Composed around 1550 when Sheppard had joined the Chapel Royal and first found in the 1575 Baldwin Partbooks, this is a motet for six voices using a text for Epiphany – the visit of the wise men to the Baby Jesus – and alternates polyphony and plainsong.
The text, which was also set by Palestrina, Byrd and modern composers such as Litaize, translates as:
Reges Tharsis et insulæ munera offerent;
The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents:
reges Arabum et Saba dona adducent.
the kings of the Arabians and of Saba shall bring gifts.
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