St Thomas honour we (15th cent): Canterbury Cathedral 1965

This is one of many medieval songs written in honour of St Thomas Becket, surviving in a 15th-century manuscript of polyphonic songs (British Library, MS. Egerton 3307), where it is preserved along with its music. The performance encountered here contains an element of authenticity in that it is sung by the men of Canterbury Cathedral Choir, directed by Allan Wicks, and was recorded in the same “Christys hall” in which St Thomas was “slane” on 29 December 1170. Seynt Thomas honour we, Thorgh whos blod Holy Chyrch ys made fre. Al Holy Chyrch was bot a thrall Thorgh kyng and temperal lordys all, To he was slane in Cristys hall And set all thing in unite: Hys deth hath such auctorite. Seynt Thomas honour we, Thorgh whos blod Holy Chyrch ys made fre. The kyng exilyed hym owt of land And toke hys good in hys hond, Forbedyng both fre and bond That no prayer for hym schuld be, So fers he schewyd hys crewelte. Seynt Thomas honour we, Thorgh whos blod Holy Chyrch ys made fre. Al ben exilyd that to hym lang, Wemen, chyldryn, old men among, Yong babys that wepyd insted of song, Seynt Thomas said, 'Welcom ye be; Ilk lond is now your awen contre.' For more on this piece, see the in-depth article by Eleanor Parker at http://aclerkofoxford.blogspot.co.uk/...