The Lyrics of Henry VIII/Alas what shall I do for love, Henry VIII

[ff. 20v-21r]

Textual Commentary
“Alas what shall I do for love” is a lyric about keeping a lover, once she is discovered, with play on the two separate syllables of “alas” (“a” and “lass”). Stevens notes that the words of further strophic verses may be missing (M&P 390).
 * 3   syth Since.

This lyric appears solely in H, where it is given in four complete voices.

“Alas what shall I do for love” is Indexed in Robbins Index & Suppl. 159.5, Boffey, Ringler MS TM110, Crum A884. The piece is reprinted in Chappell Account 374, Flügel Anglia 231, Flügel Neuengl 133, Trefusis 7–8, Padelford 78, Stevens M&P 390, and Stevens MCH8 16.