Medieval Studies

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Medieval Studies

The four lyrics on this page are explored in the article

'Women Readers on Spiritual Quest', Women's Studies Journal, 20:2

by Patricia Rose and Elizabeth Moores.

Patricia Rose is an independent writer, researcher and facilitator, whose work includes studies of women's spirituality,

medieval romance texts, contemporary women's writings, Goddess studies and spiritual feminist myth and ritual. Patricia's

PhD thesis (University of Queensland) was entitled 'The Role of Medieval and Matristic Romance Literature in Spiritual

Feminism'. Her MA thesis (University of Leeds) explored the spirituality of elderly women.

Elizabeth Moores lectured in English Literature at The University of Queensland for 30 years. Now retired, she retains

a connexion with the University as an Honorary Research Adviser. Her PhD was in Medieval Studies, and this was her

primary teaching and research focus. Her publications are mainly in the area of medieval sermon studies. She also holds

a Diploma in Studies in Theology (University of Queensland) and coordinated and taught in an interdisciplinary feminist

theology subject, in conjunction with the Department of Studies in Religion, at The University of Queensland.

I Sing of a Maiden
I sing of a maiden
that is makeles:
King of alle kinges
To here sone she ches.
He cam also stille
Ther his moder was,
As dew in Aprille
That falleth on the grass.
He cam also stille
To his moderes bowr,
As dew in Aprille
That falleth on the flowr.
He cam also stille
Ther his moder lay,
As dew in Aprille
That falleth on the spray.
Moder and maiden
Was never non but she:
Wel may swich a lady
Godes moder be.

The Corpus Christi Carol
Lully, lulley, lully, lulley,
The fawcon hath born my mak away.
He bare him up, he bare him down,
He bare him into an orchard brown.
In that orchard ther was an hall,
That was hanged with purpill and pall.
And in that hall ther was a bed:
It was hanged with gold so red.
And in that bed ther lythe a knight,
His woundes bleding day and night.
By that bedes side ther kneleth a may,
And she wepeth both night and day.
And by that bedes side ther stondeth a ston,
'Corpus Christi' wreten theron.

At a Springe Wel
At a springe wel under a thorn
Ther was bote of bale a litel here aforn.
Ther beside stant a maide,
Fulle of love ibounde:
Whoso wol seche true love,
In hir it shall be founde.

Maiden in the Mor Lay
Maiden in the mor lay,
In the mor lay;
Sevenight fulle,
Sevenight fulle,
Maiden in the mor lay;
In the mor lay,
Sevenightes fulle and a day.
Welle was hire mete.
What was hire mete?
The primerole and the
The primerole and the
Welle was hire mete.
What was hire mete?
The primerole and the violet.
Welle was hire dring.
What was hire dring?
The chelde water of the
The chelde water of the
Welle was hire dring.
What was hire dring?
The chelde water of the welle-spring.
Welle was hire bour.
What was hire bour?
The rede rose and the
The rede rose and the
Welle was hire bowr.
What was hire bowr?
The rede rose an the lilye flour.

Texts of lyrics are from R.T. Davies (ed.), Medieval English Lyrics: A Critical Anthology (Faber, London, 1966).