Lay

The Oxford Companion to English Literature defines a lay as: "a short lyric narrative poem intended to be sung; originally applied specifically to the poems, usually dealing with matter of history or romantic adventure, which were sung by minstrels." (5th ed., 1985:556).

In Middle English literature the subtype Breton Lay was very popular. The model was set by the Lais of Marie de France (fl. 1160-90), a French poet at the court of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Well known Middle English examples of lays are Sir Landeval, Lai de Freine, The Erle of Toulouse, Sir Gowther, Chaucer's Franklin's Tale, and Gower's 'Tale of Rosiphilee' in his Confessio Amantis.