Fifteenth Century Prose and Verse Part 14

He took his leave full courteously To green wood then went he.

When he came to green wood In a merry morning, There he heard the notes small Of birds, merry singing.

"It is far gone," said ROBIN, "That I was last here.

Me list a little for to shoot At the dun deer."

ROBIN slew a full great hart, His horn then 'gan he blow, That all the outlaws of that forest, That horn could they know.

And gathered them together In a little throw, Seven score of wight young men Came ready on a row, And fair did off their hoods And set them on their knee.

"Welcome!" they said, "our Master!

Under this green-wood tree!"

ROBIN dwelled in green wood Twenty years and two; For all dread of EDWARD our King Again would he not go.

Yet was he beguiled i-wis Through a wicked woman, The Prioress of Kirkesley.

That nigh was of his kin, For the love of a Knight, Sir ROGER of Donkesley.

That was her own special (Full evil might they thee!) They took together their counsel ROBIN HOOD for to slee, And how they might best do that deed His banes for to be.

Then bespake good ROBIN, In place where as he stood, "To-morrow, I must to Kirkesley Craftily to be let blood!"

Sir ROGER of Doncaster, By the Prioress he lay: And there they betrayed good ROBIN HOOD Through their false play.

CHRIST have mercy on his soul!

(That died on the rood) For he was a good outlaw, And did poor men much good.

+Explicit. King Edward and Robin Hood and Little John. Imprinted at London in Fleet street at the sign of the Sun. By Wynken de Worde.+

_English Carols._ [From a Ma.n.u.script at Balliol College, Oxford.]

=Written before 1500.=

=From a Balliol MS. of c. 1540=

_English Carols._ From a Ma.n.u.script at Balliol College, Oxford.

_Mater, ora filium, ut post hoc exilium n.o.bis donet gaudium beatorum omnium!_

Fair maiden, who is this bairn That thou bearest in thine arm?

Sir it is a Kinges Son, That in Heaven above doth wone.

_Mater, ora, etc._

Man to father he hath none, But Himself G.o.d alone!

Of a maiden He would be born, To save mankind that was forlorn!

_Mater, ora, etc._

The Kings brought him presents, Gold, myrrh, and frankincense To my Son full of might, King of Kings and Lord of right!

_Mater, ora, etc._

Fair maiden pray for us Unto thy Son, sweet Jesus, That He will send us of His grace In heaven on high to have a place!

_Mater, ora, etc._

_Ave Maria, now say we so, Maid and mother were never no mo!_

Gaude Maria! Christes mother, Mary mild of thee I mean; Thou bare my Lord, thou bare my brother, Thou bare a lovely child and clean!

Thou stoodest full still without blin When in thy ear that errand was done so, Tho gracious G.o.d thee light within.

_Gabrielis nuncio!_

Gaude Maria! [preva]lent with grace When Jesus thy Son on thee was bore, Full nigh thy breast thou gan Him brace, He sucked, He sighed, He wept full sore.

Thou fed'st the flower that never shall fade With maiden's milk, and sung thereto Lullay, my sweet! I bare thee, babe!

_c.u.m pudoris lilio._

Gaude Maria! thy mirth was away, When Christ on cross, thy Son, gan die, Full dolefully on Good Friday, That many a mother's son it sy.

His blood us brought from care and strife His watery wound us washed from woe, The third day from death to life _Fulget resurrectio._

Gaude Maria! thou bird so bright, Brighter than blossom that bloweth on hill!

Joyfull thou were to see that sight, When the Apostles, so sweet of will, All and some did shriek full shrill When the fairest of shape went you fro, From earth to heaven he styed full still, _Motu quod fertur proprio._

Gaude Maria! thou rose of Ryse!

Maiden and mother both gentle and free, Precious princess, peerless of price, Thy bower is next the Trinity!

Thy Son as law asketh a right, In body and soul thee took Him to, Thou reignes with Him right as we find.

_In coeli palatio._

Now, blessed bird, we pray thee a boon, Before thy Son for us thou fall, And pray Him, as He was on the rood done And for us drank eisell and gall, That we may wone within that wall Wherever is well without woe, And grant that grace unto us all.

_In perenni gaudio._

_Of a rose, a lovely rose And of a rose I sing a song!_

Hearken to me both old and young, How a rose began to spring, A fairer rose to my liking _Sprung there never in Kinges land._

Six branches are on that rose beme, They be both bright and sheen.

The rose is called Mary, heaven queen, _Of her bosom a blossom sprung._

The first branch was of great might, That sprung on Christmas night!

The star shone over Bethlehem bright, _That men might see both broad and long._

The second branch was of great honour, It was sent from heaven tower!

Blessed be that fair flower, _Break it shall the fiendes bonds!_

The third branch wide spread, There Mary lay in her bed, The bright stream three Kings led _To Bethlem there that branch they found._

The fourth branch sprung into h.e.l.l, The fiendes boast for to fell, There might no soul therein dwell, _Blessed be that time that branch gan spring!_

The fifth branch was fair in foot, That sprung to heaven, top and root, There to dwell and be our bote, _And yet is seen in priestes hands._