On the Dedication of Our Lady's Church’

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.

 

Chatterton imagines here the ceremonial dedication of the newly completed church, purified by religious ritual inside and out. The friars walk around the 'unsainted' (unsanctified) church, carrying relics -- sacred objects, often connected with saints of the church -- and scattering holy water. After the service, the congregation retire to Canynge's house to celebrate -- an interlude is a drama, often with music and often performed at a feast, between courses. The rituals and the feasting both evoke a medieval, Roman Catholic context, idealised and magical -- there are 'fairies hid in oxlip cups'; 'oxlips' are a species of flower, similar to cowslips and primroses, and now quite rare.