Among the musical treasures in the British Library is a sumptuous choirbook prepared for Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. It was produced by Petrus Alamire, who not only headed one of the finest musical scriptoriums of the age but acted as a spy for Henry against Plantagenet claimant to the English throne Richard de la Pole. Gifted to the royal couple c. 1516 it contains 34 motets, many unique to this manuscript, and includes masterworks by leading French and Franco-Flemish composers of the age including Josquin Desprez, Jean Mouton, Heinrich Isaac, Antoine de Fe´vin, and Pierre de la Rue.
1) Celeste Beneficium (Jean Mouton C.1459-1522)
2) Adiutorium Nostrum (Antoine de Févin C.1470-1511/12)
3) Nesciens Mater (Anonymous)
4) Ave Regina Caelorum (Pierre de la Rue C.1452-1518)
5) Descendi in Hortum Meum (Attrib. Josquin Desprez C.1450-1521)
6) Sancta Trinitas Unus Deus (Févin)
7) Vexilla Regis / Passio Domini Nostri (La Rue)
8) Fama Malum (Josquin Desprez)
9) Doleo Super Te Frater Mi Ionatha (La Rue)
10) O Domine Iesu Christe / Et Sanctissima Mater Tua (Anonymous)
11) Maxsimilla Christo Amabilis (Anonymous)
12) Sancta Maria Succurre Miseris / O Werder Mondt (Franciscus Strus FL. 1500)
13) Sancta Et Immaculata Virginitas (Anonymous)
14) Missus Est Gabriel Archangelus (Josquin)
15) Dulcissima Virgo Maria (Anonymous)
16) Tota Pulchra Es Amica Mea / O Pulcherrima Mulierum / Salve (Anonymous)
17) O Sancta Maria Virgo Virginum (Anonymous)
18) Verbum Bonum Et Suave (Pierrequin de Therache C.1470-1528)
19) Recordamini Quomodo Praedixit Filium (Anonymous)
20) O Beatissime Domine Iesu Christe / Fac Me de Tua Gratia Ut (Anonymous)
21) Ave Sanctissima Maria (Anonymous)
22) Ecce Maria Genuit Nobis (Mouton)
23) Congratulamini Mihi Omnes (Anonymous)
24) Egregie Christi Martir Christophore / Ecce Enim Févin)
25) Alma Redemptoris Mater (Anonymous)
26) Dulces Exuviae (Anonymous)
27) Dulces Exuviae (Alexander Agricola C.1446-1506)
28) Dulces Exuviae (Josquin)
29) Dulces Exuviae (Mouton)
30) Dulces Exuviae (Johannes Ghiselin FL. 1500)
31) Absalon Fili Mi (Attrib. Josquin Desprez/ la Rue)
32) Iesus Autem Transiens (Anonymous)
33) Anima Mea Liquefacta Est Invenerunt Me / Filiae Ierusalem (Heinrich Isaac C.1445-1517)
34) Tribulatio Et Angustia Invenerunt Me (Atrrib. Josquin)