The Lyrics of Henry VIII/Whoso that wyll hym selff applye, Rysby

[ff. 27^v-28^r]

Whoso that wyll hym selff applye.
To passe the tyme of youth Ioly
Auaunce hym to the companye.
Of lusty bloddys and cheualry

Rysbye

Textual Commentary

“Whoso that wyll hym selff applye” is a lyric of invitation to a tournament, perhaps a tournament song in itself. The “lusty” (l. 4) spirit of the song, and its explicit mention of “youth” (l. 2), echo many of Henry’s own lyrics of the first few years of his reign.

2 youth See Henry’s songs on youth, “Pastyme with good companye” (H 5), “The tyme of youthe is to be spent” (H 19), “Though sum saith that yough rulyth me” (H 51), and “Lusti yough shuld vs ensue” (H 16).

4 lusty bloddys Those with lusty (young, energetic) blood, gallants. cheualry Chivalry.

This piece is through-set for four voices.

“Whoso that wyll hym selff applye” is indexed in Robbins Index & Suppl. 4143.8 and Ringler MS TM1978. It is reprinted in Flügel Anglia 233, Stevens M&P 392, and Stevens MCH8 21.

Textual Notes

Texts Collated

H^1,2,3,4 (ff. 27^v–28^r).

4 Of ~ cheualry] Of ~ cheualry off lusty bloddys and cheualry. H^1,2,3