The story of England

De Cantu ad Missam. [Lambeth folio 49a:1]

When þe Procession was gon, Þe Messe bygan sone anon: Line 11,260 Þer myghte men se fair samninge Of þo clerkes þat best couþe synge, Wyþ treble, mene, & burdoun, Of mani on was ful swete soun; Line 11,264 Of þo þat songe heye & lowe, & þo þat couþe org[a]nes blowe,

Inow þer was of menestralcie, . & of song gret [faire.] melodye. Line 11,268 Þer myght men se folk come & go To þe kyrkes, boþe to & fro, Of knyghtes & [of] [of.] squiers bolde To listne song, leuedis [liste songe ladies to.] [Petyt folio 65b:2] byholde; Line 11,272 ffro þat o kyrke to þe oþer þey ran; Where was þe beste, wyste no man; At neyþer þem þoughte þey dwelled longe, Ne nought were ful to here þe songe; [ll. 11,273-11,276. The Petyt MS. leaves out this line.] Line 11,276 Ȝyf hit had ben at her pay, Þat song had lasted al þat day. ¶ When þe Messes were boþe done, [were don.] . & homward þey were al bone, Line 11,280 Þe kyng dide of his atir [tire.] þar Þat he vntil þe kirke bar, & tok anoþer of lasse peys; Þe quene dide þe same weys; Line 11,284 Þeir heuy atir þey dide of boþe, & in lightere dide þem cloþe. [ll. 11,285-11,286. The Petyt MS. leaves out this line.] Þe kyng com vntil his paleys & sat atte þe mete þat ilke weys; Line 11,288 Þe quene vntil anoþer ȝede, & þe leuedis wiþ hure gan lede: But custume was whilom in [Som tyme was custom of.] Troye, Þat when þey made feste of ioye, Line 11,292 Men to-gydere schuld [suld.] go to mete, Þe ladys by þem self schuld [suld.] ete; Þe Bretons had þe selue vsage, . Þey were of þe Troiens lynage; [ll. 11,295-11,296. The Petyt MS. leaves out this line.] Line 11,296 Þat ilke vsage was at þer feste,

No womman cam among þer geste; Þe wommen wyþoute men schuld be, But seruiturs of here meyne. Line 11,300