Middle English Lyrics Middle English Lyrics | Texts of Lyrics | Essays and Articles | Web Links | Books for Study | Music Recordings | Discussion Forum   The Crucifixion. c1440. Man, Assay :: A man asay, asay, asay And axe mercy while thou maye. :: Man have in mynde how here by-fore For thy mysdede thou wheren for lore; But mercy to geve now Christe ys bore. :: A man asay, &c. :: In synne thy lyfe yf thou have ledde, Amende hit nowe, be not a-dradde, Ffor he his mercy forth hath spradde. :: A man asay, &c. :: And they thy synne be never so ylle, Ffor thy synne shalt thou not spylle, Nowe mercy to aske yf thou wylle. :: A man asay, &c. :: God that deyde uppon the rode, Ffor thi mysdede he shadde hys blode, Ffor his mercy ys ful and gode. :: A man asay, &c. :: He that the so dere hath bought, Mercy he wolde that thou sought Yif thou seke, he nyeth hit nought. :: A man asay, &c. :: Mercy is spredde on the grounde, Therto left for a stounde; Therfore thou hit seke til hit be founde. :: A man asay, &c. :: Notes: asay, assay; attempt. axe, ask. have in mynde, remember. here by-fore, herebefore; before now. mysdede, misdeeds; sins. wheren, were. for lore, forsaken. geve, give. bore, born. hit, it. a-dradde, adread, i.e. afraid. spradde, spread. they, though. And.. ylle, no matter how bad your sin. Ffor.. spylle, for your sin you shall not be damned. deyde, died. rode, rood; the Cross. shadde hys blode, shed his blood. ful and gode, good and complete. the so dere, thee so dear. Yif, if. he nyeth hit nought, he negates it (your sin) to nothing. Therto, there. a stounde, a while. Manuscript Image of Bodleian MS. Arch. Selden B. 26, f. 7v. Transcribed and glossed from the manuscript by Anniina Jokinen. Citation: Jokinen, Anniina, ed. "Man, Assay." Luminarium.           30 Nov 2009. [Date you accessed this page].           <http://www.luminarium.org/medlit/medlyric/manassay.php> to Middle English Lyrics to Luminarium Main to Middle English Literature Site copyright ©1996-2018 Anniina Jokinen. All Rights Reserved. Created by Anniina Jokinen on November 30, 2009. Last updated November 21, 2018.   Middle English Literature Geoffrey Chaucer John Gower Sir Gawain and the Green Knight William Langland / Piers Plowman Julian of Norwich Margery Kempe Thomas Malory / Morte D'Arthur John Lydgate Thomas Hoccleve Paston Letters Everyman Medieval Plays Middle English Lyrics Essays and Articles Sciences Medieval Cosmology Historical Events and Persons Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) Edward III Edward, Black Prince of Wales Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster Edmund of Langley, Duke of York Thomas of Woodstock, Gloucester Richard of York, E. of Cambridge Richard II Henry IV Edward, Duke of York Henry V Thomas, Duke of Clarence John, Duke of Bedford Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester Catherine of Valois Charles VII, King of France Joan of Arc Louis XI, King of France Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy The Wars of the Roses (1455-1485) Causes of the Wars of the Roses The House of Lancaster The House of York The House of Beaufort The House of Neville Henry VI Margaret of Anjou Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York Edward IV Elizabeth Woodville Edward V Richard III George, Duke of Clarence More at Encyclopedia and at Additional Medieval Sources     Search | Luminarium | Encyclopedia | Letter from the Editor | Bookstore | Poster Store | Discussion Forums | Search