Digital Index of Middle English Verse: No. 813

DIMEV 813

IMEV 500

NIMEV 500

Behold this great Prince Edward the Second

John Lydgate, ‘Of the Sodein Fal of Princes in oure Dayes’ — seven stanzas rhyme royal

Note: Ringler Jr. (1992)

XRingler Jr., William A. Bibliography and Index of English Verse in Manuscript 1501-1558. London: Mansell, 1992; prepared and completed by Michael Rudick and Susan J. Ringler

, TM 25.

Author(s): John Lydgate

Title(s): ‘Of the Sodein Fal of Princes in oure Dayes’

Subjects: princes, fall of; political verse; Edward II, death of; Richard II; Thomas, Duke of Gloucester; Louis, duke of Orleans; Robert de Vere, duke of Ireland (1386-88); John, Duke of Burgundy; Charles VII, King of France

Versification: — seven-line — ababbcc

Manuscript Witnesses:

1.Source: Cambridge UK, Trinity College R.3.20 (600), pp. 359-361

First Lines:

Beholde þis gret prynce Edwarde þe secounde
Which of diuers landes lord was and Kyng
But so governed was he nowe vnderstonde
By suche as caused foule his vndoyng…

Last Lines:

…And his destrucioun if I shal not lye
ffor bouned he was and did in meschef dye

Attributed Title: Here folowen seven balades made by daun John Lydegate of þe sodeine fal of certain princes of ffrance and Englande nowe late in oure dayes (p. 359); Þe fal of Prynces (RT)

Editions:

MacCracken, Henry Noble, ed. John Lydgate: The Minor Poems, Vol. II: Secular Poems. EETS o.s. 192 (1934); repr. 1961: 660-1.

2.Source: London, British Library Addit. 29729, ff. 169-169v

First Lines:

be holde thys greate prynce edward þe seconde
which of diuers landes lord was and kynge…

Last Lines:

…and his distruccyon If I shall not lye
ffor bourned he was and did in myscheffe dye

Attributed Author: dane Iohn lydgate (f. 169)

Attributed Title: Here foloweth seuen balades mad by dane Iohn lydgate of þe sodeine fall of certayne princes of ffraunce and engelond now late in our dayes (f. 169)

Editions:

MacCracken, Henry Noble, ed. John Lydgate: The Minor Poems, Vol. II: Secular Poems. EETS o.s. 192 (1934); repr. 1961: 660-1.

3.Source: London, British Library Harley 2251, ff. 228-228v

First Lines:

BEholde this grete prynce Edward the secunde
Whiche of dyuers landes lord was and kyng…

Last Lines:

…And his distruccioun If i shal nat lye
ffor banned he was and dide in myschief dye

Editions:

Hammond, Eleanor Prescott. “Two Tapestry Poems by Lydgate: the Life of St. George and the Falls of Seven Princes.” Englische Studie 43 (1910-11): 10-26.

Robbins, Rossell Hope, ed. Historical Poems of the XIV and XV Centuries. New York: Columbia UP, 1959: 174-5.

priven: verb To deprive (sb.) of (sth.), deny (sb. sth.); ppl. prived, bereaved, bereft of, deprived of; without; (b) ~ of (from), to deprive (sb. of sth.), deny (sth. to sb.), exclude (sb. from sth.); prived of (from), deprived of (sth.), bereft of; lacking, without; ben of god priving, be a robber of goods; (c) to depose (sb.), dismiss; ~ of (from), deprive (sb.) of (power, kingdom, etc.), remove or dismiss (sb.) from (office or position); (d) to take (sth.) away; prevent (sth.), deny, oppose; weaken (the body); -- also without obj. MED