Jack, I could give you a long list of medieval secular songs in modes with reciting notes (as well as ones that don't - there is no one size fits all), but I'll just give one as a prime example: Douce Dame Jolie - dorian with reciting note at the fifth, transposed up a fourth in the ms.

I'm not sure what Cait Webb's point is. Could you point me to the page? What you suggest she suggests is impossible is perfectly possible on harp, gittern, oud, lute, koboz and citole - my medieval instruments. I'm sure Cait was drawing attention to something, but as stated here I can't see what that is.