The Lyrics of Henry VIII/Whoso that wyll all feattes optayne, Henry VIII

[ff. 38v-39r]

The Kynge .H. viij.

Textual Commentary
“Whoso that wyll all feattes optayne” is a proclamation on the value of loving as an act. In addition to enforcing one’s noble demeanor and making one bold, it is something which allows one to obtain “all feats” (presumably akin to the feats of arms expressed in “The tyme of youthe is to be spent” [H 19]). Additionally, in the lyric the force of love is contrasted throughout to that of disdain.


 * 1   Who so . . . optayne  Whosoever will show himself fully valorous (Stevens M&P 400).     feattes   “Featys of armys” (see Henry’s “The tyme of youthe is to be spent” [H 19.7]).


 * 2   dysdayne   Cf. its place further in this poem (ll. 4, 8, 11, 14) and in Henry’s “If love now reynyd as it hath bene” (H 38.5), his “Thow that men do call it dotage” (H 44.14), his “Whoso that wyll for grace sew” (H 57.8), and his “Lusti yough shuld vs ensue” (H 61.6,10,14); also Daggere’s “Downbery down” (H 15.6) and the anonymous (though in the spirit of Henry’s lyrics) “Let not vs that yongmen be” (H 59.3); cf. also the similar personification in “As power and wytt wyll me Assyst” (in LDev, later attributed to Wyatt): “yf dysdayn do shew hys face” (l. 19). In the context of such “feattes” as are put forward by the lyric, cf. also the sentiment which concludes the Jousts of June, that with “false tonges . . . Some of enuy dysdeynously wolde say” (ll. 261–4) ill of the good reasons for which the jousts were undertaken; see also the note to Henry’s  “Withowt dyscord” (H 49.24).


 * 3   enforcyth all nobyle kynd   Strengthens all those of a noble nature, as well as all those natures (i.e. people) that are noble.     kynd  Birth, origin, descent (OED n I.1.a), but esp. “The character or quality derived from birth or native constitution” (OED n. I 3a.); “My kinde is to desire the honoure of the field” (Surrey’s “On a Lady refusing to dance” l. 51; in Tottell’s Miscellany [Songes and Sonnettes] Cc4r).


 * 4   gentyl. . .   Of birth, blood, family (OED a 2.a); also courteous, polite (OED a 3.c).


 * 6   proved   Proven, tried, tested (OED ppla 1); also demonstrated, shown to be true (OED ppla 2).


 * 7   on  One.


 * 8   abattyth   Abates, hinders, &c.


 * 13 compell   Constrain (OED v 1.a).

Though music in H is given for three voices for “Whoso that wyll all feattes optayne,” only the third voice is given text (the incipit), and the remainder of the lyrics appear underlaid.

This piece is indexed in Robbins Index and Suppl. 4143.3, Boffey, and Ringler MS TM1976. It is reprinted in Flügel Anglia 236, Flügel Neuengl 137, Stevens M&P 399, Stevens MCH8 60, and Trefusis 15.