In MS. Harl. 7333 is the following note, probably correct:--'This balade
made Geffrey Chauuciers the Laureall Poete of Albion, and sent it to his
souerain lorde kynge Rycharde the secounde, thane being in his Castell of
Windesore.' In MS. T. is the heading:--'Balade Royal made by oure laureal
poete of Albyon in hees laste yeeres'; and above l. 22 is:--'Lenvoye to
Kyng Richard.' In MS. F. it is simply headed 'Balade.' For another allusion
to King Richard at Windsor, see note to Lenvoy to Scogan, l. 43.
The general idea is taken from Boethius, bk. ii. met. 8, which Chaucer thus
translates:--'That the world with stable feith varieth acordable
chaunginges, that the contrarious qualitee of elements holden among
hem-self aliaunce perdurable, ... al this acordaunce of thinges is bounden
with love, that governeth erthe and see, and hath also commaundements to
the hevenes. And yif this love slakede the brydeles, alle thinges that now
loven hem to-gederes wolden maken a bataile continuely, and stryven to
fordoon the fasoun of this worlde, the whiche they now leden in acordable
feith by faire moevinges.... O weleful were mankinde, yif thilke love that
governeth hevene governed youre corages!'