Thow Thou Byst Kyng
Words and Music: Traditional English
Source: Thomas Wright, Songs and Carols Now First Printed, From a Manuscript of the Fifteenth Century (London: The Percy Society, 1847), Song #41, printed verbatim from a manuscript probably owned by a professional musician, and apparently written in the latter half of the fifteenth century, circa 1471-1485.
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See notes in F A Q
Synful man, for Crystes sake, I red thou amendes make.
Thow thou byst Kyng, and were the crowne;
Thow thou byst lord of towre and towne;
I set not by thi gret renowne,
But 3yf thou wylt amends make,
Synful man, for Crystes sake.
Man, thou art both styf and strong,
Many a man thou hast do wrong;
Welaway sal be thi song,
But 3yf thou wylt amendes make,
Synful man, for Crystes sake.
Man ber not thi hed to hey;
For pumpe and pryd and lechery,
In hel thi sole xal sor aby;
But 3yf thou wylt amendes make,
Synful man, for Crystes sake.
Man, be war, the wey ys scheder,
Thou mast scleder thou wonest weder
Body and sowll and al toogeder;
But 3yf thou wylt amendes make,
Synful man, for Crystes sake.
