DIMEV 5422
IMEV 3440
NIMEV 3440
The noble story to put in remembrance
John Lydgate, Life of St. Edmund and St. Fremund — in rhyme
royal
Author(s): John Lydgate
Title(s): Life of St. Edmund and St. Fremund (Lydgate)
Subjects: Edmund, saint, life of; Fremund, saint, life of; saints’ lives
Versification: —
seven-line —
ababbcc
Manuscript Witnesses:
1.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Ashmole 46 (SC 6930), ff. 1-48
First Lines:The noble stoory to putte in Remembraunce
Off seint Edmond mayde
martir & kyng
With his support my style I wyl avaunce
ffirst to
compyle afftir my konnyng…
Last Lines:…To Our Requestys shal goodly Condiscende
Geyn alle Our Enmyes
this lond for to diffende
Note: At the end of the poem: ‘Explicit’. The life of St. Fremund
begins on a new page after a break with:
NOw gloryous martir which of gret
meknesse
ffor Crystes feith suffredyst passyoun
2.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Tanner 347 (SC 10174), ff. 1-84
First Lines:[T]he noble stoory to putte in Remembraunce
Off sancte Edmond mayde
martyr & kyng…
Last Lines:…To our requestyd shal goodly condyscende
Geyn al our Enmyes
this lond for to dyffende
3.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Rawlinson B.216 (SC 11568), ff. 162
v-171
vb
First Lines:The noble Story to putt in Remembraunce
off Seynt Edmounde Martir
Mayde & kyng…
Last Lines:…Twenty thowsand of fygtyng men thei had
Which be þe see
to ynglond were yn ladde
Note: Stanzas l-l90 only
Attributed Title: Vita Sancti Edmundi regis at martiris per Hohannem Lidgate monachum
sancti Edmundi Bury composita (in a post medieval hand on f.
162v)
4.Source: Oxford, Corpus Christi College 61, ff. 1-63
First Lines:The noble story to put in rememberance
Of seynt Edmond martir maide
& kyng…
Last Lines:…To oure request shall goodely condescende
Geyn all oure enmys
þis lande for to defend
Attributed Author: Lidgate Monk of Bury (rubric; f. 1)
Attributed Title: This booke was compylede by Lidgate Monk of Bury att þe excitacy[on
&] sterimg of oure souerayn Lorde King Henry þe vj ine þe honour
& worship of þat blissed Martyr saynt Edmonde somtyme King of
Estenglande (rubric; f. 1)
5.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Ee.2.15, ff. 48-51
v; 53-55
v
First Lines:…O precyous charboncle of martyrs alle
O hevynly geme Saffer
of stabylnes…
Last Lines:…Towchyng my sonde take good hed ther to
Wothe out delay anon
that yt be do…
Note: Missing lines 1-119, partially preserved on f. 47 where beginnings of 11
lines still present where rest of folio torn away; ends incomplete
Attributed Author: Edmvnde (f. 48, r. marg); S Edmvnde (RT)
6.Source: London, British Library Harley 247, ff. 45-45
v
First Lines:…ant huntynge & to whome there was assigned by the kynge one
that was master of his hunts named horn…
Last Lines:…right gantleman lybre in all his damenyng and was disposed of
[.......] his corage specially to hau hym…
Note: Fragment, a single leaf, written as prose, the recto written
upside-down; the text prosified except in some couplets where rhyme is
reatined.
7.Source: London, British Library Harley 372, ff. 1-42
v
First Lines:[t]He noble story to put in remembraunce
of seynt Edmond martir maid
& kyng…
Last Lines:…to oure requestis shal goodly condescende
geyn all oure enmyes
þis londe for to diffende
Note: Ends ‘ffinis liber’ in left margin beside last line,
f. 42v.
8.Source: London, British Library Harley 2278, f. 6
Editions:
Horstmann, Carl.
Altenglische Legenden: Neue Folge.
Heilbronn: Henninger, 1881: 378-438.
Hervey, Lord Francis.
Corolla Sancti Edmundi.
London: J. Murray, 1907: 409-508.
9.Source: London, British Library Harley 4826, ff. 4-50
v
First Lines:The noble stoory to putte in Remembraunce
Off seynt Edmond mayde
martir & kyng…
Last Lines:…longe to perseuere in his vicoryous se
As Iust enherytour of
yngleond and ffraunce
10.Source: London, British Library Harley 7333, ff. 136
rb-146
vb
First Lines:ÞE noble story to put in Rememberaunce
Of Saint Edmonde martir
Mayde & kynge…
Last Lines:Trees elade with holsum frutes fine
And I suppose by grace which is
devyne…
Attributed Title: O alle yee Reders and Hereres of this honnerable / story compleynithe with
unto me þe meny time of / saint Edmunde Kyng haueng fed and shaued in / the
abbey of Bury now late translated oute / of Latyne in to Englishe by daun John
lydate / Religeous of the same place at þe comaundement / of kynge Henre
the vj… (f. 136rb,
rubric)
13.Source: Exeter, Devon Record Office Misc. Roll 59
First Lines:…Of magnanimite the herte of hercules
Prudence in armys to
make afeld and set…
Last Lines:…And like men of the Corage wood
Reioised hem euere to sleen
and sheede blode…
Note: Fragment: 1.1032 to 2.14 only
Editions: Clarke, Daisy E. Martin.
“A New Lydgate Manuscript.”
Modern Language Review
(1929): 324-8: 324.
14.Source: Manchester, Chetham’s Library 6709 [Mun. A.4.104], ff. 199-282
v
First Lines:The noble story to put in Remembraunce
Of seynt Edmond mayd martyr
& kyng…
Last Lines:…To owre requestes shall goodely Condescende
Gayn all owre
Enymyes this londe to diffende
Attributed Title: Vita Sancti Edmundi Regi et MArtieris (f. 199)