Discovered inscribed in cursiva anglicana (Middle English
and Latin) by stylus on a wax tablet. Early 14th Century.
This tabletta (or ceraculum) is in the personal possession
of Catherine Eisner who has transcribed the
orthographical variants, with reference to The Middle English Dictionary
and to The Index to Middle English Verse;
and within the limitations of current scholarship Eisner
believes this text to be a faithful rendering.
O lovely Mary maiden fair,
May all our hearts in faith declare
Praise for these, our mistress’s
Gentlelady courtesies.
O Holy Infant, baby fair
Come intercede and hear our prayer
Call for these, sweet Jesus’s
Gentlechild forgivenesses.
All praise to thee, My Lady.
All praise to thee, Thy Baby.
All praise to thee, Almighty,
Deo gratias. Pray have mercy.
Detail from a 14th-century church window, Herefordshire, England. The Christ child holds a small bird, symbol of His coming Passion. |
For a transcription of the Second of these medieval verses by an unknown hand, see:
https://catherineeisnerfrance.blogspot.com/2020/01/medieval-verse-2-hart-there-was.html
The Third verse, in presumed chronological order, may be found here:
https://catherineeisnerfrance.blogspot.com/2020/02/medieval-verse-3-when-lief-churl.html
The Fourth verse, which ends the series (the succeeding wax tablets are irredeemably welded together) see:
https://catherineeisnerfrance.blogspot.com/2020/02/medieval-verse-4-praise-crown-restored.html
The Third verse, in presumed chronological order, may be found here:
https://catherineeisnerfrance.blogspot.com/2020/02/medieval-verse-3-when-lief-churl.html
The Fourth verse, which ends the series (the succeeding wax tablets are irredeemably welded together) see:
https://catherineeisnerfrance.blogspot.com/2020/02/medieval-verse-4-praise-crown-restored.html