A very different way of doing the first reading

Here, from the Sarum Christmas Missa in Gallicantu, beginneth the first reading:

(translation further down, should anyone need it)

Duo clerici de secunda forma in capis sericis in pulpito simul cantent lectionem.

Laudes Deo dicam per sæcula, qui me plasmavit in manu dextera, atque redemit cruce purpurea sanguine Nati.

Hic cantetur alternatim:

Lectio Esaiæ Prophetæ.

In qua Christi lucida vaticinatur nativitas.

Hæc dicit Dominus. 

Pater, Filius, Sanctus Spiritus, in quo sunt omnia condita superna atque ima.

Populus gentium qui ambulabat in tenebris

Quem creasti: quem fraude subdola hostis expulit paradiso: et captivatum secum traxit ad tartara;

Vidit lucem magnam; 

Fulserunt et immania nocte media pastoribus lumina.

Habitantibus in regione umbræ mortis: Lux

Sempiterna et redemptio vere nostræ

Orta est eis. 

O stupenda nativitas,

Parvulus enim natus est nobis, 

Magnus hic erit Jesus Filius Dei.

Et Filius 

Patris summi,

Datus est nobis.

Ab arce summa prædictum sic erat.

Et factus est principatus super humerum ejus.

Ut cœlos regat atque arva.

Et vocabitur nomen ejus,

Messias, Sother, Emmanuel, Sabaoth, Adonai.

Admirabilis,

Radix David,

Consiliarius

Dei Patris,

Deus

Qui creavit omnia,

Fortis 

Barathri claustra perimens teterrima

Pater futuri sæculi,

Rex omnipotens et cuncta regens,

Princeps Pacis

Hic et in ævum.

Multiplicabitur ejus imperium. 

In Hierusalem, Judæa, sive Samaria,

Et pacis non erit finis, 

Per sæcula sempiterna, 

Super solium David et super regnum ejus sedebit, Et regni meta sui non erit aliqua.

Et confirmet illud,

In fidei pignore.

Et corroboret in judicio, et justitia, 

Judex cum venerit judicare sæculum.

A modo

Illi debetur gloria, laus et jubilatio.

Et usque in sempiternum.

Hic cantent usque ad finem:

Ab ortu solis usque occiduos, 

ad fines mundi orbis per climata 

laus Creatori resonet congrua. 

Amen dicant omnia.

Let two clerks of the second bench, in silk copes, chant this Lesson together in the pulpit:

I will sing praises to God for ever, Who formed me in His right hand and redeemed me on the cross with the purple blood of his Son.

Then alternately:

The Lesson of Esias the Prophet.

In which is foretold the glorious birth of Christ.

Thus says the Lord,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, by whom are created all things in heaven and earth,

The people that walked in darkness

whom you created, whom the enemy expelled from Paradise by a subtle fraud and led captive with him into hell,

Have seen a great light.

And at midnight strange brightness shone on the shepherds,

On those who dwell in the shadow of death, a light

Everlasting, and our true redemption,

has shined.

O stupendous birth!

For unto us a child is born,

Jesus the Son of God; he shall be great,

A son

Of the highest Father

is given to us

So had it been foretold from the throne on high.

And the government shall be upon his shoulder,

That he may rule heaven and earth.

And his name shall be called

Messiah, Soter, Emmanuel, Sabaoth, Adonai,

Wonderful,

The Root of David,

Counsellor

of God the Father,

God

who created all things,

Mighty,

overthrowing the hideous gates of hell,

The everlasting Father,

King Almighty and governing all,

Prince of Peace

Here and for ever,

Of the increase of his government

In Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria,

And peace there shall be no end,

For ever and ever,

Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom

and there shall be no bounds to his reign,

To order it

In the bonds of faith

And to establish it with judgment and with justice,

when he shall come as Judge to judge the world.

From henceforth

to him be due glory, praise and rejoicing

and for ever and ever.

Here let them sing together to the end:

From the rising of the sun to its setting

let fitting praise resound to the Creator

through all places to the ends of the world

and let everything say Amen.