An Attempt to Date
the Roman Catholic Mass
Apprentice Tyler
June 24, 2014
Background
Master suggested I use the Oxford English Dictionary for a research project. I immediately suggested "conspiracy" ("No.") followed by "conspiracy theory ("No.") and "conspiracy theorist" ("No.").
I know Master is enamored of the OED and is fond of Mozart's music, so I chose to date the titles of the sections of the Roman Catholic Mass.
Part the First
The reasons for choosing to date the separate sections of the Mass, and not the word "Mass", are twofold: one, to demonstrate that these sections did not come into usage in the English language during the same time, but over several centuries and, two, while it is possible that the origin of one word may be misdated, it is unlikely and improbable that all five words we will research could be misdated.
There are six sections to the mass: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei. The reference years are listed chronologically with secondary references in red. Citations are courtesy of the Oxford English Dictionary.
Master suggested I use the Oxford English Dictionary for a research project. I immediately suggested "conspiracy" ("No.") followed by "conspiracy theory ("No.") and "conspiracy theorist" ("No.").
I know Master is enamored of the OED and is fond of Mozart's music, so I chose to date the titles of the sections of the Roman Catholic Mass.
Part the First
The reasons for choosing to date the separate sections of the Mass, and not the word "Mass", are twofold: one, to demonstrate that these sections did not come into usage in the English language during the same time, but over several centuries and, two, while it is possible that the origin of one word may be misdated, it is unlikely and improbable that all five words we will research could be misdated.
There are six sections to the mass: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei. The reference years are listed chronologically with secondary references in red. Citations are courtesy of the Oxford English Dictionary.
eOE Bald's Leechbk. (Royal) (1865) i. lxii. 136 Sing þonne credo & pater noster & þis leoþ, Beati Inmaculati þone sealm.
OE Ælfric Let. to Wulfsige (Corpus Cambr.) in B. Fehr Die Hirtenbriefe Ælfrics (1914) 29 On þone easteræfen ne sy gesungen æt þære mæssan offerenda ne agnus dei ne communia.
OE tr. Bili St. Machutus 14 Hie..þa mæssan mærsiende wæron..& þa þa hit to agnus dei cumen wæs [L. ut ad agnus dei uentus est], þa wearþ astyred seo stow þær seo mæsse geweorþad wæs.
OE Wulfstan Canons of Edgar (Corpus Cambr.) (1972) xvii. 6 And we lærað þæt ælc cristen man his bearn to cristendome geornlice wænige, and him pater noster and credon tæce.
1225a MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 75 Þe salm þet heo alle [sc. apostles] þus writen wes ihaten Credo, efter þan formeste word of þe salm.
1225c? (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 18 Segeð. Pater noster. & credo.1225c? (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 22 Efter þe forme fiue Kirieleyson. criste eleyson. Kirieleyson.
1225c? (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 26 Hwase wule segge þeos salm adte leuaui & Kirieleyson bifore þe pater noster.
1225c?(▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 30 Beateð þe breoste..& seggeð..Kirieleyson.]
1230c (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 19 Her alswa ȝe wulleð seggeð. Deprofundis biuore þe paternostres. & kyrie eleison.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 12 (MED), Alle þise articles byeþ ycontyened ine þe credo þet þe tuelf apostles made.
1380c Wyclif Wks. (1880) 169 Ioly chauntynge þat..lettiþ men fro þe sentence of holy writt, as Magnyficat, sanctus & agnus dei.
1390c in F. J. Furnivall Minor Poems Vernon MS (1901) ii. 508 Whon þe pater noster is don, To þe Agnus dei he goþ ful son... ‘Godes lomb’ hit is to sei.
14..? in Q. Eliz. Acad. (1879) 34 Att every Kyrie lyson, one to say with an high voice for ye sowle A Pater noster.
1400a St. Alexius 422 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 183 Þe folk on knees fell..And kyrieleyson thries þai sange.
1425a Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 137 Bitwene þe sacringe of þe masse and þe þridde Agnus Dei.
1430c Freemasonry 632 And blesse the fayre, ȝef that thou conne, When gloria tibi is begonne.
1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye 119 Therfore accordynge to the aungels, ye synge quyer to quyer, one Sanctus on the tone syde, and another on the tother syde.
1450c in A. Macdonald & J. Dennistoun Misc. Maitland Club (1842) III. i. 203 Ane gret Agnus Dei with relikis.
1475c (▸?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 8 Bi-twex þe consecracioun & Agnus Dei.
1480 Cronicles Eng. (Caxton) ccxxx. sig. q4, After the iij. Agnus dei y seid.
1481 Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 8 And sayde he wold teche hym his credo.
15.. Jack Jugler in Grosart Two Enterludes (1873) 63 He shoulde haue suche a kyrie, ere he went to bed, As he neuer had before in all his lyfe.
1500a (1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Nero) v. l. 3495 Sancte Ierome wrat til hym, but weyre, Amange al oþir wryttis seyr, Gloria Patri in til twa wersse.
1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) i. vi. sig. e.viv, These crysten men ought for to knowe the Pater noster, the Aue maria, & the Credo in theyr langage maternall.
1518? A. Barclay Fyfte Eglog sig. Bv, The blessyd aungelles..songe that gloria, flyenge in the skye.
1519 in W. L. Nash Churchwardens' Acct. Bk. St. Giles, Reading (1890) 6 A Pryk-song boke..wherin is conteyned iiii masses, iij kyries, iij allohuies and ij exultands.
1527 in J. S. Brewer Lett. & Papers Reign Henry VIII (1872) (modernized text) IV. ii. 1457 A gold Agnus Dei , graven with Our Lady and St. George, 26s. 8d.
1528 Rede me & be nott Wrothe sig. b iijv, Fare wele O holy consecration, With blyssed sanctus and agnus dei.
1549 Forme & Maner consecratyng Archebishoppes sig. J.ii, After the Gospell and Credo ended.
1551 J. Hooper injunct. xviii, in Later Writings (1852) (modernized text) 145 They were wont to sit when they said or sang the psalms, kneel at Kyrie-eleyson, and stand up at Magnificat.
1563 Burnynge Paules Church sig. Civv, Platina..affirmes, that Pope Sixtus appoynted the Sanctus to be songe, Gregory the Kirie-eleeson.
1563 Burnynge Paules Church sig. Cviiiv, On good friday there is neyther Epistle, nor Gospel, Gloria in exelsis [sic], nor Crede.
1567 Compend. Bk. Godly Songs (1897) 129 Quhair day and nycht we sall not ceas Ay singand Sanctus sweit.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis i. 4 This kyrye sad solfing, thee northen bluster aproching Thee sayls tears tag rag, to the sky thee waues vphoysing.
1583 Ld. Burghley Execution of Iustice sig. Eiv, Their Cakes of waxe which they call Agnus Dei.
1596 W. Warner Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) x. lvi. 250 An Agnus-Dei bout her necke, a crost-Christ in her hand.
1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 21 They had it in the Tenor part of the Gloria of his Masse Ave Maris stella.
1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 153, I remember a peece of composition of four parts of maister Tauernor in one of his kiries.
16.. MS Music Bk. Durham Cathedral, Mr. Brimley his kerrie to Mr. Sheperd's Creede.
1629 L. Owen Speculum Jesuiticum 44 Such little Cristall glasses, as Papists do vse to weare about their necks, with an Agnus Dei inclosed betweene them.
1657 A. Sparrow Rationale Bk. Common Prayer (1664) 241 Then follow the Commandments, with a Kyrie, or Lord have mercy upon us, after every one of them.
1661c Papers on Alter. Prayer Bk. 77 The Gloria patri..according to the common opinion was formed in the council of Nice.
1663 A. Cowley Cutter of Coleman-St. ii. iii. 16, I knew that yesterday as well as I knew my Credo, but I'm the very Jew of Malta if she did not use me since that.
1673 Milton True Relig. in Wks. (1851) 418 Masses for him both quick and dead, Agnus Dei's, Reliques, and the like.
1677 W. Hughes Man of Sin ii. viii. 123 You must be sure to nick the Season; 'Tis at the Masse, just between the Elevation of our Lord, and the three Agnus Dei.
1678 R. Cudworth True Intellect. Syst. Universe ii. iv. 454 That very Form of Prayer..Kyrie Eleeson, Lord have mercy upon us, was anciently part of the Pagans Litany to the Supreme God.
1706 A. Bedford Temple Musick iv. 91 Sometimes in a lowder Voice, as at the Gloria Patri.
1719 in G. Lamoine Charges to Grand Jury (1992) 133 And such as bring in Agnus Dei's, and the like vain and Superstitious Trinkets, and deliver them to any Subject of their Realm, are guilty of a Præmunire.
1723 tr. N. Menin Hist. Treat. Anointing Kings & Queens France xix. 259 At the Agnus Dei, the second Prelate ascends the Scaffold to the Throne.
1745 R. Pococke Descr. East II. i. 18 The Latins celebrated the mass of the resurrection, and at Gloria in excelsis, a cover was let down [etc.].
1749 Scots Mag. Aug. 400/1 The Agnus Dei is an oval piece of white wax, mixed up with the powder of dead people's bones.
1749 T. Smollett tr. A. R. Le Sage Gil Blas IV. x. xii. 109 He began with the prayers which the canons sing at mattins, then sung the Credo, as it is sung at high mass.
1759 W. Robertson Hist. Scotl. vii, in Wks. (1813) I. 527 An Agnus Dei hung by a pomander chain at her neck.
1789 C. Burney Gen. Hist. Music IV. x. 592 A Credo for five voices with accompaniments, of which I am in possession of the score.
1817 W. Gardner tr. ‘L. Bombet’ Lives Haydn & Mozart 175 David Perez..composed a Credo, which, in certain solemnities, is still sung in the church of the Fathers of the Oratorio.
1817 W. Gardner tr. L. A. C. Bombet Lives Haydn & Mozart xvi. 215 His [sc. Haydn's] Agnus Dei are full of tenderness. Turn more particularly to that in the mass, No. 4; it is celestial music.
1847 W. H. Prescott Hist. Conquest Peru I. iii. vii. 487 The Spaniards..muttered their credos for the salvation of his soul!
1853 D. Rock Church our Fathers III. ii. 212 In it [the Graduale] might be found..the Kyries, Glorias [etc.].
1867 in C. Walker Ritual Reason Why x. 160 What is the Agnus Dei? It is an anthem sung by the choir during the Communion of the priest... The Choir sing thrice: ‘O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world’, adding twice: ‘have mercy upon us’, and the third time: ‘Grant us Thy peace’.
1880 G. Grove Dict. Music II. 233/1 After the Elevation..the Choir begin the Benedictus, in soft low tones.
OE Ælfric Let. to Wulfsige (Corpus Cambr.) in B. Fehr Die Hirtenbriefe Ælfrics (1914) 29 On þone easteræfen ne sy gesungen æt þære mæssan offerenda ne agnus dei ne communia.
OE tr. Bili St. Machutus 14 Hie..þa mæssan mærsiende wæron..& þa þa hit to agnus dei cumen wæs [L. ut ad agnus dei uentus est], þa wearþ astyred seo stow þær seo mæsse geweorþad wæs.
OE Wulfstan Canons of Edgar (Corpus Cambr.) (1972) xvii. 6 And we lærað þæt ælc cristen man his bearn to cristendome geornlice wænige, and him pater noster and credon tæce.
1225a MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 75 Þe salm þet heo alle [sc. apostles] þus writen wes ihaten Credo, efter þan formeste word of þe salm.
1225c? (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 18 Segeð. Pater noster. & credo.1225c? (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 22 Efter þe forme fiue Kirieleyson. criste eleyson. Kirieleyson.
1225c? (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 26 Hwase wule segge þeos salm adte leuaui & Kirieleyson bifore þe pater noster.
1225c?(▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 30 Beateð þe breoste..& seggeð..Kirieleyson.]
1230c (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 19 Her alswa ȝe wulleð seggeð. Deprofundis biuore þe paternostres. & kyrie eleison.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 12 (MED), Alle þise articles byeþ ycontyened ine þe credo þet þe tuelf apostles made.
1380c Wyclif Wks. (1880) 169 Ioly chauntynge þat..lettiþ men fro þe sentence of holy writt, as Magnyficat, sanctus & agnus dei.
1390c in F. J. Furnivall Minor Poems Vernon MS (1901) ii. 508 Whon þe pater noster is don, To þe Agnus dei he goþ ful son... ‘Godes lomb’ hit is to sei.
14..? in Q. Eliz. Acad. (1879) 34 Att every Kyrie lyson, one to say with an high voice for ye sowle A Pater noster.
1400a St. Alexius 422 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 183 Þe folk on knees fell..And kyrieleyson thries þai sange.
1425a Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 137 Bitwene þe sacringe of þe masse and þe þridde Agnus Dei.
1430c Freemasonry 632 And blesse the fayre, ȝef that thou conne, When gloria tibi is begonne.
1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye 119 Therfore accordynge to the aungels, ye synge quyer to quyer, one Sanctus on the tone syde, and another on the tother syde.
1450c in A. Macdonald & J. Dennistoun Misc. Maitland Club (1842) III. i. 203 Ane gret Agnus Dei with relikis.
1475c (▸?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 8 Bi-twex þe consecracioun & Agnus Dei.
1480 Cronicles Eng. (Caxton) ccxxx. sig. q4, After the iij. Agnus dei y seid.
1481 Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 8 And sayde he wold teche hym his credo.
15.. Jack Jugler in Grosart Two Enterludes (1873) 63 He shoulde haue suche a kyrie, ere he went to bed, As he neuer had before in all his lyfe.
1500a (1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Nero) v. l. 3495 Sancte Ierome wrat til hym, but weyre, Amange al oþir wryttis seyr, Gloria Patri in til twa wersse.
1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) i. vi. sig. e.viv, These crysten men ought for to knowe the Pater noster, the Aue maria, & the Credo in theyr langage maternall.
1518? A. Barclay Fyfte Eglog sig. Bv, The blessyd aungelles..songe that gloria, flyenge in the skye.
1519 in W. L. Nash Churchwardens' Acct. Bk. St. Giles, Reading (1890) 6 A Pryk-song boke..wherin is conteyned iiii masses, iij kyries, iij allohuies and ij exultands.
1527 in J. S. Brewer Lett. & Papers Reign Henry VIII (1872) (modernized text) IV. ii. 1457 A gold Agnus Dei , graven with Our Lady and St. George, 26s. 8d.
1528 Rede me & be nott Wrothe sig. b iijv, Fare wele O holy consecration, With blyssed sanctus and agnus dei.
1549 Forme & Maner consecratyng Archebishoppes sig. J.ii, After the Gospell and Credo ended.
1551 J. Hooper injunct. xviii, in Later Writings (1852) (modernized text) 145 They were wont to sit when they said or sang the psalms, kneel at Kyrie-eleyson, and stand up at Magnificat.
1563 Burnynge Paules Church sig. Civv, Platina..affirmes, that Pope Sixtus appoynted the Sanctus to be songe, Gregory the Kirie-eleeson.
1563 Burnynge Paules Church sig. Cviiiv, On good friday there is neyther Epistle, nor Gospel, Gloria in exelsis [sic], nor Crede.
1567 Compend. Bk. Godly Songs (1897) 129 Quhair day and nycht we sall not ceas Ay singand Sanctus sweit.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis i. 4 This kyrye sad solfing, thee northen bluster aproching Thee sayls tears tag rag, to the sky thee waues vphoysing.
1583 Ld. Burghley Execution of Iustice sig. Eiv, Their Cakes of waxe which they call Agnus Dei.
1596 W. Warner Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) x. lvi. 250 An Agnus-Dei bout her necke, a crost-Christ in her hand.
1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 21 They had it in the Tenor part of the Gloria of his Masse Ave Maris stella.
1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 153, I remember a peece of composition of four parts of maister Tauernor in one of his kiries.
16.. MS Music Bk. Durham Cathedral, Mr. Brimley his kerrie to Mr. Sheperd's Creede.
1629 L. Owen Speculum Jesuiticum 44 Such little Cristall glasses, as Papists do vse to weare about their necks, with an Agnus Dei inclosed betweene them.
1657 A. Sparrow Rationale Bk. Common Prayer (1664) 241 Then follow the Commandments, with a Kyrie, or Lord have mercy upon us, after every one of them.
1661c Papers on Alter. Prayer Bk. 77 The Gloria patri..according to the common opinion was formed in the council of Nice.
1663 A. Cowley Cutter of Coleman-St. ii. iii. 16, I knew that yesterday as well as I knew my Credo, but I'm the very Jew of Malta if she did not use me since that.
1673 Milton True Relig. in Wks. (1851) 418 Masses for him both quick and dead, Agnus Dei's, Reliques, and the like.
1677 W. Hughes Man of Sin ii. viii. 123 You must be sure to nick the Season; 'Tis at the Masse, just between the Elevation of our Lord, and the three Agnus Dei.
1678 R. Cudworth True Intellect. Syst. Universe ii. iv. 454 That very Form of Prayer..Kyrie Eleeson, Lord have mercy upon us, was anciently part of the Pagans Litany to the Supreme God.
1706 A. Bedford Temple Musick iv. 91 Sometimes in a lowder Voice, as at the Gloria Patri.
1719 in G. Lamoine Charges to Grand Jury (1992) 133 And such as bring in Agnus Dei's, and the like vain and Superstitious Trinkets, and deliver them to any Subject of their Realm, are guilty of a Præmunire.
1723 tr. N. Menin Hist. Treat. Anointing Kings & Queens France xix. 259 At the Agnus Dei, the second Prelate ascends the Scaffold to the Throne.
1745 R. Pococke Descr. East II. i. 18 The Latins celebrated the mass of the resurrection, and at Gloria in excelsis, a cover was let down [etc.].
1749 Scots Mag. Aug. 400/1 The Agnus Dei is an oval piece of white wax, mixed up with the powder of dead people's bones.
1749 T. Smollett tr. A. R. Le Sage Gil Blas IV. x. xii. 109 He began with the prayers which the canons sing at mattins, then sung the Credo, as it is sung at high mass.
1759 W. Robertson Hist. Scotl. vii, in Wks. (1813) I. 527 An Agnus Dei hung by a pomander chain at her neck.
1789 C. Burney Gen. Hist. Music IV. x. 592 A Credo for five voices with accompaniments, of which I am in possession of the score.
1817 W. Gardner tr. ‘L. Bombet’ Lives Haydn & Mozart 175 David Perez..composed a Credo, which, in certain solemnities, is still sung in the church of the Fathers of the Oratorio.
1817 W. Gardner tr. L. A. C. Bombet Lives Haydn & Mozart xvi. 215 His [sc. Haydn's] Agnus Dei are full of tenderness. Turn more particularly to that in the mass, No. 4; it is celestial music.
1847 W. H. Prescott Hist. Conquest Peru I. iii. vii. 487 The Spaniards..muttered their credos for the salvation of his soul!
1853 D. Rock Church our Fathers III. ii. 212 In it [the Graduale] might be found..the Kyries, Glorias [etc.].
1867 in C. Walker Ritual Reason Why x. 160 What is the Agnus Dei? It is an anthem sung by the choir during the Communion of the priest... The Choir sing thrice: ‘O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world’, adding twice: ‘have mercy upon us’, and the third time: ‘Grant us Thy peace’.
1880 G. Grove Dict. Music II. 233/1 After the Elevation..the Choir begin the Benedictus, in soft low tones.
Part the Second
The following list contains the above citations with the secondary references removed.
OE tr. Bili St. Machutus 14 Hie..þa mæssan mærsiende wæron..& þa þa hit to agnus dei cumen wæs [L. ut ad agnus dei uentus est], þa wearþ astyred seo stow þær seo mæsse geweorþad wæs.
1430c Freemasonry 632 And blesse the fayre, ȝef that thou conne, When gloria tibi is begonne.
1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye 119 Therfore accordynge to the aungels, ye synge quyer to quyer, one Sanctus on the tone syde, and another on the tother syde.
1480 Cronicles Eng. (Caxton) ccxxx. sig. q4, After the iij. Agnus dei y seid.
1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) i. vi. sig. e.viv, These crysten men ought for to knowe the Pater noster, the Aue maria, & the Credo in theyr langage maternall.
1518? A. Barclay Fyfte Eglog sig. Bv, The blessyd aungelles..songe that gloria, flyenge in the skye.
1528 Rede me & be nott Wrothe sig. b iijv, Fare wele O holy consecration, With blyssed sanctus and agnus dei.
1549 Forme & Maner consecratyng Archebishoppes sig. J.ii, After the Gospell and Credo ended.
1563 Burnynge Paules Church sig. Civv, Platina..affirmes, that Pope Sixtus appoynted the Sanctus to be songe, Gregory the Kirie-eleeson.
1563 Burnynge Paules Church sig. Cviiiv, On good friday there is neyther Epistle, nor Gospel, Gloria in exelsis [sic], nor Crede.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis i. 4 This kyrye sad solfing, thee northen bluster aproching Thee sayls tears tag rag, to the sky thee waues vphoysing.
1583 Ld. Burghley Execution of Iustice sig. Eiv, Their Cakes of waxe which they call Agnus Dei.
1596 W. Warner Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) x. lvi. 250 An Agnus-Dei bout her necke, a crost-Christ in her hand.
1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 21 They had it in the Tenor part of the Gloria of his Masse Ave Maris stella.
1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 153, I remember a peece of composition of four parts of maister Tauernor in one of his kiries.16.. MS Music Bk. Durham Cathedral, Mr. Brimley his kerrie to Mr. Sheperd's Creede.
1629 L. Owen Speculum Jesuiticum 44 Such little Cristall glasses, as Papists do vse to weare about their necks, with an Agnus Dei inclosed betweene them.
1661c Papers on Alter. Prayer Bk. 77 The Gloria patri..according to the common opinion was formed in the council of Nice.
1663 A. Cowley Cutter of Coleman-St. ii. iii. 16, I knew that yesterday as well as I knew my Credo, but I'm the very Jew of Malta if she did not use me since that.
1677 W. Hughes Man of Sin ii. viii. 123 You must be sure to nick the Season; 'Tis at the Masse, just between the Elevation of our Lord, and the three Agnus Dei.
1678 R. Cudworth True Intellect. Syst. Universe ii. iv. 454 That very Form of Prayer..Kyrie Eleeson, Lord have mercy upon us, was anciently part of the Pagans Litany to the Supreme God.
1706 A. Bedford Temple Musick iv. 91 Sometimes in a lowder Voice, as at the Gloria Patri.
1723 tr. N. Menin Hist. Treat. Anointing Kings & Queens France xix. 259 At the Agnus Dei, the second Prelate ascends the Scaffold to the Throne.
1745 R. Pococke Descr. East II. i. 18 The Latins celebrated the mass of the resurrection, and at Gloria in excelsis, a cover was let down [etc.].
1749 Scots Mag. Aug. 400/1 The Agnus Dei is an oval piece of white wax, mixed up with the powder of dead people's bones.
1749 T. Smollett tr. A. R. Le Sage Gil Blas IV. x. xii. 109 He began with the prayers which the canons sing at mattins, then sung the Credo, as it is sung at high mass.
1789 C. Burney Gen. Hist. Music IV. x. 592 A Credo for five voices with accompaniments, of which I am in possession of the score.
1817 W. Gardner tr. ‘L. Bombet’ Lives Haydn & Mozart 175 David Perez..composed a Credo, which, in certain solemnities, is still sung in the church of the Fathers of the Oratorio.
1817 W. Gardner tr. L. A. C. Bombet Lives Haydn & Mozart xvi. 215 His [sc. Haydn's] Agnus Dei are full of tenderness. Turn more particularly to that in the mass, No. 4; it is celestial music.
1847 W. H. Prescott Hist. Conquest Peru I. iii. vii. 487 The Spaniards..muttered their credos for the salvation of his soul!
1853 D. Rock Church our Fathers III. ii. 212 In it [the Graduale] might be found..the Kyries, Glorias [etc.].
1867 in C. Walker Ritual Reason Why x. 160 What is the Agnus Dei?
1880 G. Grove Dict. Music II. 233/1 After the Elevation..the Choir begin the Benedictus, in soft low tones.
Part the Third
Summation of the centuries (secondary sources removed):
Old English: 1
1401-1500: 3
1501-1600: 11
1601-1700: 5
1701-1800: 6
1801-1900: 6
The following list is the first recorded use of the titles of the five sections of the Mass:
Old English agnus dei
1430c gloria
1450–1530 Sanctus
1502 Credo
1563 Kirie-eleeson.
1880 Benedictus
Conclusion
Judging by the first appearance of the words relating to the five sections of the Mass, we can state the missal possessed four of its five sections that we know today by the year 1563, with the last section, the Benedictus, added to the Mass in 19th century.
Therefore, we confidently conclude that the Roman Catholic Mass dates from 1880, at the latest.
The following list contains the above citations with the secondary references removed.
OE tr. Bili St. Machutus 14 Hie..þa mæssan mærsiende wæron..& þa þa hit to agnus dei cumen wæs [L. ut ad agnus dei uentus est], þa wearþ astyred seo stow þær seo mæsse geweorþad wæs.
1430c Freemasonry 632 And blesse the fayre, ȝef that thou conne, When gloria tibi is begonne.
1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye 119 Therfore accordynge to the aungels, ye synge quyer to quyer, one Sanctus on the tone syde, and another on the tother syde.
1480 Cronicles Eng. (Caxton) ccxxx. sig. q4, After the iij. Agnus dei y seid.
1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) i. vi. sig. e.viv, These crysten men ought for to knowe the Pater noster, the Aue maria, & the Credo in theyr langage maternall.
1518? A. Barclay Fyfte Eglog sig. Bv, The blessyd aungelles..songe that gloria, flyenge in the skye.
1528 Rede me & be nott Wrothe sig. b iijv, Fare wele O holy consecration, With blyssed sanctus and agnus dei.
1549 Forme & Maner consecratyng Archebishoppes sig. J.ii, After the Gospell and Credo ended.
1563 Burnynge Paules Church sig. Civv, Platina..affirmes, that Pope Sixtus appoynted the Sanctus to be songe, Gregory the Kirie-eleeson.
1563 Burnynge Paules Church sig. Cviiiv, On good friday there is neyther Epistle, nor Gospel, Gloria in exelsis [sic], nor Crede.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis i. 4 This kyrye sad solfing, thee northen bluster aproching Thee sayls tears tag rag, to the sky thee waues vphoysing.
1583 Ld. Burghley Execution of Iustice sig. Eiv, Their Cakes of waxe which they call Agnus Dei.
1596 W. Warner Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) x. lvi. 250 An Agnus-Dei bout her necke, a crost-Christ in her hand.
1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 21 They had it in the Tenor part of the Gloria of his Masse Ave Maris stella.
1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 153, I remember a peece of composition of four parts of maister Tauernor in one of his kiries.16.. MS Music Bk. Durham Cathedral, Mr. Brimley his kerrie to Mr. Sheperd's Creede.
1629 L. Owen Speculum Jesuiticum 44 Such little Cristall glasses, as Papists do vse to weare about their necks, with an Agnus Dei inclosed betweene them.
1661c Papers on Alter. Prayer Bk. 77 The Gloria patri..according to the common opinion was formed in the council of Nice.
1663 A. Cowley Cutter of Coleman-St. ii. iii. 16, I knew that yesterday as well as I knew my Credo, but I'm the very Jew of Malta if she did not use me since that.
1677 W. Hughes Man of Sin ii. viii. 123 You must be sure to nick the Season; 'Tis at the Masse, just between the Elevation of our Lord, and the three Agnus Dei.
1678 R. Cudworth True Intellect. Syst. Universe ii. iv. 454 That very Form of Prayer..Kyrie Eleeson, Lord have mercy upon us, was anciently part of the Pagans Litany to the Supreme God.
1706 A. Bedford Temple Musick iv. 91 Sometimes in a lowder Voice, as at the Gloria Patri.
1723 tr. N. Menin Hist. Treat. Anointing Kings & Queens France xix. 259 At the Agnus Dei, the second Prelate ascends the Scaffold to the Throne.
1745 R. Pococke Descr. East II. i. 18 The Latins celebrated the mass of the resurrection, and at Gloria in excelsis, a cover was let down [etc.].
1749 Scots Mag. Aug. 400/1 The Agnus Dei is an oval piece of white wax, mixed up with the powder of dead people's bones.
1749 T. Smollett tr. A. R. Le Sage Gil Blas IV. x. xii. 109 He began with the prayers which the canons sing at mattins, then sung the Credo, as it is sung at high mass.
1789 C. Burney Gen. Hist. Music IV. x. 592 A Credo for five voices with accompaniments, of which I am in possession of the score.
1817 W. Gardner tr. ‘L. Bombet’ Lives Haydn & Mozart 175 David Perez..composed a Credo, which, in certain solemnities, is still sung in the church of the Fathers of the Oratorio.
1817 W. Gardner tr. L. A. C. Bombet Lives Haydn & Mozart xvi. 215 His [sc. Haydn's] Agnus Dei are full of tenderness. Turn more particularly to that in the mass, No. 4; it is celestial music.
1847 W. H. Prescott Hist. Conquest Peru I. iii. vii. 487 The Spaniards..muttered their credos for the salvation of his soul!
1853 D. Rock Church our Fathers III. ii. 212 In it [the Graduale] might be found..the Kyries, Glorias [etc.].
1867 in C. Walker Ritual Reason Why x. 160 What is the Agnus Dei?
1880 G. Grove Dict. Music II. 233/1 After the Elevation..the Choir begin the Benedictus, in soft low tones.
Part the Third
Summation of the centuries (secondary sources removed):
Old English: 1
1401-1500: 3
1501-1600: 11
1601-1700: 5
1701-1800: 6
1801-1900: 6
The following list is the first recorded use of the titles of the five sections of the Mass:
Old English agnus dei
1430c gloria
1450–1530 Sanctus
1502 Credo
1563 Kirie-eleeson.
1880 Benedictus
Conclusion
Judging by the first appearance of the words relating to the five sections of the Mass, we can state the missal possessed four of its five sections that we know today by the year 1563, with the last section, the Benedictus, added to the Mass in 19th century.
Therefore, we confidently conclude that the Roman Catholic Mass dates from 1880, at the latest.
Addendum
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. lxxxvi. f. xxxiiv, Hauynge knowlege of the sayde conspiracy. [Having knowledge of the sad conspiracy.]
1964 Listener 24 Sept. 471/3 His ‘vulgar economic realities’ are the cloak for a conspiracy-theory, and he is disappointed that I don't subscribe to it.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. lxxxvi. f. xxxiiv, Hauynge knowlege of the sayde conspiracy. [Having knowledge of the sad conspiracy.]
1964 Listener 24 Sept. 471/3 His ‘vulgar economic realities’ are the cloak for a conspiracy-theory, and he is disappointed that I don't subscribe to it.