XVIII.

Lack of Stedfastness.

A BALADE.

FROM

THE HARLEIAN MS. 7333,

SHIRLEY'S, OR COPIED FROM SHIRLEY.

LACK OF STEDFASTNESS. HARL, MS, 7333.

313

LACK OF STEDFASTNESS.

[Harl. 7333, leaf 147, back: vellum: from Shirley.]

This balade made Geffrey Chaunciers the Laureat
Poete Of Albion and sent it to his souerain lorde
kynge Richarde the secounde pane being/ in his
Castel of Windesore/

S

(1) (-able, -oun, -esse)

vme tyme this worlde was so stedfaste & stable/ That manis worde was holde obligacion)

And nowe it is fals & deseyvable

1

hat worde and werke as in conclusion

4

Beon noo thyng oon for tvrnid vp so downe

Is all pis worlde / thorowe mede & wylfulnesse bat al is loste for lac of stedfastnesse

7

(2)

What made this worlde to be so variable
But louste pat folke / haue in discencion)
For nowe adayes / a man is holde vnable

But yf he can by sume collucione

11

Do his neyghtboure wronge or oppression

What causithe this but wilful wrecchednesse/ bat al is loste for lac off stedfastnesse

LACK OF STEDFASTNESS.

HARL. MS. 7333.

314

Lenvoye /

O prince desire for to beo honourable
Cherishe thi folke and hate extorcioune
Suffre noo thing þat may beo Reprovable
To thin Estate / doone in thi Regyoune
Shewe forpe by swerde of castigacioune
Drede god do lawe / love thorow all goodnesse

And drive thi peple ageyne to stedfastnesse

[col. 2]

7223

25

28

XIX.

Fortune.

(THREE BALADES, WITH AN ENVOY.)

FROM

MS. Ii. 3. 21, CAMBR. UNIVERSITY LIBRARY.