¶ Here beginneth the testament of Iohn Lydgate monk of Berry: which he made himself/ by his life days. ⸫ portrait of John Lydgate depiction of crucifixion of Christ THe years passed/ of my tender youth Of my fresh age/ feared the grenenesse Lust apalled/ thexperience is couth The unwieldy joints/ starked with rudeness The cloudy sight/ misted with darkness Without redress: recure/ or amends To me of death/ have brought in the kalends. ¶ Of my spent time/ a fool may well complain Thing impossible/ again for to recure Idle days ylost/ who can call again Them to reform/ by any adventure Each mortal man/ is called to the lure Of death/ alas uncertain the passage Whose chief mariner/ is called crooked age. ¶ One of his bedellies/ named feebleness Came with his potent/ in stead of a mace Summoned me/ and afterward came sickness Malyncolyke: earthly/ and pale of face With their warrant/ these twain can menace That death of me/ his due debt sought And to a bed of languor/ they me brought. ¶ Whereunto me/ a none their did apere while that I lay/ complaining in a trance Clad in a mantel/ a woman sad of cheer Black was her habit/ sober was her countenance Strange of her port/ froward of dalliance Casting her look/ to meward in certain Like as of me: she had/ had disdain. ¶ This said woman/ called was Remembrance Of myspent time/ in youths lustynes Which to record/ did me great grievance Than came her sister/ named Pensyfnes For old surfeits/ 'gan unto me dress A woeful bill/ which brought unto my mind My greatr outrages/ of long time left behind. ¶ Lying alone/ I 'gan to imagine How with four times/ departed is the year First: how in Vere/ the soil tenlumyne Buds beginning open/ again the son clear The balm upraysed/ most sovereign and enter Out of the rote/ doth naturally ascend With new lyvere the barren soil tamende. ¶ The Honysocle/ the fresh Primmerolles Their leaves splay/ at Phoebus' uprising The amorous fowls/ with notes and carolles salue that season/ every morning When Aurora/ her liquor dystelling Sent on herbs/ the perly drops shane Of silvery dews/ tenlumyne with the green. ¶ This time Vere is named/ of greenness Time of joy/ of gladness and disport Time of growing/ chief mother of freshness Time of rejoicing ordained for comfort Time: when time/ maketh his resort In gerysshe March/ toward the Aryete Our emyspery/ to gladden with his here. ¶ But to direct by grace/ my matter Makely kneeling: jesus/ in thy presence I me purpose/ to gin with prayer Under thy merciful/ fructuous influence So thou jesus/ of thy benevolence To my requests/ by merciful attendance Grant or I die: shrift housel repentance. My wretched life tamendden/ and correct I me purpose/ with support of thy grace Thy death/ thy passion/ thy cross shall me direct Which suffredyst death jesus/ for our trespass I wretch unworthy/ to look upon thy face Thy feet embracing/ from which I shall nattwyn Mercy enquiring/ thus will I begin. Oratio. O Mighty lord/ of power mightiest Without whom/ all force is feebleness Bounteous jesus/ of good goodliest Mercy thy bedyll/ or thou thy done dress Delayeth rigour/ to punish my wickedness longest abiding/ loathest to do vengeance O blessed jesus/ of thine high goodness Grant or I die/ shrift/ housel/ repentance. ¶ Though thou be mighty/ thou art eke merciable To all folks/ that meekly them repent I/ a wretch: courageous and culpable To all outrages/ ready for to assent But of hole heart and will/ in mine intent Of old and new/ all vicious governance Of youth and age/ and of mistyme spent Grant or I die: shrift/ housel/ repentance. ¶ Of my confession/ receive the sacrifice By my tongue/ up offered unto the That I may say/ in all my best guise meekly with david/ have mercy upon me Salve all my soores/ that they not cankered be With none old rust/ of dyseperaunce Which of hole heart/ cry upon my knee Grant or I die: shrift/ housel/ repentance. ¶ O jesus jesus/ here mine orison bridle mine outrage/ under thy discipline Fetter sensuality/ enlumine my reason To follow the traces/ of spiritual doctrine Let thy grace lead me/ right as a line With humble heart/ to live to thy pleasance And blessed jesus/ or I this life shall fine Grant of thy mercy: shrift/ housel/ repentance. ¶ Suffer me to have/ savour nor sweetness But in thy name/ that called as jesus All foreign things/ to me make bitterness Save only jesus/ most sovereign of virtue To my profession/ according and most due Ever to be painted/ in my remembrance At mine end/ to grant me this issue Tofore my death: shrift/ housellf repentance. ¶ No lord but jesus/ most merciable & benign Which of mercy/ took our humanity And of love/ to show a sovereign sign Suffered passion/ upon the road tree Only to franchise/ our mortality Which stood in danger/ of Satan's encumbrance Or I pass hen's/ jesus grant unto me Tofore my death: shrift/ housel/ repentance. ¶ I am excited/ and moved of nature This name of jesus/ sovereignly to praise Name commended/ most highly in scripture Which name hath power/ deed men to raise To live eternal/ whose virtue doth so poise Again my sins/ weighed in balance That grace and mercy/ shall so counterpoise Grant or I die: shrift/ housel/ repentance. ¶ Let me not rest/ nor have no quiet Ocupy my soul/ with spiritual travail To sing and say/ mercy jesus sweet My protection/ again fiends in battle Setting aside/ all other apparel And in jesus/ to put all mine affiance treasure of treasures/ that may me most avail Grant or I die: shrift/ housel/ repentance. ¶ My faith/ my hope: to the jesus doth call Which glorious name/ shall never out of mind I shall the seek/ what hap that ever befall By grace and mercy/ in trust I shall the find And but I did/ truly I were unkind Which for my sake/ was pierced with a lance Unto the heart/ jesus leave not behind Grant or I die: shrift/ housel/ repentance. ¶ There is no god/ but thou jesus alone Soveraynest/ and eke most merciful Fairest of fair: early/ late/ and soon Stable and most strong/ piteous and rightful reforming sinners/ that been in virtue dull Daunting the proud/ meekness to enhance Thy ton of mercy/ is ever like full Grant or I die: shrift/ housel/ repentance. ¶ Suffer of mercy/ I may to the speak O blessed jesus/ and goodly do advert Who shall give leaser/ out to break That thou jesus/ mayst enter into mine heart There tabyde/ more near than my shirt With aureate letters/ grave therein substance provide for me/ and let it not astart Grant or I die: shrift/ housel/ repentance. ¶ Say to my soul Jesus/ thou art mine health Hearing this voice/ after I shall pursue Skoure that place/ from all ghostly filth And vices all/ from thence do remove Thine holy ghost/ close in that little mewe part not lightly/ make such cheupsaunce To increase in virtue/ and vices to eschew And or I die: shrift/ housel/ repentance. ¶ Show glad thy face/ & thy light down shed The merciful light/ of thine eyen twain On me thy servant/ which hath so mickle need For his sins to weep/ and complain And blessed jesus/ of mercy not disdain Thy gracious showers/ let rain in abundance Upon my heart to dewyn every vain And or I die: shrift/ housel/ repentance. ¶ Save me thy servant/ O lord: in thy mercy For lack of which/ let me not be confounded For in the jesus/ mine hope standeth finally And all my trust in the jesus/ is grounded For my sins: think jesus/ thou were wounded Naked on the road/ by mortal great penance By which/ the power of Satan was confounded Grant or I die: shrift/ housel/ repentance. ¶ Thou art my succour/ and refuge gain every tempest/ and tribulation That worldly wawes/ with their mortal deluge Ne drown me not/ in their dreadful dongyon Where Carybdis/ hath domination And sirens/ singeth songs of disturbance To pass that danger/ be thou my protection Grant or I die: shrift/ housel/ repentance. ¶ Who shall give me/ like mine intent That thou jesus/ mayst make thine herberage By receiving/ of the holy sacrament Into mine heart/ which is to mine old age Repast eternal/ gain all foreign damage Duly received/ with devout observance celestial guerdon/ end of my pilgrimage Is shrift/ and housel/ and heartily repentance. ¶ I feel mine heart brotell/ and ruinous not purified jesus/ therein to rest But as a carpenter/ cometh to a broken house Or an artificer/ repaireth a riven chest So thou Jesus/ of crafty men the best Repair my thought/ broke with misgovernance visit my soul/ my heart of steel thou breast Grant or I die: shrift housel/ repentance. ¶ With weeping eyen/ and a contrite cheer Accept me Jesus/ and my complaint conceive As most unworthy t'appear/ at thine autere Which in myself/ no virtue apperceive But if thy mercy/ by grace me receive By sinful living/ brought unto utterance Pray with good hope/ which may me not deceive Grant or I die: shrift/ housel/ repentance. ¶ crying to thee/ that dyedest on the road Which with thy blood/ was stained & made reed And on sherethursday/ gave us to our food Thy blessed body Jesus/ in form of breed To me most sinful/ grant or I be deed To claim by mercy/ for mine inheritance That which sharp thorn/ were crowned on thy heed Or I pass hens: shrift/ housel/ repentance. ¶ And one request/ in especial Grant me Jesus/ while I am here a live Ever to enprint/ in my memorial The remembrance/ of thy wounds five Nails/ with the spear: that did thine heart rive Thy crown of thorn/ which was no small penance Language/ and tongue: me duly for to shrive The holy uncyon: shrift/ housel/ repentance. ¶ All the tokens/ of thy bitter passion I pray the Jesus/ grave them in my memory Duly mark/ mid centyr of my reason On calvary/ thy triumphal victory Man to restore/ to thine eternal glory By mediation/ of thy meek sufferance Out of this exile/ unsure and transitory And when we pass: shrift housel/ repentance ¶ Of thy mercy/ requiring the to mine Of my mind the mid point most profound This word Jesus my five wits tenlumyne In length and breed/ like a large wound All idle thoughts/ to avoid them and confound Thy cross/ thy scourgꝭ: thy garment cast at chance The rope/ the pyllour: to which thou were bound Grant or I die: shrift/ housel/ repentance. ¶ Of this prayer/ meekly I make an end Under thy merciful supportation O gracious Jesus/ grant where ever I wend To have memory/ upon thy passion Testymoniall/ of my redemption In my testament/ set for allegiance This cause last/ of my petition Grant or I die: shrift/ housel/ repentance. ¶ Finis orationis. During the time/ of this season Vere I mean the season/ of my years green ginning fro childhood/ stretcheth up so fere To the years accounted/ fully xu By experience/ as it was well seen The gerysshe season/ strong of condition disposed to many/ unbrideld passion. ¶ Void of reason/ given to wilfulness froward to virtue of Christ gave little heed Loath to learn/ loved no virtuous business Save play or mirth/ strange to spell or read Following all appetites longing to chyldhede Lightly turning: wild/ and seld sad Weeping for nought/ and a none after glad. ¶ For little worth/ to strive with my fellow As my passions/ did my bridle lead Of the yard/ stood I sometime in awe To be scoured/ that was all my dread Loath toward school/ lost my time in deed Like a young colt/ that ran without bridle Made my friends give good/ to spend in idle. ¶ I had in custom/ to come to school late not for to learn/ but for a countenance With my fellows/ ready to debate To jangle and jape/ was set all my pleasance Whereof rebuked/ this was my chevisance To forge a losing/ and there upon to muse When I trespased/ myself to excuse. ¶ To my better/ did no reverence Of my sovereigns/ gave no force at all Wax obstinate/ by inobedience Ran into gardens/ appels' there I stall To gather fruits/ spared hedge nor wall To pluck grapes on other men's wines Was more ready/ than for to say mattynes. ¶ My lust was always/ to scorn folk and lap shrewd turns/ ever among to use To scoff and mow/ like a wanton ape When I did evil/ other I did accuse My wits five/ in wast I did abuse readier cherystones/ for to tell Than go to church/ or here the sacring bell. ¶ Loath to rise/ loather to bed at eve With unwashed hands/ ready to dynere My Pater noster/ my Crede: or my believe Cast at the cock: lo/ this was my manner Waved with each wind/ as doth a reed spear Snobbed of my friends/ such tatches tamende Made deaf ear/ list not to them attend. ¶ A child resembling/ which was not like to thrive froward to god/ reckless in his service Loath to correction/ sloth myself to shrive All good thews/ ready to dyspice Chief belwether/ of feigned trowandyce This is to mean/ myself I could fain Sick like a trowande/ felt no manner pain. ¶ My port/ my pace: my foot always unstable My look/ mine eyen: unsure and vacabounde In all my works/ suddenly changeable To all good thews/ contrary I was found Now oversad/ now mourning: now iocounde wilful/ reckless/ mad: starting as an hare To follow my lust for nothing would I spare. ¶ Entering this time/ into religion Unto the plough/ I put forth my hand A year complete/ made my profession considering little charge/ of thilk band Of perfection/ full good example I found The teaching good/ in me was all the lack With Loathes wife/ I looked oft a back. ¶ Taught of my masters/ by virtuous discipline My look restrain/ and keep close my sight Of blessed Benet/ to follow the doctrine And bear me lowly/ to every manner wight By thadvertence/ of mine inward sight Cast to god ward/ of hold affection To follow themprise/ of my profession. ¶ His holy rule was unto me read And expound/ in full notable wise By virtuous men/ religious and sad Full well expert/ discrete/ prudent/ and wise And observants/ of many ghostly emprise I heard all well/ but touching to the deed Of that they taught/ I took but little heed. ¶ Of religion/ I wore a black habit Only outward/ as by good appearance To follow the charge/ savoured but a light Save by a manner/ counterfeit pretence But in effect/ there was none existence Like to the image/ of pygmalion showed lyffely/ and was not but a stone. ¶ Upon the ladder/ with staves thrice three The nine degrees/ of virtuous meekness Called in the rule/ degrees of humility where on to ascend/ my feet me list not dress But by a manner/ feigned false humblesse So covertly/ when folks were present One to show outward/ an other in mine intent. ¶ First/ where I forsook mine own will Shut with a lock/ of obedience To obey my sovereigns/ as it was right and skill To follow the school/ of perfit patience To my emynes/ do worship and reverence Following the reverses/ took all an other weigh What I was bidden/ I could well disobey. ¶ With tongue at large/ and brotell conscience Full of words/ disordinate of language reckless/ to keep my lips in silence Mouth: eye/ and ears/ took their advantage To have their course/ unbrideld by outrage Out of the reins/ of attemperance To sensuality/ gave all the governance ¶ Watch out of time: riot/ and drunkenness Vnfructuous talking/ intemperate diet To vain fables/ I did mine ears dress False detraction among/ was to me sweet To talk of virtue/ me thought it was not meet To my courage/ nor my complexion Nor nought/ that swooned toward perfection. ¶ One with the first/ to take my disport Last that arose to come to the quere In contemplation/ I found but small comfort Holy stories/ did to me no cheer I savoured more/ in good wine that was clear And every hour/ my passage to dress As I said erst/ in ryotte or excess. ¶ could grudge/ and found no cause why causeless/ oft complained of my fare gain my correctyons'/ answered frowardly Without reverence/ list no man to spare Of virtue and patience/ I was all bare Of reckless youth/ I list none heed to take What Christ jesus/ suffered for my sake. ¶ Which now remembering/ in my later age Time of my childhood/ as I rehearse shall Within fifteen/ holding my passage mid of a cloister/ depyct upon a wall I saw a crucyfixe/ whose wounds were not small With this word/ vide/ written there beside Behold my meekness child/ and leave thy pride. ¶ The which word/ when I did understand In my last age/ taking the sentence thereon remembering my pen I took in hand 'Gan to write/ with humble reverence On this word vide/ of humble diligence In remembering/ Christ's passion This little dyte/ this compilation. ¶ Nota. ¶ Behold: O man/ life up thine eye and see What mortal pain/ I suffered for thy trespass With piteous voice/ I cry and say to the Behold my wounds/ behold my bloody face Behold the rebukes/ that do me so menace Behold mine enemies/ that do me so dyspyce And how that I/ to reform the to grace Was like a lamb/ offered insacryfice. ¶ Behold the pains/ of whom that I was take Behold the cords/ with which that I was bound Behold the armours/ which made mine heart quake Behold the garden/ in which that I was found Behold how judas/ took xxx pens round Behold his treason/ behold his covetise Behold how I/ with many a mortal wound Was like a lamb/ offered in sacrifice. ¶ See my disciple/ which that hath me sold And see his feigned/ false salutation And see the money/ which that he hath told And see his kissing/ of false deception Behold also/ the compassed false treason Take as a thief/ with lanterns in their guise And afterward/ for man's redemption Was like a lamb/ offered in sacrifice. ¶ Behold to caiphass how I was presented Behold how pilate/ list give me no respite Behold how bishops/ were to my death assented And see how Herode/ had me in despite And like a fool/ I was clad in white Drawn as a felon/ in most cruel wise And last of all/ I after their delight Was like a lamb/ offered in sacrifice. ¶ Behold the ministers/ which had me in keeping Behold the pillar/ and the ropes strong Where I was bound/ my sides down bledyng most felly beat/ with their scourges long Behold the battle/ that I did underfong The brunt abiding/ of their mortal emprise Through their acusing/ and slanders wrong Was like a lamb/ offered in sacrifice. ¶ Behold and see/ the hateful wretchedness Put again me/ to my confusion Mine eyen hid/ and blinded with darkness Beat and eke bound/ by false illusion salued in scorn/ by their false kneeling down Behold all this/ and see the mortal guise How I only/ for man's salvation Was like a lamb/ offered in sacrifice. ¶ See the witness/ by whom I was deceydue Behold the judges/ that gave me judgement Behold the cross/ that was for me devised Behold my body/ with beating all to rent Behold the people/ which of false intent Causeless/ did again me rise Which like a lamb/ of malice Innocent Was for mankind/ offered in sacrifice. ¶ Behold the woman/ that followed me afterre That sore wept/ when I thus was assailed Behold the jews/ which by their cruel were Have my body/ unto a cross nailed Behold my torments/ most sharply aparayled atween two thieves/ put to my iewyse Behold how moche my death/ hath eke availed That was for man/ offered in sacrifice. ¶ Behold the spear/ most sharply ground & whet Mine heart wounded/ upon the right side Behold the redespere/ gall and ysel fet Behold the scourgyngꝭ/ which that I did abide And five wounds/ that were made so wide Which/ no man list of ruth to advertise And thus I was of meekness again pride For man's offence/ offered in sacrifice. ¶ See my disciples/ how they have me forsake And fro me fled/ almost every eachone Se. how they slept/ list not with me wake Of mortal dread/ they left me all alone Except my mother/ and my cousin saint John My death complaining/ in most doleful wise See/ fro my cross they would never gone For man's offence/ offered in sacrifice ¶ See how I was judged/ to the death See Baraban gone/ at his liberty See/ with aspere/ how Longyus me slayeth Behold two liquors/ distilling down fro me See blood and water/ by merciful plenty Rail by my sides/ which ought enough suffice To man/ when I upon the road tree Was like a lamb/ offered insacryfice. ¶ Behold the knights/ which by their froward chance Sat for my clothes/ at the dice to play Behold my mother/ swooning for grievance Upon the cross/ when she saw me they Behold the sepulture/ in which my bones lay Kept with strong watch/ till I did a rise Of hell gates see/ how I broke the key And gave for man/ my blood in sacrifice. ¶ Again thy pride/ behold my great meekness gain thine envy/ behold my charity gain thy lechery/ behold my chaste cleanness gain thy covetise/ behold my poverty Atwene two thieves/ nailed till a tree Railed with reed blood/ they list me so disguise Behold: O man/ all this I did for the Meek as a lamb/ offered insacryfice. ¶ Behold my love/ and give me thine again Behold I died/ thy ransom for to pay Se.: how my heart is open/ broad and plain Thy ghostly enemies/ only to affray An harder battle/ no man might assay O all triumphs/ the greatest high emprise Wherefore: O man/ no lengar the dismay I gave my blood for thee/ in sacrifice. ¶ Turn home again/ thy sin forsake Behold and see/ if ought be left behind How I to mercy/ am ready the to take give me thy heart/ and be no more unkind Thy love and mine/ together do them bind And let them never part/ in no wise When thou were lost/ thy soul again to find My blood I offered/ for the in sacrifice. Enprint these things/ in thine inward thought And grave them deep/ in thy remembrance Think on them well/ and forget them nought All this I suffered/ to do the allegiance And with my saints/ to give the suffisance In the heavenly court/ for the I do devise A place eternal/ a place of all pleasance For which my blood/ I gave in sacrifice. ¶ And more my mercy/ to put at a proof To every sinner/ that none ne shall it miss Remember/ how I gave my mercy to the thief Which had so long trespassed/ and done a miss Went he not freely/ with me to paradysse Have this in mind/ how it is my guise All repentant/ to bring to my bliss For whom my blood/ I gave in sacrifice. ¶ Tarry no longer/ toward thy heritage Haste on thy way and be of right good cheer To each day onward/ on thy pilgrimage Think how short time/ thou shalt abide here Thy place is builded/ above the stars clear None earthly palaes/ wrought in so stately wise Come on my friend/ my brother most enter For the I offered/ my blood in sacrifice. ¶ Thus endeth the testament of Iohn Lydgate monk of Bery/ on whose soul jesus have mercy. Et sic est finis/ sit laus et gloria trinis. ¶ Imprinted at London in fleetstreet/ by Richard Pynson: printer unto the kings noble grace. With privilege of our sovereign lord the king. depiction of the crucifixion of Christ printer's or publisher's device