William Byrd, together with Thomas Tallis as the joint holders of the Royal monopoly for printing music, was given free rein to compose sacred music for the Roman liturgy despite Elizabeth I being in principle opposed to such practice. The resulting works are masterpieces of the age, and the Mass for five voices, with its unashamedly Catholic presentation of the words, is the last and most beautiful of the three settings he made of this text.

The Mass is here presented in a 'liturgical' setting with the Propers for the Feast of Corpus Christi. Also included are six further works with connections to this period of the church's year.