Holvyr And Heyvy Made A Gret Party

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 #40, 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.

Compare: Holver and Heivy Made A Grete Party (Chambers & Sidgwick)
Holly and Ivy made a great Party (Holly And Ivy) (Sylvester, 1861)
Holly And Ivy Made A Great Party (Husk, 1868)
See Notes Under The Holly And The Ivy.

Holvyr and Heyvy made a gret party,
He xuld have the maystri
            In londes qwer thei goo.

Than spake Holvyr, I am frece and joly,
I wol have the maystri
            In londes qwer thei goo.

Than spake Heyvy, I am lowd and prowd,
And I wyl have the maystri
            In londes qwer thei goo.

Than spak Holvyr, and set hym down on his kne,
I prey the, jentyl Heyvy,
Sey me no veleny,
            In londes qwer thei goo.

---

Note from Wright:

This curious song seems to have some connection with the song on the Ivy and the Holly, printed from MS. Harl., No. 5393, in Ritson's Ancient Songs [See: A Song Of the Ivy and the Holly]. Songs on the Ivy and on the Holy will be found in the present volume, p. 84 [#69, Her Commys Holly, That Is So Gent] and 85 [#70, Ivy Chefe Off Treis It Is].

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