while it wil last:
With scalding sighes, for lack of gale,
Furdering his hope, that is his sail
Toward me, the swete port of his auail.

Alas, how oft in dreames I se [15]
Those eyes, that were my food,
Which somtime so delited me,
That yet they do me good.
Wherwith I wake with his returne,
Whose absent flame did make me burne. [20]
But when I find the lacke, Lord how I mourne?

When other louers in armes acrosse,
Reioyce their chiefe delight:
Drowned in teares to mourne my losse,
I stand the bitter night, [25]
In my window, where I may see,
Before the windes how the cloudes flee.
Lo, what a mariner loue hath made me.

And in grene waues when the salt flood
Doth rise, by rage of winde: [30]
A thousand fansies in that mood
Assayle my restlesse mind.
Alas, now drencheth my swete fo,
That with the spoyle of my hart did go,
And left me but (alas) why did he so? [35]

And when the seas waxe calme againe,
To chase fro me annoye.
My doutfull hope doth cause me plaine:
So dreade cuts of my ioye.
Thus is my wealth mingled with wo, [40]
And of ech thought a dout doth growe,
Now he comes, will he come? alas, no no.

ys that afayre avaunte ys thys honor
Devonshire 89r.

ys that afayre avaunte ys thys honor
a man hymselfe accuse thus and distane
ys yt good to confesse hymselfe traytour
and brynge a woman to selanndrous name
and tell how he her body hath don shame [5]
no worshyppe may he thus to hym conquer
but great dysclaunder vnto hym and her

To her nay yet was yt no reprefe
Devonshire 89r.

To her nay yet was yt no reprefe
for all for vertue was that she wrowght
but he that [brwed] hath all thys myschefe
that spake so fayre and falsely inward thought
hys be the sclawnder as yt by reason ought [5]
and vnto her thank perpetuel
that in suche a nede helpe can so well

How frendly was medea to Iason
Devonshire 91r-92r.

How frendly was medea to Iason
In conqueryng off the flece off gold
how falsely quyt he her trewe affection
by whom vyctorye he gate as he wold
how may thys man for shame be so bolde [5]
to dysceve her that from hys deth and shame
hym kept and gate hym so great pryce and name

for thowgh I had yow to morrow agayne
I myght as well hold apryl from rayne
as holde you to maken stedfast [10]
all myghty god off treuthe the souerayne
wher ys the truthe off man who hath yt slayne
she that them loueth shall them fynde as fast
as in a tempest ys a rotten maste
ys that a tame beest that ys aye fayre [15]
to renne away when he ys lefte agaste

yff yt be so that ye so creuel be
that off my death yow lysteth nowght to retch
that ys so trewe and worthy as ye se
no more than of a mocker or a wretch [20]
yff ye be suche yowr beaute may not stretch
to make amendes off so crewel a dede
avysement ys good before the nede

no worthe the fayre gemme vertulesse
no worthe that herbe also that dothe no bote [25]
no worthe the beaute that ys routhlesse
no worthe that wyght that trede eche vnder fote
and ye that ben off beauty croppe and rote
Iff therwythall in yow be no routhe
than ys yt harme that ye lyuen by my trouthe [30]

for loue ys yet the muste stormy lyfe
ryght off hymself that euer was begonne
for euer some mystrust or nyce stryfe
there ys in loue some cloude ouer thy sonne
thereto we wretched women nothyng come [35]
whan to us ys wo but wepe and syt and thynyke
our wreake ys thys our owne wo to drynke

Also wyckyd tonges by so prest
to speake us harme eke men ben so vntrewe
that ryght anon as cessed ys ther lest [40]
so cesseth loue and forth to loue anewe
but [ydo] ys donne who so yt rewe
for thowgh these men for love the fyrst to rende
ful sharpe begynnyng breketh ofte at end

And who that sayth that for to love ys vyce [45]
or tharalldom thowgh he fele yn yt dystresse
he ether ys envyous or ryght nyce
or ys for suche maner folke I gesse
[dyssamen] loue as nothyng off hym knowe
they speken but they bente never hys bowe [50]


© R.G. Siemens, 1996-.
Last updated 31 July 2001 .