[Poems from Sussex, Arundel Castle, MSS (Special Press), 'Harrington MS. Temp. Eliz.']

Howard, Henry, Earl of Surrey

TextBaseEarlyTudorEnglish
HHSP42, 43, 44, 45, 53, 54, 55
2008

Page nos. of the following reference ed. are entered: _The Arundel Harington Manuscript of Tudor Poetry_, ed. Ruth Hughey, 2 vols. (Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State Univ. Press, 1960). Page refs. are to vol. 1. For chronology, see William A. Sessions, _Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey_ (Boston, 1986).


: ,.



Composition Date: 1543, 1546-47.







whote: =hot
folio: 37
ref.ed: 117
=HHSP42
Gyrtt in my giltlesse gowne / As I sytt heare and sowe
I see that thinges are not in-dead / as to the owtward showe
And who-so lyst to looke / and note thinges somwhat neare
Shall fynde wheare playnnesse semes to haunte / nothing but craft appeare
5 For with indifferent eyes / my-self can well discearne
How som to guyd a shyppe in stormes / styckes not to take the stearne
Whose skill and Conninge tryed / in calme to steare a bardge
They wolde sone shau yow shold sone see / it weare to great a chardge
And some I see agayne / sytt still and say but small
10 That can do ten tymes more than they / that say they can do all
Whose goodlye gyftes are suche / the more they vnderstand
The more they seeke to learne and know / and take lesse chardge in hand
And to declare more playne / the tyme flyttes, not so fast
But I can beare right well in mynd / the song now sung and past
15 The Awctour whearof cam / wrapt in a craftye cloke
In will to force a flamyng fyre / wheare he could rayse no smoke
If powre and will had mett / as it appeareth playne
The truth nor right had tane no place / their vertues had bene vayne
So that you may perceave / and I may saflye see
20 The innocent that gyltlesse is / condempned sholde have be
Muche lyke vntruth to this / the storye doth declare
Wheare th'elders layd to Susans chardge / meete matter to compare
They did her both accuse / and eke condempne her to
And yet no reason right nor truthe / did lead them so to do
ref.ed: 118
25 And she thus iudg'd to dye / toward her death went forthe
Fraughted with faith a pacient pase / taking her wrong in worthe
But he that dothe defend / all those that in hym trust
Did Raise a Childe for her defence / to shyeld her from th'uniust.
And Danyell chosen was / then of this wrong to weete
30 How, in what place and eke with whome / she did this Cryme commytt
He caws'd the Elders part / the one from th'others sight
And did examyne one by one / and chardge them bothe say right 'ed' added above line in another hand over cancelled 'e' of 'chardge', and 'them' cancelled
Vnd'ra Mvlberye-trye / it was fyrst sayd the one
The next nam'de a Pomegranate-trye / whereby the truth was knowne
35 Than Susan was dischardg'd / and they condempen'd to dye
As right requeares and they deserve / that fram'de so fowll a lye
And he that her preserv'd / and lett them of their lust
Hath me defendyd hetherto / and will do still I trust


Finis
folio: 49
ref.ed: 119
=HHSP43
London hast thow accused me
Of breache of lawes the roote of stryfe
Within whose brest did boyle to see

So fervent hote thye dissolute lyf
5 That even the hate of syns that groo
Within thie wicked walls so ryfe

For to breake forthe did convert so
That terrour could it not represse
ref.ed: 120
The whiche by wordes synce preachers knoo

10 What hope is left for to redresse
By vnknowen meanes it lyked me
My hydden bourden to expresse

Wherby it might appeare to the
That secreat synne hath secreat spight
15 From iustice rodde no faulte is free

But that all suche as workes vnright
In moste quyet are nexte ill rest
In secreat scylence of the night

This made me with a recklesse brest
20 To wake thie sluggards with my bowe
A fygure of the lordes behest

Whose skourdge for synne the scryptures shew scryptures] sceptures A
That as the fearefull thonder-clapp
By Suddayne flame at hand we know

25 Of peoble-stones the sowndlesse rapp
Ye dredfull plague might make the see
Of goddes wrathe that doth thee enwrapp

That pryde might know from conscience free terza rima modified here: two following lines wanting? Same arrangement in A

Howe loftie workes may her defend
30 And envye fynde as he hath sought
folio: 49v
How other seke hym to offend

And wrath tast of eache crewell thought
The iust shape hyer in the end
And ydle slowth that never wrought

35 To heven his spirite lift may begyn
And greedye luker lyve in dreed
To see what hate ill-gote goodes wynn

The lechers ye that lustes do feede
Perceave what secreacye is in syn
40 And gluttons hartes for sorow bleede

Awaked when their fault they fynde Terza rima resumes here
In lothsome vyce eache droncken wight
To styrr to god this was my mynd

Thie wyndowes hadd done me no spight
45 But prowd people that dread no fall
Clothed with falshed and vnright

Bredd in the closures of thie wall
But wrested to wrath in fervent zeale
Thow hast to strif my secreat call

50 Endured hartes no warninge feele
Oh shamelesse whore is dread then gon
By suche thie foes as meantt thie weale

ref.ed: 121
Oh menbre of falce Babylon menbre =membre; membre A
The shopp of crafte, the den of yre
55 Thye dreadfull dome drawes fast vppon

Thie Martyres blood by sword and fyre
In heaven and earth for iustice call
The lord shall heare their iust desyre

The flambe of wrathe shall on the fall
60 With famyne and pest lamentable lamentable] lamentablie A
Stryken shall be thie Lechers all thie] they A

Thie prowd towers and turrettes hye
Enmyes to god beat stone from stone
Thyne Idolls burnt that wrought iniquitie

65 When none thie ruyne shall bemone
But render vnto the rightuous lord
That so hath iudged Babylon
Immortall prayse with one accorde


Finis
folio: 52v
ref.ed: 127
=HHSP44
Wheare rechelesse youthe in a vnquyet brest
Sett on by wrathe revendge and Creweltie
After long warr patience had opprest
And iustice wrought by pryncelye equytie
5 My Denny then myne errour depe imprest
Began to worke dispaire of Lybertie
Had not David the perfect warriour taught
That of my fault thus pardon shuld be sought
folio: 53
ref.ed: 128
=HHSP45
The soudden stormes that heave me to and frow
Had welneare pearced faith my guyding saile
For I that on the noble voyage goo
To succour truthe and falshedd to assaile
5 Constrayned am to beare my sayles ful low
And never could attayne some pleasaunt gayle
For vnto suche the prosp'rous wynds do blow
As ronne from porte to porte to seke avayle
This bredd dispayre whearof suche doubtes did grow
10 That I gan faynt and all my courage fayle
But now my Blage myne errour will I see will] well A
Suche goodlye Light king david gyveth me
folio: 52
ref.ed: 125
=HHSP53
Thie name o Lord how greate / is fownd before our sight
Yt fills the earth and spreades the ayre / the great workes of thie might
For even vnto thie powre / the heavens have geven a place
And closyd it above their heades / a mightie lardge compace
5 Thye prayse what Clowde can hyde / but it will sheene agayne
Synce yonge and tender sucking-babes / have powre to shew it playne
Whiche in dispight of those / that wold thie glorie hyde
Hast put into suche Infantes mowthes / for to confound their pryde
Wherefore I shall beholde / thy fygur'de heaven so hye
10 Whiche shewes suche printes of dyvers formes / within the Clowdye skye
As hills and shapes of men / eke beastes of sondrie kynde
Monstruous to our outward sight / and fancyes of our mynde
And eke the wanishe moone / whiche sheenes by night also
And eache one of the wandring sterres / whiche after her doth goe
15 And how to kepe their cource / and whiche are those that stands
Because they be thie wond'rous workes / and labours of thie hands
But yet among all theise / I aske what thing is man
ref.ed: 126
Whose tourne to serve in his poore neede / this worke thow first began
Or whate is Adames sonne / that beares his fathers marke
20 For whose delyte and compfort eke / thow hast wrought all this warke
I see thow mynd'st hym moche / that doste rewarde hym so
Beinge but earth to rule the earth / wheare-on hym-self doth go
From Aungells substance eke / thow mad'ste hym differ small
Save one dothe chaunge his lif a whyle / the other not at all
25 The Sonne and Moone also / thow mad'ste to geve hym light
And eache one of the wandring sterrs / to twynckle sparkles bright
The ayre to geve hym breathe / the water for his health
The earth to bring forth grayne and frute / for to encreace his wealth
And many mettalls to / for pleasure of the eye
folio: 52v
30 Whiche in the hollow-sowndyd grownd / in previe vaynes do lye
The sheepe to geve his wooll / to wrapp his boddie in
And for suche other needefull thinges / the Oxe to spare his skynne
The Horsse even at his will / to beare hym to and fro
And as hym list eache other beast / to serve his turne also
35 The fysshes of the sea / lykewyse to feede hym ofte
And eke the birdes whose Feathers serve / to make his sydes lye softe
On whose head thow hast sett / a Crowne of glorye to
To whome also thow did'st appoint / that honour shuld be do
And thus thow mad'ste hym lord / of all this worke of thyne
40 Of man that goes, of beast that creapes / whose lookes doth downe declyne
Of Fysshe that swymme below / of Fowles that flyes on hye
Of Sea that fyndes the ayre his rayne / and of the land so drye
And vnderneath his feete / thow hast sett all this same
To make hym know and playne confesse / that marveilous is thie name
45 And Lord whiche art our Lord / how merveilouse is it fownd
The heavens doth shew, the earth doth tell / and eke the world so rownd
Glorie therefore be geven / to thee first whiche art three
And yet but one almightie god / in substaunce and degree
As first it was when thow / the darcke c[o]nfused heape confused] cnfused H
50 Clottid in one, did'st part in fowre / whiche Elementes wee cleape
ref.ed: 127
And as the same is now / even heare within our tyme
And ever shall heare-after be / when we be filth and slyme


Finis
folio: 53v
ref.ed: 130

=HHSP54
Exaudi Deus orationem meam. Ps: 55.

Geave eare to my sute lord, fromward hyde not thie face
Beholde herken in greefe, lamenting how I praye herken] herking A
My fooes they bray so lowde, and eke threpe on so fast threpe: ='thrust', 'press', see OED s.v. threap, 4c
Buckeled to do me scathe, so is their malice bent
ref.ed: 131
5 Care pearceth my entrayles, and traveileth my spirit spirit] spryte A
The greeslye feare of death, envyroneth my brest
A tremblinge colde of dread, cleane overwhealm'the my hart
O thinck I, had I winges lyke to the symple dove
This perill might I flye, and seeke some place of rest
10 In wylder woodes, wheare I might dwell farr from theise cares
What speedie way of wyng, my playntes shuld they lay on
To skape the stormye blast, that threatned is to me
Raine those vnbrydled tongues, breake that coniured league
For I descyphred have, amydd our towne the strif
15 Guyle and wrong kepe walles, they warde both day and night kepe] do kepe A
And myschief ioyn'de with care doth kepe the market-steede
Whyl'ste wickednes with crafte, in heapes swarme through the strete
Ne my declared foe / wrought me all this reproche
By harme so looked for / it wayeth half the lesse
20 For thoughe myne en'myes happ, had bene for to prevayle
I coulde haue hydd my face, from venome of his eye
It was a frendlye foe / by shadow of good-will
Myne olde feere and deare frend, my guyde that trapped me
Wheare I was wont to fetche, the cure, of all my care
folio: 54
25 And in his bosome hyde, my secreat zeale to god
Suche soudden surpryse, quyck may hym-self devoure self] hell A
Whyl'ste I invoke the lorde / whose powre shall me defend
My prayer shall not seace / from that the sonne discendes
Till he his aulture wynne, and hyde them in the Sea aulture: ='height', see OED s.v. hauteur, 2 (1711); in A, 'h' cancelled from an original 'haulture'
30 With wordes of whote effecte, that moves from hart contryte moves] moueth Awhote: =hot

Suche h[u]mble sute o lorde, doth pearce thie pacient eare humble] hymble H, humble A
It was the lord that brake, the blooddie compactes of those
That prelooked on, with Ire to slawghter me and myne prelooked: OED, s.v. preloke, suggests an error; but see Hughey 2:110; A reads preloked
The everlasting god, whose kingdom hath no end
35 Whome by no tale to dread, he could dyvert from synne
The conscience vnquyet, he strykes with heavye hand
And proves their force in faith, whome he sware to defend
Butter falles not so softe / as doth his patience longe falles] fales A
And over-passeth fyne oyle / ronning not half so smothe
40 But when his suffraunce fyndes, that brydled wrath provokes
He threatneth wrath, he whettes more sharppe, then anye toole can fyle
Friowr whose harme and tongue / presentes the wicked sort Friowr: =friar
Of those falce wolves with Coa[t]es, whiche do their Ravyn hyde Coates] Coales H, cooles A
That sweare to me by heaven, the foote-stoole of the lorde
45 Who thoughe force had hurt my fame, they did not touche my lif
ref.ed: 132
Such patching care I lothe, as feedes the wealth with lyes patching: ='deceiving', 'knavish', see OED s.v. patching, ppl.a.1
But in the other psalme of david fynd I ease the other] the thother A
Iacta curam tuam super dominum et ipse te enutriet. / id est id est] A omits
Cast thie care vppon the Lord and he shall norishe thee / Cast thie care vppon the Lord and he shall norishe thee /] A omits


Finis
folio: 52v
ref.ed: 127

=HHSP55
Domine deus salutis. Psal: [8]8
88] 98 H, A
:

O Lorde vppon whose will / dependith my welfare
To call vppon thie hollie name / syns day nor night I spare
folio: 53
Graunt that the iust request / of this repentaunt mynde
So pearce thyne eares as in thie sight / some favour it may fynde as] that A, that 1549
5 My sowle is frawghted full / with greif of follies past
My restlesse boddie doth consume / and death approchethe fast
Lyke them whose fatall threede / thye hand hath cutt in twayne
Of whome there is no further brute / whiche in their graves remayne further] farther 1549
Oh Lorde thow hast me cast / headlong to please my fooe me cast] cast me A
10 In-to a pitt all bottomelesse / wheare-as I playne my wooe
The bourden of thye wrathe / it doth me sore oppresse
And sondrie stormes thow hast me sent / of terrour and distresse
The faithfull frendes are fledd / and banisht from my sight
And suche as I haue held full deare / haue sett my frendshipp light
15 Mye durance dothe perswade / of freedom soche dispayre a 'u' surmounted by a tilde has been added above the 'a' of 'durance'
That by the teares that bayne my brest / myne eye-sight doth appaire
Yet do I never ceace / thyne ayde for to desyre do] did A, dyd 1549
With humble hart and stretched hands / for to appease thyne Ire thyne] thy A
Wherefore doste thow forbeare / in the defence of thyne
20 To shew suche tokens of thie powre / in sight of Adames lyne
Whearby eache feoble hart / with faith might so be fedd so be] be so 1549
That in the mowthe of thye elect / thye mercyes might be spredd thye] thine 1549
The flesshe that feedeth wormes / can not thie love declare
ref.ed: 128
Nor suche set forth thie praise as dwell / in the land of dispaire praise] faith A, faieth 1549
25 In blynd endured hartes / light of thie lyvely name
Can not appeare nor can not iudge / the brightnes of the same nor] as A, ne 1549
Nor blazed may thie name / be by the mowthes of those blazed] blasted A, 1549; mowthes] mouth A, mouthe 1549
Whome death hath shutt in scilence so / as they may not disclose shutt] shitt A, shitte 1549
The lyvelye voyce of them / that in thie word delight thie word] thys worlde 1549
30 Must be the trumpp that must resownd / the glorie of thie might Must] Nor 1549
Wherefore I shall not ceace / in chief of my distresse
To call on the till that the sleape / my wearied lymbs oppresse wearied lymbs] wery bones 1549
And in the morning eke / when that the sleape is fledd
With floodds of salt repentaunt teares / to washe my restlesse bedd
35 Within this Carefull mynde / burd'nid with care and greif
Whye doste thow not appeare o lorde / that shuld'st be his relief not appeare o lorde] lord appaese 1549; shuldst] shoulde 1549
My wretchid state beholde / whome death shall streight assaile
Of one from youth afflicted still / that never did but wayle Of one from youth afflicted] Cast not from the th'aflicted 1549
The dread loe of thyne yre / hath trode me vnder-feete
40 The skourdges of thyne angrie hand / hath made deathe seeme full sweete
Lyke to the roring waves / the Sunken Shipp surrownd to] as 1549
Great heapps of care did swallow me / and I no Succour fownd swallow] folow 1549
For they whome no mischaunce / could from my love devyde
Are forced to my greatter greif / from me their face to hyde. / to my] for my A


Finis