ABSTRACT
At Hereford feasts were ranked as principals (principalia), doubles (duplicia), semidoubles (semiduplicia), and simples (simplicia), the last being subdivided according to whether they were of three or nine lessons, and whether they were cum or sine expositione at matins.1 Processions, headed by a crucifer,2 were ordered for principalia on whichever day of the week they occurred (quacunque die euenerint).3 These were the feasts of the Nativity, Epiphany, Purification, Easter, Ascension, St Ethelbert, Pentecost, Trinity, Corpus Christi, Relics, Assumption and Nativity of the Virgin, St Thomas [of Hereford],4 All Saints, Dedication of a Church, and the principal or patronal festival of any church (dies principalis festi cuiuslibet ecclesie) within the diocese.5 Processions were allowed on duplicia provided they coincided with a Sunday (nisi dicta festa dominicis diebus contigerint).6 These were St Stephen, St John the Evangelist, Holy Innocents, St Thomas [of Canterbury], Circumcision, Annunciation, St George,7 Mondays and Tuesdays during Easter and Pentecost (feria secunda et tercia ebdomade pasche et penthecostes),8 Invention and Exaltation of Holy Cross, Nativity of St John the Baptist, St Peter and St Paul apostles, St Michael
1 Principalia and duplicia are listed in the rubric following the mass in die for Christmas in 1502 (Henderson, 17) and in the Great Rubric (magna rubrica) in 1505 (HB i, 425−36, at 425-6). All the festa, including simplicia, are found in Henderson, ix−xii, and HB iii, 249-52. The Visitation (2 July) and Exaltation of Holy Cross (14 September) appear as principalia in 1505, according to its calendar (HB pt. i, xix, xxi; and pt. iii, 249). Both the magna rubrica and 1502, however, rank the latter duplex, together with Invention of Holy Cross (3 May): HB i, 426; Henderson, xxix, 17.
