The Lyrics of Henry VIII/MAdame damours (Unattributed)

[ff. 73v-74r]

MAdame damours all tymes or ours from dole dolours or lorde you gy in all socours                                     5 vnto my pours to be as yours vnytl I dye vntyll I dye vntyll I dye. 10

And make you sure no creatur shall me solur. Nor yet reayne. but to endure                                  15 ye may be sure. Whyls lyf endur loyall and playne.

Textual Commentary
“MAdame damours” is a lyric wherein the lover pledges constancy to his lady. The lines “from dole dolours / or lorde you gy” (ll. 3–4) suggests that this may be a song about or to Katherine of Aragon, who (in the courtly love tradition) would guide her lord, the king, as his lady.


 * 1   damours   D’amour, of love.


 * 2   or  Are.


 * 3   dolours   Mental pain or suffering, sorrow, grief, distress (OED 2).


 * 4   or  Our.     lord you gy   See commentary, above.     gy  Guide.


 * 5   socours   Helps, aids (OED “succour” n 1).


 * 6   pours   Powers.


 * 13 solur  Solace.

The unattributed “MAdame damours” is through-set in four voices for the first stanza. The text for the third voice contains only the first line, and the second stanza is underlaid below the second voice on f. 73v.

This piece is indexed in Robbins Index & Suppl. 2028.5, Boffey, and Ringler MS TM965. Reprinted in Flügel Anglia 247, Padelford xxxiii, Stevens M&P 412, and Stevens MCH8 53.

Texts Collated
H1,2,3,4 (ff. 73v–74r, ll. 1–10 H2,4, l. 1 H3).


 * 2–10 omit H3


 * 3   from dole] dole H1, from dole H2,  frome dole H4