Tha Cnute Ching, reu ther by
Rowe cnihtes, næw the land,
And here we thes muneches sæng,”
which may be rendered in English thus:—
“Sweetly sang the Monks of Ely,
As King Canute rowed there by,
Row men, nearer to the shore
And hear we these Monks’ song.”
The minstrels of England from the first, took a more peaceful and religious turn than those of Wales and Ireland. The most of the really authentic pieces of their era, take the shape of Christmas carols.