Classic Poem

Soon as bright sun along the skies
Had sent his ruddy light,
And fairies hid in oxlip cups
Till wished approach of night,
The matin-bell with shrilly sound
Re-echoed through the air,
A troop of holy friars did
For Jesus' mass prepare;
Around the high unsainted church
With holy relics went,
And every door and post about
With godly things besprent.
Then Carpenter, in scarlet dressed,
And mitred holily,
From Master Canynge his great house
With rosary did hie.
Before him went a throng of friars
Who did the mass-song sing,
Behind him Master Canynge came,
Tricked like a barbed king;
And then a row of holy friars
Who did the mass-song sound;
The procurators and church-reeves
Next pressed upon the ground.
And when unto the church they came,
A holy mass was sang,
So loudly was their swotie voice,
The heaven so high it rang.
Then Carpenter did purify
The church to God for aye
With holy masses and good psalms,
Which he did therein say.
Then was a sermon preached soon
By Carpenter holy,
And after that another one
Y-preached was by me.
Then all did go to Canynge's house,
An interlude to play,
And drink his wine and ale so good,
And pray for him for aye.