The Lyrics of Henry VIII/Withowt dyscord, Henry VIII

[ff. 68v-69r]

Textual Commentary
“Withowt dyscord” is an exposition concerning the unity of the lovers, from the “dole / of louys payne” commonly associated with the pangs of the courtly love tradition (“dyscord”), to the unity of the hearts and souls of the lovers (“acorde”). Addressed to lovers, the lyric concludes with a prayer for “sure love” where the lover sues.


 * 7   sole Soul, perhaps, but also in the sense of being alone or solitary (OED a 2.a) and separated from another (OED a 2.b).


 * 10 helpe must haue   Help he must have.


 * 16 Onys   Once (i.e. on some occasion).


 * 18 denay  Denial, refusal (OED “deny” n.1).


 * 19 sewith   Make suit; legal (courtly allusion); see also the comment to Henry’s “If love now reynyd as it hath bene” (H 38.12).


 * 20 rewith   Sorrows, distresses, grieves (OED v.1 3); also, feels remorse  (OED v.1 9).


 * 21 condyscend   Condescend.


 * 23 what remedy   Cf. Cornish’s “My loue sche morneth for me” (H 21.26) and the anonymous “What remedy what remedy” (H 69); see also Ravenscroft’s “Hey downe downe”: “what remedy though alas for loue I die with woe” (Pammelia 13).


 * 24 amen  Amend, but also in the sense of  “answer our prayer”; cf.., in this context of prayer, Henry’s “Though sum saith that yough rulyth me” (H 51.18) and his “Lusti yough shuld vs ensue” (H 61.27); with special reference to these two lyrics, cf. also the sentiments expressed towards ‘disdainers’ in the concluding lines of the Jousts of May: “Some reprehende / Suche as entende / To condescende / To chyualry // God them amende / And grace them sende / Not to offende / More tyll they deye” (ll. 180–87).

The first stanza of “Withowt dyscord,” lines 1–12, is through-set, while the remaining text appears following the third voice.

Indexed in Robbins Index & Suppl. 4213.5, Boffey, and Ringler MS TM2014. Reprinted in Flügel Anglia 237, Flügel Neuengl 136–7, Padelford 76, Stevens M&P 410, Stevens MCH8 50, and Trefusis 26–27.

Texts Collated
H1,2,3 (ff. 68v–69r, ll. 1–12 H2,3).


 * 10 must] to H2