User:Stiltjack/sandbox

"Bird on a Briar" (Bryd one Brere) is one of the earliest surviving Middle English love lyrics.

It was jotted down between 1290 and 1320 on the back of a 100-year-old papal bull, probably by a monk at the Priory of St James, near Exeter. The manuscript is now in the library of King’s College, Cambridge.

The manuscript includes musical notation - words and music are upside down compared with the document on the other side of the paper. It is thought to have been for two voices, but one is missing and some of the notation is difficult to decipher.

Bryd one brere, brid, brid one brere, Kynd is come of love, love to crave Blythful biryd, on me thu rewe Or greyth, lef, greith thu me my grave.

Hic am so blithe, so bryhit, brid on brere, Quan I se that hende in halle: Yhe is whit of lime, loveli, trewe Yhe is fayr and flur of alle.

Mikte ic hire at wille haven, Stedefast of love, loveli, trewe, Of mi sorwe yhe may me saven Ioye and blisse were were me newe.