Discovered inscribed in cursiva anglicana (Middle English
and Latin) by stylus on a wax tablet. Early 14th Century.
This tabletta (tabula or ceraculum), one of a number sealed in a carrying-pouch,
is in the personal possession of Catherine Eisner who has transcribed the
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.
A Hart there was,
a Hart so grievous hurt,
A Cry there was,
a Cry of Hounds astart,
A Death there was,
a Death of Beauty caught,
A King there was,
a King most desolate.
 |
| This verse appears to be a hazardous essay into lese-majesty, almost certainly written in 1312 or shortly after, for in that year the King’s Favourite, Piers Gaveston, described as ‘the Minion of a hateful King’ was hunted down and executed by a group of nobles led by the Earls of Lancaster and Warwick, who had long sought by any means to eliminate the influence – considered meddlesome and scandalously improper – the upstart Piers exercised over Edward II. |
For a transcription of the First of these medieval verses by an unknown hand, see:
https://catherineeisnerfrance.blogspot.com/2016/03/medieval-song.html
For the Third transcribed verse, believed to be in chronological order, see:
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/2016/03/medieval-song.html
For the Third transcribed verse, believed to be in chronological order, see:
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:
