John Lydgate, ‘Testament’, in five sections—sections 1, 3, and 5 in 8-line stanzas (ababbcbc); sections 2 and 4 in rhyme royal

Author(s): John Lydgate

Title(s): ‘Testament’

Subjects: prayers, to Christ; Christ, prayers to

Versification: — eight-line, seven-line — ababbcbc, ababbcc

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Attributed Author: …damp Iohn lydgatys testament monk of Bury… (f. 88); Explicit Testamentum Iohannis lydgate (f. 105); al the langage that heere be forn ys wretyn was maad and compiled By damp Iohn lydgate monk of seynt Edmundys Bury on whos sowle now Ihesu haue mercy Amen Amen (f. 105)

Attributed Title: HEre begynneth the prologe of damp Iohn lydgatys testament monk of Bury On whos sowle I beseche Ihesu haue mercy (f. 88); Explicit Testamentum Iohannis lydgate (f. 105)

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Note: Part 5 only.

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Note: Parts 2, 3, and 4 only.

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Note: Part 1 only.

Attributed Author: Iohn lydgatt (f. 179v)

Attributed Title: This folowynge is þe prologe of Iohn lydgattes testament whiche I fownd in Mstr stantons boke (f. 179v); Explicit prologus of Iohn lidgats testament (f. 183)

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Note: Stanzas 1-44 only.

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Note: Part 5 only; folios 170v, 172-174v (folio 171 misbound).

Attributed Title: Ane deuoit Remembrance of þe passioun of Crist (rubric, bottom f. 170)

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Attributed Author: damp Iohn Lidgates testament monk of Bury (f. 52v); Explicit testamentum Iohannis Lydgate (f. 72)

Attributed Title: Here begynneth the prologe of damp Iohn Lidgates testament monk of Bury (f. 52v); Explicit testamentum Iohannis Lydgate (f. 72)

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Note: Part 5 only.

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Attributed Title: Testamentum Iohn Lydgate nobil poete (f. 47, in rubric); Explicit testamentum (f. 66v, in rubric)

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Note: In 5 sections, sections 1, 3, and 5 in 8-line stanzas (ababbcbc); sections 2 and 4 in rhyme royal; after end, to right of explicit, ‘Deo gracias Jesus Maria’ written by scribe.

Attributed Title: The Testament of Dan Iohn (f. 87v, in upper margin); Testamentum Lydgardis (f. 88, in upper margin, and thereafter as RT, all by scribe of text); Explicit Testamentum Johannis Lydgate de Bery at end (f. 129v, in lower margin, written by scribe)

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Note: Lacks Part 1. Closes with the Latin rubric “Et sic est finis sit laus et gloria trinis” (f. 5)

Attributed Author: Here begynnethe the testamente of John lydgate monke of berry whiche he made hym selfe by his lyfe dayes. (in rubric, f. 1v); Thus endethe testamente of John lydgate Monke of Bery on whose sowle Jhesu haue mercy (f. 5)

Attributed Title: Here begynnethe the testamente of John lydgate monke of berry whiche he made hym selfe by his lyfe dayes. (in rubric, f. 1v); Thus endethe testamente of John lydgate Monke of Bery on whose sowle Jhesu haue mercy (f. 5)

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Note: Stanzas 1-14 only, in 8-line stanzas, ababbcbc.

Attributed Title: Testamentum (f. 91)

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Note: Stanzas 29-30, 27, 56-60, 63, 65-66, 68-70, 74-79, 101, 114-118. Begins at the south wall of the chapel, carrying through all four walls along the roofline.

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Note: Nineteenth-century transcript is London, Victoria and Albert Museum, National Art Library Dyce MS 33 (in Dyce 25.F.29). At the end: ‘¶Emprinted at Lo[n]don in fletestrete by Richard / Pynson: printer vnto the kinges noble grace. / With priuylege of our souerayne lorde the kyng.’ (c.3v)

Attributed Title: ¶Here begynneth the testame[n]t of John / Lydgate monke of Berry: which / he made hymselfe by his / lyfe dayes (a.1); ¶Thus endeth the testament of John Lydgate / monke of Bery on whose soule Iesu haue mercy. (a.1); testa. of J. L. (RT)