In the merry month of May - John Baldwin

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"A freeman's song, dated 1591, from John Baldwin's Commonplace Book. Roger Bray (Grove) surmises that this is probably the 'pleasant song of Coridon and Phyllida, made in three parts of purpose' for the visit of Elizabeth I to the Earl of Hertford at Elvetham on 22 September 1591."

⌛ Period → Renaissance ◈ Genre → Partsongs ♬ Voicing → ATB ¶ Language → English

Parts 3

Instruments A cappella

Pages 60

CPDL # 82628

Editor Christopher Shaw

Posted 2024-11-06

License Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike

¶Lyrics / Text

In the merry month of May, In a morn by break of day, Forth I walk'd by the wood-side Whereas May was in his pride; And there I spied all alone Phillida and Coridon. Much ado there was, God wot! He would love and she would not. She said, Never man was true; He said, None was false to you. He said, He had loved her long; She said, Love should have no wrong. Coridon would kiss her then; She said, Maids must kiss no men, Till they did for good and all. Then she made the shepherd call And call the heavens to witness truth Never loved a truer youth. Thus with many pretty oaths, Yea and nay, faith and troth, Such as silly shepherds use When they will not love abuse, Love, which had been long deluded, Was with kisses sweet concluded; And Phillida, with garlands gay, Was made the Lady of the May.