Movatterモバイル変換

Together with Its Historical Events and Festive Celebrations During Nineteen Centuries

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRISTMAS: ITS ORIGIN AND ASSOCIATIONS***

E-text prepared by Robert Cicconetti, Turgut Dincer,
and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
(http://www.pgdp.net)

CHRISTMAS:

ITS ORIGIN AND ASSOCIATIONS,

TOGETHER WITH

ITS HISTORICAL EVENTS AND FESTIVE

CELEBRATIONS DURING NINETEEN

CENTURIES:

DEPICTING, BY PEN AND PENCIL,

W. F. DAWSON.

LONDON

ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C.

1902.

REPUBLISHED BY GALE RESEARCH COMPANY, BOOK TOWER, DETROIT, 1968

PREFACE.

In the third quarter of the nineteenth century, it fell to my lotto write an article on Christmas, its customs and festivities.And, although I sought in vain for a chronological account of thefestival, I discovered many interesting details of its observancesdispersed in the works of various authors; and, while I foundthat some of its greater celebrations marked important epochsin our national history, I saw, also, that the successive celebrationsof Christmas during nineteen centuries were importantlinks in the chain of historical Christian evidences. I becameenamoured of the subject, for, in addition to historical interest,there is the charm of its legendary lore, its picturesque customs,and popular games. It seemed to me that the origin and hallowedassociations of Christmas, its ancient customs and festivities,and the important part it has played in history combineto make it a most fascinating subject. I resolved, therefore,to collect materials for a larger work onChristmas.

Henceforth, I became a snapper-up of everything relating toChristmastide, utilised every opportunity of searching libraries,bookstalls, and catalogues of books in different parts of thecountry, and, subsequently, as a Reader of the British MuseumLibrary, had access to that vast storehouse of literary andhistorical treasures.

Soon after commencing the work, I realised that I hadentered a very spacious field of research, and that, having todeal with the accumulated materials of nineteen centuries, alarge amount of labour would be involved, and some years mustelapse before, even if circumstances proved favourable, I couldhope to see the end of my task. Still, I went on with the work,for I felt that a complete account of Christmas, ancient andmodern, at home and abroad, would prove generally acceptable,for while the historical events and legendary lore would intereststudents and antiquaries, the holiday sports and popularcelebrations would be no less attractive to general readers.

The love of story-telling seems to be ingrained in humannature. Travellers tell of vari-coloured races sitting round theirwatch fires reciting deeds of the past; and letters from colonistsshow how, even amidst forest-clearing, they have beguiled theirevening hours by telling or reading stories as they sat in theglow of their camp fires. And in old England there is thesame love of tales and stories. One of the chief delights ofChristmastide is to sit in the united family circle and hear, tell,or read about the quaint habits and picturesque customs ofChristmas in the olden time; and one of the purposes ofCHRISTMAS is to furnish the retailer of Christmas wareswith suitable things for re-filling his pack.

From the vast store of materials collected it is not possible todo more than make a selection. How far I have succeeded insetting forth the subject in a way suited to the diversity of tastesamong readers I must leave to their judgment and indulgence;but I have this satisfaction, that the gems of literature itcontains are very rich indeed; and I acknowledge my greatindebtedness to numerous writers of different periods whosereferences to Christmas and its time-honoured customs arequoted.

I have to acknowledge the courtesy of Mr. Henry Jewitt,Mr. E. Wiseman, Messrs. Harper, and Messrs. Cassell & Co.,in allowing their illustrations to appear in this work.

My aim is neither critical nor apologetic, but historical andpictorial: it is not to say what might or ought to have been,but to set forth from extant records what has actually takenplace: to give an account of the origin and hallowed associationsof Christmas, and to depict, by pen and pencil, the importanthistorical events and interesting festivities of Christmastideduring nineteen centuries. With materials collected fromdifferent parts of the world, and from writings both ancient andmodern, I have endeavoured to give in the present work achronological account of the celebrations and observances ofChristmas from the birth of Christ to the end of the nineteenthcentury; but, in a few instances, the subject-matter has beenallowed to take precedence of the chronological arrangement.Here will be found accounts of primitive celebrationsof the Nativity, ecclesiastical decisions fixing the date ofChristmas, the connection of Christmas with the festivals of theancients, Christmas in times of persecution, early celebrations inBritain, stately Christmas meetings of the Saxon, Danish, andNorman kings of England; Christmas during the wars of theRoses, Royal Christmases under the Tudors, the Stuarts andthe Kings and Queens of Modern England; Christmas at theColleges and the Inns of Court; Entertainments of the nobilityand gentry, and popular festivities; accounts of Christmascelebrations in different parts of Europe, in America andCanada, in the sultry lands of Africa and the ice-bound Arcticcoasts, in India and China, at the Antipodes, in Australia andNew Zealand, and in the Islands of the Pacific; in short,throughout the civilised world.

In looking at the celebrations of Christmas, at differentperiods and in different places, I have observed that, whateverviews men hold respecting Christ, they all agree that His Adventis to be hailed with joy, and the nearer the forms of festivityhave approximated to the teaching of Him who is celebratedthe more real has been the joy of those who have taken part inthe celebrations.

The descriptions of the festivities and customs of differentperiods are given, as far as possible, on the authority of contemporaryauthors, or writers who have special knowledge ofthose periods, and the most reliable authorities have beenconsulted for facts and dates, great care being taken to makethe work as accurate and trustworthy as possible. I sincerelywish that all who read it may find as much pleasure in itsperusal as I have had in its compilation.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

THE HERALD ANGELS.

Lo! God hath ope'd the glist'ring gates of heaven,And thence are streaming beams of glorious light:All earth is bath'd in the effulgence giv'nTo dissipate the darkness of the night.The eastern shepherds, 'biding in the fields,O'erlook the flocks till now their constant care,And light divine to mortal sense revealsA seraph bright descending in the air.
Hark! strains seraphic fall upon the ear,From shining ones around th' eternal gates:Glad that man's load of guilt may disappear,Infinite strength on finite weakness waits.
Why are the trembling shepherds sore afraid?Why shrink they at the grand, the heavenly sight?"Fear not" (the angel says), nor be dismay'd,And o'er them sheds a ray of God-sent light.O matchless mercy! All-embracing love!The angel speaks and, gladly, men record:—"I bring you joyful tidings from above:This day is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord!"
Hark! "Peace on earth, and God's good-will to men!"The angels sing, and heaven resounds with praise—That fallen man may live with God again,Through Christ, who deigns the sons of men to raise.

CHAPTER I.

THE ORIGIN AND ASSOCIATIONS OFCHRISTMAS.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When Hismother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they cametogether she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. AndJoseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing tomake her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of theLord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou sonof David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for thatwhich is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shallbring forth a Son; and thou shalt call His name Jesus; for it isHe that shall save His people from their sins. Now all this iscome to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by theLord through the prophet, saying,

006which is, being interpreted, God with us. And Joseph arosefrom his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commandedhim, and took unto him his wife; and knew her not till she hadbrought forth a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

"There went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus that all the world shouldbe taxed. And Joseph went to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife,being great with child."

And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the007field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. And anangel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lordshone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And theangel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring yougood tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: forthere is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour,which is Christ the Lord. And this is the sign unto you; Yeshall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in amanger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude ofthe heavenly host praising God, and saying,

And it came to pass, when the angels went away from theminto heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now goeven unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass,which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they camewith haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the Babelying in the manger. And when they saw it, they made knownconcerning the saying which was spoken to them about thischild. And all that heard it wondered at the things which werespoken unto them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all thesesayings, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherdsreturned, glorifying and praising God for all the things thatthey had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.

The Place of the Nativity.

The evangelist Matthew tells us that "Jesus was born inBethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king;" and JustinMartyr, who was born at Shechem and lived less than a centuryafter the time of Christ, places the scene of the Nativity in acave. Over this cave has risen the Church and Convent of theNativity, and there is a stone slab with a star cut in it to markthe spot where the Saviour was born. Dean Farrar, who hasbeen at the place, says: "It is impossible to stand in the littleChapel of the Nativity, and to look without emotion on the silverstar let into the white marble, encircled by its sixteen ever-burninglamps, and surrounded by the inscription, 'Hic deVirgine Maria Jesus Christus natus est.'"

To visit such a scene is to have the thoughts carried backto the greatest event in the world's history, for it has been trulysaid that the birth of Christ was the world's second birthday.

"Christmas" (pronounced Kris'mas) signifies "Christ's Mass,"meaning the festival of the Nativity of Christ, and theword has been variously spelt at different periods. The followingare obsolete forms of it found in old English writings:Crystmasse, Cristmes, Cristmas, Crestenmes, Crestenmas,Cristemes, Cristynmes, Crismas, Kyrsomas, Xtemas, Cristesmesse,Cristemasse, Crystenmas, Crystynmas, Chrystmas,Chrystemes, Chrystemasse, Chrystymesse, Cristenmas, Christenmas,Christmass, Christmes. Christmas has also been calledNoël orNowel. As to the derivation of the wordNoël, some sayit is a contraction of the Frenchnouvelles (tidings),les bonnesnouvelles, that is "The good news of the Gospel"; others takeit as an abbreviation of the Gascon or Provençalnadaü,nadal,which means the same as the Latinnatalis, that is,dies natalis,"the birthday." In "The Franklin's Tale," Chaucer alludesto "Nowel" as a festive cry at Christmastide: "And 'Nowel'crieth every lusty man." Some sayNoël is a corruption ofYule,Jule, orUle, meaning "The festival of the sun." ThenameYule is still applied to the festival in Scotland, and someother places. Christmas is represented in Welsh byNadolig,which signifies "the natal, or birth"; in French byNoël; andin Italian byIl Natale, which, together with its cognate term inSpanish, is simply a contraction ofdies natalis, "the birthday."

CHAPTER II.

THE EARLIER CELEBRATIONS OF THEFESTIVAL.

The Angels' Song has been called the first Christmas Carol, andthe shepherds who heard this heavenly song of peace and goodwill,and went "with haste" to the birthplace at Bethlehem,where they "found Mary, and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a011manger," certainly took part in the first celebration of theNativity. And the Wise Men, who came afterwards withpresents from the East, being led to Bethlehem by the appearanceof the miraculous star, may also be regarded as taking partin the first celebration of the Nativity, for the name Epiphany(now used to commemorate the manifestation of the Saviour)did not come into use till long afterwards, and when it was firstadopted among the Oriental Churches it was designed to commemorateboth the birth and baptism of Jesus, which two eventsthe Eastern Churches believed to have occurred on January 6th.Whether the shepherds commemorated the Feast of the Nativityannually does not appear from the records of the Evangelists;but it is by no means improbable that to the end of their livesthey would annually celebrate the most wonderful event whichthey had witnessed.

Within thirty years after the death of our Lord, there werechurches in Jerusalem, Cæsarea, Rome, and the Syrian Antioch.In reference to the latter, Bishop Ken beautifully says:—

Clement, one of the Apostolic Fathers and third Bishop of Rome,who flourished in the first century, says: "Brethren, keepdiligently feast-days, and truly in the first place the day of012Christ's birth." And according to another of the early Bishopsof Rome, it was ordained early in the second century, "that inthe holy night of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour, they docelebrate public church services and in them solemnly sing theAngels' Hymn, because also the same night He was declaredunto the shepherds by an angel, as the truth itself doth witness."

But, before proceeding further with the historical narrative, itwill be well now to make more particular reference to the fixingof the date of the festival.

Whether the 25th of December, which is now observed asChristmas Day, correctly fixes the period of the year whenChrist was born is still doubtful, although it is a question uponwhich there has been much controversy. From Clement ofAlexandria it appears, that when the first efforts were made tofix the season of the Advent, there were advocates for the 20thof May, and for the 20th or 21st of April. It is also found thatsome communities of Christians celebrated the festival on the1st or 6th of January; others on the 29th of March, the time ofthe Jewish Passover: while others observed it on the 29th ofSeptember, or Feast of Tabernacles. The Oriental Christiansgenerally were of opinion that both the birth and baptism ofChrist took place on the 6th of January. Julius I., Bishop ofRome (A.D. 337-352), contended that the 25th of December wasthe date of Christ's birth, a view to which the majority of theEastern Church ultimately came round, while the Church ofthe West adopted from their brethren in the East the view thatthe baptism was on the 6th of January. It is, at any rate,certain that after St. Chrysostom Christmas was observed on the25th of December in East and West alike, except in theArmenian Church, which still remains faithful to January 6th.St. Chrysostom, who died in the beginning of the fifth century,informs us, in one of his Epistles, that Julius, on the solicitationof St. Cyril of Jerusalem, caused strict inquiries to be made onthe subject, and thereafter, following what seemed to be the bestauthenticated tradition, settled authoritatively the 25th of Decemberas the anniversary of Christ's birth, theFestorum omniummetropolis, as it is styled by Chrysostom. It may be observed,however, that some have represented this fixing of the day tohave been accomplished by St. Telesphorus, who was Bishop ofRome A.D. 127-139, but the authority for the assertion is verydoubtful. There is good ground for maintaining that Easterand its accessory celebrations mark with tolerable accuracy theanniversaries of the Passion and Resurrection of our Lord,because we know that the events themselves took place at theperiod of the Jewish Passover; but no such precision of datecan be adduced as regards Christmas. Dr. Geikie [1] says: "The013season at which Christ was born is inferred from the fact thatHe was six months younger than John, respecting the date ofwhose birth we have the help of knowing the time of theannunciation during his father's ministrations in Jerusalem.Still, the whole subject is very uncertain. Ewald appears to fixthe date of the birth as five years earlier than our era. Petaviusand Usher fix it as on the 25th of December, five years beforeour era; Bengel, on the 25th of December, four years before ourera; Anger and Winer, four years before our era, in the spring;Scaliger, three years before our era, in October; St. Jerome,three years before our era, on December 25th; Eusebius, twoyears before our era, on January 6th; and Ideler, seven yearsbefore our era, in December." Milton, following the immemorialtradition of the Church, says that—

But there are still many who think that the 25th of Decemberdoes not correspond with the actual date of the birth of Christ,and regard the incident of the flocks and shepherds in the openfield, recorded by St. Luke, as indicative of spring rather thanwinter. This incident, it is thought, could not have taken placein the inclement month of December, and it has been conjectured,with some probability, that the 25th of December waschosen in order to substitute the purified joy of a Christianfestival for the license of theBacchanalia andSaturnalia whichwere kept at that season. It is most probable that the Adventtook place between December, 749, of Rome, and February,750.

Dionysius Exiguus, surnamed the Little, a Romish monk ofthe sixth century, a Scythian by birth, and who dieda.d. 556,fixed the birth of Christ in the year of Rome 753, but the bestauthorities are now agreed that 753 was not the year in whichthe Saviour of mankind was born. The Nativity is nowplaced, not as might have been expected, ina.d. 1, but inb.c. 5 or 4. The mode of reckoning by the "year of our Lord"was first introduced by Dionysius, in his "Cyclus Paschalis,"a treatise on the computation of Easter, in the first half of thesixth century. Up to that time the received computation ofevents through the western portion of Christendom had beenfrom the supposed foundation of Rome (b.c. 754), and eventswere marked accordingly as happening in this or that year,Anno Urbis Conditæ, or by the initial letters A.U.C. In the Eastsome historians continued to reckon from the era of Seleucidæ,which dated from the accession of Seleucus Nicator to themonarchy of Syria, inb.c. 312. The new computation wasreceived by Christendom in the sixth century, and adoptedwithout adequate inquiry, till the sixteenth century. A morecareful examination of the data presented by the Gospelhistory, and, in particular, by the fact that "Jesus was born014in Bethlehem of Judæa" before the death of Herod, showedthat Dionysius had made a mistake of four years, or perhapsmore, in his calculations. The death of Herod took place inthe year of Romea.u.c. 750, just before the Passover. Thisyear coincided with what in our common chronologywould beb.c. 4—so that we have to recognise the fact that ourown reckoning is erroneous, and to fixb.c. 5 or 4 as the date ofthe Nativity.

Now, out of the consideration of the time at which theChristmas festival is fixed, naturally arises another question,viz.:—

Sir Isaac Newton [2] says the Feast of the Nativity, and mostof the other ecclesiastical anniversaries, were originally fixed at015cardinal points of the year, without any reference to the datesof the incidents which they commemorated, dates which, bylapse of time, it was impossible to ascertain. Thus the Annunciationof the Virgin Mary was placed on the 25th of March, orabout the time of the vernal equinox; the Feast of St. Michaelon the 29th of September, or near the autumnal equinox; andthe Birth of Christ at the time of the winter solstice. Christmaswas thus fixed at the time of the year when the most celebratedfestivals of the ancients were held in honour of the return ofthe sun which at the winter solstice begins gradually to regainpower and to ascend apparently in the horizon. Previously tothis (says William Sandys, F.S.A.),[3] the year was drawing to aclose, and the world was typically considered to be in the samestate. The promised restoration of light and commencementof a new era were therefore hailed with rejoicings and thanksgivings.The Saxon and other northern nations kept a festivalat this time of the year in honour of Thor, in which theymingled feasting, drinking, and dancing with sacrifices andreligious rites. It was called Yule, or Jule, a term of which thederivation has caused dispute amongst antiquaries; some consideringit to mean a festival, and others stating that Iol, or Iul(spelt in various ways), is a primitive word, conveying the ideaof Revolution or Wheel, and applicable therefore to the returnof the sun. TheBacchanalia andSaturnalia of the Romanshad apparently the same object as the Yuletide, or feast of theNorthern nations, and were probably adopted from some moreancient nations, as the Greeks, Mexicans, Persians, Chinese,&c., had all something similar. In the course of them, as iswell known, masters and slaves were supposed to be on anequality; indeed, the former waited on the latter.[4] Presentswere mutually given and received, as Christmas presents inthese days. Towards the end of the feast, when the sun wason its return, and the world was considered to be renovated,a king or ruler was chosen, with considerable power granted tohim during his ephemeral reign, whence may have sprung someof the Twelfth-Night revels, mingled with those in honour ofthe Manifestation and Adoration of the Magi. And, in allprobability, some other Christmas customs are adopted from thefestivals of the ancients, as decking with evergreens and mistletoe(relics of Druidism) and the wassail bowl. It is not surprising,therefore, that Bacchanalian illustrations have been foundamong the decorations in the early Christian Churches. Theillustration on the following page is from a mosaic in theChurch of St. Constantine, Rome, A.D. 320.

Dr. Cassel, of Germany, an erudite Jewish convert who islittle known in this country has endeavoured to show that

017the festival of Christmas has a Judæan origin. He considers thatits customs are significantly in accordance with those of theJewish festival of the Dedication of the Temple. This feast washeld in the winter time, on the 25th of Cisleu (December 20th),having been founded by Judas Maccabæus in honour of thecleansing of the Temple inb.c. 164, six years and a half afterits profanation by Antiochus Epiphanes. In connection withDr. Cassel's theory it may be remarked that the German wordWeihnachten (fromweihen, "to consecrate, inaugurate," andnacht, "night") leads directly to the meaning, "Night of theDedication."

In proceeding with our historical survey, then, we mustrecollect that in the festivities of Christmastide there is amingling of the Divine with the human elements of society—theestablishment and development of a Christian festival onpagan soil and in the midst of superstitious surroundings.Unless this be borne in mind it is impossible to understandsome customs connected with the celebration of Christmas.For while the festival commemorates the Nativity of Christ,it also illustrates the ancient practices of the various peopleswho have taken part in the commemoration, and not inappropriatelyso, as the event commemorated is also linked to thepast. "Christmas" (says Dean Stanley) "brings before us therelations of the Christian religion to the religions which wentbefore; for the birth at Bethlehem was itself a link with thepast. The coming of Jesus Christ was not unheralded orunforeseen. Even in the heathen world there had beenanticipations of an event of a character not unlike this. InPlato's Dialogue bright ideals had been drawn of the justman; in Virgil's Eclogues there had been a vision of a newand peaceful order of things. But it was in the Jewish nationthat these anticipations were most distinct. That wonderful018people in all its history had looked, not backward, but forward.The appearance of Jesus Christ was not merely the accomplishmentof certain predictions; it was the fulfilment of this wideand deep expectation of a whole people, and that people themost remarkable in the ancient world." Thus Dean Stanleylinks Christianity with the older religions of the world, as otherwriters have connected the festival of Christmas with the festivalsof paganism and Judaism. The first Christians wereexposed to the dissolute habits and idolatrous practices ofheathenism, as well as the superstitious ceremonials of Judaism,and it is in these influences that we must seek the true originof many of the usages and institutions of Christianity. The oldhall of Roman justice and exchange—an edifice expressive ofthe popular life of Greece and Rome—was not deemed toosecular to be used as the first Christian place of worship:pagan statues were preserved as objects of adoration, beingchanged but in name; names describing the functions ofChurch officers were copied from the civil vocabulary of thetime; the ceremonies of Christian worship were accommodatedas far as possible to those of the heathen, that new convertsmight not be much startled at the change, and at the Christmasfestival Christians indulged in revels closely resembling thoseof theSaturnalia.

It is known that the Feast of the Nativity was observed asearly as the first century, and that it was kept by the primitiveChristians even in dark days of persecution. "They wanderedin deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth"(Heb. xi. 38). Yet they were faithful to Christ, and the Catacombsof Rome contain evidence that they celebrated theNativity.

The opening up of these Catacombs has brought to lightmany most interesting relics of primitive Christianity. Inthese Christian cemeteries and places of worship there aresigns not only of the deep emotion and hope with which theyburied their dead, but also of their simple forms of worshipand the festive joy with which they commemorated the Nativityof Christ. On the rock-hewn tombs these primitive Christians019wrote the thoughts that were most consoling to themselves, orpainted on the walls the figures which gave them the mostpleasure. The subjects of these paintings are for the most parttaken from the Bible, and the one which illustrates the earliestand most universal of these pictures, and exhibits their Christmasjoy, is "The Adoration of the Magi." Another of these emblemsof joyous festivity which is frequently seen, is a vine, with itsbranches and purple clusters spreading in every direction,reminding us that in Eastern countries the vintage is the greatholiday of the year. In the Jewish Church there was nofestival so joyous as the Feast of Tabernacles, when theygathered the fruit of the vineyard, and in some of the earliercelebrations of the Nativity these festivities were closely copied.And as all down the ages pagan elements have mingled in thefestivities of Christmas, so in the Catacombs they are not absent.There is Orpheus playing on his harp to the beasts; Bacchusas the god of the vintage; Psyche, the butterfly of the soul;the Jordan as the god of the rivers. The classical and theChristian, the Hebrew and the Hellenic elements had not yetparted; and the unearthing of these pictures after the lapse ofcenturies affords another interesting clue to the origin of someof the customs of Christmastide. It is astonishing how manyof the Catacomb decorations are taken from heathen sourcesand copied from heathen paintings; yet we need not wonderwhen we reflect that the vine was used by the early Christiansas an emblem of gladness, and it was scarcely possible for themto celebrate the Feast of the Nativity—a festival of glad tidings—withoutsome sort ofBacchanalia. Thus it appears that even

(From Withrow's "Catacombs of Rome,' which states that the inscriptions,according to Dr. Maitland, should be expanded thus IRENE DA CALDA[MAQVAM]—"Peace, give hot water,' and AGAPE MISCE MI[VINVM CVM AQVA]—"Love, mix me wine with water," the allusionbeing to the ancient custom of tempering wine with water, hot or cold)

020beneath the palaces and temples of pagan Rome the birth ofChrist was celebrated, this early undermining of paganism byChristianity being, as it were, the germ of the final victory, andthe secret praise, which came like muffled music from theCatacombs in honour of the Nativity, the prelude to thetriumph-song in which they shall unite who receive fromChrist the unwithering crown.

But they who would wear the crown must first bear the cross,and these early Christians had to pass through dreadful days ofpersecution. Some of them were made food for the torchesof the atrocious Nero, others were thrown into the Imperialfish-ponds to fatten lampreys for the Bacchanalian banquets,and many were mangled to death by savage beasts, or still moresavage men, to make sport for thousands of pitiless sightseers,while not a single thumb was turned to make the sign of mercy.But perhaps the most gigantic and horrible of all Christmasatrocities were those perpetrated by the tyrant Diocletian, whobecame Emperora.d. 284. The early years of his reign werecharacterised by some sort of religious toleration, but when hispersecutions began many endured martyrdom, and the storm ofhis fury burst on the Christians in the year 303. A multitudeof Christians of all ages had assembled to commemorate theNativity in the temple at Nicomedia, in Bithynia, when thetyrant Emperor had the town surrounded by soldiers and seton fire, and about twenty thousand persons perished. Thepersecutions were carried on throughout the Roman Empire,and the death-roll included some British martyrs, Britain beingat that time a Roman province. St. Alban, who was put todeath at Verulam in Diocletian's reign, is said to have beenthe first Christian martyr in Britain. On the retirement ofDiocletian, satiated with slaughter and wearied with wickedness,Galerius continued the persecutions for a while. But thetime of deliverance was at hand, for the martyrs had mademore converts in their deaths than in their lives. It was vainly021hoped that Christianity would be destroyed, but in the succeedingreign of Constantine it became the religion of theempire. Not one of the martyrs had died in vain or passedthrough death unrecorded.

With the accession of Constantine (born at York, February 27,274, son of the sub-Emperor Constantius by a British mother,the "fair Helena of York," and who, on the death of his fatherat York in 306, was in Britain proclaimed Emperor of theRoman Empire) brighter days came to the Christians, for hisfirst act was one of favour to them. He had been present atthe promulgation of Diocletian's edict of the last and fiercestof the persecutions against the Christians, in 303, at Nicomedia,soon after which the imperial palace was struck by lightning,and the conjunction of the events seems to have deeply impressedhim. No sooner had he ascended the throne than hisgood feeling towards the Christians took the active form of anedict of toleration, and subsequently he accepted Christianity,and his example was followed by the greater part of his family.And now the Christians, who had formerly hidden away in thedarkness of the Catacombs and encouraged one another with"Alleluias," which served as a sort of invitatory or mutual callto each other to praise the Lord, might come forth into theImperial sunshine and hold their services in basilicas or publichalls, the roofs of which (Jerome tells us) "re-echoed with theircries of Alleluia," while Ambrose says the sound of their psalmsas they sang in celebration of the Nativity "was like the surgingof the sea in great waves of sound." And the Catacombs containconfirmatory evidence of the joy with which relatives of theEmperor participated in Christian festivities. In the tomb of022Constantia, the sister of the Emperor Constantine, the onlydecorations are children gathering the vintage, plucking thegrapes, carrying baskets of grapes on their heads, dancing onthe grapes to press out the wine. This primitive conceptionof the Founder of Christianity shows the faith of these earlyChristians to have been of a joyous and festive character, andthe Graduals for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, thebeautiful Kyrie Eleisons (which in later times passed intocarols), and the other festival music which has come down tous through that wonderful compilation of Christian song,Gregory's Antiphonary, show that Christmas stood out prominentlyin the celebrations of the now established Church,for the Emperor Constantine had transferred the seat ofgovernment to Constantinople, and Christianity was formallyrecognised as the established religion.

Cyprian, the intrepid Bishop of Carthage, whose stormyepiscopate closed with the crown of martyrdom in the latterhalf of the third century, began his treatise on the Nativitythus: "The much wished-for and long expected Nativity ofChrist is come, the famous solemnity is come"—expressionswhich indicate the desire with which the Church lookedforward to the festival, and the fame which its celebrationshad acquired in the popular mind. And in later times, afterthe fulness of festivity at Christmas had resulted in someexcesses, Bishop Gregory Nazianzen (who died in 389), fearingthe spiritual thanksgiving was in danger of being subordinatedto the temporal rejoicing, cautioned all Christians "againstfeasting to excess, dancing, and crowning the doors (practicesderived from the heathens); urging the celebration of thefestival after an heavenly and not an earthly manner."

In the Council, generally calledConcilium Africanum, heldA.D. 408, "stage-playes and spectacles are forbidden on theLord's-day, Christmas-day, and other solemn Christianfestivalls." Theodosius the younger, in his lawsde Spectaculis,in 425, forbade shows or games on the Nativity, and someother feasts. And in the Council of Auxerre, in Burgundy, in578, disguisings are again forbidden, and at another Council, in614, it was found necessary to repeat the prohibitory canonsin stronger terms, declaring it to be unlawful to make anyindecent plays upon the Kalends of January, according to theprofane practices of the pagans. But it is also recorded thatthe more devout Christians in these early times celebrated thefestival without indulging in the forbidden excesses.

CHAPTER III.

EARLY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS INBRITAIN.

It is recorded that there were "saints in Cæsar's household,"and we have also the best authority for saying there wereconverts among Roman soldiers. Cornelius, a Roman centurion,"was a just man and one that feared God," andother Roman converts are referred to in Scripture as havingbeen found among the officers of the Roman Empire. Andalthough it is not known who first preached the Gospel inBritain, it seems almost certain that Christianity entered withthe Roman invasion inA.D. 43. As in Palestine some of theearlier converts served Christ secretly "for fear of the Jews,"so, in all probability, did they in Britain for fear of the Romans.We know that some confessed Christ and closed their earthlycareer with the crown of martyrdom. It is also certain thatvery early in the Christian era Christmas was celebrated inBritain, mingling in its festivities some of the winter-festivalcustoms of the ancient Britons and the Roman invaders, for tracesof those celebrations are still seen in some of the Christmascustoms of modern times. Moreover, it is known that Christianswere tolerated in Britain by some of the Roman governors beforethe days of Constantine. It was in the time of the fourthRoman Emperor, Claudius, that part of Britain was first reallyconquered. Claudius himself came over in the year 43, and hisgenerals afterwards went on with the war, conquering one after024another of the British chiefs, Caradoc, whom the Romans calledCaractacus, holding out the longest and the most bravely.This intrepid King of the Silurians, who lived in South Walesand the neighbouring parts, withstood the Romans for severalyears, but was at last defeated at a great battle, supposed tohave taken place in Shropshire, where there is a hill still calledCaer Caradoc. Caradoc and his family were taken prisonersand led before the Emperor at Rome, when he made a remarkablespeech which has been preserved for us by Tacitus.When he saw the splendid city of Rome, he wondered thatan Emperor who lived in such splendour should have meddledwith his humble home in Britain; and in his address beforethe Emperor Claudius, who received him seated on his thronewith the Empress Agrippina by his side, Caradoc said: "Myfate this day appears as sad for me as it is glorious for thee. Ihad horses, soldiers, arms, and treasures; is it surprising thatI should regret the loss of them? If it is thy will to commandthe universe, is it a reason we should voluntarily accept slavery?Had I yielded sooner, thy fortune and my glory would havebeen less, and oblivion would soon have followed my execution.If thou sparest my life, I shall be an eternal monument of thyclemency." Although the Romans had very often killed theircaptives, to the honour of Claudius be it said that he treatedCaradoc kindly, gave him his liberty, and, according to somehistorians, allowed him to reign in part of Britain as a princesubject to Rome. It is surprising that an emperor who hadshown such clemency could afterwards become one ofRome's sanguinary tyrants; but Claudius was a man ofweak intellect.

There were several of the Roman Emperors and Governorswho befriended the Christians, took part in their Christmasfestivities, and professed faith in Christ. The VenerableBede says: "In the reign of Marcus Aurelius Antonius, andhis partner in the Empire, Lucius Verus, when Eleutheriuswas Bishop of Rome, Lucius, a British king, sent a letter to hisprelate, desiring his directions to make him a Christian. Theholy bishop immediately complied with this pious request;and thus the Britons, being brought over to Christianity,continued without warping or disturbance till the reign ofthe Emperor Diocletian." And Selden says: "Howsoever,by injury of time, the memory of this great and illustriousPrince King Lucy hath been embezzled and smuggled; this,upon the credit of the ancient writers, appears plainly, that thepitiful fopperies of the Pagans, and the worship of their idoldevils, did begin to flag, and within a short time would havegiven place to the worship of the true God." As this "illustriousPrince King Lucy"—Lucius Verus—flourished in thelatter part of the second century, and is credited with theerection of our first Christian Church on the site of St.Martin's, at Canterbury, it seems clear that even in those025early days Christianity was making progress in Britain. Fromthe time of Julius Agricola, who was Roman Commander from78 to 84, Britain had been a Roman province, and althoughthe Romans never conquered the whole of the island, yet duringtheir occupation of what they called their province (the wholeof Britain, excepting that portion north of the Firths of Forthand Clyde), they encouraged the Christmas festivities and didmuch to civilise the people whom they had conquered andwhom they governed for more than three hundred years. Theybuilt towns in different parts of the country and constructedgood roads from one town to another, for they were excellentbuilders and road-makers. Some of the Roman emperorsvisited Britain and others were chosen by the soldiers ofBritain; and in the reigns of Constantine the Great andother tolerant emperors the Britains lived like Romans,adopted Roman manners and customs, and some of themlearned to speak the Latin language. Christian churcheswere built and bishoprics founded; a hierarchy was established,and at the Council of Arles, in 314, three British bishopstook part—those of York, London, and Camulodunum (whichis now Colchester or Malden, authorities are divided, butFreeman says Colchester). The canons framed at Arles onthis occasion became the law of the British Church, and inthis more favourable period for Christians the Christmasfestival was kept with great rejoicing. But this settled stateof affairs was subsequently disturbed by the departure of theRomans and the several invasions of the Anglo-Saxons and theDanes which preceded the Norman Conquest.

The outgoing of the Romans and the incoming of the Angles,the Saxons, and the Jutes disastrously affected the festival ofChristmas, for the invaders were heathens, and Christianity wasswept westward before them. They had lived in a part of theContinent which had not been reached by Christianity norclassic culture, and they worshipped the false gods of Woden026and Thunder, and were addicted to various heathenish practices,some of which now mingled with the festivities of Christmastide.Still, as these Angles came to stay and have given their name toour country, it may be well to note that they came over toBritain from the one country which is known to have borne thename of Angeln or the Engle-land, and which is now calledSleswick, a district in the middle of that peninsula which partsthe Baltic from the North Sea or German Ocean. The Romanshaving become weakened through their conflicts with Germanyand other nations, at the beginning of the fifth century, theEmperor Honorius recalled the Roman legions from Britain,and this made it much easier for the Angles and Saxons (whohad previously tried to get in) to come and remain in thiscountry. Thus our Teuton forefathers came and conqueredmuch the greater part of Britain, the Picts and Scots remainingin the north and the Welsh in the west of the island. It wastheir custom to kill or make slaves of all the people they could,and so completely did they conquer that part of Britain inwhich they settled that they kept their own language andmanners and their own heathenish religion, and destroyed ordesecrated Christian churches which had been set up. HenceChristian missionaries were required to convert our ancestralworshippers of Woden and Thunder, and a difficult business itwas to Christianise such pagans, for they stuck to their falsegods with the same tenacity that the northern nations did.

In his poem of "King Olaf's Christmas" Longfellow refers tothe worship of Thor and Odin alongside with the worship ofChrist in the northern nations:—

In England, too, Christ and Thor were worshipped side by sidefor at least 150 years after the introduction of Christianity, forwhile some of the English accepted Christ as their true friendand Saviour, He was not accepted by all the people. Indeed,the struggle against Him is still going on, but we anticipate thetime when He shall be victorious all along the line.

The Christmas festival was duly observed by the missionarieswho came to the South of England from Rome, headed byAugustine, and in the northern parts of the country the Christian027festivities were revived by the Celtic missionaries from Iona,under Aidan, the famous Columbian monk. At least half ofEngland was covered by the Columbian monks, whose greatfoundation upon the rocky island of Iona, in the Hebrides, wasthe source of Christianity to Scotland. The ritual of the Celticdiffered from that of the Romish missionaries, and causedconfusion, till at the Synod of Whitby (664) the NorthumbrianKingdom adopted the Roman usages, and England obtainedecclesiastical unity as a branch of the Church of Rome. Thusunity in the Church preceded by several centuries unity in theState.

In connection with Augustine's mission to England, a memorablestory (recorded in Green's "History of the EnglishPeople") tells how, when but a young Roman deacon, Gregoryhad noted the white bodies, the fair faces, the golden hair ofsome youths who stood bound in the market-place of Rome."From what country do these slaves come?" he asked thetraders who brought them. "They are English, Angles!" theslave-dealers answered. The deacon's pity veiled itself inpoetic humour. "Not Angles, but Angels," he said, "withfaces so angel-like! From what country come they?" "They028come," said the merchants, "from Deira." "De ira!" was theuntranslatable reply; "aye, plucked from God's ire, and calledto Christ's mercy! And what is the name of their king?""Ælla," they told him, and Gregory seized on the words as ofgood omen. "Alleluia shall be sung in Ælla's land!" he cried,and passed on, musing how the angel-faces should be broughtto sing it. Only three or four years had gone by when thedeacon had become Bishop of Rome, and the marriage ofBertha, daughter of the Frankish king, Charibert of Paris, withÆthelberht, King of Kent, gave him the opening he sought;for Bertha, like her Frankish kinsfolk, was a Christian.

And so, after negotiations with the rulers of Gaul, Gregorysent Augustine, at the head of a band of monks, to preach thegospel to the English people. The missionaries landed in 597,on the very spot where Hengest had landed more than acentury before, in the Isle of Thanet; and the king receivedthem sitting in the open air on the chalk-down above Minster,where the eye nowadays catches, miles away over the marshes,the dim tower of Canterbury. Rowbotham, in his "History ofMusic," says that wherever Gregory sent missionaries he alsosent copies of the Gregorian song as he had arranged it in his"Antiphonary." And he bade them go singing among thepeople. And Augustine entered Kent bearing a silver crossand a banner with the image of Christ painted on it, while along train of choristers walked behind him chanting theKyrieEleison. In this way they came to the court of Æthelberht,who assigned them Canterbury as an abode; and they enteredCanterbury with similar pomp, and as they passed through thegates they sang this petition: "Lord, we beseech Thee to keepThy wrath away from this city and from Thy holy Church,Alleluia!"

As papal Rome preserved many relics of heathen Rome,so, in like manner, Pope Gregory, in sending Augustineover to convert the Anglo-Saxons, directed him to accommodatethe ceremonies of the Christian worship as much as possible tothose of the heathen, that the people might not be muchstartled at the change; and, in particular, he advised him toallow converts to kill and eat at the Christmas festival a greatnumber of oxen to the glory of God, as they had formerly doneto the honour of the devil. The clergy, therefore, endeavouredto connect the remnants of Pagan idolatry with Christianity,and also allowed some of the practices of our British ancestorsto mingle in the festivities of Christmastide. The religion ofthe Druids, the priests of the ancient Britons, is supposed tohave been somewhat similar to that of the Brahmins of India,the Magi of Persia, and the Chaldeans of Syria. They worshippedin groves, regarded the oak and mistletoe as objects ofveneration, and offered sacrifices. Before Christianity came toBritain December was called "Aerra Geola," because the sunthen "turns his glorious course." And under different names,029such as Woden (another form of Odin), Thor, Thunder, Saturn,&c., the pagans held their festivals of rejoicing at thewinter solstice; and so many of the ancient customs connectedwith these festivals were modified and made subservient toChristianity.

Some of the English even tried to serve Christ and the oldergods together, like the Roman Emperor, Alexander Severus,whose chapel contained Orpheus side by side with Abrahamand Christ. "Rœdwald of East Anglia resolved to serveChrist and the older gods together, and a pagan and a Christianaltar fronted one another in the same royal temple."[5] Kent,however, seems to have been evangelised rapidly, for it isrecorded that on Christmas Day, 597, no less than ten thousandpersons were baptized.

Before his death Augustine was able to see almost the wholeof Kent and Essex nominally Christian.

Christmas was now celebrated as the principal festival of theyear, for our Anglo-Saxon forefathers delighted in the festivitiesof the Halig-Monath (holy month), as they called the monthof December, in allusion to Christmas Day. At the greatfestival of Christmas the meetings of the Witenagemot wereheld, as well as at Easter and Whitsuntide, wherever the Courthappened to be. And at these times the Anglo-Saxon, and afterwardsthe Danish, Kings of England lived in state, wore theircrowns, and were surrounded by all the great men of their kingdoms(together with strangers of rank) who were sumptuouslyentertained, and the most important affairs of state were broughtunder consideration. There was also an outflow of generoushospitality towards the poor, who had a hard time of it duringthe rest of the year, and who required the Christmas gifts to030provide them with such creature comforts as would help themthrough the inclement season of the year.

Readers of Saxon history will remember that chieftains in thefestive hall are alluded to in the comparison made by one ofKing Edwin's chiefs, in discussing the welcome to be givento the Christian missionary Paulinus: "The present life ofman, O King, seems to me, in comparison of that time which isunknown to us, like to the swift flight of a sparrow throughthe hall where you sit at your meal in winter, with your chiefsand attendants, warmed by a fire made in the middle of thehall, while storms of rain or snow prevail without."

The "hall" was the principal part of a gentleman's house inSaxon times—the place of entertainment and hospitality—andat Christmastide the doors were never shut against any whoappeared to be worthy of welcome. And with such modes oftravelling as were in vogue in those days one can readily understandthat, not only at Christmas, but also at other seasons, therule of hospitality to strangers was a necessity.

and the Knights of his Round Table. We know that somepeople are inclined to discredit the accounts which have comedown to us of this famous British King and Christian hero, butfor our own part we are inclined to trust the old chroniclers,at all events so far as to believe that they give us true pictures031of the manners and customs of the times of which they write;and in this prosaic age it may surely be permitted to us atChristmastide to linger over the doings of those romantic days,

Sir John Froissart tells us of the princely pageants which KingArthur held at Windsor in the sixth century, and of thesumptuous Christmas banquetings at his Round Table—thevery Round Table (so we are to believe, on the authority ofDr. Milner)[7] which has been preserved in the old chapel, nowtermed the county hall, at Winchester. It consists of stout oakplank, perforated with many bullets, supposed to have beenshot by Cromwell's soldiers. It is painted with a figure torepresent King Arthur, and with the names of his twenty-fourknights as they are stated in the romances of the old chroniclers.This famous Prince, who instituted the military order of theKnights of the Round Table, is also credited with the reintroductionof Christianity at York after the Saxon invaders haddestroyed the first churches built there. He was unwearyingin his warfare against enemies of the religion of Christ.His first great enterprise was the siege of a Saxon army atYork, and, having afterwards won brilliant victories in Somersetshireand other parts of southern England, he again marchednorthward and penetrated Scotland to attack the Picts andScots, who had long harassed the border. On returning fromScotland, Arthur rested his wearied army at York and keptChristmas with great bountifulness. Geoffrey of Monmouthsays he was a prince of "unparalleled courage and generosity,"and his Christmas at York was kept with the greatest joy andfestivity. Then was the round table filled with jocund guests,and the minstrels, gleemen, harpers, pipe-players, jugglers, anddancers were as happy round about their log-fires as if theyhad shone in the blaze of a thousand gas-lights.

King Arthur and his Knights also indulged in out-door amusements,as hunting, hawking, running, leaping, wrestling, jousts,and tourneys. "So," says Sir Thomas Malory,[8] "passed forthall the winter with all manner of hunting and hawking, andjousts and tourneys were many between many great lords.And ever, in all manner of places, Sir Lavaine got great worship,that he was nobly renowned among many of the knights of theRound Table. Thus it passed on until Christmas, and everyday there were jousts made for a diamond, that whosoeverjoust best should have a diamond. But Sir Launcelot wouldnot joust, but if it were a great joust cried; but Sir Lavainejousted there all the Christmas passing well, and most waspraised; for there were few that did so well as he; whereforeall manner of knights deemed that Sir Lavaine should be madea Knight of the Round Table, at the next high feast ofPentecost."

are referred to by some of the old chroniclers, intemperancebeing a very prevalent vice at the Christmas festival. Ale andmead were their favourite drinks; wines were used as occasionalluxuries. "When all were satisfied with dinner," says an oldchronicler, "and their tables were removed, they continueddrinking till the evening." And another tells how drinking andgaming went on through the greater part of the night.Chaucer's one solitary reference to Christmastide is an allegoricalrepresentation of the jovial feasting which was the characteristicfeature of this great festival held in "the colde frosty seasonof December."

The Saxons were strongly attached to field sports, and as the"brawn of the tuskéd swine" was the first Christmas dish, itwas provided by the pleasant preliminary pastime of huntingthe wild boar; and the incidents of the chase afforded interestingtable talk when the boar's head was brought in ceremoniouslyto the Christmas festival.

Prominent among the Anglo-Saxon amusements of Christmastide,Strutt mentions their propensity for gaming with dice, asderived from their ancestors, for Tacitus assures us that theancient Germans would not only hazard all their wealth, buteven stake their liberty, upon the turn of the dice: "and he wholoses submits to servitude, though younger and stronger than hisantagonist, and patiently permits himself to be bound and soldin the market; and this madness they dignify by the name ofhonour." Chess and backgammon were also favourite gameswith the Anglo-Saxons, and a large portion of the night wasappropriated to the pursuit of these sedentary amusements,especially at the Christmas season of the year, when the earlydarkness stopped out-door games.

Our Saxon forefathers were very superstitious. They hadmany pretenders to witchcraft. They believed in the powersof philtres and spells, and invocated spirits; and they relisheda blood-curdling ghost story at Christmas quite as much as theirtwentieth-century descendants. They confided in prognostics,and believed in the influence of particular times and seasons;034and at Christmastide they derived peculiar pleasure from theirbelief in the immunity of the season from malign influences—abelief which descended to Elizabethan days, and is referredto by Shakespeare, in "Hamlet":—

We cannot pass over this period without mentioning a greatChristmas in the history of our Teutonic kinsmen on theContinent, for the Saxons of England and those of Germanyhave the same Teutonic origin. We refer to

The coronation took place at Rome, on Christmas Day, inthe year 800. Freeman [11] says that when Charles was King ofthe Franks and Lombards and Patrician of the Romans, he wason very friendly terms with the mighty Offa, King of the Anglesthat dwelt in Mercia. Charles and Offa not only exchangedletters and gifts, but each gave the subjects of the other various035rights in his dominions, and they made a league together, "forthat they two were the mightiest of all the kings that dwelt inthe Western lands." As conqueror of the old Saxons inGermany, Charles may be regarded as the first King of allGermany, and he was the first man of any Teutonic nation whowas called Roman Emperor. He was crowned with the diademof the Cæsars, by Pope Leo, in the name of Charles Augustus,Emperor of the Romans. And it was held for a thousand yearsafter, down to the year 1806, that the King of the Franks, or,as he was afterwards called, the King of Germany, had a rightto be crowned by the Pope of Rome, and to be called Emperorof the Romans. In the year 1806, however, the EmperorFrancis the Second, who was also King of Hungary and Archdukeof Austria, resigned the Roman Empire and the Kingdomof Germany. Since that time no Emperor of the Romans hasbeen chosen; but a new German Emperor has been created,and the event may be regarded as one of Christmastide, for thevictorious soldiers who brought it about spent their Christmasin the French capital, and during the festival arranged for there-establishment of the German Empire. So it happens, thatwhile referring to the crowning of the first German Emperor ofthe Roman Empire, on Christmas Day, 800, we are able torecord that more than a thousand years afterwards the unificationof the German Empire and the creation of its first Emperoralso occurred at Christmastide, under the influence of theGerman triumphs over the French in the war of 1870. Theimposing event was resolved upon by the German Princes onDecember 18, 1870, the preliminaries were completed duringthe Christmas festival, and on January 18, 1871, in the Galeriedes Glaces of the château of Versailles, William, King ofPrussia, was crowned and proclaimed first Emperor of the newGerman Empire.

During the reign of Alfred the Great a law was passed withrelation to holidays, by virtue of which the twelve days after theNativity of our Saviour were set apart for the celebration of theChristmas festival. Some writers are of opinion that, but forAlfred's strict observance of the "full twelve holy days," hewould not have been defeated by the Danes in the year 878. Itwas just after Twelfth-night that the Danish host came suddenly—"bestole,"as the old Chronicle says—to Chippenham. Then"they rode through the West Saxons' land, and there sat down,and mickle of the folk over sea they drove, and of others themost deal they rode over; all but the King Alfred; he with alittle band hardly fared after the woods and on the moor-fastnesses."But whether or not Alfred's preparations for the battlejust referred to were hindered by his enjoyment of the festivities036of Christmastide with his subjects, it is quite certain that theKing won the hearts of his people by the great interest he tookin their welfare. This good king—whose intimacy with hispeople we delight to associate with the homely incident of theburning of a cottager's cakes—kept the Christmas festival quiteas heartily as any of the early English kings, but not so boisterouslyas some of them. Of the many beautiful stories told abouthim, one might very well belong to Christmastide. It is saidthat, wishing to know what the Danes were about, and howstrong they were, King Alfred one day set out from Athelney inthe disguise of a Christmas minstrel, and went into the Danishcamp, and stayed there several days, amusing the Danes with hisplaying, till he had seen all he wanted, and then went back withoutany one finding him out.

we find that in 961 King Edgar celebrated the Christmasfestival with great splendour at York; and in 1013 Ethelredkept his Christmas with the brave citizens of London who haddefended the capital during a siege and stoutly resisted Swegen,the tyrant king of the Danes. Sir Walter Scott, in his beautifulpoem of "Marmion," thus pictures the "savage Dane" keepingthe great winter festival:—

"Even, heathen yet, the savage DaneAt Iol more deep the mead did drain;High on the beach his galleys drew,And feasted all his pirate crew;Then in his low and pine-built hall,Where shields and axes deck'd the wall,They gorged upon the half-dress'd steer;Caroused in seas of sable beer;While round, in brutal jest, were thrownThe half-gnaw'd rib, and marrow bone:Or listen'd all, in grim delight.While Scalds yell'd out the joys of fight.Then forth, in frenzy, would they hie,While wildly-loose their red locks fly,And dancing round the blazing pile,They make such barbarous mirth the while,As best might to the mind recallThe boisterous joys of Odin's hall."

When the citizens of London saw that Swegen had succeededall over England except their own city, they thought it was nouse holding out any longer, and they too, submitted and gavehostages. And so Swegen was the first Dane who was king, or(as Florence calls him) "Tyrant over all England;" and Ethelred,sometimes called the "Unready," King of the West Saxons,who had struggled unsuccessfully against the Danes, fled withhis wife and children to his brother-in-law's court in Normandy.On the death of Swegen, the Danes of his fleet chose his son037Cnut to be King, but the English invited Ethelred to return fromNormandy and renew the struggle with the Danes. He did so,and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says: "He held his kingdomwith great toil and great difficulty the while that his life lasted."After his death and that of his son Edmund, Cnut was finallyelected and crowned. Freeman,[12] in recording the event, saysthat: "At the Christmas of 1016-1017, Cnut was a third timechosen king over all England, and one of the first things thathe did was to send to Normandy for the widowed Lady Emma,though she was many years older than he was. She came over;she married the new king; and was again Lady of the English.She bore Cnut two children, Harthacnut and Gunhild. Herthree children by Ethelred were left in Normandy. She seemsnot to have cared at all for them or for the memory of Ethelred;her whole love passed to her new husband and her new children.Thus it came about that the children of Ethelred were broughtup in Normandy, and had the feelings of Normans rather thanEnglishmen, a thing which again greatly helped the NormanConquest."

Cnut's first acts of government in England were a series ofmurders; but he afterwards became a wise and temperate king.He even identified himself with the patriotism which had withstoodthe stranger. He joined heartily in the festivities ofChristmastide, and atoned for his father's ravages by costly giftsto the religious houses. And his love for monks broke out inthe song which he composed as he listened to their chant atEly: "Merrily sang the monks in Ely when Cnut King rowedby" across the vast fen-waters that surrounded their Abbey."Row, boatmen, near the land, and hear we these monks sing."[13]

It is said that Cnut, who is also called Canute, "marked one ofhis royal Christmases by a piece of sudden retributive justice:bored beyond all endurance by the Saxon Edric's iteration ofthe traitorous services he had rendered him, the King exclaimedto Edric, Earl of Northumberland: 'Then let him receive hisdeserts, that he may not betray us as he betrayed Ethelred andEdmund!' upon which the ready Norwegian disposed of allfear on that score by cutting down the boaster with his axe, andthrowing his body into the Thames."[15]

In the year 1035, King Cnut died at Shaftesbury, and wasburied in Winchester Cathedral. His sons, Harold and Harthacnut,did not possess the capacity for good government, otherwisethe reign of the Danes might have continued. As it was, their038reigns, though short, were troublesome. Harold died at Oxfordin 1040, and was buried at Westminster (being the first king whowas buried there); Harthacnut died at Lambeth at a wedding-feastin 1042, and was buried beside his father in WinchesterCathedral. And thus ended the reigns of the Danish kings ofEngland.

who, we are told, was heartily chosen by all the people, for thetwo very good reasons, that he was an Englishman by birth, andthe only man of either the English or the Danish royal familieswho was at hand. He was the son of Ethelred and Emma, andat the Christmas festival of his coronation there was greatrejoicing. As his early training had been at the court of hisuncle, Richard the Good, in Normandy, he had learnt to preferNorman-French customs and life to those of the English.During his reign, therefore, he brought over many strangers andappointed them to high ecclesiastical and other offices, andNorman influence and refinement of manners gradually increasedat the English court, and this, of course, led to the more statelycelebration of the Christmas festival. The King himself, beingof a pious and meditative disposition, naturally took moreinterest in the religious than the temporal rejoicings, and theadministration of state affairs was left almost entirely to membersof the house of Godwin during the principal part of his reign.Many disturbances occurred during Edward's reign in differentparts of the country, especially on the Welsh border. At theChristmas meeting of the King and his Wise Men, at Gloucester,in 1053, it was ordered that Rhys, the brother of Gruffydd, theSouth Welsh king, be put to death for his great plunder andmischief. The same year, the great Earl Godwine, while diningwith the king at Winchester at the Easter feast, suddenly fell ina fit, died four days after, and was buried in the old cathedral. Afew years later (1065), the Northumbrians complained that EarlTostig, Harold's brother, had caused Gospatric, one of the chiefThanes, to be treacherously murdered when he came to theKing's court the Christmas before. King Edward kept his lastChristmas (1065), and had the meeting of his Wise Men inLondon instead of Gloucester as usual. His great object wasto finish his new church at Westminster, and to have it hallowedbefore he died. He lived just long enough to have this done.On Innocent's Day the new Minster was consecrated, but theKing was too ill to be there, so the Lady Edith stood in hisstead. And on January 5, 1066, King Edward, the son ofEthelred, died. On the morning of the day following his death,the body of the Confessor was laid in the tomb, in his newchurch; and on the same day039—

in his stead. Thus three very important events—the consecrationof Westminster Abbey, the death of Edward the Confessor,and the crowning of Harold—all occurred during the sameChristmas festival.

In the terrible year 1066 England had three kings. The reignof Harold, the son of Godwine, who succeeded Edward theConfessor, terminated at the battle of Senlac, or Hastings, andon the following

by Archbishop Ealdred. He had not at that time conquered allthe land, and it was a long while before he really possessed thewhole of it. Still, he was the king, chosen, crowned, andanointed, and no one ever was able to drive him out of the land,and the crown of England has ever since been held by hisdescendants.

CHAPTER IV.

CHRISTMAS, FROM THE NORMAN CONQUESTTO MAGNA CHARTA.

(1066 to 1215.)

Lord Macaulay says "the polite luxury of the Normans presenteda striking contrast to the coarse voracity and drunkennessof their Saxon and Danish neighbours." And certainly the aboveexample of a royal dinner scene (from a manuscript of thefourteenth century) gives an idea of stately ceremony which isnot found in any manuscripts previous to the coming over of theNormans. They "loved to display their magnificence, not inhuge piles of food and hogsheads of strong drink, but in largeand stately edifices, rich armour, gallant horses, choice falcons,041well-ordered tournaments, banquets delicate rather than abundant,and wines remarkable rather for their exquisite flavourthan for their intoxicating power." Quite so. But even theNormans were not all temperate. And, while it is quite truethat the refined manners and chivalrous spirit of the Normansexercised a powerful influence on the Anglo-Saxons, it is equallytrue that the conquerors on mingling with the English peopleadopted many of the ancient customs to which they tenaciouslyclung, and these included the customs of Christmastide.

The Norman kings and nobles displayed their taste for magnificencein the most remarkable manner at their coronations,tournaments, and their celebrations of Christmas, Easter, andWhitsuntide. The great councils of the Norman reigns whichassembled at Christmas and the other great festivals, were inappearance a continuation of the Witenagemots, but the powerof the barons became very formal in the presence of suchdespotic monarchs as William the Conqueror and his sons. Atthe Christmas festival all the prelates and nobles of the kingdomwere, by their tenures, obliged to attend their sovereign toassist in the administration of justice and in deliberation on thegreat affairs of the kingdom. On these occasions the King worehis crown, and feasted his nobles in the great hall of his palace,and made them presents as marks of his royal favour, after whichthey proceeded to the consideration of State affairs. Whereverthe Court happened to be, there was usually a large assemblageof gleemen, who were jugglers and pantomimists as well asminstrels, and were accustomed to associate themselves in companies,and amuse the spectators with feats of strength andagility, dancing, tumbling, and sleight-of-hand tricks, as well asmusical performances. Among the minstrels who came intoEngland with William the Conqueror was one named Taillefer,who was present at the battle of Hastings, and rode in front ofthe Norman army, inspiriting the soldiers by his songs. Hesang of Roland, the heroic captain of Charlemagne, tossing hissword in the air and catching it again as he approached theEnglish line. He was the first to strike a blow at the English,but after mortally wounding one or two of King Harold'swarriors, he was himself struck down.

At the Christmas feast minstrels played on various musicalinstruments during dinner, and sang or told tales afterwards,both in the hall and in the chamber to which the king and hisnobles retired for amusement. Thus it is written of a courtminstrel:—

After the Conquest the first entertainments given by Williamthe Conqueror were those to his victorious warriors:—

In 1067 the Conqueror kept a grand Christmas in London.He had spent eight months of that year rewarding his warriorsand gratifying his subjects in Normandy, where he had held around of feasts and made a grand display of the valuable bootywhich he had won by his sword. A part of his plunder he sentto the Pope along with the banner of Harold. Another portion,consisting of gold, golden vases, and richly embroidered stuffs,was distributed among the abbeys, monasteries, and churches ofhis native duchy, "neither monks nor priests remaining withouta guerdon." After spending the greater part of the year insplendid entertainments in Normandy, apparently undisturbedby the reports which had reached him of discontent andinsurrection among his new subjects in England, William at043length embarked at Dieppe on the 6th of December, 1067, andreturned to London to celebrate the approaching festival ofChristmas. With the object of quieting the discontent whichprevailed, he invited a considerable number of the Saxon chiefsto take part in the Christmas festival, which was kept withunusual splendour; and he also caused a proclamation to beread in all the churches of the capital declaring it to be his willthat "all the citizens of London should enjoy their nationallaws as in the days of King Edward." But his policy offriendship and conciliation was soon changed into one ofcruelty and oppression.

At the instigation of Swein, the King of Denmark, whoappeared in the Humber with a fleet, the people in the northof England and in some other parts rose in revolt against therule of the Conqueror in 1068. So skilfully had the revolt beenplanned that even William was taken by surprise. While hewas hunting in the Forest of Dean he heard of the loss of Yorkand the slaughter of his garrison of 3,000 Normans, and resolvedto avenge the disaster. Proceeding to the Humber with hishorsemen, by a heavy bribe he got the King of Denmark towithdraw his fleet; then, after some delay, spent in punishingrevolters in the Welsh border, he attacked and took the city ofYork. The land in Durham and Northumberland was still quiteunsubdued, and some of William's soldiers had fared badly intheir attempts to take possession. At the Christmas feast of1068 William made a grant of the earldom of Northumberlandto Robert of Comines, who set out with a Norman army to takepossession. But he fared no better than his predecessors haddone. The men of the land determined to withstand him, butthrough the help of Bishop Æthelwine he entered Durhampeaceably. But he let his men plunder, so the men of the cityrose and slew him and his followers. And now, says Freeman,[16]William "did one of the most frightful deeds of his life. Hecaused all Northern England, beginning with Yorkshire, to beutterly laid waste, that its people might not be able to fightagainst him any more. The havoc was fearful; men werestarved or sold themselves as slaves, and the land did notrecover for many years. Then King William wore his crownand kept his Christmas at York" (1069).

Now the Conqueror set barons in different parts of thecountry, and each of them kept his own miniature court andcelebrated Christmas after the costly Norman style. In hisbeautiful poem of "The Norman Baron" Longfellow picturesone of these Christmas celebrations, and tells how—

"In the hall, the serf and vassalHeld, that night, their Christmas wassail;Many a carol, old and saintly,Sang the minstrels and the waits.

044And so loud these Saxon gleemenSang to slaves the songs of freemen,That the storm was heard but faintlyKnocking at the castle-gates.

Till at length the lays they chauntedReached the chamber terror-haunted,Where the monk, with accents holy,Whispered at the baron's ear.

Tears upon his eyelids glistenedAs he paused awhile and listened,And the dying baron slowlyTurned his weary head to hear.

'Wassail for the kingly strangerBorn and cradled in a manger!King, like David, priest, like Aaron,Christ is born to set us free!'"

According to Strutt, the popular sports and pastimes prevalentat the close of the Saxon era were not subjected to any045material change by the coming of the Normans. But Williamand his immediate successors restricted the privileges of thechase, and imposed great penalties on those who presumed todestroy the game in the royal forests without a proper license.The wild boar and the wolf still afforded sport at the Christmasseason, and there was an abundance of smaller game. Leaping,running, wrestling, the casting of darts, and other pastimeswhich required bodily strength and agility were also practised,and when the frost set in various games were engaged in uponthe ice. It is not known at what time skating made its firstappearance in England, but we find some traces of such anexercise in the thirteenth century, at which period, accordingto Fitzstephen, it was customary in the winter, when the icewould bear them, for the young citizens of London to fastenthe leg bones of animals under the soles of their feet by tyingthem round their ankles; and then, taking a pole shod with ironinto their hands, they pushed themselves forward by striking itagainst the ice, and moved with celerity equal, says the author,to a bird flying through the air, or an arrow from a cross-bow;but some allowance, we presume, must be made for the poeticalfigure: he then adds, "At times, two of them thus furnishedagree to start opposite one to another, at a great distance; theymeet, elevate their poles, attack, and strike each other, whenone or both of them fall, and not without some bodily hurt;and, even after their fall, are carried a great distance from eachother, by the rapidity of the motion, and whatever part of thehead comes upon the ice it is sure to be laid bare."

The meetings of the King and his Wise Men for the considerationof state affairs were continued at the great festivals, andthat held at Christmas in 1085 is memorable on account of theresolution then passed to make the Domesday survey, in referenceto which Freeman says: "One of the greatest acts ofWilliam's reign, and that by which we come to know moreabout England in his time than from any other source, wasdone in the assembly held at Gloucester at the Christmas of1085. Then the King had, as the Chronicle says, 'very deepspeech with his Wise Men.' This 'deep speech' in English isin Frenchparlement; and so we see how our assemblies cameby their later name. And the end of the deep speech was thatcommissioners were sent through all England, save only theBishopric of Durham and the earldom of Northumberland, tomake a survey of the land. They were to set down by whomevery piece of land, great and small, was held then, by whomit was held in King Edward's day, what it was worth now, andwhat it had been worth in King Edward's day. All this waswritten in a book kept at Winchester, which men calledDomesday Book. It is a most wonderful record, and tells usmore of the state of England just at that moment than weknow of it for a long time before or after."

The Domesday Book was completed in 1086, and the following046year (1087) William the Conqueror died, and his son, WilliamRufus, succeeded him.

took place at Westminster on September 26, 1087, ArchbishopLanfranc officiating. The King kept his first Christmas sumptuouslyat Westminster, and, Freeman says, "it seems to havebeen then that he gave back the earldom of Kent to his uncle,Bishop Odo." The character of the Royal Christmases degeneratedduring the reign of Rufus, whose licentiousness fouled thefestivities. In the latter part of his reign Rufus reared thespacious hall at Westminster, where so many Royal Christmaseswere afterwards kept, and which Pope calls

It is a magnificent relic of the profuse hospitality of formertimes. Richard the Second heightened its walls and addedits noble roof of British oak, which shows the excellence ofthe wood carving of that period. Although Sir Charles Barryhas shortened the Hall of its former proportions to fit it as avestibule to the New Houses of Parliament, it is still a nobleand spacious building, and one cannot walk through it withoutin imagination recalling some of the Royal Christmases andother stately scenes which have been witnessed there. Thelast of these festal glories was the coronation of George the047Fourth, which took place in 1821. This grand old hall atWestminster was the theatre of Rufus's feasting and revelry;but, vast as the edifice then was, it did not equal the ideas ofthe extravagant monarch. An old chronicler states that one ofthe King's courtiers, having observed that the building was toolarge for the purposes of its construction, Rufus replied, "Thishalle is not begge enough by one half, and is but a bedchamberin comparison of that I mind to make." Yet this hall was forcenturies the largest of its kind in Europe, and in it the Christmasfeasts were magnificently kept.

After a reign of thirteen years the vicious life of WilliamRufus met with a tragical close. His dead body was found bypeasants in a glade of the New Forest with the arrow either ofa hunter or an assassin in his breast. Sir Walter Tyrrel, aNorman knight, who had been hunting with the king just beforehis death, fled to Normandy immediately afterwards, and wassuspected of being a regicide. The body of Rufus was buriedin Winchester Cathedral.

Henry the First's Christmas festival at Windsor, in 1126, wasa memorable one. In that year Henry's daughter Matildabecame a widow by the death of her husband, Henry V. ofGermany, and King Henry determined to appoint her hissuccessor to the throne of England and the Dukedom ofNormandy. On Christmas Day, 1126, a general assembly ofthe nobles and higher ecclesiastics of the kingdom was held atWindsor for the purpose of declaring the Empress Matilda (asshe was still called) the legitimate successor of Henry I., andthe clergy and Norman barons of both countries swore allegianceto her in the event of the king's death. This appointmentof Matilda was made by Henry in consequence of the calamitywhich occurred just before Christmas, in 1120, when he losthis much-loved son, Prince William—the only male legitimateissue of Henry—through the wreck ofLa Blanche Nef (theWhite Ship). On board the vessel were Prince William, hishalf-brother Richard, and Henry's natural daughter the Countessof Perche, as well as about a hundred and forty young noblemenof the most distinguished families in England and Normandy, allof whom were lost in their passage home, only a few hoursafter the safe arrival of the king in England. Henry is said tohave swooned at the intelligence, and was never afterwardsseen to smile. He had returned home anticipating a joyousChristmas festival, a season of glad tidings, but he was closelyfollowed by this sad news of the death of the heir apparent.The incident has called forth one of the most beautiful poemsof Mrs. Hemans, from which we quote two verses:—

In 1127 Henry invited the king of the Scots to Windsor tojoin in the royal celebration of Christmas, but the festivitieswere marred by an unseemly quarrel between the two primates.Thurstan, Archbishop of York, encroaching upon the privilegesof his brother of Canterbury (William de Corbeuil), insistedupon placing the crown upon the king's head ere he set outfor church. This the partisans of Canterbury would not allow,settling the matter by turning Thurstan's chaplain and followersout of doors, and thereby causing such strife between the headsof the Church that they both set off to Rome to lay theirgrievances before the Pope. And, subsequently, appeals toRome became frequent, until a satisfactory adjustment of thepowers and privileges of the two archbishops was arrived at.The Archbishop of Canterbury was acknowledged Primate ofall England and Metropolitan; but, while the privilege ofcrowning the sovereign was reserved for the Archbishopof Canterbury, that of crowning the Queen Consort was givento the Archbishop of York.

The progress of literature under the Conqueror and his sonswas very great, many devoting themselves almost entirely to049literary pursuits. Lanfranc and Anselm, the Archbishops ofCanterbury, had proved themselves worthy of their exaltedstation. Their precepts and examples had awakened the clergyand kindled an ardour for learning unknown in any precedingage. Nor did this enthusiasm perish with its authors: it waskept alive by the honours which were lavished on all who couldboast of literary acquirements. During the reign of Henry I.Geoffrey of Monmouth published his History of the Britons,and William of Malmesbury assures us that every poet hastenedto the court of Henry's Queen Matilda, at Westminster, to readhis verses to the Queen and partake of her bounty. William ofMalmesbury carefully collected the lighter ballads whichembodied the popular traditions of the English kings, and hetells an amusing story which is connected with the festival ofChristmas. In early times dancing developed into a sort ofpassion, men and women continually dancing and singingtogether, holding one another by the hands, and concluding thedances with kisses. These levities were at first encouraged bythe Church, but afterwards, seeing the abuse of them, the priestswere compelled to reprimand and restrain the people. And thestory told by William of Malmesbury describes the singularpunishment which came upon some young men and women fordisturbing a priest who was performing mass on the eve ofChristmas. "I, Othbert, a sinner," says the story, "have livedto tell the tale. It was the vigil of the Blessed Virgin, and in atown where was a church of St. Magnus. And the priest,Rathbertus, had just begun the mass, and I, with my comrades,fifteen young women and seventeen young men, were dancingoutside the church. And we were singing so loud that oursongs were distinctly heard inside the building, and interruptedthe service of the mass. And the priest came out and told usto desist; and when we did not, he prayed God and St. Magnusthat we might dance as our punishment for a year to come. Ayouth, whose sister was dancing with us, seized her by the armto drag her away, but it came off in his hand, and she dancedon. For a whole year we continued. No rain fell on us; cold,nor heat, nor hunger, nor thirst, nor fatigue affected us; neitherour shoes nor our clothes wore out; but still we went ondancing. We trod the earth down to our knees, next to ourmiddles, and at last were dancing in a pit. At the end of theyear release came."

Giraldus Cambrensis, amongst many ridiculous Christmasstories of miracles, visions, and apparitions, tells of one devilwho acted a considerable time as a gentleman's butler withgreat prudence and probity; and of another who was a verydiligent and learned clergyman, and a mighty favourite of hisarchbishop. This last clerical devil was, it seems, an excellenthistorian, and used to divert the Archbishop with telling him oldstories, some of which referred to the incarnation of ourSaviour, and were related at the Christmas season. "Before050the incarnation of our Saviour," said the Archbishop's historian,"the devils had great power over mankind, but after that eventtheir power was much diminished and they were obliged to fly.Some of them threw themselves into the sea; some concealedthemselves in hollow trees, or in the clefts of rocks; and Imyself plunged into a certain fountain. As soon as he hadsaid this, finding that he had discovered his secret, his facewas covered with blushes, he went out of the room, and was nomore seen."

The following cut (taken from MS. Harl., No. 4751, of theend of the twelfth century) represents an elephant, with itscastle and armed men, engaged in battle. The bestiaries relatemany strange things of the elephant. They say that, though solarge and powerful, and so courageous against larger animals, itis afraid of a mouse; that its nature is so cold that it will neverseek the company of the female until, wandering in thedirection of Paradise, it meets with the plant called themandrake, and eats of it, and that each female bears but oneyoung one in her life.

Absurd as we consider such stories, they were believed by theNormans, who were no less credulous than the Anglo-Saxons.051This is evident from the large number of miracles, revelations,visions, and enchantments which are related with great gravityby the old chroniclers.

Stephen of Blois was crowned at Westminster Abbey duringthe Christmas festival (December 26, 1135). As a King ofMisrule, he was fitly crowned at Christmastide, and it wouldhave been a good thing for the nation if his reign had been ofthe ephemeral character which was customary to Lords ofMisrule. The nineteen years of his reign were years of disorderunparalleled in any period of our history. On the landing ofHenry the First's daughter, "the Empress Matilda," whoclaimed the English crown for her son Henry, a long struggleensued, and the country was divided between the adherents ofthe two rivals, the West supporting Matilda, and London andthe East Stephen. For a time the successes in war alternatedbetween the two parties. A defeat at Lincoln left Stephen aprisoner in the hands of his enemies; but after his escape helaid siege to the city of Oxford, where Matilda had assembledher followers. "The Lady" of the English (as Matilda wasthen called) had retreated into the castle, which, though a placeof great strength, proved to be insufficiently victualled. It wassurrounded and cut off from all supplies without, and atChristmastide (1142), after a siege of three months, Matildaconsulted her own safety by taking flight. On a cold Decembernight, when the ground was covered with snow, she quitted thecastle at midnight, attended by four knights, who as well asherself were clothed in white, in order that they might passunobserved through the lines of their enemies. The adventurous"Lady" made good her escape, and crossing the river unnoticedon the ice, found her way to Abingdon. The longanarchy was ended by the Treaty of Wallingford (1153),Stephen being recognised as king during his life, and thesuccession devolving upon Matilda's son Henry. A year hadhardly passed from the signing of the treaty, when Stephen'sdeath gave Henry the crown, and his coronation took place atChristmastide, 1154, at Westminster.052

it has been truly said, "initiated the rule of law," as distinctfrom despotism, whether personal or tempered by routine, ofthe Norman kings. And now the despotic barons begangradually to be shorn of their power, and the dungeons of their"Adulterine" castles to be stripped of their horrors, and itseemed more appropriate to celebrate the season of gladtidings. King Henry the Second kept his first Christmas atBermondsey with great solemnity, marking the occasion bypassing his royal word to expel all foreigners from the kingdom,whereupon William of Ypres and his Flemings decampedwithout waiting for further notice. In 1158 Henry, celebratingthe Christmas festival at Worcester, took the crown from hishead and placed it upon the altar, after which he never wore it.But he did not cease to keep Christmas. In 1171 he went toIreland, where the chiefs of the land displayed a wonderfulalacrity in taking the oath of allegiance, and were rewarded bybeing entertained in a style that astonished them. Finding noplace in Dublin large enough to contain his own followers,much less his guests, Henry had a house built in Irish fashionof twigs and wattles in the village of Hogges, and there heldhigh revelry during Christmastide, teaching his new subjects toeat cranes' flesh, and take their part in miracle plays, masques,mummeries, and tournaments. And a great number of oxenwere roasted, so that all the people might take part in therejoicings.

In his description of Christian Constantinople, Benjamin ofTudela, a Spanish Jew, who travelled through the East in thetwelfth century (1159 or 1160), describes a "place where the kingdiverts himself, called the hippodrome, near to the wall of thepalace. There it is that every year, on the day of the birth ofJesus the Nazarene, the king gives a grand entertainment. Thereare represented by magic arts before the king and queen, figuresof all kinds of men that exist in the world; thither also are takenlions, bears, tigers, and wild asses, which are made to fighttogether; as well as birds. There is no such sight to be seenin all the world." At Constantinople, on the marriage of theEmperor Manuel with Mary, daughter of the Prince of Antioch,on Christmas Day, 1161, there were great rejoicings, andsimilar spectacular entertainments to those described byBenjamin of Tudela.

During the Christmas festival of 1170 (December 29th)occurred an event memorable in ecclesiastical history—themurder of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. In1162 Becket (who had previously been Chancellor to Henry II.)053was made Archbishop, in succession to Archbishop Theobald.The King soon found that he who had served him faithfully asChancellor would oppose him doggedly as Archbishop. Henrydetermined to subject the Church as well as the State to thesupremacy of the law; and Becket determined to resist the Kingto the end, thus manifesting his desire for martyrdom in thecause of the Church. Henry had greatly offended the Archbishopby causing his eldest son to be crowned by the Archbishopof York. For this violation of the rights of CanterburyBecket threatened to lay the country under an interdict, whichhe had the power from the Pope to pronounce. A sort ofreconciliation was effected between the King and the Archbishopat Freteval on July 21, 1170, but a further dispute aroseon Becket delaying his return to England, the King beinganxious to get him out of France. The Archbishop was full ofcomplaints against Henry for the injuries he had done to hissee, and the King stood upon his dignity, regardless of thethreatened interdiction. The Archbishop returned to Englandon the 1st of December, and was joyfully received by thepeople. His enemies, however, and especially the family ofDe Broc, did all they could to annoy him; and on ChristmasDay he uttered a violent anathema against them. He preachedfrom the text, "I come to die among you," evidently anticipatingwhat might be the personal consequences of his action. Hetold his congregation that one of the archbishops had been amartyr, and they would probably soon see another; but beforehe departed home he would avenge some of the wrongs theChurch had suffered during the previous seven years. Then hethundered forth his sentence of excommunication againstRanulph and Robert de Broc, and Nigellus, rector of Harrow.Meanwhile news had reached the King that Becket hadexcommunicated certain bishops who had taken part in hisson's coronation. In a fit of exasperation the King utteredsome hasty words of anger against the Archbishop. Actingupon these, four of Henry's knights—Hugh de Morville,Reginald FitzUrse, William de Tracy, and Richard Brito—crossedto England, taking with them Ranulf de Broc and aband of men, and murdered the Archbishop in CanterburyCathedral. In the altercation which took place before theconsummation of the terrible deed, the Primate was asked toabsolve the bishops whom he had excommunicated, but herefused in a defiant and insulting manner. "Then die," exclaimedFitzUrse, striking at Becket's head with his weapon;but the devoted cross-bearer warded off the blow with his ownarm, which was badly cut, so that the Archbishop was butslightly injured. One of the attacking party then called out,"Fly, or thou diest!" The Archbishop, however, clasped hishands, and, with the blood streaming down his face, ferventlyexclaimed, "To God, to St. Mary, to the holy patrons of thisChurch, and to St. Denis I commend my soul and the Church's054cause." He was then struck down by a second blow, and thethird completed the tragedy; whereupon one of the murderers,putting his foot on the dead prelate's neck, cried, "Thus dies atraitor!" In 1173 the Archbishop was canonised, and hisfestival was appointed for the day of his martyrdom; and forthree centuries after his death the shrine of St. Thomas atCanterbury was a favourite place of pilgrimage, so great wasthe impression that his martyrdom made on the minds of theEnglish people. As early as the Easter of 1171 Becket'ssepulchre was the scene of many miracles, if Matthew Paris,the historian, is to be believed. What must have been thecredulity of the people in an age when an historian couldgravely write, as Matthew Paris did in 1171? "In this year,about Easter, it pleased the Lord Jesus Christ to irradiate hisglorious martyr Thomas Becket with many miracles, that itmight appear to all the world he had obtained a victory suitableto his merits. None who approached his sepulchre in faithreturned without a cure. For strength was restored to thelame, hearing to the deaf, sight to the blind, speech to thedumb, health to the lepers, and life to the dead. Nay, not onlymen and women, but even birds and beasts were raised fromdeath to life."

Windsor Castle appears to have been the favourite residenceof Henry II. When, in 1175, he had united with him his sonHenry in his crown and prerogatives, the two kings held anassembly at Windsor, attended by the judges, deputies ofcounties and districts, and all the great officers of state. Henryalso kept his ensuing Christmas with the magnificence anddisplay peculiar to the times, and all the ancient sports andusages; in which the nobles and gentry of the surroundingcountry assisted with much splendour at the hunt and tourney,and bestowed lavish gifts on the spectators and the people.After the kingdom was parcelled out into four jurisdictions,another assembly was held at the castle, in 1179, by the twokings; and, in 1184, Henry for the last time celebrated hisChristmas in the same hall of state: his son, who had sharedthe throne with him, being then dead.

For the festivals of this period the tables of princes, prelates,and great barons were plentifully supplied with many dishes ofmeat dressed in various ways. The Normans sent agents intodifferent countries to collect the most rare dishes for theirtables, by which means, says John of Salisbury, this island,which is naturally productive of plenty and variety of provisions,was overflowed with everything that could inflame a luxuriousappetite. The same writer says he was present at an entertainmentwhich lasted from three o'clock in the afternoon tomidnight; at which delicacies were served up which had beenbrought from Constantinople, Babylon, Alexandria, Palestine,055Tripoli, Syria, and Phœnicia. The sumptuous entertainmentswhich the kings of England gave to their nobles and prelates atthe festivals of Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide diffused ataste for profuse and expensive banqueting; for the wealthybarons, prelates, and gentry, in their own castles and mansions,imitated the splendour of the royal entertainments. Great menhad some kinds of provisions at their tables which are not nowto be found in Britain. When Henry II. entertained his owncourt, the great officers of his army, and all the kings and greatmen in Ireland, at the feast of Christmas, 1171, the Irish princesand chieftains were quite astonished at the profusion and varietyof provisions which they beheld, and were with difficultyprevailed on by Henry to eat the flesh of cranes, a kind of foodto which they had not been accustomed. Dellegrout, maupigyrum,karumpie, and other dishes were then used, thecomposition of which is now unknown, or doubtful. Personsof rank and wealth had variety of drinks, as well as meats; for,besides wines of various kinds, they had pigment, morat, mead,hypocras, claret, cider, perry, and ale. The claret of those timeswas wine clarified and mixed with spices, and hypocras was winemixed with honey.

The profusion of viands and drinks, obtained at great expensefrom different parts of the world for the gratification of theanimal appetites at such festivals as have been described,naturally led to

and from the statements and illustrations in old manuscriptsit would appear that "the merry monks" were prominent ingastronomical circles. And extant records also state that theabbots of some of the monasteries found it necessary to makeregulations restraining the monks, and to these regulations themonks objected. Consequently the monks of St. Swithin atWinchester made a formal complaint to Henry II. againsttheir abbot for taking away three of the thirteen dishes theyused to have at dinner. The monks of Canterbury were stillmore luxurious, for they had at least seventeen dishes everyday besides a dessert; and these dishes were dressed withspices and sauces which excited the appetite as well as pleasedthe taste. And of course the festive season of Christmas wasan occasion of special indulgence. Sometimes serious excesseswere followed by severe discipline, administered after themanner shown in the ancient illustration which is reproducedhere.

But these excesses were by no means confined to themonks. The Norman barons and gentry adopted manyof the manners of the English among whom they lived,and especially was this the case in regard to the drinkingcustoms of Christmastide. Instead of commending theNormans of his time for their sobriety, as he mighthave done their ancestors, Peter of Blois, who waschaplain to Henry II., says: "When you behold our baronsand knights going upon a military expedition you see theirbaggage horses loaded, not with iron but wine, not with057lances but cheeses, not with swords but bottles, not withspears but spits. You would imagine they were going toprepare a great feast rather than to make war. There areeven too many who boast of their excessive drunkenness andgluttony, and labour to acquire fame by swallowing greatquantities of meat and drink." The earliest existing carolknown to antiquaries is in the Anglo-Norman language, andcontains references to the drinking customs of the period:—

surnamed Cœur de Lion, the second son of Henry II. and Eleanorof Aquitaine, who succeeded to the English throne on the death of hisfather in 1189. Richard is generally supposed to have derived hissurname from a superiority of animal courage; but, if the metricalromance bearing his name, and written in the thirteenth century, beentitled to credit, he earned it nobly and literally, by plucking outthe heart of a lion, to whose fury he had been exposed by the Duke ofAustria for having slain his son with a blow of his fist. In thenumerous descriptions afforded by the romance Richard is a mostimposing personage. He is said to have carried with him to theCrusades, and to have afterwards presented to Tancred, King of Sicily,the wonder-working sword of King Arthur—

But, without attempting to follow Richard through all thebrilliant episodes of his romantic career, there can be no doubtthat he was a king of great strength and courage, and that hisvalorous deeds won the admiration of poets and chroniclers,who have surrounded him with a splendid halo of romance.Contemporary writers tell us that while Richard kept magnificentChristmases abroad with the King of Sicily and otherpotentates, his justiciars (especially the extravagant WilliamLongchamp, Bishop of Ely) were no less lavish in theirexpenditure for festive entertainments at home. And the oldromance of "Richard Cœur de Lion" assures us that—

There is no doubt that the Crusades had a vast influenceupon our literary tastes, as well as upon the national mannersand the festivities of Christmastide. On their return from theHoly Land the pilgrims and Crusaders brought with them newsubjects for theatrical representation, founded on the objectsof their devotion and the incidents in their wars, and thesefound expression in the early mysteries and other plays ofChristmastide—that of St. George and the Dragon, whichsurvived to modern times, probably owing its origin to thisperiod. It is to Richard Cœur de Lion that we are indebtedfor the rise of chivalry in England. It was he who developedtilts and tournaments, and under his auspices these diversionsassumed a military air, the genius of poetry flourished, and thefair sex was exalted in admiration. How delightful was it then,beneath the inspiring gaze of the fair—

The youngest and favourite son of Henry II., John, washumoured in childhood and grew to be an arrogant and060petulant man, and was one of the worst of English kings.He possessed ability, but not discipline. He could neithergovern himself nor his kingdom. He was tyrannical and passionate,and spent a good deal of time in the gratification ofhis animal appetites. He was fond of display and good living,and extravagant in his Christmas entertainments. When, in1201, he kept Christmas at Guildford he taxed his purse andingenuity in providing all his servitors with costly apparel, andhe was greatly annoyed because the Archbishop of Canterbury,in a similar fit of sumptuary extravagance, sought to outdo hissovereign. John, however, cunningly concealed his displeasureat the time, but punished the prelate by a costly celebrationof the next Easter festival at Canterbury at the Archbishop'sexpense. In consequence of John's frequent quarrels with hisnobles the attendance at his Christmas feasts became smallerevery year, until he could only muster a very meagre companyaround his festive board, and it was said that he had almost asmany enemies as there were nobles in the kingdom.

In 1205 John spent his Christmas at the ancient town of Brill,in the Vale of Aylesbury, and in 1213 he kept a Royal Christmasin the great hall at Westminster.

The Christmas of 1214 is memorable in English history as thefestival at which the barons demanded from King John thatdocument which as the foundation of our English liberties isknown to us by the name ofMagna Charta, that is, the GreatCharter. John's tyranny and lawlessness had become intolerable,and the people's hope hung on the fortunes of the French campaignin which he was then engaged. His defeat at the battleof Bouvines, fought on July 27, 1214, gave strength to hisopponents; and after his return to England the barons secretlymet at St. Edmundsbury and swore to demand from him, ifneedful by force of arms, the restoration of their libertiesby charter under the king's seal. Having agreed to assembleat the Court for this purpose during the approaching festivalof Christmas they separated. When Christmas Day arrived Johnwas at Worcester, attended only by a few of his immediateretainers and some foreign mercenaries. None of his greatvassals came, as was customary at Christmas, to offer theircongratulations. His attendants tried in vain to assume anappearance of cheerfulness and festivity; but John, alarmedat the absence of the barons, hastily rode to London and thereshut himself up in the house of the Knights Templars. On theFeast of the Epiphany the barons assembled in great force atLondon and presenting themselves in arms before the Kingformally demanded his confirmation of the laws of Edward theConfessor and Henry I. At first John assumed a bold anddefiant air and met the barons with an absolute refusal and061threats; but, finding the nobles were firm, he sank to the meannessof subterfuge, and pleaded the necessity of time for theconsideration of demands so weighty. With some reluctancethe barons granted the delay, and ultimately, in 1215, the tyrantbowed to the inevitable, called the barons to a conference atRunnymede, and there signed the Great Charter, whose mostimportant clauses protect the personal liberty and property ofevery freeman in the kingdom by giving security from arbitraryimprisonment and unjust exactions.

CHAPTER V.

CHRISTMAS, FROM MAGNA CHARTA TO THEEND OF THE WARS OF THE ROSES.

(1215-1485.)

Soon after the disaster which overtook John's army at theWash the King ended his wretched career by death. He diedon October 18, 1216, in the castle of Newark on the Trent, andthe old chroniclers describe him as dying in an extremity ofagony and remorse.

sometimes called "Henry of Winchester," came to the thronein troublous times, before he was ten years of age. The tyrannyof his father had alienated every class of his subjects, and thebarons who had obtained Magna Charta from King John hadcalled in Louis of France. But through the conciliatorymeasures of the Regent Pembroke towards the barons, and thestrong support which the Roman Church gave the boy-king(whose father had meanly done homage to the Pope), theforeigners were expelled, and the opposition of the barons wassuppressed for a time, though in later years they again struggledwith the crown for supremacy of power. When Henry hadgrown to manhood and the responsibility of government restedupon his own shoulders, he still exulted in the protection of theHoly See, which found in him a subservient vassal. He fastedduring Lent, but feasted right royally both at Christmas andEaster. In 1234 he kept a grand Christmas in the Great Hall atWestminster, and other royal Christmases were celebrated atWindsor Castle and at his palace at Winchester. He madelarge additions to Windsor Castle, and some of his mandatesgiving minute directions for the decoration of his palace atWinchester are still preserved. He enjoyed the old plays andballets of Christmastide introduced from France at this period.

Henry the Third's most splendid Christmas was in the twentiethyear of his reign, when he welcomed Eleanor, daughter of theCount of Provence, to whom he was married on January 14,1236. The youthful princess left Provence amidst the rejoicings063

of the whole kingdom. She was accompanied by Henry'sambassadors and a grand cavalcade, in which were more thanthree hundred ladies on horseback. Her route lay throughNavarre and France. On reaching England, at Dover, theprincess and her train proceeded to Canterbury, where Henryawaited their coming. It was in that ancient city that the royalpair were married by the Archbishop Edmund and the prelateswho accompanied Eleanor. From Canterbury the newly-weddedking and queen set out for London, attended by asplendid array of nobles, prelates, knights and ladies. On the20th of January, Eleanor was crowned at Westminster withgreat splendour. Matthew Paris, the historian, gives an interestingdescription of the royal procession, and the loyal welcome ofthe citizens of London: "There had assembled together sogreat a number of the nobility of both sexes, so great a numberof religious orders, so great a concourse of the populace, and sogreat a variety of players, that London could scarcely containthem in her capacious bosom. Therefore was the city adornedwith silk hangings, and with banners, crowns, palls, tapers, andlamps, and with certain marvellous ingenuities and devices; allthe streets being cleaned from dirt, mud, sticks and everythingoffensive. The citizens of London going to meet the king andqueen, ornamented and trapped and wondrously sported theirswift horses; and on the same day they went from the City toWestminster, that they might discharge the service of butler tothe king in his coronation, which is acknowledged to belong tothem of ancient right. They went in well-marshalled array,adorned in silken vestments, wrapped in gold-woven mantles,with fancifully-devised garments, sitting on valuable horsesrefulgent with new bits and saddles: and they bore three hundred064and sixty gold and silver cups, the king's trumpeters going beforeand sounding their trumpets; so that so wonderful a noveltyproduced a laudable astonishment in the spectators." Theliterary monk of St. Albans also describes the splendour ofthe feast, and the order of the service of the different vassals ofthe crown, many of whom were called upon at the coronation toperform certain peculiar services. According to the ancientCity records, "these served in order in that most elegant andunheard-of feast: the Bishop of Chichester, the Chancellor,with the cup of precious stones, which was one of the ancientregalia of the king, clothed in his pontificals, preceded the king,who was clad in royal attire, and wearing the crown. Hughde Pateshall walked before with the patine, clothed in a dalmatica;and the Earls of Chester, Lincoln, and Warren, bearingthe swords, preceded him. But the two renowned knights, SirRichard Siward and Sir Nicholas de Molis, carried the two royalsceptres before the king; and the square purple cloth of silk,which was supported upon four silver lances, with four littlebells of silver gilt, held over the king wherever he walked, wascarried by the barons of the Cinque Ports; four being assignedto each lance, from the diversity of ports, that one port shouldnot seem to be preferred before the other. The same in likemanner bore a cloth of silk over the queen, walking behind theking, which said cloths they claimed to be theirs by right, andobtained them. And William de Beauchamp of Bedford, whohad the office of almoner from times of old, found the stripedcloth orburel, which was laid down under the king's feet as hewent from the hall as far as the pulpit of the Church of Westminster;and that part of the cloth that waswithin the Churchalways fell to the sexton in whatever church the king wascrowned; and all that waswithout the church was distributedamong the poor, by the hands of William the almoner." Theancient records contain many other particulars respecting theceremonies which graced the marriage feast of Henry andEleanor of Provence, but enough has been quoted to show themagnificence of the celebration.

Year by year, as the Christmas festival came round, it wasroyally celebrated wherever the Court happened to be, eventhough the king had to pledge his plate and jewels with thecitizens of London to replenish his exchequer. But Henry'sRoyal Christmases did not allay the growing disaffection of hissubjects on account of his showing too much favour to foreigners;and some of the barons who attended the Royal Christmas atWestminster in 1241, left in high dudgeon, because the place ofhonour at the banquet was occupied by the papal legate, thenabout to leave England, "to the sorrow of no man but the king."In 1252, Henry gave in marriage his beautiful daughterMargaret, to Alexander, King of the Scots, and held hisChristmas at the same time. The city of York was the sceneof the regal festivities. The marriage took place on Christmas065Day, the bridegroom and many of his nobles receiving knighthoodat the hands of the English king. Henry seems to haveconciliated the English barons for a time, for most of them werepresent at the marriage festivities, and he counted a thousandknights in his train; while Alexander brought sixty splendidly-attiredScottish knights with him. That the banqueting was onno mean scale is evident from the fact that six hundred fat oxenwere slaughtered for the occasion, the gift of the Archbishop ofYork, who also subscribed four thousand marks (£2,700) towardsthe expenses. The consumption of meats and drinks at suchfeasts was enormous. An extant order of Henry's, addressed tohis keeper of wines, directs him to deliver two tuns of white andone of red wine, to make garhiofilac and claret 'as usual,' for theking at Christmas; and upon another occasion the Sheriffs ofGloucestershire and Sussex were called upon to supply part ofthe necessary provisions; the first named being directed to gettwenty salmon, and make pies of them; while the latter wasinstructed to send ten peacocks, ten brawns with their heads,and other things. And all this provision was necessary, forwhile Henry feasted the rich, he did not forget the poor.When he kept his Christmas at Winchester in 1248, he orderedhis treasurer to fill Westminster Hall with poor people, andfeast them there for a week. Twenty years afterwards, he kepthis Royal Christmas in London for fifteen days, opening a fairmeantime at Westminster, and forbidding any shop to beopened in London as long as the festival lasted. This prohibitionof business naturally displeased the citizens of London,but the king would not withdraw his prohibition until theyagreed to make him a present of two thousand pounds, uponthe receipt of which the prohibition was withdrawn.

The Barons' Wars interfered seriously with the Christmasfestivities, but they solved the problem of how to ensure thegovernment of the realm in accordance with the provisions ofthe Great Charter. The King (Henry III.) had sworn again andagain to observe the Charter, but his oath was no sooner takenthan it was unscrupulously broken. The barons, with thepatriotic Simon de Montfort at their head, were determined touphold the rights of the people, and insisted on the king's compliancewith the provisions of the Charter; and this strugglewith the Crown yielded one of the greatest events of Christmastide:the summoning of the first national Parliament. Bysummoning the representatives of the cities and boroughs to sitbeside the knights of the shires, the barons and the bishops inthe Parliament of the realm, Simon de Montfort created a newforce in English politics. This first national assembly met at066Westminster, in January, 1265, while the king was a prisoner ofEarl Simon. The form of national representation thus inauguratedhad an immense influence on the rising liberties of thepeople, and has endured to our own times. It is not surprising,therefore, that the adoption of this measure by the great Earl ofLeicester invested his memory with a lustre which has not beendimmed by the lapse of centuries. The paltering of the kingcalled forth the patriotism of the people. "So may a gloryfrom defect arise." The sevenfold lustre of the rainbow is onlyseen when there is rain as well as sun.

The famous freebooter, Robin Hood, who, according totradition, flourished in Sherwood Forest in the distracted reignof Henry the Third, is said to have died on Christmas Eve, inthe year 1247. The career of this hero of many popular balladsis not part of our subject, though Hone [20] records his death as aChristmas event; and Stowe, writing in 1590, evidently believesin Robin Hood as an historical personage, for he says, "hesuffered no woman to be oppressed ... poor men's goods hespared, abundantly relieving them with that which by theft hegot from the abbeys, and the houses of rich old earles."

From the doubtful doings of the romantic chief and his bandof freebooters, we now pass on to the

Edward the First was in the truest sense a national king.He was English to the core, and he won the love of his peopleby his bravery, justice, and good government. He joined freelyin the national sports and pastimes, and kept the Christmasfestival with great splendour. There was much of the chivalricin his character, and he shared to the full his people's love ofhard fighting. He was invested with the honour of knighthoodand went to foreign courts to display his prowess. Matthew ofWestminster states that while Edward was travelling in France,he heard that a lord of Burgundy was continually committingoutrages on the persons and property of his neighbours. Inthe true spirit of chivalry Edward attacked the castle of theuncourteous baron. His prowess asserted the cause of justice,and he bestowed the domains which he had won upon a noblerlord. For the sake of acquiring military fame he exposed himselfto great dangers in the Holy Land, and, during his journeyhomeward, saved his life by sheer fighting in a tournament atChallon. At his "Round Table of Kenilworth" a hundredlords and ladies "clad all in silk" renewed the faded glories ofArthur's Court, and kept Christmas with great magnificence.In 1277, Llewellyn, Prince of Wales, bidden from his mountainfastnesses "with a kiss of peace," sat a guest at the Christmasfeast of Edward, but he was soon to fall the last defender of hisweeping country's independence in unequal battle with theEnglish King. In 1281-2, Edward kept his feast of Christmasat Worcester, and there was "such a frost and snow as no manliving could remember the like." Rivers were frozen over, evenincluding the Thames and Severn; fish in ponds, and birds inwoods died for want of food; and on the breaking up of theice five of the arches of old London bridge were carried awayby the stream, and the like happened to many other bridges.068In 1286 Edward kept his Christmas at Oxford, but the honourwas accompanied by an unpleasant episode in the hanging ofthe Mayor by the King's command. In 1290, 1292, and 1303,Edward the First kept Royal Christmases in the great hall atWestminster. On his way to Scotland, in the year 1299, theKing witnessed the Christmas ceremonial of the Boy Bishop.He permitted one of the boy bishops to say vespers before himin his chapel at Heton, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and made apresent to the performers of forty shillings, no inconsiderablesum in those days. During his Scotch wars, in 1301, Edward,on the approach of winter, took up his quarters in Linlithgow,where he built a castle and kept his Christmas; and during hisreign he celebrated the festival at other places not usually sohonoured—namely, Bury, Ipswich, Bristol, Berwick, Carlisle,and Lincoln.

succeeded his father in 1307, being the fourth son of Edward I.and Eleanor of Castile. He took great delight in the Christmasrevels and expended large sums of money in the entertainmentof his court favourites. In 1311 he kept his Christmas at York,rejoicing in the presence of Piers Gaveston, whom he hadrecalled from banishment in utter disregard of advice given tohim by his father (Edward I.) on his death-bed. Edward II.kept his Christmas in the great hall at Westminster in 1317,when, however, few nobles were present, "because of discordbetwixt them and the King;" but in 1320 the Royal Christmaswas kept at Westminster "with great honour and glorie." In1324-5 the King's Christmas was sumptuously observed atNottingham, but the following year found Edward a prisoner atKenilworth, while his wife, who had successfully intrigued withRoger Mortimer, leader of the Barons, observed the Christmasfestivities with her son at Wallingford, glad at the downfall ofher husband. Edward was an irresolute and weak-mindedking. He displayed singular incapacity for government, wastingalmost all his time in frivolous amusements. The chiefcharacteristics of his reign were defeat and disgrace abroad,and misrule ending in misery at home. Instead of followingthe example of his noble father, Edward I., who has beendeservedly styled "the greatest of the Plantagenets," he provedhimself the weakest of that line of kings, spending his time insuch trifling diversions as "cross and pile," a game of chancewith coins. He was so utterly devoid of self-respect that heeven borrowed money of his barber to carry on this frivolouspastime, such items as the following being found in his wardroberolls:—"Item, paid to Henry, the king's barber, for moneywhich he lent the king to play at cross and pile, five shillings.Item, paid to Pires Barnard, usher of the king's chamber, moneywhich he lent the king, and which he lost at cross and pile; toMonsieur Robert Wattewille eightpence." At length the barons,069tired of Edward's misgovernment, revolted, and made the kinga prisoner. During the Christmas festival of 1326, Edward wasimprisoned in Kenilworth Castle. While there he was informedthat in a Parliament held at Westminster, during Christmas1326-7, he was deposed, and his son Edward, then onlyfourteen years of age, elected in his stead. On the 21st ofSeptember in the same year Edward II. ended his miserablecareer in Berkeley Castle, being, it is supposed, cruelly murderedby his keepers.

festivities were a sumptuous enlargement of the Christmascelebration, which usually extended over Twelfth Night. It issaid that the banqueting cost the equivalent of forty thousandpounds of our money; and before the young king thereappeared quite a multitude of minstrels, mimics, and gleemen.Professor Henry Morley [21] gives a specimen of the metricalromances which were translated from the French for recitationat the royal and noble banquets of this period. They were"busy with action, and told with a lively freedom;" and, inthe one quoted, "The Fabliau of Sir Cleges," we catch someinteresting references to the celebration of Christmas:—

"Every year Sir Cleges wouldAt Christmás a great feast holdIn worship of that day,As royál in allé thingAs he haddé been a kingFor sooth as I you say.Rich and poor in the country aboutShould be there withouten doubt;There would no man say nay.Minstrels would not be behind,For there they might most mirthés findThere would they be aye.
"Minstrels when the feast was doneWithouten giftés should not gon,And that both rich and good:Horsé, robes and riché ring,Gold, silver, and other thing,To mend with their mood.Ten yearé such feast be held,In the worship of Mary mildAnd for Him that died on the rood.By that his good began to slakeFor the great feasts that he did make.The knight gentil of blood."

Froissart, in Cap. XIIII. of his "Chronicles,"[22] gives the070following account of the Christmas Celebration at whichEdward the Third was crowned:—

"After that the most part of the company of Heynaulte weredeparted, and syr John Heynaulte lorde of Beamonde taryed,the Quene gave leve to her people to departe, savynge acertayne noble knightis the whiche she kept styl about her andher sōne, to counsell them, and commaunded all them thatdeparted, to be at London the next Christmas, for as than shewas determyned to kepe open court, and all they promysed herso to do. And whan Christmas was come, she helde a greatcourt. And thyther came dukes, erles, barons, knightis, and allthe nobles of the realme, with prelates, and burgesses of goodtownes, and at this assemble it was advised that the realmecoud nat long endure without a head and a chief lord. Thanthey put in wrytynge all the dedis of the kyng who was inprison, and all that he had done by evyll counsell, and all hisusages, and evyll behavyngis, and how evyll he had governedhis realme, the which was redde openly in playn audience, tothentent that the noble sagis of the realme might take therofgood advyce, and to fall at acorde how the realme shuld begoverned from thensforth; and whan all the cases and dedisthat the kyng had done and cōsented to, and all his behavyngand usages were red, and wel understand, the barons andknightis and al ye coūsels of the realme, drew them aparte tocoūsell, and the most part of them accorded, and namely thegreat lordes and nobles, with the burgesses of ye good townes,accordyng as they had hard say, and knew themselfe the mostparte of his dedis. Wherfore they cōcluded that such a manwas nat worthy to be a kyng. But they all accorded thatEdward his eldeste son who was ther present, and was ryghtfulheyre, shuld be crowned kyng in stede of his father, so that hewould take good counsell, sage and true about hym, so that therealme from thensforth myght be better governed than it wasbefore, and that the olde kyng his father shuld be well andhonestly kept as long as he lyved accordyng to his astate; andthus as it was agreed by all the nobles, so it was accomplysshed,and than was crowned with a crowne royall at the palaice ofWestminster, beside Lōdon, the yong kyng Edward the III. whoin his dayes after was right fortunate and happy in armes. Thiscoronacion was in the yere of our Lorde MCCCXXVI, onChristymas day, and as than the yong kyng was about the ageof XVI., and they held the fest tyl the cōvercion of saynt Paulefollowyng: and in the mean tyme greatly was fested sir John ofHeynaulte and all the princis and nobles of his coūtre, andwas gyven to hym, and to his company, many ryche jewels.And so he and his company in great feast and solas both withlordis and ladyes taried tyll the XII. day."

The Christmas of 1332 is memorable in Scottish annals as the071time of the defeat of Edward Balliol, the "phantom king" ofScotland. His success was as unreal as a dream. He wassolemnly crowned at Scone in the month of September, 1332,fondly imagining that he had permanently conquered thepatriotic Scottish nobles who had opposed him. His reign,however, only lasted for a few months. The leaders of thenational party suddenly assembled a force, and attacked him,while he was feasting at Annan, in Dumfriesshire, where he hadgone to keep his Christmas. A body of horse under SirArchibald, the young Earl of Moray, and Sir Simon Fraser,made a dash into the town to surprise Balliol, and he escapedonly by springing upon a horse without any saddle, leavingbehind him his brother Henry slain. Balliol escaped toEngland and was kindly received by Edward III., who afterwardsmade fresh expeditions into Scotland to support him."Whenever the English king appeared the Scots retired totheir mountain fastnesses, while Edward and his army overranthe country with little opposition, burnt the houses, and laidwaste the lands of those whom he styled rebels; but wheneverhe returned to England they came forth again, only the moreembittered against the contemptible minion of the Englishking, the more determined against the tyranny of England.The regent, Sir Andrew Murray, pursued, with untiring activity,Balliol and his adherents. When Edward marched homewardto spend in London the Christmas of 1336, he left Scotland toall appearance prostrate, and flattered himself that it was completelysubdued. Never was it further from such a condition.Only one spirit animated the Scottish nation—that of eternalresistance to the monarch who had inflicted on it suchcalamities, and set a slave on its throne."[23]

At this period the greatest of the Bishops of Winchester,William of Wykeham, was a schoolboy. He was born ofhumble parents, educated at Winchester school, and afterwardsbecame secretary to Uvedale, Lord of Wickham Manor, throughwhom he was introduced to King Edward III. In his interesting"Story of the Boyhood of William of Wykeham," theRev. W. A. C. Chevalier thus pictures William's Christmasholidays:—

"Three days after William's arrival home was Christmas-eve.There were great preparations in the cottage for spendingChristmas worthily, for if there was one thing more thananother that John Longe believed in, it was the proper keepingof Christmas. It was a part of the worthy yeoman's faith. Hewas a humble and thorough believer in all the tenets of Christianity,he worshipped the Saviour and adored His Nativity, buthis faith was a cheerful one, and he thought he best honouredhis Master by enjoying the good gifts which He sent. Hence072it was a part of his creed to be jovial at Christmas-tide. Andso Dame Alice had been busy all that day, and a part of theday before, making Christmas pies, dressing Christmas meats,and otherwise making ready for the great festival. JohnLonge, too, had not been idle. He and his men had beenworking hard all day getting in huge Yule-logs for the greatkitchen fire, whilst William and little Agnes had been employedin decorating the kitchen with evergreens and mistletoe, displayingin great profusion the red berries of the holly bushes.Everything was decked with evergreens, from the cups andplatters on the shelves to the hams and bacon hanging from theceiling."

At length the preparations were completed; then came thetelling of tales and cheerful gossip round the blazing fire onChristmas Eve, and the roasting of chestnuts on the embers."Christmas Day passed at the little homestead with all thesocial and religious honours that the honest yeoman could thinkof. The little household attended the service of Mass in themorning, and then, with clear consciences and simple hearts,spent the rest of the day in domestic and convivial enjoyment."

Returning to royalty, we next see illustrated Froissart's statementthat "Edward the third was right fortunate and happy inarmes."

During the invasion of France,Edward III. raised the martial gloryof England by his splendid victoriesat Crecy, Poictiers, and other places;and he kept Christmas right royallywith his soldiers on French soil. Afterthe battle of Crecy, at which the Princeof Wales gained the celebrated title ofthe Black Prince, Edward marchedupon Calais, and laid siege to it;and at length he took the place.During Edward's absence, Englandwas invaded by David II. of Scotland,who was defeated and taken prisonerby the army under Philippa, Edward'sQueen. The brave Queen then joinedKing Edward on the French battle-ground,and they kept the Christmasof 1346 with much rejoicing.

During the Christmas festivities of this period the most nobleOrder of the Garter was instituted by King Edward III. toexcite emulation amongst the aristocratic warriors of the time,in imitation of orders of a similar kind, both religious andmilitary, which had been instituted by different monarchs ofEurope; and that those who were admitted to the order were073enjoined to exalt the religion of Christ is evident from somelines which Chaucer addressed to the Lords and Knights—

In imitation of King Arthur, Edward III. set up at Windsora Round Table, which was consecrated with feasts and tournaments,and baptized with the blood of the brave. On NewYear's Day, 1344, he issued his royal letters of protection forthe safe-coming and return of foreign knights to the solemnjousts which he appointed to be held at Windsor on St. Hilary'sDay, in extension of the Christmas festivities. The festival wasopened with a splendid supper; and the next day, and untilLent, all kinds of knightly feats of arms were performed. "Thequeen and her ladies," says an old historian, "that they mightwith more convenience behold this spectacle, were orderly seatedupon a firm ballustrade, or scaffold, with rails before it, runningall round the lists. And certainly their extraordinary beauties,set so advantageously forth with excessive riches of apparel,did prove a sight as full of pleasant encouragement to thecombatants, as the fierce hacklings of men and horses, gallantlyarmed, were a delightful terror to the feminine beholders."

In 1348 Edward III. kept a grand Christmas at Guildford."Orders were given to manufacture for the Christmas sportseighty tunics of buckram of different colours, and a largenumber of masks—some with faces of women, some withbeards, some like angel heads of silver. There were to bemantles embroidered with heads of dragons, tunics wroughtwith heads and wings of peacocks, and embroidered in manyother fantastic ways. The celebration of Christmas lasted fromAll Hallow's Eve, the 31st of October, till the day after thePurification, the 3rd of February. At the court a lord of074misrule was appointed, who reigned during the whole of thisperiod, and was called 'the master of merry disports.' Heruled over and organised all the games and sports, and duringthe period of his rule there was nothing but a succession ofmasques, disguisings, and dances of all kinds. All the nobles,even the Mayor of London, had an officer of this kind chosenin their households. Dancing was a very favourite amusement.It was practised by the nobility of both sexes. The damsels ofLondon spent their evenings in dancing before their masters'doors, and the country lasses danced upon the village green."[24]

A Royal Christmas was kept at Westminster, with greatsplendour, in 1358, when King Edward had two crownedguests at his feast; but these were present from no choice oftheir own: they were the victims to the fortune of warat Poictiers and Neville's Cross. And in 1362, King Davidof Scotland and the King of Cyprus met at King Edward'sgrand entertainments. The later years of his life were spentby this great warrior-king in partial retirement from publicaffairs, and under the influence of his mistress, Alice Perrers,while John of Gaunt took a leading part in the government ofthe state. In 1376 Edward the Black Prince died, and thesame year King Edward III. kept his last Christmas at Westminster,the festival being made memorable by all the nobles ofthe realm attending to swear fealty to the son of the BlackPrince, who, by the King's desire, took precedence of his unclesat the banquet as befitted the heir apparent to the crown. TheKing died on the 21st of June, 1377, having reigned for justover half a century.

which he says occurred in 1362: "The King held his Christmas075at Windsore, and the XV. day following a sore and vehementsouth-west winde brake forth, so hideous that it overthrew highhouses, towers, steeples, and trees, and so bowed them, thatthe residue which fell not, but remained standing, were theweaker."

that were worn at this period. And these accounts also showthat Alice Perrers was associated with the King's daughter andgranddaughter in the Christmas entertainments. There areitems in 1376 stating that the King's daughter Isabella (styledCountess of Bedford), and her daughter (afterwards wife ofVere, Earl of Oxford), were provided with rich garmentstrimmed with ermine, in the fashion of the robes of the Garter,and with others of shaggy velvet, trimmed with the same fur,for the Christmas festival; while articles of apparel equallycostly are registered as sent by the King to his chamber atShene, to be given to Alice Perrers. And at a festival atWindsor the King caused twelve ladies (including his daughtersand Alice Perrers) to be clothed in handsome hunting suits,with ornamented bows and arrows, to shoot at the King's deer;and a very attractive band of foresters they made. We havealso seen that eighty costly tunics were provided for the Christmassports and disguisings at Guildford.

recorded by Sir John Froissart, and which he says gave "greatjoye" to the hilarious "knightes and squyers" who kept thefestival with "the Erle of Foiz":—

"So it was on a Christmas day the Erle of Foiz helde a greatfeest, and a plentifull of knightes and squyers, as it is hisusage; and it was a colde day, and the erle dyned in the hall,and with him great company of lordes; and after dyner hedeparted out of the hall, and went up into a galarye of xxiiiistayres of heyght, in which galarye ther was a great chymney,wherin they made fyre whan therle was ther; and at thattyme there was but a small fyre, for the erle loved no greatfyre; howbeit, he hadde woode ynoughe there about, and inBierne is wode ynoughe. The same daye it was a great frostand very colde: and when the erle was in the galarye, and sawthe fyre so lytell, he sayde to the knightes and squiers abouthym, Sirs, this is but a small fyre, and the day so colde: thanErnalton of Spayne went downe the stayres, and beneth in thecourte he sawe a great meny of asses, laden with woode toserve the house: than he went and toke one of the grettestasses, with all the woode, and layde hym on his backe, andwent up all the stayres into the galary, and dyde cast downethe asse with all the woode into the chymney, and the asses fete076upward; wherof the erle of Foiz had great joye, and so haddeall they that were there, and had marveyle of his strength howehe alone came up all the stayres with the asse and the woode inhis necke."

the son of Edward the Black Prince and Joan of Kent, whocame to the throne (in tutelage) on the death of his grandfather,Edward III. (1377), we find that costly banquetings, disguisings,pageants, and plays continued to be the diversionsof Christmastide at court. From the rolls of the royal wardrobe,it appears that at the Christmas festival in 1391, the sagesof the law were made subjects for disguisements, this entrybeing made: "Pro XXIcoifs de tela linea pro hominibus delege contrafactis pro Ludo regis tempore natalis Domini annoXII." That is, for twenty-one linen coifs for counterfeitingmen of the law in the King's play at Christmas. And Strutt [25]says that in the same year (1391) the parish clerks of Londonput forth a play at Skinners' Wells, near Smithfield, whichcontinued three days: the king, queen, and many of thenobility, being present at the performance.

077But the miracle plays and mysteries performed by theChurchmen differed greatly from the secular plays and interludeswhich at this period "were acted by strolling companiesof minstrels, jugglers, tumblers, dancers, bourdours, or jesters,and other performers properly qualified for the different partsof the entertainment, which admitted of a variety of exhibitions.These pastimes are of higher antiquity than the ecclesiasticalplays; and they were much relished not only by the vulgarpart of the people, but also by the nobility. The courts of thekings of England, and the castles of the great earls and barons,were crowded with the performers of the secular plays, wherethey were well received and handsomely rewarded; vast sumsof money were lavishly bestowed upon these secular itinerants,which induced the monks and other ecclesiastics to turn actorsthemselves, in order to obtain a share of the public bounty.But to give the better colouring to their undertaking, they tookthe subjects of their dialogues from the holy writ, and performedthem in the churches. The secular showmen, however, retainedtheir popularity notwithstanding the exertions of their clericalrivals, who diligently endeavoured to bring them into disgrace,by bitterly inveighing against the filthiness and immorality oftheir exhibitions. On the other hand, the itinerant playerssometimes invaded the province of the churchmen, and performedtheir mysteries, or others similar to them, as we findfrom a petition presented to Richard II. by the scholars ofSt. Paul's School, wherein complaint is made against the secularactors, because they took upon themselves to act plays composedfrom the Scripture history, to the great prejudice ofthe clergy, who had been at much expense to prepare suchperformances for public exhibition at the festival of Christmas."

In his Christmas feasts Richard the Second outdid hispredecessors in prodigal hospitality. He delighted in the078neighbourhood of Eltham, and spent much of his time infeasting with his favourites at the royal palace there. In 1386(notwithstanding the still prevalent distress, which had continuedfrom the time of the peasant revolt) Richard kept theChristmas festivities at Eltham with great extravagance, at thesame time entertaining Leon, King of Armenia, in a mannerutterly unjustified by the state of the royal exchequer, whichhad been replenished by illegal methods. And, on the completionof his enlargements and embellishments of WestminsterHall, Richard reopened it with "a most royal Christmas feast"of twenty-eight oxen and three hundred sheep, and game andfowls without number, feeding ten thousand guests for manydays. Yet but a few years afterwards (such is the ficklenessof fortune and the instability of human affairs) this same king,who had seen the "Merciless Parliament," who had robbedHereford of his estates, who had been robed in cloth of goldand precious stones, and who had alienated his subjects by hisown extravagance, was himself deposed and sentenced to lifelongbanishment, his doom being pronounced in the very hallwhich he had reared to such magnificence for his own glory.Thus ingloriously Richard disappears from history, for nothingcertain is known of the time, manner, or place of his death,though it is conjectured that he was speedily murdered. Howhistory repeats itself! Richard's ignominious end recalls tomind the verse in which an English poet depicts the end of anEastern king who was too fond of revelling:—

An example of the tournaments which were favourite diversionsof kings and nobles at this period is found in that held atChristmastide in London in 1389. Richard II., his three uncles,and the greater barons having heard of a famous tournament atParis at the entry of Isabel, Queen of France, resolved to holdone of equal splendour at London, in which sixty Englishknights, conducted to the scene of action by sixty ladies,079should challenge all foreign knights. They therefore sentheralds into all parts of England, Scotland, Germany, Italy,Flanders, Brabant, Hainault, and France to proclaim the time,place, and other circumstances of the proposed gathering, andto invite all valorous knights and squires to honour it with theirpresence. This, says the historian, excited a strong desire inthe knights and squires of all these countries to attend to seethe manners and equipages of the English, and others to tourney.The lists were prepared in Smithfield, and chambers erectedaround them for the accommodation of the king, queen,princes, lords, ladies, heralds, and other spectators. As thetime approached many important personages of both sexes,attended by numerous retinues, arrived in London. On thefirst day of the tournament (Sunday) sixty-five horses, richlyfurnished for the jousts, issued one by one from the Tower, eachconducted by a squire of honour, and proceeded in a slow pacethrough the streets of London to Smithfield, attended by anumerous band of trumpeters and other minstrels. Immediatelyafter, sixty young ladies, elegantly attired and ridingon palfreys, issued from the same place, and each lady leadinga knight completely armed by a silver chain, they proceededslowly to the field. When they arrived there the ladies werelifted from the palfreys and conducted to the chambers providedfor them; the knights mounted their horses and beganthe jousts, in which they exhibited such feats of valour and dexterityas won the admiration of the spectators. When theapproach of night put an end to the jousts the company repairedto the palace of the Bishop of London, in St. Paul's Street,where the king and queen then staying, the supper was prepared.The ladies, knights, and heralds who had been appointedjudges awarded one of the prizes, a crown of gold, to the Earlof St. Paul as the best performer among the foreign knights,and the other, a rich girdle adorned with gold and preciousstones, to the Earl of Huntingdon as the best performer ofthe English. After a sumptuous supper the ladies and knightsspent the remainder of the night in dancing. The tournamentswere continued in a similar manner on Monday, Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and on Saturday theCourt, with all the company, removed to Windsor, where thejousts, feasting, and other diversions were renewed, and lastedseveral days longer. Subsequently the king presented theforeign ladies, lords, and knights with valuable gifts, and theyreturned to their own countries highly pleased with the entertainmentwhich they had enjoyed in England.

was born at Bolingbroke, in Lincolnshire, being the eldest sonof John of Gaunt and of his first wife, the heiress of the houseof Lancaster, and a grandson of Edward III. On the death of080John of Gaunt in 1399, Richard II. seized his lands, havingin the previous year banished Henry of Bolingbroke. OnHenry hearing what had occurred, knowing his own popularityand Richard's unpopularity, Henry returned frombanishment, and succeeded in an attack on Richard, whomhe made a prisoner. Then summoning a Parliament, at whichRichard was formally deposed and himself made king, Henrycame to the throne with the title of Henry IV. Soon, however,he found himself menaced by danger. Some of the lords whohad been stripped of the honours and wealth heaped uponthem by Richard entered into a conspiracy to assassinateHenry the usurper. During the Christmas holidays they metfrequently at the lodgings of the Abbot of Westminster to planthe king's destruction. After much deliberation they agreed tohold a splendid tournament at Oxford on the 3rd of January,1400. Henry was to be invited to preside, and while intent onthe spectacle a number of picked men were to kill him and hissons. The king was keeping his Christmas at Windsor, whitherthe Earl of Huntingdon presented himself and gave him theinvitation. Henry accepted it, but on the 2nd of January, theday previous to the tournament, the Earl of Rutland, who wasprivy to the plot, went secretly to Windsor and informed theking of the arrangements which had been made for his assassination.The same evening, after dusk, the king proceeded toLondon; and the next day when the conspirators assembledat Oxford they were surprised to find that neither the kingnor their own accomplice, Rutland, had arrived. Suspectingtreachery they resolved to proceed at once to Windsor andsurprise Henry, but arrived only to find that he had escaped.They afterwards raised the standard of revolt, but their insurrectionproved abortive, and the fate of the leaders wassummary and sanguinary.

The favourite palace of Henry the Fourth was at Eltham,where, in the second year of his reign, he kept a grandChristmas, and entertained the Emperor of Constantinople.At this festival the men of London made a "gret mummyngto him of XII. Aldermen and theire sones, for which they hadgret thanke." Similar festivities were observed at several subsequentfestivals; then the king's health gave way, and hepassed the last Christmas of his life in seclusion at Eltham,suffering from fits of epilepsy, and lying frequently for hoursin an unconscious state. After Candlemas he was so muchbetter as to be able to return to his palace at Westminster, buthe died there on the 20th of March the same year (1413). Thefinal scene and the parting words of the king to his son, whobecame Henry V., have been beautifully depicted by Shakespeare.

In connection with the Christmas festival in 1414 a conspiracyto murder the king is alleged against the Lollards,081but the charge has never been satisfactorily proved. "If weare to believe the chroniclers of the times the Lollards resolvedto anticipate their enemies, to take up arms and to repel force byforce. Seeing clearly that war to the death was determinedagainst them by the Church, and that the king had yielded atleast a tacit consent to this iniquitous policy, they came to theconclusion to kill not only the bishops, but the king and all hiskin. So atrocious a conspiracy is not readily to be creditedagainst men who contended for a greater purity of gospeltruth, nor against men of the practical and military knowledgeof Lord Cobham. But over the whole of these transactionsthere hangs a veil of impenetrable mystery, and we can onlysay that the Lollards are charged with endeavouring to surprisethe king and his brother at Eltham, as they were keeping theirChristmas festivities there, and that this attempt failed throughthe Court receiving intimation of the design and suddenlyremoving to Westminster."[26] Lord Cobham was put to deathby cruel torture in St. Giles's Fields, London, on Christmas Day,1418.

In the early part of his reign Henry invaded France andachieved a series of brilliant successes, including the famousvictory at Agincourt. The hero of this great battle did notallow the holiday season to interfere with his military operations;but he did generously suspend proceedings againstRouen upon Christmas Day and supply his hungry foes withfood for that day only, so that they might keep the feast ofChristmas. After his military successes in France Henry marriedthe Princess Katherine, the youngest daughter of Charles VI.,King of France, and the king and queen spent their first Christmasof wedded life at Paris, the festival being celebrated bya series of magnificent entertainments. Henry's subsequentjourney to England was "like the ovation of an ancient conqueror."He and his queen were received with great festivityat the different towns on their way, and on the 1st of Februarythey left Calais, and landed at Dover, where, according toMonstrelet, "Katherine was received as if she had been anangel of God." All classes united to make the receptionof the hero of Agincourt and his beautiful bride a most magnificentone. They proceeded first to Eltham, and thence,after due rest, to London, where Katherine was crowned withgreat rejoicing on the 24th of February, 1421. Henry'sbrilliant career was cut short by his death on the last day ofAugust, 1422.

Fabian's account of the stately feast at the coronation of082Henry the Fifth's newly-wedded consort is an interestingpicture of the

Queen Katherine was conveyed to the great hall at Westminsterand there set to dinner. Upon her right hand, at theend of the table, sat the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Henry,surnamed the rich Cardinal of Winchester; and upon her lefthand the King of Scotland in his royal robes; near the end satthe Duchess of York and the Countess of Huntingdon. TheEarl of March, holding a sceptre, knelt upon her right side, andthe Earl-Marshal upon her left; his Countess sat at the Queen'sleft foot under the table, and the Countess of Kent at her rightfoot. Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, was overlooker, andstood before the Queen bareheaded; Sir Richard Nevill wascarver, the Earl of Suffolk's brother cupbearer, Sir John Stewardserver, Lord Clifford panterer, Lord Willoughby butler, LordGrey de Ruthyn naperer, the Lord Audley almoner, and theEarl of Worcester, Earl-Marshal, rode about the hall duringdinner on a charger, with a number of constables to keep order.

The bill of fare consisted of:First course—Brawn andmustard, dedells in burneaux, frument with balien, pike inerbage (pike stuffed with herbs), lamprey powdered, trout,codling, fried plaice and marling, crabs, leche lumbardflourished, and tarts. Then came a subtlety representing apelican sitting on her nest with her young and an image of St.Katherine bearing a book and disputing with the doctors,bearing a reason (motto) in her right hand, saying, in theFrench apparently of Stratford-at-the-Bow, "Madame leRoyne," and the pelican as an answer—

Second course—Jelly coloured with columbine flowers, whitepotage, or cream of almonds, bream of the sea, conger, soles,cheven, barbel with roach, fresh salmon, halibut, gurnets,broiled roach, fried smelt, crayfish or lobster, leche damaskwith the king's word or proverb flourished "une sanz plus."Lamprey fresh baked, flampeyn flourished with an escutcheonroyal, therein three crowns of gold, planted with flowers deluce, and flowers of camomile wrought of confections. Thena subtlety representing a panther with an image of St.Katherine having a wheel in one hand and a roll with areason in the other, saying—

083Third course—Dates in composite, cream mottled, carp,turbot, tench, perch, fresh sturgeon with whelks, porpoiseroasted, memis fried, crayfish, prawns, eels roasted withlamprey, a leche called the white leche flourished with hawthornleaves and red haws, and a march pane, garnished withfigures of angels, having among them an image of St. Katherineholding this reason—

And lastly, a subtlety representing a tiger looking into a mirror,and a man sitting on horseback fully armed, holding in his armsa tiger's whelp, with this reason, "Par force sanz reson il aypryse ceste beste," and with his one hand making a countenanceof throwing mirrors at the great tiger, the which heldthis reason—

became king in 1422, before he was nine months old, andalthough the regency of the two kingdoms to which he washeir had been arranged by Henry V. before his death, the reignof the third king of the House of Lancaster saw the undoing ofmuch that had been accomplished in the reigns of his father084and grandfather. It was during the reign of Henry VI. thatJoan of Arc came forward alleging her Divine commission torescue France from the English invader. But it is not partof our subject to describe her heroic career. The troubloustimes which made the French heroine a name in history wereunfavourable to Christmas festivities. The Royal Christmasesof Henry the Sixth were less costly than those of his immediatepredecessors. But as soon as he was old enough to do so heobserved the festival, as did also his soldiers, even in timeof war. Mills [28] mentions that, "during the memorable siegeof Orleans [1428-9], at the request of the English the festivitiesof Christmas suspended the horrors of war, and the nativity ofthe Saviour was commemorated to the sound of martial music.Talbot, Suffolk, and other ornaments of English chivalry madepresents of fruits to the accomplished Dunois, who vied withtheir courtesy by presenting to Suffolk some black plush hewished for as a lining for his dress in the then winter season.The high-spirited knights of one side challenged the prowestknights of the other, as their predecessors in chivalry had done.It is observable, however, that these jousts were not held inhonour of the ladies, but the challenge always declared thatif there were in the other host a knight so generous and lovingof his country as to be willing to combat in her defence, hewas invited to present himself."

In 1433 Henry kept his Christmas at Bury, and in 1436 atKenilworth Castle. Nothing remarkable, however, is recordedrespecting these festivities. But some interesting particularshave been preserved of a

at Middleton Tower, Norfolk, the family seat of Lord Scales,085one of the early owners of Sandringham, which is now aresidence of the Prince of Wales. Mrs. Herbert Jones [29] says:—

"One winter, when he was about forty-six years old, in aquiet interval soon after Henry the Sixth's marriage to Margaretof Anjou, Lord Scales and his wife were living at Middleton.In a south-east direction lay the higher ground where rose theBlackborough Priory of nuns, founded by a previous LadyScales; west of them, at three miles' distance, bristling withthe architecture of the Middle Ages in all its bloom and beauty,before religious disunion had defaced it, prosperous in its self-government,stood the town of Lynn.

"The mayor and council had organised a play to be acted onChristmas Day, 1445, before the Lord Scales at Middleton, representingscenes from the Nativity of our Lord. Large sums werepaid by order of the mayor for the requisite dresses, ornaments,and scenery, some of which were supplied by the 'Nathan' ofLynn, and others prepared and bought expressly. 'John Clerk'performed the angel Gabriel, and a lady of the name of Gilbertthe Virgin Mary. Their parts were to be sung. Four otherperformers were also paid for their services, and the wholeparty, headed by the mayor, set off with their paraphernaliain a cart, harnessed to four or more horses, for Middleton onChristmas morning. The breakfast of the carters was paid forat the inn by the town, but the magnates from Lynn and theactors were entertained at the castle.[30]

"It was in the courtyard that this quaint representation tookplace; the musical dialogues, the songs and hymns, the profusionof ornaments, personal and otherwise, recorded as pressedon to the stage, the grotesque angel and virgin, must have furnisheda lively hour under the castle walls on that long-agoChristmas Day."

During the destructive wars of York and Lancaster thefestivities of Christmas were frequently interrupted by hostilities,for some of the most bloody encounters (as, for example,the terrible battle of Wakefield) occurred at Christmastide. Thewars of the contending factions continued throughout the reignof Henry VI., whose personal weakness left the House of Lancasterat the mercy of the Parliament, in which the voice of theBarons was paramount. That the country was in a state ofshameful misgovernment was shown by the attitude of thecommercial class and the insurrection under John Cade; yetHenry could find time for amusement. "Under pretence ofchange of air the court removed to Coventry that the kingmight enjoy the sports of the field."[31]

The Christmases of Henry were not kept with the splendour086which characterised those of his rival and successor, Edward IV.Henry's habits were religious, and his house expenses parsimonious—sometimesnecessarily so, for he was short ofmoney. From the introduction to the "Paston Letters"(edited by Mr. James Gairdner) it appears that the king wasin such impecunious circumstances in 1451 that he had toborrow his expenses for Christmas: "The government wasgetting paralysed alike by debt and by indecision. 'As fortidings here,' writes John Bocking, 'I certify you all that isnought, or will be nought. The king borroweth his expenses.'"Henry anticipated what Ben Jonson discovered in a later age,that—

And so rather than leave Christmas unobserved the poor king"borrowed his expenses." Subsequently Henry's health failed,and then later comes the record: "At Christmas [1454], tothe great joy of the nation, the king began to recover from hispainful illness. He woke up, as it were, from a long sleep.So decidedly had he regained his faculties that on St. John'sDay (27th December) he commanded his almoner to ride toCanterbury with an offering, and his secretary to presentanother at the shrine of St. Edward."[32]

The terrible battle of Wakefield at Christmastide, 1460, wasone of the most important victories won by the Lancastriansduring the Wars of the Roses. The king, Henry VI., had secretlyencouraged Richard, Duke of York, that the nation would soonbe ready to assent to the restoration of the legitimate branchof the royal family. Richard was the son of Anne Mortimer,who was descended from Philippa, the only daughter of theDuke of Clarence, second son of Edward III.; and consequentlyhe stood in the order of succession before the king actually onthe throne, who was descended from John of Gaunt, a youngerson of Edward III. The Duke of York at length openlyadvanced his title as the true heir to the crown, and urgedParliament to confer it upon him. As, however, the Lancastrianbranch of the royal family had enjoyed the crown for threegenerations it was resolved that Henry VI. should continue toreign during his life and that Richard should succeed him.This compromise greatly displeased the queen, Margaret, whowas indignant at the injury it inflicted on her son. She thereforeurged the nobles who had hitherto supported her husband totake up arms on behalf of his son. Accordingly the Earlof Northumberland, with Lords Dacre, Clifford, and Nevil,assembled an army at York, and were soon joined by the087Duke of Somerset and the Earl of Devon. "Parliament beingprorogued in December, the Duke of York and the Earl ofSalisbury hastened from London with a large armed forcetowards York, but coming unexpectedly upon the troops ofthe Duke of Somerset at Worksop, their vanguard was destroyed.On the 21st of December, however, they reachedSandal Castle with six thousand men, and kept their Christmasthere, notwithstanding that the enemy under the Duke ofSomerset and the Earl of Northumberland were close by atPontefract" (William Wyrcester). On the 30th of Decemberthe opposing forces met at Wakefield, and in the terrible battlewhich ensued Richard, Duke of York was slain, his son, LordRutland, was murdered by Lord Clifford while escaping fromthe battlefield, and the Earl of Salisbury and others were takenas prisoners to Pontefract, where they were beheaded.

Edward, son of Richard Duke of York, was afterwards joinedby his cousin, Richard, Earl of Warwick, the famous "kingmaker."They hastened northwards and met the Lancastriansat Towton, where a decisive battle was fought, and won bythe Yorkists. Edward was then recognised by Parliament andproclaimed king as Edward IV., and Henry VI. was attaintedof high treason.

called his first Parliament at Westminster, and concluded thesession by the unusual but popular measure of a speech fromthe throne to the Commons delivered by himself. It was duringthis session that the statute was passed prohibiting the greatand rich from giving or wearing any liveries or signs ofcompanionship, except while serving under the king; fromreceiving or maintaining plunderers, robbers, malefactors, orunlawful hunters; and from allowing dice and cards in theirhouses beyond the twelve days of Christmas (Parl. Rolls, 488).

The Christmas festival was kept by Edward IV. with greatmagnificence, the king's natural inclinations leading him toadopt whatever was splendid and costly. "At the Christmasfestivities he appeared in a variety of most costly dresses, of aform never seen before, which he thought displayed his personto considerable advantage" (Croyland Chronicler). Sir FrederickMadden's narrative of the visit of the Lord of Granthuse,Governor of Holland, to Edward, in 1472, paints in glowingcolours the luxury of the English Court. On his arrival atWindsor he was received by Lord Hastings, who conductedhim to the chambers of the King and Queen. These apartmentswere richly hung with cloth of gold arras. When he hadspoken with the King, who presented him to the Queen's Grace,the Lord Chamberlain, Hastings, was ordered to conduct him tohis chamber, where supper was ready for him. "After he hadsupped the King had him brought immediately to the Queen'sown chamber, where she and her ladies were playing at the088marteaux [a game played with small balls of different colours];and some of her ladies were playing at closheys [ninepins] ofivory, and dancing, and some at divers other games: the whichsight was full pleasant to them. Also the King danced with myLady Elizabeth, his eldest daughter. In the morning whenMatins was done, the King heard, in his own chapel, OurLady-Mass, which was most melodiously chaunted, the LordGranthuse being present. When the Mass was done, the Kinggave the said Lord Granthuse a cup of gold, garnished withpearl. In the midst of the cup was a great piece of unicorn'shorn, to my estimation seven inches in compass; and on thecover of the cup a great sapphire." After breakfast the Kingcame into the Quadrangle. "My Lord Prince, also, borne byhis Chamberlain, called Master Vaughan, which bade the Lordof Granthuse welcome. Then the King had him and all hiscompany into the little Park, where he made him have greatsport; and there the King made him ride on his own horse, ona right fair hobby, the which the King gave him." The King'sdinner was "ordained" in the Lodge, Windsor Park. Afterdinner they hunted again, and the King showed his guest hisgarden and vineyard of pleasure. Then "the Queen did ordaina great banquet in her own chamber, at which King Edward,her eldest daughter the Lady Elisabeth, the Duchess of Exeter,the Lady Rivers, and the Lord of Granthuse, all sat with her atone mess; and, at the same table, sat the Duke of Buckingham,my Lady, his wife, with divers other ladies, my Lord Hastings,Chamberlain to the King, my Lord Berners, Chamberlain to theQueen, the son of Lord Granthuse, and Master George Barthe,Secretary to the Duke of Burgundy, Louis Stacy, Usher to theDuke of Burgundy, George Martigny, and also certain nobles ofthe King's own court. There was a side table, at which sata great view (show) of ladies, all on the one side. Also, in theouter chamber, sat the Queen's gentlewomen, all on one side.And on the other side of the table, over against them, as manyof the Lord Granthuse's servants, as touching to the abundantwelfare, like as it is according to such a banquet. And whenthey had supped my Lady Elizabeth, the King's eldest daughter,danced with the Duke of Buckingham and divers other ladiesalso. Then about nine of the clock, the King and the Queen,with her ladies and gentlewomen, brought the said Lord ofGranthuse to three chambers of plesance, all hanged with whitesilk and linen cloth, and all the floors covered with carpets.There was ordained a bed for himself of as good down as couldbe gotten. The sheets of Rennes cloth and also fine fustians;the counterpane, cloth of gold, furred with ermines. The testerand ceiler also shining cloth of gold; the curtains of whitesarcenet; as for his head-suit and pillows, they were of theQueen's own ordonnance. In the second chamber was likewiseanother state-bed, all white. Also, in the same chamber, wasmade a couch with feather beds, and hanged with a tent, knit089like a net, and there was a cupboard. In the third chamberwas ordained a bayne (bath) or two, which were covered withtents of white cloth. And, when the King and the Queen withall her ladies and gentlemen had showed him these chambers,they turned again to their own chambers, and left the said LordGranthuse there, accompanied with the Lord Chamberlain(Hastings), who undressed him, and they both went togetherto the bath.—And when they had been in their baths as long aswas their pleasure, they had green ginger, divers syrups, comfits,and ipocras, and then they went to bed. And in the morninghe took his cup with the King and Queen, and returned toWestminster again."

In 1465 Edward the Fourth and his Queen kept Christmas inthe Abbey at Coventry, and for six days (saysWilliam Wyrcester)"the Duke of Clarence dissembled there."

In 1478 the King celebrated the Christmas festival at Westminsterwith great pomp, wearing his crown, feasting his nobles,and making presents to his household; and in 1482-3 he kept asplendid Christmas at Eltham, more than two thousand peoplebeing fed at his expense every day. Edward almost entirelyrebuilt Eltham Palace, of which the hall was the noblest part.In that hall he kept the Christmas festival, "with bountifulhospitality for high and low, and abundance of mirth andsport."

One of the continental visitors who participated in the royalfestivities of this period was Leo von Rozmital, brother ofGeorge, King of Bohemia. His retinue included Tetzel, who,in describing the Court of Edward the Fourth, after remarkingupon Edward's own handsome person, says, "The king has thefinest set of courtiers that a man may find in Christendom. Heinvited my Lord Leo and all his noble companions, and gavethem a very costly feast, and also he gave to each of them themedal of his order, to every knight a golden one, and to everyone who was not a knight a silver one; and he himself hungthem upon their necks. Another day the king called us tocourt. In the morning the queen (Elizabeth Woodville) wentfrom child-bed to church with a splendid procession of manypriests, bearing relics, and many scholars, all singing, andcarrying burning candles. Besides there was a great companyof women and maidens from the country and from London, whowere bidden to attend. There were also a great number oftrumpeters, pipers, and other players, with forty-two of theking's singing men, who sang very sweetly. Also, there werefour and twenty heralds and pursuivants, and sixty lords andknights. Then came the queen, led by two dukes, and witha canopy borne over her. Behind her followed her mother andabove sixty ladies and maidens. Having heard the service sung,and kneeled down in the church, she returned with the sameprocession to her palace. Here all who had taken part in theprocession were invited to a feast, and all sat down, the men090and the women, the clergy and the laity, each in his rank, fillingfour large rooms. Also, the king invited my lord and all hisnoble attendants to the table where he usually dined with hiscourtiers. And one of the king's greatest lords must sit at theking's table upon the king's stool, in the place of the king; andmy lord sat at the same table only two steps below him. Thenall the honours which were due to the king had to be paid tothe lord who sat in his place, and also to my lord; and it isincredible what ceremonies we observed there. While we wereeating, the king was making presents to all the trumpeters,pipers, players, and heralds; to the last alone he gave fourhundred nobles, and every one, when he received his pay, cameto the tables and told aloud what the king had given him.When my lord had done eating, he was conducted into a costlyornamented room, where the queen was to dine, and there hewas seated in a corner that he might see all the expensiveprovisions. The queen sat down on a golden stool alone at hertable, and her mother and the queen's sister stood far belowher. And when the queen spoke to her mother or to the king'ssister, they kneeled down every time before her, and remainedkneeling until the queen drank water. And all her ladies andmaids, and those who waited upon her, even great lords, hadto kneel while she was eating, which continued three hours(!).After dinner there was dancing, but the queen remained sittingupon her stool, and her mother kneeled before her. The king'ssister danced with two dukes, and the beautiful dances andreverences performed before the queen—the like I have neverseen, nor such beautiful maidens. Among them were eightduchesses, and above thirty countesses and others, all daughtersof great people. After the dance the king's singing men camein and sang. When the king heard mass sung in his privatechapel my lord was admitted: then the king had his relicsshown to us, and many sacred things in London. Among themwe saw a stone from the Mount of Olives, upon which there isthe footprint of Jesus Christ, our Lady's girdle, and many otherrelics."

The amusements of the people in the fifteenth century arereferred to by Thomas Wright, Esq., M.A., F.S.A., who says:"In England, in the third year of the reign of Edward IV.(1463), the importation of playing-cards, probably from Germany,was forbidden, among other things, by Act of Parliament; andas that Act is understood to have been called for by the Englishmanufacturers, who suffered by the foreign trade, it can hardlybe doubted that cards were then manufactured in England ona rather extensive scale. Cards had then, indeed, evidentlybecome very popular in England; and only twenty yearsafterwards they are spoken of as the common Christmas game,091for Margery Paston wrote as follows to her husband, JohnPaston, on the 24th of December in 1483:—'Please it you toweet (know) that I sent your eldest son John to my LadyMorley, to have knowledge of what sports were used in herhouse in the Christmas next following after the decease of mylord her husband; and she said that there were none disguisings,nor harpings, nor luting, nor singing, nor none loud disports,but playing at the tables, and the chess, andcards—suchdisports she gave her folks leave to play, and none other....I sent your younger son to the lady Stapleton, and she saidaccording to my lady Morley's saying in that, and as she hadseen used in places of worship (gentlemen's houses) there as shehad been.' ... After the middle of the fifteenth century, cardscame into very general use; and at the beginning of the followingcentury, there was such a rage for card-playing, that anattempt was made early in the reign of Henry VIII. to restricttheir use by law to the period of Christmas. When, however,people sat down to dinner at noon, and had no other occupationfor the rest of the day, they needed amusement of some sortto pass the time; and a poet of the fifteenth century observestruly—

Another book well known to bibliomaniacs ("Dives andPauper," ed. W. de Worde; 1496) says: "For to represente inplaynge at Crystmasse herodes and the thre kynges and otherprocesses of the gospelles both then and at Ester and othertymes also it is lefull and cōmendable."092

succeeded his father, Edward IV., in the dangerous days of1483. He was at Ludlow when his father died, being under theguardianship of his uncle, Earl Rivers, and attended by othermembers of the Woodville family. Almost immediately he setout for London, but when he reached Stony Stratford, on April29th, he was met by his uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester,who had arrested Lord Rivers and Lord Richard Grey. Theyoung king (a boy of thirteen) renewed his journey underGloucester's charge, and on reaching London was lodged inthe Tower. His mother, on hearing of the arrest of Rivers andGrey, had taken sanctuary at Westminster. Lord Hastings, asupporter of the king, was arrested and executed because hewould not sanction Gloucester's nefarious schemes for obtainingthe throne. About the same time Rivers and Grey werebeheaded at Pontefract, whither they had been taken byGloucester's orders. Soon afterwards the Queen was compelledto deliver up the young Duke of York to Richard, who sent himto join his brother in the Tower. On June 22nd, at the requestof Richard, Dr. Shaw, brother of the Lord Mayor of London,delivered a sermon at St. Paul's Cross, in which he insisted onthe illegitimacy of Edward V. and his brother. On June 25tha deputation of nobles and citizens of London offered the crownto Richard. He accepted it, and began to reign as Richard III.And, according to a confession afterwards made by Sir JamesTyrell, one of Richard's officers, the two young princes remainedin the Tower, being put to death by their Uncle Richard'sorders. Thus, atrociously, began the reign of the murderoususurper,093

The King kept his first Christmas at Kenilworth Castle,having previously visited the city of Coventry, at the festivalofCorpus Christi, to see the plays. The accounts of KenilworthCastle show that in 1484 John Beaufitz was paid £20 "fordivers reparacions made in the Castell of Kyllingworth" byorder of Richard III. At this time, says Philip de Comines,"he was reigning in greater splendour and authority than anyking of England for the last hundred years." The followingyear Richard kept Christmas in the great hall at Westminster,celebrating the festival with great pomp and splendour, encouragingthe recreations usual at the season, and so attentivelyobserving the ancient customs that a warrant is entered for thepayment of "200 marks for certain new year's gifts boughtagainst the feast of Christmas." The festivities continuedwithout interruption until the day of the Epiphany, when theyterminated with an entertainment of extraordinary magnificencegiven by the monarch to his nobles in Westminster Hall—"theKing himself wearing his crown," are the words of the Croylandhistorian, "and holding a splendid feast in the great hall, similarto that of his coronation." "Little did Richard imagine thatthis would be the last feast at which he would preside—the lasttime he would display his crown in peace before his assembledpeers."[33] An allusion to this Christmas festival, and to theKing's wicked nature, is contained in a note to Bacon's "Lifeof King Henry VII.," which says: "Richard's wife was Anne,the younger daughter of Warwick the King-maker. She died16th March, 1485. It was rumoured that her death was bypoison, and that Richard wished to marry his niece Elizabethof York, eldest daughter of Edward IV. It is said that in thefestivities of the previous Christmas the Princess Elizabeth hadbeen dressed in robes of the same fashion and colour as thoseof the Queen. Ratcliffe and Catesby, the King's confidants, arecredited with having represented to Richard that this marriageof so near a kinswoman would be an object of horror to thepeople, and bring on him the condemnation of the clergy."

At a Christmas festival at Rhedon, in Brittany, Henry ofRichmond met English exiles to the number of 500, and sworeto marry Elizabeth of York as soon as he should subdue theusurper; and thereupon the exiles unanimously agreed tosupport him as their sovereign. On the 1st of August, 1485,Henry set sail from Harfleur with an army of 3,000 men, and afew days afterwards landed at Milford Haven. He was receivedwith manifest delight, and as he advanced through Wales hisforces were increased to upwards of 6,000 men. Before theclose of the month he had encountered the royal army and slainthe King at Bosworth Field, and by this memorable victory hadterminated the terrible Wars of the Roses and introduced intoEngland a new dynasty.

CHAPTER VI.

CHRISTMAS UNDER HENRY VII. ANDHENRY VIII.

(1485-1547.)

Was the son of Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond, son ofOwen Tudor, a Welsh gentleman who had married the widowof Henry V. His mother, Margaret, was a great-granddaughterof John of Gaunt by Catherine Swynford. In early life Henrywas under the protection of Henry VI.; but after the battle ofTewkesbury he was taken by his uncle, Jasper Tudor, Earl ofPembroke, to Brittany for safety. Edward IV. made severalunsuccessful attempts to get him into his power, and RichardIII. also sent spies into Brittany to ascertain his doings. OnChristmas Day, 1483, the English exiles, who gathered roundHenry in Brittany, took an oath in the Cathedral of Rheims tosupport him in ousting Richard and succeeding him to theEnglish throne. Henry, on his part, agreed to reconcile thecontending parties by marrying Elizabeth of York, eldestdaughter and co-heir of Edward IV., and this promise hefaithfully kept. After his defeat of Richard the Third atBosworth he assumed the royal title, advanced to London,and had himself crowned King of England; and at the followingChristmas festival he married Elizabeth of York. TheArchbishop who married them (Archbishop Bourchier) hadcrowned both Richard III. and Henry VII., and Fuller quaintlydescribes this last official act of marrying King Henry to Elizabethof York as the holding of "the posie on which the WhiteRose and the Red Rose were tied together." And Bacon says,"the so-long-expected and so-much-desired marriage betweenthe King and the Lady Elizabeth was celebrated with greatertriumph and demonstrations, especially on the people's part, ofjoy and gladness, than the days either of his entry or coronation."

The Christmas festivities were attended to with increasingzest during the reign of Henry VII., for the King studied095magnificence quite as much as his predecessors had done. Hisriding dress was "a doublet of green or white cloth of goldsatin, with a long gown of purple velvet, furred with ermine,powdered, open at the sides, and purpled with ermine, with arich sarpe (scarf) and garter." His horse was richly caparisoned,and bore a saddle of estate, covered with gold. His Majestywas attended by seven henchmen, clothed in doublets of crimsonsatin, with gowns of white cloth of gold. The Queen appearedwith equal splendour, "wearing a round circle of gold, set withpearls and precious stones, arrayed in a kirtle of white damaskcloth of gold, furred with miniver pure, garnished, having atrain of the same, with damask cloth of gold, furred with ermine,with a great lace, and two buttons and tassels of white silk, andgold at the breast above." And the royal apartments were keptwith great splendour. At his ninth Christmas festival (Dec. 31,1494) the King established new rules for the government of theroyal household (preserved among the Harleian MSS.), whichhe directed should be kept "in most straightest wise." TheRoyal Household Book of the period, in the Chapter-house atWestminster, contains numerous disbursements connected withChristmas diversions. In the seventh year of this reign is apayment to Wat Alyn (Walter Alwyn) in full payment forthe disguising made at Christmas, £14 13s. 4d., and paymentsfor similar purposes occur in the following years. Anotherbook, also in the Chapter-house, called "The Kyng's boke ofpaymentis," contains entries of various sums given to playersand others who assisted to amuse the King at Christmas, andamong the rest, to the Lord of Misrule (or Abbot as he is sometimescalled), for several years, "in rewarde for his besynes inCrestenmes holydays, £6 13s. 4d." The plays at this festivalseem to have been acted by the "gentlemen of the King'sChapell," as there are several liberal payments to certain ofthem for playing on Twelfth Night; for instance, an entryon January 7th, 23 Henry VII., of a reward to five ofthem of £6 13s. 4d., for acting before the King on theprevious night; but there was a distinct set of players forother times.

Leland, speaking of 1489, says: "This Cristmas I saw no disgysyngs,and but right few plays. But ther was an Abbot ofMisrule, that made much sport and did right well his office."In the following year, however, "on neweres day at nyght,there was a goodly disgysyng," and "many and dyverspleyes."

That the Christmas festival did not pass unobserved by themen of this period who navigated the high seas we know fromthe name of a Cuban port which was

On Christmas Day, 1492, Christopher Columbus, the celebratedGenoese navigator, landed at a newly-discovered port096in Cuba, which he named Navidad, because he landed thereon Christmas Day.

was the event of Christmas, 1497. It broke out in the palace,on the evening of December 21st, while the royal family werethere, and for three hours raged fiercely, destroying, with thefairest portion of the building, the rich furniture, beds, tapestry,and other decorations of the principal chambers. Fortunatelyan alarm was given in time, and the royal and noble personagesof the Court escaped to a place of safety. In consequence ofthis fire the King built the fine new palace of Richmond.

were kept by Henry VII. at Westminster Hall with great hospitality,the King wearing his crown, and feasting numerousguests, loading the banquet-table with peacocks, swans, herons,conger, sturgeon, brawn, and all the delicacies of the period.At his ninth Christmas festival the Mayor and Aldermen ofLondon were feasted with great splendour at Westminster,the King showing them various sports on the night followingin the great hall, which was richly hung with tapestry: "whichsports being endedin the morning, the king, queen, and courtsat down at a table of stone, to 120 dishes, placed by as manyknights and esquires, while the Mayor was served with twenty-fourdishes and abundance of wine. And finally the King andQueen being conveyed with great lights into the palace, theMayor, with his company in barges, returned to London bybreak of the next day."

From the ancient records of the Royal Household it appearsthat on the morning of New Year's Day, the King "sitting in hisfoot-sheet," received according to prescribed ceremony a newyear's gift from the Queen, duly rewarding the various officersand messengers, according to their rank. The Queen also "satin her foot-sheet," and received gifts in the same manner,paying a less reward. And on this day, as well as on ChristmasDay, the King wore his kirtle, his surcoat and his paneof arms; and he walked, having his hat of estate on his head,his sword borne before him, with the chamberlain, steward,treasurer, comptroller, preceding the sword and the ushers;before whom must walk all the other lords except those whowore robes, who must follow the King. The highest noblemanin rank, or the King's brother, if present, to lead the Queen;another of the King's brothers, or else the Prince, to walk withthe King's train-bearer. On Twelfth Day the King was to go"crowned, in his royal robes, kirtle, and surcoat, his furred hoodabout his neck, and his ermines upon his arms, of gold set full ofrich stones with balasses, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and pearls."This ornament was considered so sacred, that "no temporalman" (none of the laity) but the King was to presume to touch097it; an esquire of the body was to bring it in a fair handkerchief,and the King was to put it on with his own hands; he must alsohave his sceptre in his right hand, the ball with the cross in hisleft hand, and must offer at the altar gold, silver, and incense,which offering the Dean of the Chapel was to send to theArchbishop of Canterbury, and this was to entitle the Dean tothe next vacant benefice. The King was to change his mantlewhen going to meat, and to take off his hood and lay it abouthis neck, "clasping it before with a richowche." The King andthe Queen on Twelfth Night were to take thevoid (eveningrepast) in the hall; as for the wassail, the steward and treasurerwere to go for it, bearing their staves; the chapel choir to standon the side of the hall, and when the steward entered at the halldoor he was to cry three times, "Wassail! Wassail! Wassail!"and the chapel to answer with a good song; and when all wasdone the King and Queen retired to their chamber.

Among the special features of the banquets of this periodwere the devices for the table called subtleties, madeof paste, jelly, or blanc-mange, placed in the middle ofthe board, with labels describing them; various shapesof animals were frequent; and on a saint's day,angels, prophets, and patriarchs were set upon the table inplenty. Certain dishes were also directed as proper fordifferent degrees of persons; as "conies parboiled, or elserabbits, for they are better for a lord"; and "for a greatlord take squirrels, for they are better than conies"; a wholechicken for a lord; and "seven mackerel in a dish, with adragge of fine sugar," was also a dish for a lord. But themost famous dish was "the peacock enkakyll, which is foremostin the procession to the king's table." Here is the recipe forthis royal dish: Take and flay off the skin with the feathers, tail,and the neck and head thereon; then take the skin, and all thefeathers, and lay it on the table abroad, and strew thereonground cinnamon; then take the peacock and roast him, andbaste him with raw yolks of eggs; and when he is roasted, takehim off, and let him cool awhile, and take him and sew him inhis skin, and gild his comb, and so serve him with the lastcourse.

by a statute passed in the reign of Henry VII. A Scotchwriter,[34] referring to this prohibition, says: "A universal Christmascustom of the olden time was playing at cards; personswho never touched a card at any other season of the year feltbound to play a few games at Christmas. The practice hadeven the sanction of the law. A prohibitory statute of HenryVII.'s reign, forbade card-playing save during the Christmasholidays. Of course, this prohibition extended only to personsof humble rank; Henry's daughter, the Princess Margaret,098played cards with her suitor, James IV. of Scotland; andJames himself kept up the custom, receiving from his treasurer,at Melrose, on Christmas Night, 1496, thirty-five unicorns, elevenFrench crowns, a ducat, aridare, and aleu, in all about equal to£42 of modern money, to use at the card-table." Now, as theScottish king was not married to the English princess until1503, it is quite clear that he had learned to play cardslong before his courtship with Margaret; for in 1496, whenhe received so much card-money from his treasurer, the Englishprincess was but seven years of age. James had evidentlylearned to play at cards with the Scottish barons who frequentedhis father's Court, and whose lawlessness led to therevolt which ended in the defeat and melancholy fate ofJames III. (1488), and gave the succession to his son, JamesIV., at the early age of fifteen years. The no less tragic endof James IV. at Flodden Field, in 1513, is strikingly depicted bySir Walter Scott, who tells:—

On the death of Henry VII., who had given England peaceand prosperity, and established firmly his own house on theEnglish throne, in 1509, his son Henry became king as HenryVIII. He was a handsome and accomplished young man, andhis accession was an occasion of great rejoicing. Henry kepthis first

with great magnificence. Proclaimed king on the 22nd of Aprilat the age of eighteen, and married on the 3rd of June to099Katherine of Arragon, widow of his deceased brother Arthur,Prince of Wales, the youthful Monarch and his Queen wereafterwards crowned at Westminster Abbey by the Archbishopof Canterbury, and spent the first Christmas of their weddedlife at Richmond. "And a very pleasant time it ought to havebeen to the Queen, for every species of entertainment was theregot up by the handsome young king and his gallant company ofcourtiers, for her particular gratification. There was a grandtournament on the green, before the palace, which was renderedbrilliant with pavilions, and the other gay structures alwayserected for these chivalrous ceremonies. The King and Queentook their places in the customary elevated position, surroundedby the nobles and beauties of the Court, to witness the feats ofarms of the many gallant knights who had thronged to displaytheir prowess before their sovereign; these, with their esquires,the heralds, pages, and other attendants, mounted and on foot,clad in their gay apparel, the knights wearing handsome suitsof armour, and careering on gaily caparisoned horses, made avery inspiriting scene, in which the interest deepened when theusual combats between individuals or select companies commenced."[35]

The spectacle presented was one of great splendour; for "thecommencement of the reign of Henry VIII., who was thenstyled by his loving subjects 'the rose without a thorn,' witnesseda remarkable revival of magnificence in personaldecoration. So brilliant were the dresses of both sexes atthe grand entertainment over which the King and Queenpresided at Richmond, that it is difficult to convey an adequateidea of their splendour. But in the first half of the sixteenthcentury the principal Courts of Europe were distinguished by asimilar love of display, which, though it fostered habits ofluxury, afforded an extraordinary impulse towards art."[37] InEngland the love of finery became so general among the peoplethat several statutes were passed during Henry's reign to restrainit. But while the King was quite willing that his subjects shouldobserve due propriety in regard to their own dress and adornments,not exceeding the regulations laid down for theirparticular rank or station in life, he was lavish in his ownexpenditure, and it pleased the people to see Henry dressedin kingly fashion. He greatly increased his own popularity bytaking part in the tournaments, in which "he did exceedinglywell"; and he also assisted in the several curious and picturesquemasques of Christmastide.

On one occasion the King with some of the chief nobles ofhis Court appeared apparelled as Robin Hood and his foresters,in which disguise he entered unexpectedly into the Queen'schamber, "whereat," says Holinshed, "the Queen and herladies were greatly amazed, as well for the strange sight asfor the sudden appearance."

notwithstanding that the King's domestic affairs were managedby "a good number of honourable, virtuous, wise, expert, anddiscreet persons of his Council." The preserved bills of fareshow that the Court diet was liberal generally, but especiallysumptuous at the grand entertainments of Christmas. And theRoyal Household Accounts also show increased expenditure forthe diversions, as well as for the banquetings, of the festival.For instance, the payments to the Lord of Misrule, which inHenry the Seventh's time never exceeded £6 13s. 4d., wereraised by Henry the Eighth in his first year to £8 6s. 8d., andsubsequently to £15 6s. 8d. In the first year is a payment to"Rob Amadas upon his bill for certain plate of gold stuf boughtof him for the disguisings," £451 12s. 2d.; and another to"Willm. Buttry upon his bill for certen sylks bought of him forthe disguisings," £133 7s. 5d. In the sixth year are charges"To Leonard Friscobald for diverse velvets, and other sylks, forthe disguising," £247 12s. 7d.; and "To Richard Gybson forcerten apparell, &c., for the disguysing at the fest of Cristemeslast," £137 14s. ½d. Considerable payments are made to thesame Gybson in after years for the same purpose, particularly inthe eleventh, for revels, called a Maskelyn. In the tenth yearlarge rewards were given to the gentlemen and children of theKing's Chapel; the former having £13 6s. 8d. "for their goodattendance in Xtemas"; and "Mr. Cornisse for playing afforethe King opon newyeres day at nyght with the children,"£6 13s. 4d.

Hall, in his Chronicle, Henry VIII. folio 15b, 16a, gives thefollowing account of a

where the King was keeping his Christmas in 1512: "On thedaie of the Epiphanie, at night, the King with XI others, werdisguised after the maner of Italie, called a maske, a thing notseen afore in England; thei were appareled in garments longand brode, wrought all with gold, with visers and cappes ofgold; and after the banket doen, these maskers came in withsix gentlemen disguised in silke, bearing staffe torches, anddesired the ladies to daunce: some were content, and some thatnew the fashion of it refused, because it was a thing not101commonly seen. And after thei daunced and communedtogether, as the fashion of the maske is, thei tooke their leaveand departed, and so did the quene and all the ladies."

In 1521 the King kept his Christmas at Greenwich "withgreat nobleness and open court," and again in 1525. In 1527,he received the French Embassy here, and also kept hisChristmas "with revels, masks, disguisings, and banquetsroyal;" as he did again in 1533, in 1537, and in 1543; the last-mentionedyear "he entertained twenty-one of the Scottishnobility whom he had taken prisoners at Salom Moss, and gavethem their liberty without ransom."[38]

On all these occasions Henry diverted his guests rightroyally, spending vast sums on the masques and disguisings;but none of the Christmas diversions proved greater attractionsthan

To these splendid exercises Henry gave unremitting attention,and not to display proficiency in them was almost to losehis favour; yet some discretion was required to rival, but notto excel the King, whose ardent temper could not brooksuperiority in another. But, although victory was alwaysreserved for royalty, it is but fair to allow that the King wasno mean adept in those pursuits for which his bodily powersand frequent exercise had qualified him.

Among the most distinguished Knights of Henry's CourtCharles Brandon was pre-eminent, not only for his personalbeauty and the elegance that attended every movement whichthe various evolutions of the game required, but for his courage,judgment, and skill, qualities which he displayed to greatadvantage at the royal festivities. This celebrated man wasthe son of Sir William Brandon, who, bearing the standard ofHenry the Seventh, was slain by Richard the Third at BosworthField. Three sons of the Howard family were also distinguishedat the royal tournaments. Lord Thomas Howard was one ofthe most promising warriors, and, unfortunately, one of themost dissolute men at the Court of Henry. Sir Edward andSir Edmund Howard, the one famed for naval exploits, theother less remarkable, but not without celebrity for courage.Sir Thomas Knevet, Master of the Horse, and Lord Neville,brother to the Marquis of Dorset, were also prominent in thelists of combat. The trumpets blew to the field the fresh,young gallants and noblemen, gorgeously apparelled withcurious devices of arts and of embroideries, "as well in theircoats as in trappers for their horses; some in gold, some insilver, some in tinsel, and divers others in goldsmith's workgoodly to behold." Such was the array in which the youngknights came forth at Richmond, in the splendid tournamentwhich immediately succeeded Henry's coronation, "assuming102the name and devices of the knights or scholars of Pallas,clothed in garments of green velvet, carrying a crystal shield,on which was pourtrayed the goddess Minerva, and had thebases and barbs of their horses embroidered with roses andpomegranates of gold; those of Diana were decorated with thebramble-bush, displayed in a similar manner. The prize ofvalour was the crystal shield. Between the lists the spectatorswere amused with a pageant, representing a park enclosed withpales, containing fallow deer, and attended by foresters andhuntsmen. The park being moved towards the place where thequeen sat, the gates were opened, the deer were let out,pursued by greyhounds, killed and presented by Diana'schampions to the Queen and the ladies. Thus were theyincluded in the amusement, not only as observers, but asparticipators; nor were the populace without their share ofenjoyments; streams of Rhenish wine and of claret, whichflowed from the mouths of animals sculptured in stone andwood, were appropriated to their refreshment. Night closedon the joyous scene; but before its approach the King, perceivingthat the ardour of the combatants had become intemperateand dangerous, wisely limited the number of strokes, and closedthe tourney.

"It was about this period that the tournament ceased to bemerely a chivalric combat; and, united with the pageant,acquired more of the dramatic character. The pageant consistedof a temporary building, moved on biers, generallyrepresenting castles, rocks, mountains, palaces, gardens, orforests. The decoration of these ambulating scenes wasattended with considerable expense, but was seldom conductedwith taste or consistency. They generally contained figures,personating a curious medley of nymphs, savages, heathengods, and Christian saints, giants and the nine worthies, whodescended and danced among the spectators.

"On the night of the Epiphany (1516) a pageant was introducedinto the hall at Richmond, representing a hill studdedwith gold and precious stones, and having on its summit a treeof gold, from which hung roses and pomegranates. From thedeclivity of the hill descended a lady richly attired, who, withthe gentlemen, or, as they were then called, children of honour,danced a morris before the King.

"On another occasion, in the presence of the Court, anartificial forest was drawn in by a lion and an antelope, thehides of which were richly embroidered with golden ornaments;the animals were harnessed with chains of gold, and oneach sat a fair damsel in gay apparel. In the midst of theforest, which was thus introduced, appeared a gilded tower,at the gates of which stood a youth, holding in his hands agarland of roses, as the prize of valour in a tournament whichsucceeded the pageant."[39]

The royal magnificence was imitated by the nobility andgentry of the period, who kept the Christmas festival with muchdisplay and prodigality, maintaining such numerous retinues asto constitute a miniature court. The various household booksthat still exist show the state in which they lived. From thatof the Northumberland family (1512), it appears that the"Almonar" was often "a maker of Interludys," and had "aservaunt to the intent for writynge the parts." The persons onthe establishment of the Chapel performed plays from somesacred subject during Christmas; as "My lorde usith andaccustomyth to gyf yerely, if his lordship kepe a chapell and beat home, them of his lordschipes chapell, if they doo play thePlay of the Nativitie uppon Cristynmes day in the mornnyngein my lords chapell befor his lordship, xxs." Other playerswere also permitted and encouraged, and a Master of theRevells appointed to superintend. And "My lorde useth andaccustomyth yerly to gyf hym which is ordynede to be Masterof the Revells yerly in my lordis hous in Cristmas for theoverseyinge and orderinge of his lordschips Playes, Interludes,and Dresinge that is plaid befor his lordship in his hous in theXII dayes of Christenmas, and they to have in rewarde for thatcaus yerly, xxs." Another entry shows that 13s. 4d. was theprice paid to the chaplain, William Peres, in the 17th HenryVIII., "for makyng an Enterlued to be playd this nextChristenmas."

In this reign the working classes were allowed greaterprivileges at Christmas than at any other part of the year.The Act of 11 Henry VII. c. 2, against unlawful games, expresslyforbids Artificers, Labourers, Servants, or Apprentices,to play at any such games, except at Christmas, and then onlyin their masters' houses by the permission of the latter; and apenalty of 6s. 8d. was incurred by any householder allowingsuch games, except during those holidays; which, according toStow, extended from All-hallows evening to the day afterCandlemas Day. The Act of 33 Henry VIII. c. 9, enacts moreparticularly, "That no manner of Artificer or Craftsman of anyhandicraft or occupation, Husbandman, Apprentice, Labourer,Servant at husbandry, Journeyman, or Servant of Artificer,Mariners, Fishermen, Watermen, or any Serving-man, shallfrom the said feast of the Nativity ofSt. John Baptist, play atthe Tables, Tennis, Dice, Cards, Bowls, Clash, Coyting, Logating,or any other unlawful Game, out ofChristmas, under thepain of xxs. to be forfeit for every time; and inChristmas toplay at any of the said Games in their Masters' houses, or intheir Masters' presence."

In his description of the "mummings and masquerades" of thisperiod, Strutt [40] says that the "mummeries" practised by the104lower classes of the people usually took place at the Christmasholidays; and such persons as could not procure masks rubbedtheir faces over with soot, or painted them; hence SebastianBrant, in his "Ship of Fools" (translated by Alexander Barclay,and printed by Pynson, in 1508) alluding to this custom, says:

Sandys,[41] in reference to this period, says: "The lower classes,still practising the ceremonies and superstitions of their forefathers,added to them some imitations of the revelries of theirsuperiors, but, as may be supposed, of a grosser description; andmany abuses were committed. It was, therefore, found necessaryby an Act passed in the 3rd year of Henry VIII. to order that noperson should appear abroad like mummers, covering their faceswith vizors, and in disguised apparel, under pain of three months'imprisonment; and a penalty of 20s. was declared against suchas kept vizors in their house for the purpose of mumming. Itwas not intended, however, to debar people from proper recreationsduring this season, but, on the contrary, we have reason tobelieve that many indulgencies were afforded them, and thatlandlords and masters assisted them with the means of enjoyingthe customary festivities; listening to their tales of legendarylore, round the yule block, when weary of more boisteroussports, and encouraging them by their presence."

In the 17th year of his reign, in consequence of the prevalenceof the plague in London, the King kept his Christmas quietlyin the old palace at Eltham, whence it was called the "stillChristmas." This suppression of the mirth and jollity whichwere the usual concomitants of the festive season did not satisfythe haughty Cardinal Wolsey, who "laye at the Manor ofRichemond, and there kept open householde, to lordes, ladies,and all other that would come, with plaies and disguisyng inmost royall maner; whiche sore greved the people, and inespeciall the Kynges servauntes, to se hym kepe an open Courtand the Kyng a secret Court."[42]

subsequently kept, however, made amends for the cessation offestivities at the Kyng's "Still Christmas," especially the royalcelebrations at Greenwich. In 1527 the "solemne Christmas"held there was "with revels, maskes, disguisings, and banquets;and on the thirtieth of December and the third of January weresolemne Justs holden, when at night the King and fifteen other105with him, came to Bridewell, and there putting on maskingapparell, took his barge, and rowed to the Cardinall's (Woolsey)place, where were at supper many Lords and Ladyes, whodanced with the maskers, and after the dancing was madea great Banquet."[43]

During the girlhood of the Princess (afterwards Queen) Mary,entertainments were given for her amusement, especially atChristmastide; and she gave presents to the King's players, thechildren of the Chapel, and others. But, Sandys says, that "asshe grew up, and her temper got soured, she probably lost allenjoyment of such scenes." Ellis, in his "Original Letters,"gives a curious application from the Council for the householdof the Lady Mary to the Cardinal Wolsey, to obtain his directionsand leave to celebrate the ensuing Christmas. In thisletter the reader is reminded of the long train of sports andmerriment which made Christmas cheerful to our ancestors.The Cardinal, at the same time that he established a householdfor the young Duke of Richmond, had also "ordained a council,and stablished another household for the Lady Mary, thenbeingPrincess of the Realm."[44] The letter which seems to havebeen written in the same year in which the household wasestablished, 1525, is as follows:—

"Please it youre Grace for the great repaire of straungers supposedunto the Pryncesse honorable householde this solempnefest of Cristmas, We humbly beseche the same to let us knoweyoure gracious pleasure concernyng as well a ship of silver forthe almes disshe requysite for her high estate, and spice plats,as also for trumpetts and a rebek to be sent, and whither weshall appoynte any Lord of Mysrule for the said honorablehouseholde, provide for enterluds, disgysyngs, or pleyes in thesaid fest, or for banket on twelf nyght. And in likewise whitherthe Pryncesse shall sende any newe yeres gifts to the Kinge, theQuene, your Grace, and the Frensshe Quene, and of the valueand devise of the same. Besechyng yowre Grace also to pardonoure busy and importunate suts to the same in suche behalfmade. Thus oure right syngler goode lorde we pray the holyTrynyte have you in his holy preservacion. At Teoxbury, thexxvij day of November.

The great Reformer, Martin Luther, took much interest inthe festivities of Christmastide, including, of course, the106Christmas-tree. One of his biographers [45] tells how youngLuther, with other boys of Mansfeld, a village to the north-westof Eisleben, sang Christmas carols "in honour of the Babe ofBethlehem." And the same writer says, "Luther may be justlyregarded as the central representative of the Reformation in itsearly period, for this among other reasons—that he, morepowerfully than any other, impressed upon the new doctrinethe character of glad tidings of great joy." On Christmas Day,1521, Martin Luther "administered the communion in bothkinds, and almost without discrimination of applicants," in theparish church of Eisenach, his "beloved town."

In England, the desire for some reform in the Church wasrecognised even by Cardinal Wolsey, who obtained from thePope permission to suppress thirty monasteries, and use theirrevenues for educational purposes; and Wolsey's schemes ofreform might have progressed further if Henry VIII. had notbeen fascinated by Anne Boleyn. But the King's amour withthe "little lively brunette" precipitated a crisis in the relationsbetween Church and State. Henry, who, by virtue of a papaldispensation, had married his brother's widow, Katherine, now

needed papal consent to a divorce, that he might marry AnneBoleyn, and when he found that he could not obtain it, heresolved to be his own Pope, "sole protector and supreme headof the Church and clergy of England." And among the events

of Christmastide may be mentioned the resolution of the King'sminister, Thomas Cromwell, and his party, in 1533, to breakthe ecclesiastical connection with Rome, and establish anindependent Church in England. The necessary Bills were108framed and introduced to Parliament soon after the Christmasholidays by Cromwell, who for his successful services was madeChancellor of the Exchequer for life. Authority in all mattersecclesiastical, as well as civil, was vested solely in the Crown,and the "courts spiritual" became as thoroughly the King'scourts as the temporal courts at Westminster. The enslavementof the clergy, the dissolution of the monasteries, and thegagging of the pulpits followed, the years of Cromwell'sadministration being an English reign of terror. But the ruthlessmanner in which he struck down his victims sickened theEnglish people, and they exhibited their disapprobation in amanner which arrested the attention of the King. The timeof Cromwell himself was coming, for the block was the goal towhich Henry's favourite minister was surely hastening; andit is only anticipating events by very few years, to say thathe was beheaded on Tower Hill, July 28, 1540.

That following the execution of Anne Boleyn (1536), Henryspent in the company of his third Queen, Jane Seymour, atRichmond Palace, with a merry party, and subsequently crossedthe frozen Thames to Greenwich. During the following summerthe Queen went with her husband on a progress, and in theautumn retired to Hampton Court, where she gave birth toa son (who became Edward VI.), and died twelve days afterwards,on the 14th of October, 1537.

During the married life of Queen Jane, the Princess Marywas often with the Court at Richmond, affecting affectionateattachment for the Queen, apparently to conciliate her father.The birth of a prince, followed by the death of the queen,it might have been thought would have a chastening effect uponMary, as somewhat altering her prospects; but after actingas chief mourner to her friendly stepmother, she spent apleasant Christmas at Richmond, where she remained tillFebruary. Her losses at cards during the Christmas festivitieswere very considerable, for she was fond of gambling. Andshe appears to have also amused herself a good deal with herattendant, "Jane the Fool," to whose maintenance she contributedwhile staying at Richmond. One curious entry in theHousehold Book of the Princess Mary is: "Item, for shavingJane fooles hedde, iiiid." Another is: "Item, geven Heywood,playeng an enterlude with his children before my Ladye'sgrace xls."

at Deal, on the 27th of December. King Henry had becomealarmed at the combination between France and Spain, and hisunprincipled Chancellor, Cromwell, desirous of regaining his109lost influence with the King, recommended a Protestantmarriage. He told Henry that Anne, daughter of John III.,Duke of Cleves, was greatly extolled for her beauty and goodsense, and that by marrying her he would acquire the friendshipof the Princes of Germany, in counterpoise to the designs ofFrance and Spain. Henry despatched Hans Holbein to takethe lady's portrait, and, being delighted with the picture produced,soon concluded a treaty of marriage, and sent the LordAdmiral Fitzwilliam, Earl of Southampton, to receive thePrincess at Calais, and conduct her to England. On her arrivalHenry was greatly disappointed. He did not think the Princessas charming as her portrait; and, unfortunately for her, shewas unable to woo him with winning words, for she couldspeak no language but German, and of that Henry did notunderstand a word. Though not ugly (as many contemporariestestify), she was plain in person and manners, and she and hermaidens, of whom she brought a great train, are said to havebeen as homely and awkward a bevy as ever came to Englandin the cause of Royal matrimony. The Royal Bluebeard, whohad consorted with such celebrated beauties as Anne Boleynand Jane Seymour, recollecting what his queens had been, andwhat Holbein and Cromwell had told him should again be,entered the presence of Anne of Cleves with great anticipation,but was thunderstruck at the first sight of the reality. Lord JohnRussell, who was present, declared "that he had never seen hishighness so marvellously astonished and abashed as on thatoccasion." The marriage was celebrated on the 6th of January,1540, but Henry never became reconciled to his Germanqueen; and he very soon vented his anger upon Cromwell forbeing the means of bringing him, not a wife, but "a greatFlanders mare."

The fine old tower of Magdalen College, embowered inverdure (as though decorated for Christmas), is one of the mostpicturesque of the venerable academical institutions of Oxford.It stands on the east side of the Cherwell, and is the firstobject of interest to catch the eye of the traveller who entersthe city from the London Road. This college was the scene ofmany Christmas festivities in the olden time, when it was thecustom of the several colleges to elect a "Christmas Lord, orLord of Misrule, styled in the registersRex Fabarum andRexRegni Fabarum; which custom continued till the Reformationof Religion, and then that producing Puritanism, and PuritanismPresbytery, the profession of it looked upon such laudable andingenious customs as Popish, diabolical and anti-Christian."[46]Queen's College, Oxford (whose members have from timeimmemorial been daily summoned to dine in hall by sound110of trumpet, instead of by bell as elsewhere), is noted for itsancient Christmas ceremony of ushering in the boar's head withthe singing of the famous carol—

Tradition says that this old custom commemorates the deliveranceof a student of the college, who, while walking in thecountry, studying Aristotle, was attacked by a wild boar fromShotover Forest, whereupon he crammed the philosopher downthe throat of the savage, and thus escaped from its tusks.

Warton [47] mentions that, "in an original draught of theStatutes of Trinity College, at Cambridge, founded in 1546, oneof the chapters is entitledDe Præfecto Ludorum qui Imperatordicitur, under whose direction and authority Latin Comedies111and Tragedies are to be exhibited in the hall at Christmas.With regard to the peculiar business and office of Imperatorit is ordered that one of the Masters of Arts shall be placedover the juniors, every Christmas, for the regulation of theirgames and diversions at that season of festivity. At the sametime, he is to govern the whole society in the hall and chapel,as a republic committed to his special charge by a set of lawswhich he is to frame in Latin and Greek verse. His sovereigntyis to last during the twelve days of Christmas, and he is toexercise the same power on Candlemas. His fee amountedto forty shillings. Similar customs were observed at othercolleges during Christmastide. In a subsequent chapter of thiswork will be found an account of a grand exhibition of theChristmas Prince, at St. John's College, Oxford, in the year1607.

In the time of Henry the Eighth the Christmases at the Innsof Court became celebrated, especially those at Lincoln's Inn,which had kept them as early as the reign of Henry VI. TheTemples and Gray's Inn afterwards disputed the palm with it.112Every Corporation appointed a Lord of Misrule or Master ofMerry Disports, and, according to Stow, there was the like"in the house of every nobleman of honour or good worship,were he spiritual or temporal." And during the period of thesway of the Lord of Misrule, "there were fine and subtledisguisings, masks, and mummeries, with playing at cards forcounters, nails, and points in every house, more for pastimethan for gain." Town and country would seem to have viedwith each other as to which should exhibit the greatest extravagancein the Christmas entertainments, but (as in the days ofMassinger the poet), the town carried off the palm:—

The earliest particular account of the regulations for conductingone of these grand Christmases is in the 9th of HenryVIII.,[48] when, besides the King for Christmas Day, the Marshaland the Master of the Revels, it is ordered that the King ofCockneys, on Childermas Day, should sit and have due service,and "that Jack Straw, and all his adherents, should be thenceforthutterly banished, and no more to be used in this house,upon pain to forfeit for every time five pounds, to be leviedon every fellow hapning to offend against this rule." "JackStraw" was a kind of masque, which was very much dislikedby the aristocratic and elder part of the community, hence theamount of the fine imposed. The Society of Gray's Inn, however,in 1527, got into a worse scrape than permitting JackStraw and his adherents, for they acted a play (the first onrecord at the Inns of Court) during this Christmas, the effectwhereof was, that Lord Governance was ruled by Dissipationand Negligence, by whose evil order Lady Public Weal wasput from Governance. Cardinal Wolsey, conscience-smitten,thought this to be a reflection on himself, and deprived theauthor, Sergeant Roe, of his coif, and committed him to theFleet, together with Thomas Moyle, one of the actors, untilit was satisfactorily explained to him.

It was found necessary from time to time to make regulationsto limit the extent of these revels and plays, and to provide forthe expenses, which were considerable, and they were thereforenot performed every year. In 1531 the Lincoln's Inn Societyagreed that if the two Temples kept Christmas, they would alsodo so, not liking to be outdone. And later an order was madein Gray's Inn that no Comedies, commonly called Interludes,should be acted in the refectory in the intervals of vacation,except at the celebration of Christmas; and that then the whole113body of students should jointly contribute towards the dresses,scenes, and decorations.

As an example of the Christmas hospitality of the period, werefer to the establishment of John Carminow, whose family wasof high repute in the county of Cornwall in the time of Henrythe Eighth. Hals says that "he kept open house for all comersand goers, drinkers, minstrells, dancers, and what not, during theChristmas time, and that his usual allowance of provision forthose twelve days, was twelve fat bullocks, twenty Cornishbushels of wheat (i.e., fifty Winchesters), thirty-six sheep, withhogs, lambs, and fowls of all sort, and drink made of wheat andoat-malt proportionable; for at that time barley-malt was littleknown or used in those parts."

That the beneficed clergy of this period also "made merry"with their parishioners is quite clear from the writings of"Master Hugh Latimer," who, in Henry's reign, held thebenefice of West Kington, in Wiltshire. A citation for heresybeing issued against Latimer, he wrote with his peculiar medleyof humour and pathos: "I intend to make merry with myparishioners this Christmas, for all the sorrow, lest perchanceI may never return to them again."

This famous fool enlivened the Christmas festivities at theCourt of Henry the Eighth, and many quaint stories are toldof his drolleries and witticisms. Though a reputed fool, hissarcastic wit and sparkling talents at repartee won him greatcelebrity. Very little is known of his actual biography, butsome interesting things are told about him in a scarce tract,entitled "A pleasant History of the Life and Death of WillSomers," &c. (which was first published in 1676, and a greatpart of which is said to have been taken from Andrew Borde'scollection of "The Merry Jests and Witty Shifts of Scoggin")."And now who but Will Sommers, the King's Fool? who hadgot such an interest in him by his quick and facetious jests, thathe could have admittance to his Majesty's Chamber, and havehis ear, when a great nobleman, nay, a privy counsellor, couldnot be suffered to speak with him: and farther, if the Kingwere angry or displeased with anything, if no man else durstdemand the cause of his discontent, then was Will Sommersprovided with one pleasant conceit or another, to take off theedge of his displeasure. Being of an easy and tractable dispositionhe soon found the fashions of the court, and obtaineda general love and notice of the nobility; for he was no carry-tale,nor flattering insinuator to breed discord and dissension,but an honest, plain, downright [man], that would speak homewithout halting, and tell the truth of purpose to shame the devil—sothat his plainness, mixed with a kind of facetiousness, and114tartness with pleasantry, made him acceptable into the companyof all men." There cannot, perhaps, be a greater proof of theestimation in which Somers was held by King Henry, thanthe circumstance of his portrait having been twice introducedinto the same piece with that of the King; once in the finepicture by Holbein of Henry VIII. and his family, and again, inan illuminated Psalter which was expressly written for theKing, by John Mallard, his chaplain and secretary ("RegisOrator et Calamo"), and is now preserved in the BritishMuseum. According to an ancient custom, there is prefixedto Psalm lii., "dixit incipens" in the Psalter, a miniatureillumination of King David and a Fool, whose figures, in thisinstance, are portraits of Henry VIII. and his favourite WillSomers. The King is seated at a kind of altar table, andplaying on the harp, whilst Somers who is standing near him,with his hands clasped over his breast, appears to listen withadmiration. The King wears a round flat cap, furred, and avest of imperial purple striped with gold, and fluted at bottom;his doublet is red, padded with white; his hose crimson; onhis right leg is a blue garter. Somers is in a vest, with a hoodthrown over the back; his stockings are blue; at his girdle isa black pouch.

When Henry VIII. became old and inactive, his Christmasesgrew gradually duller, until he did little more than sit out aplay or two, and gamble with his courtiers, his Christmas play-moneyrequiring a special draught upon the treasury, usually fora hundred pounds. He died on January 28, 1547.

CHAPTER VII.

CHRISTMAS UNDER EDWARD VI., MARY,AND ELIZABETH.

(1547-1603.)

During the short reign of the youthful monarch Edward theSixth (1547-1553), the splendour of the Royal Christmasessomewhat abated, though they were still continued; and theKing being much grieved at the condemnation of the Duke ofSomerset, his uncle and Protector, it was thought expedient todivert his mind by additional pastimes at the Christmasfestival, 1551-2. "It was devised," says Holinshed, "that thefeast of Christ's nativitie, commonlie called Christmasse, thenat hand, should be solemnlie kept at Greenwich, with openhoushold, and franke resort to Court (which is called keepingof the hall), what time of old ordinarie course there is alwaiseone appointed to make sport in the court, commonlie Lord ofMisrule; whose office is not unknown to such as have beenbrought up in noblemen's houses, and among great housekeepers,who use liberall feasting in that season. There was thereforeby order of the Councell, a wise gentleman, and learned, namedGeorge Ferrers, appointed to that office for this yeare; who,being of better credit and estimation than comonlie his predecessorshad been before, received all his commissions andwarrants by the name of the maister of the King's pastimes.Which gentleman so well supplied his office, both in show ofsundry sights and devices of rare inventions, and in act ofdiverse interludes, and matters of pastime plaied by persons, asnot onlie satisfied the common sort, but also were verie wellliked and allowed by the Councell, and other of skill in the likepastimes; but best of all by the young King himselfe, asappeered by his princelie liberalitie in rewarding that service."The old chronicler quaintly adds, that "Christmas being thuspassed with much mirth and pastime, it was thought now goodto proceed to the execution of the judgment against the Duke116of Somerset." The day of execution was the 22nd of January,1552, six weeks after the passing of the sentence.

King Edward took part in some of the Christmas masquesperformed at his Court, with other youths of his age and stature,all the performers being suitably attired in costly garments.Will Somers also figured in some of these masques. The youngKing seems to have found more amusement in the pageantssuperintended by Master Ferrers than he had gained from someof the solemnities of the state in which he had been obliged toplay a prominent part; but none of the diversions restored himto good health. Large sums of money were expended on theseChristmas entertainments, and the King handsomely rewardedthe Master of his pastimes.

George Ferrers, who was a lawyer, a poet, and an historian,was certainly well qualified for his task, and well supplied withthe means of making sport, as "Master of the King's Pastimes."He complained to Sir Thomas Cawarden that the dressesprovided for his assistants were not sufficient, and immediatelyan order was given for better provision. He provided clowns,jugglers, tumblers, men to dance the fool's dance, besides beingassisted by the "Court Fool" of the time—John Smyth. Thisman was newly supplied for the occasion, having a long fool'scoat of yellow cloth of gold, fringed all over with white, red,and green velvet, containing 7½ yards at £2 per yard, guardedwith plain yellow cloth of gold, 4 yards at 33s. 4d. per yard;with a hood and a pair of buskins of the same figured goldcontaining 2½ yards at £5, and a girdle of yellow sarsenetcontaining one quarter 16d., the whole value of "thefool's dress" being £26 14s. 8d. Ferrers, as the "Lord ofMisrule" wore a robe of rich stuff made of silk and goldenthread containing 9 yards at 16s. a yard, guarded withembroidered cloth of gold, wrought in knots, 14 yards at11s. 4d. a yard; having fur of red feathers, with a cape ofcamlet thrum. A coat of flat silver, fine with works, 5 yardsat 50s., with an embroidered garb of leaves of gold and colouredsilk, containing 15 yards at 20s. a yard. He wore a cap ofmaintenance, hose buskins, panticles of Bruges satin, a girdle ofyellow sarsenet with various decorations, the cost of his dressbeing £52 8s. 8d., which, considering the relative value ofmoney, must be considered a very costly dress.

The office which George Ferrers so ably filled had beentoo often held by those who possessed neither the wit northe genius it required; but, originally, persons of high rank andability had been chosen to perform these somewhat difficultduties. Ferrers received £100 for the charges of his office;and afterwards the Lord Mayor, who probably had been at theRoyal festival, entertained him in London. The cost of theRoyal festivities exceeded £700.

Stowe, in his "Annals," thus refers to the celebration: "TheKing kept his Christmasse with open houshold at Greenwich,117George Ferrers, Gentleman of Lincolnes Inne, being Lord ofthe merry Disports all the 12 dayes, who so pleasantly andwisely behaved himselfe, that the King had great delight in hispastimes. On Monday the fourth of January, the said Lord ofMerry Disports came by water to London, and landed at theTower-wharfe, entered the Tower, and then rode through theTower-streete, where he was received by Sergeant Vawce, Lordof Misrule to John Mainard, one of the Sheriffes of London, andso conducted through the Citie with a great company of youngLords and gentlemen, to the house of Sir George Barne, LordMaior; where he, with the chiefe of his company dined, andafter had a great banquet; and, at his departure, the LordMaior gave him a standing cup, with a cover of silver and gilt,of the value of ten pounds, for a reward; and also set a hogs-headof wine, and a barrell of beere, at his gate, for his trainethat followed him; the residue of his gentlemen and servantsdined at other Aldermen's houses, and with the sheriffes, and sodeparted to the Tower wharfe againe, and to the Court by water,to the great commendation of the Maior and Aldermen, andhighly accepted of the King and Councell."

occupied public attention throughout the reign of Edward VI.The young king was willing to support the reforming projectsof Archbishop Cranmer, and assented to the publication of thenew Liturgy in the Prayer Book of 1549, and the Act ofUniformity. And with the sanction of the sovereign, Cranmer,in 1552, issued a revised Liturgy, known as the Second PrayerBook of King Edward VI., and the Forty-two Articles, whichwere markedly Protestant in tendency. On his health failing,the King, acting on the advice of the Duke of Northumberland,altered the settlement of the crown as arranged in the will ofHenry VIII., and made a will excluding Mary and Elizabethfrom the succession in favour of Lady Jane Grey, daughter-in-lawof Northumberland, which was sanctioned by ArchbishopCranmer and the Privy Council. Although Cranmer hadsanctioned this act with great reluctance, and on the assuranceof the judges, it sufficed to secure his condemnation for hightreason on Mary's accession. Edward sank rapidly and diedon July 6, 1553.

but the people refused to recognise the usurpation. After abrief reign of eleven days,

daughter of Henry VIII. and Catherine of Arragon, and Lady JaneGrey and her husband were sent to the Tower, and subsequently118condemned to death. They were kept in captivity for sometime, and were not executed until after Wyatt's rebellion in 1554.

Mary was a firm Roman Catholic,and she looked to her uncle, Charles V.of Spain, for assistance and support.In January, 1554, much to the disappointmentof her subjects, she concludeda treaty of marriage with Philipof Spain, son of Charles V. Afterwardsher reign was disturbed byinsurrections, and also by the persecutionof Protestants by Cardinal Pole,who came over to England to pushforward the Roman Catholic reaction.

was not congenial to Christmas festivities,though they were still kept upin different parts of the country. Duringthe Christmas festival (January 2,1554) a splendid embassy, sent by theEmperor, Charles the Fifth, headed bythe Counts Egmont and Lalain, the Lordof Courrieres, and the Sieur de Nigry,landed in Kent, to arrange the marriagebetween Queen Mary and Philip. Theunpopularity of the proceeding wasimmediately manifested, for the men of Kent, taking Egmontfor Philip, rose in fury and would have killed him if they couldhave got at him. Although an attempt was made to allay thefears of the English, within a few days three insurrections brokeout in different parts of the kingdom, the most formidablebeing that under Sir Thomas Wyatt, who fixed his headquartersat Rochester. In city and court alike panic prevailed. Thelawyers in Westminster Hall pleaded in suits of armour hiddenunder their robes, and Dr. Weston preached before the Queenin Whitehall Chapel, on Candlemas Day, in armour under hisclerical vestments. Mary alone seemed calm and self-possessed.She mounted her horse, and, attended by her ladies and herCouncil, rode into the City, where, summoning Sir Thomas White,Lord Mayor, and the Aldermen, who all came clad in armourunder their civic livery, she ascended a chair of State, and withher sceptre in her hand addressed them, declaring she wouldnever marry except with the leave of her Parliament. Hercourage gained the day. The rebellion was speedily quelledand the ringleaders put to death; and the following July themarriage took place. Mary's subsequent reign was a "reign ofterror, a time of fire and blood, such as has no parallel in thehistory of England."[49]

During her "reign of terror" Queen Mary was diverted byChristmas plays and pageants, and she showed some interest in theamusements of the people. Strutt's "Sports and Pastimes," in anarticle on the "Antiquity of Tumbling," says: "It would seemthat these artists were really famous mirth-makers; for one ofthem had the address to excite the merriment of that solemn bigotQueen Mary. 'After her Majesty,' observes Strype, 'had reviewedthe royal pensioners in Greenwich Park, there came a tumbler,and played many pretty feats, the Queen and Cardinal Polelooking on; whereat she was observed to laugh heartily.'"Strutt also mentions that "when Mary visited her sister, thePrincess Elizabeth, during her confinement at Hatfield House,the next morning, after mass, a grand exhibition of bear-baitingwas made for their amusement, with which, it is said, 'theirhighnesses were right well content.'" The idle pageantry ofthe Boy-bishop, which had been formally abrogated by proclamationfrom the King, in the thirty-third year of Henry VIII.,was revived by his daughter Mary. Strutt says that "in thesecond year of her reign an edict, dated November 13, 1554,was issued from the Bishop of London to all the clergy of hisdiocese, to have a Boy-bishop in procession. The year following,'the child Bishop, of Paules Church, with his company,'were admitted into the Queen's privy chamber, where he sangbefore her on Saint Nicholas Day, and upon Holy InnocentsDay. After the death of Mary this silly mummery was totallydiscontinued."

The Christmas entertainments of Philip and Mary at Richmondare thus described by Folkstone Williams:[50] "The Queenstrove to entertain her Royal husband with masques, notwithstandingthat he had seen many fair and rich beyond the seas;and Nicholas Udall, the stern schoolmaster, was ordered tofurnish the drama. An idea of these performances may begathered from the properties of a masque of patrons of gallieslike Venetian senators with galley-slaves for their torch-bearers,represented at Court in Christmas of the first and second yearsof Philip and Mary, with a Masque of six Venuses, or amorousladies, with six Cupids, and as many torch-bearers. Amongthem were lions' heads, sixteen other headpieces, made inquaint fashion for the Turkish magistrates, as well as eightfalchions for them, the sheaths covered with green velvet, andbullioned with copper. There were eight headpieces forwomen-masks, goddesses and huntresses. A masque of eightmariners, of cloth of gold and silver, and six pairs of chains forthe galley slaves. Another mask of goddesses and huntresses,with Turks, was performed on the following Shrovetide; andone of six Hercules, or men of war, coming from the sea withsix Mariners to their torch-bearers, was played a little later.120Besides which, we find mention of a masque of covetous menwith long noses—a masque of men like Argus—a masque ofwomen Moors—a masque of Amazons—one of black and tawneytinsel, with baboons' faces—one of Polanders, and one of womenwith Diana hunting."

Nichols ("Progresses," vol. i. p. 18) says that in 1557 the PrincessElizabeth was present at a Royal Christmas kept with greatsolemnity by Queen Mary and King Philip at Hampton Court."On Christmas Eve, the great hall of the palace was illuminatedwith a thousand lamps curiously disposed. The Princess suppedat the same table in the hall with the King and Queen, next thecloth of state; and after supper, was served with a perfumednapkin and plates of confects by the Lord Paget. But sheretired to her ladies before the revels, maskings, and disguisingsbegan. On St. Stephen's day she heard mattins in the Queen'scloset adjoining to the chapel, where she was attired in a robeof white sattin, strung all over with large pearls. On the 29thday of December she sate with their majesties and the nobilityat a grand spectacle of justing, when two hundred spears werebroken. Half of the combatants were accoutred in the Almaineand half in the Spanish fashion. Thus our chronicler, who isfond of minute description. But these and other particularities,insignificant as they seem, which he has recorded so carefully,are a vindication of Queen Mary's character in the treatment ofher sister; they prove that the Princess, during her residence atHatfield, lived in splendour and affluence; that she was oftenadmitted to the diversions of the Court; and that her presentsituation was by no means a state of oppression and imprisonment,as it has been represented by most of ourhistorians."

on "Christmass-daye," at this period, are referred to in thefollowing translation from Naogeorgus, by Barnaby Googe:—

"Then comes the day wherein the Lorde did bring his birth to passe;Whereas at midnight up they rise, and every man to Masse,This time so holy counted is, that divers earnestlyDo think the waters all to wine are chaunged sodainly;In that same houre that Christ Himselfe was borne, and came to light,And unto water streight againe transformde and altred quight.There are beside that mindfully the money still do watch,That first to aultar commes, which then they privily do snatch.The priestes, least other should it have, take oft the same away,Whereby they thinke throughout the yeare to have good lucke in play,And not to lose: then straight at game till day-light do they strive,To make some present proofe how well their hallowde pence wil thrive.Three Masses every priest doth singe upon that solemn day,With offrings unto every one, that so the more may play.This done, a woodden childe in clowtes is on the aultar set,About the which both boyes and gyrles do daunce and trymly jet;And Carrols sing in prayse of Christ, and, for to helpe them heare,The organs aunswere every verse with sweete and solemne cheare.The priestes do rore aloude; and round about the parentes standeTo see the sport, and with their voyce do helpe them and their hande."

played a prominent part in the festivities of this period, andthe following illustration shows how they went a-mumming.

in perilous times, for plots of assassination were rife, andEngland was engaged on the side of Spain in war with France.But the alliance with Spain soon came to an end, for QueenElizabeth saw that the defence of Protestantism at home andpeace with France abroad were necessary for her own securityand the good of her subjects. She began her reign by regardingthe welfare of her people, and she soon won and never losttheir affection.

With the accession of Queen Elizabeth there was a revival ofthe courtly pomp and pageantry which were marked characteristicsof her father's reign. Just before the Christmas festival(1558) the new queen made a state entry into the metropolis,attended by a magnificent throng of nobles, ladies, and gentlemen,and a vast concourse of people from all the country round.At Highgate she was met by the bishops, who kneeled by thewayside and offered their allegiance. She received themgraciously and gave them all her hand to kiss, except Bonner,whom she treated with marked coldness, on account of hisatrocious cruelties: an intimation of her own intentions on thescore of religion which gave satisfaction to the people. In thepageantry which was got up to grace her entry into London, afigure representing "Truth" dropped from one of the triumphalarches, and laid before the young Queen a copy of the Scriptures.Holinshed says she revived the book with becoming reverence,and, pressing it to her bosom, declared that of all the gifts andhonours conferred upon her by the loyalty of the people thiswas the most acceptable. Yet Green,[51] in describing Elizabeth'sreign, says: "Nothing is more revolting in the Queen, butnothing is more characteristic, than her shameless mendacity.It was an age of political lying, but in the profusion andrecklessness of her lies Elizabeth stood without a peer inChristendom."

Sir William Fitzwilliam, writing to Mr. More, of Loseley,Surrey, a few weeks after the accession of Elizabeth, as animportant piece of Court news, says: "You shall understandthat yesterday, being Christmas Day, the Queen's Majestyrepaired to her great closet with her nobles and ladies, ashath been accustomed in such high feasts; and she, perceivinga bishop preparing himself to mass, all in the old form, tarriedthere until the gospel was done, and when all the people lookedfor her to have offered according to the old fashion, she withher nobles returned again from the closet and the mass, on toher privy chamber, which was strange unto divers. Blessed beGod in all His gifts."

During the Christmas festival (1558) preparations went on for123the coronation of Elizabeth, which was to take place on the 15thof January. On the 12th of that month she proceeded to theTower by water, attended by the lord mayor and citizens, andgreeted with peals of ordnance, with music and gorgeouspageantry—a marked contrast to her previous entrance thereas a suspected traitor in imminent peril of her life. Two dayslater the Queen rode in state from the Tower to Westminster,"most honourably accompanied, as well with gentlemen, barons,and other the nobility of this realm, as also with a notable trainof godly and beautiful ladies, richly appointed," and all ridingon horseback. The streets through which the procession passedwere adorned with stately pageants, costly decorations, andvarious artistic devices, and were crowded with enthusiasticspectators, eager to welcome their new sovereign, and toapplaud "the signs they noticed in her of a most prince-likecourage, and great readiness of wit." On the following day(Sunday, the 15th of January) Elizabeth was crowned in WestminsterAbbey, by Dr. Oglethorpe, Bishop of Carlisle, "Queenof England, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith." Theceremonials of the coronation were regulated according toancient custom, and the entertainment in Westminster Hallwas on a scale of great magnificence.

124Elizabeth was particularly fond of dramatic displays, and herfirst Royal Christmas was celebrated with plays and pageants ofa most costly description. Complaints, however, being madeof the expense of these entertainments, she determined to controlthem, and directed an estimate to be made in the secondyear of her reign for the masques and pastimes to be shownbefore her at Christmas and Shrovetide. Sir Thomas Cawardenwas then, as he had for some time previous been, Master ofthe Revels. According to Collier, the estimate amounted to£227 11s. 2d., being nearly £200 less than the expenses in theformer year. The control over the expenses, however, mustsoon have ceased, for in subsequent years the sums were greatlyenlarged.

Nichols [52] mentions that on Twelfth Day, 1559, in the afternoon,the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, and all the crafts of London,and the Bachelors of the Mayor's Company, went in processionto St. Paul's, after the old custom, and there did hear a sermon.The same day a stage was set up in the hall for a play; andafter the play was over, there was a fine mask; and, afterwards,a great banquet which lasted till midnight.

In this reign a more decorous and even refined style of entertainmenthad usurped the place of the boisterous feastings offormer times, but there was no diminution in that ancient spiritof hospitality, the exercise of which had become a part of thenational faith. This is evident from the poems of ThomasTusser (born 1515—died 1580) and other writers, who show thatthe English noblemen and yeomen of that time made hospitalitya prominent feature in the festivities of the Christmas season.In his "Christmas Husbandry Fare," Tusser says:—

"Good husband and housewife, now chiefly be gladThings handsome to have, as they ought to be had,They both do provide against Christmas do come,To welcome their neighbour, good cheer to have some;Good bread and good drink, a good fire in the hall,Brawn pudding and souse, and good mustard withal.
Beef, mutton, and pork, shred pies of the best,Pig, veal, goose, and capon, and turkey well dressed;Cheese, apples, and nuts, jolly carols to hear,As then in the country is counted good cheer.
What cost to good husband is any of this?Good household provision only it is;Of other the like I do leave out a many,That costeth the husbandman never a penny."

Professor Henry Morley [53] says the first English tragedy,"Gorboduc," was written for the Christmas festivities of theInner Temple in the year 1561 by two young members ofthat Inn—Thomas Norton, then twenty-nine years old, andThomas Sackville, then aged twenty-five. And the play wasperformed at this "Grand Christmass" kept by the membersof the Inner Temple. Before a "Grand Christmas" was keptthe matter was discussed in a parliament of the Inn, held on theeve of St. Thomas's Day, December 21st. If it was resolvedupon, the two youngest of those who served as butlers for thefestival lighted two torches, with which they preceded thebenchers to the upper end of the hall. The senior bencherthere made a speech; officers were appointed for the occasion,"and then, in token of joy and good liking, the Bench andcompany pass beneath the hearth and sing a carol."[54] Therevellings began on Christmas Eve, when three Masters of theRevels sat at the head of one of the tables. All took theirplaces to the sound of music played before the hearth. Thenthe musicians withdrew to the buttery, and were themselvesfeasted. They returned when dinner was ended to sing a songat the highest table. Then all tables were cleared, and revelsand dancing were begun, to be continued until supper and aftersupper. The senior Master of the Revels, after dinner andafter supper, sang a carol or song, and commanded other gentlementhere present to join him. This form of high festivitywas maintained during the twelve days of Christmas, closingon Twelfth Night. On Christmas Day (which in 1561 was aThursday), at the first course of the dinner, the boar's headwas brought in upon a platter, followed by minstrelsy. OnSt. Stephen's Day, December the 26th, the Constable Marshalentered the hall in gilt armour, with a nest of feathers of allcolours on his helm, and a gilt pole-axe in his hand; with himsixteen trumpeters, four drums and fifes, and four men armedfrom the middle upward. Those all marched three times aboutthe hearth, and the Constable Marshal, then kneeling to theLord Chancellor, made a speech, desiring the honour of admissioninto his service, delivered his naked sword, and wassolemnly seated. That was the usual ceremonial when a GrandChristmas was kept. At this particular Christmas, 1561, in thefourth year of Elizabeth, it was Lord Robert Dudley, afterwardsEarl of Leicester, who was Constable Marshal, and withchivalrous gallantry, taking in fantastic style the name ofPalaphilos, Knight of the Honourable Order of Pegasus,Pegasus being the armorial device of the Inner Temple, hecontributed to the splendour of this part of the entertainment.After the seating of the Constable Marshal, on the same St.126Stephen's Day, December the 26th, the Master of the Gameentered in green velvet, and the Ranger of the Forest in greensatin; these also went three times about the fire, blowing theirhunting-horns. When they also had been ceremoniously seated,there entered a huntsman with a fox and a cat bound at the endof a staff. He was followed by nine or ten couple of hounds,who hunted the fox and the cat to the glowing horns, and killedthem beneath the fire. After dinner, the Constable Marshalcalled a burlesque Court, and began the Revels, with the helpof the Lord of Misrule. At seven o'clock in the morning of St.John's Day, December the 27th (which was a Saturday in 1561)the Lord of Misrule was afoot with power to summon men tobreakfast with him when service had closed in the church.After breakfast, the authority of this Christmas official was inabeyance till the after-dinner Revels. So the ceremonies wenton till the Banqueting Night, which followed New Year's Day.That was the night of hospitality. Invitations were sent out toevery House of Court, that they and the Inns of Chancery mightsee a play and masque. The hall was furnished with scaffoldsfor the ladies who were then invited to behold the sports.After the play, there was a banquet for the ladies in thelibrary; and in the hall there was also a banquet for theLord Chancellor and invited ancients of other Houses. OnTwelfth Day, the last of the Revels, there were brawn, mustard,and malmsey for breakfast after morning prayer, and the dinneras on St. John's Day.

The following particulars of this "Grand Christmas" at theInner Temple are from Nichols's "Progresses of Queen Elizabeth":—

"In the fourth year of Queen Elizabeth's reign there was kepta magnificent Christmas here; at which the Lord Robert Dudley(afterwards Earl of Leicester) was the chief person (his titlePalaphilos), being Constable and Marshall; whose officers wereas followeth:

"Touching the particulars of this Grand Feast, Gerard Leigh,in his 'Accidence of Armory,' p. 119, &c., having spoken ofthe Pegasus borne for the armes of this Society, thus goes on:'After I had travelled through the East parts of the unknownworld, to understand of deedes of armes, and so arriving in thefair river of Thames, I landed within half a league from the Cityof London, which was (as I conjecture) in December last; anddrawing neer the City, suddenly heard the shot of double canons,in so great a number, and so terrible, that it darkened the wholeayr; wherewith, although I was in my native country, yet stoodI amazed, not knowing what it meant. Thus, as I abode indespair, either to return or to continue my former purpose, Ichanced to see coming towards me an honest citizen, clothed ina long garment, keeping the highway, seeming to walk for hisrecreation, which prognosticated rather peace than perill; ofwhom I demanded the cause of this great shot; who friendlyanswered, "It is," quoth he, "a warning shot to the ConstableMarshall of the Inner Temple, to prepare to dinner."

"'"Why," said I, "what, is he of that estate that seeketh noother means to warn his officers than with so terrible shot in sopeaceable a country?" "Marry," saith he, "he uttereth himselfthe better to be that officer whose name he beareth."

"'I then demanded, "What province did he govern, that neededsuch an officer?" He answered me, "The province was notgreat in quantity, but antient in true nobility. A place," saidhe, "privileged by the most excellent Princess the HighGovernor of the whole Island, wherein are store of Gentlemenof the whole Realm, that repair thither to learn to rule andobey by Law, to yield their fleece to their Prince and Commonweal;as also to use all other exercises of body and mindwhereunto nature most aptly serveth to adorn, by speaking,countenance, gesture, and use of apparel the person of aGentleman; whereby amity is obtained, and continued, thatGentlemen of all countries, in their young years, nourishedtogether in one place, with such comely order, and daily conference,are knit by continual acquaintance in such unity ofminds and manners as lightly never after is severed, than whichis nothing more profitable to the Commonweale."

"'And after he had told me thus much of honour of the place,I commended in mine own conceit the policy of the Governour,which seemed to utter in itself the foundation of a goodCommonweal; for that, the best of their people from tenderyears trained up in precepts of justice, it could not choose butyield forth a profitable People to a wise Commonweal; where128foreI determined with myself to make proof of what I heardby report.

"'The next day I thought of my pastime to walk to thisTemple, and entring in at the gates, I found the buildingnothing costly; but many comely Gentlemen of face andperson, and thereto very courteous, saw I to pass to and fro,so as it seemed a Prince's port to be at hand; and passingforward, entred into a Church of antient building, whereinwere many monuments of noble personages armed in knightlyhabit, with their cotes depainted in ancient shields, whereat Itook pleasure to behold. Thus gazing as one bereft with therare sight, there came unto me an Hereaught, by name Palaphilos,a King of Armes, who courteously saluted me, saying,"For that I was a stranger, and seeming by my demeanour alover of honour, I was his guest of right," whose courtesy (asreason was) I obeyed; answering, "I was at his commandment."

"'"Then," said he, "ye shall go to mine own lodging herewithin the Palace, where we will have such cheer as thetime and country will yield us;" where, I assure you I was soentertained, and no where I met with better cheer or company,&c.

"'—Thus talking, we entred the Prince his Hall, where anonwe heard the noise of drum and fyfe. "What meaneth thisdrum?" said I. Quoth he, "This is to warn Gentlemen of theHoushold to repair to the dresser; wherefore come on withme, and ye shall stand where ye may best see the Hall served:"and so from thence brought me into a long gallery, thatstretched itself along the Hall neer the Prince's table, where Isaw the Prince set: a man of tall personage, a manly countenance,somewhat brown of visage, strongly featured, andthereto comely proportioned in all lineaments of body. At thenether end of the same table were placed the Embassadors ofsundry Princes. Before him stood the carver, sewer, and cupbearer,with great number of gentlemen-wayters attending hisperson; the ushers making place to strangers, of sundry regionsthat came to behold the honour of this mighty Captain. Afterthe placing of these honourable guests, the Lord Steward,Treasurer, and Keeper of Pallas Seal, with divers honourablepersonages of that Nobility, were placed at a side-table neeradjoining the Prince on the right hand: and at another table,on the left side, were placed the Treasurer of the Houshold,Secretary, the Prince his Serjeant at the Law, four Masters ofthe Revels, the King of Arms, the Dean of the Chappel, anddivers Gentlemen Pensioners to furnish the same.

"'At another table, on the other side, were set the Master ofthe Game, and his Chief Ranger, Masters of Houshold, Clerksof the Green Cloth and Check, with divers other strangers tofurnish the same.

"'On the other side against them began the table, theLieutenant of the Tower, accompanied with divers Captains of129foot-bands and shot. At the nether end of the Hall began thetable, the High Butler, the Panter, Clerks of the Kitchen,Master Cook of the Privy Kitchen, furnished throughout withthe souldiers and Guard of the Prince: all which, with numberof inferior officers placed and served in the Hall, besides thegreat resort of strangers, I spare to write.

"'The Prince so served with tender meats, sweet fruits, anddainty delicates confectioned with curious cookery, as it seemedwonder a world to observe the provision: and at every coursethe trumpetters blew the couragious blast of deadly war, withnoise of drum and fyfe, with the sweet harmony of violins, sack-butts,recorders, and cornetts, with other instruments of musick,as it seemed Apollo's harp had tuned their stroke.

"'Thus the Hall was served after the most ancient order ofthe Island; in commendation whereof I say, I have also seenthe service of great Princes, in solemn seasons and times oftriumph, yet the order hereof was not inferior to any.

"'But to proceed, this Herehaught Palaphilos, even before thesecond course came in, standing at the high table, said in thismanner: "The mighty Palaphilos, Prince of Sophie, HighConstable Marshall of the Knights Templars, Patron of theHonourable Order of Pegasus:" and therewith cryeth, "ALargess." The Prince, praysing the Herehaught, bountifullyrewarded him with a chain to the value of an hundred talents.

"'I assure you I languish for want of cunning ripely to utterthat I saw so orderly handled appertaining to service; whereforeI cease, and return to my purpose.

"'The supper ended, and tables taken up, the High Constablerose, and a while stood under the place of honour, where hisachievement was beautifully embroidered, and devised ofsundry matters, with the Ambassadors of foreign nations, as hethought good, till Palaphilos, King of Armes, came in, hisHerehaught Marshal, and Pursuivant before him; and afterfollowed his messenger and Calligate Knight; who putting offhis coronal, made his humble obeysance to the Prince, by whomhe was commanded to draw neer, and understand his pleasure;saying to him; in few words, to this effect: "Palaphilos,seeing it hath pleased the high Pallas, to think me to demeritthe office of this place; and thereto this night past vouchsafedto descend from heavens to increase my further honour, bycreating me Knight of her Order of Pegasus; as also commandedme to join in the same Society such valiant Gentlementhroughout her province, whose living honour hath bestdeserved the same, the choice whereof most aptly belongethto your skill, being the watchman of their doings, and registerof their deserts; I will ye choose as well throughout our wholearmyes, as elsewhere, of such special gentlemen, as the godshath appointed, the number of twenty-four, and the names ofthem present us: commanding also those chosen persons toappear in our presence in knightly habit, that with conveniency130we may proceed in our purpose." This done, Palaphilos obeyinghis Prince's commandement, with twenty-four valiantKnights, all apparelled in long white vestures, with each man ascarf of Pallas colours, and them presented, with their names,to the Prince; who allowed well his choise, and commandedhim to do his office. Who, after his duty to the Prince, bowedtowards these worthy personages, standing every man in hisantienty, as he had borne armes in the field, and began to shewhis Prince's pleasure; with the honour of the Order.'"

"Other Particulars touching these Grand Christmasses, extractedout of the Accompts of the House.

"First, it hath been the duty of the Steward, to provide fivefat brawns, vessels, wood, and other necessaries belonging to thekitchen: as also all manner of spices, flesh, fowl, and othercates for the kitchen.

"The office of the Chief Butler, to provide a rich cupboardof plate, silver and parcel gilt: seaven dozen of silver and giltspoons: twelve fair salt-cellers, likewise silver and gilt: twentycandlesticks of the like.

"Twelve fine large table cloths, of damask and diaper.Twenty dozen of napkins suitable at the least. Three dozenof fair large towels; whereof the Gentleman Sewers, andButlers of the House, to have every of them one at mealtimes,during their attendance. Likewise to provide carving knives;twenty dozen of white cups and green potts: a carving table;torches; bread, beer, and ale. And the chief of the Butlerswas to give attendance on the highest table in the Hall, withwine, ale and beer: and all the other Butlers to attend at theother tables in like sort.

"The cupboard of plate is to remain in the Hall on ChristmasDay, St. Stephen's Day and New Year's Day, from breakfasttime ended untill after supper. Upon the banquetting night itwas removed into the buttry; which in all respects was verylaudably performed.

"The office of the Constable Marshall to provide for hisemployment, a fair gilt compleat harneys, with a nest offethers in the helm; a fair pole-axe to bear in his hand,to be chevalrously ordered on Christmas Day and other days,as afterwards is shewed; touching the ordering and settlingof all which ceremonies, during the said Grand Christmas, asolemn consultation was held at their Parliament in this house;in the form following:

"First, at the Parliament kept in their Parliament Chamberin this House, on the even at night of St. Thomas the Apostle,officers are to attend, according as they had been long beforethat time, at a former Parliament named and elected to undergoseveral offices for this time of solemnity, honour, and pleasance;of which officers these are the most eminent; namely, the131Steward, Marshall, Constable Marshall, Butler and Master ofthe Game. These officers are made known and elected inTrinity Term next before; and to have knowledg thereofby letters, in the country, to the end they may prepare themselvesagainst All-Hallow-tide; that, if such nominated officershappen to fail, others may then be chosen in their rooms. Theother officers are appointed at other times nearer Christmas Day.

"If the Steward, or any of the said officers named in TrinityTerm, refuse or fail, he or they were fined every one, at the discretionof the Bench; and the officers aforenamed agreed upon.And at such a Parliament, if it be fully resolved to proceed withsuch a Grand Christmas, then the two youngest Butlers mustlight two torches, and go before the Bench to the upper end ofthe Hall; who being set down, the antientest Bencher deliveretha speech briefly, to the whole society of Gentlemen then present,touching their consent as afore: which ended, the eldest Butleris to publish all the officers' names, appointed in Parliament;and then in token of joy and good-liking, the Bench and Companypass beneath the harth, and sing a carol, and so to boyer.

"Christmas Eve.—The Marshall at dinner is to place at thehighest table's end, and next to the Library, all on one sidethereof, the most antient persons in the company present: theDean of the Chappel next to him; then an antient or Bencher,beneath him. At the other end of the table, the Sewer, Cup-bearer,and Carver. At the upper end of the bench-table, theKing's Serjeant and Chief Butler; and when the Steward hathserved in, and set on the table the first mess, then he is also tosit down.

"Also at the supper end of the other table, on the other sideof the Hall, are to be placed the three Masters of the Revels;and at the lower end of the bench-table are to sit, the King'sAttorney, the Ranger of the Forest, and the Master of theGame. And at the lower end of the table, on the other sideof the Hall, the fourth Master of the Revels, the CommonSerjeant, and Constable-Marshall. And at the upper end ofthe Utter Barrister's table, the Marshal sitteth, when he hathserved in the first mess; the Clark of the Kitchen also, and theClark of the Sowce-tub, when they have done their offices inthe kitchen, sit down. And at the upper end of the Clark'stable, the Lieutenant of the Tower, and the attendant to theButtery are placed.

"At these two tables last rehersed, the persons they may situpon both sides of the table; but of the other three tables allare to sit upon one side. And then the Butlers or ChristmasServants, are first to cover the tables with fair linnen table-cloths;and furnish them with salt-cellers, napkins, andtrenchers, and a silver spoon. And then the Butlers of theHouse must place at the salt-celler, at every the said first threehighest tables, a stock of trenchers and bread; and at the othertables, bread onely without trenchers.

132"At the first course the minstrels must sound their instruments,and go before; and the Steward and Marshall are nextto follow together; and after them the Gentleman Sewer;and then cometh the meat. Those three officers are to makealtogether three solemn curtesies, at three several times, betweenthe skreen and the upper table; beginning with the first at theend of the Bencher's table; the second at the midst; and thethird at the other end; and then standing by the Sewerperformeth his office.

"When the first table is set and served, the Steward's tableis next to be served. After him the Master's table of theRevells; then that of the Master of the Game. The HighConstable-Marshall; then the Lieutenant of the Tower; thenthe Utter Barrister's table; and lastly the Clerk's table; allwhich time the musick must stand right above the harth side,with the noise of their musick; their faces direct towards thehighest table; and that done, to return into the buttry, withtheir music sounding.

"At the second course every table is to be served as at thefirst course, in every respect; which performed the Servitorsand Musicians are to resort to the place assigned for them todine at; which is the Valects or Yeoman's table, beneath theskreen. Dinner ended the musicians prepare to sing a song,at the highest table: which ceremony accomplished, then theofficers are to address themselves every one in his office, toavoid the tables in fair and decent manner, they beginningat the Clerk's table; thence proceed to the next; and thenceto all the others till the highest table be solemnly avoided.

"Then, after a little repose, the persons at the highest tablearise and prepare to revells: in which time, the Butlers, andother Servitors with them, are to dine in the Library.

"At both the doors in the hall are porters, to view the comersin and out at meal times; to each of them is allowed a cast ofbread, and a caudle nightly after supper.

"At night before supper are revels and dancing, and soalso after supper during the twelve daies of Christmas. Theantientest Master of the Revels is, after dinner and supper, tosing a caroll or song; and command other gentlemen thenthere present to sing with him and the company; and so itis very decently performed.

"Christmas Day.—Service in the Church ended, the Gentlemenpresently repair into the hall to breakfast, with brawn,mustard and malmsey.

"At dinner, the Butler appointed for the Grand Christmas,is to see the tables covered and furnished: and the OrdinaryButlers of the House are decently to set bread, napkins, andtrenchers in good form, at every table; with spoones and knives.

"At the first course is served in a fair and large bore's-head,upon a silver platter, with minstralsye. Two Gentlemen in133gowns are to attend at supper, and to bear two fair torchesof wax, next before the Musicians and Trumpetters, and tostand above the fire with the musick till the first course beserved in through the Hall. Which performed, they, withthe musick, are to return into the buttery. The like courseis to be observed in all things, during the time of Christmas.The like at supper.

"At service time, this evening, the two youngest Butlers areto bear two torchesGenealogia.

"A repast at dinner is 12d. which strangers of worth areadmitted to take in the Hall; and such are to be placed at thediscretion of the Marshall.

"St. Stephen's Day.—The Butler, appointed for Christmas,is to see the tables covered, and furnished with salt-sellers,napkins, bread, trenchers, and spoons. Young Gentlemenof the House are to attend and serve till the latter dinner,and then dine themselves.

"This day the Sewer, Carver, and Cup-bearer are to serveas afore. After the first course served in, the Constable-Marshallcometh into the Hall, arrayed with a fair richcompleat harneys, white and bright, and gilt, with a nest offethers of all colours upon his crest or helm, and a gilt pole-axein his hand: to whom is associate the Lieutenant of the Tower,armed with a fair white armour, a nest of fethers in his helm,and a like pole-axe in his hand; and with them sixteen Trumpetters;four drums and fifes going in rank before them; andwith them attendeth four men in white harneys, from themiddle upwards, and halberds in their hands, bearing ontheir shoulders the Tower: which persons, with the drums,trumpets and musick, go three times about the fire. Then theConstable-Marshall, after two or three curtesies made, kneelethdown before the Lord Chancellor; behind him the Lieutenant;and they kneeling, the Constable-Marshall pronounceth anoration of a quarter of an hour's length, therby declaringthe purpose of his coming; and that his purpose is to beadmitted into his Lordship's service.

"Then the Constable-Marshall, standing up, in submissivemanner delivereth his naked sword to the Steward; who givethit to the Lord Chancellor: and thereupon the Lord Chancellorwilleth the Marshall to place the Constable-Marshall in his seat:and so he doth, with the Lieutenant also in his seat or place.During this ceremony the Tower is placed beneath the fire.

"Then cometh the Master of the Game, apparelled in greenvelvet, and the Ranger of the Forest also, in a green suit of satten;bearing in his hand a green bow and divers arrows, with eitherof them a hunting horn about their necks; blowing togetherthree blasts of venery, they pace round about the fire threetimes. Then the Master of the Game maketh three curtesies;134as aforesaid; and kneeleth down before the Lord Chancellor,declaring the cause of his coming; and desireth to be admittedinto his service, &c. All this time the Ranger of the Foreststandeth directly behind him. Then the Master of the Gamestandeth up.

"This ceremony also performed, a Huntsman cometh into theHall, with a fox and a purse-net; with a cat, both bound at theend of a staff; and with them nine or ten couple of hounds,with the blowing of hunting hornes. And the fox and cat areby the hounds set upon, and killed beneath the fire. This sportfinished the Marshall placeth them in their several appointedplaces.

"Then proceedeth the second course; which done, andserved out, the Common Serjeant delivereth a plausiblespeech to the Lord Chancellour, and his company at thehighest table, how necessary a thing it is to have officers atthis present; the Constable-Marshall and Master of the Game,for the better honour and reputation of the Commonwealth;and wisheth them to be received, &c.

"Then the King's Serjeant at Law declareth and inferreththe necessity; which heard the Lord Chancellor desirethrespite of farther advice. Then the antientest of the Mastersof the Revels singeth a song with the assistance of others therepresent.

"At Supper the Hall is to be served in all solemnity, as uponChristmas Day, both the first and second course to the highesttable. Supper ended the Constable-Marshall presenteth himselfwith drums afore him, mounted upon a scaffold, born byfour men; and goeth three times round about the harthe, cryingout aloud, 'A Lord, a lord,' &c. Then he descendeth and goethto dance, &c. And after he calleth his Court every one byname, one by one, in this manner:

"This done the Lord of Misrule addresseth himself to thebanquet; which ended with some minstralsye, mirth anddancing every man departeth to rest.

"St. John's Day.—About seaven of the clock in the morning,the Lord of Misrule is abroad, and if he lack any officer orattendant, he repaireth to their chambers, and compelleth themto attend in person upon him after service in the church, tobreakfast, with brawn, mustard, and malmsey. After breakfast135ended, his Lordship's power is in suspense, until his personalpresence at night; and then his power is most potent.

"At dinner and supper is observed the diet and service performedon St. Stephen's Day. After the second course servedin, the King's Serjeant, orator-like, declareth the disorder of theConstable-Marshall, and of the Common-Serjeant: which complaintis answered by the Common-Serjeant; who defendethhimself and the Constable-Marshall with words of great efficacy.Hereto the King's Serjeant replyeth. They rejoyn, &c., andwho so is found faulty is committed to the Tower, &c.

"If any officer be absent at dinner or supper times; if it becomplained of, he that sitteth in his place is adjudged to havelike punishment as the officer should have had being present:and then withal he is enjoyned to supply the office of the trueabsent officer, in all pointe. If any offendor escape from theLieutenant into the Buttery, and bring into the Hall a manchetupon the point of a knife, he is pardoned: for the buttry inthat case is a sanctuary. After cheese served to the table notany is commanded to sing.

"Childermas Day.—In the morning, as afore on Monday, theHall is served; saving that the Sewer, Carver, and Cup-bearer,do not attend any service. Also like ceremony at supper.

"Thursday.—At breakfast, brawn, mustard, and malmsey. Atdinner, roast beef, venison-pasties, with like solemnities as afore.And at supper, mutton and hens roasted.

"New Year's Day.—In the morning, breakfast as formerly.At dinner like solemnity as on Christmas Eve.

"The Banquetting Night.—It is proper to the Butler's office,to give warning to every House of Court, of this banquet; tothe end that they and the Innes of Chancery, be invited theretoto see a play and mask. The hall is to be furnished withscaffolds to sit on, for Ladies to behold the sports, on eachside. Which ended the ladyes are to be brought into theLibrary, unto the Banquet there; and a table is to be coveredand furnished with all banquetting dishes, for the Lord Chancellor,in the Hall; where he is to call to him the Ancients ofother Houses, as many as may be on the one side of the table.The Banquet is to be served in by the Gentlemen of the House.

"The Marshall and Steward are to come before the LordChancellour's mess. The Butlers for Christmas must serve wine;and the Butlers of the House beer and ale, &c. When thebanquet is ended, then cometh into the Hall the Constable-Marshall,fairly mounted on his mule; and deviseth some sportfor passing away the rest of the night.

"Twelf Day.—At breakfast, brawn, mustard, and malmsey,after morning prayer ended. And at dinner, the Hall is to beserved as upon St. John's Day."

The performance of "Gorboduc" at the Inner Temple wasreceived with such great applause, and the services of LordRobert Dudley, first favourite of the Queen, so highly appreciatedat that particular "grand Christmasse," that QueenElizabeth commanded a repetition of the play about a fortnightlater, before herself, at her Court at Whitehall. A contemporaryMS. note (Cotton MSS., Vit. F. v.) says of

that "on the 18th of January, 1562, there was a play in theQueen's Hall at Westminster by the gentlemen of the Templeafter a great mask, for there was a great scaffold in the hall,with great triumph as has been seen; and the morrow after,the scaffold was taken down." An unauthorised edition of theplay was first published, in September of that year, by WilliamGriffith, a bookseller in St. Dunstan's Churchyard; but nineyears afterwards an authorised and "true copy" of the playwas published by John Day, of Aldersgate, the title being thenaltered from "Gorboduc" (in which name the spurious editionhad been issued) to "Ferrex and Porrex." The title of thisedition set forth that the play was "without addition or alteration,but altogether as the same was shewed on stage beforethe Queen's Majestie, by the gentlemen of the Inner Temple."The argument of the play was taken from Geoffrey of Monmouth's"History of British Kings," and was a call to Englishmento cease from strife among themselves and become an unitedpeople, obedient to one undisputed rule:—

A good description of the play, with copious extracts, is publishedin Morley's "English Plays," from which it also appearsthat "Queen Mary's expenditure on players and musicians hadbeen between two and three thousand pounds a year in salaries.Elizabeth reduced this establishment, but still paid salariesto interlude players and musicians, to a keeper of bears andmastiffs, as well as to the gentlemen and children of the chapel.The Master of the Children had a salary of forty pounds a year;the children had largesse at high feasts, and when additionaluse was made of their services; and each Gentleman of the137Chapel had nineteenpence a day, with board and clothing.The Master of the Chapel who at this time had the trainingof the children was Richard Edwards, who had written lighterpieces for them to act before her Majesty, and now applied hisskill to the writing of English comedies, and teaching his boysto act them for the pleasure of the Queen. The new form ofentertainment made its way at Court and through the country."

were observed with much zest and jollity. Sandys (writing in1833 of Elizabeth's time) says:—

"The order of the usual Christmas amusements at the Innsof Court at this period would cause some curious scenes ifcarried into effect in the present day. Barristers singing anddancing before the judges, serjeants and benchers, would138'draw a house' if spectators were admitted. Of so seriousimport was this dancing considered, that by an order inLincoln's Inn of February, 7th James I., the under barristerswere by decimation put out of commons because the wholebar offended by not dancing on Candlemas Day preceding,according to the ancient order of the society, when the judgeswere present; with a threat that if the fault were repeated, theyshould be fined or disbarred."

"First, the solemn Revells (after dinner, and the play ended,)are begun by the whole House, Judges, Sergeants at Law,Benchers; the Utter and Inner Barr; and they led by theMasterof the Revells: and one of the Gentlemen of the Utter Barr arechosen to sing a song to the Judges, Serjeants, or Masters ofthe Bench; which is usually performed; and in default thereof,there may be an amerciament. Then the Judges and Bencherstake their places, and sit down at the upper end of the Hall.Which done, theUtter-Barristers andInner-Barristers, perform asecond solemn Revell before them. Which ended, theUtter-Barristerstake their places and sit down. Some of the Gentlemenof theInner-Barr, do present the House with dancing,which is called thePost Revells, and continue their Dances, tillthe Judges or Bench think meet to rise and depart."

gave the citizens of London an opportunity of keepingChristmas on the ice. An old chronicler says: "From21st December, 1564, a hard frost prevailed, and on newyear's eve, people went over and alongst the Thames on the isefrom London Bridge to Westminster. Some plaied at the footballas boldlie there, as if it had been on the drie land; diversof the Court, being then at Westminster shot dailie at prickesset upon the Thames, and tradition says, Queen Elizabethherself walked upon the ise. The people both men andwomen, went on the Thames in greater numbers than in anystreet of the City of London. On the third daie of January,1565, at night it began to thaw, and on the fifth there was noise to be seene between London Bridge and Lambeth, whichsudden thaw caused great floods, and high waters, that boredowne bridges and houses and drowned Manie people inEngland."

Nichols [55] gives the following particular account of QueenElizabeth's attendance at Divine worship, at the "Chappell of139Whitehall, Westminster," Christmas Eve and Christmas Day,1565:—

"Item, on Monday, the 24th of December, the Officers ofArms being there present, the Queen's Majesty came to theevening prayer, the sword borne by the Earle of Warwick, hertrayn borne by the Lady Strange.

"Item, on Christmas Day her Majesty came to service veryrichly apparelled in a gown of purple velvet embroidered withsilver very richly set with stones, with a rich collar set withstones; the Earl of Warwick bare the sword, the Lady Strangethe trayn. After the Creed, the Queene's Majesty went down tothe offering, and having a short forme with a carpet, and acushion laid by a gentleman usher, the ... taken by theLord Chamberlain, her Majesty kneeled down, her offeringgiven her by the Marquis of Northampton; after which shewent into her traverse, where she abode till the time of thecommunion, and then came forth, and kneeled down at thecushion and carpet aforesaid; the Gentlemen Ushers deliveredthe towel to the Lord Chamberlain, who delivered the same tobe holden by the Earl of Sussex on the right hand, and theEarl of Leicester on the left hand; the Bishop of Rochesterserved the Queen both of wine and bread; then the Queenwent into the traverse again; and the Ladie Cicilie, wife of theMarquis of Baden, came out of the traverse, and kneeled atthe place where the Queen kneeled, but she had no cushion,but one to kneel on; after she had received she returned to thetraverse again; then the Archbishop of Canterbury and theLord Chamberlain received the Communion with the Mother ofthe Maids; after which the service proceeded to the end, andthe Queen returned again to the Chamber of presence strait,and not the closet. Her Majesty dined not abroad; the saidOfficers of Arms had a mess of meat of seven dishes, withbread, beer, ale, and wine."

In 1568, the Earl of Shrewsbury, writing from HamptonCourt to his countess, says, "The Plage is disposed far abrodein London, so that the Queene kepes hur Kyrsomas her, andgoth not to Grenwych as it was mete." Meet or not, Elizabethkept many Christmases at Hampton Court, banqueting,dancing, and dicing—the last being a favourite amusementwith her, because she generally won, thanks to her dice beingso loaded as to throw up the higher numbers. Writing fromHampton Court at Christmas, 1572, Sir Thomas Smith says:"If ye would what we do here, we play at tables, dance, andkeep Christmasse."140

The Christmas entertainments of Queen Elizabeth wereenlivened by the beautiful singing of the children of herMajesty's Chapel. From the notes to Gascoigne'sPrincelyPleasures (1821) it appears that Queen Elizabeth retained onher Royal establishment four sets of singing boys; whichbelonged to the Cathedral of St. Paul, the Abbey of Westminster,St. George's Chapel, Windsor, and the HouseholdChapel. For the support and reinforcement of her musicalbands, Elizabeth, like the other English Sovereigns, issuedwarrants for taking "up suche apt and meete children, as are fittto be instructed and framed in the Art and Science of Musickeand Singing." Thomas Tusser, the well-known author of "FiveHundreth Points of Good Husbandrye," was in his youth achoir boy of St. Paul's. Nor is it astonishing, that althoughmasses had ceased to be performed, the Queen should yetendeavour to preserve sacred melody in a high state of perfection;since, according to Burney, she was herself greatlyskilled in musical learning. "If her Majesty," says thateminent author, "was ever able to execute any of the piecesthat are preserved in a MS. which goes under the name ofQueen Elizabeth's Virginal-book, she must have been a verygreat player, as some of the pieces which were composed byTallis, Bird, Giles, Farnaby, Dr. Bull, and others, are so difficultthat it would be hardly possible to find a master in Europe whowould undertake to play any of them at the end of a month'spractice."[56] But the children of the chapel were also employedin the theatrical exhibitions represented at Court, for whichtheir musical education had peculiarly qualified them. RichardEdwards, an eminent poet and musician of the sixteenthcentury, had written two comedies; Damon and Pythias, andPalemon and Arcite, which, according to Wood, were oftenacted before the Queen, both at Court and at Oxford.

With the latter of these Queen Elizabeth was so much delighted thatshe promised Edwards a reward, which she subsequently gavehim by making him first Gentleman of her Chapel, and in 1561Master of the Children on the death of Richard Bowyer. Asthe Queen was particularly attached to dramatic entertainments,about 1569 she formed the children of the Royal Chapel into acompany of theatrical performers, and placed them under thesuperintendence of Edwards. Not long after she formed asecond society of players under the title of the "Children of theRevels," and by these two companies all Lyly's plays, and manyof Shakespeare's and Jonson's, were first performed. Jonsonhas celebrated one of the chapel children, named SalathielPavy, who was famous for his performance of old men, but142who died about 1601, under the age of thirteen. In hisbeautiful epitaph of Pavy, Jonson says:—

at the Court of Queen Elizabeth included England's greatestdramatist, William Shakespeare; and the Queen not only tookdelight in witnessing Shakespeare's plays, but also admired thepoet as a player. The histrionic ability of Shakespeare was byno means contemptible, though probably not such as to havetransmitted his name to posterity had he confined himselfexclusively to acting. Rowe informs us that "the tip-top ofhis performances was the ghost in his ownHamlet;" butAubrey states that he "did act exceedingly well"; and Cheetle,a contemporary of the poet, who had seen him perform, assuresus that he was "excellent in the quality he professed." Ananecdote is preserved in connection with Shakespeare's playingbefore Queen Elizabeth. While he was taking the part of aking, in the presence of the Queen, Elizabeth rose, and, incrossing the stage, dropped her glove as she passed the poet.No notice was taken by him of the incident; and the Queen,desirous of finding out whether this was the result of inadvertence,or a determination to preserve the consistency ofhis part, moved again towards him, and again dropped herglove. Shakespeare then stooped down to pick it up, saying,in the character of the monarch whom he was playing—

He then retired and presented the glove to the Queen, who washighly pleased with his courtly performance.

In 1594 there was a celebrated Christmas at Gray's Inn, ofwhich an account was published in 1688 under the followingtitle:—

"Gesta Grayorum: or the History of the High and MightyPrince, Henry Prince of Purpoole, Arch-Duke of Stapulia andBernardia, Duke of High and Nether Holborn, Marquis of St.143Giles and Tottenham, Count Palatine of Bloomsbury andClerkenwell, Great Lord of the Cantons of Islington, Kentish-Town,Paddington, and Knights-bridge, Knight of the mostHeroical Order of the Helmet, and Sovereign of the same;Who Reigned and Died,a.d. 1594. Together with a Masque,as it was presented (by his Highness's Command) for the entertainmentof Q. Elizabeth; who, with the Nobles of both Courts,was present thereat. London, Printed for W. Canning, at hisshop in the Temple-Cloysters, MDCLXXXVIII. Price oneshilling." 4to nine sheets, dedicated "To the most honourableMatthew Smyth, Esq., Comptroller of the honourable society ofthe Inner Temple."

The Prince of Purpoole was Mr. Henry Helmes, a Norfolkgentleman, "who was thought to be accomplished with all goodparts, fit for so great a dignity; and was also a very proper manof personage, and very active in dancing and revelling." Hiscoffers were filled by voluntary contributors, amongst whom thelord treasurer, Sir William Cecil, sent him ten pounds, and apurse of rich needlework.

The performers were highly applauded by Queen Elizabeth,who expressed satisfaction in her own peculiar style. Whenthe actors had performed their Masque, some of her Majesty'scourtiers danced a measure, whereupon the Queen exclaimed:"What! shall we have bread and cheese after a banquet?"Finally the Prince and his Officers of State were honoured bykissing her fair hands, and receiving the most flattering commendations.The whole amusement terminated in fighting atbarriers; the Earl of Essex, and others, challengers; the Earlof Cumberland and company defendants, "into which number,"says the narrator, "our Prince was taken, and behaved himselfso valiantly and skilfully therein, that he had the prize adjudgeddue unto him, which it pleased her Majesty to deliver him withher own hands; telling him, that it was not her gift, for if ithad, it should have been better; but she gave it to him, as thatprize which was due to his desert, and good behaviour in thoseexercises; and that hereafter he should be remembered with abetter reward from herself. The prize was a jewel, set withseventeen diamonds and four rubies; in value accounted wortha hundred marks."

The following is the Gray's Inn list of performers, whichincluded some gentlemen who were afterwards "distinguishedmembers in the law."

"The order of the Prince of Purpoole's proceedings, with hisofficers and attendants at his honourable inthronization; whichwas likewise observed in all his solemn marches on grand days,and like occasions; which place every officer did duly attend,during the reign of his highness's government.

is the subject of an old song preserved in the Roxburgh Collectionof Ballads in the British Museum. The full title is:"Christmas's Lamentation for the losse of his acquaintance;showing how he is forst to leave the country and come toLondon." It appears to have been published at the end of thesixteenth or the beginning of the seventeenth century. Theburden of the song is that Christmas "charity from the countryis fled," and the first verse will sufficiently indicate the style ofthe writing:—

is the title of a lively Christmas ditty which is a kind of replyto the preceding ballad. It is preserved in the collection formedby Samuel Pepys, some time Secretary to the Admiralty, andauthor of the famous diary, and by him bequeathed to Magdalene146College, Cambridge. The full title and first verse of theold song are as follows:—

"Old Christmas returned, or Hospitality revived; being aLooking-glass for Rich Misers, wherein they may see (if theybe not blind) how much they are to blame for their penurioushouse-keeping, and likewise an encouragement to those noble-mindedgentry, who lay out a great part of their estates inhospitality, relieving such persons as have need thereof:

was revived in accordance with the commands of Queen Elizabeth,who listened sympathetically to the "Lamentations" of herlowlier subjects. Their complaint was that the royal and publicpageants at Christmastide allured to the metropolis many countrygentlemen, who, neglecting the comforts of their dependents inthe country at this season, dissipated in town part of their meansfor assisting them, and incapacitated themselves from continuingthat hospitality for which the country had been so long noted.In order to check this practice, the gentlemen of Norfolk andSuffolk were commanded by Queen Elizabeth to depart fromLondon before Christmas, and "to repair to their counties, andthere to keep hospitality amongst their neighbours." Thepresence of the higher classes was needed among the countrypeople to give that assistance which was quaintly recommendedby Tusser in his "Hundreth good Points of Husbandrie":

Henry Lord Berkeley, who had a seat in Warwickshire,appears to have set a good example in this respect to thenoblemen of the period, for, according to Dugdale, "the greatestpart of this lord's abydinge after his mother's death, happenyngein the sixth yeare of Queen Elizabeth, was at Callowdon, till hisown death in the eleventh of Kinge James, from whence, oncein two or three yeares, hee used in July to come to Berkeley."The historic house of Berkeley essentially belongs to Gloucestershire;but on the death of Edward VI., Henry Lord Berkeley,147

148by descent from the Mowbrays and the Segraves, becamepossessed of the ancient Manor and castellated mansion ofCaludon, near Coventry, where he lived in splendour, and kepta grand retinue, being profuse in his hospitalities at Christmas,as well as in his alms to the poor throughout the year. "Astouchinge the Almes to the poore of 5 & six country p'ishes &villages hard adjoyninge to Callowdon were relieved, with eachof them a neepe of holsome pottage, with a peece of beoffe ormutton therin, halfe a cheate loafe, & a kan of beere, besidesthe private Almes that dayly went out of his purse never withouteight or ten shillings in single money of ijd iijd & groates, &besides his Maundy & Thursday before Ester day, whereinmany poore men and women were clothed by the liberality ofthis lord and his first wife, whilest they lived; and besidestwenty markes, or twenty pound, or more, which thrice eachyeare, against the feaste of Christmas, Ester, and Whitsontide,was sent by this Lord to two or three of the chiefest Inhabitantsof these villages, and of Gosford Street at Coventry, to bee distributedamongst the poore accordinge to their discretions.Such was the humanity of this Lord, that in tymes of Christmasand other festyvalls, when his neighbor townships were invitedand feasted in his Hall, hee would, in the midst of their dynner,ryse from his owne, & goynge to each of their tables in his Hall,cheerfully bid them welcome. And his further order was, havingguests of Honour or remarkable ranke that filled his owne table,to seate himselfe at the lower end; and when such guests filledbut half his bord, & a meaner degree the rest of his table, thento seate himselfe the last of the first ranke, & the first of thelater, which was about the midst of his large tables, neare thesalt."

Another home of Christmas hospitality in the days of "GoodQueen Bess" was Penshurst in Kent, the birthplace of the distinguishedand chivalrous Sir Philip Sidney. "All who enjoyedthe hospitality of Penshurst," says Mills'sHistory of Chivalry,"were equal in consideration of the host; there were no odiousdistinctions of rank or fortune; 'the dishes did not grow coarseras they receded from the head of the table,' and no huge salt-cellardivided the noble from the ignoble guests." That hospitalitywas the honourable distinction of the Sidney family ingeneral is also evident from Ben Jonson's lines on Penshurst:

A reviewer of "The Sidneys of Penshurst," by Philip Sidney,says there is a tradition that the Black Prince and his Fair Maidof Kent once spent their Christmastide at Penshurst, whosebanqueting hall, one of the finest in England, dates back tothat age of chivalry. At Penshurst Spenser wrote part of his"Shepherd's Calendar," and Ben Jonson drank and rhymed andrevelled in this stateliest of English manor houses.

Queen Elizabeth died on March 23, 1603, after nominatingJames VI. of Scotland as her successor, and

as James I. of England, united the crowns of England andScotland, which had been the aim of Mary Queen of Scotsbefore her death.

CHAPTER VIII.

CHRISTMAS UNDER JAMES I.

(1603-1625.)

The Court entertainments of Christmastide in the reign ofJames the First consisted chiefly of the magnificent masques ofBen Jonson and others, who, by their training in the precedingreign, had acquired a mastery of the dramatic art. Thecompany to which Shakespeare belonged (that of LordChamberlain's players) became the King's players on theaccession of James, and several of Shakespeare's plays wereproduced at Court. But very early in this reign plays gaveplace to the more costly and elaborate entertainments calledmasques, but which were very different from the dumb-showmasques of Elizabeth's reign, the masquerades of Henry theEighth, and the low-buffoonery masques of earlier times. Atthe Court of James thousands of pounds were sometimesexpended on the production of a single masque. To the aidof poetry, composed by poets of the first rank, came the mostskilful musicians and the most ingenious machinists. InigoJones, who became architect to the Court in 1606, sharedhonours with Ben Jonson in the production of the Courtmasques, as did also Henry Lawes, the eminent musician.In some of the masques the devices of attire were the work of"Master Jones," as well as the invention and the architectureof the whole of the scenery. D'Israeli [58] says:—"That themoveable scenery of these masques formed as perfect a scenicalillusion as any that our own age, with all its perfection anddecoration, has attained to, will not be denied by those whohave read the few masques that have been printed. Theyusually contrived a double division of the scene; one part wasfor some time concealed from the spectator, which producedsurprise and variety. Thus in the Lord's Masque, at themarriage of the Palatine, the scene was divided into two partsfrom the roof to the floor; the lower part being first discovered,there appeared a wood in perspective, the innermost part beingof "releeve or whole round," the rest painted. On the left a152cave, and on the right a thicket from which issued Orpheus.At the back of the scene, at the sudden fall of a curtain, theupper part broke on the spectators, a heaven of clouds of allhues; the stars suddenly vanished, the clouds dispersed; anelement of artificial fire played about the house of Prometheus—abright and transparent cloud reaching from the heavens tothe earth, whence the eight maskers descended with the musicof a full song; and at the end of their descent the cloud brokein twain, and one part of it, as with a wind, was blown athwartthe scene. While this cloud was vanishing, the wood, beingthe under part of the scene, was insensibly changing: a perspectiveview opened, with porticoes on each side, and femalestatues of silver, accompanied with ornaments of architecture,filled the end of the house of Prometheus, and seemed all ofgoldsmith's work. The women of Prometheus descended fromtheir niches till the anger of Jupiter turned them again intostatues. It is evident, too, that the size of the proceniumaccorded with the magnificence of the scene; for I findchoruses described, 'and changeable conveyances of the song,'in manner of an echo, performed by more than forty differentvoices and instruments in various parts of the scene."

The masque, as Lord Bacon says, was composed for princes,and by princes it was played. The King and Queen, PrinceHenry, and Prince Charles (afterwards Charles the First) allappeared in Court masques, as did also the nobility and gentryof the Court, foreign ambassadors, and other eminent personages.

In his notes to "The Masque of Queens," Ben Jonson refersseveral times to "the King's Majesty's book (our sovereign) ofDemonology." The goat ridden was said to be often the devilhimself, but "of the green cock, we have no other ground (toconfess ingenuously) than a vulgar fable of a witch, that with acock of that colour, and a bottom of blue thread, would transportherself through the air; and so escaped (at the time of herbeing brought to execution) from the hand of justice. It was atale when I went to school."

That there was no lack of ability for carrying out the Courtcommands in regard to the Christmas entertainments of thisperiod is evident from the company of eminent men who usedto meet at the "Mermaid." "Sir Walter Raleigh," saysGifford,[59] "previously to his unfortunate engagement with thewretched Cobham and others, had instituted a meeting ofbeauxesprits at the Mermaid, a celebrated tavern in Friday Street.Of this club, which combined more talent and genius, perhaps,than ever met together before or since, Jonson was a member;and here, for many years, he regularly repaired with Shakespeare,Beaumont, Fletcher, Selden, Cotton, Carew, Martin,Donne, and many others, whose names, even at this distant153period, call up a mingled feeling of reverence and respect."Here, in the full flow and confidence of friendship, the livelyand interesting "wit-combats" took place between Shakespeareand Jonson; and hither, in probable allusion to them, Beaumontfondly lets his thoughts wander in his letter to Jonsonfrom the country.

Masques, however, were not the only Christmas diversions ofroyalty at this period, for James I. was very fond of hunting,and Nichols [60] says that, in 1604, the King kept

at his new hunting seat there, and "between the 18th ofDecember and 22nd of January he there knighted Sir RichardHussey, of Salop; Sir Edward Bushell, of Gloucestershire; SirJohn Fenwick, of Northumberland; Sir John Huet, of London;Sir Robert Jermyn, of Suffolk; Sir Isaac Jermyn, of Suffolk;Sir John Rowse; Sir Thomas Muschamp, of Surrey. Mr.Chamberlaine, in a letter to Mr. Winwood from London,December 18th, says: 'The King came back from Royston onSaturday; but so far from being weary or satisfyed with thosesports, that presently after the holy-days he makes reckoning tobe there againe, or, as some say, to go further towards Lincolnshire,to a place calledAncaster Heath.'"

"In the meantime here is great provision for Cockpit, toentertaine him at home, and of Masks and Revells against themarriage of Sir Philip Herbert and the Lady Susan Vere, whichis to be celebrated on St. John's Day. The Queen hath likewisea great Mask in hand against Twelfth-tide, for whichthere was £3,000 delivered a month ago. Her brother, theDuke of Holst, is here still, procuring a levy of men to carryinto Hungary. The Tragedy of 'Gowry,' with all the actionand actors, hath been twice represented by the King's Players,with exceeding concourse of all sorts of people; but whetherthe matter or manner be not well handled, or that it be thoughtunfit that Princes should be played on the stage in their lifetime,I hear that some great Councellors are much displeasedwith it, and so 'tis thought shall be forbidden. And so wishinga merry Christmas and many a good year to you and Mrs.154Winwood, I committ you to God. Yours, most assuredly,John Chamberlaine."

"On the 26th of January, Mr. Chamberlaine writes thus toMr. Winwood: 'I doubt not but Dudley Carleton hathacquainted you with all their Christmas-games at Court, forhe was a spectator of all the sports and shows. The King wentto Royston two days after Twelfth-tide, where and thereabouthe hath continued ever since, and finds such felicity in thathunting life, that he hath written to the Councill that it is theonly means to maintain his health, which being the health andwelfare of us all, he desires them to take the charge and burdenof affairs, and foresee that he be not interrupted ortroubledwith too much business.'"

Campion's Masque in honour of Lord Hayes and his bridewas presented before King James, at Whitehall, on TwelfthNight, 1606; and in reference to the Christmas festivities atCourt the following year (1607), Mr. Chamberlaine, writing toSir D. Carleton, on the 5th of January, says:

"The Masque goes forward at Court for Twelfth-day, thoughI doubt the New Room will be scant ready. All the Holidaysthere were Plays; but with so little concourse of strangers, thatthey say they wanted company. The King was very earnest tohave one on Christmas-night; but the Lords told him it wasnot the fashion. Which answer pleased him not a whit; buthe said, 'What do you tell me of the fashion? I will make it afashion.' Yesterday he dined in the Presence in great pomp,with two rich cupboards of plate, the one gold, the other thatof the House of Burgundy pawned to Queen Elizabeth by theStates of Brabant, and hath seldom been seen abroad, beingexceeding massy, fair, and sumptuous. I could learn no reasonof this extraordinary bravery, but that he would show himself inglory to certain Scots that were never here before, as they saythere be many lately come, and that the Court is full of newand strange faces. Yesterday there were to be shewn certainrare fire-works contrived by a Dane, two Dutchmen, and SirThomas Challoner, in concert."

On January 8th, another letter of Mr. Chamberlaine thusrefers to gaming at Court: "On the Twelfth-eve there wasgreat golden play at Court. No Gamester admitted thatbrought not £300 at least. Montgomery played the King'smoney, and won him £750, which he had for his labour. TheLord Montegle lost the Queen £400. Sir Robert Cary, for thePrince, £300; and the Earl Salisbury, £300; the Lord Buckhurst,£500;et sic de cæteris. So that I heard of no winner butthe King and Sir Francis Wolley, who got above £800. TheKing went a hawking-journey yesterday to Theobalds andreturns to-morrow.

"Above Westminster the Thames is quite frozen over; andthe Archbishop came from Lambeth, on Twelfth-day, over theice to Court. Many fanciful experiments are daily put in155practice; as certain youths burnt a gallon of wine upon the ice,and made all the passengers partakers. But the best is, of anhonest woman (they say) that had a great longing to encreaseher family on the Thames" (Nichols's "Progresses").

dates from Christmas Day, 1607, when he knighted RobertCarr, or Ker, a young border Scot of the Kers of Fernihurst,the first of the favourites who ruled both the King and thekingdom. Carr had been some years in France, and beinga handsome youth—"straight-limbed, well-formed, strong-shouldered,and smooth-faced"—he had been led to believethat if he cultivated his personal appearance and a courtlinessof address, he was sure of making his fortune at the Court ofJames. "Accordingly he managed to appear as page to LordDingwall at a grand tilting match at Westminster, in 1606.According to chivalric usage it became his duty to present hislord's shield to his Majesty; but in manœuvring his horse onthe occasion it fell and broke his leg. That fall was his rise.James was immediately struck with the beauty of the youthwho lay disabled at his feet, and had him straightway carriedinto a house near Charing Cross, and sent his own surgeon tohim.... On Christmas Day, 1607, James knighted him andmade him a gentleman of the bedchamber, so as to have himconstantly about his person. Such was his favour that everyone pressed around him to obtain their suits with the King. Hereceived rich presents; the ladies courted his attention; thegreatest lords did him the most obsequious and disgustinghomage."[61] He afterwards formed that connection with FrancesHoward, Countess of Essex, which resulted in her divorce fromher husband, and, subsequently, on his marrying Lady Essex,the King made him Earl of Somerset, that the lady might notlose in rank. On the circumstances attending the murder ofSir Thomas Overbury being brought to light, the complicity ofSomerset was thought to be involved in the ascertained guiltof his wife. In May, 1616, the Countess was convicted; aweek later her husband shared her fate. After a long imprisonmentSomerset was pardoned, and ended his life in obscurity.

In this reign the Court revels and shows of Christmas wereimitated at the country seats of the nobility and gentry, and atthe Colleges of Oxford and Cambridge. An account has beenpreserved of one of the most remarkable exhibitions of thiskind, entitled—

It took place in the year 1607, at St. John's College, Oxford,and the authentic account was published from the originalmanuscript, in 1816, by Robert Tripbook, of 23, Old Bond156Street, London: "To the President, Fellows, and Scholars ofSt. John Baptist College, in the University of Oxford, thiscurious Record of an ancient custom in their Society, is respectfullyinscribed by the Publisher." Of the authenticity of thisdescription the Publisher says "no doubt can possibly exist, itwas written by an eye-witness of, and performer in, the sports;and is now printed, for the first time, from the original manuscriptpreserved in the College Library.

"From the Boy Bishop, the Christmas Prince may be supposedto derive his origin. Whilst the former was bearingsway in the ecclesiastical foundations, the latter was elected tocelebrate the festivities of Christmas in the King's palace, at theseats of the nobility, at the universities, and in the Inns of Court.The custom prevailed till the ascendancy of the Puritans duringthe civil war; and some idea of the expense, and generalsupport it received, may be formed from the account of theGray's Inn Prince and an extract from one of the StraffordPapers. The latter is from a letter written by the Rev. G.Garrard to the Earl of Strafford, dated Jan. 8, 1635: 'TheMiddle Temple House have set up a prince, who carries himselfin great state; one Mr. Vivian a Cornish gentleman, whosefather Sir Francis Vivian was fined in the Star-Chamber abouta castle he held in Cornwall, about three years since. He hathall his great officers attending him, lord keeper, lord treasurer,eight white staves at the least, captain of his pensioners, captainof his guard, two chaplains, who on Sunday last preachedbefore him, and in the pulpit made three low legs to hisexcellency before they began, which is much laughed at. Mylord chamberlain lent him two fair cloths of state, one hung upin the hall under which he dines, the other in his privychamber; he is served on the knee, and all that come to seehim kiss his hand on their knee. My lord of Salisbury hathsent him pole-axes for his pensioners. He sent to my lord ofHolland, his justice in Eyre, for venison, which he willinglysends him; to the lord mayor and sheriffs of London for wine,all obey. Twelfth-day was a great day, going to the chapelmany petitions were delivered him, which he gave to hismasters of the requests. He hath a favourite, whom with someothers, gentlemen of great quality, he knighted at his returnfrom church, and dined in great state; at the going out of thechambers into the garden, when he drank the King's health, theglass being at his mouth he let it fall, which much defaced hispurple satten suit, for so he was clothed that day, having acloak of the same down to his foot, for he mourns for his fatherwho lately died. It cost this prince £2,000 out of his ownpurse. I hear of no other design, but that all this is done tomake them fit to give the prince elector a royal entertainmentwith masks, dancings, and some other exercises of wit, inorations or arraignments, that day that they invite him.'

"The writer, or narrator, of the events connected with the157Christmas Prince of St. John's was Griffin Higgs, who wasdescended of a respectable and opulent family in Gloucestershire,though he was himself born at Stoke Abbat, near Henleyon Thames, in 1589. He was educated at St. John's, andthence, in 1611, elected fellow of Merton college, where hedistinguished himself, in the execution of the procuratorialduties, as a man of great courage, though, says Wood, of littlestature. In 1627 he was appointed chaplain to the Queen ofBohemia, by her brother Charles the First, and during hisabsence, in the performance of his duties, was created a doctorof divinity at Leyden by the learned Andrew Rivet. Hereturned, after a residence abroad of about twelve years, whenhe had the valuable rectory of Clive or Cliff, near Dover, andshortly after the deanery of Lichfield, conferred upon him.During the civil wars he was a sufferer for the royal cause, and,losing his preferment, retired to the place of his birth, where hedied in the year 1659, and was buried in the chancel of thechurch of South Stoke.

"Thomas Tucker, the elected Prince, was born in London,in 1586, entered at St. John's in 1601, became fellow of thathouse and took holy orders. He afterwards had the vicarageof Pipping-burge, or Pemberge, in Kent, and the rectory ofPortshead, near Bristol, and finally obtained the third stall inthe cathedral church of Bristol, in which he was succeeded,August 25, 1660, by Richard Standfast."

The following explanation is given of "the apparentlystrange titles of the Prince of St. John's: 'The most magnificentand renowned Thomas, by the favour of Fortune, PrinceofAlba Fortunata, Lord St. Johns, high Regent of the Hall,Duke of St. Giles, Marquis of Magdalens, Landgrave of theGrove, County Palatine of the Cloisters, Chief Bailiff of theBeaumonts, High Ruler of Rome, Master of the Manor ofWaltham, Governor of Gloucester Green, Sole Commander ofall Tilts,' &c. The Prince ofAlba Fortunata alludes, as may bereadily conjectured, to the name of the founder, Sir ThomasWhite; St. John's, and the Hall, are equally clear; Magdalensis the parish in which a portion of the college stands, and apart of which belongs to the society; the Grove and theCloisters are again parts of the home domain of the college;Beaumonts is the name of a portion of land belonging to thecollege, on which stands the ruin of the palace of Beaumonts,built about the year 1128 by King Henry the First; Rome is apiece of land so called, near to the end of the walk calledNon Ultra, on the north side of Oxford. The manor ofWaltham, or Walton, is situate in the north suburb of Oxford,and is the property of the college, as is a considerable portionof Gloucester-green, which though now better known as thesite of an extensive bridewell, was in 1607 literally a meadow,and without any building more contiguous than Gloucester-hall,from which house it derived its name."158

Then follows "A true and faithfull relation of the rising andfall of Thomas Tucker, Prince ofAlba Fortunata, Lord St.Johns, &c., with all the occurrents which happened throughouthis whole domination."

"It happened in the yeare of our Lord 1607, the 31 ofOctober, beinge All Sayntes Eve, that at night a fier was madein the Hall of St. John Baptist's Colledge, in Oxon, accordinge tothe custome and statuts of the same place, at which time thewhole companye or most parte of the Students of the samehouse mette together to beginne their Christmas, of whichsome came to see sports, to witte the Seniors as well Graduates,as Under-graduates. Others to make sports, viz., Studentes ofthe seconde yeare, whom they call Poulderlings, others to makesporte with all, of this last sorte were they whome they callFresh-menn, Punies of the first yeare, who are by no meanesadmitted to be agents or behoulders of those sports, beforethemselves have been patient perfourmers of them. But (as itoften falleth out) the Freshmen or patients, thinkinge thePoulderlings or Agentes too buysie and nimble, They them toodull and backwarde in theyr duety, the standers by findingeboth of them too forwarde and violente, the sportes for thatnight for feare of tumultes weare broken upp, everye mannbetakinge himself to his reste.

"The next night followinge, beinge the feast of All Sayntes,at nighte they mett agayne together; And whereas it washoped a night's sleepe would have somewhat abated their rage,it contraryewise sett a greater edge on theyr furye, they havingeall this while but consulted how to gett more strength oneagaynst another, and consequently to breed newe quarrells andcontradictions, in so much that the strife and contentions ofyouthes and children had like to have sett Men together by theeares, to the utter annihilatinge of all Christmas sportes for thewhole yeare followinge.

"Wherfore for the avoydinge both the one, and the other,some who studied the quiet of all, mentioned the choosinge of aChristmas Lord, or Prince of the Revells, who should haveauthorytie both to appoynt & moderate all such games, andpastimes as should ensue, & to punishe all offenders whichshould any way hinder or interrupte the free & quiet passageof any antient & allowed sporte.

"This motion (for that the person of a Prince or Lorde of theRevells had not been knowen amongst them for thirty yearesbefore, and so consequentlye the danger, charge and trouble ofsuch jestinge was cleane forgotten) was presentlye allowed andgreedilye apprehended of all; Wher upon 13 of the seniorUnder graduates (7 of the bodye of the House & 6 Comoners,Electors in such a case) withdrew themselves into the parlour,where after longe debatinge whether they should chouse aGraduate or an Under Graduate, thinkinge the former wouldnot vouchsafe to undertake it at theyr appoyntmentes, the latter159should not be upheld & backed as it was meete & necessary forsuch a place, they came forth rather to make triall what wouldbe done, than to resolve what should be done. And thereforeat their first entrance into the Hall meeting Sir Towse a youngeman (as they thought) fitt for the choyse, they laid handes onhim, and by maine strength liftinge him upp,viva voce, pronouncedhim Lord. But hee as stronglye refusinge the placeas they violentlye thrust it upon him, shewing with all reasonswhy hee could by no meanes undergoe such a charge, they gottonlye this good by their first attempt, that they understood heerby how that the whole Colledge was rather willinge a SeniourBatchelour at least, if not a junior Master should be chosen into the place rather than any Under graduate, because theywould rather an earnest sporte than a scoffinge jest should bemade of it. Wher fore the Electors returninge againe into theParlour and shuttinge the dore close upon themselves begaunemore seriously to consult of the matter, and findinge someunable, some unwillinge to take the place, at length they concludedto make the 2 assay but with more formalitie anddeliberation; resolvinge, if they were not now seconded of allhandes, to meddle no more with it. Wherfore, enteringe thesecond time in to the Hall they desired one of the 10 Seniors& one of the Deanes of the Colledge to hold the Scrutinye andthe Vice-President to sitt by as overseer, who willingly harkeningeto their request, sate all 3 downe at the highe table: Thenthe Electors went up one by one in senioritye to give theirvoyce by writinge. In the meane time there was great expectationwho should bee the Man. Some in the lower ende of theHall, to make sporte, had theyr Names loudest in their moutheswhome they least thought of in their mindes, & whome theyknew should come shortest of the place. At length all thevoyces being given and, accordinge to custome, the Scrutinie atlarge being burned, the Vice-president with the rest stoodeupp, and out of the abstract the Deane read distinctly in thehearinge of all present as followeth

"These wordes were not out of his mouthe before a generalland loud crie was made of Tucker, Tucker, Vivat, Vivat, &ct.After which all the younger sorte rane forth of the Colledgecrieinge the same in the streets; which Sir Tucker beingethen howsde not farr from the Colledge, over hearinge, kepthimself close till the companye were past, and then, as sooneand secretly as he could, gott him to his Chamber; where(after he had been longe sought for abroad in the Towne, andat home in the Colledge, haste and desire out runinge it self, andseekinge there last where it might first finde) he was in amanner surprised, and more by violence than any will of his160owne, taken upp & with continuall & joyfull outcries, carriedabout the Hall, and so backe to his Chamber, as his ownerequest was, where for that night he rested, dismissinge theCompany and desiringe some time to think of their loves andgoodwill, and to consider of his owne charge and place.

"About 3 or 4 dayes after, on the 5 of November the LordElect with the Batchelours, and some of the Senior Under-graduatescame into the Hall where every man beinge seated inhis order, many speaches were made by diverse of diversematters, some commendinge a monarchicall state of Governmente,and the sometimes suddayne necessitye of Dictators,others discommendinge both. Some again extollinge sportes& revells, others mainely disallowinge them, all of them drawingesome conclusion concerninge the like or dislike of thegovernment newly begune, and like for a little space to continueamongst them. In the ende the Lord Elect himselfe, toconclude all, delivered his owne minde in manner followinge:—

"Quæ beneficia (Viri Electores clarissimi) plus difficultatisatque, oneris apportant collacata, quā debite administrata; poterunthonoris, cautè magis primo in limine credo excipienda quāaut imensæ dignitatis expectatione appetenda auidè, aut boniincogniti cœco appetitu app'hendenda temere. Quorū in albo(Electores conscripti) cū semper dignitates istiusmodi serioretulerim, Vos (pace dicā vestræ diligentiæ) non tam mihividemini gratias debere expectare, qua ipse istud onus suscepturusvideor promereri. Nā illud demum gratijs excipiturbeneficiū (pro temporū ratione loquor) quod nec sollicitudovrget nec officiū—Infinitæ autem adeo sunt anxietates, quæ velistam dominatus ανατύπωσιν circumcingunt, vt pauci velint ipsascū dominatu lubentèr amplecti, nulli possint euitare, nulli sustinere.Nā vbi veri imperij facies est repræsentanda expectandasemper est aliqua curarū proportio. Veru cum dignitas Electoria,amicitia suffragatoria, populi applausus, ōniū consensus Democratiætollendæ causâ ad primatum euocauerint, lubens animinostri strenuæ renuentis temperabo impetū, et sedulò impendàcuram, vt Reip: (si vobis minus possim singulis) toti satisfaciā.Hic ego non ità existimo opportunū progressuū nostrorūaduersarijs curā imperij promiscuam et indigestam collaudantibusrespondere, aut status Monarchici necessitatē efferentibusassentari: Disceptationū vestrarū non accessi judex, accersorimperator; Amori vestro (Viri nobis ad prime chari) lubenstribuo gloriæ nostræ ortū; progressū augustū atque, gloriosu avobis ex officio vestro exigere, præter amorē nostrum fore noarbitror. Tyraūidem non profiteor, imperiū exercebo. Cujusfœliciores processus vt promoueantur, atque indies stabiliant ærismagis quam oris debetis esse prodigi. Quarè primitias amoris,atque officij vestri statuo extemplo exigendas, nè aut ipse sinèauthoritate imperare, aut imperium sinè gloriâ capessisse videarΠολιτείαν Atheniensem sequimur, cujus ad norman Ego admunus regui jam suffectus, Mineruæ, Vulcano et Prometheo161sacra cū ludorum curatoribus pro moris vsu, primâ meâ in hissacris authoritate fieri curabo. Interim vero (Viri nostrâauthoritate adhuc majores) juxta prædictæ Reipublicæ jmaginēchoragos, seu adjutores desidero, qui nō tantum ludis præponantur,sed et liberalitate pro opū ratione in Reipublicæ impensasvtentes, ex ære publico præmia partim proponant, partim desuo insumant, hoc nomine quod illorū sint præfecti. Quæ aliavestri sunt officij moniti præstabitis, quæ amoris, vltro (vtiSpero) offeretis.

"This was counted sufficient for his private installmente, butwith all it was thought necessary that some more publickenotice hereof should be given to the whole Universitie, withmore solemnitie and better fashion; yet before they wouldventer to publish their private intendements, they were desirousto knowe what authoritie and jurisdiction would be graunted tothem, what money allowed them towards the better goingthrough with that they had begune. And not long after thewhole company of the Batchelours sent 2 bills to the Mastersfire, the one cravinge duety and alleageance, the other moneyand maintenance in manner & forme followinge:

"The coppye of a Bill sent by the Lord Elect, and thewhole Company of the Batchelours to the Masters fire,cravinge their duety and alleageance.

"Not doubtinge of those ceremonious and outward duetyeswhich yourselves (for example sake) will performe, WeeThomasTucker with the rest of the Bacchelours are bold to entreat, butasThomas, Lord Elect, with the rest of our Councell are ready toexpect, that no Tutor or Officer whatsoever shall at any time, orupon any occasion, intermeddle, or partake with any scholler,or youth whatsoever, but leavinge all matters to the discretionof our selves, stand to those censures and judgementes whichwee shall give of all offenders that are under our govermente incauses appertaininge to our government. All wayes promisingea carefull readinesse to see schollerlike excercise performed,and orderly quietnesse mayntained in all sortes; This as Weepromise for our owne partes, so Wee would willingly desirethat you should promise the performance of the rest of yourpartes, accordinge to that bountye & love which allready youhave shewed us.

"This Bill subscribed with all their handes was seene andallowed by all the Masters, who promised rather more thanlesse than that which was demanded. But concerninge theother Bill for Subsidyes, it was answered that it was not in their162power to grant it without the President, whose cominge homewas every day expected: against which time it was provided,and delivered unto him; who together with the 10 Seniors, wasloath to grant any thinge till they were certified what sportesshould bee, of what quality & charge, that so they might thebetter proportion the one to the other, the meanes to thematter: They were allso willinge to knowe what particular Menwould take upon them the care of furnishinge particular nightes.For they would by no meanes relye upon generall promisesbecause they were not ignorant how that which concerneth allin generall is by no man in speciall regarded. Wherfore theybeinge somewhat, although not fully, satisfied in their demaundesby some of the Masters, whom they seemed cheefly to trust withthe whole businesse, the Bill was againe perused, and every manceazed in manner and forme followinge:

"'The coppye of an auncient Act for taxes and subsidyesmade in the raygne of our Predecessor of famousmemorye, in this Parliament held inAula Regni thevi^th of November 1577 and now forOur Self newratified and published, anno regni jº November 7º 1607.

"'Because all lovinge & loyall Subjects doe owe not onelythemselves, but allso their landes, livinges, goodes, and whatsoever they call theirs, to the good of the Commonwealth, andestate under which they peaceably enjoy all, It is furtherenacted that no man dissemble his estate, or hide his abilitye,but be willinge at all times to pay such duetyes, taxes, andsubsidies, as shall be lawfully demaunded & thought reasonablewithout the hinderance of his owne estate, upon payne offorfettinge himself and his goodes whatsoever.'

"Though the whole company had thus largely contributedtowards the ensuinge sportes, yet it was found that when allthinges necessary should be layed toegether, a great sum of moneywould be wantinge, and therfore a course was thought upon ofsendinge out privie Seales to able & willinge Gentlemen whichhad been sometimes Fellowes or commoners of the Colledgethat it would please them to better the stocke, and out of theirgood will contribute somewhat towardes the Prince's Revells."

Then followed the form of the writ issued, "To our trustyeand welbeloved Knight, or Esquire," &c. "Given under ourprivye Seale at our Pallace of St. John's in Oxen, the seventh ofDecember in the first yeare of our rayne, 1607." Then follow"the names of those who were served with this writt, and whomost willingly obeyed upon the receipt thereof," contributingaltogether xvi^li x^s 0. "Others were served and bragd of it, asthough they had given, but sent nothing."

"For all these Subsidies at home, and helpes abroad, yet itwas founde that in the ende there would rather be want (asindeed it happened) than any superfluitye, and therfore the163Prince tooke order with the Bowsers to send out warrantes toall the Tenantes & other friendes of the Colledge, that theyshould send in extraordinary provision against every Feast,which accordingly was performed; some sendinge money, somewine, some venison, some other provision, every one accordingeto his abilitye.

"All thinges beinge thus sufficiently (as it was thought)provided for, the Councell table, with the Lord himself, metttogether to nominate officers & to appoint the day of the Prince'spublike installment which was agreed should be on St. AndrewsDay at night; because at that time the Colledge allso was tochouse their new officers for the yeare followinge.

"Now for that they would not playnely and barely install himwithout any farther ceremonies, it was thought fitt that hiswhole ensuinge Regiment (for good lucke sake) should beconsecrated to theDeitie of Fortune, as the sole Mistres andPatronesse of his estate, and therfore a schollerlike devise calledAra Fortunæ was provided for his installment; which wasperformed in manner & forme followinge:

[The Drama is not given on account of its length. And itwill be remarked that, whenever asterisks are substituted, someportion of the MS. has been omitted.]

"This showe by ourselves was not thought worthye of a stageor scaffoldes, and therfore after supper the tables were onlyesett together, which was not done with out great toyle & difficulty,by reason of the great multitude of people (which, by thedefault of the dorekeepers, and divers others, every man bringingein his friends) had filled the Hall before wee thought of it.But for all this it began before 8 of clock, and was well liked bythe whole audience, who, how unrulye so ever they meante tobee afterwardes, resolved I think at first with their good applauseand quiet behaviour to drawe us on so farr, as wee should notbee able to returne backwardes without shame & discreditt.They gave us at the ende 4 severall & generall plaudites; at the2 wherof the Canopie which hunge over the Altare of Fortune(as it had been frighted with the noise, or meante to signifiethat 2 plaudites were as much as it deserved) suddenly felldowne; but it was cleanly supported by some of the standers bytill the company was voyded, that none but our selves took noticeof it.164

"Some upon the sight of this Showe (for the better enoblingeof his person, and drawinge his pedigree even from the Godesbecause the Prince's name was Tucker, and the last Princebefore him was Dr. Case) made this conceipt thatCasus etFortuna genuerunt ΤυχερονPrincipem Fortunatum—so the one hisfather, and the other his mother.

"Another accident worthy observation (and which was allsothen observed) was that the Foole carelesly sittinge downe at thePrince's feete brake his staff in the midst, whence wee could notbut directly gather a verye ill omen, that the default and follye ofsome would bee the very breaknecke of our ensueing sports,which how it fell out, I leave to the censures of others; ourselves (I am sure) were guilty to our selves of many weaknessesand faultes, the number wherof were increased by the crossingeuntowardnesse, and backwardnesse of divers of the Prince'sneerest followers, nay the Prince himself had some weaknesseswhich did much prejudice his state, wherof the chiefest weerehis openesse, and familiaritye with all sortes, beinge unwillinge todisplease eny, yet not able to please all. But to proceede:—OnSt. Thomas day at night the officers before elect were solemnlyproclaimed by a Sergeant at armes, and an Herauld, the trumpettssoundinge beetwixt every title. This proclamation after itwas read, was for a time hunge up in the Hall, that every manmight the better understande the qualitie of his owne place, andthey that were of lower, or no place, might learne what duety toperforme to others.

"Whereas by the contagious poyson, and spreadinge maliceof some ill disposed persons, hath been threatned notonelye the danger of subvertinge peaceable & orderlye proceedinges,but the allmost utter annihilatinge of auncient &laudable customes—It hath been thought convenient, orrather absolutely necessarye for the avoydinge of a mostdangerous ensuinge Anarchie, a more settled order ofgoverment, for the better safetye of all well meaningeSubjects, and curbinge of discontented, headstronge persons,should bee established. And whereas through wante of goodlawes by wise and discreet Magistrates to bee duely andtruely executed, a giddye conceipt hath possest themindes of manye turbulent spirites, of endueringe nosuperiour, hardly an equall, whereby the common-wealthmight growe to bee a manye-headed monster—It hathbeen provided by the staide and mature deliberations ofwell-experienced governours and provident counsellours, thatone whose highe deserts might answere his high advancementshould bee sett over all to the rulinge and directingeof all—Therefore by these presentes bee it knowne untoall of what estate or condicion soever whome it shallconcerne that Thomas Tucker, an honorable wise & learnedGentleman to the great comeforte of the weale-publique from165hence-forth to be reputed, taken and obayed for the true,onely and undoubted Monarche of this revellinge Climate,whom the generall consent and joynte approbation of thewhole Common-wealth hath invested and crowned withthese honours and titles followinge:

"The most magnificent and renowned Thomas by the favourof Fortune, Prince of Alba Fortunata, Lord St. Johns,high Regent of the Hall, Duke of St. Giles, Marquesseof Magdalens, Landgrave of the Grove, County Palatineof the Cloisters, Chiefe Bailiffe of the Beaumonts, highRuler of Rome, Maister of the Manor of Waltham, Governourof Gloster-greene, sole Commaunder of all Titles, Tourneaments,and Triumphes, Superintendent in all Solemnitieswhatsoever.

"Now because they whom the unknowne cares, & unweildieburdens of a sole regiment shall relie upon, neede extraordinaryhelpe in the more than ordinarye affaires, Hee hath as well forthe better discharge & ease of those royall duetyes (as it were)which attend on his place, as for the avoidinge the odious &ingratefull suspition of a single dominion, and private Tyranye,selected and chosen unto himself a grave and learned assistanceboth for Councell and government, whom, and every of which,his princely will is, shall in their severall places & dignities beeboth honoured and obeid, with no lesse respect and observancethan if himself were there present in person. And that carelesseignorance may bee no lawfull excuse for the breach of hiswill therin hee hath appointed their severall names and titles,with their subordinate officers and deputies to be signified& proclaimed to all his lovinge and leige Subjects, in mannerfollowinge:

"The right gracious John Duke of Groveland, Earle de Bello-Monte,Baron Smith, chiefe Ranger of the Woods & Forests,great Master of the Prince's Game, hath for his subordinateofficers—

"The right honourable Rowland Lord Juxon, Lord Chauncelour,Keeper of the Great Seale, Signer of all publicke Charters,Allower of all Priviledges, hath for his subordinate officers.

"The right honourable Thomas Lord Downer, Lord highTreasurer, Receaver General of all Rents, Revenues,Subsidies, belonginge by Nature, custome or accident tothe Prince; the great Payemaster of all necessary chargesappertayninge to the Court, hath for his subordinateOfficers—

"The right honourable Joseph Lord Fletcher, Lord highAdmirall, great Commaunder of all the narrow seas, floodsand passages; Surveyor of the Navye, Mayster of theOrdinance, hath for his subordinate Officers,

"The right honourable Richard Lord Baylie, Lord highMarshall, President of all Titles, and Tourneaments,Commander in all Triumphes, Suppressor of suddaynetumultes, Supervisor of all games, and publique pastimes,hath for his subordinate Officers,

Sir John Hungerford, Knight Marshall, severe Commanderof the Wayes for the Prince's passage.

"The right honourable John Lord Towse, Lord high Chamberlayne,Purveyor for the Prince's pallace, Overseer of allfeasts and banquets, furnisher of all Chambers, andGalleries, Examiner of all private pastimes, hath for hissubordinate Officers,

"The right honourable Richard Lord Holbrooke, ComptrollerGenerall, Chiefe overseer of all Purseavants, Orderer of allhousehold Servaunts, hath for his subordinate officers,

"The right honourable James Lord Berbloke, principallSecretarye, Lord privye Seale, designer of all Embasies,Drawer of all Edicts and Letters, Scribe to the State, hathfor his subordinate Officers,

"The right honourable John Lord English, Lord Chiefe Justice,Examiner of all causes Capitall; Sessor upon life anddeath, Judge of controversies criminall, hath for his subordinateOfficers,167

"Now because good Governours without good laws, carefullMagistrates without wholesome Statutes are like dumb (thoughpaynted) images, or unweapon'd soldiers—Hee of his absoluteauthoritye, conferred upon him in the late free election, dothratifie and establish all such Decrees and Statutes, as Hee nowfindeth wisely and warely ordayned of his famous Predecessor;promisinge onely by a full and severe execution to put lifein their dead remembrance, Adding moreover some fewcautions to be observed in his ensuinge Triumphs."

These statutes were ratified and established by the Prince"at our Manor of Whites-Hall, December the 21st in the firstof our Raygne."

"The same night the Prince, with the rest of his Councellmeetinge at the high table in the Hall, a Bill was preferredby the Lord Treasurer for the advancement of Mr. HenerySwinarton to the Earldome of Cloyster-sheere, and the over-seeingeof the Princes great Librarye." After due consideration,"the Prince at length graunted the request, and his title waspresently drawne by the Clerke of the Councell-table, andpronounced in manner followinge:

"The right honourable Henry Lord Swinarton, Earle of Cloister-Sheer,Barron of the Garden, chiefe Master of the Presse,and overseer of the Prince's great Librarye, hath for hissubordinate Officers,

"From this time forward, and not before, the Prince wasthought fully to be instal'd, and the forme of government fullyestablished, in-so-much that none might or durst contradictanything which was appoynted by himself, or any of hisofficers.

"The Holy-dayes beinge now at hand, his privye-chamberwas provided and furnisht, wherein a chayre of state was placedupon a carpett with a cloth of state hanged over it, newly madefor the same purpose. On Christmas Day in the morninge hewas attended on to prayers by the whole companye of theBacchelours, and some others of his Gentlemen Ushers, barebefore him. At dinner beinge sett downe in the Hall at thehigh table in the Vice-president's place (for the Presidenthimself was then allso present) he was served with 20 dishesto a messe, all which were brought in by Gentlemen of theHowse attired in his Guard's coats, ushered in by the LordComptroller, and other Officers of the Hall. The first messewas a Boar's Head, which was carried by the tallest and lustiestof all the Guard, before whom (as attendants) wente first, oneattired in a horseman's coate, with a Boars-speare in his hande,168next to him an other Huntsman in greene, with a bloody fauciondrawne; next to him 2 Pages in tafatye sarcenet, each of themwith a messe of mustard; next to whome came hee that carriedthe Boares-head crost with a greene silk scarfe, by which hungethe empty scabbard of the faulcion which was carried beforehim. As they entered the Hall, he sang this Christmas Caroll,the three last verses of everie staffe beinge repeated after himby the whole companye:

"At this time, as on all other Holy-dayes, the Princes allowedMusitions (which were sent for from Readinge, because ourowne Town Musick had given us the slipp, as they use to doeat that time when we had most need of them) played all dinnertime, and allso at supper. The Prince as ofte as hee satt in theHall was attended on by a Commoner and Scholler of theColledge in tafaty sarcenett. After supper there was a privateShowe performed in the manner of an Interlude, contayningethe order of the Saturnalls, and shewinge the first cause ofChristmas-candles, and in the ende there was an applicationmade to the Day and Nativitie of Christ, all which wasperformed in manner followinge:

"This shew was very well liked of our selves, and the better:first, because itt was the voluntary service of a younge youth;nexte, because there were no strangers to trouble us.

"St. Steevens day was past over in silence, and so had St.John's day also; butt that some of the Prince's honest neighboursof St. Giles's presented him with a maske, or morris,169which though it were but rudely performed, yet itt being sofreely and lovingly profered, it could not but bee as lovinglyreceived.

"The same nighte, the twelve daies were suddenly, and asit were extempore, brought in, to offer their service to thePrince, the holy-daies speaking Latine, and the working-daiesEnglish, the transition was this:

"After some few daunces the Prince, not much liking thesporte (for that most of them were out both in their speechesand measures, having but thought of this devise some fewhoures before) rose, and lefte the hall, after whose departure,an honest fellow to breake of the sportes for that night, andto void the company made suddenly this Epilogue:

"The next day being Innocents-day, it was expected, andpartly determined by our selves, that the Tragedy ofPhilomelashould have been publickly acted, which (as wee thought) wouldwell have fitted the day, by reason of the murder of InnocentItis. But the carpenters being no way ready with the stage, orscaffolds (whereof notwithstanding some were made beforeChristmas), wee were constrained to deferre it till the nexteday, which was the 29th of December.

"New-yeare's eve was wholly spent in preparation for thePrince's triumphs, so that nothing was done or expected thatnight.170

"Next day in the morning (beeing New-yeare's-day) thePrince sent Mr. Richard Swinnerton, one of the Squires of hisbody to Mr. President with a paire of gloves, charging him tosay nothing but these two verses:

The Prince and his Councell, in signe of their loves,
Present you, their President, with these paire of gloves.

"There was some what else written in the paper whichcovered them, but what it is uncertaine.

"At night were celebrated the Prince's triumphs, at whichtime onely and never before nor after he was carryed in fullstate from his pallace to the hall, where in the sight of thewhole University a supplication was presented unto him byTime and seconded with a shew calledTimes Complaint. Itwas performed in manner and forme following:

Timeexpecting the comming of the Prince (to whom hee preferreth a petition)placeth himselfe on the stage till the traine bee past.

Enter first six Knighte Marshalls men in suitable liveries withlinks and truncheons two by two.

After these fower Knightes in rich apparell with hats andfeathers, rapiers and daggers, bootes and spurres, everieone his Lackie attending on him with torch-light, all twoby two.

After these the Master of the Requests, the Master of theRobes in vaste velvet gownes, with Lackies and torchesbefore them.

After these fower Barons in velvet cloakes, likewise attendedwith Lackies and torches.

After these six of the privie Counsell in Schollars gownes andcivill hoods, everie one attended on by a Footman bearingon his jacket both behind and before his Lord'sarmes according to his office (as it is before mentioned)with torches alsoe in theire hands.

After those two Sergeants at armes, with great Maces, andtwo Squiers before them with torches, all bare.

After these two Hench-men, the one with a sword, the otherwith a scepter, likewise attended by two Squiers withtorch lights, all bare.

After these the Prince himselfe in a scholler's gowne andcivill hood, with a coronett of laurell about his hat,attended on by fower footmen in suitable liveries withtorches.

After these the Captaine of the guard alone in hose anddublett, hatt and feather, etc., and following him, twentyof the guard in suitable guards' coats and halberds intheir hands, and lightes intermingled here and there.

"When this traine first entered out of the Prince's palacethere was a volye of shotte to the number of fiftie or three-scoregunnes, and once againe as it passed through the quadrangle,and the third time when the Prince was readie to enter upponthe stage in the hall, after which third peale ended, the nobilitiehaving past along some parte of the stage, the rest of the trainedisposed in places provided for them, and the Prince himselfenewlie entered, the showe went forward.

"It hath beene observed if they which performe much inthese kinde of sportes must needs doe something amisse, orat the least such is the danger and trouble of them, that somethingin the doing will miscarry, and so be taken amisse, andsuch was our fortune at this time; for the Prologue (to thegreat prejudice of that which followed) was most shamefullyout, and having but halfe a verse to say, so that by the verysense the audience was able to prompt him in that whichfollowed, yet hee could not goe forward, but after long stay andsilence, was compelled abruptly to leave the stage, whereuponbeeing to play another part, hee was so dasht, that hee didnothing well that night.

"After him Good-wife Spiggot, comming forth before hertime, was most miserably at a non plus & made others so also,whilst her selfe staulked in the middest like a great Harry-Lion(as it pleased the audience to terme it), either saying nothingat all, or nothing to the purpose.

"The drunken-man, which in the repetitions had muchpleased and done very well, was now so ambitious of hisaction, that he would needs make his part much longer thanit was, and stood so long upon it all, that he grew most tedious,whereuppon it was well observed and said by one that

"To make up the messe of absurdities the company had sofil'd the stage, that there was no roome to doe any thing well,to bee sure many thinges were mistaken and therefore couldnot but bee very distastfull, for it was thought that particularmen were aymed at, and disciphered by the drunken-man, andJustice Bryar, though it was fully knowne to our-selves that theauthor had no such purpose.

"In fine, expectation the devourer of all good endeavourshad swallowed more in the very name and title of the interludethan was either provided or intended in the whole matter, forwee onely proposed to our selves a shew, but the towne expecteda perfect and absolute play, so that all things mett to make usunhappy that night, and had not Time him selfe (whose linesand actions were thought good) somewhat pleased them, theywould never have endured us without hissing, howsoever inthe end they gave us two or three cold plaudites, though theydeparted no way satisfyed, unlesse it were in the shew aboutthe quadrangle, wherein the Prince was carryd to his chamberin the same state that hee came from thence in the beginning(as is above mentioned), the whole company of actors beeingadded to his traine who immediately followed him before theguard in this order:

Then Error and Opinion, which all the way they went pull'dVeritas by the sleeve, one by one and the other by theother, but shee would not harken to them.

After these came Studioso and Philonices, both pleading thecase, one upon his ringers and the other with both hishands.

Then came Manco, the lame souldiour and Philonices hisman; the souldiour haulting without his cruch, the otherbeating him with the cruch for counterfeyting.

After these came Clinias and Bellicoso houlding the halterbetwixt them, which Bellicoso had found in Clinias hispocket.

Last after these came Humphry Swallow and good wifeSpiggot, hee reeling uppon her, she pulling and haylinghim for the money he ought her.

After these came the guard as before, and so the Prince infull state was conveyed to his pallace.

"Here wee were all so discouraged that wee could havefound in our heartes to have gone no farther. But then consultingwith our selves wee thought it no way fitt to leave whenthinges were at the worst, and therefore resolved by moreindustry and better care of those things which should follow,to sue out a fine of recovery for our credites. Whereupponthe comedy which was already a foote and appointed to beedone on 12 day, was revewed and corrected by the best judgmentsin the house, & a Chorus by their direction inserted, toexcuse former faults, all which was a cause that Twelfe eve &Twelfe day past away in silence, because the comedy beeingwholy altered could not bee so soone acted, neyther could anyother thing bee so suddenly provided to furnish those nights.

"Heere the Lord-treasurer made a complaint to the Kingand the rest of his councell that his treasure was poore andalmost exhausted, so that without a fresh supply or new subsidynothing more could bee done. And that this might not seeman idle complaint, a bill of some of the particulars and chiefeexpences was exhibited, wherein it might appeare how costlythe presedent revels had beene."

"This bill beeing seene and allowed, they begane to cast aboutfor more money, whereuppon a new privy seale was drawn inLatin." "Those which were served with this writte andobey'd" contributed a total sum of 5^li.

"This beeing not as yet sufficient there was a new subsedylevyed by the Junior Masters and the rest of the Colledge to thesumme of Six Poundes three shillings, whereuppon finding themselvesagaine before hand, and resolving to save nothing for adeare yeare, they proceeded to new expences and new troubles.

"The Suneday after, beeing the last day of the Vacation andtenth day of the moneth, two shewes were privately performedin the Lodging, the one presently after dinner calledSomniumFundatoris, viz., the tradition that wee have concearning the174three trees that wee have in the President his garden. Thisinterlude by the reason of the death of him that made it, notlong after was lost, and so could not bee heere inserted; but itwas very well liked, and so wel deserved, for that it was bothwel penned and well acted.

"Now because before were divers youths whose voyces orpersonages would not suffer them to act any thing in publicke,yet withall it was thought fitt, that in so publicke a buisnesevery one should doe some thing, therefore a mocke play wasprovided calledThe 7 Dayes of the Weeke, which was to be performedby them which could do nothing in earnest, and, thatthey should bee sure to spoyle nothing, every man's part wassorted to his person, and it was resolved that the worse itwas done, the better it would be liked, and so it fell out; forthe same day after supper it was presented by one who borethe name of the Clerke of St. Gyleses, and acted privately inthe lodging in manner and forme following:

"Nothing, throughout the whole yeare, was better liked andmore pleasant than this shewe, in so much that, although itwere more privately done before our selves onely or some fewfriends, yet the report of it went about all the towne, till itcame to the Vice-chauncellours and L. Clifford's eares, whowere very desyrous to see it acted againe, and so it was asheereafter shal bee specifyed.

"The next day beeing Munday the 11 of January the termeshould have begun in the house, but because of the extreamecold and froast which had now continued full six weekes andbetter without any intermission, as also by reason the hall wasstill pestered with the stage and scaffolds which were sufferedto stand still in expectation of the Comedy, therefore it wasagreed by the President and the officers that the terme shouldbee prorogued for 7 dayes longer in which time it was agreedthe Comedy should bee publickely acted on Friday, the 15thday of January.

"But heere the President and some of the Seniors in abundanceof care were affrayd to put any thing againe to thepublicke view of the University, because their last paines atThe Complaint of Time had so ill thriving. Besides the seasonwas so severe and tempestuous with wind and snow, which hadcontinued some dayes without ceasing, and the complaint ofthe poore was so grievious for want of wood and meate, whichby this time were growne very scant and deere, that they urgedit was a time rather to lament and weepe than make sports in,whereupon a streight inhibition was sent out from the officers,that no man should thinke of playing that night or any timeafter, till the weather should breake up and bee more temperate,for they thought it no way fitt publickly to revell at a time ofsuch generall wo and calamity.

"But yet because all thinges were in a readinesse and theexpectation of the whole towne was set uppon that night, theyounger men of the Colledge went forward with their buisnes,intending to take no notice of what the officers had aggreeduppon, wherefore some of the officers were fayne to come inperson to forbid the worke-men, and to undo some things whichwere already done, to the great griefe and discouragement ofall the youth, who, though the weather was extreame cold, werethemselves most hotte uppon the matter in hand, resolving nowor never to recover their losse credit.

"And, as though the heavens had favoured their designes,so it happened that about noone the weather brake up and it176begann to thaw, whereuppon the President was agayne importun'dby the Prince himselfe and his councell for the performanceof the Comedy that night; who (seeing they were all so earnest)did not so much graunt, as not deny them, their request, whereupponthey begann againe to sett forward the buisnes, and whatthey wanted in time they made up by their willingnesse andpaynes, so that for all these crosses they begann the play before7 a clocke and performed it in manner following:

"This play was very well acted, but especially the Chorus, thestage was never more free, the audience never more quiett andcontented, so that they went away many of them crieing—Abundèsatisfactum est! itt was so well liked and applaudedof all that saw itt.

"Here the stage & scaffold were pul'd downe which hadstood from Cristmas, and it was resolved that upon thechaunge of the weather, the terme should begin on theMunday following.

"But in the meane time on Sunday nighte, being the Seventeenthof January, the Vice-chancelor, and the L. Clifford, withmany other Doctors and Gentlemen were invited to supper inthe President's lodging, where after supper they were entertainedwith a shew before mentioned, to witt,The Seven Dayesin the Weeke, to which, by this time, there was somewhat added,but not much: all was most kindly accepted, and the nighte wasspent in great mirth. For the straungenes of the matter, andrarity of the fashion of their action pleased above expectation.

"At the end of this shew for the more rarity, there was onebrought in my Lord's Stockes with this speech made uppon itt:

"'My Lord, I which am the lowest, am now become thelowdest, though (I hope) not the lewdest of your Lordshippe's177servauntes. And though I comepridie Calendas, before I amcald, yet (I hope) my audacity shall have audience, and myfaithfulnes favor. I am your Lordshippe's Elephaunt andheere is your castell, so that where other Lords are broughtto their castells, heere your castell is brought to you.Est locusin carcere, there is a locke upon your Lordshippe's castell, whichwas committed unto my trust, how faithfull I have been thereinthey can tell who have taken an exact measure of my office bythe foote: the matter of which your castell is builded is soprecious, that there is none amongst company but is contentedto wear of it within his buttons, the end for which it was buildedis very commendable, that they may bee kepte in order withwood, which otherwise would not bee kepte in order, heereisfons latus pedibus tribus, a fountaine to wash three mens legs,that they which have beneaurium tenus, over shoes, heere maybecrurum tenus over bootes too, This your Lordshippe's oracleor Tripos, out of which malefactors tell the truth and foretellof their amendment. Nay, I wil bee bould to compare it toyour Lordshippe's braine, for what is there designed is heereexecuted. In these sells or ventricles are fancy, understanding,and memory. For such as your Lordshippe doth not fancy areput in the first hole, such as were dull and without understandingwere put in the second hole, but such as yourLordshippe threatned (remember this) or I'le remember you,were put in the last and lowest dungeon,cum nemini obtrudipotest itur ad me. When they cannot bee ruled otherwise theyare brought unto mee, and my entertainment isstrato discumbiturostro, they straite sett downe att this oister table, where theyare fast and doe fast, fforvinitur exiguo melius, they make smallmeales, till the flames of clemency doe mitigate the Salamandersof your Lordshippe's severity. Now, my Lord, since I havetold you what I am, I will bee bold to tell you what you maybee—You are mortall—Ergo you must die, the three sisters willnot spare you, though you were their owne brother, and thereforewhile you have your good witts about you,fac quid vobis,make your will, that wee may know amongst so many welldeserving men, that doe lay claime to this your castell, towhome as rightfull heire itt shall lawfully descend, thatso all controversies being ended, before your Lordshippe'sdeceasse, hereafter your bones may ly, and wee your subjectslive, in all rest and quietnes.

"To make an end of this nighte's sporte, all departed merryand very well pleased, the actors were much commended, andthe terme for their sakes prorogued one day longer.

"On the Thursday following the Prince was solemnly invitedby the Canons of Christchurch to a comedy calledYuletide,where many thinges were either ill ment by them, or ill takenby us, but wee had very good reason to think the former, both178for that the whole towne thought so, and the whole play wasa medley of Christmas sportes, by which occasion ChristmasLords were much jested at, and our Prince was soe placed thatmany thinges were acted upon him, but yet, Mr. Deane himselfe,then vice-chancelor, very kindly sent for the Prince andsome others of our howse, and laboured to satisfie us, protestingthat no such thing was mente, as was reported, whereupon weewent away contented, and forebore the speaking of many thingswhich otherwise were afterwards intended, for aunswering ofthem in their owne kind.

"On Candlemas nighte it was thoughte by our selves, andreported in the towne, that the Prince should resigne hisplace, but nothing being in readines for that purpose itt wasdeferred, but yet, least nothing should bee done, there was aVigilate (as they terme it) a watching nighte procured by thePrince and his Counsell, and graunted by the officers of theColledge, which was performed in manner following.

"First, about eighte of the Clocke (for then itt was to begin,and to continue till fowre in the morning) the Colledge gateswere shutt, and all the students summon'd by the sounding of aTrumpett three times, to make their personall appearance in thegreate Hall, where after they were all come together, that thePrince's pleasure might bee the better knowne, this proclamationwas publikely pronounced by a Serjeant att Armes, inthe hearing of them all.

"The high and mighty Thomas by the favour of Fortune Princeof Alba Fortunata, Lord St. Johns, High Regent of theHall, &c. To all Presidents, Vice Presidents, Officers,Readers, Masters, Batchelors, Felowes, Schollers, Commoners,Under-commoners, Servaunts, Scruitors, sendethgreeting.

Whereas of late by the turbulent spirits of seditious mindedpersons hath bene buzzed into the eares of many of our lovingand liege subjectes a fearefull and dangerous report of oursudden downefall, which according to their libelling speechesshould att this nighte fall upon us—We have thought itnecessary not so much for our owne feares which are noneat all, as for satisfieing and strengthening our welmeaningfriends in their love and duty, to publish and by these presentsto all our loyal subjects of what state and condicion soever,that they make their personall appearance to the setting andfurnishing of a most strong guarde and carefull watch as wellfor their security as the safety of our owne royall person, &the whole Common-wealth; In the which generall watch forthe better comfort and ease of all men, our selfe, with ourhonourable privy Counsell, and the rest of our Nobility, intendto bee personally present.179

"But because wee are no way minded to oppresse any manabove his power, on our princely bounty, wee give licence tosuch as (for age or infirmity) are not able to perform that duty,to forfaite for their absence, yf they plead age ijs. vi^d.; ifinfirmity, xii^d., towards the furnishing of his Highnes with atall and sufficient watchman.

"Now because that which wee have wisely thought, and forour peace and safety, may not proove the cause of new troublesand dissentions, wee have thought good to adjoine some fewcautions, in way of admonitions to bee observed.

"First, for that the disorders of an unruly and mutinous watchdoe often open as it were the gate of danger and outrage,our princely will and pleasure is, that each man keepe hisstation with out murmuring, performing cheerefully all suchoffices and duties, as shal bee lawfully enjoin'd by us, orour offices, upon paine of forfeiting ijs. vi^d., as for age.

"Secondly, because sloth is a kind of disease in a well-orderedCommon-wealth wee further charge and command by thevertue of our absolute authority, that no man bee foundwinking, or pincking, or nodding, much lesse snorting,upon paine of forfaiting twelve pence, as for infirmity.

"Thirdly, for the avoiding of a sudden dearth, or lingring faminewhich may ensue and justly follow the free and undoubtedliberty of a riotous and luxurious time, yt is by us thoughtnecessary that no man should in hugger mugger eate ordrincke more than is publickly seene and allowed by theface of the body civill and politicke, upon paine of paieingtwise, for such is in a manner stolen provision, and thesecond paiement to bee arbitrary.

"Given att our Mannor of Whites-hall, the seacond ofFebruary, and in the first of our Raigne.

"This proclamation being read and set up in the great hall,the Prince called for his officers and servants about him,charging every man carefully to execute his office. First thesteward and buttler (who for their auncient fidelity kept theirplaces according as they had long before beene appointed bythe Colledge) were commaunded to bring their bookes, and bythem to call up all the howse, whereupon (every one beeing firstcharged to aunswere to his name) it presently appeared whowere present and who were absent.

"After this the Master of the Revels and the Knight Marshallwere willed to appoint severall sportes that no man might beeseene idle upon payne of the Prince's high displeasure whereuponpresently some went to cardes, some to dice, some todauncing, every one to some thing.

"Not long after, for more variety sake, there was brought ina maske; the devise was sudden and extempore, videl: a littlepage attired in his long coats, with these six verses which werespoke as soone as he entered the hall.180

"After these maskers had finished the measures, and somefew other daunces, the said page waved them forth with hiswan, and spake these two verses:

"Then there came in three in an anticke which were wellattyred for that purpose, and daunced well to the great deliteof the beholders.

"After these had stollen away one by one, as the manner is,it pleased the Prince to aske what was a clocke, it beeingaunswered almost twelve hee presently called in for supper.But first the bill of those which were before noted to beeabsent was called, to see whether any of them would yetappeare, and the Prince would deale favourably with them. Itwas also examined whether any of those which were presentbefore were now gon to bed, and accordingly authority wasgiven by the Prince to the marshalls of the hall and otherofficers to search the chambers for sleepers, and where theymade aunswere to aske the reason of their slothfull neglect orwilfull contempt of the Prince's commands, and if they pleadedeither infirmity or age to take their fine, and so quietly todepart, first causing them faithfull to give their words that theyharboured no other idle or suspicious parsons. But if theyknoct at any of the chambers of those that were absent andnobody would answer, then they had full authority to breakeopen the dores and to make a privy search, and if they foundany abed they tooke them as they were in their shirts andcarryed them downe in state to the hall after this manner:—

Then came one squire carrying the goune of him whom theybrought and another that carryed his hatt & band.

Then came two other squires whereof one carryed his dubletthe other his breeches.

Next came he that was in his shirt carryed by two in a chaireand covered with a blanket.

"All these beeing entered the hall, the squires made theirattendance about him, with great observance, every onereaching him his apparrell as it pleased him to call for it, andthen also helping him on with it. And this was the punishmentof those that were found a bed.181

"Others which were found up in their chambers & wouldnot answer were violently brought downe with bills and stavesas malefactors and by the Knight Marshals appointment werecommitted close prisoners to the Prince's castle, videl. thestocks, which were placed upon a table to that purpose, thatthose which were punished might bee seene to the terrour ofothers.

"By this time supper was ready and the sewer called to thedresser whereupon the buttery bell was presently rung, as ituses to bee at other ordinary meales, besides a trumpet wassounded at the kitchen hatch to call the wayters together.

"After the first messe was served in, the Prince with the restof his councell satt downe, then all the rest of the howse inseniority.

"Towardes the end of supper two gentlemen of the secondtable fell out, wee could never distinctly know about what, itwas verely supposed themselves scarsly knew, but from wordesthey fell suddenly to blowes, and ere any man was aware, oneof them had stabbed the other into the arme with his knife tothe great prejudice of the mirth, which should or would havefollowed that night. But the offender was presently apprehended(and though a gentleman of some worth) put into myLord's stocks, where hee lay most part of that night with shameand blame enough. And yet for all that punishment the nextday he was convented before the officers of the Colledge, andthere agayne more grievously punished; for the fault was muchagravated by the circumstances of the time, place and personthat was hurt, who was a very worshipfull knight's sonne andheyre.

"After this the Prince with some of the better sort of thehowse beeing much disconted with the mischaunce that hadhappened, retyred themselves into the president lodging, whereprivatly they made themselves merry, with a wassall called thefive bells of Magdalen Church, because it was an auncient noteof those bells, that they were almost never silent. This shewfor the better grace of the night was performed by some of theMasters and officers themselves in manner following:

"Your kind acceptance of the late devisePresented by St. Gyles's clerke, my neighbour,Hath hartned mee to furnish in a triceThis nights up sitting with a two houres labour:For any thing I hope, though ne're so naghtyWil be accepted in a Vigilate.
I have observed as your sportes did passe all(A fault of mine to bee too curious)The twelfe night slipt away without a wassall,A great defect, to custome most injurious:Which I to mend have done my best endeavourTo bring it in, for better late than never.

182

And more, for our more tuneable proceeding,I have ta'ne downe the five bells in our towre,Which will performe it, if you give them heeding,Most musically, though they ring an houre.—Now I go in to oyle my bells and pruin them,When I come downe Ile bring them downe & tune them.Exit.

"After a while he returned with five others presenting hisfive bells, and tyed with five bell-ropes, which after he hadpulled one by one, they all began a peale, and sang in Latin asfolloweth:—

Bibunt omnes ordine dum, actores hæc ultima carmina sæpius repetunt; maxsinguli toti conventui sic ordine gratulantur.

"This then was suddenly and extempore clapt together forwant of a better, but notwithstanding was as willingly andchearefully receaved as it was proferd.

"By this time it was foure a clocke and liberty was given toevery one to goe to bed or stay up as long as they pleased.The Prince with his councell brake up their watch, so did mostof the Masters of the house, but the younger sort stayed uptill prayers time, and durst not goe to bed for feare of oneanother. For some, after they had licence to depart, werefetcht out of their beds by their fellowes, and not suffered toput on their clothes till they came into the hall. And thus theday came and made an end of the night's sport.

"On the sixt of February, beeing egge Satterday, it pleasedsome gentlemen schollers in the towne to make a dauncingnight of it. They had provided many new and curious dauncesfor the maske of Penelope's Woers, but the yeare beeing farspent and Lent drawing on and many other thinges to bee performed,the Prince was not able to bestow that state upon themwhich their love & skill deserved. But their good will wasvery kindely received by the Prince in this night's privatetravels. They had some apparell suddenly provided for them,and these few Latin verses for their induction:

"After all this sport was ended the Prince entertayned themvery royally with good store of wine and a banquet, where theywere very merry and well pleased all that night.

"Against the next Tuesday following, beeing Shrovetuesday,the great stage was againe set up and the scaffolds built aboutthe hall for the Prince's resignation, which was performed thatnight with great state and solemnity in manner and formefollowing:

"Many straungers of all sorts were invited to this shew, andmany more came together, for the name's sake only of a resignacon,to see the manner and solemnity of it, for that it wasreported (and truly) that there was nothing els to bee done orseene beside the resignacon and no man thought so much couldhave beene said of so little matter.

"The stage was never so oppressed with company, insomuchthat it was verely thought it could not bee performed that nightfor want of roome; but the audience was so favourable as tostand as close and yeeld as much backe as was possible; sothat for all tumults it began about 7 a clocke, and was very wellliked of all.

"Only some few, more upon their owne guilty suspicion thanour plaine intention, thinking themselves toucht at that verse ofMomus:

laboured to raise an hissing, but it was soon smothered, and thewhole company in the end gave us good applause and departedvery well pleased.

"After the shew was ended, the sometimes Lord was carriedin state to his owne private chamber after this manner:

Then came 4 other Squires with lightes, and in the midst ofthem 4 schollers bearing on their shoulders a tombeor sepulcher adorned with scutchions and little flagges,wherein all the Prince's honours had bene buried before.

After this came the Prince alone in his schollers gowne andhood as the chiefe mourner.

Then all the rest of his Counsell and company likewise inblacke gownes and hoodes, like mourners, two by two.

"All these were said to goe to the Temple of Minerva thereto consecrate and erecte the sepulcher, and this state was verywell liked of all that saw itt.

"Heere wee thought to have made an end of all, and to havepuld downe the scaffolds and stage, but then many saidthat so much preparacon was too much for so small a show.Besides there was an English Tragedy almost ready, which185they were very earnest should bee performed, but many argumentswere alledged against it: first, for the time, because itwas neere Lent, and consequently a season unfitt for plaies—Secondly,the stile for that itt was English, a language unfitt forthe Universitie, especially to end so much late sporte with all—Thirdly,the suspicon of some did more hinder it than all therest, for that it was thought that some particulars were aimedatt in the Chorus, which must needs bee distastfull—Lastly, theill lucke, which wee had before with English, made many veryloth to have any thing done againe in that straine.

"But these objections being aunswered all well as might bee,and faithfull promise being made and taken that if any wordwere thought personall, it should be presently put out, thestage was suffered to stand, and the scaffolds somewhatenlarged against the Saturday following. Att which time sucha concourse of people from all places, and of all sorts cametogether presently after dinner, that itt was thought impossibleany thing should have beene done that night for tumults. Yetin the beginning such order and care was taken (every one beingwilling att the last cast to helpe towardes the making a goodend,) that the stage was kept voide of all company, and thescaffoldes were reserved for straungers and men sorte, betterthan ever they were before, so that it began very peaceablysomewhat before six a clocke, and was performed in mannerfollowing:

"A certain gentlewoman, upon the hearing of these two lastverses, made two other verses, and in way of an aunswer sentthem to the Prince, who having first plaied Periander afterwardshimselfe also pronounced the Epilogue.

"But it is almost incredible to thinke how well this Tragedywas performed of all parties, and how well liked of the whole,which (as many of them as were within the hall) were veryquiet and attentive. But those that were without and couldnot get in made such an hideous noice, and raised such atumult with breaking of windows all about the colledge, throwingeof stones into the hall and such like ryott, that the officersof the coll: (beeing first dar'd to appeare) were faine to rushforth in the beginning of the play, with about a dozen whiflerswell armed and swords drawne, whereat the whole company(which were gathered together before the chapell doore to trywhether they could breake it open) seeing them come behindthem out of the lodging, presently gave backe, and ranne awaythough itt was thought they were not so few as 4 or 500.

"The officers gave some faire words and some fowle as theysaw occasion, the whiflers were very heedfull to marke who werethe ringleaders of the rest, and having some notice given ofthem by some of our friendes, they took some of them andcommitted them to the Porter's lodge, where they lay closeprisoners till the play was done, and then they were broughtforth and punished, and so sente home.

"After this all was quiet only some were so thrust in the hall,that they were carried forth for dead but soone recovered,when they came into the aire.187

"The Chorus of this Tragedy much pleased for the rarity ofit.Detraction beeing taken from among the company, wherehee had liked to have been beaten for his sawsines (as it wassupposed) for nobody at first toke him for an actor. Thechiefest in the hall commaunded that notice should be taken ofhim, that hee might afterwards bee punished for his boldnes;—butas soone as it at once appeared that he was an actor, theirdisdaine and anger turned to much pleasure and content.

"All were so pleased att the whole course of this play, thatthere were at least eight generall plaudites given in the midstof it in divers places and to divers persons.

"In the end, they clapped their hands so long, that they wentforth of the colledge clapping.

"But in the midst of all this good liking wee were neere twomischaunces, the one from Lycophron who lost a faire goldring from his finger, which notwithstanding all the hurleburlyin the end of the play, was soone found againe; the other fromPeriander, who, going to kill his daughter Eugenia, did notso couch his dagger within his hand, but that hee prickt herthrough all her attire, but (as God would have it) it was onely ascratch and so it passed.

"Many other thinges were in this yeare intended which neitherwere nor could be performed. As the maske of Penelope'sWooer, with the State of Telemachus, with a Controversie of Jrusand his ragged Company, whereof a great parte was made. Thedevise of the Embassage from Lubber-land, whereof also a partewas made. The Creation of White Knights of the order ofAristotle's Well, which should bee sworne to defend Aristotleagainst all authors, water against wine, footemen against horsemen,and many more such like injunctions. A lottery for thoseof the colledge or straungers as itt pleased them to draw, notfor matters of wealth, but only of mirth and witt. The triumphof all the founders of the colledges in Oxford, a devise muchthought on, but it required more invention, more cost than thetime would affoord. The holding of a court leet and baronfor the Prince, wherein there should have beene leasses drawne,copies taken, surrenders made, all which were not so muchneglected as prevented by the shortnes of time and want ofmoney, better wits and richer daies may hereafter make uppwhich was then lefte unperfect.

"Here some letters might be inserted, and other gratulatorymessages from divers friends to the Prince, but it is high timeto make an end of this tedious and fruitelesse relation, unlessethe knowledge of trouble and vanity bee fruitefull.

"Wee intended in these exercises the practise and audacityof our youth, the credit and good name of our colledge, thelove and favor of the University; but instead of all these (soeasie a thing it is to be deceived in a good meaning) wee met188with peevishnesse at home, perversnes abroad, contradictionseverywhere; some never thought themselves entreated enoughto their owne good and creditt; others thought themselves ableto doe nothing if they could not thwarte and hinder something;most stood by and gave aime, willing to see much anddoe nothing, nay perchaunce they were ready to procure mosttrouble, which would bee sure to yield least helpe. And yetwee may not so much grudge at faults at home as wee mayjustly complaine of hard measure abroad; for instead of thelove and favour of the Universitie, wee found our selves (wee willsay justly) taxed for any the least error (though ingenious spiritswould have pardoned many things, where all things were intendedfor their owne pleasure) but most unjustly censured,and envied for that which was done (wee dare say) indifferentlywell: so that, in a word, wee paide deere for trouble, and ina manner hired and sent for men to doe us wrong.

"Let others herafter take heed how they attempte the like,unlesse they find better meanes at home, and better mindesabroad. And yet wee cannot complaine of all, some ment welland said well, and those tooke good will for good paiment,good endevors for good performaunce, and such (in this kind)shall deserve a private favour, when other shal bee denied acommon benefitt.

During the reign of James the First there was a revival ofchivalric exercises, especially in connection with the training ofthe young Prince Henry. Almost as soon as he could wield alance and manage his horse when clothed in complete armour,he insisted on taking his place at the lists; and from this timeno great tournament took place in England in which his RoyalHighness did not take part. The most important of theseexhibitions was

which took place on Twelfth Night, 1610, at the palace ofWhitehall, in the presence of King James I. and his queen, anda brilliant assemblage of lords, ladies, and gentlemen, amongwhom were several foreign ambassadors, when the heir-apparent,Prince Henry, was in the 16th year of his age, andtherefore arrived at the period for claiming the principalityof Wales and the duchy of Cornwall. It was granted to himby the king and the High Court of Parliament, and the 4th ofJune following appointed for his investiture: "the Christmasbefore which," Sir Charles Cornwallis says, "his highnesse, notonely for his owne recreation, but also that the world might189know what a brave prince they were likely to enjoy, under thename of Meliades, lord of the isles, (an ancient title due to thefirst born of Scotland,) did, in his name, by some appointed forthe same purpose, strangely attired, accompanied with drummesand trumpets, in the presence, before the king and queene, andin the presence of the whole Court, deliver a challenge to allknights of Great Britaine." The challenge was to this effect,"That Meliades, their noble master, burning with an earnest desireto trie the valour of his young yeares in foraigne countryes, andto know where vertue triumphed most, had sent them abroad toespy the same, who, after their long travailes in all countreys,and returne," had nowhere discovered it, "save in the fortunateisle of Great Britaine: which ministring matter ofexceeding joy to their young Meliades, who (as they said) couldlineally derive his pedegree from the famous knights of thisisle, was the cause that he had now sent to present the firstfruits of his chivalrie at his majesties' feete: then after returningwith a short speech to her majestie, next to the earles,lords, and knights, excusing their lord in this their so suddenand short warning, and, lastly, to the ladies; they, after humbledelivery of their chartle concerning time, place, conditions,number of weapons and assailants, tooke their leave, departingsolemnly as they entered."

Then preparations began to be made for this great fight, andeach was happy who found himself admitted for a defendant,much more an assailant. "At last to encounter his highness,six assailants, and fifty-eight defendants, consisting of earles,barons, knights, and esquires, were appointed and chosen;eight defendants to one assailant, every assailant being to fightby turnes eight several times fighting, two every time with pushand pike of sword, twelve strokes at a time; after which, thebarre for separation was to be let downe until a fresh onset."The summons ran in these words:

"To our verie loving good ffreind sir Gilbert Loughton, knight, geave theis withspeed:

"After our hartie commendacions unto you. The prince, his highnes, hathcommanded us to signifie to you that whereas he doth intend to make a challengein his owne person at the Barriers, with six other assistants, to bee performedsome tyme this Christmas; and that he hath made choice of you for one of thedefendants (whereof wee have comandement to give you knowledge), thattheruppon you may so repaire hither to prepare yourselfe, as you may bee fitt toattend him. Hereunto expecting your speedie answer wee rest, from Whitehallthis 25th of December, 1609. Your very loving friends,

On New Year's Day, 1610, or the day after, the Prince'schallenge was proclaimed at court, and "his highnesse, in hisown lodging, in the Christmas, did feast the earles, barons, andknights, assailants and defendants, until the great Twelfthappointed night, on which this great fight was to be performed."

On the 6th of January, in the evening, "the barriers" wereheld at the palace of Whitehall, in the presence of the king190and queen, the ambassadors of Spain and Venice, and the peersand ladies of the land, with a multitude of others assembled inthe banquetting-house: at the upper end whereof was theking's chair of state, and on the right a sumptuous pavilion forthe prince and his associates, whence, "with great bravery andingenious devices, they descended into the middell of the roome,and there the prince performed his first feates of armes, that isto say, atBarriers, against all commers, being assisted onlie withsix others, viz., the duke of Lenox, the earle of Arundell, theearle of Southampton, the lord Hay, sir Thomas Somerset, andsir Richard Preston, who was shortly afterwards created lordDingwell."

To answer these challengers came fifty-six earles, barons,knights, and esquiers. They were at "the lower end of theroome, where was erected a very delicat and pleasant place,where in privat manner they and their traine remained, whichwas so very great that no man imagined that the place couldhave concealed halfe so many." Thence they issued in comelyorder, "to the middell of the roome, where sate the king andthe queene, and the court, to behold the barriers, with theseveral showes and devices of each combatant." Every challengerfought with eight several defendants two several combatsat two several weapons, viz. at push of pike, and with singlesword. "The prince performed this challenge with wonderousskill and courage, to the great joy and admiration of thebeholders," he "not being full sixteene yeeres of age until the19th of February." These feats, and other "triumphantshewes," began before ten o'clock at night, and continued untilthree o'clock in the morning, "being Sonday." The speechesat "the barriers" were written by Ben Jonson. The next day(Sunday) the prince rode in great pomp to convoy the king toSt. James', whither he had invited him and all the court tosupper, the queen alone being absent; and then the princebestowed prizes to the three combatants best deserving; namely,the Earl of Montgomery, Sir Thomas Darey (son of LordDarey), and Sir Robert Gourdon. Thus ended the Twelftidecourt festivities in 1610.

During the early years of James's reign tournaments dividedwith masques the favour of the Court; and, as we have justseen when Prince Henry reached his sixteenth year, he puthimself forth in a more heroic manner than usual with princesof his time to engage in "feats of armes" and chivalric exercises;but after his death (1612) these sports fell quite out offashion, and George Wither, a poet of the period, expresses, inthe person of Britannia, the feelings of the nation:—

Religious matters received a good deal of attention fromJames I. in the later years of his reign, and his Majesty'sproposals raised the question of the observance of

In 1617 the King made a journey to Scotland with theobject of establishing the English Church in all its formsand authority as the State Church of Scotland for ever. Oneof the famous Five Articles in which the King set forth hiswill proposed "That the festivals of Christmas, Good Friday,Easter, Ascension Day, and Whit Sunday, should be observedin Scotland just as in England." The Articles werereceived with unequivocal marks of displeasure, many of thechurches refusing to obey the royal command, and therevival of the festival of Christmas was denounced as the returnof the ancient Saturnalia. Three years later the King obtainedan Act of Parliament enforcing the Articles on the repugnantspirit of the people. "Dr. Laud, whose name we now meetfor the first time, afterwards to become so notorious, evenurged James to go further lengths; but his fatal advice wasdestined to act with more force on the next generation."[63]

The King returned to London very much displeased with thereligious views of his Scotch subjects, and his sourness seemsto have manifested itself even at Christmastide, for on December20th of this year Mr. Chamberlaine thus wrote to Sir DudleyCarleton: "The King hath been at Theobald's ever sinceWednesday, and came to town this day. I am sorry to hearthat he grows every day more froward, and with such a kind ofmorosity, that doth either argue a great discontent in mind, ora distemper of humours in his body. Yet he is never so out oftune but the very sight of my Lord of Buckingham doth settleand quiet all."[64]192So soothed and softened was the King by "my Lord ofBuckingham" that Mr. Chamberlaine, writing again on the 3rdof January, says that on New Year's Day the earl was created"Marquis of Buckingham, a dignity the King hath not bestowedsince his coming to this crown." And, says the samewriter, "This night was the Lord Marquiss's [Buckingham's]great

with Lords and Ladiessans nombre. You may guess at therest of the cheer by this scantling, that there were said to beseventeen dozen of pheasants, and twelve partridges in a dishthroughout; which methinks was rather spoil than largess;yet for all the plenty of presents, the supper cost £600. SirThomas Edmondes undertook the providing and managing ofall, so that it was much after the French. The King wasexceedingly pleased, and could not be satisfied with commendingthe meat and the Master; and yet some stick not to say,that young Sir Henry Mildmay, a son of George Brooke, thatwas executed at Winchester, and a son of Sir William Monson's,begins to come into consideration."

interfered somewhat with the celebration of the subsequentRoyal Christmases of this reign; and Nichols, referring to theCourt celebrations of Twelfth Day, 1620-1, says:

"'On Twelfth Day the King went to Chappel, but they hadmuch ado to support him. He offered gold, frankincence, andmyrrhe, and touched 80 of the evil.'[65] In the evening 'theFrench Ambassador and his choise followers were brought tocourt by the Earle of Warwick to be present at a Maske; heseated as before with the King, the better sort of the other on afourme behind the Lords, the Lord Treasurer onely and theMarquesse of Hamilton sitting at the upper end of it, and allthe rest in a box, and in the best places of the scaffolds on theright hand of his Majesty. No other Ambassadors were atthat time present or invited.'"

of the next year (1621-2) Nichols [66] says Mr. Meade wrote thusto Sir Martin Stuteville:—

"'The Lieutenant of Middle Temple played a game thisChristmas-time, whereat his Majesty was highly displeased.He made choise of some thirty of the civillest and best-fashionedgentlemen of the House to sup with him; and, beingat supper, took a cup of wine in one hand, and held his sworddrawn in the other, and so began a health to the distressed193Lady Elizabeth [the Queen of Bohemia], and having drunk,kissed his sword, and laying his hand upon it, took an oath tolive and die in her service; then delivered the cup and swordto the next, and so the health and ceremonie went round.

"'The Gentlemen of Graye's Inne, to make an end of Christmason Twelfe-night, in the dead time of the night, shot offall the chambers they had borrowed from the Tower, being asmany as filled four carts. The King, awakened with this noise,started out of his bed, and cryed, "Treason, treason," &c., andthat the Cittie was in an uprore, in such sort (as it is told) thatthe whole court was raised and almost in armes, the Earle ofArundell running to the Bed-chamber with his sword drawne asto rescue the King's person.'"

In this reign many accomplished writers assisted in theChristmas festivities. Professor Henry Morley [67] mentions thatin December, 1623, the name of Philip Massinger, poet anddramatist, first appeared in the office book of the Master of theRevells, when his "Bondman" was acted, and the play wasfirst printed in 1624.

King James I. died at Theobald's, Herts, on the 27th March,1625, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

The remarkable fact that Bishop Andrewes preached seventeensermons on the Nativity before James I. gives an unusualinterest to the Christmas Day services of this reign. Nicholsmakes the following references to them:—

1605. "On Christmas Day the King attended Divine Serviceat Whitehall, where Dr Lancelot Andrews, then recentlypromoted to the Bishoprick of Chichester, preached before hisMajesty, on the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews, ii. 16."

1606. "On Christmas Day, the King attended Divine Serviceat Whitehall, where Bishop Andrews, now decidedly the King'sfavourite Preacher, discoursed on Esaias ix. 6."

1607. "On Thursday, being Christmas Day, the King attendedDivine Service at Whitehall, and there heard Bishop Andrewspreach on 1 Tim. iii. 16."

1609. "Monday, December 25, being Christmas Day, theKing attended Divine Service at Whitehall, and there heardthe Bishop of Ely, Dr. Andrews, on Galat. iv. 4, 5." In a noteNichols says: "This sermon was much admired by the King.This was probably the reason that it was printed in 1610,together with that the Bishop preached on the same occasionin that year, under the following title: 'Two Sermons preachedbefore the King's Majestie at Whitehall; of the Birth of Christ;the one on Christmas Day, anno 1609, the other on ChristmasDay last, anno 1610. By the Bishop of Elie, his Majestie's194Almoner. Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer tothe King's most excellent Majestie, anno 1610.'"

1610. "On Tuesday, the 25th December, Christmas Day, theKing attended Divine Service at Whitehall, where BishopAndrews preached on Luke ii. 9, 10."

1611. "On Christmas Day the King attended Divine Serviceat Whitehall, and Bishop Andrews preached on John. i. 14."

1612. "On Friday, 25th December, Christmas Day was keptas usual at Whitehall; where the King attended Divine Service,and Bishop Andrews (as usual) preached."

1613. "Saturday, 25th December, being Christmas Day, waskept with the usual solemnities; the King attended Divineservice at Whitehall, and Bishop Andrews preached."

1614. "His Majesty returned to keep Christmas Day, as wascustomary, at Whitehall. Bishop Andrews addressed him fromthe pulpit as usual."

1615. "'On Christmas Day, the King, being sorely troubledwith the gout, was not able to go to Divine service; but hearda sermon in private, and took the Sacrament.' The Preacherwas, as usual, Bishop Andrews."

1616. "On Christmas Day, Thomas, Earl of Arundel, whowas educated from his youth in the Popish Religion, and hadlately travelled all over Italy detesting the abuses of the Papists,embraced the Protestant religion, and received the Sacramentin the King's Chapel at Whitehall, where Bishop Andrewspreached, as was customary, a sermon suited to the Festival ofthe Nativity."

1618. "On the 25th [December], Bishop Andrews resumedhis post as preacher on Christmas Day, before the King atWhitehall. His text was from Luke ii. 12, 13."

1619. "Christmas was kept by the King at Whitehall, as hadever been his practice; and Bishop Andrews preached thenbefore him, on Saturday, the 25th."

1620. "During the month of December, before the King leftthe country, he knighted at Newmarket, Sir Francis Michell,afterward degraded in June 1621; and at Theobalds, Sir GilbertCornwall. On the 23rd, his Majestie 'came to Westminster,but went not to Chappel, being prevented by the gout.' OnMonday, the 25th, however, being Christmas Day, BishopAndrews preached before him at Whitehall, on Matt. ii. 1, 2;and during Christmas, Sir Clement Cotterell and Sir HenryCarvell were there knighted."

1622. "On the 25th [December] Bishop Andrews resumedhis Christmas station in the pulpit at Whitehall, and thencepreached to the King and his Court on the same textas he had adopted on the same occasion two years before,Matt. ii. 1, 2."

1623. "The King kept inviolate his old custom of being atWhitehall on Christmas Day, and hearing there a sermon from195Bishop Andrews, who this year preached on Ephes. i. 10."

1624. "On Saturday, the 25th of December, Bishop Andrewspreached before his Majesty at Whitehall, on Psalm ii. 7, itbeing at least the seventeenth, as it was the last, Christmas Dayon which King James heard that favourite preacher."

The unique series of "Seventeen Sermons on the Nativity,preached before King James I. at Whitehall, by the RightHonourable and Reverend Father in God, Lancelot Andrewes,sometime Lord Bishop of Winchester," were preserved toposterity by an order of Charles I., who, after Bishop Andrewes'sdeath, commanded Bishops Laud and Buckeridge to collectand publish his sermons. This series of sermons on theNativity have recently been reprinted in "The Ancient andModern Library of Theological Literature," and the editor, afterreferring to the ability and integrity of Bishop Andrewes, says:"An interest apart from that which must be created by hisgenius, learning, and character, belongs to him as the exponentof the mind and practice of the English Church in the yearsthat intervened between the Reformation and the Revolution."

at this period are thus enumerated by Robert Burton in his"Anatomy of Melancholy," published in 1621:—

"The ordinary recreations which we have in winter arecards, tables and dice, shovelboard, chess-play, the philosopher'sgame, small trunks, billiards, music, masks, singing, dancing,ule games, catches, purposes, questions; merry tales of errantknights, kings, queens, lovers, lords, ladies, giants, dwarfs,thieves, fairies, goblins, friars, witches, and the rest."

The following curious cut is from the title-page of the amusingstory of the great "Giant Gargantua" of this period:—

The legends of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table,Bevis of Southampton, Guy of Warwick, Adam Bell, and196Clymme of Clough, were favourites among the lovers ofromance; but the people of this age, being very superstitious,were very fond of stories about ghosts and goblins, believingthem to be founded on fact, and also attributing feats performedby conjurors and jugglers to supernatural agency. The Kinghimself was equally superstitious, for Strutt in describing thetricks of jugglers says: "Our learned monarch, James I., wasperfectly convinced that these, and other inferior feats exhibitedby the tregetours, could only be performed by the agency ofthe devil, 'who,' says he, 'will learne them many juglarietricks, at cardes and dice, to deceive men's senses thereby, andsuch innumerable false practiques, which are proved by over-manyin this age.'"[68]

Looking back to the ancient superstitions about ghosts andfairies, Dryden, the poet, has some lines which may fitly closethis chapter:—

CHAPTER IX.

CHRISTMAS UNDER CHARLES I. AND THECOMMONWEALTH.

(1625-1660.)

was the second son of James I. and of Anne, daughter ofFrederick III., King of Denmark, and he came to the throneon the death of his father in March 1625. As Prince Charleshe had taken part in the Court entertainments of Christmastide,and had particularly distinguished himself in Ben Jonson'smasque, "The Vision of Delight." These magnificent Christmasmasques were continued after Charles's accession to thethrone until the troubles of his reign stopped them. Gifford [69]mentions that Jonson's "Masque of Owls" was presented atKenilworth Castle, "By the Ghost of Captain Cox mounted onhis Hobby-horse, in 1626":—

Jonson's "The Fortunate Isles, and Their Union," a masquedesigned for the Court, was presented on Twelfth Night, 1626;and "Love's Triumph through Callipolis" (a masque inventedby Ben Jonson and Inigo Jones) was presented at Courtin 1630.

also made merry at Christmas at this period; but it sometimeshappened that when he went forth with his band of merry men,they got into trouble. An instance of this, which occurred in1627, is recorded in one of Meade's letters to Sir Martin Stuteville.The letter is worth reprinting as an illustration of themanners of the age, and as relating to what was probably thelast Lord of Misrule elected by the barristers. Meade writes:—"OnSaturday the Templars chose one Mr. Palmer their Lord ofMisrule, who, on Twelfth-eve, late in the night, sent out togather up his rents at five shillings a house in Ram-alley andFleet Street. At every door they came to they winded theTemple-horn, and if at the second blast or summons theywithin opened not the door, then the Lord of Misrule criedout, 'Give fire, gunner!' His gunner was a robustious Vulcan,and the gun or petard itself was a huge overgrown smith'shammer. This being complained of to my Lord Mayor, hesaid he would be with them about eleven o'clock on Sundaynight last; willing that all that ward should attend him withtheir halberds, and that himself, besides those that came out ofhis house, should bring the watches along with him. His lordship,thus attended, advanced as high as Ram-alley in martialequipage: when forth came the Lord of Misrule, attended byhis gallants, out of the Temple-gate, with their swords all armedin cuerpo. A halberdier bade the Lord of Misrule come to myLord Mayor. He answered, No! let the Lord Mayor cometo me! At length they agreed to meet halfway: and, as theinterview of rival princes is never without danger of some illaccident, so it happened in this: for first, Mr. Palmer beingquarrelled with for not pulling off his hat to my Lord Mayor,and giving cross answers, the halberds began to fly about hisears, and he and his company to brandish their swords. Atlast being beaten to the ground, and the Lord of Misrule sorewounded, they were fain to yield to the longer and morenumerous weapon. My Lord Mayor taking Mr. Palmer by the199shoulder, led him to the Compter, and thrust him in at theprison-gate with a kind of indignation; and so, notwithstandinghis hurts, he was forced to lie among the common prisoners fortwo nights. On Tuesday the King's attorney became a suitorto my Lord Mayor for their liberty: which his lordship granted,upon condition that they should repay the gathered rents, anddo reparations upon broken doors. Thus the game ended.Mr. Attorney-General, being of the same house, fetched themin his own coach, and carried them to the court, where theKing himself reconciled my Lord Mayor and them togetherwith joining all hands; the gentlemen of the Temple being thisShrovetide to present a Mask to their majesties, over and besidesthe King's own great Mask, to be performed at the Banquetting-houseby an hundred actors."

through contemporary writers of the period. Nicholas Breton,[70]writing in merry mood, says: "It is now Christmas, and not acup of drink must pass without a carol; the beasts, fowl, andfish come to a general execution, and the corn is ground todust for the bakehouse and the pastry: cards and dice purgemany a purse, and the youth show their agility in shoeing ofthe wild mare: now, good cheer, and welcome, and God bewith you, and I thank you:—and against the New Year providefor the presents:—The Lord of Misrule is no mean man for histime, and the guests of the high table must lack no wine: thelusty bloods must look about them like men, and piping anddancing puts away much melancholy: stolen venison is sweet,and a fat coney is worth money: pit-falls are now set forsmall birds, and a woodcock hangs himself in a gin: a goodfire heats all the house, and a full alms-basket makes thebeggar's prayers:—the maskers and the mummers make themerry sport, but if they lose their money their drum goes dead:swearers and swaggerers are sent away to the ale-house, andunruly wenches go in danger of judgment; musicians now maketheir instruments speak out, and a good song is worth thehearing. In sum it is a holy time, a duty in Christians for theremembrance of Christ and custom among friends for the maintenanceof good fellowship. In brief I thus conclude it: I holdit a memory of the Heaven's love and the world's peace, themirth of the honest, and the meeting of the friendly. Farewell."

In 1633, William Prynne, a Puritan lawyer, published his "Histriomastix,"against plays, masques, balls, the decking of houseswith evergreens at Christmas, &c., for which he was committedto the Tower, prosecuted in the Star Chamber, and sentencedto pay a fine to the King of £5,000, to be expelled from theUniversity of Oxford, from the Society of Lincoln's Inn, and200from his profession of the law; to stand twice in the pillory,each time losing an ear; to have his book burnt before his faceby the hangman; and to suffer perpetual imprisonment: a mostbarbarous sentence, which Green [71] says, "showed the hard crueltyof the Primate."

Milton's masque of "Comus" was produced the following year(1634) for performance at Ludlow Castle, in Shropshire, whichwas the seat of government for the Principality of Wales, theEarl of Bridgewater being then the Lord President, and havinga jurisdiction and military command that comprised the Englishcounties of Gloucester, Worcester, Hereford and Shropshire.Ludlow Castle was to the Lord President of Wales of thatperiod what Dublin Castle is to the Lord Lieutenant of Irelandin the present day; and, as hospitality was one of the duties ofthe Lord President's office, the Earl and Countess of Bridgewatergave a grand entertainment to the country people, inwhich the masque of "Comus" was an important feature. Themusic was composed by the eminent musician Henry Lawes,and the masque was adapted for performance by the familyof the earl and countess, who then had ten children—eightdaughters and two sons.

It is quite refreshing to think of the author of "ParadiseLost," with his friend Lawes, the musician, among the countrydancers, listening to the song of the attendant spirit:—

"But Milton was a courtier when he wrote the Masque atLudlow Castle," says Charles Lamb, "and still more of acourtier when he composed the 'Arcades'" (a masque, orentertainment presented to the Countess Dowager of Derby, atHarefield, by some noble persons of her family). "When thenational struggle was to begin, he becomingly cast these varietiesbehind him."

From "Archæologia" (vol. xviii. p. 335), we learn that"Richard Evelyn, Esq., High Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex in1634, held a splendid Christmas at his mansion at Wotton,having a regular Lord of Misrule for the occasion: and itappears it was then the custom for the neighbours to sendpresents of eatables to provide for the great consumptionconsequent upon such entertainments. The following is a listof those sent on this occasion: two sides of venison, two halfbrawns, three pigs, ninety capons, five geese, six turkeys, four201rabbits, eight partridges, two pullets, five sugar loaves, half apound of nutmeg, one basket of apples, two baskets of pears."

Hone [72] states that "in the ninth year of King Charles I. thefour Inns of Court provided a Christmas mask, which cost£2,400, and the King invited a hundred and twenty gentlemenof the four Inns to a mask at Whitehall on Shrove Tuesdayfollowing." And Sandys says that on the 13th December, 1637,a warrant under Privy Seal was issued to George Kirke, for£150 to provide masking apparel for the King; and on the 1stof the same month Edmund Taverner had a warrant for £1,400towards the charge of a mask to be presented at Whitehall thenext Twelfth Night. A similar sum for a similar purpose wasgranted to Michael Oldisworth on the 3rd of January, 1639.

In connection with the entertainments at the Inns of Court,Sandys mentions that by an order, 17th November, 4th CharlesI., all playing at dice, cards, or otherwise was forbidden atGray's Inn, except during the 20 days in Christmas.

As indicating the prolongation of the Christmas revels at thisperiod, it is recorded that in February, 1633, there was acelebrated masque, called "The Triumph of Peace," presentedjointly by the two Temples, Lincoln's Inn and Gray's Inn, whichcost the Societies about £20,000. Evelyn, in his "Memoirs,"relates, that on the 15th December, 1641, he was elected one ofthe Comptrollers of the Middle Temple revellers, "as the customof ye young students and gentlemen was, the Christmas beingkept this yeare with greate solemnity"; but he got excused.

An order still existed directing the nobility and gentry whohad mansions in the country "to repair to them to keephospitality meet to their degrees;" for a note in Collier'sHistory states that Sir J. Astley, on the 20th of March, 1637,in consequence of ill-health, obtained a license to reside inLondon, or where he pleased, at Christmas, or any other times;which proves such license to have been requisite.

At this period noblemen and gentlemen lived like pettyprinces, and in the arrangement of their households copiedtheir sovereign, having officers of the same import, and evenheralds wearing their coat of arms at Christmas, and othersolemn feasts, crying largesse thrice at the proper times. Theyfeasted in their halls where many of the Christmas sports wereperformed. When coals were introduced the hearth was commonlyin the middle, whence, according to Aubrey, is the saying,"Round about our coal-fire." Christmas was considered as thecommemoration of a holy festival, to be observed with cheerfulnessas well as devotion. The comforts and personal gratificationof their dependants were provided for by the landlords,their merriment encouraged, and their sports joined. Theworking man looked forward to Christmas as the time whichrepaid his former toils; and gratitude for worldly comforts then202received caused him to reflect on the eternal blessings bestowedon mankind by the event then commemorated.

Of all our English poets, Robert Herrick, a writer of theseventeenth century, has left us the most complete contemporarypicture of the Christmas season. He was born inCheapside, London, and received his early education, it issupposed, at Westminster School, whence he removed to Cambridge,and after taking his M.A. degree in 1620, left Cambridge.He afterwards spent some years in London in familiar intercoursewith the wits and writers of the age, enjoying those "lyricfeasts" which are celebrated in his "Ode to Ben Jonson":—

In 1629 he accepted the living of Dean Prior, in Devonshire,where he lived as a bachelor Vicar, being ejected by the LongParliament, returning on the Restoration under Charles theSecond, and dying at length at the age of eighty-four. He wasburied in the Church at Dean Prior, where a memorial tablethas latterly been erected to his memory. And it is fitting thathe should die and be buried in the quiet Devonshire hamletfrom which he drew so much of his happiest inspiration, andwhich will always be associated now with the endless charmof the "Hesperides."

In "A New Year's Gift, sent to Sir Simeon Steward," includedin his "Hesperides," Herrick refers to the Christmas sports ofthe time, and says:—

"No new device or late-found trick- - - - -We send you; but here a jollyVerse crowned with ivy and with holly;That tells of winter's tales and mirth,That milk-maids make about the hearth,Of Christmas sports, the Wassail bowl,That's tossed up after Fox-i'-th'-hole;Of Blind-man's-buff, and of the careThat young men have to shoe the Mare;Of Twelfth-tide cake, of peas and beans,Wherewith ye make those merry scenes,When as ye choose your king and queen,And cry out, 'Hey for our town green.'Of ash-heaps in the which ye useHusbands and wives by streaks to choose:Of crackling laurel, which fore-soundsA plenteous harvest to your grounds;Of these, and such like things, for shift,We send instead of New-year's gift.Read then, and when your faces shineWith bucksome meat and cap'ring wine,Remember us in cups full crowned,And let our city's health go round,Quite through the young maids and the men,To the ninth number, if not ten,Until the firèd chestnuts leapFor joy to see the fruits ye reap,From the plump chalice and the cupThat tempts till it be tossèd up.Then as ye sit about your embers,Call not to mind those fled Decembers;But think on these, that are t' appear,As daughters to the instant year;Sit crowned with rose-buds and carouse,TillLiber Pater twirls the houseAbout your ears, and lay uponThe year, your cares, that's fled and gone.And let the russet swains the ploughAnd harrow hang up resting now;And to the bagpipe all addressTill sleep takes place of weariness.And thus, throughout, with Christmas plays,Frolic the full twelve holy-days."

at Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, was the most important Christmasevent of the memorable year which saw the outbreak of theCivil War (1642). In the year of the Restoration he enteredCambridge, where the teaching of Isaac Barrow quickened hisgenius for mathematics, and from the time he left College hislife became a series of wonderful physical discoveries. As earlyas 1666, he discovered the law of gravitation, but it was nottill the eve of the Revolution that his "Principia" revealed tothe world his new theory of the universe.

"A Christmas Carol," by George Wither, a well-knownpoet of this period, contains many allusions to the customs ofChristmastide:—

So, now is come our joyful'st feast;Let every man be jolly;Each room with ivy leaves is drest,And every post with holly.Though some churls at our mirth repine,Round your foreheads garlands twine;Drown sorrow in a cup of wine,And let us all be merry.

Now all our neighbours' chimneys smoke,And Christmas blocks are burning;Their ovens they with baked meats choke,And all their spits are turning.Without the door let sorrow lie;And if for cold it hap to die,We'll bury 't in a Christmas pie,And ever more be merry.

Now every lad is wondrous trim,And no man minds his labour;Our lasses have provided themA bag-pipe and a tabour;Young men and maids, and girls and boys,Give life to one another's joys;And you anon shall by their noisePerceive that they are merry.

Rank misers now do sparing shun;Their hall of music soundeth;And dogs thence with whole shoulders run,So all things there aboundeth.The country folks themselves advanceWith crowdy-muttons [73] out of France;And Jack shall pipe, and Jill shall dance,And all the town be merry.

Ned Squash hath fetched his bands from pawn,And all his best apparel;Brisk Nell hath bought a ruff of lawn205With droppings of the barrel;And those that hardly all the yearHad bread to eat, or rags to wear,Will have both clothes and dainty fare,And all the day be merry.

Now poor men to the justicesWith capons make their errants;And if they hap to fail of these;They plague them with their warrants;But now they feed them with good cheer.And what they want they take in beer;For Christmas comes but once a year,And then they shall be merry.

Good farmers in the country nurseThe poor that else were undone;Some landlords spend their money worse,On lust and pride at London.There the roys'ters they do play,Drab and dice their lands away,Which may be ours another day;And therefore let's be merry.

The client now his suit forbears,The prisoner's heart is eased:The debtor drinks away his cares,And for the time is pleased.Though other purses be more fat,Why should we pine or grieve at that?Hang sorrow! care will kill a cat,And therefore let's be merry.

Hark! how the wags abroad do callEach other forth to rambling:Anon you'll see them in the hallFor nuts and apples scrambling.Hark! how the roofs with laughter sound!Anon they'll think the house goes round,For they the cellar's depth have found,And there they will be merry.

The wenches with their wassail bowlsAbout the streets are singing;The boys are come to catch the owls,The wild mare in is bringing.Our kitchen-boy hath broke his box,[74]And to the dealing of the oxOur honest neighbours come by flocks,And here they will be merry.

Now kings and queens poor sheep cotes have,And mate with everybody;The honest now may play the knave,And wise men play the noddy.Some youths will now a mumming go,Some others play at Rowland-hoAnd twenty other gambols mo,Because they will be merry.

Then wherefore in these merry daysShould we, I pray, be duller?No, let us sing some roundelays,To make our mirth the fuller.206And, whilst thus inspired we sing,Let all the streets with echoes ring,Woods and hills, and everything,Bear witness we are merry.

The preceding poem was evidently written by Wither beforethe Civil War troubles of the reign of Charles the First hadinterfered to damp the national hilarity, or check the rejoicingsat the festive season of Christmas.

the overthrow of the monarchy, and the changes resulting therefromat Christmastide are alluded to in "The Complaint ofChristmas, written after Twelftide, and printed before Candlemas,1646," by old John Taylor, the Water Poet, who says:"All the liberty and harmless sports, the merry gambols, dancesand friscols, with which the toiling ploughman and laboureronce a year were wont to be recreated, and their spirits andhopes revived for a whole twelvemonth, are now extinct andput out of use, in such a fashion as if they never had been.Thus are the merry lords of bad rule at Westminster; nay,more, their madness hath extended itself to the very vegetables;senseless trees, herbs, and weeds, are in a profane estimationamongst them—holly, ivy, mistletoe, rosemary, bays, areaccounted ungodly branches of superstition for your entertainment.And to roast a sirloin of beef, to touch a collar of brawn,to take a pie, to put a plum in the pottage pot, to burn a greatcandle, or to lay one block the more in the fire for your sake,Master Christmas, is enough to make a man to be suspected andtaken for a Christian, for which he shall be apprehended forcommitting high Parliament Treason and mighty malignancyagainst the general Council of the Directorian private PresbyterianConventicle."

With the success of the Parliamentarians, certain changescame in the ruling manners of the age; but

was, of course, a signal failure. The event commemoratedmade it impossible for the commemoration to cease. Menmay differ as to the mode of celebration, but the Christ mustand will be celebrated.

"In 1642," says Sandys, "the first ordinances were issuedto suppress the performance of plays, and hesitation wasexpressed as to the manner of keeping Christmas. Some shopsin London were even opened on Christmas Day, 1643, part ofthe people being fearful of a Popish observance of the day.The Puritans gradually prevailed, and in 1647 some parishofficers were committed for permitting ministers to preach uponChristmas Day, and for adorning the church. On the 3rd ofJune in the same year, it was ordained by the Lords and207Commons in Parliament that the feast of the Nativity of Christ,with other holidays, should be no longer observed, and that allscholars, apprentices, and other servants, with the leave andapprobation of their masters, should have such relaxation fromlabour on the second Tuesday in every month as they used tohave from such festivals and holy days; and in Canterbury, onthe 22nd of December following, the crier went round bydirection of the Mayor, and proclaimed that Christmas Day andall other superstitious festivals should be put down, and a marketkept upon that day."

In describing "The First Christmas under the PuritanDirectory," theSaturday Review (December 27, 1884) says:—"Itmust have been taken as a piece of good luck by theParliamentary and Puritanical masters of England, or, as theywould have said, as 'a providence,' that the Christmas Day of1645 fell upon a week-day. It was the first Christmas Day afterthe legislative abolition of the Anglican Prayer-book and theestablishment of 'the Directory' in its stead; and, if it hadfallen upon a Sunday, the Churches must have been opened.A 'Sabbath' could not be ignored, even though it chanced to bethe 25th of December. There can be small doubt that, if thePresbyterian and Independent preachers who held all theEnglish parishes subject to the Parliament had been obliged togo into the pulpits on the 25th of December 1645, they wouldagain have irritated the masses of the people by ferociously'improving the occasion.' The Parliament had not the courageto repeat the brutal experiment of the previous year. It waseasy to abolish the feast by an ordinance; but it was risky toinsist by an ordinance that the English people and Englishfamilies should keep the dearest and most sacred of theirfestivals as a fast. The rulers knew that such an ordinancewould not be obeyed. They resolved simply to ignore theday, or treat it as any ordinary Thursday. Doubtless many ofthe members kept up some sort of celebration of the old familyfestival in their own private houses. But the legislators marchedsolemnly to the Lower House, and the 'divines' marched assolemnly to the Assembly in the Jerusalem Chamber, affectingto take no notice of the unusual aspect of the shops and streets,which everywhere bore witness to the fact that there was a deepand fundamental estrangement between 'the State' and 'thepeople,' and that the people were actually keeping the festivalwhich the 'Synod' had declared to be profane and superstitious,and which the Parliament to please the Scots, the Nonconformists,and the Sectaries, had abolished by law. 'Notwithstandingthe Ordinance,' wrote a Member of the House ofCommons, the Erastian Whitelock, in his 'Memorials,' 'yetgenerally this day, in London, the shops were shut and the dayobserved.' The Christmas number of theMercurius Academicus(December 25 to 31, 1645), states that General Browne, whowas a Presbyterian zealot, 'proclaimed' the abolition of208Christmas Day at Abingdon, and 'sent out his warrants for men towork on that day especially.' ... The Parliamentary newspaper,The Weekly Account, (LIII. week, 1645), has the baldrecord: 'Thursday, Decemb. 25. The Commons sate in aGrand Committee concerning the privileges of members of theirHouse.' The news in the Tuesday paper,The Kingdome'sWeekly Intelligencer (No. 152), is equally thin: 'Thursday,Decemb. 25, vulgarly known by the name of Christmas Day,both Houses sate. The House of Commons more especiallydebated some things in reference to the privileges of that House,and made some orders therein.' ... The Presbyterian andIndependent divines spent Christmas Day in the 'Synod' ofWestminster. December the 25th, 1645, was entered in theirminutes as 'Session 561.' ... The City newspaper of thatperiod,Mercurius Civicus, or London's Intelligencer, in what wemay call its Christmas number (No. 135, December 18 toDecember 24, 1645), printed an article explaining to thecitizens of London the absurdity, if not the impiety, of keepingChristmas Day. Every good citizen was expected to open hisshop as usual on the coming Thursday, and compel his apprenticesto keep behind the counter. The City newspaper stated,that it was more probable that the Saviour was born in Septemberthan in December, and quotes 'a late reverend minister'sopinion, that God did conceale the time when Christ was borne,upon the same reason that He tooke away the body of Moses,that they might not put an holinesse upon that day.' If theapprentices want a holiday, 'let them keep the fift of November,and other dayes of that nature, or the late great mercy of Godin the taking of Hereford, which deserves an especiall day ofthanksgiving.' The mass of the English folk meanwhile protestedby all such ways as were open to them against theoutlandish new religion which was being invented for them.TheMercuricus Civicus complained that, 'Many people in thesetimes are too much addicted to the superstitious observance ofthis day, December 25th, and other saints days, as they arecalled.' It was asked in a 'Hue and Cry after Christmas,'published anonymously at the end of the year 1645, 'Wheremay Christmas be found?' The answer is, 'In the corner of atranslator's shop, where the cobbler was wont so merrily tochant his carols.'The Moderate Intelligencer, which devoteditself to 'impartially communicating martiall affaires,' in itsforty-third number (December 25, 1645, to January 1, 1646),expressed itself as scandalized at the zeal with which theEnglish people, in spite of Parliament and the Assembly, hadkept their Christmas. Social phenomena lay beyond the usualken of the military chroniclers; but 'we shall only observe,'they wrote, 'the loathnesse of the People to part with it, whichcertainly argues a greater adoration than should have been.Hardly forty shops were open within the lines upon that day.The State hath done well to null it out of this respect, as Moses209did the Brazen Serpent.' The Scriptural knowledge of thePuritan military newsmen was curiously at fault; they evidentlyconfounded Moses with Hezekiah, unless they substituted thelawgiver for the king, because they thought it unwise to representthe King as the foe of idolatry. The traditional scorn ofthe Pharisee for the common people which know not the lawcomes out in the ironical passage with which the 'martiall'organ concludes its reference to the distressing social symptom;'Sure if there were an ordinance for recreation and labour uponthe Lord's Day, or Sabbath (like the prelatical Book of Sports),these would want no observers. Unwillingness to obey, in amultitude, argues generally the goodnesse of a law, readinessethe contrary, especially in those laws which have anything ofreligion in them.' Hence the puritanical tyrants thought theobservation of Christmas Day should be visited in future yearswith more severe penalties. A few days after Christmas apamphlet was issued under the title of 'The Arraignment, Conviction,and Imprisonment of Christmas.' A letter from a'Malignant scholar' in Oxford, where Christmas had beenobserved as usual, to 'a Malignant lady in London,' had containedthe promise or threat, according to the pamphleteer,that the King would shortly appear in London, and restore tohis poor people their old social and religious liberties. 'Weshall soon be in London, and have all things as they were wont.'There was small chance, six months after Naseby, of the fulfilmentof the prediction. The puritanical pamphleteer, however,owns that it would be welcome to 'every 'prentice boy,' becausethe return of the King would have meant the return of a freeChristmas, which he sorely missed. 'All popish, prelatical,Jesuitical, ignorant, Judaical, and superstitious persons,' said he,'ask after the old, old, old, very old grey-bearded gentlemancalled Christmas, who was wont to be a very familiar ghest (sic).Whoever finds him again shall be rewarded with a benedictionfrom the Pope, a hundred oaths from the Cavaliers, forty kissesfrom the wanton wenches, and be made pursuivant to the nextArchbishop.' 'The poor,' he added, 'are sorry for it. Theygo to every door a-begging, as they were wont to do, 'GoodMistress, somewhat against this good time.' Instead of goingto the alehouse to be drunke, they are fain to work all the holydayes.' Again, 'The schollars come into the hall, where theirhungry stomacks had thought to have found good brawne andChristmas pie, roast-beef and plum-porridge. But no suchmatter. Away, ye profane! These are superstitious meats;your stomacks must be fed with sound doctrine.'"

In theNational Magazine (1857), Dr. Doran, on "The Upsand Downs of Christmas," remarks upon the stout resistancegiven by the citizens of London to the order of the PuritanParliament, that shops should be opened and churches closedon Christmas Day. "We may have a sermon on any otherday," said the London apprentices, who did not always go to210hear it, "why should we be deprived on this day?" "It is nolonger lawful for the day to be kept," was the reply. "Nay,"exclaimed the sharp-witted fellows, "you keep it yourselves bythus distinguishing it by desecration." "They declared," saysDr. Doran, "they would go to church; numerous preacherspromised to be ready for them with prayer and lecture; andthe porters of Cornhill swore they would dress up their conduitwith holly, if it were only to prove that in that orthodox andheavily-enduring body there was some respect yet left forChristianity and hard drinking—for the raising of the holly wasever accompanied by the lifting of tankards.

"Nor was the gallant Christmas spirit less lively in the countrythan in the capital. At Oxford there was a world of skull-breaking;and at Ipswich the festival was celebrated by someloss of life. Canterbury especially distinguished itself by itsviolent opposition to the municipal order to be mirthless. Therewas a combat there, which was most rudely maintained, and inwhich the mayor got pummelled until he was as senseless as apocket of hops. The mob mauled him terribly, broke all hiswindows, as well as his bones, and, as we are told, 'burnt thestoupes at the coming in of his door.' So serious was the riot,so complete the popular victory, and so jubilant the exultation,that thousands of the never-conquered men of Kent and Kentishmen met in Canterbury, and passed a solemn resolution that ifthey could not have their Christmas Day, they were determinedto have the King on his throne again."

Of the Canterbury riot an account is given in a rare tract,published in 1647 (preserved in the British Museum), andentitled—

"The Declaration of many thousands of the city of Canterbury,or county of Kent. Concerning the late tumult in thecity of Canterbury, provokt by the Mayor's violent proceedingsagainst those who desired to continue the celebration ofthe Feast of Christ's Nativity, 1,500 years and upwards maintainedin the Church. Together with their Resolutions for therestitution of His Majestie to his Crown and dignity, wherebyReligion may be restored to its ancient splendour, and theknown Laws of this Kingdom maintained. As also their desiresto all His Majesties loyall subjects within his Dominions, fortheir concurrence and assistance in this so good and pious awork."

The resolutions of the Canterbury citizens were not couchedin the choicest terms, for the tract states that the two Housesof Parliament "have sate above seven years to hatch Cocatricesand Vipers, they have filled the kingdom with Serpents, bloodthirstySouldiers, extorting Committees, Sequestrators, Excisemen;all the Rogues and scumme of the kingdom have theyset on work to torment and vex the people, to rob them, and toeat the bread out of their mouthes; they have raised a causelesseand unnaturall Warre against their own Soveraigne Lord and211King, a most pious Christian Prince, contrary to their allegianceand duty, and have shed innocent blood in this Land. Religionis onely talkt of, nothing done; they have put down what isgood," &c., &c. And further on the tract says:—"The cause ofthis so sudden a posture of defence which we have put ourselves into was the violent proceedings of the Mayor of thiscity of Canterbury and his uncivill carriage in persuance ofsome petty order of the House of Commons for hindering thecelebration of Christ's Nativity so long continued in the Churchof God. That which we so much desired that day was but aSermon, which any other day of the weeke was tollerable bythe orders and practise of the two Houses and all theiradherents, but that day (because it was Christ's birth day) wemust have none; that which is good all the yeer long, yet isthis day superstitious. The Mayor causing some of us to bebeaten contrary to his oath and office, who ought to preservethe peace, and to that purpose chiefly is the sword of justiceput into his hands, and wrongfully imprisoned divers of us,because we did assemble ourselves to hear the Word of God,which he was pleased to interpret a Ryot; yet we wereunarmed, behaved ourselves civilly, intended no such tumultas afterwards we were forc'd unto; but at last, seeing themanifest wrong done to our children, servants, and neighbours,by beating, wounding, and imprisoning them, and to releasethem that were imprisoned, and did call unto our assistance ourbrethren of the county of Kent, who very readily came in tous, as have associated themselves to us in this our just andlawfull defence, and do concurre with us in this our Remonstranceconcerning the King Majestie, and the settlement ofthe peace in this Kingdome." And the tract afterwards expressesthe desire that "all his Majesties loyall subjects withinhis Dominions" will "readily and cheerfully concurre andassist in this so good and pious a work."

Among the single sheets in the British Museum is an order ofParliament, dated the 24th of December, 1652, directing,

"That no observation shall be had of the five and twentiethday of December, commonly called Christmas Day; nor anysolemnity used or exercised in churches upon that day inrespect thereof."

"I went to London with my wife to celebrate Christmas Day,Mr. Gunning preaching in Exeter Chapel, on Micah vii. 2.Sermon ended; as he was giving us the Holy Sacrament thechapel was surrounded with soldiers, and all the communicantsand assembly surprised and kept prisoners by them, some inthe house, others carried away. It fell to my share to beconfined to a room in the house, where yet I was permitted todine with the master of it, the Countess of Dorset, LadyHatton, and some others of quality who invited me. In the212afternoon came Colonel Whalley, Goffe, and others fromWhitehall to examine us one by one; some they committed tothe Marshal, some to prison. When I came before them theytook my name and abode, examined me why, contrary to theordinance made that none should any longer observe thesuperstitious time of the Nativity (as esteemed by them), Idurst offend, and particularly be at Common Prayers, whichthey told me was but the mass in English, and particularly prayfor Charles Stuart, for which we had no Scripture. I toldthem we did not pray for Charles Stuart, but for all Christiankings, princes, and governors. They replied, in so doing weprayed for the King of Spain too, who was their enemy and aPapist; with other frivolous and ensnaring questions and muchthreatening, and, finding no colour to detain me, they dismissedme with much pity of my ignorance. These were men of highflight and above ordinances, and spake spiteful things of ourLord's Nativity. As we went up to receive the sacrament themiscreants held their muskets against us, as if they would haveshot us at the altar, but yet suffering us to finish the office ofcommunion, as perhaps not having instructions what to do incase they found us in that action; so I got home late the nextday, blessed be God!"

Notwithstanding the adverse acts of the Puritans, however,and the suppression of Christmas observances in high places,the old customs and festivities were still observed in differentparts of the country, though with less ostentation than formerly;and various publications appeared which plainly showed thatthe popular sentiments were in favour of the festivities. Themotto of No. 37 ofMercurius Democritus, from December 22,1652, begins:

In "The Vindication of Father Christmas," 1653, a mockcomplaint in the character of Father Christmas, he laments thetreatment he had received for the last twelve years, and that hewas even then but coolly received. "But welcome, or notwelcome, I am come," he says, and then states that his "bestand freest welcome was with some kinde of country farmersin Devonshire," thus describing his entertainment amongthem:—"After dinner we arose from the boord, and sate bythe fire, where the harth was imbrodered all over with roastedapples, piping hot, expecting a bole of ale for a cooler, whichimmediately was transformed into warm lamb wool. Afterwhich we discoursed merily, without either prophaneness orobscenity; some went to cards; others sung carols and pleasantsongs (suitable to the times), and then the poor laboring Hinds,and maid-servants, with the plow-boys, went nimbly to dancing;213the poor toyling wretches being glad of my company, becausethey had little or no sport at all till I came amongst them; andtherefore they skipped and leaped for joy, singing a carol to thetune of hey,

"Thus at active games, and gambols of hot cockles, shooingthe wild mare, and the like harmless sports, some part of thetedious night was spent."

were not brought to an end by the execution of Charles I. onthe 30th of January, 1649. In addition to the rioting causedby the attempt to abolish the festival of Christmas by law, theLord Protector (Oliver Cromwell) had to struggle against discontentedrepublicans and also against fresh outbreaks ofthe Royalists; and, although able to carry on the Protectorateto the end of his own life, Cromwell was unable to secure astrong successor. He died on September 3, 1658, havingon his deathbed nominated his son Richard to succeed him.Richard Cromwell was accepted in England and by theEuropean Powers, and carried himself discreetly in his newposition. A Parliament was assembled on January 17, 1659,which recognised the new Protector, but the republicanminority, headed by Vane and Haselrig, united with theofficers of the army, headed by Lambert, Fleetwood, andDesborough, to force him to dissolve Parliament (April 22,1659). The Protector's supporters urged him to meet forceby force, but he replied, "I will not have a drop of bloodspilt for the preservation of my greatness, which is a burdento me." He signed a formal abdication (May, 1659), in returnfor which the restored Rump undertook the discharge of hisdebts. After the Restoration Richard Cromwell fled to theContinent, where he remained for many years, returning to214England in 1680. A portion of his property was afterwardsrestored to him. He died at Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, in 1712.

On Richard Cromwell declining to uphold the Protectorateby force of arms, the only hope of establishing a settled formof government and of saving the country from a militarydespotism seemed to be in the restoration of the monarchy;therefore, chiefly through the instrumentality of General Monk,Charles, the son of Charles I. and Henrietta Maria, was invitedto return to England. He at once responded, and enteredLondon in triumph as Charles II., on May 29, 1660, havingpreviously signed the declaration of Breda. By this declarationthe King granted a free and general pardon to all "whowithin forty days after the publishing hereof shall lay hold uponthis our grace and favour, and shall by any public act declaretheir doing so," except such as the Parliament of both housesshould except.

CHAPTER X.

CHRISTMAS FROM THE RESTORATION TOTHE DEATH OF GEORGE II.

(1660-1760.)

under Charles II., sometimes styledthe "Merry Monarch," was anoccasion of great rejoicing, and thespirit in which the so-long-fugitivePrince, who once eluded his pursuersby hiding in an oak, was nowwelcomed as "Charles our King"by "the roaring, ranting" portionof the populace is set forth in thefollowing ballad, written for thefirst Christmas after the Restoration,printed in London, the same year,and now copied from a collectionof illustrated broadsides preservedin the Library of the BritishMuseum:—

When Lads and Lasses take delight,together for to be;They pass away the Winter night,and live most merrily.

To the tune of,Hey boys up go we. Come, come my roaring ranting boyslets never be cast down,We'l never mind the female toys,but Loyal be to th' Crown:We'l never break our hearts with care,nor be cast down with fear,Our bellys then let us prepareto drink some Christmas Beer.216to drink some Christmas Beer.Then here's a health to Charles our King,throughout the world admir'd,Let us his great applauses sing,that we so much desir'd,And wisht amongst us for to reign,when Oliver rul'd here,But since he's home return'd again,come fill some Christmas Beer.These holidays we'l briskly drink,all mirth we will devise,No Treason we will speak or think,then bring us brave minc'd piesRoast Beef and brave Plum porridge,our Loyal hearts to chear,Then prithee make no more ado,but bring us Christmas Beer.

[In these Times all the Spits were sparkling theHackin must be boiled by Daybreak or else twoyoung Men took the Maiden by the Arms and run her round the Market Place till she was ashamedof her laziness.—Round about our Coal Fire or Christmas Entertainments published in 1740.]

Many of the popular songs of this period complain of thedecline of the Christmas celebrations during the time of theCommonwealth, and some of them contrast the present withformer celebrations. In a ballad called "The Old and YoungCourtier," printed in 1670, comparing the times of QueenElizabeth with those of her successors, the fifth and twelfthverses contain the following parallel respecting Christmas—

Another called "Time's Alteration, or, the Old Man'sRehearsal, what brave dayes he knew a great while agone,when his old cap was new," says—

Referring to the Restoration of the monarchy, and contrastingit with the Protectorate period,Poor Robin's Almanack, 1685,says—

218After the Restoration an effort was made to revive theChristmas entertainments of the Court at Whitehall, but theydo not appear to have recovered their former splendour. Thehabits of Charles the Second were of too sensual a nature toinduce him to interest himself in such pursuits; besides whichthe manners of the country had been changed during the swayof the Puritans. Pepys states that Charles II. visited Lincoln'sInn to see the Christmas revels of 1661, "there being, accordingto an old custom, a Prince and all his nobles, and other mattersof sport and charge." And the diary of the Rev. John Ward,vicar of Stratford-upon-Avon, extending from 1648 to 1679,states: "The Duke of Norfolk expended £20,000 in keepingChristmas. Charles II. gave over keeping that festival on thisaccount; his munificence gave great offence at Court." Sandysmentions that a pastoral calledCalisto, written by Crowne, wasacted by the daughters of the Duke of York and the youngnobility. About the same time the Lady Anne, afterwardsQueen, acted the part of Semandra in Lee's "Mithridates."Betterton and his wife instructed the performers, in remembranceof which, when Anne came to the throne, she gave thelatter a pension of £100 a year.

The Inns of Court also had their Christmas feasts; but theconduct of them was evidently not so much coveted as informer times, for there is an entry in the records of Gray'sInn on November 3, 1682, "That Mr. Richard Gipps, on hispromise to perform the office of Master of the Revels, this andthe next Term, be called to the Bar of Grace,"i.e., withoutpayment of the usual fees: thus holding out a reward for hisservices, instead of allowing him, as in former times, to spenda large portion of his private fortune unrequited, except by thehonour of the temporary office.

Among the principal of the royal amusements in the timeof Charles the Second were horse-racing and theatrical performances.The King kept an establishment at Newmarket,where, according to Strutt, "he entered horses and ran themin his name." And the author of some doggerel verses, referringto Burford Downs, says:—

The Rev. Henry Teonge, chaplain of an English ship of war,gives in his diary a description of the manner in which theChristmas was spent on board, in 1675:—"Dec. 25, 1675.—Crismasday wee keepe thus. At 4 in the morning our trumpetersall doe flatt their trumpetts, and begin at our Captain'scabin, and thence to all the officers' and gentlemen's cabins;219playing a levite at each cabine door, and bidding good morrow,wishing a merry Crismas. After they goe to their station, viz.,on the poope, and sound 3 levitts in honour of the morning.At 10 wee goe to prayers and sermon; text, Zacc. ix. 9. OurCaptaine had all his officers and gentlemen to dinner with him,where wee had excellent good fayre: a ribb of beife, plumb-puddings,minct pyes, &c. and plenty of good wines of severallsorts; dranke healths to the King, to our wives and friends,and ended the day with much civill myrth."

Among the Garrick Plays in the British Museum is "The ChristmasOrdinary, a Private Show; wherein is expressed the jovialFreedom of that Festival: as it was acted at a Gentleman'sHouse among other Revels. By W. R., Master of Arts, 4 to.London, 1682."

The Memoirs of the hospitable Sir John Reresby (CamdenSociety) contain references to the Christmas festivities atThrybergh. In 1682, there assembled on Christmas Evenineteen of the poorer tenants from Denby and Hooton; onChristmas Day twenty-six of the poorer tenants from Thrybergh,Brinsford, and Mexborough; on St. Stephen's Day farmers andbetter sort of tenants to the number of fifty-four; on St. John's-dayforty five of the chief tenants; on the 30th of Decembereighteen gentlemen of the neighbourhood with their wives; onthe 1st of January sixteen gentlemen; on the 4th twelve of theneighbouring clergymen; and on the 6th seven gentlemen andtradesmen. Among the guests who lodged at the house were"Mr. Rigden, merchant of York, and his wife, a handsomewoman," and "Mr. Belton, an ingenious clergyman, but toomuch a good fellow." How the "ingenious clergyman"became "too much of a good fellow" may be easily guessed220from Sir John's further observation that "the expense of liquor,both of wine & others, was considerable, as of other provisions,and my friends appeared well satisfied." In 1684, writes SirJohn, "I returned to Thrybergh, by God's mercy, in safety, tokeep Christmas amongst my neighbours and tenants. I hadmore company this Christmas than heretofore. The four firstdays of the new year all my tenants of Thrybergh, Brinsford,Denby, Mexborough, Hooton Roberts, and Rotterham dinedwith me; the rest of the time some four-score of gentlemen andyeomen with their wives were invited, besides some that camefrom York; so that all the beds in the house and most in thetown were taken up. There were seldom less than four-score,counting all sorts of people, that dined in the house every day,and some days many more. On New Year's-day chiefly theredined above three hundred, so that whole sheep were roastedand served up to feed them. For music I had four violins,besides bagpipes, drums, and trumpets."

At Houghton Chapel, Nottinghamshire, says an old writer,"the good Sir William Hollis kept his house in great splendourand hospitality. He began Christmas at All Hallowtide, andcontinued it till Candlemas, during which time any man waspermitted to stay three days without being asked who he was,or from whence he came." This generous knight had manyguests who rejoiced in the couplet:—

It is no part of our purpose to enter into details of theevents which led up to the Revolution. Suffice it to say, thatduring the reign of Charles II. began the great struggle betweenthe King and the people, but Charles steadily refused to alterthe succession by excluding his brother James. He died on the6th of February, 1685, and

in the midst of an unsettled state of affairs. James made abold, but unsuccessful, attempt to restore the power of Romanismin England, and, ultimately, consulted his own safety byfleeing to France, landing at Ambleteuse, in Brittany, onChristmas Day, 1688,

The flight of James put an end to the struggle between Crownand people, and the offering of the Crown, with constitutionallimitations, to William, Prince of Orange, and his wife Mary,daughter of King James II. and granddaughter of King CharlesI. of England, speedily followed.221

accepted the invitation of the English people, and began theirreign on February 13, 1689. They both took an interest in thesports and pastimes of the people. Strutt says Williampatronised horse-racing, "and established an academy forriding; and his queen not only continued the bounty of herpredecessors, but added several plates to the former donations."The death of Queen Mary, from small-pox, on the 28th ofDecember, 1694, cast a gloom over the Christmas festivities,and left King William almost heart-broken at her loss. As to

Brand says that in "Batt upon Batt," a Poem by a Person ofQuality (1694), speaking of Batt's carving knives and otherimplements, the author asks:—

"Without their help, who can good Christmas keep?Our teeth would chatter and our eyes would weep;Hunger and dullness would invade our feasts,Did not Batt find us arms against such guests.He is the cunning engineer, whose skillMakes fools to carve the goose, and shape the quill:Fancy and wit unto our meals supplies:Carols, and not minc'd-meat, make Christmas pies.'Tis mirth, not dishes, sets a table off;Brutes and Phanaticks eat, and never laugh.- - - - -Whenbrawn, with powdred wig, comes swaggering in,And mighty serjeant ushers in the Chine,What ought a wise man first to think upon?Have I my Tools? if not, I am undone:For 'tis a law concerns both saint and sinner,He that hath no knife must have no dinner.So he falls on; pig, goose, and capon, feelThe goodness of his stomach and Batt's steel.In such fierce frays, alas! there no remorse is;All flesh is grass, which makes men feed like horses:But when the battle's done,off goes the hat,And each man sheaths, with God-a-mercy Batt.'"

"Batt upon Batt" also gives the following account of theChristmas Gambols in 1694:—

Another enumeration of the festive sports of this seasonoccurs (says Brand) in a poem entitled Christmas—

"Young Men and Maidens, nowAtFeed the Dove (with laurel leaf in mouth)OrBlindman's Buff, orHunt the Slipper play,Replete with glee. Some, haply,Cards adopt;Of it toForfeits they the Sport confine,The happy Folk, adjacent to the fire,Their Stations take; excepting one alone.(Sometimes the social Mistress of the house)Who sits within the centre of the room,To cry the pawns; much is the laughter, now,Of such as can't the Christmas Catch repeat,And who, perchance, are sentenc'd to saluteThe jetty beauties of the chimney black,Or Lady's shoe: others, more lucky far,By hap or favour, meet a sweeter doom,And on each fair-one's lovely lips imprintThe ardent kiss."

"Now thrice welcome, Christmas,Which brings us good cheer,Minc'd-pies and plumb-porridge,Good ale and strong beer;With pig, goose, and capon,The best that may be,So well doth the weatherAnd our stomachs agree.
Observe how the chimneysDo smoak all about,The cooks are providingFor dinner, no doubt;But those on whose tablesNo victuals appear,O may they keep LentAll the rest of the year!
With holly and ivySo green and so gay;We deck up our housesAs fresh as the day,With bays and rosemary,And laurel compleat,And every one nowIs a king in conceit.- - - - -But as for curmudgeons,Who will not be free,I wish they may dieOn the three-legged tree."

At Christmastide, 1696, an Act of Attainder was passed againstSir John Fenwick, one of the most ardent of the Jacobite223conspirators who took part in the plot to assassinate the King.He was executed on Tower Hill, January 28, 1697. This wasthe last instance in English history in which a person wasattainted by Act of Parliament, and Hallam's opinion of this Actof Attainder is that "it did not, like some acts of attainder,inflict a punishment beyond the offence, but supplied thedeficiency of legal evidence."

Peter the Great, of Russia, kept the Christmas of 1697 inEngland, residing at Sayes Court, a house of the celebratedJohn Evelyn, close to Deptford Dockyard.

Now enter Christmas like a man,Armed with spit and dripping-pan,Attended with pasty, plum-pie,Puddings, plum-porridge, furmity;With beef, pork, mutton of each sortMore than my pen can make report;Pig, swan, goose, rabbits, partridge, teal,With legs and loins and breasts of veal:But above all the minced piesMust mention'd be in any wise,Or else my Muse were much to blame,Since they from Christmas take their name.With these, or any one of these,A man may dine well if he please;Yet this must well be understood,—Though one of these be singly good,Yet more the merrier is the bestAs well of dishes as of guest.But the times are grown so badScarce one dish for the poor is had;Good housekeeping is laid aside,And all is spent to maintain pride;Good works are counted popish, andSmall charity is in the land.A man may sooner (truth I tell ye)Break his own neck than fill his belly.Good God amend what is amissAnd send a remedy to this,That Christmas day again may riseAnd we enjoy our Christmas pies.

The Christmas customs of this period are thus referred to bythe "Bellman, on Christmas Eve":—

was magnificently kept in the early part of the eighteenthcentury. The amount of good cheer that was required for thetable may be readily imagined from the magnitude of theculinary furniture in the kitchen—two vast fireplaces, with ironsfor sustaining a surprising number of spits, and several enormouschopping-blocks—which survived to the nineteenth century.John, the ninth Earl and first Duke of Rutland (created Marquisof Granby and Duke of Rutland in 1703), revived in the ancientspirit the hospitality of Christmastide. He kept sevenscoreservants, and his twelve days' feasts at Christmas recalled thebountiful celebrations of the "King of the Peak," Sir GeorgeVernon—the last male heir of the Vernon family in Derbyshirewho inherited the manor of Haddon, and who died in theseventh year of Queen Elizabeth's reign. "The King of thePeak" was the father of the charming Dorothy Vernon, thefair heiress, whose romantic elopement is thus depicted in"Picturesque Europe":—"In the fullness of time Dorothy loved,but her father did not approve. She determined to elope; andnow we must fill, in fancy, the Long Gallery with the splendourof a revel and the stately joy of a great ball in the time ofElizabeth. In the midst of the noise and excitement the fairyoung daughter of the house steals unobserved away. Sheissues fromher door, and her light feet fly with tremulousspeed along the darkling Terrace, flecked with light from theblazing ball-room, till they reach a postern in the wall, whichopens upon the void of the night outside dancing Haddon. Atthat postern some one is waiting eagerly for her; waiting withswift horses. That some one is young Sir John Manners, secondson of the House of Rutland, and her own true love. Theanxious lovers mount, and ride rapidly and silently away; andso Dorothy Vernon transfers Haddon to the owners of Belvoir;and the boar's head of Vernon becomes mingled, at Haddon,with the peacock of Manners. We fancy with sympatheticpleasure that night-ride and the hurried marriage; and—225forgetting that the thing happened 'ages long agone'—wewish, with full hearts, all happiness to the dear and charmingDorothy!"

From the boar's head of Vernon and the peacock of Manners,thought passes quite naturally to the boar's head and peacock,which were principal items of Christmas fare in the olden time.

In her "Collected Writings," Janetta, Duchess of Rutland,gives an interesting account of a revival of some of the ancientglories of Haddon:

"In the winter of 1872 the late Duke entertained the Princeand Princess of Wales in the banqueting hall at luncheon,when the boar's head and peacock in pride were carried in,and formed part of the fare, as in olden days: while once moremusicians filled the minstrels' gallery, great logs blazed in thehuge fireplace, and scarlet hangings were spread over the walls."

On the 20th of February, 1702, King William III. fell fromhis horse, breaking his collar-bone and sustaining other seriousinjuries, which terminated fatally on Sunday, the 8th of March.He was succeeded by Queen Anne, who was the second daughterof King James II., and the last of the Stuart sovereigns.

at Windsor, in 1703, and entertained the new King of Spain,who arrived at Spithead on the 26th of December. "The Queendispatched the Dukes of Somerset and Marlborough to conducthim to Windsor, and Prince George met him on the way atPetworth, the seat of the Duke of Somerset, and conducted himto Windsor on the 29th. The King was entertained in greatstate for three days at Windsor, during which time he waspolitic enough to ingratiate himself with the Duchess ofMarlborough. When the Duchess presented the basin and226napkin after supper to the Queen for her to wash her hands,the King gallantly took the napkin and held it himself, and onreturning it to the Queen's great favourite, he presented herwith a superb diamond ring. After three days the Kingreturned to Portsmouth, and on the 4th of January, 1704, heembarked on board the fleet commanded by Sir George Rooke,for Portugal, accompanied by a body of land forces under theDuke of Schomberg. The voyage was, however, a most stormyone, and when the fleet had nearly reached Cape Finisterre, itwas compelled to put back to Spithead, where it remained tillthe middle of February. His next attempt was more successful,and he landed in Lisbon amid much popular demonstration,though the court itself was sunk in sorrow by the death of theInfanta, whom he went to marry."[75]

At the Christmas festivities the following year (1704) therewere great rejoicings over the return home of the Duke ofMarlborough from the continental wars. "He arrived inEngland in the middle of December, carrying with him MarshalTallard and the rest of the distinguished officers, with thestandards and other trophies of his victories. He was receivedwith acclaim by all classes, except a few Ultra Tories, whothreatened to impeach him for his rash march to the Danube.As Parliament had assembled, Marlborough took his seat in theHouse of Peers the day after his arrival, where he was complimentedon his magnificent success by the Lord Keeper.This was followed by a deputation with a vote of thanks fromthe Commons, and by similar honours from the City. Butperhaps the most palpable triumph of Marlborough was thetransferring of the military trophies which he had taken fromthe Tower, where they were first deposited, to WestminsterHall. This was done by each soldier carrying a standard orother trophy, amid the thunders of artillery and the hurrahs ofthe people; such a spectacle never having been witnessed sincethe days of the Spanish Armada. The Royal Manor of Woodstockwas granted him, and Blenheim Mansion erected at thecost of the nation."

The country squire of three hundred a year, an independentgentleman in the reign of Queen Anne, is described as having"never played at cards but at Christmas, when the family packwas produced from the mantle-piece." "His chief drink theyear round was generally ale, except at this season, the 5th ofNovember, or some gala days, when he would make a bowl ofstrong brandy punch, garnished with a toast and nutmeg. Inthe corner of his hall, by the fireside, stood a large wooden two-armedchair, with a cushion, and within the chimney corner227were a couple of seats. Here, at Christmas, he entertained histenants, assembled round a glowing fire, made of the roots oftrees, and other great logs, and told and heard the traditionarytales of the village, respecting ghosts and witches, till fear madethem afraid to move. In the meantime the jorum of ale was incontinual circulation."[76]

Many interesting tales respecting the manners and customs ofthe eighteenth century are given by Steele and Addison in theirwell-known series of papers entitled theSpectator. Charity andhospitality are conspicuous traits of the typical country gentlemanof the period, Sir Roger de Coverley. "Sir Roger," saystheSpectator, "after the laudable custom of his ancestors,always keeps open house at Christmas. I learned from him,that he had killed eight fat hogs for this season; that he haddealt about his chines very liberally amongst his neighbours;and that in particular he had sent a string of hog's puddingswith a pack of cards to every poor family in the parish. 'Ihave often thought,' says Sir Roger, 'it happens well thatChristmas should fall out in the middle of winter. It is themost dead uncomfortable time of the year, when the poorpeople would suffer very much from their poverty and cold, ifthey had not good cheer, warm fires, and Christmas gambols tosupport them. I love to rejoice their poor hearts at this season,and to see the whole village merry in my great hall. I allow adouble quantity of malt to my small beer, and set it running fortwelve days to every one that calls for it. I have always a pieceof cold beef and a mince-pie upon the table, and am wonderfullypleased to see my tenants pass away a whole evening inplaying their innocent tricks, and smutting one another. Ourfriend Will Wimble is as merry as any of them, and shows athousand roguish tricks upon these occasions."

Puppet-shows and other scenic exhibitions with movingfigures were among the Christmas amusements in the reign ofQueen Anne. Strutt quotes a description of such an exhibition"by the manager of a show exhibited at the great house in theStrand, over against the Globe Tavern, near Hungerford Market;the best places at one shilling and the others at sixpence each:'To be seen, the greatest Piece of Curiosity that ever arrived inEngland, being made by a famous engineer from the camp228before Lisle, who, with great labour and industry, has collectedinto a moving picture the following figures: first, it doth representthe confederate camp, and the army lying intrenchedbefore the town; secondly, the convoys and the mules withPrince Eugene's baggage; thirdly, the English forces commandedby the Duke of Marlborough; likewise, several vesselsladen with provisions for the army, which are so artificiallydone as to seem to drive the water before them. The city andthe citadel are very fine, with all its outworks, ravelins, horn-works,counter-scarps, half-moons, and palisades; the Frenchhorse marching out at one gate, and the confederate armymarching in at the other; the prince's travelling coach with twogenerals in it, one saluting the company as it passes by; then atrumpeter sounds a call as he rides, at the noise whereof asleeping sentinel starts, and lifts up his head, but, not beingespied, lies down to sleep again; beside abundance moreadmirable curiosities too tedious to be inserted here.' He thenmodestly adds, 'In short, the whole piece is so contrived by artthat it seems to be life and nature.'"

Tumbling and feats of agility were also fashionable during theChristmas festival at this period, for in one of theTatlers (No.115, dated January 3, 1709) the following passage occurs: "Iwent on Friday last to the Opera, and was surprised to find a229thin house at so noble an entertainment, 'till I heard that thetumbler was not to make his appearance thatnight." The sword-dance—dancing "among thepoints of swords and spears with most wonderfulagility, and even with the most elegant and gracefulmotions"—rope-dancing, feats of balancing, leapingand vaulting, tricks by horses and other animals,and bull-baiting and bear-baiting were also amongthe public amusements. AndHot Cockles was oneof the favourite indoor amusements of Christmastide.Strutt, in his "Sports and Pastimes," says,Hot Cockles is from the Frenchhautes-coquilles,"a play in which one kneels, and covering hiseyes, lays his head in another's lap and guesseswho struck him." John Gay, a poet of the time,thus pleasantly writes of the game:—

On the death of Queen Anne(August 11, 1714) Prince GeorgeLouis of Hanover was proclaimedKing of England as

There was little change in theChristmas festivities in this reign,for, as Mr. Thackeray says in hislively sketch of George I.: "Hewas a moderate ruler of England.His aim was to leave it to itselfas much as possible, and to liveout of it as much as he could.His heart was in Hanover." Themost important addition to theplays of the period was

In his "English Plays," ProfessorHenry Morley thus recordsthe introduction of the modernEnglish pantomime, which hassince been the great show ofChristmastide:—

"The theatre in Lincoln's InnFields, which Christopher Richhad been restoring, his son, JohnRich, was allowed to open on230the 18th of December, 1714. John Rich was a clever mimic,and after a year or two he found it to his advantage to competewith the actors in a fashion of his own. He was the inventorof the modern English form of pantomime, with a serious partthat he took from Ovid's Metamorphosis or any fabulous history,and a comic addition of the courtship of harlequin and columbine,with surprising tricks and transformations. He introducedthe old Italian characters of pantomime under changed conditions,and beginning with 'Harlequin Sorcerer' in 1717,continued to produce these entertainments until a year beforehis death in 1761. They have since been retained as Christmasshows upon the English stage."

In a note to "The Dunciad," Pope complains of "the extravaganciesintroduced on the stage, and frequented by personsof the first quality in England to the twentieth and thirtiethtime," and states that "all the extravagances" in the followinglines of the poem actually appeared on the stage:—

"See now, what Dulness and her sons admire!See what the charms, that smite the simple heartNot touch'd by nature, and not reach'd by art.His never-blushing head he turn'd aside,(Not half so pleased when Goodman prophesied)And look'd, and saw a sable Sorcerer rise,Swift to whose hand a winged volume flies:All sudden, gorgons hiss, and dragons glare,And ten-horn'd fiends and giants rush to war.Hell rises, Heaven descends, and dance on earth:Gods, imps, and monsters, music, rage, and mirth,A fire, a jig, a battle, and a ball,Till one wide conflagration swallows all.Thence a new world, to nature's laws unknown,Breaks out refulgent, with a heaven its own:Another Cynthia her new journey runs,And other planets circle other suns.The forests dance, the rivers upward rise,Whales sport in woods, and dolphins in the skies;And last, to give the whole creation grace,Lo! one vast egg produces human race."

David Garrick, the eminent actor, wrote in a similar strain,finding it hard to hold his own against the patrons of thepantomime:—

at this period, is sketched by a writer inPoor Robin's Almanack,for 1723, thus:—"Now comes on old merry plentiful Christmas.The Husbandman lays his great Log behind the fire, and with a231few of his neighbours, over a good fire, taps his Christmas beer,cuts his Christmas cheese, and sets forward for a merry Christmas.The Landlord (for we hope there are yet some generousones left) invites his Tenants and Labourers, and with a goodSirloin of Roast Beef, and a few pitchers of nappy ale or beer,he wisheth them all a merry Christmas. The beggar begs hisbread, sells some of it for money to buy drink, and without fearof being arrested, or call'd upon for parish duties, has as merrya Christmas as any of them all."

So the people made merry at Christmas throughout the reignof George I., who died on June 10, 1727, and was succeeded byhis son,

In this reign the customs of Christmas were kept up withunabated heartiness, and liberality to the poor was not forgotten.The customary distributions of creature comforts onChristmas Eve were continued, and, in some instances, provisionfor the maintenance of them was made in the wills ofworthy parishioners. An instance of this kind is recorded inDevonshire. "It appears, from a statement of charities in anold book, that John Martyn, by will, 28th of November, 1729,gave to the churchwardens and overseers of the poor of theparish of St. Mary Major, Exeter, twenty pounds, to be put outat interest, and the profits thereof to be laid out every ChristmasEve in twenty pieces of beef, to be distributed to twenty poor232people of the parish, such as had no relief on that day, forever."[78]

at this period, was excellent, both as to quantity and quality, isevident, from a contribution made toRead's Weekly Journal, ofSaturday, January 9, 1731, by Mr. Thomas North, who thusdescribes the Christmas entertainment and good cheer he metwith in London at the house of a friend: "It was the houseof an eminent and worthy merchant, and tho', sir, I have beenaccustomed in my own country to what may very well be calledgood housekeeping, yet I assure you I should have taken thisdinner to have been provided for a whole parish, rather thanfor about a dozen gentlemen: 'Tis impossible for me to giveyou half our bill of fare, so you must be content to know thatwe had turkies, geese, capons, puddings of a dozen sorts morethan I had ever seen in my life, besides brawn, roast beef, andmany things of which I know not the names, minc'd pyes inabundance, and a thing they call plumb pottage, which may begood for ought I know, though it seems to me to have 50different tastes. Our wines were of the best, as were all therest of our liquors; in short, the God of plenty seemed to reignhere, and to make everything perfect, our company was politeand every way agreeable; nothing but mirth and loyal healthswent round. If a stranger were to have made an estimate ofLondon from this place, he would imagine it not only the mostrich but the most happy city in the world."

which has been cut from some publication and (by the lateMr. Joseph Haslewood) inserted between pages 358 and 359 ofthe British Museum large paper copy of Brand's "Antiquities,"and dated December, 1739:—

"THE TRIAL OF OLD FATHER CHRISTMAS forencouraging his Majesty's subjects in Idleness, Drunkenness,Gaming, Rioting, and all manner of Extravagance andDebauchery, at the Assizes held in the city of Profusion beforethe Lord Chief Justice Churchman, Mr. Justice Feast, Mr.Justice Gambol, and several other his Majesty's Justices of Oyerand Terminer, and Gaol-Delivery.

"To which is added a Diary found in the Pocket of OldFather Christmas, with Directions to all Lovers of him how towelcome their neighbours; likewise the Judge's sentence andOpinion how Christmas ought to be kept; and further Witty233Tales and Merry Stories designed for Christmas EveningsDiversion, when round about our Coal Fire.

Printer for T. Cooper, at the Globe in Pater-noster Row; andsold by the Pamphlet-shops of London and Westminster."

The manner of observing the Christmas festival in the timeof George the Second is described in an amusing little bookentitled "Round about our Coal Fire, or Christmas Entertainments,"published in 1740, and "illustrated with many divertingcuts." We quote the following extracts:—

PROLOGUE
I."O you merry, merry souls,Christmas is a coming,We shall have flowing Bowls,Dancing, piping, drumming.
II."Delicate minced Pies,To feast every Virgin,Capon and Goose likewise,Brawn and a dish of Sturgeon.
III."Then for your Christmas Box,Sweet Plumb-cakes and money,Delicate Holland Smocks,Kisses sweet as Honey.
IV."Hey for the Christmas Ball,Where we shall be jolly,Jigging short and tall,Kate, Dick, Ralph, and Molly.
V."Then to the Hop we'll go,Where we'll jig and caper,Maidens all-a-row,Will shall pay the Scraper.
VI."Hodge shall dance with Prue,Keeping Time with KissesWe'll have a jovial Crew,Of sweet smirking Misses.

"First acknowledging the sacredness of the Holy Time ofChristmas, I proceed to set forth the Rejoicings which aregenerally made at that great Festival.

"You must understand, good People, that the manner ofcelebrating this great Course of Holydays is vastly different nowto what it was in former days: There was once upon a timeHospitality in the land; anEnglish gentleman at the openingof the great Day, had all his Tenants and Neighbours enter'd hisHall by Day-break, the strong Beer was broach'd, and theBlack Jacks went plentifully about with Toast, Sugar, Nutmeg,and good Cheshire Cheese; the Rooms were embower'd withHolly, Ivy, Cypress, Bays, Laurel, and Missleto, and a bouncingChristmas Log in the Chimney glowing like the cheeks of acountry Milk-maid; then was the pewter as bright asClarinda,235and every bit of Brass as polished as the most refined Gentleman;the Servants were then running here and there, withmerry Hearts and jolly Countenances; every one was busywelcoming of Guests, and look'd as smug as new-lick'd Puppies;the Lasses as blithe and buxom as the maids in good QueenBess's Days, when they eat Sir-Loins of Roast Beef for Breakfast;Peg would scuttle about to make a Toast forJohn, whileTomrunharum scarum to draw a Jug of Ale forMargery: GafferSpriggins was bid thrice welcome by the 'Squire, and GooddyGoose did not fail of a smacking Buss from his Worship whilehis Son and Heir did the Honours of the House: in a word,the Spirit of Generosity ran thro' the whole House.

"In these Times all the Spits were sparkling, theHackinmust be boiled by Day-break, or else two young Men took theMaiden by the Arms, and run her round the Market-place, tillshe was ashamed of her Laziness. And what was worse thanthis, she must not play with the Young Fellows that Day, butstand Neuter, like a Girl doing penance in a Winding-sheet ata Church-door.

"But now let us enquire a little farther, to arrive at the Senseof the Thing; this great Festival was in former Times keptwith so much Freedom and Openness of Heart, that every onein the Country where a Gentleman resided, possessed at least aDay of Pleasure in theChristmas Holydays; the Tables wereall spread from the first to the last, the Sir-Loyns of Beef, theMinc'd-Pies, the Plumb-Porridge, the Capons, Turkeys, Geese,and Plumb-Puddings, were all brought upon the board; andall those who had sharp stomachs and sharp Knives eat heartilyand were welcome, which gave rise to the Proverb—

"There were then Turnspits employed, who by the timeDinner was over, would look as black and as greasy as a WelchPorridge-pot, but the Jacks have since turned them all out ofDoors. The Geese which used to be fatted for the honestNeighbours, have been of late sent toLondon, and the Quillsmade into Pens to convey away the Landlord's Estate; theSheep are drove away to raise Money to answer the Loss of aGame at Dice or Cards, and their Skins made into Parchmentfor Deeds and Indentures; nay even the poor innocent Bee,who used to pay its Tribute to the Lord once a Year at least ingood Metheglin, for the Entertainment of the Guests, and itsWax converted into beneficial Plaisters for sick Neighbours, isnow used for the sealing of Deeds to his Disadvantage.

"But give me the Manwho has a good Heart, and has Spiritenough to keep up the Old way of Hospitality, feeds his Peopletill they are as plump as Partridges, and as fat as Porpoisesthat every Servant may appear as jolly as the late Bishop ofWinchester's Porter atChelsea.236

"The News-Papers however inform us, that the Spirit ofHospitality has not quite forsaken us; for three or four ofthem tell us, that several of the Gentry are gone down to theirrespective Seats in the Country, in order to keep theirChristmasin the Old Way, and entertain their Tenants and Trades-folksas their Ancestors used to do and I wish them a merryChristmasaccordingly. I must also take notice to the stingy Tribe,that if they don't at least make their Tenants or Tradesmendrink when they come to see them in the Christmas Holydays,they have Liberty of retaliating which is a Law of very ancientDate.

"A merry Gentleman of my Acquaintance desires I willinsert, that the old Folks in Days of yore kept open House atChristmas out of Interest; for then, says he, they receive thegreatest Part of their Rent in Kind; such as Wheat, Barley orMalt, Oxen, Calves, Sheep, Swine, Turkeys, Capon, Geese, andsuch like; and they not having Room enough to preserve theirGrain, or Fodder enough to preserve their Cattle or Poultry,nor Markets to sell off the Overplus, they were obliged to usethem in their own Houses; and by treating the People of theCountry, gained Credit amongst them, and riveted the Mindsand Goodwill of their Neighbours so firmly in them, that noone durst venture to oppose them. The 'Squire's Will wasdone whatever came on it; for if he happened to ask a Neighbourwhat it was a Clock, they returned with a low Scrape, it iswhat your Worship pleases.

"The Dancing and Singing of the Benchers in the great Innsof Court inChristmas, is in some sort founded upon Interest;for they hold, as I am informed, some Priviledge by Dancingabout the Fire in the middle of their Hall, and singing the SongofRound about our Coal Fire, &c.

"This time of year being cold and frosty generally speaking,or when Jack-Frost commonly takes us by the Nose, the Diversionsare within Doors, either in Exercise or by the Fire-side.

"Then comes Mumming or Masquerading, when the 'Squire'sWardrobe is ransacked for Dresses of all Kinds, and the coal-holesearched around, or corks burnt to black the Faces of theFair, or make Deputy-Mustaches, and every one in the Familyexcept the 'Squire himself must be transformed from what theywere....

"Or else there is a Match atBlind-Man's-Buff, and then itis lawful to set anything in the way for Folks to tumbleover....

"As forPuss in the Corner, that is a very harmless Sport, andone may romp at it as much as one will....

"The next game to this isQuestions and Commands, when theCommander may oblige his Subject to answer any lawful Question,and make the same obey him instantly, under the penaltyof being smutted, or paying such Forfeit as may be laid on the237Aggressor; but the Forfeits being generally fixed at somecertain Price, as a Shilling, Half a Crown, &c., so every oneknowing what to do if they should be too stubborn to submit,make themselves easy at discretion.

"As for the Game ofHoop and Hide, the Parties have theLiberty of hiding where they will, in any part of the House;and if they happen to be caught, the Dispute ends in Kissing,&c.

"Most of the other Diversions are Cards and Dice, but theyare seldom set on foot, unless a Lawyer is at hand, to breedsome dispute for him to decide, or at least have someParty in.

"And now I come to another Entertainment frequently used,which is of the Story-telling Order,viz. of Hobgoblins, Witches,Conjurers, Ghosts, Fairies, and such like common Disturbers."

won him great applause. At Christmas, 1741, he brought outat Goodman's Fields a Christmas Farce, written by himself,entitled "The Lying Valet," wherein the great actor took the partof "Sharp." It was thought the most diverting farce ever performed."There was a general roar from beginning to end.So great was his versatility that people were not able to determinewhether he was best in tragedy or comedy." On hisbenefit, when his real name was placed on the bills for the firsttime, there was an immense gathering, and the applause wasquite extraordinary.

under the romantic "Prince Charlie," whose attempted invasionof England speedily collapsed.

of this period. He states that at Merton College, Oxford, theFellows meet together in the Hall, on Christmas Eve, to sing aPsalm and drink a grace-cup to one another (calledPoculumCharitatis), wishing one another health and happiness.

and many refused to observe the festival eleven days earlier thanusual, but insisted on keeping "Old Christmas Day." Whyshould they be robbed of eleven days by a new Act of Parliament?It was of no use to tell them that it had been discoveredthat the fractional few minutes which are tailed on to the days238and hours which make up the year had, by neglect throughmany centuries, brought us into a wrong condition, and thatto set us right it would be necessary to give credit for elevendays which nobody was conscious of having enjoyed. Thelaw, however, had said that it should be so. Accordingly, theday after the 2nd of September, 1752, was called the 14th, tothe great indignation of thousands, who reckoned that they hadthus been cut off from nearly a fortnight of life which honestlybelonged to them. These persons sturdily refused to acknowledgethe Christmas Eve and Day of the new calendar. Theyaverred that the true festival was that which now began on the5th of Januarynext year. They would go to church, they said,on no other day; nor eat mince-pies nor drink punch but inreference to this one day. The clergy had a hard time of itwith these recusants. It will be well, therefore, to quote onesingular example to show how this recusancy was encountered.It is from a collection of pamphlet-sermons preserved byGeorge III., none of which, however, have anything curiousor particularly meritorious about them save this one, which waspreached on Friday, January 5, 1753, "Old Christmas Day."Mr. Francis Blackburne, "one of the candid disquisitors,"opened his church on that day, which was crowded by a congregationanxious to see the day celebrated as that of theanniversary of the Nativity. The service for Christmas Day,however, was not used. "I will answer your expectations sofar," said the preacher in his sermon, "as to give you asermonon the day; and the rather because I perceive you are disappointedofsomething else that you expected." The purportof the discourse is to show that the change of style was desirable,and that it having been effected by Act of Parliament,with the sanction of the King, there was nothing for it butacquiescence. "For," says the preacher, "had I, to oblige you,disobeyed this Act of Parliament, it is very probable I mighthave lost my benefice, which, you know, is all the subsistence Ihave in the world; and I should have been rightly served; forwho am I that I should fly in the face of his Majesty and theParliament? These things are left to be ordered by the higherpowers; and in any such case as that, I hope not to thinkmyself wiser than the King, the whole nobility, and principalgentry of Great Britain"!!

The peasants of Buckinghamshire, however, pitched upon avery pretty method to settle the question of Christmas, left someekly by Mr. Blackburne to the King, nobility, and most ofthe gentry. They bethought themselves of a blackthorn nearone of their villages; and this thorn was for the nonce declaredto be the growth of a slip from the Christmas-flowering thornat Glastonbury. If the Buckinghamshire thorn, so argued thepeasants, will only blossom in the night of the 24th of December,we will go to church next day, and allow that the Christmas by239Act of Parliament is the true Christmas; but no blossom nofeast, and there shall be no revel till the eve of old ChristmasDay. They watched the thorn and drank to its budding; butas it produced no promise of a flower by the morning, theyturned to go homewards as best they might, perfectly satisfiedwith the success of the experiment. Some were interrupted intheir way by their respective "vicars," who took them by thearm and would fain have persuaded them to go to church.They argued the question by field, stile, and church-gate; butnot a Bucks peasant would consent to enter a pew till the parsonhad promised to preach a sermon to, and smoke a pipe with,them on the only Christmas Day they chose to acknowledge.

Now, however, this old prejudice has been conquered, andthe "new style" has maintained its ground. It has even donemore, for its authors have so arranged the years and leap yearsthat a confusion in the time of Christmas or any other festivalis not likely to occur again.

CHAPTER XI.

MODERN CHRISTMASES AT HOME.

came to the throne on the death of his grandfather, George II.(October 25, 1760), and the first Christmas of his reign "wasa high festival at Court, when his Majesty, preceded by heralds,pursuivants, &c., went with their usual state to the ChapelRoyal, and heard a sermon preached by his Grace the Archbishopof York; and it being a collar day, the Knights of theGarter, Thistle and Bath, appeared in the collars of their241respective orders. After the sermon was over, his Majesty,Prince Edward and Princess Augusta went into the ChapelRoyal, and received the sacrament from the hands of theBishop of Durham; and the King offered the byzant, or wedgeof gold, in a purse, for the benefit of the poor, and the royalfamily all made offerings. His Majesty afterwards dined withhis royal mother at Leicester House, and in the evening returnedto St. James's."[79]

was card-playing. The King himself spent a great deal of histime in playing at cards with the ladies and gentlemen of hiscourt. In doing so, however, he was but following the exampleof George II., of whom the biographer already quoted (Mr.Huish) says:—

"After the death of Queen Caroline, the King was veryfond of a game at cards with the Countess of Pembroke,Albemarle, and other distinguished ladies. His attachment tocards was transferred to his attachment for the ladies, and itwas said that what he gained by the one he lost by the other."Cards were very much resorted to at the family parties andother social gatherings held during the twelve days of Christmas.Hone makes various allusions to card-playing at Christmastide,and Washington Irving, in his "Life of Oliver Goldsmith,"pictures the poet "keeping the card-table in an uproar."Mrs. Bunbury invited Goldsmith down to Barton to pass theChristmas holidays. Irving regrets "that we have no record ofthis Christmas visit to Barton; that the poet had no Boswell tofollow at his heels, and take notes of all his sayings and doings.We can only picture him in our minds, casting off all care;enacting the Lord of Misrule; presiding at the Christmasrevels; providing all kinds of merriment; keeping the card-tablein an uproar, and finally opening the ball on the first dayof the year in his spring-velvet suit, with the Jessamy Bride fora partner."

From the reprint additions made in the British Museum largepaper copy of Brand's "Antiquities," by the late Mr. Joseph Haslewood,and dated January, 1779, we quote the following versesdescriptive of the concluding portion of the Christmas festivitiesat this period:—

in the latter part of the eighteenth century are gleaned fromcontemporary writers:—

"At Ripon, on Christmas Eve, the grocers, send each of theircustomers a pound or half of currants and raisins to make aChristmas pudding. The chandlers also send large mouldcandles, and the coopers logs of wood, generally calledYuleclogs, which are always used on Christmas Eve; but should itbe so large as not to be all burnt that night, which is frequentlythe case, the remains are kept till old Christmas Eve."[80]

In Sinclair's Account of Scotland, parish of Kirkden, countyof Angus (1792), Christmas is said to be held as a greatfestival in the neighbourhood. "The servant is free from hismaster, and goes about visiting his friends and acquaintance.The poorest must have beef or mutton on the table, and whatthey call a dinner with their friends. Many amuse themselveswith various diversions, particularly with shooting for prizes,called herewad-shooting; and many do but little business all theChristmas week; the evening of almost every day being spentin amusement." And in the account of Keith, in Banffshire,the inhabitants are said to "have no pastimes or holidays, exceptdancing on Christmas and New Year's Day."

Boyhood's Christmas Breaking-up is thus described in apoem entitled "Christmas" (Bristol, 1795):—

"A school there was, within a well-known town,(Bridgwater call'd), in which the boys were wont,Atbreaking-up for Christmas' lov'd recess,To meet the master, on the happy morn,At early hour; the custom, too, prevail'd,That he who first the seminary reach'dShould, instantly, perambulate the streetsWith sounding horn, to rouse his fellows up;And, as a compensation for his care,His flourish'd copies, and his chapter-task,Before the rest, he from the master had.For many days, ere breaking-up commenced,Much was the clamour, 'mongst the beardless crowd,Who first would dare his well-warm'd bed forego,And, round the town, with horn of ox equipp'd,His schoolmates call. Great emulation glow'd243In all their breasts; but, when the morning came,Straightway was heard, resounding through the streets,The pleasing blast (more welcome far, to them,Than is, to sportsmen, the delightful cryOf hounds on chase), which soon together broughtA tribe of boys, who, thund'ring at the doorsOf those, their fellows, sunk in Somnus' arms,Great hubbub made, and much the town alarm'd.At length the gladsome, congregated throng,Toward the school their willing progress bent,With loud huzzas, and, crowded round the desk,Where sat the master busy at his books,In reg'lar order, each receiv'd his own,The youngsters then, enfranchised from the school,Their fav'rite sports pursued."

A writer in theGentleman's Magazine for February, 1795, givesthe following account of a Christmas Eve custom at the houseof Sir —— Holt, Bart., of Aston, near Birmingham:

"As soon as supper is over, a table is set in the hall. On itis placed a brown loaf, with twenty silver threepences stuck onthe top of it, a tankard of ale, with pipes and tobacco; andthe two oldest servants have chairs behind it, to sit as judges ifthey please. The steward brings the servants, both men andwomen, by one at a time, covered with a winnow-sheet, andlays their right hand on the loaf, exposing no other part of thebody. The oldest of the two judges guesses at the person, bynaming a name, then the younger judge, and lastly the oldestagain. If they hit upon the right name, the steward leads theperson back again; but, if they do not, he takes off thewinnow-sheet, and the person receives a threepence, makes alow obeisance to the judges, but speaks not a word. When thesecond servant was brought, the younger judge guessed firstand third; and this they did alternately, till all the money wasgiven away. Whatever servant had not slept in the house thepreceding night forfeited his right to the money. No accountis given of the origin of this strange custom, but it has beenpractised ever since the family lived there. When the moneyis gone, the servants have full liberty to drink, dance, sing, andgo to bed when they please."

Brand quotes the foregoing paragraph and asks: "Can thisbe what Aubrey calls the sport of 'Cob-loaf stealing'?"

When Christmas approaches each bosom is gay,That festival banishes sorrow away,While Richard he kisses both Susan and Dolly,When tricking the house up with ivy and holly;For never as yet it was counted a crime,To be merry and cherry at that happy time.For never as yet, &c.

244Then comes turkey and chine, with the famous roast beef,Of English provisions still reckon'd the chief;Roger whispers the cook-maid his wishes to crown,O Dolly! pray give me a bit of the brown;For never as yet it was counted a crime,To be merry and cherry at that happy time.For never as yet, &c.

The luscious plum-pudding does smoking appear,And the charming mince pye is not far in the rear,Then each licks his chops to behold such a sight,But to taste it affords him superior delight;For never as yet it was counted a crime,To be merry and cherry at that happy time.For never as yet, &c.

Now the humming October goes merrily round,And each with good humour is happily crown'd,The song and the dance, and the mirth-giving jest,Alike without harm by each one is expressed;For never as yet it was counted a crime,To be merry and cherry at that happy time.For never as yet, &c.

Twelfth Day next approaches, to give you delight,And the sugar'd rich cake is display'd to the sight,Then sloven and slut and the king and the queen,Alike must be present to add to the scene;For never as yet it was counted a crime,To be merry and cherry at that happy time.For never as yet, &c.

May each be found thus as the year circles round,With mirth and good humour each Christmas be crown'd,And may all who have plenty of riches in storeWith their bountiful blessings make happy the poor;For never as yet it was counted a crime,To be merry and cherry at that happy time.For never as yet, &c.[81]

In his essay on "Recollections of Christ's Hospital," CharlesLamb thus refers to the Christmas festivities of his schoolboydays:—

"Let me have leave to remember the festivities at Christmas,when the richest of us would club our stock to have a gaudyday, sitting round the fire, replenished to the height with logs,and the pennyless, and he that could contribute nothing, partookin all the mirth, and in some of the substantialities of thefeasting; the carol sung by night at that time of the year,which, when a young boy, I have so often lain awake to hearfrom seven (the hour of going to bed) till ten when it was sungby the older boys and monitors, and have listened to it, in theirrude chaunting, till I have been transported in fancy to the fieldsof Bethlehem, and the song which was sung at that season, byangels' voices to the shepherds."

Writing to Southey, in 1798, Lamb tells the poet that Christmasis a "glorious theme"; and addressing his "dear old friendand absentee," Mr. Manning, at Canton, on December 25, 1815,246Lamb says:—"This is Christmas Day, 1815, with us; what itmay be with you I don't know, the 12th of June next year perhaps;and if it should be the consecrated season with you,I don't see how you can keep it. You have no turkeys; youwould not desecrate the festival by offering up a witheredChinese bantam, instead of the savoury grand Norfolcian holocaust,that smokes all around my nostrils at this moment from athousand firesides. Then what puddings have you? Wherewill you get holly to stick in your churches, or churches to stickyour dried tea-leaves (that must be the substitute) in? Comeout of Babylon, O my friend."

at the beginning of the nineteenth century include the oldChristmas game ofForfeits, for every breach of the rules ofwhich the players have to deposit some little article as a forfeit,247to be redeemed by some sportive penalty, imposed by the "Crierof the Forfeits" (usually a bonnie lassie). The "crying of theforfeits" and paying of the penalties creates much merriment,particularly when a bashful youth is sentenced to "kiss throughthe fire-tongs" some beautiful romp of a girl, who delightsplaying him tricks while the room rings with laughter.

Some of the old pastimes, however, have fallen into disuse, as,for instance, the once popular game ofHot Cockles,Hunt theSlipper, and "the vulgar game ofPost and Pair"; butCardsare still popular, and Snapdragon continues such Christmasmerriment as is set forth in the following verses:—

"Don't 'ee fear him, be but bold," accords with the advice ofa writer in "Pantalogia," in 1813, who says that when the brandyin the bowl is set on fire, and raisins thrown into it, those whoare unused to the sport are afraid to take out, but the raisinsmay be safely snatched by a quick motion and put blazing intothe mouth, which being closed, the fire is at once extinguished.The game requires both courage and rapidity of action, and agood deal of merriment is caused by the unsuccessful efforts ofcompetitors for the raisins in the flaming bowl.

A favourite game of Christmastide, is thus described by ThomasMiller, in his "Sports and Pastimes of Merry England":—

"The very youngest of our brothers and sisters can join inthis old English game: and it is selfish to select only suchsports as they cannot become sharers of. Its ancient name is'hoodman-blind'; and when hoods were worn by both menand women—centuries before hats and caps were so commonas they are now—the hood was reversed, placed hind-before,and was, no doubt, a much surer way of blinding the player thanthat now adopted—for we have seen Charley try to catch hispretty cousin Caroline, by chasing her behind chairs and intoall sorts of corners, to our strong conviction that he was nothalf so well blinded as he ought to have been. Some said hecould see through the black silk handkerchief; others that itought to have been tied clean over his nose, for that when helooked down he could see her feet, wherever she moved; andCharley had often been heard to say that she had the prettiestfoot and ankle he had ever seen. But there he goes, head overheels across a chair, tearing off Caroline's gown skirt in his fall,as he clutches it in the hope of saving himself. Now, that iswhat I call retributive justice; for she threw down the chair forhim to stumble over, and, if he has grazed his knees, she suffersunder a torn dress, and must retire until one of the maids darnup the rent. But now the mirth and glee grow 'fast and furious,'for hoodman blind has imprisoned three or four of the youngestboys in a corner, and can place his hand on whichever he likes.Into what a small compass they have forced themselves! Butthe one behind has the wall at his back, and, taking advantageof so good a purchase, he sends his three laughing companionssprawling on the floor, and is himself caught through theirhaving fallen, as his shoulder is the first that is grasped byBlindman-buff—so that he must now submit to be hooded."

"Man should be called a dancing animal," saidOld Florentine;and Burton, in his "Anatomy of Melancholy," says, "Younglasses are never better pleased than when, upon a holiday, aftereven-song, they may meet their sweethearts and dance." Anddancing is just as popular at Christmas in the present day,as it was in that mediæval age when (according to Williamof Malmesbury) the priest Rathbertus, being disturbed at hisChristmas mass by young men and women dancing outsidethe church, prayed God and St. Magnus that they mightcontinue to dance for a whole year without cessation—aprayer which the old chronicler gravely assures us wasanswered.

And well our Christian sires of oldLoved when the year its course had roll'd,And brought blithe Christmas back again,With all his hospitable train.Domestic and religious riteGave honour to the holy night:

On Christmas Eve the bells were rung;On Christmas Eve the mass was sung:That only night in all the year,Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear.The damsel donn'd her kirtle sheen;The hall was dress'd with holly green;Forth to the wood did merry-men go,To gather in the mistletoe.Then open'd wide the Baron's hallTo vassal, tenant, serf, and all;Power laid his rod of rule aside,And Ceremony doffed his pride.The heir, with roses in his shoes,That night might village partner choose.The lord, underogating, shareThe vulgar game of "post and pair."

All hail'd, with uncontroll'd delight,And general voice, the happy nightThat to the cottage, as the crown,Brought tidings of salvation down!

The fire, with well-dried logs supplied,Went roaring up the chimney wide;The huge hall-table's oaken face,Scrubb'd till it shone, the day to graceBore then upon its massive boardNo mark to part the squire and lord.251

Then was brought in the lusty brawnBy old blue-coated serving man;Then the grim boar's-head frowned on high,Crested with bays and rosemary.Well can the green-garbed ranger tellHow, when, and where the monster fell;What dogs before his death he tore,And all the baiting of the boar.The wassail round in good brown bowls,Garnish'd with ribbons, blithely trowls.There the huge sirloin reek'd; hard byPlum-porridge stood, and Christmas-pye;Nor fail'd old Scotland to produce,At such high tide, her savoury goose.Then came the merry masquers in,And carols roar'd with blithesome dinIf unmelodious was the song,It was a hearty note, and strong.Who lists may in their mumming seeTraces of ancient mystery;White shirts supplied the masquerade,And smutted cheeks the visors made;But oh! what masquers, richly dight,Can boast of bosoms half so light!England was merry England whenOld Christmas brought his sports again.'Twas Christmas broached the mightiest ale,'Twas Christmas told the merriest tale;A Christmas gambol oft could cheerThe poor man's heart through half the year.Sir Walter Scott, 1808.

"At Cumnor the parishioners, who paid vicarial tithes, claimeda custom of being entertained at the vicarage on the afternoonof Christmas Day, with four bushels of malt brewed into ale andbeer, two bushels of wheat made into bread, and half a hundredweight of cheese. The remainder was given to the poor thenext morning after divine service."

"At Culdaff, previous to Christmas, it is customary with thelabouring classes to raffle for mutton, when a sufficient numbercan subscribe to defray the cost of a sheep. During theChristmas holidays they amuse themselves with a game ofkamman, which consists in impelling a wooden ball witha crooked stick to a given point, while an adversary endeavoursto drive it in a contrary direction."

A writer in "Time's Telescope" (1822) states that in Yorkshireat eight o'clock on Christmas Eve the bells greet "Old252Father Christmas" with a merry peal, the children parade thestreets with drums, trumpets, bells, or perhaps, in their absence,with the poker and shovel, taken from their humble cottagefire; the yule candle is lighted, and—

Supper is served, of which one dish, from the lordly mansionto the humblest shed, is invariably furmety; yule cake, one ofwhich is always made for each individual in the family, andother more substantial viands are also added.

of Christmastide are sketched by a contributor to theNewMonthly Magazine, December 1, 1825, who says:—

"On the north side of the church at M. are a great manyholly-trees. It is from these that our dining and bed-rooms arefurnished with boughs. Families take it by turns to entertaintheir friends. They meet early; the beef and pudding arenoble; the mince-pies—peculiar; the nuts half play-things andhalf-eatables; the oranges as cold and acid as they ought to be,furnishing us with a superfluity which we can afford to laughat; the cakes indestructible; the wassail bowls generous, oldEnglish, huge, demanding ladles, threatening overflow as theycome in, solid with roasted apples when set down. Towardsbed-time you hear of elder-wine, and not seldom of punch. Atthe manorhouse it is pretty much the same as elsewhere. Girls,although they be ladies, are kissed under the mistletoe. If anyfamily among us happen to have hit upon an exquisite brewing,they send some of it round about, the squire's house included;and he does the same by the rest. Riddles, hot-cockles, forfeits,music, dances sudden and not to be suppressed, prevail amonggreat and small; and from two o'clock in the day to midnight,M. looks like a deserted place out of doors, but is full of life andmerriment within. Playing at knights and ladies last year, ajade of a charming creature must needs send me out for a pieceof ice to put in her wine. It was evening and a hard frost. Ishall never forget the cold, cutting, dreary, dead look of everything out of doors, with a wind through the wiry trees, and thesnow on the ground, contrasted with the sudden return towarmth, light, and joviality.

"I remember we had a discussion that time as to what wasthe great point and crowning glory of Christmas. Many werefor mince-pie; some for the beef and plum-pudding; more forthe wassail-bowl; a maiden lady timidly said the mistletoe;but we agreed at last, that although all these were prodigious,and some of them exclusively belonging to the season, thefirewas the great indispensable. Upon which we all turned ourfaces towards it, and began warming our already scorchedhands. A great blazing fire, too big, is the visible heart and

253soul of Christmas. You may do without beef and plum-pudding;even the absence of mince-pie may be tolerated; there must bea bowl, poetically speaking, but it need not be absolutely wassail.The bowl may give place to the bottle. But a huge, heaped-up,over heaped-up, all-attracting fire, with a semicircle of facesabout it, is not to be denied us. It is thelar and genius ofthe meeting; the proof positive of the season; the representativeof all our warm emotions and bright thoughts; the gloriouseye of the room; the inciter to mirth, yet the retainer of order;the amalgamater of the age and sex; the universal relish.Tastes may differ even on a mince-pie; but who gainsays afire? The absence of other luxuries still leaves you in possessionof that; but

"Let me have a dinner of some sort, no matter what, andthen give me my fire, and my friends, the humblest glass ofwine, and a few penn'orths of chestnuts, and I will still makeout my Christmas. What! Have we not Burgundy in ourblood? Have we not joke, laughter, repartee, bright eyes,comedies of other people, and comedies of our own; songs,memories, hopes? [An organ strikes up in the street at thisword, as if to answer me in the affirmative. Right thou oldspirit of harmony, wandering about in that ark of thine, andtouching the public ear with sweetness and an abstraction!Let the multitude bustle on, but not unarrested by thee andby others, and not unreminded of the happiness of renewinga wise childhood.] As to our old friends the chestnuts, ifanybody wants an excuse to his dignity for roasting them, lethim take the authority of Milton. 'Who now,' says he lamentingthe loss of his friend Deodati,—'who now will help to soothemy cares for me, and make the long night seem short with hisconversation; while the roasting pear hisses tenderly on thefire, and the nuts burst away with a noise,—

From Grant's "Popular Superstitionsof the Highlands" Hone gathered thefollowing account:—

"As soon as the brightening glow ofthe eastern sky warns the anxious house-maidof the approach of Christmas Day,she rises full of anxiety at the prospectof her morning labours. The meal,which was steeped in thesowans-bowiea fortnight ago, to make thePrechdachdansour, orsour scones, is the first object ofher attention. The gridiron is put onthe fire, and the sour scones are soonfollowed by hard cakes, soft cakes,buttered cakes, brandered bannocks, andpannich perm. The baking being once over, the sowanspot succeeds the gridiron, full of new sowans, which areto be given to the family, agreeably to custom, this dayin their beds. The sowans are boiled into the consistenceof molasses, when theLagan-le-vrich, or yeast bread, todistinguish it from boiled sowans, is ready. It is thenpoured into as many bickers as there are individuals to partakeof it, and presently served to the whole, old and young. Itwould suit well the pen of a Burns, or the pencil of aHogarth, to paint the scene which follows. The ambrosialfood is despatched in aspiring draughts by the family, whosoon give evident proofs of the enlivening effects of theLagan-le-vrich.As soon as each despatches his bicker, he jumps outof bed—the elder branches to examine the ominous signs of theday,[84] and the younger to enter on its amusements. Flocking tothe swing, a favourite amusement on this occasion, the youngestof the family get the first 'shoulder,' and the next oldest inregular succession. In order to add the more to the spirit of theexercise, it is a common practice with the person in theswing,and the person appointed to swing him, to enter into a verywarm and humorous altercation. As the swinged personapproaches the swinger, he exclaims,Ei mi tu chal, 'I'll eatyour kail.' To this the swinger replies, with a violent shove,Cha ni u mu chal, 'You shan't eat my kail.' These threats andrepulses are sometimes carried to such a height, as to breakdown or capsize the threatener, which generally puts an endto the quarrel.

"As the day advances, those minor amusements are terminatedat the report of the gun, or the rattle of the ball clubs—the guninviting the marksman to the 'Kiavamuchd,' or prize-shooting,and the latter to 'Luchd-vouil,' or the ball combatants—both

255the principal sports of the day. Tired at length of the activeamusements of the field, they exchange them for the substantialentertainments of the table. Groaning under the 'sonsy haggis,'[85]and many other savoury dainties, unseen for twelve monthsbefore, the relish communicated to the company, by theappearance of the festive board, is more easily conceivedthan described. The dinner once despatched, the flowingbowl succeeds, and the sparkling glass flies to and fro like aweaver's shuttle. As it continues its rounds, the spirits of thecompany become more jovial and happy. Animated by itscheering influence, even old decrepitude no longer feels hishabitual pains—the fire of youth is in his eye, as he detailsto the company the exploits which distinguished him in thedays of 'auld langsyne;' while the young, with hearts inflamedwith 'love and glory,' long to mingle in the more lively scenesof mirth, to display their prowess and agility. Leaving thepatriarchs to finish those professions of friendship for eachother, in which they are so devoutly engaged, the youngerpart of the company will shape their course to the ball-room,or the card-table, as their individual inclinations suggest; andthe remainder of the evening is spent with the greatest pleasureof which human nature is susceptible."

Hone's "Table Book" (vol. i.), 1827, contains a letterdescriptive of the pitmen of Northumberland, which says:—

"The ancient custom of sword-dancing at Christmas is keptup in Northumberland exclusively by these people. They maybe constantly seen at that festive season with their fiddler, bandsof swordsmen, Tommy and Bessy, most grotesquely dressed,performing their annual routine of warlike evolutions."

And the present writer heard of similar festivities at Christmastidein the Madeley district of Shropshire, accompanied bygrotesque imitations of the ancient hobby-horse.

"Nowhere does the Christmas season produce more heart-inspiringmirth than among the inhabitants of Cumberland.

"With Christmas Eve commences a regular series of 'festivitiesand merry makings.' Night after night, if you want thefarmer or his family, you must look for them anywhere but athome; and in the different houses that you pass at one, two,or three in the morning, should you happen to be out so late,you will find candles and fires still unextinguished. At Christmas,every farmer gives two 'feasts,' one called 't' ould foaksneet,' which is for those who are married, and the other 't'young foaks neet,' for those who are single. Suppose you andI, sir, take the liberty of attending one of these feasts unasked(which by the bye is considered no liberty at all in Cumberland)and see what is going on. Upon entering the room we beholdseveral card parties, some at 'whist,' others at 'loo' (therecalled 'lant'), or any other game that may suit their fancy.You will be surprised on looking over the company to find thatthere is no distinction of persons. Masters and servants, richand poor, humble and lofty, all mingle together without restraint—allcares are forgotten—and each one seems to glory in hisown enjoyment and in that of his fellow-creatures. It is pleasantto find ourselves in such society, especially as it is rarely in one'slife that such opportunities offer. Cast your eyes towards thesideboard, and there see that large bowl of punch, which thegood wife is inviting her guests to partake of, with apples,oranges, biscuits, and other agreeable eatables in plenty. Thehospitable master welcomes us with a smiling countenance andrequests us to take seats and join one of the tables.

"In due time some one enters to tell the company that supperis waiting in the next room. Thither we adjourn, and find theraised and mince pies, all sorts of tarts, and all cold—exceptthe welcomes and entreaties—with cream, ale, &c., in abundance;in the midst of all a large goose pie, which seems tosay 'Come and cut again.'

"After supper the party return to the card room, sit therefor two or three hours longer, and afterwards make the best oftheir way home, to take a good long nap, and prepare for thesame scene the next night. At these 'feasts' intoxication isentirely out of the question—it never happens.

By the will of John Popple, dated the 12th of March, 1830,£4 yearly is to be paid unto the vicar, churchwardens, andoverseers of the poor of the parish of Burnham, Buckinghamshire,to provide for the poor people who should be residing inthe poorhouse, a dinner, with a proper quantity of good ale andlikewise with tobacco and snuff on Christmas Day.[87]

This kindly provision of Mr. Popple for the poor shows thathe wished to keep up the good old Christmas customs whichare so much admired by the "old man" in Southey's "TheOld Mansion" (a poem of this period). In recalling the gooddoings at the mansion "in my lady's time" the "old man"says:—

"A woful day'Twas for the poor when to her grave she went!- - - - -258Were they sick?She had rare cordial waters, and for herbsShe could have taught the doctors. Then at winter,When weekly she distributed the breadIn the poor old porch, to see her and to hearThe blessings on her! And I warrant themThey were a blessing to her when her wealthHad been no comfort else. At Christmas, sir!It would have warmed your heart if you had seenHer Christmas kitchen; how the blazing fireMade her fine pewter shine, and holly boughsSo cheerful red; and as for mistletoe,The finest bough that grew in the country roundWas mark'd for madam. Then her old ale wentSo bountiful about! a Christmas cask,—And 'twas a noble one!—God help me, sir!But I shall never see such days again."

In the reigns of George IV. and William IV., though not keptwith the grandeur of earlier reigns, were observed with muchrejoicing and festivity, and the Royal Bounties to the poor ofthe metropolis and the country districts surrounding Windsorand the other Royal Palaces were dispensed with the customarygenerosity. In his "Sketch Book," Washington Irving, who wasborn in the reign of George III. (1783), and lived on throughthe reigns of George IV., and William IV., and the first twodecades of the reign of Queen Victoria, gives delightfuldescriptions of the

of the period, recalling the times when the old halls of castlesand manor houses resounded with the harp and the ChristmasCarol and their ample boards groaned under the weight ofhospitality. He had travelled a good deal on both sides of theAtlantic and he gives a picturesque account of an old English259stage coach journey "on the day preceding Christmas." Thecoach was crowded with passengers. "It was also loaded withhampers of game, and baskets and boxes of delicacies; andhares hung dangling their long ears about the coachman's box,presents from distant friends for the impending feast. I hadthree fine rosy-cheeked schoolboys for my fellow-passengersinside, full of the buxom health and manly spirit which I haveobserved in the children of this country. They were returninghome for the holidays in high glee, and promising themselves aworld of enjoyment. It was delightful to hear the giganticplans of the little rogues, and the impracticable feats they wereto perform during their six weeks' emancipation from theabhorred thraldom of book, birch, and pedagogue."

Then follows Irving's graphic sketch of the English stagecoachman, and the incidents of the journey, during which itseemed "as if everybody was in good looks and good spirits.

"Game, poultry, and other luxuries of the table, were in briskcirculation in the villages; the grocers,' butchers,' and fruiterers'shops were thronged with customers. The house-wives werestirring briskly about, putting their dwellings in order; and theglossy branches of holly, with their bright red berries, began toappear at the windows."

"In the evening we reached a village where I had determinedto pass the night. As we drove into the great gateway of theinn, I saw on one side the light of a rousing kitchen fire beamingthrough a window. I entered, and admired, for thehundredth time, that picture of convenience, neatness, andbroad, honest enjoyment, the kitchen of an English inn. Itwas of spacious dimensions, hung round with copper and tinvessels highly polished, and decorated here and there with aChristmas green.... The scene completely realised poorRobin's [1684] humble idea of the comforts of mid-winter:

Mr. Irving afterwards depicts, in his own graphic style, theChristmas festivities observed at an old-fashioned English hall,and tells how the generous squire pointed with pleasure to theindications of good cheer reeking from the chimneys of thecomfortable farmhouses, and low thatched cottages. "I love,"said he, "to see this day well kept by rich and poor; it is agreat thing to have one day in the year, at least, when you aresure of being welcome wherever you go, and of having, as itwere, the world all thrown open to you; and I am almostdisposed to join with poor Robin, in his malediction on everychurlish enemy to this honest festival:260

"The squire went on to lament the deplorable decay of thegames and amusements which were once prevalent at thisseason among the lower orders, and countenanced by thehigher; when the old halls of castles and manor-houses werethrown open at daylight; when the tables were covered withbrawn, and beef, and humming ale; when the harp and thecarol resounded all day long, and when rich and poor werealike welcome to enter and make merry. 'Our old games andlocal customs,' said he, 'had a great effect in making thepeasant fond of his home, and the promotion of them by thegentry made him fond of his lord. They made the timesmerrier, and kinder and better; and I can truly say with one ofour old poets:

have been kept with much bountifulness, but after the graciousmanner of a Christian Queen who cares more for the welfare ofher beloved subjects than for ostentatious display. HerMajesty's Royal bounties to the poor of the metropolis and itsenvirons, and also to others in the country districts surroundingthe several Royal Palaces are well known, the ancient Christmasand New Year's gifts being dispensed with great generosity.The number of aged and afflicted persons usually relieved bythe Lord High Almoner in sums of 5s. and 13s. exceeds anaggregate of 1,200. Then there is the distribution of the beef—amost interesting feature of the Royal Bounty—which takesplace in the Riding School at Windsor Castle, under thesuperintendence of the several Court officials. The meat,divided into portions of from three pounds to seven pounds,and decorated with sprigs of holly, is arranged upon a tableplaced in the middle of the Riding School, and covered withwhite cloths from the Lord Steward's department of the palace.During the distribution the bells of St. John's Church ring amerry peal. There are usually many hundreds of recipients261and the weight of the beef allotted amounts to many thousandsof pounds. Coals and clothing and other creature comforts areliberally dispensed, according to the needs of the poor. Intimes of war and seasons of distress hospitable entertainments,Christmas-trees, &c., are also provided for the wives andchildren of soldiers and sailors on active service; and in manyother ways the Royal Bounty is extended to the poor andneedy at Christmastide.

"When Christmas came round with its pleasant festivities andits shining Christmas-trees, it had within it a new source ofdelight for the Royal parents. 'To think,' says the Queen's'Journal,' 'that we have two children now, and one who enjoysthe sight already, is like a dream!' And in writing to hisfather the Prince expresses the same feeling. 'This,' he says,'is the dear Christmas Eve, on which I have so often listenedwith impatience for your step, which was to usher us into thepresent-room. To-day I have two children of my own to givepresents to, who, they know not why, are full of happy wonderat the German Christmas-tree and its radiant candles.'

"The coming year was danced into in good old Englishfashion. In the middle of the dance, as the clock finishedstriking twelve, a flourish of trumpets was blown, in accordancewith a German custom. This, the Queen's 'Journal' records,'had a fine solemn effect, and quite affected dear Albert, whoturned pale, and had tears in his eyes, and pressed my handvery warmly. It touched me too, for I felt that he must thinkof his dear native country, which he has left for me.'"

Writing from Cowes, on Christmas Eve, in reference to theChristmas festivities at Osborne in the last decade of thenineteenth century, a correspondent says:—

"After transacting business the Queen drove out this afternoon,returning to Osborne just as the setting sun illumines withits rosy rays the Paladin Towers of her Majesty's marineresidence. The Queen desires to live, as far as the cares ofState permit, the life of a private lady. Her Majesty loves theseclusion of this lordly estate, and here at Christmas time sheenjoys the society of her children and grandchildren, who meettogether as less exalted families do at this merry season toreciprocate the same homely delights as those which areexperienced throughout the land.

"This afternoon a pleasant little festivity has been celebratedat Osborne House, where her Majesty, with an ever-kindlyinterest in her servants and dependants, has for many yearsinaugurated Christmas in a similar way, the children of her262tenantry and the old and infirm enjoying by the Royal bountythe first taste of Christmas fare. The Osborne estate nowcomprises 5,000 acres, and it includes the Prince Consort'smodel farm. The children of the labourers—who are housedin excellent cottages—attend the Whippingham NationalSchools, a pretty block of buildings, distant one mile fromOsborne. About half the number of scholars live upon theQueen's estate, and, in accordance with annual custom, themistresses of the schools, the Misses Thomas, accompanied bythe staff of teachers, have conducted a little band of boys andgirls—fifty-four in all—to the house, there to take tea and toreceive the customary Christmas gifts. Until very recently theQueen herself presided at the distribution; but the PrincessBeatrice has lately relieved her mother of the fatigue involved;for the ceremony is no mere formality, it is made the occasionof many a kindly word the remembrance of which far outlaststhe gifts. All sorts of rumours are current on the estate forweeks before this Christmas Eve gathering as to the nature ofthe presents to be bestowed, for no one is supposed to knowbeforehand what they will be; but there was a pretty shrewdguess to-day that the boys would be given gloves, and the girlscloaks. In some cases the former had had scarves or cloth forsuits, and the latter dresses or shawls. Whatever the Christmaspresents may be, here they are, arranged upon tables in twolong lines, in the servants' hall. To this holly-decorated apartmentthe expectant youngsters are brought, and their delightedgaze falls upon a huge Christmas-tree laden with beautiful toys.Everybody knows that the tree will be there, and moreover thatits summit will be crowned with a splendid doll. Now, theultimate ownership of this doll is a matter of much concern; itneeds deliberation, as it is awarded to the best child, and thejudges are the children themselves. The trophy is handed tothe keeping of Miss Thomas, and on the next 1st of May thechildren select by their votes the most popular girl in the schoolto be elected May Queen. To her the gift goes, and no fairerway could be devised. The Princess Beatrice always makes apoint of knowing to whom the prize has been awarded. HerRoyal Highness is so constantly a visitor to the cottagers and tothe school that she has many an inquiry to make of the littleones as they come forward to receive their gifts.

"The girls are called up first by the mistress, and Mr. AndrewBlake, the steward, introduces each child to the PrincessBeatrice, to whom Mr. Blake hands the presents that herRoyal Highness may bestow them upon the recipients with aword of good will, which makes the day memorable. Then theboys are summoned to participate in the distribution of goodthings, which, it should be explained, consist not only ofseasonable and sensible clothing, but toys from the tree,presented by the Queen's grandchildren, who, with theirparents, grace the ceremony with their presence and make the263occasion one of family interest. The Ladies-in-Waiting alsoattend. Each boy and girl gets in addition a nicely-boundstory-book and a large slice of plum pudding neatly packed inpaper, and if any little one is sick at home its portion iscarefully reserved. But the hospitality of the Queen is notlimited to the children. On alternate years the old men andwomen resident on the estate are given, under the samepleasant auspices, presents of blankets or clothing. To-day itwas the turn of the men, and they received tweed for suits.The aged people have their pudding as well. For the farmlabourers and boys, who are not bidden to this entertainment,there is a distribution of tickets, each representing a goodlyjoint of beef for the Christmas dinner. The festivity this afternoonwas brought to a close by the children singing theNational Anthem in the courtyard.

"The Queen is accustomed to spend Christmas Day veryquietly, attending service at the Chapel at Osborne in themorning, and in the evening the Royal family meeting at dinner.There are Christmas trees for the children, and for the servantstoo, but the houshold reserves its principal festivity for the NewYear—a day which is specially set aside for their entertainment."

are observed with generous hospitality by their Royal Highnessesthe Prince and Princess of Wales, who take specialinterest in the enjoyment of their tenants, and also rememberthe poor. A time-honoured custom on Christmas Eve is thedistribution of prime joints of meat to the labourers employedon the Royal estate, and to the poor of the five parishes ofSandringham, West Newton, Babingley, Dersingham, and Wolferton.From twelve to fifteen hundred pounds of meat areusually distributed, and such other gifts are made as the inclemencyof the season and the necessities of the poor require.In Sandringham "Past and Present," 1888, Mrs. Herbert Jonessays:—"Sandringham, which is the centre of a generous hospitality,has not only been in every way raised, benefited, andenriched since it passed into the royal hands, which may besaid to have created it afresh, but rests under the happy glowshed over it by the preference of a princess

In a letter to the press a lieutenant of Marines makes thefollowing reference to a Christmas entertainment given byH.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, in 1886: "Last night a large264party, consisting of many officers of the Fleet, including all the'old ships' of the Duke, and three or four midshipmen fromevery ship in the Fleet, were invited to a Christmas-tree atS. Antonio Palace. In the course of the evening two lotterieswere drawn, all the numbers being prizes, each guest consequentlygetting two. I have had an opportunity of seeingmany of these, and they are all most beautiful and useful objects,ranging in value from five shillings to perhaps three or fourpounds. I should think that at least half the prizes I have seenwere worth over one pound."

The good example set by royalty is followed throughout theland. Friendly hospitalities are general at Christmastide, andin London and other large centres of population many thousandsof poor people are provided with free breakfasts, dinners,teas, and suppers on Christmas Day, public halls and school-roomsbeing utilised for purposes of entertainment; childrenin hospitals are plentifully supplied with toys, and Christmasparties are also given to the poor at the private residences ofbenevolent people. As an illustrative instance of generousChristmas hospitality by a landowner we cite the following:—

On Christmas Eve, 1887, Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart.,the largest landowner in the Principality of Wales, gave hisannual Christmas gifts to the aged and deserving poor throughoutthe extensive mining districts of Ruabon, Rhosllanerchrugog,Cern, and Rhosymedre, Denbighshire, where much distressprevailed in consequence of the depression in trade. Severalfine oxen were slain in Wynnstay Park, and the beef was distributedin pieces ranging from 4lb. to 7lb., according to thenumber of members in each family. A Christmas dinner wasthus provided for upwards of 5,000 persons. In addition tothis, Lady Williams Wynn provided thousands of yards offlannel and cloth for clothing, together with a large number ofblankets, the aged men and women also receiving a shillingwith the gift. The hon. baronet had also erected an elaboratespacious hospital to the memory of his uncle, the late SirWatkin Williams Wynn, M.P., and presented it to the parish.

are liberally made from various centres in different parts ofLondon, and thus many thousands of those who have fallenbelow the poverty line share in the festivities of Christmastide.

This illustration of Christian caterers dispensing creaturecomforts to the poor children may be taken as representativeof many such Christmas scenes in the metropolis. For over265forty years the St. Giles' Christian Mission, now under thesuperintendence of Mr. W. M. Wheatley, has been exercisinga beneficial influence among the needy poor, and, it is stated,that at least 104,000 people have through this Mission beenenabled to make a fresh start in life. Many other ChurchMissions are doing similar work. In addition to treats to poorchildren and aged people at Christmastide, there are also greatdistributions of Christmas fare:—Joints of roasting meat, plum-puddings,cakes, groceries, warm clothing, toys, &c., &c.

At a recent distribution of a Christmas charity at Millbrook,Southampton, the Rev. A. C. Blunt stated that one of therecipients had nearly reached her 102nd year. She was bornin Hampshire, and down to a very recent period had been ableto do needlework.

In many cities and towns Christmas gifts are distributed onSt. Thomas's Day, and as an example we cite the Brightondistribution in 1886, on which occasion the Brighton PoliceCourt was filled by a congregation of some of the "oldestinhabitants." And there was a distribution from the magistratespoor-box of a Christmas gift of half a sovereign to 150 of theaged poor whose claims to the bounty had been inquired intoby the police. Formerly 100 used to be cheered in this way,but the contributions to the box this year enabled a wider circleto share in the dole. There was a wonderful collection of oldpeople, for the average age was over 83 years. The oldest wasa venerable widow, who confessed to being 96 years old, the266next was another lady of 94 years, and then came two oldfellows who had each attained 93 years. Many of the recipientswere too infirm to appear, but the oldest of them all,the lady of 96 came into court despite the sharpness of thewind and the frozen roads.

kept with generous liberality by the Duke of Rutland, in 1883,may be cited as an example of Christmas customs continued bythe head of a noble house:

"The usual Christmas gifts were given to the poor of Knipton,Woolsthorpe, and Redmile—nearly two hundred in number—consistingof calico, flannel dresses, stockings, and handkerchiefs,each person at the same time receiving a loaf of breadand a pint of ale. Twenty-one bales of goods, containingcounterpanes, blankets, and sheets, were also sent to the clergyof as many different villages for distribution amongst the poor.The servants at the Castle and workmen of the establishmenthad their Christmas dinner, tea, and supper, the servants' hallhaving been beautifully decorated. At one end of the roomwas a coronet, with the letter 'R'; and at the opposite endthree coronets, with the 'peacock in pride,' being the crest ofthe Rutland family. The following mottoes, in large letters,were conspicuous, 'Long live the Duke of Rutland,' 'Longlive Lord and Lady John Manners and family,' and 'A MerryChristmas to you all.' These were enclosed in a neat border.From the top of the room were suspended long festoons oflinked ribbons of red, white, blue, and orange. All presentthoroughly enjoyed themselves, as it was the wish of his Gracethey should do."

Similar hospitalities are dispensed by other noblemen andgentlemen in different parts of the country at Christmas.

A Christmas Rhyme; by Thomas Cooper, the Chartist" (1846);which is inscribed to the Countess of Blessington, and in theadvertisement the author offers "but one apology for the productionof a metrical essay, composed chiefly of imperfect andimmature pieces: The ambition to contribute towards the fundof Christmas entertainment." The scene of the Baron's YuleFeast is depicted in Torksey's Hall, Torksey being one of thefirst towns in Lincolnshire in the Saxon period. After someintroductory verses the writer says:

"It is the season when our siresKept jocund holiday;And, now, around our charier fires,Old Yule shall have a lay:—267A prison-bard is once more free;And, ere he yields his voice to thee,His song a merry-song shall be!

Sir Wilfrid de Thorold freely holdsWhat his stout sires held before—Broad lands for plough and fruitful folds,—Though by gold he sets no store;And he saith, from fen and woodland woldsFrom marish, heath, and moor,—To feast in his hallBoth free and thrall,Shall come as they came of yore.- - - - - - -Now merrily ring the lady-bellsOf the nunnery by the Fosse:—Say the hinds their silver music swells'Like the blessed angels' syllables,At His birth who bore the cross.'

And solemnly swells Saint Leonard's chimeAnd the great bell loud and deep:—Say the gossips, 'Let's talk of the holy timeWhen the shepherds watched their sheep;And the Babe was born for all souls' crimeIn the weakness of flesh to weep.'—But, anon, shrills the pipe of the merry mimeAnd their simple hearts upleap.

'God save your souls, good Christian folk!God save your souls from sin!—Blythe Yule is come—let us blythely joke!'—Cry the mummers ere they begin.

Then, plough-boy Jack, in kirtle gay,—Though shod with clouted shoon,—Stands forth the wilful maid to playWho ever saith to her lover, 'Nay'—When he sues for a lover's boon.

While Hob the smith with sturdy armCircleth the feigned maid;And, spite of Jack's assumed alarm,Busseth his lips, like a lover warm,And will not 'Nay' be said

Then loffe the gossips, as if witWere mingled with the joke:Gentles,—they were with folly smit,—Natheless, their memories acquitOf crime—these simple folk!

No harmful thoughts their revels blight,—Devoid of bitter hate and spite,They hold their merriment;—And, till the chimes tell noon at night,Their joy shall be unspent!

Come haste ye to bold Thorold's hall,And crowd his kitchen wide;For there, he saith, both free and thrallShall sport this good Yule-tide."

In subsequent verses the writer depicts the bringing in of theyule log to the Baron's Hall,

"Where its brave old heartA glow shall impartTo the heart of each guest at the festival.- - - - - -They pile the Yule-log on the hearth,—Soak toasted crabs in ale;And while they sip, their homely mirthIs joyous as if all the earthFor man were void of bale!

And why should fears for future years,Mix jolly ale with thoughts of tearsWhen in the horn 'tis poured?And why should ghost of sorrow frightThe bold heart of an English knightWhen beef is on the board?

De Thorold's guests are wiser thanThe men of mopish lore;For round they push the smiling canAnd slice the plattered store.

And round they thrust the ponderous cheese,And the loaves of wheat and rye;None stinteth him for lack of ease—For each a stintless welcome seesIn the Baron's blythesome eye.

The Baron joineth the joyous feast—But not in pomp or pride;He smileth on the humblest guestSo gladsomely—all feel that restOf heart which doth abideWhere deeds of generousness attestThe welcome of the tongue professedIs not within belied."

In subsequent verses a stranger minstrel appears on the festivescene, and tells his tale of love in song, acquitting himself

Some of the poets of this period have dealt playfully with thefestivities of Christmastide, as, for example, Laman Blanchard(1845) in the following effusion:269—

"The day of all days we have seenIs Christmas," said Sue to Eugene;"More welcome in village and cityThan Mayday," said Andrew to Kitty."Why 'Mistletoe's' twenty times sweeterThan 'May,'" said Matilda to Peter;"And so you will find it, if I'm aTrue prophet," said James to Jemima."I'll stay up to supper, no bed,"Then lisped little Laura to Ned."The girls all good-natured and dressy,And bright-cheeked," said Arthur to Jessie;"Yes, hoping ere next year to marry,The madcaps!" said Charlotte to Harry."So steaming, so savoury, so juicy,The feast," said fat Charley to Lucy."Quadrilles and Charades might come onBefore dinner," said Martha to John."You'll find the roast beef when you're dizzy,A settler," said Walter to Lizzy."Oh, horrid! one wing of a wren,With a pea," said Belinda to Ben."Sublime!" said—displaying his leg—George Frederick Augustus to Peg."At Christmas refinement is all fussAnd nonsense," said Fan to Adolphus."Would romps—or a tale of a fairy—Best suit you," said Robert to Mary."At stories that work ghost and witch hard,I tremble," said Rosa to Richard."A ghostly hair-standing dilemmaNeeds 'bishop,'" said Alfred to Emma;"What fun when with fear a stout cronyTurns pale," said Maria to Tony;"And Hector, unable to rally,Runs screaming," said Jacob to Sally."While you and I dance in the darkThe polka," said Ruth unto Mark:"Each catching, according to fancy,His neighbour," said wild Tom to Nancy;"Till candles, to show what we can do,Are brought in," said Ann to Orlando;"And then we all laugh what is truly aHeart's laugh," said William to Julia."Then sofas and chairs are put even,And carpets," said Helen to Stephen;"And so we all sit down again,Supping twice," said sly Joseph to Jane."Now bring me my clogs and my spaniel,And light me," said Dinah to Daniel."My dearest, you've emptied that chaliceSix times," said fond Edmund to Alice."We are going home tealess and coffeelessShabby!" said Soph to Theophilus;"To meet again under the holly,Et cetera," said Paul to fair Polly."Dear Uncle," has ordered his chariot;All's over," said Matthew to Harriet."And pray now be all going to bedward,"Said kind Aunt Rebecca to Edward!

is the time of Robert Browning's beautiful poem of "ChristmasEve and Easter Day," in which the poet sings the song of man'simmortality, proclaiming, as Easter Day breaks and Christ rises,that

And, in his beautiful poem of "In Memoriam," Lord Tennysonassociates some of his finest verses with the ringing of

As the poet Longfellow stood on the lofty tower of BrugesCathedral the belfry chimes set him musing, and of thosechimes he says:

were first circulated in England in 1846. That year not morethan a thousand copies were printed, and that was considered alarge sale. The numbers distributed annually soon increased totens and hundreds of thousands, and now there are millions of272them. Mr. J. C. Horsley, a member of the Royal Academy,designed this first card which was sent out in 1846. It representsa family party of three generations—grandfather andgrandmother, father and mother, and little children—and allare supposed to be joining in the sentiment, "A Merry Christmasand a Happy New Year to you." The card was issuedfrom the office of one of the periodicals of the time,FelixSummerley's Home Treasury. It was first lithographed, andthen it was coloured by hand.

Christmas and New Year Cards became very popular in thedecade 1870-1880. But then, however, simple cards alone didnot suffice. Like many other things, they felt the influence ofthe latter-dayrenaissance of art, and by a sort of evolutionaryprocess developed cards monochrome and coloured, "ChristmasBell" cards, palettes, scrolls, circular and oval panels, stars, fans,crescents, and other shaped novelties; embossed cards, theiridescent series, the rustic and frosted cards, the folding series,the jewel cards, the crayons, and private cards on which thesender's name and sentiments are printed in gold, silver, orcolours; hand-painted cards with landscapes, seascapes, andfloral decorations; paintings on porcelain; satin cards, fringedsilk, plush, Broché, and other artistically made-up novelties;"art-gem" panels; elaborate booklets, and other elegantsouvenirs of the festive season. Many of the Christmas bookletsare beautifully illustrated editions of popular poems andcarols.

"Quartette" cards, "Snap" cards, and other cards of gamesfor the diversion of social gatherings are also extensively usedat Christmastide.

In compliance with a wish expressed by the Lady Londesborough,a Masque, entitled, "Recollections of Old Christmas,"was performed at Grimston at Christmas, 1850, the followingprologue being contributed by Barry Cornwall:273—

"When winter nights grow long,And winds without blow cold,We sit in a ring round the warm wood-fire,And listen to stories old!And we try to look grave (as maids should be),When the men bring in boughs of the laurel tree.O the laurel, the evergreen tree!The poets have laurels—and why not we?

How pleasant when night falls down,And hides the wintry sun,To see them come in to the blazing fire,And know that their work is done;Whilst many bring in, with a laugh or rhyme,Green branches of holly for Christmas time!O the holly, the bright green holly!It tells (like a tongue) that the times are jolly!

Sometimes—(inour grave houseObserve this happeneth not;)But at times, the evergreen laurel boughs,And the holly are all forgot!And then! what then? Why the men laugh low,And hang up a branch of—the misletoe!Oh, brave is the laurel! and brave is the holly!But the misletoe banisheth melancholy!Ah, nobody knows, nor evershall know,What is done under the misletoe!"

A printed copy of the Masque, which bears date, "Tuesday,XXIV December, MDCCCL.," is preserved in the BritishMuseum.

Under the Holly Bough.
Ye who have scorn'd each otherOr injured friend or brother,In this fast fading year;Ye who, by word or deed,Have made a kind heart bleed,Come gather here.Let sinn'd against and sinning,Forget their strife's beginning;Be links no longer broken,Be sweet forgiveness spoken,Under the holly bough.

Ye who have lov'd each other,Sister and friend and brother,In this fast fading year:Mother, and sire, and child,Young man and maiden mild,Come gather here;As memory shall ponderEach past unbroken vow.Old loves and younger wooing,Are sweet in the renewing,Under the holly bough.

Ye who have nourished sadness,Estranged from hope and gladness,In this fast fading year.Ye with o'er-burdened mindMade aliens from your kind,Come gather here.Let not the useless sorrowPursue you night and morrow,If e'er you hoped—hope now—Take heart: uncloud your faces,And join in our embracesUnder the holly bough.

The author of this beautiful poem (Dr. Charles Mackay) wasborn at Perth in 1814, and died on Christmas Eve, 1889, at hisresidence, Longridge Road, Earl's Court, Brompton.

Everybody knows that Christmas is the time for ghost stories,and that Charles Dickens and other writers have supplied uswith tales of the true blood-curdling type. Thomas Hood's"Haunted House," S. T. Coleridge's "Ancient Mariner," andsome other weird works of poetry have also been found serviceablein producing that strange chill of the blood, that creepingkind of feeling all over you, which is one of the enjoyments ofChristmastide. Coleridge (says the late Mr. George Dawson)[88]"holds the first place amongst English poets in this objectiveteaching of the vague, the mystic, the dreamy, and the imaginative.275 I defy any man of imagination or sensibility to have 'TheAncient Mariner' read to him, by the flickering firelight onChristmas night, by a master mind possessed by the mysticspirit of the poem, and not find himself taken away from thegood regions of 'ability to account for,' and taken into some far-offdreamland, and made even to start at his own footfall, andalmost to shudder at his own shadow. You shall sit round thefire at Christmas time, good men and true every one of you;you shall come there armed with your patent philosophy; thatcreak you have heard, it is only the door—the list is not carefullyput round the door, and it is the wintry wind that whistlesthrough the crevices. Ghosts and spectres belong to the oldentimes; science has waved its wand and laid them all. We haveno superstition about us; we walk enlightened nineteenth-centurymen; it is quite beneath us to be superstitious. By andbye, one begins to tell tales of ghosts and spirits; and anotherbegins, and it goes all round; and there comes over you acurious feeling—a very unphilosophical feeling, in fact, becausethe pulsations of air from the tongue of the storyteller ought notto bring over you that peculiar feeling. You have only heardwords, tales—confessedly by the storyteller himself only tales,such as may figure in the next monthly magazine for pureentertainment and amusement. But why do you feel so, then?If you say that these things are mere hallucinations, vague air-beatingor tale-telling, why, good philosopher, do you feel socurious, so all-overish, as it were? Again, you are a manwithout the least terror in you, as brave and bold a man asever stepped: living man cannot frighten you, and verily thedead rise not with you. But you are brought, towards midnight,to the stile over which is gained a view of the village churchyard,where sleep the dead in quietness. Your manhood beginsjust to ooze away a little; you are caught occasionally whistlingto keep your courage up; you do not expect to see a ghost, butyou are ready to see one, or to make one." At such a moment,think of the scene depicted by Coleridge:—

With this weird tale in his mind in the mystic stillness of midnightwould an imaginative man be likely to deny the reality ofthe spirit world? The chances are that he would be spellbound;or, if he had breath enough, would cry out—

"In the year 1421, the widow of Ralph Cranbourne, ofDipmore End, in the parish of Sandhurst, Berks, was onemidnight alarmed by a noise in her bedchamber, and, lookingup, she saw at her bedfoot the appearance of a skeleton (whichshe verily believed was her husband) nodding and talking to herupon its fingers, or finger bones, after the manner of a dumbperson. Whereupon she was so terrified, that after striving toscream aloud, which she could not, for her tongue clave to hermouth, she fell backward as in a swoon; yet not so insensiblewithal but she could see that at this the figure became greatlyagitated and distressed, and would have clasped her, but uponher appearance of loathing it desisted, only moving its jawupward and downward, as if it would cry for help but couldnot for want of its parts of speech. At length, she growingmore and more faint, and likely to die of fear, the spectresuddenly, as if at a thought, began to swing round its hand,which was loose at the wrist, with a brisk motion, and thefinger bones being long and hard, and striking sharply againsteach other, made a loud noise like to the springing of a watchman'srattle. At which alarm, the neighbours running in, stoutlyarmed, as against thieves or murderers, the spectre suddenlydeparted."[89]

He comes—the brave old Christmas!His sturdy steps I hear;We will give him a hearty welcome,For he comes but once a year!

277And of all our old acquaintance'Tis he we like the best;There's a jolly old way about him—There's a warm heart in his breast.

He is not too proud to enterYour house though it be mean;Yet is company fit for a courtier,And is welcomed by the Queen!

He can tell you a hundred storiesOf the Old World's whims and ways,And how they merrily wish'd him joyIn our fathers' courting days.

He laughs with the heartiest laughterThat does one good to hear;'Tis a pity so brave an old fellowShould come but once a year!

But once, then, let us be ready,With all that he can desire—With plenty of holly and ivy,And a huge log for the fire;

With plenty of noble actions,And plenty of warm good-will;With our hearts as full of kindnessAs the board we mean to fill.

With plenty of store in the larder,And plenty of wine in the bin;And plenty of mirth for the kitchen;Then open and let him in!

Oh, he is a fine old fellow—His heart's in the truest place;You may know that at once by the children,Who glory to see his face.

For he never forgets the children,They all are dear to him;You'll see that with wonderful presentsHis pockets are cramm'd to the brim.

Nor will he forget the servants,Whether you've many or one;Nor the poor old man at the corner;Nor the widow who lives alone.

He is rich as a Jew, is Old Christmas,I wish he would make me his heir;But he has plenty to do with his money,And he is not given to spare.

Not he—bless the good old fellow!He hates to hoard his pelf;He wishes to make all peopleAs gay as he is himself.

278So he goes to the parish unions—North, south, and west and east—And there he gives the paupers,At his own expense a feast.

He gives the old men tobacco,And the women a cup of tea;And he takes the pauper children,And dances them on his knee.

I wish you could see those paupersSit down to his noble cheer,You would wish, like them, and no wonder,That he stay'd the livelong year.

Yes, he is the best old fellowThat ever on earth you met;And he gave us a boon when first he cameWhich we can never forget.

So we will give him a welcomeShall gladden his old heart's core!And let us in good and gracious deedsResemble him more and more!

Writing on this subject, in theAntiquary, March, 1895, Mr.Harry Hems, of Exeter, introduces the reduced copy of anillustration which appears on the following page, and whichhe states was published in theIllustrated London News, January11, 1851.

The picture (says Mr. Hems) "presents, as will be seen, afrosty, moonlight night, with a brilliantly-lit old farmhouse inthe background. In the fore are leafless fruit-trees, and threemen firing guns at them, whilst the jovial farmer and anotherman drink success to the year's crop from glasses evidently filledfrom a jug of cider, which the latter also holds a-high. A crowdof peasants—men, women and children—are gathered around,and the following description is appended:—

"'Amongst the scenes of jocund hospitality in this holidayseason, that are handed down to us, is one which not onlypresents an enlivening picture, but offers proof of the superstitionthat still prevails in the Western counties. On Twelfth-even,in Devonshire, it is customary for the farmer to leave hiswarm fireside, accompanied by a band of rustics, with guns,blunderbusses, &c., presenting an appearance which at othertimes would be somewhat alarming. Thus armed, the bandproceeds to an adjoining orchard, where is selected one of themost fruitful and aged of the apple-trees, grouping round whichthey stand and offer up their invocations in the following quaintdoggerel rhyme:—

The cider-jug is then passed round, and, with many a heartyshout, the party fire off their guns, charged with powder only,amidst the branches, sometimes frightening the owl from itsmidnight haunt. With confident hopes they return to thefarmhouse, and are refused admittance, in spite of all weather,till some lucky wight guesses aright the peculiar roast themaidens are preparing for their comfort. This done, all enter,and soon right merrily the jovial glass goes round, that man whogained admittance receiving the honour of King for the evening,and till a late hour he reigns, amidst laughter, fun, and jollity.The origin of this custom is not known, but it is supposed to beone of great antiquity.

We may add that, in the seventeenth century, a similarcustom seems to have been observed in some places on ChristmasEve, for in Herrick'sHesperides the wassailing of fruit treesis among the Christmas Eve ceremonies:280—

Writing from Exeter, in 1852, a correspondent says "thecustom of welcoming this season of holy joy with 'psalms andhymns and spiritual songs' lingers in the cathedral city ofExeter; where, during Christmas Eve, the parish choirsperambulate the streets singing anthems, with instrumentalaccompaniments. The singing is protracted through the night,when the celebration often assumes a more secular characterthan is strictly in accordance with the festival. A more sacredcommemoration is, however, at hand.

"At a quarter-past seven o'clock on Christmas morning theassemblage of persons in the nave of Exeter Cathedral is usuallyvery numerous: there are the remnants of the previous vigil,with unwashed faces and sleepy eyes; but a large number areearly risers, who have left their beds for better purposes than arevel. There is a great muster of the choir, and the fine OldHundredth Psalm is sung from the gallery to a full organ, whosebillows of sound roll through the vaulted edifice. The scene isstrikingly picturesque: all is dim and shadowy; the red lightfrom the flaring candles falling upon upturned faces, and hereand there falling upon a piece of grave sculpture, whilst thegrey light of day begins to stream through the antique windows,adding to the solemnity of the scene. As the last verse of thepsalm peals forth, the crowd begins to move, and the spaciouscathedral is soon left to the more devout few who remain toattend the morning service in the Lady-chapel."

From the "Christmas Chronicles of Llanfairpwllycrochon," byR. P. Hampton Roberts, inNotes and Queries, December 21, 1878,we quote the following:

"Now Thomas Thomas, and Mary Jones, and all their neighbours,had great veneration for Christmas, and enjoyed muchpleasure in looking forward to the annual recurrence of thefeast. Not that they looked upon it as a feast in any ecclesiasticalsense, for Llanfairpwllycrochon was decidedly CalvinisticallyMethodist, and rejected all such things as mere popishsuperstition.

"The Christmas goose was a great institution at Llanfairpwllycrochon.The annual goose club had no existence there,it is true, but the annual goose had nevertheless. ThomasThomas, after his memorable visit to London, came homeimbued with one English idea which startled the villagers morethan anything had done since the famous bonfire on the outlying281hill when the heir came of age, and it was a long time beforethey recovered from their surprise. It was nothing less than aproposition to substitute beef for the Christmas dinner insteadof a goose. Here was a sad falling off from the ways ofLlanfairpwllycrochon! And Thomas Thomas was a man whopersisted in an idea once it entered his mind—an event of rareoccurrence, it is true, and consequently all the more stubbornwhenever it did occur. Thomas Thomas had, however, sufficientrespect for the opinion of his neighbours to make him compromisematters by providing for himself alone a small beefsteak as anadjunct to the time-honoured goose.

"Another Christmas institution at Llanfairpwllycrochon wasthe universal pudding, mixed as is wont by every member of thefamily. Then there was the bun-loaf, orbarabrith, one of thegrand institutions of Llanfairpwllycrochon. Many were thepains taken over this huge loaf—made large enough to last aweek or fortnight, according to the appetites of the juvenilepartakers—and the combined "Christmas-boxes" of the grocerand baker went to make up the appetising whole, with muchmore in addition.

"Christmas Eve was a day of exceeding joy at Llanfairpwllycrochon.The manufacture of paper ornaments and 'kissingbushes,' radiant with oranges, apples, paper roses, and such likefanciful additions as might suit the taste or means of the house-holder,occupied most of the day. And then they had to be putup, and the house in its Christmas decorations looked moreresplendent than the imagination of the most advanced villager—atpresent at school, and of the mature age of five and a halfyears, the rising hope of the schoolmaster, and a Lord Chancellorin embryo in fine—could have pictured. As a reward for theday's toil came the night's sweet task of makingcyflath,i.e.,toffee. Thomas Thomas, and those who spoke the Saxontongue among the villagers, called it 'taffy.' Once hadThomas Thomas been corrected in his pronunciation, but thehardy Saxon who ventured on the bold proceeding was silencedwhen he heard that he was not to think he was going to persuadea reasonable man into mutilating the English tongue. 'Taffyit iss, and taffy I says,' and there was an end of the matter.Without taffy the inhabitants of Llanfairpwllycrochon, it wasfirmly believed by the vicar, would not have known the differencebetween Christmas and another time, and it is not thereforematter for surprise that they should so tenaciously cling to itsannual making. At midnight, when the syrupy stuff was sufficientlyboiled, it would be poured into a pan and put into theopen air to cool. Here was an opportunity for the beaux of thevillage which could not be missed. They would steal, if possible,the whole, pan and all, and entail a second making on theunfortunate victims of their practical joke.

"Sometimes the Christmas Eve proceedings would be variedby holding a large evening party, continued all night, the principal282amusement of which would be the boiling of toffee, one armtaking, when another was tired, the large wooden spoon, andturning the boiling mass of sugar and treacle, this process beingcontinued for many hours, until nothing would be left to partakeof but a black, burnt sort of crisp, sugary cinder. Sometimesthe long boiling would only result in a soft mass, disagreeable tothe taste and awkward to the hand, the combined efforts of eachmember of the party failing to secure consistency or strength inthe mixed ingredients.

"And then there were the carols at midnight, and many morewere the Christmas customs at Llanfairpwllycrochon."

Under this title, Mr. T. M. Fallow, M.A., F.S.A., writing in283theAntiquary, May, 1895, gives an account of rustic performanceswhich were witnessed at Christmastide in the neighbourhoodof Leeds about fifteen years earlier, and he illustratesthe subject with a series of pictures from photographs taken atthe time, which are here reproduced. The play depicted isthat of the "Seven Champions of Christendom," and in thepicture on the preceding page "St. George" is shown engagedin combat with "St. Peter," while "St. Andrew" and "St.Denys" are each kneeling on one knee, a sign of their havingbeen vanquished.

"It may be well to point out," says Mr. Fallow, "that in theWest Riding, or at any rate in the neighbourhood of Leeds, thesword-actors were quite distinct from the 'mummers.' Theygenerally numbered nine or ten lads, who, disguised by falsebeards as men, were dressed in costume as appropriate to theoccasion as their knowledge and finances would permit, and whoacted, with more or less skill, a short play, which, as a rule, waseither the 'Peace Egg' or the 'Seven Champions of Christendom.'The following illustration shows two of the 'champions,' asphotographed at the time stated:—

"There was a little indefiniteness," says Mr. Fallow, "as tothe characters represented in the play, but usually they were the284King of Egypt, his daughter, a fool or jester, St. George, St.Andrew, St. Patrick, St. David, St. Denys, St. James, and a St.Thewhs, who represented a Northern nation—Russia, or sometimesDenmark—and whose exact identity seems obscure. Theseven champions occasionally included St. Peter of Rome, as inthe group whose photograph is given. St. George engaged inmortal combat with each champion in succession, fighting forthe hand of the King of Egypt's daughter. When at lengtheach of the six was slain, St. George, having vanquished themall, won the fair lady, amid the applause of the bystanders.Then, at the conclusion, after a general clashing and crossing ofswords, the fool or jester stepped forward, and wound up theperformance with an appeal for pecuniary recognition."

In a Christmas article, published in 1869, Dr. Rimbaultmentions the performance of "St. George and the Dragon" inthe extreme western and northern parts of the country. Thefollowing five characters are given: Father Christmas, TurkishKnight, King of Egypt, St. George, Doctor. Other writersmention similar plays, with variations of characters, as seen inthe rural parts of Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, and Staffordshire,and the present writer has himself seen such plays atMadeley, in Shropshire.

S. Arnott, of Turnham Green, writing inNotes and Queries,December 21, 1878, says: "When I was living at Hollington,near Hastings, in the year 1869, the village boys were in thehabit of visiting the houses of the gentry at Christmas time toperform a play, which had been handed down by tradition."The description of the play which then followed shows that itwas another variation of the well-known Christmas play, andincluded the "Turkish Knight," the "Bold Slasher," and otherfamiliar characters.

Writing on "Mid-winter Customs in the North," Mr. EdwardGarrett says "it is not easy to write of 'Christmas customs in theNorth,' because many of them, even though connected with theChristmas festival, do not take place till January 6th, that beingChristmas Day, Old Style, while most of them are associatedwith the New Year, either Old or New Style, one of the moststriking celebrations coming off on January 11th, regarded as'New Year's Eve.'

"Christmas itself has never been a national Scottish festivalsince the Reformation. On its purely festive side, it has becomesomewhat of a 'fashion' of late years, but its ancient customshave only lingered on in those districts where Episcopacy has285taken deep root. Such a district is 'Buchan'—a track ofcountry in the north-east of Aberdeenshire—a place whichcannot be better described than in the words of one of its owngifted sons, Dr. Walter Smith:—

The inherent Scandinavianism of the Shetlander, which leadshim to repudiate the appellation of Scotchman, and to cherishin secret the old customs and superstitions of his ancestors,asserts itself yearly in the high jinks with which he continues tohonour the old holy days of Yule. Until within the last two or286three years, he pertinaciously adhered to the old style in hisobservance of these festivities. On Christmas Eve, New Year'sEve, and Uphelya—the twenty-fourth day after Yule, and thaton which the holy or holidays are supposed to be "up"—theyouths of Lerwick, attired in fantastic dresses, go "guising"about the town in bands, visiting their friends and acquaintancesand reproducing in miniature the carnival of more southernclimes. On one or other of these occasions a torchlight processionforms part of the revelry. Formerly blazing tar barrels weredragged about the town, and afterwards, with the first break ofmorning, dashed over the Knab into the sea. But this ancientand dangerous custom has very properly been discontinued.The dresses of the guisers are often of the most expensive andfanciful description. Highlanders, Spanish cavaliers, negrominstrels, soldiers in the peaked caps, kerseymere breeches, andscarlet coats turned up with buff, of the reign of George II.,Robin Hoods, and Maid Marians were found in the motleythrong. Some, with a boldness worthy of Aristophanes himself,caricature the dress, the walk, or some other eccentricity ofleading personages in the town; others—for the spirit of "theHappy Land" has reached these hyperborean regions—makepleasant game of well-known political characters. Each bandof guisers has its fiddler, who walks before it, playing "ScallowayLasses," or "The Foula Reel," or "The Nippin' Grund,"or some other archaic tune. Thus conducted, and blowing ahorn to give notice of their approach, the maskers enter thedoors of all houses which they find open, dance a measure withthe inmates, partake of and offer refreshment, and then departto repeat the same courtesies elsewhere. At daylight the hornof the Most Worthy Grand Guiser, a mysterious personage, whosepersonality and functions are enveloped in the deepest concealment,is heard summoning all the bands to end their revels, andwhen, in the cold grey dawn of the winter morning, the worthycitizens of Lerwick awake to pursue their wonted avocations, nota trace remains of the saturnalia of the night before.—SheriffRampini, inGood Words.

Now, passing from the islands to the sea itself, it is pleasantto note that in recent years Christian hearts have carried

Through the "Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen" twelve thousandbrave and hardy fishermen have been cheered at Christmastide,for to their fleets the Mission's vessels now take medical andsurgical aid, books and magazines, woollen garments andtobacco, which, as adjuncts to higher religious aid, are turningthe once wild and desperate ocean roughs into clean-livingsailors and good husbands and fathers—therefore are these dayson the North Sea better far than those that are gone. Thousandsof these brave men turn at Christmas to the M.D.S.F. flag as tothe one bright link which binds them to friendly hearts ashore,287assuring them that in England's Christmas festivities they andtheir like have a real part, and are no longer forgotten.

Some facts recorded by the Rev. John Sinclair [91] illustrate thedangers of the wild winter sea, and also set forth some

They were related to Mr. Sinclair by Mr. Traill, chief of theclan, with whom he stayed on the occasion of his visit to theisland of Pappa Westra. The first of the two incidents was asfollows:—"One Christmas Day," says Mr. Traill, "during aheavy gale, I wrapped my cloak about me, and started off withmy telescope to walk upon the cliffs. Coming to the other sideof the island, on which the surf was beating violently, I observeda vessel a few miles off fire a signal of distress. I hastened tothe nearest point, and with the help of my glass perceived thatshe was Dutch built, and that, having lost her rudder, she wasquite unmanageable. She fired several guns at short intervals,and my people came in large numbers to give assistance. Butthe surf was so fearful that nothing could be done. No boatcould have lived a moment in such a sea. We were all utterlyhelpless. As the vessel drifted towards us, I could see thewhole tragedy as distinctly as if it had been acted on the stage.Immediately below me were a number of my fellow-creatures,now alive and in health, and in a few moments they would allbe mangled corpses. I could make out the expression of theirfeatures, and see in what manner each was preparing for inevitabledeath. But whether they climbed up into the shrouds, orheld by ropes on deck while the sea was washing over thebulwarks, their fate was the same. The first wave lifted thevessel so high that I almost thought it would have placed herupon the land. She fell back, keel upwards. The next wavestruck her with such terrific force against the cliffs that she wasshivered at once into a thousand pieces; hardly two planks heldtogether. It seemed as if she had been made of glass. Not asoul escaped. One or two bodies, with a few planks and casks,were all that ever reached the shore." Well might Mr. Trailladd, "I was haunted for months by the remembrance of thatheartrending sight."

The other story related by Mr. Traill shows that a Christmasparty may be detained indefinitely in one of these remoteislands, should the weather prove unfavourable. At Christmastide,a former Laird of Westra "collected a numerous partyfrom all the neighbouring islands to celebrate the christening ofhis eldest son." His hospitalities cost him dear. A stormarose; his guests could not get away; instead of enjoying theirsociety for a few days, he was obliged to entertain them ata ruinous expense for many weeks. His larder, his cellar, andhis barns, were by degrees exhausted. His farm stock had all288been slaughtered, except the old bull, which he was reservingas a last resource, when at length the wind abated, and a calmdelivered him from this ruinous situation.

Thus it appears that in these remote islands of ScotlandChristmas is not forgotten. But a writer in a well-knownScotch journal says the surest sign of the general joy is"Christmas in the Workhouse":—

The Greenwich Hospital for Sick Seamen of all Nationspresented on Christmas Day, 1880, a remarkable gathering ofnational representatives. There were 179 sailors, representing31 nationalities, belonging to ships of 19 distinct nations. Theywere summed up thus:—England, 77; Wales, 3; Scotland, 9;Ireland, 11; Norway, 10; Sweden, 9; Finland, 6; UnitedStates, 5; Denmark, 5; British India, 4; France, 3; Germany,3; Nova Scotia, 3; Russia, 2; Austria, 2; Italy, 2; Cape deVerd Islands, 2; Chili, 2; Jamaica, 2; Barbadoes, 2; St.Thomas, 2; Spain, 1; Portugal, 1; Canada, 1; New Brunswick,1; Transvaal, 1; Gold Coast, 1; Brazil, 1; St. Kitts, 1;Mauritius, 1; Society Islands, 1. The mercantile marinesrepresented were no bad index to the proportion of the carryingtrade of the world each nation undertakes:—England, 96 vessels;Ireland, 3; Scotland, 16; Wales, 4; Norway, 7; Sweden, 5;United States, 6; Denmark, 2; France, 2; Germany, 3; NovaScotia, 7; Russia, 2; Netherlands, 4; Channel Islands, 2; NewBrunswick, 2; Italy, 1; Zanzibar, 1; Spain, 1.

The early morning brought warm Christmas wishes to thepatients. Each found by his bedside a packet addressed to himby name. Some good lady had taken the enormous pains towork a pretty, and, at the same time, stout and serviceablewallet, with the inscription, "My letters," embroidered thereupon,and to accompany this little gift, in every case, witha short and seasonable letter of Christmas wishes, using otherlanguages than English, to suit the convenience of everyrecipient. The initials under which these offerings came were"N. C. H." Other gifts, Christmas cards and Christmas reading,in the shape of magazines and illustrated papers were gladlywelcomed.

The decorations of the corridors and rooms had givenoccupation to the sick sailors for several days, and sentimentsof loyalty to the Queen and the Royal Family were abundantly289displayed, together with portraits of members of the RoyalFamily which had been drawn from fancy.

The officers and nurses had dedicated to them some specimensof real sailor poetry, combining the names of the staff. Withgrim humour, the "operation room" bore above it "Nildesperandum"; and the decorated walls of the hospital toldthe onlookers that "small vessels should keep in shore," that"windmills are not turned by a pair of bellows," that "goodthings are not found in heaps," that "hasty people fish inempty ponds," that "plenty, like want, ruins many," &c.

The dinner at one o'clock was a great success. All whocould get out of bed made it a point of honour to be present.But for adverse winds keeping ships from entering theThames, the guests would have been more numerous. But,as it was, the patients under the roof numbered 179. Therewere, of course, difficulties of language; but no "Jack" everploughed the sea who does not understand a Christmas dinner;and, besides, the hospital in its nurses and staff possesses themeans of conversing in seventeen different languages.

The scene was a thoroughly Christmas one; and many otherfestive scenes, almost as interesting, were seen in all parts ofEngland. Whether recorded or unrecorded, who does notrejoice in such efforts to promote "goodwill amongst men,"and long for the time—

One of the popular institutions inseparable from the festivitiesof Christmastide has long been the "cracker." The satisfactionwhich young people especially experience in pulling the oppositeends of a gelatine and paper cylinder is of the keenest, accompaniedas the operation is by a mixed anticipation—half fearfulas to the explosion that is to follow, and wholly delightful withregard to the bonbon or motto which will thus be brought tolight. Much amusement is afforded to the lads and lassies bythe fortune-telling verses which some of the crackers contain.But the cracker of our early days was something far differentfrom what it is now. The sharp "crack" with which thearticle exploded, and from which it took its name, was then itsprincipal, and, in some cases, its only feature; and the exclamation,"I know I shall scream," which John Leech, in one of hissketches, puts into the mouth of two pretty girls engaged incracker-pulling, indicated about the all of delight which thatoccupation afforded. Since then, however, the cracker hasundergone a gradual development. Becoming by degrees a290receptacle for bon-bons, rhymed mottoes, little paper caps andaprons, and similar toys, it has passed on to another and higherstage, and is even made a vehicle for high art illustrations.Considerable artistic talent has been introduced in the adornmentof these novelties. For instance, the "Silhouette" crackersare illustrated with black figures, comprising portraits of well-knowncharacters in the political, military, and social world,exquisitely executed, while appropriate designs have beenadapted to other varieties, respectively designated "Cameos,""Bric-a-brac," "Musical Toys," &c.; and it is quite evidentthat the education of the young in matters of good taste is notoverlooked in the provision of opportunities for merriment.

Hang up the baby's stocking! Besure you don't forget! The dearlittle dimpled darling, she neversaw Christmas yet! But I'vetold her all about it, and she openedher big blue eyes; and I'm sureshe understood it—she looked sofunny and wise. ^* _* ^* Dear, whata tiny stocking! It doesn't takemuch to hold such little pink toesas baby's away from the frost andcold. But then, for the baby'sChristmas, it will never do at all.Why! Santa wouldn't be lookingfor anything half sosmall. ^* _* ^* I know whatwill do for the baby. I'vethought of the very bestplan. I'll borrow astocking of Grandma's,the longest that everI can. And you'llhang it by mine,dear mother, righthere in the corner,so! And leave aletter to Santa, andfasten it on to thetoe. ^* _* ^* Write—thisis the baby's stocking,that hangs in the cornerhere. You never haveseen her, Santa, forshe only came thisyear. But she'sjust the blessed'stbaby. And nowbefore you go,just cram herstocking withgoodies, fromthe top cleandown tothetoe!291

The Christmastide of 1885-6 was marred by two fatalaccidents which again illustrate the danger of dressing forentertainments in highly-inflammable materials. In the firstcase a London lady, on Boxing Night, was entertaining somefriends, and appeared herself in the costume ofWinter. Shewas dressed in a white robe of thin fabric, and stood undera canopy from which fell pieces of cotton wool to representsnowflakes, and in their descent one of them caught light at thecandelabra, and fell at deceased's feet. In trying to put it outwith her foot her dress caught fire, and she was immediatelyenveloped in flames. So inflammable was the material that,although prompt assistance was rendered, she was so severelyburnt as to become unconscious. A medical man was sent for,and everything possible was done for her; but she sankgradually, and died from exhaustion. The second of thesetragical incidents plunged a Paris family in deep sorrow. Theparents, who lived in a beautiful detached house in the Rue dela Bienfaisance, had arranged that their children and someyouthful cousins were to play before a party of friends on NewYear's Night on the stage of a little theatre which had just beenadded to their house. The play was to represent the decrepitold year going out and the new one coming in. The eldestdaughter, a charming girl of fourteen, was to be the good geniusof 1886, and to be dressed in a loose transparent robe. On theappointed evening, after the company had assembled, shedonned her stage costume and ran into her mother's bedroomto see how it became her. While looking at herself in a mirroron the toilette table her loose sleeve came in contact with theflame of a candle and blazed up. She screamed for help andtried to roll herself in the bed clothes; but the bed, beingcovered with a lace coverlet and curtained with muslin was alsoset on fire, and soon the whole room was ablaze. By the timehelp arrived the girl's clothes were all burning into the flesh;but such was her vitality that, in spite of the dreadful state inwhich every inch of her body was, she survived the accidentmany hours.

Similar disasters occurred at Christmas festivities in 1889, atDetroit, and in 1891, at Wortley, Leeds. In the former severallittle children were fatally burnt, and in the latter fifteenchildren were set on fire, eleven of them fatally.

is too large a subject to enter upon at length, for a bulkyvolume would scarcely suffice to describe the numerousChristmas annuals, illustrated Christmas numbers, newspapersupplements and variety papers which have become popularat Christmastide since the first appearance of Dickens's"Christmas Stories." The development of the Christmas tradein this light literature has been marvellous, and it is increasingyear by year. And the same may be said of the charming gift-bookswhich are published annually just before Christmas.

Through the various letter missions that have been establishedthousands of Christmas letters and illustrated missives, brightwith anecdote, are despatched annually to the inmates ofconvalescent homes and hospitals, and are heartily welcomedby the recipients, for every one likes to be remembered onChristmas Day.

have, however, been very heavily weighted with these newChristmas customs. They have inflicted upon postmen andletter-sorters an amount of extra labour that is almost incredible.The postal-parcel work is also very heavy at the festive season.

This familiar verse recalls the eagerness of the schoolboy tobe home for the Christmas holidays. And adults are no lesseager to join their friends at the festive season; many travellong journeys in order to do so. Hence the great pressure ofwork on railway employés, and the congested state of thetraffic at Christmastide. Two or three days before ChristmasDay the newspapers publish what are called "railway arrangements,"detailing the privileges granted by this and thatcompany, and presenting the holiday traveller with a sort ofappetising programme; and any one who will spend an hourat any of the great termini of the metropolis at this period can293see the remarkable extent to which the public avail themselvesof the facilities offered. The growth of railway travelling atChristmastide has, indeed, been marvellous in recent years, andit becomes greater every year. The crowded state of the railwaystations, and the trains that roll out of them heavily ladenwith men, women, and children, wedged together by parcelsbursting with good cheer, show most unmistakably that wehave not forgotten the traditions of Christmas as a time ofhappy gatherings in the family circles of Old England.

But, as there is also much Christmas-keeping in other partsof the world, we pass now to—

CHAPTER XII.

MODERN CHRISTMASES ABROAD.

"The bluejackets are generally better hands than the red-coatsat improvising a jollification—Jack, at any rate, does nottake his pleasures sadly. The gallant bands that have fromtime to time gone forth to a bloodless campaign in the icynorth, have always managed to keep their Christmas rightjoyously. Certainly they could not complain of uncongenialskies or unseasonable temperatures; while, so far as snow andice are necessary to thorough enjoyment, the supply in theArctic regions is on a scale sufficient to satisfy the most ardentadmirer of an old-fashioned Christmas. The frozen-in Investigatorsunder McClure kept their first Arctic Christmas soberly,cheerfully, and in good fellowship, round tables groaning withgood cheer, in the shape of Sandwich Island beef, musk vealfrom the Prince of Wales's Strait, mince-meat from England,splendid preserves from the Green Isle, and dainty dishes fromScotland. Every one talked of home, and speculated respectingthe doings of dear ones there; and healths were drunk, notomitting those of their fellow-labourers sauntering somewherein the regions about, but how near or how far away none couldtell. When the festival came round again, theInvestigator andEnterprise were alone in their glory, and they were separated bymiles of frozen sea; but they had solved the great problem.[93]On board theInvestigator, frost-bound in the Bay of Mercy,things went as merry as the proverbial marriage-bell. Afterdivine service, everybody took a constitutional on the ice untildinner-time; then the officers sat down to a meal of which thepièce de résistance was a haunch of Banks' Island reindeer,weighing twenty pounds, with fat two inches thick, and a mostdelicious flavour; while the crew were regaling upon venisonand other good things, double allowance of grog included; anddinner discussed, dancing, singing, and skylarking filled up the295holiday hours till bedtime; the fun being kept up with unflagginghumour, and with such propriety withal as to make theirleader wish the anxious folks at home could have witnessed thescene created amidst so many gloomy influences, by the crewof a ship after two years' sojourn in those ice-bound regionsupon their own resources. Another Christmas found the bravefellows still confined in their snowy prison; but their tableboasted plum-pudding rich enough for Arctic appetites, Banks'Land venison, Mercy Bay hare-soup, ptarmigan pasties, andmusk-ox beef—hung-beef, surely, seeing it had been danglingin the rigging above two years. The poets among the menwrote songs making light of the hardships they had endured;the painters exhibited pictures of past perils; comic actorswere not wanting; and the whole company, casting all anxietyto the winds, enjoyed themselves to the utmost."[94]

In the spring of 1870, before the breaking out of the Franco-Germanwar, Germany sent out two ships, theGermania andtheHansa, with the hope of reaching the North Pole. As isusually the case in Arctic expeditions, little could be doneduring the first season, and the ships were obliged to take uptheir winter-quarters off the east coast of Greenland. Theyhad already been separated, so that the crew of one vessel, hadno idea of the condition of the other. An officer upon theGermania gives the following interesting account of theirChristmas festivities in the Arctic regions:—

"To the men who have already lived many weary monthsamong the icebergs, Christmas signifies, in addition to its otherassociations, that the half of their long night—with its fearfulstorms, its enforced cessation of all energy, its discomfort andsadness—has passed, and that the sun will soon again shed itslife and warmth-giving beams on the long-deserted North.From this time the grim twilight, during which noon has beenhardly distinguishable from the other hours, grows daily lighter,until at length all hearts are gladdened, and a cheerful activityis once again called forth by the first glimpse of the sun.Christmas, the midnight of the Arctic explorer, thus marks aperiod in his life which he has good cause to consider a joyfulone.

"For days before the festival, an unusual activity was observableall over the ship; and as soon as the severe storm whichraged from December 16th to the 21st had abated, partieswere organised, under our botanist, Dr. Pansch, to certain pointsof Sabine Island, near to which we were anchored, where, in astrangely sheltered nook, several varieties of a native Greenlandevergreen plant,Andromeda tetragona, were to be found. Agreat quantity of this plant was conveyed on board, to be convertedinto a Christmas-tree. Under the orders of Dr. Pansch,the Andromeda was wound round small pieces of wood, several296of which were attached, like fir-twigs, to a large bough; andwhen these boughs were fastened to a pole, they formed a veryrespectable fir-tree.

"After dinner on Christmas Day, the cabin was cleared forthe completion of the preparations; and on our recall at sixo'clock, we found that all had assumed an unwontedly festiveappearance. The walls were decorated with the signal-flagsand our national eagle; and the large cabin table, somewhatenlarged to make room to seat seventeen men, was coveredwith a clean white cloth, which had been reserved for theoccasion. On the table stood the 'fir' tree, shining in thesplendour of many little wax-lights, and ornaments with allsorts of little treasures, some of which, such as the gildedwalnuts, had already seen a Christmas in Germany; below thetree was a small present for each of us, provided long beforehand,in readiness for the day, by loving friends and relativesat home. There was a packet too for each of the crew, containingsome little joking gift, prepared by the mirth-loving Dr.Pansch, and a useful present also; while the officers were eachand all remembered.

"When the lights burned down, and the resinous Andromedawas beginning to take fire, the tree was put aside, and a feastbegan, at which full justice was done to the costly Sicilian winewith which a friend had generously supplied us before we lefthome. We had a dish of roast seal! Some cakes were madeby the cook, and the steward produced his best stores. Forthe evening, the division between the fore and aft cabins wasremoved, and there was free intercourse between officers andmen; many a toast was drunk to the memory of friends athome, and at midnight a polar ball was improvised by a danceon the ice. The boatswain, the best musician of the party,seated himself with his hand-organ between the antlers of areindeer which lay near the ship, and the men danced two andtwo on their novel flooring of hard ice!

"Such was our experience of a Christmas in the north polarcircle; but the uncertainties of Arctic voyaging are great, andthe two ships of our expedition made trial of the widely differentfates which await the travellers in those frozen regions: andwhile we on theGermania were singularly fortunate in escapingaccidents and in keeping our crew, in spite of some hardships,in sound health and good spirits, theHansa was crushed by theice, and her crew, after facing unheard-of dangers, and passingtwo hundred days on a block of ice, were barely rescued toreturn home."

Yet even to the crew of the ill-fatedHansa Christmas broughtsome festivities. The tremendous gale which had raged formany days ceased just before the day, and the heavy fall ofsnow with which it terminated, and which had almost buriedthe black huts that the shipwrecked men had constructed forthemselves upon the drifting icebergs from thedébris of the297wreck, had produced a considerable rise in the temperature,and there was every indication that a season of calm might nowbe anticipated.

The log-book of theHansa thus describes the celebration ofthe festival:—"The tree was erected in the afternoon, whilethe greater part of the crew took a walk; and the lonely hutshone with wonderful brightness amid the snow. Christmasupon a Greenland iceberg! The tree was artistically puttogether of firwood and mat-weed, and Dr. Laube had saved atwist of wax-taper for the illumination. Chains of colouredpaper and newly-baked cakes were not wanting, and the menhad made a knapsack and a revolver case as a present for thecaptain. We opened the leaden chests of presents fromProfessor Hochstetter and the Geological Society, and weremuch amused by their contents. Each man had a glass ofport wine; and we then turned over the old newspapers whichwe found in the chests, and drew lots for the presents, whichconsisted of small musical instruments such as fifes, jew's-harps,trumpets, &c., with draughts and other games, puppets,crackers, &c. In the evening we feasted on chocolate andgingerbread."

"We observed the day very quietly," writes Dr. Laube in hisdiary. "If this Christmas be the last we are to see, it was atleast a cheerful one; but should a happy return home bedecreed for us, the next will, we trust, be far brighter. MayGod so grant!"

The Christmas of 1854 was a dismal one for the soldiers inthe Crimea, witnessing and enduring what Lord John Russellspoke of as "the horrible and heartrending scenes of thatCrimean winter."

"Thanks to General Muddle," says a journal of the period,"the Crimean Christmas of 1854 was anything but what it oughtto and might have been; and the knowledge that plenty of goodthings had been provided by thoughtful hearts at home, butwhich were anywhere but where they were wanted, did notadd to the merriment of our poor overworked, underfed army;and although some desperate efforts were made to be jolly ondreary outpost and in uncomfortable trenches, they only resultedin miserable failure. The following Christmas was doublyenjoyable by comparison. The stubborn fortress (Sebastopol)had fallen at last to its more stubborn assailants; habit haddeprived frost and snow of their terrors, and every hut ran overwith hams, preserves, vegetables, and mysterious tins, till itresembled a grocer's store. The valleys of Miscomia, too, wererich in mistletoe, to be had for the trouble of gathering; butfew cared to undergo that trouble for the sake of what onlyreminded them of unattainable sweets, and made them sigh forthe girls they had left behind them."298

In 1855, Messrs. Macmillan & Co. published a poem byH. R. F., entitled "Christmas Dawn, 1854," in which the writerpictures the festivities marred by war:—

"A happy Christmas!Happy! to whom? Perchance to infancy,And innocent childhood, while the germ of sin,Yet undeveloped, leaves a virgin soilFor joy, and Death and Sorrow are but names.But who, that bears a mind matured to thought,A heart to feel, shall look abroad this dayAnd speak of happiness? The church is decktWith festive garlands, and the sunbeams glanceFrom glossy evergreens; the mistletoePearl-studded, and the holly's lustrous boughGleaming with coral fruitage; but we museOf laurel blent with cypress. Gaze we downYon crowded aisle? the mourner's dusky weedsSadden the eye; and they who wear them notHave mourning in their hearts, or lavish tearsOf sympathy on griefs too deeply lodgedFor man's weak ministry.A happy Christmas!Ah me! how many hearths are desolate!How many a vacant seat awaits in vainThe loved one who returns not! Shall we drainThe cheerful cup—a health to absent friends?Whom do we pledge? the living or the dead?"

Thus did the poet, "sick at heart," explore "the realm ofsorrow"; and then again he mused:

"In humbler mood to hail the auspicious day,Shine forth rejoicing in thy strength, O sun,Shine through the dubious mists and tearful show'rsThat darken Hope's clear azure! Christ is born,The life of those who wake, and those who sleep—The Day-spring from on high hath looked on us;And we, who linger militant on earth,Are one in Him, with those, the loved and lost,Whose early graves keep the red field they wonUpon a stranger shore. Ah! not in vainWent up from many a wild Crimean ridgeThe soldier's pray'r, responsive to the vowsBreathed far away in many an English home.Not vain the awakened charities, that gushThrough countless channels—Christian brotherhoodsOf mercy; and that glorious sister-bandWho sow by Death's chill waters!—Not in vain,My country! ever loved, but dearest nowIn this thine hour of sorrow, hast thou learntTo bow to Him who chastens. We must weep—We may rejoice in weeping"

Wherever Englishmen are on the 25th of December, there isChristmas. Whether it be in the icy regions of the Arctic zone,or in the sweltering heat of tropical sunshine, the coming roundof the great feast brings with it to every Englishman a hearty299desire to celebrate it duly. And if this cannot be done inexactly home-fashion, the festival is kept as happily as circumstanceswill allow. In this spirit did our soldiers keep Christmasin Abyssinia, in 1867, with the thermometer at seventy-five inthe shade, and even here the edibles included at least onetraditional dish—a joint of roast beef. There was also anabundance of spur-fowls, guinea-fowls, venison, mutton, &c.,and the place in which the festive board was spread wasdecorated with branches of fir and such other substitutes forholly and mistletoe as could be found.

at different periods shows the same determination of our Britishsoldiers to honour the Christmas festival.

In 1857, the saviours of our Indian Empire very nearly losttheir Christmas. The army was encamped at Intha, withinsight of Nepaul, waiting for the rain to clear off and the tents todry, ere it moved on to drive the Sepoys into the Raptee. Theskies cleared on Christmas morning, and Lord Clyde was formarching at once, but relented in time to save the men'spuddings from being spoiled—not only relented, but himselfgave a Christmas banquet, at which the favoured guests satdown to well-served tables laden with barons of beef, turkeys,mutton, game, fish, fowls, plum-puddings, mince-pies, &c.To allay the thirst such substantial fare created, appearedbeakers of pale ale from Burton and Glasgow; porter fromLondon and Dublin; champagne, moselle, sherry, and old port,'rather bothered by travelling twenty miles a day on a camelback.' Following the chief's example, each regiment had aglorious spread, and throughout the wide expanse of tentssounds of rejoicing were heard, for the soldiers kept Christmasright merrily.

did their best to observe the Christmas festival in good oldEnglish style, even during the sieges of Ladysmith, Kimberley,and Mafeking, when provisions were to be had only at famineprices. The ingenious Tommy Atkins, in distant lands, hasoften found sylvan substitutes for mistletoe and holly, and nativeviands to take the place of plum-puddings and mince-pies, butit is not so easy to find substitutes for the social circles in oldEngland, and when the time comes round for the Christmasdance Tommy's thoughts "Return again to the girl I've leftbehind me."

Moreover, it sometimes falls to the lot of soldiers and warcorrespondents to spend their Christmas in most outlandishplaces. Mr. Archibald Forbes has left on record (in theEnglishIllustrated Magazine, 1885) an interesting account of his own300

In his graphic style the intrepid war correspondent describesthe "ride long and hard" which Kinloch and he had throughthe Khyber to Jelalabad plain to fulfil "the tryst they had madeto spend Christmas Day with the cheery comrades of Sir SamBrowne's headquarter staff." They had an adventurous journeytogether from the Dakka camp to Jumrood, where Forbes leftKinloch with Maude's division.

Further on, Mr. Forbes says: "I am not prepared to bedefinite, after five years, as to the number of plum-puddingsforming that little hillock on the top of my dâk-gharry betweenJhelum and Peshawur, on the apex of which sat the faithfulJohn amidst a whirl of dust. At Peshawur the heap of Christmasgifts were loaded into the panniers of a camel, and the shipof the desert started on its measured solemn tramp up throughthe defiles of the Khyber." Then Mr. Forbes tells us how hejoined Kinloch again at General Maude's headquarters at Jumrood.Kinloch "had not forgotten his tryst, but meanwhilethere were military duties to be done." After the discharge ofthese "military duties," which included a night march to surprisea barbarous clan called Zukkur-Kehls, Forbes and Kinlochjoined General Tytler's column on its return march to Dakka,because at Dakka they would be nearer to their friends of SirSam Browne's headquarters. "Tytler determined to make hisexit from the Zukkur-Kahl Valley by a previously unexploredpass, toward which the force moved for its night's bivouac.About the entrance to the glen there was a fine forest of ilex andholly, large, sturdy, spreading trees, whence dangled long spraysof mistletoe; the mistletoe bough was here indeed, and Christmaswas close, but where the fair ones whom, under othercircumstances, the amorous youth of our column would haveso enthusiastically led under that spray which accords so sweeta license? The young ones prattled of those impossible joys;but the seniors, less frivolous, were concerned by the increasingnarrowness of the gorge, and by the dropping fire that hung onour skirts as we entered it. However, there was but onecasualty—a poor fellow of the 17th Regiment had his thighsmashed by a bullet—and we spent the night under the ilextrees without further molestation.... It was Christmas Evewhen we sat chatting with young Beatson in his lonely post bythe Chardai streamlet; but a few hours of morning riding wouldcarry us to Jellalabad whither Sir Sam Browne's camp had beenadvanced, and we were easy on the score of being true to tryst.As in the cold grey dawn we resumed our journey, leaving theyoung officer who had been our host to concern himself withthe watchfulness of his picquets and the vigilance of his patrols,there was a sound of unintentional mockery in the conventionalwish of a 'Merry Christmas' to the gallant lad, and there was awistfulness in his answering smile.... The road to the301encampment, the white canvas of whose tents showed through the interveninghills, was traversed at a hand gallop; and presentlyKinloch and myself found ourselves in the street of the headquartercamp, shaking hands with friends and comrades, and tryingto reply to a medley of disjointed questions. The bugles weresounding for the Christmas Day Church Parade as we finished ahurried breakfast. Out there on the plain the British troops ofthe division were standing in hollow square, the officers groupedin the centre.... The headquarter street we found swept andgarnished, the flagstaff bedecked with holly, and a regimentalband playing 'Home, Sweet Home.' Dear old Sir Sam Brownedid not believe in luxury when on campaign, but now for thefirst time I saw him at least comfortable.... The mess anteroomwas the camp street outside the dining tent; and at thefashionable late hour of eight we 'went in' to dinner, to thestrains of theRoast Beef of Old England. It was a right jovialfeast, and the most cordial good-fellowship prevailed. Hewould have been a cynical epicurean who would have criticisedthe appointments; the banquet itself was above all cavil.Rummaging among some old papers the other day, I found themenu, which deserves to be quoted: 'Soup—Julienne. Fish—Whitebait(from the Cabul River). Entrées—Cotelettes auxChampignons, Poulets à la Mayonaise. Joints—Ham and fowls,roast beef, roast saddle of mutton, boiled brisket of beef, boiledleg of mutton and caper sauce. Curry—chicken. Sweets—Lemonjelly, blancmange, apricot tart, plum-pudding. Grilledsardines, cheese fritters, cheese, dessert.' Truth compels theavowal that there was no table-linen, nor was the boardresplendent with plate or gay with flowers. Table crockerywas deficient, or to be more accurate, there was none. All thedishes were of metal, and the soup was eaten, or rather drunk,out of mugs and iron teacups. But it tasted none the worse onthis account, and let it be recorded that therewere champagneglasses, while between every two guests a portly magnum rearedits golden head. Except 'The Queen,' of course, there werebut two toasts after the feast—one was 'Absent Friends,' drunkin a wistful silence, and the other, the caterer's health, greetedwith vociferous enthusiasm. A few fields off the wood hadbeen collecting all day for the Christmas camp-fire of the 10thHussars, and by ten o'clock the blaze of it was mounting highinto the murky gloom. A right merry and social gathering itwas round the bright glow of this Yule log in a far-off land.The flames danced on the wide circle of bearded faces, on thetangled fleeces of the postheens, on the gold braid of the foragecaps, on the sombre hoods of beshliks.... The songs rangedfrom gay to grave; the former mood in the ascendency. Butoccasionally there was sung a ditty, the associations with whichbrought it about that there came something strangely like a tearinto the voice of the singer, and that a yearning wistfulness fellupon the faces of the listeners. The bronzed troopers in the302background shaded with their hands the fire-flash from theireyes; and as the familiar homely strain ceased that recalledhome and love and trailed at the heart strings till the breast feltto heave and the tears to rise, there would be a little pause ofeloquent silence which told how thoughts had gone astrayinghalf across the globe to the loved ones in dear old England, andwere loath to come back again to the rum and the camp fire inJellalabad plain. Ah, how many stood or sat around that campfire that were never to see old England more? The snow hadnot melted on the Sufed Koh when half a squadron of thetroopers were drowned in the treacherous Cabul river. Nobrighter soul or sweeter singer round that fire than Monty Slade;but the life went out of Monty Slade with his face to the foeand his wet sword grasped in a soldier-grip; and he lies underthe palm trees by the wells of El Teb."

In Canada the severe and long-continued frosts convert agood deal of land and water into fields of ice, and skating is avery popular amusement of Christmastide. Sleighing is alsovery fashionable, and the large tracts of country covered withsnow afford ample scope for the pastime. The jingle of thesleigh bells is heard in all the principal thoroughfares which atthe season of the great winter festival present quite an animatedappearance. The ears of the sleigh drivers are usually coveredeither by the cap or with a comforter, which in very coldweather is also wrapped over the mouth and nose.

"Christmas Day," says an English Colonist, "is spent quietlyin our own houses. New Year's Day is the day of generalrejoicing, when every one either visits or receives their friends:and so, thinking of the merry times we have had in OldEngland, and comparing them with the quietness of to-day, wefeel more like strangers in a strange land than ever before.

"As a special treat, we are to have a real English Christmasdinner to-day, and our housekeeper has made a wonderfulplum-pudding. The turkey is already steaming upon the table,and we soon fall to work upon him. He is well cooked, butthere seems to be something wrong with his legs, which are sotough and sinewy that we come to the conclusion that he musthave been training for a walking match. The rest of the dinnerpasses off very well, with the exception of the plum-pudding,which has to be brought to the table in a basin, as it firmlyrefuses to bind.

"After dinner we retire to the sitting-room, and sit round thestove talking, while those of us addicted to the fragrant weedhave a quiet smoke. Thus passes Christmas afternoon.

"Tea-time soon comes round, and after we have refreshedourselves, we resolve to end the day by paying a visit to aneighbour who possesses an American organ, and Christmasevening closes in to the music of those sweet old carols which303that evening are heard over the whole world wherever anEnglish colony is to be found."

Christmas festivities in Australia are carried on in what weshould call "summer weather." There is no lack of good cheerand good living, but cold and snow are at this season unknown,and skating and snowballing, as a consequence, are sports unheardof at Christmastide by the youth in the Antipodes. Largeparties and excursions are often arranged for spending a shorttime in the parks and fields, and Christmas picnics partakemuch of the character of English "gipsy-parties." The inhabitantsbeing chiefly English, many of the ceremoniescustomary in English homes are observed, and the changesthat are made are enforced for the most part by the differencein climate, and by the altered circumstances under which thevarious festivities are arranged.

In "A Summer Christmas," Douglas B. W. Sladen thusdescribes the Australian festivities:—

"The Christmas dinner was at two,And all that wealth or pains could doWas done to make it a success;And marks of female tastefulness,And traces of a lady's care,Were noticeable everywhere.The port was old, the champagne dry,And every kind of luxuryWhich Melbourne could supply was there.They had the staple Christmas fare,Roast beef and turkey (this was wild),Mince-pies, plum-pudding, rich and mild,One for the ladies, one designedFor Mr. Forte's severer mind,Were on the board, yet in a wayIt did not seem like Christmas dayWith no gigantic beech yule-logsBlazing between the brass fire-dogs,And with 100° in the shadeOn the thermometer displayed.Nor were there Christmas offeringsOf tasteful inexpensive things,Like those which one in England sendsAt Christmas to his kin and friends,Though the Professor with him tookA present of a recent bookFor Lil and Madge and Mrs. Forte,And though a card of some new sortHad been arranged by Lil to faceAt breakfast everybody's place.When dinner ended nearly allStole off to lounges in the hall....All save the two old folks and Lil,Who made their hearts expand and thrillBy playing snatches, slow and clear,Of carols they'd been used to hear304Of carols they'd been used to hearSome half a century agoAt High Wick Manor, when the twoWere bashful maidens: they talked on,Of England and what they had doneOn byegone Christmas nights at home,Of friends beyond the Northern foam,And friends beyond that other sea,Yet further—whither ceaselesslyTravellers follow the old track,But whence no messenger comes back."

In 1887, we received a letter from Mr. W. M. Stanton, ofNelson, New Zealand, giving the following interesting accountof the colonists' observance of Christmas:—

"And now, as to Christmas, I wish I could express all I feelon this peculiarly English season of 'peace and goodwill.' Iremember the picturesque snow (seen here only on the distantblue mountain tops), the icy stalactites pendant from the leaflessbranches, the twitter of the robin redbreast, the holly, and themistletoe, decorated homes, redolent with the effects of thefestive cooking, and the warm blazing firelight, the meeting offamilies and of friends, the waits, the grand old peals from thebelfries; but, alas, here these childhood associations are dispelled,half broken, and we acclimatised denizens adapt ourfestivities to other modes—not that we forget the Christmasseason, but enjoy it differently, as I will briefly tell you, as youask, 'how we spend Christmas in New Zealand.' First, ourladies decorate the churches for the Christmas services, notwith the evergreens of old exclusively; they do indeed affectthe holly, ivy, and (New Zealand) mistletoe, but they makeup with umbrageous and rich ferns, lachipoden, lauristinas,Portugal laurels, and our own beautiful evergreen, Ngaio, andwith all the midsummer flowers at command; then the clerk,the storeman, the merchant, and the mechanic indulge in'trips,' or day excursions, in small steamboats, to the neighbouringbays surrounding small townships, and villages on thecoast. Others again, take the train for a day's outing and playquoits, rounders, lawn tennis, and the like; the sportsman,perhaps, preferring his gun and his dog; families, again, arepicnic-mad, for your colonist can rival the Cockney any day formaking his holiday in the country. It may be to 'the rocks'he goes to watch his youngsters paddling in the rolling tide, orto the toil of clambering up the 'dim mountain,' which seemsto suit their hardy lungs better than the shade of the 'fernglen,' and a journey of eighteen miles to the Maori Pa is asnothing. The Union Company's fine coasting steamships runpassengers at half fares at this season, and the result is aninterchange of visits between the dwellers in Nelson, Wellington,Marlboro', and Wanjani, amongst whom there is much rivalryand more friendship. Then there is the Christmas regatta, theperformance of the 'Messiah' by the musical societies, and the305inevitable evening dances, and thus the New Zealand Christmasis spent.

"I am reminded, by my young clerk, that the mail is aboutclosing, and that this letter must also close, if it is to go to-day,and thus I must omit the mention of the new year's festivities,which properly belong to our numerous Scottish fellow settlerswho in their own country ignore Christmas as a popishsuperstition; they are, however, now becoming anglicised('Englified' they call it) in their habits, and similarly theMidland county men of England enter into their Caledoniancustom, from the harmless orgies of 'Hagmenae' to the franticcapers of 'Gillie Cullum,' to the skirl of the panting piper."

In "A Voyage in theSunbeam," Lady Brassey gives aninteresting account of the keeping of Christmas, 1876, on theSandwich Islands. We quote the following extracts:—

"Twenty minutes' hard riding brought us to the door of the'Volcano House,' from which issued the comforting light of alarge wood fire, reaching half way up the chimney.

"Everything at this inn is most comfortable, though the styleis rough and ready. The interior is just now decorated forChristmas, with wreaths, and evergreens, and ferns, andbranches of white plumes, not unlikereva-reva, made from thepath of the silver grass.

"The grandeur of the view in the direction of the volcanoincreased as the evening wore on. The fiery cloud above thepresent crater grew in size and depth of colour; the extinctcrater glowed red in thirty or forty different places; andclouds of white vapour issued from every crack and crevice inthe ground, adding to the sulphurous smell with which theatmosphere was laden. Our room faced the volcano: therewere no blinds, and I drew back the curtains and lay watchingthe splendid scene until I fell asleep.

"Sunday, December 24th (Christmas Eve)—I was up at fouro'clock to gaze once more on the wondrous spectacle that laybefore me. The molten lava still glowed in many places, thered cloud over the fiery lake was bright as ever, and steam wasslowly ascending in every direction over hill and valley, till, asthe sun rose, it became difficult to distinguish clearly thesulphurous vapours from the morning mists. We walked downto the Sulphur Banks, about a quarter of a mile from the'Volcano House,' and burnt our gloves and boots in ourendeavours to procure crystals, the beauty of which generallydisappeared after a very short exposure to the air. We succeeded,however, in finding a few good specimens, and, bywrapping them at once in paper and cotton-wool and puttingthem into a bottle, hope to bring them home uninjured.

"Monday, December 25th (Christmas Day)—Turning in lastnight was the work of a very few minutes, and this morning I306awoke perfectly refreshed and ready to appreciate anew thewonders of the prospect that met my eyes. The pillar of firewas still distinctly visible, when I looked out from my window,though it was not so bright as when I had last seen it, but evenas I looked it began to fade and gradually disappeared. At thesame moment a river of glowing lava issued from the side of thebank we had climbed with so much difficulty yesterday, andslowly but surely overflowed the ground we had walked over.You may imagine the feelings with which we gazed upon thisstartling phenomenon, which had it occurred a few hoursearlier, might have caused the destruction of the whole party.

"It would, I think, be difficult to imagine a more interestingand exciting mode of spending Christmas Eve than yesterdayhas taught us, or a stranger situation in which to exchange ourChristmas greetings than beneath the grass roof of an inn onthe edge of a volcano in the remote Sandwich Islands.

"The ride down to Hilo was as dull and monotonous as ourupward journey had been. At last we reached the pier, wherewe found the usual little crowd waiting to see us off. The girlswho had followed us when we first landed came forward shylywhen they thought they were unobserved, and again encircledme withleis of gay and fragrant flowers. The custom ofdecorating themselves with wreaths on every possible occasionis in my eyes a charming one, and I like the inhabitants ofPolynesia for their love of flowers.

"The whole town wasen fête to-day. Natives were ridingabout in pairs, in the cleanest of bright cotton dresses and thefreshest ofleis and garlands. Our own men from the yachtcontributed not a little to the gaiety of the scene. They wereall on shore, and the greater part of them were galloping abouton horseback, tumbling off, scrambling on again, laughing,flirting, joking, and enjoying themselves generally after afashion peculiar to English sailors. As far as we know the onlyevil result of all this merriment was that the doctor received agood many applications for diachylon plaster in the course ofthe evening, to repair various 'abrasions of the cuticle,' as heexpressed it.

"I think at least half the population of Hilo had been onboard the yacht in the course of the day, as a Christmas treat.At last we took a boat and went off too, accompanied by Mr.Lyman. The appearance of the 'Sunbeam' from the shorewas very gay, and as we approached it became more festivestill. All her masts were tipped with sugar-canes in bloom.Her stern was adorned with flowers, and in the arms of thefigurehead was a large bouquet. She was surrounded withboats, the occupants of which cheered us heartily as we rodealongside. The whole deck was festooned with tropical plants307and flowers, and the decorations of the cabins were even morebeautiful and elaborate. I believe all hands had been hard atwork ever since we left to produce this wonderful effect, andevery garden in Hilo had furnished a contribution to please andsurprise us on our return.

"The choir from Hilo came out in boats in the evening, sangall sorts of songs, sacred and secular, and cheered everybodytill they were hoarse. After this, having had a cold dinner, inorder to save trouble, and having duly drunk the health of ourfriends at home, we all adjourned to the saloon, to assist in thedistribution of some Christmas presents—a ceremony whichafforded great delight to the children, and which was equallypleasing to the elder people and to the crew, if one may judgefrom their behaviour on the occasion.

"Then we sat on deck, gazing at the cloud of fire overKilauea, and wondering if the appearance of the crater couldever be grander than it was last night, when we were standingon its brim.

"So ended Christmas Day, 1876, at Hilo, in Hawaii. Godgrant that there may be many more as pleasant for us in thefuture!"

In "Sunshine and Storm in the East, or Cruises to Cyprusand Constantinople," Lady Brassey gives an interesting accountof the celebration of Christmas on board theSunbeam, betweenMalta and Marseilles, December 25, 1879:—"We had serviceearly and then spent a long busy morning in arranging all thepresents for the children, servants, and crew, and in decoratingthe cabin. We could not manage any holly, but we hadcarefully preserved one bough of mistletoe from Artaki Bay,and had brought on board at Malta baskets full of flowers, sothat all the pictures, lamps, and even walls, were wreathed withfestoons of bougainvillæa, ivy, and other creeping plants; whilein every available corner were placed, vases, bowls, and soup-plates,containing flowers. If not exactly 'gay with holly-berries,'so dear to English hearts from their association withyule-tide at home, the general appearance of the cabins washighly satisfactory. In the meantime they had been busy inthe kitchen and pantry departments, preparing all sorts of goodthings for dinner, and pretty things for dessert, in order thatthe crew and servants might enjoy a more sumptuous repastthan usual. A Christmas tree, a snow man, or an ice cave, forthe distribution of presents, was not within the limit of ourresources; but we decorated our tables and sideboards withbright shawls and scarves, and wreathed and divided the308surface of each with garlands of flowers, placing in everydivision a pretty Christmas card, bearing the name of therecipient of the present, which was hidden away among theflowers beneath.... For the men there was plenty of tobacco,besides books and useful things; for the children toys; and forourselves, slippers and little remembrances of various kinds,some sent from home to meet us, others recent purchases.The distribution over, one or two speeches were made, andmutual congratulations and good wishes were exchanged.Then the crew and servants retired to enjoy the, to them, all-importantevent of the day—dinner and dessert. After ourown late dinner, we thought of those near and dear to us athome, and drank to the health of 'absent friends.'"

In a letter from Tsing Cheu Fu Chefoo, December 24, 1887,the Rev. A. G. Jones, Baptist missionary, says:—

"Mr. Dawson asks how Englishmen spend Christmas inChina. Well, it depends. Some spend it at the ports dog-racingand eating pudding—having a night of it. The missionariesgenerally take no notice of it. In our mission we holdone of the semi-annual dedication-of-children services onChristmas. We think it a very appropriate day for the recognitionof the sacredness of the gift of trust of children.The idea is a Chinese one, originating with one of ourChristians, and we adopted it as the day for the custom. Tomorrowwill be Christmas Day, and I have come out twentymiles this evening to hold a service of that kind with thesemi-annual communion as it happens. It will be a cold,cheerless room in a clay-built cabin down in the corner of abare valley in a trap and basalt district with sparse vegetationand a bare aspect. A cold spot with a handful of Christians,bearing their testimony alone out on the margin of our field ofwork. I hope to see 40 or 50 patients up to sundown, andthen have worship with them at night. That will be myChristmas. This evening—in the city—all the children andour wives are having a Christmas tree in the theologicallecture-room, and on Tuesday next I guess we'll have ourdinner. John Bull, Paddy, Sandy, and Taffy all seem to agreeinthat feature. My Sunday will only be a sample of others.So it goes—working away. Now I must say goodbye. Manythanks and many good wishes."

Letters were received in December, 1887, from H.M.S.Egeria,Commander Pelham Aldrich, containing particulars of a visit shehad recently made to Christmas Island, which she was orderedto explore for scientific purposes. Christmas Island is situatedin the Indian Ocean, in latitude 11° south, longitude 105° 30'309east; it is 1,100 feet above the sea, is twelve miles long andeight miles broad. The officers and men told off for exploringpurposes found that the whole place was composed of coraland rock; notwithstanding this, however, it is covered almostcompletely with trees and shrubs, the trees, which are of largedimensions, seeming to grow literally out of the rock itself,earth surfaces being conspicuous by their absence. It isuninhabited by human beings, nor could any traces of animalsbe discovered, but seabirds swarm over every part of the island,and about four hundred wood pigeons were shot by the explorerswhile they remained there. No fruits or vegetable matter fitfor consumption could, however, be found, nor the existence ofany supply of fresh water, and the belief is that the vegetationof the island is dependent for nourishment on the dews and theheavy rains that fall.

Writing just before the Christmas festival of 1855, Mr. HowardPaul says the general manner of celebrating Christmas Day ismuch the same wherever professors of the Christian faith arefound; and the United States, as the great Transatlantic offshootof Saxon principles, would be the first to conserve the traditionalceremonies handed down from time immemorial by our canonicalprogenitors of the East. But every nation has its idiocraticnotions, minute and otherwise, and it is not strange that theAmericans, as a creative people, have peculiar and varied waysof their own in keeping this, the most remarkable day in thecalendar. Now and then they add a supplemental form to theaccepted code—characteristic of the mutable and progressivespirit of the people—though there still exists the Church service,the conventional carol, the evergreen decorations, the plum-puddings,the pantomime, and a score of other "demonstrations"that never can legitimately be forgotten.

Society generally seems to apportion the day thus: Church inthe morning, dinner in the afternoon, and amusements in theevening. The Christmas dinners concentrate the scatteredmembers of families, who meet together to break bread insocial harmony, and exchange those home sentiments thatcement the happiness of kindred. To-day the prodigal oncemore returns to the paternal roof; the spendthrift forsakes hisboon companions; the convivialist deserts the wine-cup. Thebeautiful genius of domestic love has triumphed, and who canforesee the blessed results?

Parties, balls, and fêtes, with their endless routine of gaieties,are looked forward to, as pleasures are, the wide world over;and all classes, from highest to lowest, have their modes ofenjoyment marked out. Preparation follows preparation infestal succession. Sorrow hides her Gorgon head, care maybetake itself to any dreary recesses, for Christmas must be agala!310

There is generally snow on the ground at this time; if Natureis amiable, there is sure to be; and a Christmas sleigh-ride isone of those American delights that defy rivalry. There is nowithstanding the merry chime of the bells and a fleet passageover the snow-skirted roads. Town and country look as if theyhad arisen in the morning in robes of unsullied white. Everyhousetop is spangled with the bright element; soft flakes arecoquetting in the atmosphere, and a pure mantle has beenspread on all sides, that fairly invites one to disport upon itsgleaming surface.

We abide quietly within our pleasant home on either the eveor night of Christmas. How the sleighs glide by in rapid glee,the music of the bells and the songs of the excursionists fallingon our ears in very wildness. We strive in vain to contentourselves. We glance at the cheerful fire, and hearken to thegenial voices around us. We philosophise, and struggle againstthe tokens of merriment without; but the restraint is torture.We, too, must join the revellers, and have a sleigh-ride. Girls,get on your fur; wrap yourselves up warmly in the old bear-skin;hunt up the old guitar; the sleigh is at the door, the moonis beaming. The bells tinkle and away we go!

An old English legend was transplanted many years ago onthe shores of America, that took root and flourished withwonderful luxuriance, considering it was not indigenous to thecountry. Probably it was taken over to New York by one ofthe primitive Knickerbockers, or it might have clung to someof the drowsy burgomasters who had forsaken the pictorial tilesof dear old Amsterdam about the time of Peter de Laar, orIl Bombaccia, as the Italians call him, got into disgrace inRome. However this may be, certain it is that Santa Claus,or St. Nicholas, the kind Patron-saint of the Juveniles, makeshis annual appearance on Christmas Eve, for the purpose ofdispensing gifts to all good children. This festive elf issupposed to be a queer little creature that descends thechimney, viewlessly, in the deep hours of night, laden withgifts and presents, which he bestows with no sparing hand,reserving to himself a supernatural discrimination that he seemsto exercise with every satisfaction. Before going to bed thechildren hang their newest stockings near the chimney, or pinthem to the curtains of the bed. Midnight finds a world ofhosiery waiting for favours; and the only wonder is that asingle Santa Claus can get around among them all. The storygoes that he never misses one, provided it belongs to a deservingyoungster, and morning is sure to bring no reproach that theChristmas Wizard has not nobly performed his wondrousduties. We need scarcely enlighten the reader as to who thereal Santa Claus is. Every indulgent parent contributes to thepleasing deception, though the juveniles are strong in their faithof their generous holiday patron. The following favourite linesgraphically describe a visit of St. Nicholas, and, being in great311vogue with the young people of America, are fondly reproducedfrom year to year:—

"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.The children were nestled all snug in their beds,While visions of sugar plums danced through their heads;And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.The way to the window, I flew like a flash,Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash;The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snowGave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.When what to my wondering eyes should appearBut a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer;With a little old driver, so lively and quick,I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name—Now Dasher! now Dancer! Now Prancer! now Vixen!On Comet! on Cupid! on Donder and Blixen!To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall!Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!'As the leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof,The prancing and pawing of each little hoof;As I drew in my head and was turning around,Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.He was dressed all in furs from his head to his footAnd his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,And he looked like a pedlar just opening his pack.His eyes, how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.He had a broad face and a little round bellyThat shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.He was chubby and plump—a right jolly old elf;And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.A wink of his eye and a twist of his headSoon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,And filled all the stockings—then turned with a jerk,And laying his finger aside of his nose,And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,'Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!'"

A curious feature of an American Christmas is the egg-noggand free lunch, distributed at all the hotels and cafés. A week312at least before the 25th fanciful signs are suspended over thefountains of the bars (the hotel-keepers are quite classic in theirideas) announcing superb lunch and egg-noggs on ChristmasDay. This invitation is sure to meet with a large response fromthe amateur epicures about town, who, ever on thequi vive fora banquet gratis, flock to the festive standard, since it has neverbeen found a difficult matter to give things away, from the timeold Heliogabalus gastronomed in Phœnicia up to the presenthour. A splendid hall in one of the principal hotels, at thismoment, occurs to us. A table, the length of the apartment, isspread and furnished with twenty made dishes peculiar to theChristmascuisine. There arechorodens andfricassees,ragoûtsandcalipee, of rapturous delicacy. Each dish is labelled, andattended by a black servant, who serves its contents on verysmall white gilt-edged plates. At the head of the table a vastbowl, ornamented with indescribable Chinese figures, containsthe egg-nogg—a palatable compound of milk, eggs, brandy, andspices, nankeenish in colour, with froth enough on its surfaceto generate any number of Venuses, if the old Peloponnesiananecdote is worth remembering at all. Over the egg-nogg minehost usually officiates, all smiles and benignity, pouring the richdraught with miraculous dexterity into cut-glass goblets, andpassing it to the surrounding guests with profuse hand. Onthis occasion the long range of fancy drinks are forgotten.Sherry-cobblers, mint-juleps, gin-slings, and punches, are setaside in order that the sway of the Christmas draught may besupreme. Free lunches are extremely common in the UnitedStates, what are called "eleven o'clock snacks" especially; butthe accompaniment of egg-nogg belongs unequivocally to thedeath of the year.

The presentation of "boxes" and souvenirs is the same inAmerica as in England, the token of remembrance having aninseparable alliance with the same period. Everybody expectsto give and receive. A month before the event the fancy storesare crowded all day long with old and young in search of suitablesouvenirs, and every object is purchased, from costliestgems to the tawdriestbabiole that may get into the market.If the weather should be fine, the principal streets are throngedwith ladies shopping in sleighs; and hither and thither sledsshoot by, laden with parcels of painted toys, instruments ofmock music and septuagenarian dread, from a penny trumpetto a sheepskin drum.

Christmas seems to be a popular period among the youngfolk for being mated, and a surprising number approach thealtar this morning. Whether it is that orange-flowers andbridal gifts are admirably adapted to the time, or that a longerlease of happiness is ensured from the joyous character of theoccasion, we are not sufficiently learned in hymeneal lore toannounce. The Christmas week, however, is a merry one forthe honeymoon, as little is thought of but mirth and gaiety until313the dawning New Year soberly suggests that we should putaside our masquerade manners.

In drawing-room amusements society has a wealth ofpleasing indoor pastimes. We remember the sententiousQuestionréunions, the hilarious Surprise parties, Fairy-bowl,and Hunt-the-slipper. We can never forget the vagabondCalathumpians, who employ in their bands everything inharmonious,from a fire-shovel to a stewpan, causing more dinthan the demons down under the sea ever dreamed of.

What, then, between the sleigh-rides, the bell-melodies, oldSanta Claus and his fictions, the egg-nogg and lunches, theweddings and the willingness to be entertained, the Americansfind no difficulty in enjoying Christmas Day. Old forms andnew notions come in for a share of observances; and the youngcountry, in a glow of good humour, with one voice exclaims,"Le bon temps vienara!"

Writing from New York on December 22, 1891, a correspondentsays: "President Harrison was seen by yourcorrespondent at the White House yesterday, and was askedwhat he thought about Christmas and its religious and socialinfluences. The President expressed himself willing to offerhis opinions, and said: 'Christmas is the most sacred religiousfestival of the year, and should be an occasion of generalrejoicing throughout the land, from the humblest citizen tothe highest official, who, for the time being, should forget or putbehind him his cares and annoyances, and participate in the spiritof seasonable festivity. We intend to make it a happy day at theWhite House—all the members of my family, representing fourgenerations, will gather around the big table in the State dining-roomto have an old-fashioned Christmas dinner. Besides Mrs.Harrison, there will be her father, Dr. Scott, Mr. and Mrs.M'Kee and their children, Mrs. Dimmick and Lieutenant andMrs. Parker. I am an ardent believer in the duty we owe toourselves as Christians to make merry for children at Christmastime, and we shall have an old-fashioned Christmas tree for thegrandchildren upstairs; and I shall be their Santa Claus myself.If my influence goes for aught in this busy world let me hopethat my example may be followed in every family in the land.'

"Christmas is made as much of in this country as it is inEngland, if not more. The plum-pudding is not universal, butthe Christmas tree is in almost every home. Even in the tenementdistricts of the East side, inhabited by the labouring andpoorer classes, these vernal emblems of the anniversary arequite as much in demand as in other quarters, and if theyand the gifts hung upon them are less elaborate than theirWest side congeners, the household enthusiasm which welcomesthem is quite as marked. As in London, the streetsare flooded with Christmas numbers of the periodicals, which,314it may be remarked, are this year more elaborate in design andexecution than ever. The use of Christmas cards has alsoobtained surprising proportions. A marked feature of thisyear's Christmas is the variety and elegance of offerings afterthe Paris fashion, which are of a purely ornamental and butslight utilitarian character. There are bonbonnières in a varietyof forms, some of them very magnificent and expensive; whilethe Christmas cards range in prices from a cent to ten dollarseach. These bonbonnières, decked with expensive ribbon orhand-painted with designs of the season, attain prices as highas forty dollars each, and are in great favour among thewealthy classes. Flowers are also much used, and, just now,are exceedingly costly.

"While the usual religious ceremonies of the day are generallyobserved here, the mass of the community are inclined to treatthe occasion as a festive rather than a solemn occasion, andupon festivity the whole population at the present time seemsbent."

A journalist who has been amongst the negroes in the SouthernStates of America thus describes their Christmas festivities:—

"Christmas in the South of the United States is a time-honouredholiday season, as ancient as the settlement of theCavalier colonies themselves. We may imagine it to have beenimported from 'merrie England' by the large-hearted Papist,Lord Baltimore, into Maryland, and by that chivalric group ofVirginian colonists, of whom the central historical figure is thefamous Captain John Smith, of Pocahontas memory. PerhapsChristmas was even the more heartily celebrated among thesetrue Papist and Church of England settlers from the disgustwhich they felt at the stern contempt in which the Natal Daywas held by 'stiff-necked Puritans' of New England. Atleast, while in New England the pilgrims were wont to workwith exceptional might on Christmas Day, to show theirdetestation of it, traditions are still extant of the jovialSouthern merrymaking of the festival. Christmas, with manyof the Old England customs imported to the new soil, derivednew spirit and enjoyment from customs which had their originin the Colonies themselves. Above all was it the gala season—theperiod to be looked forward to and revelled in—of thenegroes. Slavery, with all its horrors and wickedness, had atleast some genial features; and the latitude which the mastersgave to the slaves at Christmas time, the freedom with whichthe blacks were wont to concentrate a year's enjoyment intothe Christmas week, was one of these. In Washington, whereuntil the war slavery existed in a mild and more civilised form,the negro celebrations of Christmas were the peculiar and amusingfeature of the season. And many of these customs, which grewup amid slavery, have survived that institution. The Washington315negroes, free, have pretty much the same zest for theirtime-honoured amusements which they had when under thedominion of the oligarchy. Christmas is still their great galaand occasion for merry-making, and the sable creaturesthoroughly understand the art of having a good time, beingsuperior, at least in this respect, to many ablasé Prince andCourt noble distracted withennui. Those who have seenthe 'Minstrels' may derive some idea, though but a slightone, of the negro pastimes and peculiarities. They are, aboveall, a social, enthusiastic, whole-souled race; they have theirown ideas of rank and social caste, and they have a humourwhich is homely, but thoroughly genial, and quite the monopolyof their race. They insist on the whole of Christmas week fora holiday. 'Missus' must manage how she can. To insist onchaining them down in the kitchen during that halcyon timewould stir up blank rebellion. Dancing and music are theirfavourite Christmas recreations; they manage both with a will.In the city suburbs there are many modest little frame-housesinhabited by the blacks; now and then a homely inn kept bya dusky landlord. Here in Christmas time you will witnessmany jolly and infectiously pleasant scenes. There is a 'soundof revelry by night.' You are free to enter, and observe nearby the countless gyrations of the negro cotillon, the intricateand deftly executed jig, the rude melody of banjos and 'cornstalkfiddles.' They are always proud to have 'de white folks 'for spectators and applauders, and will give you the best seat,and will outdo themselves in their anxiety to show off at theirbest before you. You will be astonished to observe the scrupulousneatness of the men, the gaudy and ostentatious habilimentsof 'de ladies.' The negroes have an intense ambition to imitatethe upper classes of white society. They will study the apparelof a well-dressed gentleman, and squander their money on'swallow-tail' coats, high dickeys, white neckties, and the mostelaborate arts of their dusky barbers. The women are evenmore imitative of their mistresses. Ribbons, laces, and silksadorn them, on festive occasions, of the most painfully vividcolours, and fashioned in all the extravagance of negro taste.Not less anxious are they to imitate the manners of aristocracy.The excessive chivalry and overwhelming politeness of the mentowards the women is amazing. They make gallant speechesin which they insert as many of the longest and most learnedwords as they can master, picked up at random, and not alwayspeculiarly adapted to the use made of them. Their excitementin the dance, and at the sound of music, grows as intense asdoes their furor in a Methodist revival meeting. They have,too, dances and music peculiar to themselves—jigs and countrydances which seem to have no method, yet which are perfectlyadapted to and rhythmic with the inspiring abrupt thud of thebanjo and the bones. As they dance, they shout and sing, slaptheir hands and knees, and lose themselves in the enthusiasm316of the moment. The negroes look forward to Christmas notless as the season for present-giving than that of frolicking andjollity. Early in the morning they hasten upstairs, and catch'massa' and 'missus' and 'de chillun' with a respectful buteager 'Merry Christmas,' and are sure to get in return a newcoat or pair of boots, a gingham dress, or ear-rings more showythan expensive. They have saved up, too, a pittance from theirwages, to expend in a souvenir for 'Dinah' or 'Pompey,' thenever-to-be-forgotten belle or sweetheart."

The following account of Christmas in France, in 1823, isgiven by an English writer of the period:—

"The habits and customs of Parisians vary much from thoseof our own metropolis at all times, but at no time more than atthis festive season. An Englishman in Paris, who had been forsome time without referring to his almanac, would not knowChristmas Day from another day by the appearance of thecapital. It is indeed set down as ajour de fête in the calendar,but all the ordinary business life is transacted; the streets areas usual, crowded with waggons and coaches; the shops, withfew exceptions, are open, although on otherfête days the orderfor closing them is rigorously enforced, and if not attended to,a fine levied; and at the churches nothing extraordinary isgoing forward. All this is surprising in a Catholic country,which professes to pay much attention to the outward rites ofreligion.

"OnChristmas Eve, indeed, there is some bustle for a midnightmass, to which immense numbers flock, as the priests, onthis occasion, get up a showy spectacle which rivals the theatres.The altars are dressed with flowers, and the churches decoratedprofusely; but there is little in all this to please men who havebeen accustomed to the John Bull mode of spending the evening.The good English habit of meeting together to forgive offencesand injuries, and to cement reconciliations, is here unknown.The French listen to the Church music, and to the singing oftheir choirs, which is generally excellent, but they know nothingof the origin of the day and of the duties which it imposes.The English residents in Paris, however, do not forget ourmode of celebrating this day. Acts of charity from the richto the needy, religious attendance at church, and a full observanceof hospitable rites, are there witnessed. Paris furnishesall the requisites for a good pudding, and the turkeys areexcellent, though the beef is not to be displayed as a prizeproduction.

"OnChristmas Day all the English cooks in Paris are in fullbusiness. The queen of cooks, however, is Harriet Dunn, ofthe Boulevard. As Sir Astley Cooper among the cuttersof limbs, and d'Egville among the cutters of capers, so isHarriet Dunn among the professors of one of the most317necessary, and in its results most gratifying professions inexistence; her services are secured beforehand by specialretainers; and happy is the peer who can point to hispudding, and declare that it is of the true Dunn composition.Her fame has even extended to the provinces. For some timeprevious to Christmas Day, she forwards puddings in cases toall parts of the country, ready cooked and fit for the table, afterthe necessary warming. All this is, of course, for the English.No prejudice can be stronger than that of the French againstplum-pudding—a Frenchman will dress like an Englishman,swear like an Englishman, and get drunk like an Englishman;but if you would offend him for ever compel him to eat plum-pudding.A few of the leading restaurateurs, wishing to appearextraordinary, haveplomb-pooding upon their cartes, but in noinstance is it ever ordered by a Frenchman. Everybody hasheard the story of St. Louis—Henri Qautre, or whoever elseit might be—who, wishing to regale the English ambassador onChristmas Day with a plum-pudding, procured an excellentrecipe for making one, which he gave to his cook, with strictinjunctions that it should be prepared with due attention to allparticulars. The weight of the ingredients, the size of thecopper, the quantity of water, the duration of time, everythingwas attended to except one trifle—the king forgot thecloth, and the pudding was served up, like so muchsoup in immense tureens, to the surprise of the ambassador,who was, however, too well bred to express his astonishment.Louis XVIII., either to show his contempt of theprejudices of his countrymen, or to keep up a customwhich suits his palate, has always an enormous pudding onChristmas Day, the remains of which, when it leaves the table,he requires to be eaten by the servants,bon gré, mauvais gré;but in this instance even the commands of sovereignty aredisregarded, except by the numerous English in his service,consisting of several valets, grooms, coachmen, &c., besides agreat number of ladies' maids in the service of the duchessesof Angouleme and Berri, who very frequently partake of thedainties of the king's table."

In his "Year Book, 1832," Hone says that at Rouen, after theTe Deum, in the nocturnal office or vigil of Christmas, theecclesiastics celebrated the "office of the shepherds" inthe following manner:—

"The image of the Virgin Mary was placed in a stable preparedbehind the altar. A boy from above, before the choir,in the likeness of an angel, announced the nativity to certaincanons or vicars, who entered as shepherds through the greatdoor of the choir, clothed in tunicks and amesses. Many boysin the vaults of the church, like angels, then began the 'gloriain excelsis.' The shepherds, hearing this, advanced to thestable, singing 'peace, goodwill,' &c. As soon as they enteredit, two priests in dalmaticks, as if women (quasi obstetrices)318who were stationed at the stable, said, 'Whom seek ye?'The shepherds answered, according to the angelic annunciation,'Our Saviour Christ.' The women then opening thecurtain exhibited the boy, saying, 'The little one is here asthe Prophet Isaiah said.' They then showed the mother,saying, 'Behold the Virgin,' &c. Upon these exhibitions theybowed and worshipped the boy, and saluted his mother. Theoffice ended by their returning to the choir, and singing,Alleluia, &c."[95]

"Never has a sadder Christmas dawned on any city. Cold,hunger, agony, grief, and despair sit enthroned at every habitationin Paris. It is the coldest day of the season and the fuelis very short; and the government has had to take hold of thefuel question, and the magnificent shade-trees that have forages adorned the avenues of this city are all likely to go in thevain struggle to save France. So says the Official Journal ofthis morning. The sufferings of the past week exceed by faranything we have seen. There is scarcely any meat but horse-meat,and the government is now rationing. It carries out itswork with impartiality. The omnibus-horse, the cab-horse,the work-horse, and the fancy-horse, all go alike in the mournfulprocession to the butchery shops—the magnificent bloodedsteed of the Rothschilds by the side of the old plug of thecabman. Fresh beef, mutton, pork are now out of thequestion. A little poultry yet remains at fabulous prices.In walking through the Rue St. Lazare I saw a middling-sizedgoose and chicken for sale in a shop-window, and Ihad the curiosity to step in and inquire the price (rash manthat I was). The price of the goose was $25, and thechicken $7."[96]

The Paris correspondent of theDaily Telegraph writes:—"AlthoughNew Year's Day is the great French festival, thefashion of celebrating Christmas something after the Englishcustom is gaining ground in Paris every year. Thus a gooddeal of mistletoe now makes its appearance on the boulevardsand in the shop windows, and it is evident that the famousDruidical plant, which is shipped in such large quantities everyyear to England from Normandy and Brittany, is fast becomingpopular among Parisians. Another custom, that of decorating319Christmas trees in the English and German style, has becomequite an annual solemnity here since the influx of Alsatians andLorrainers, while it is consideredchic, in many quarters, to eatapproximate plum-pudding on the 25th of December. Unfortunately,the Parisian 'blom budding,' unless prepared by Britishhands, is generally a concoction of culinary atrocities, tasting,let us say, like saveloy soup and ginger-bread porridge. In afew instances the 'Angleesh blom budding' has been served atFrench tables in a soup tureen; and guests have been known todirect fearful and furtive glances towards it, just as an Englishmanmight regard with mingled feelings of surprise and suspiciona fricassee of frogs. But independently of foreign innovations,Parisians have their own way of celebrating Noël. To-night(Christmas Eve) for instance, there will be midnight masses inthe principal churches, when appropriate canticles and Adam'spopular 'Noël' will be sung. In many private houses theboudin will also be eaten after the midnight mass, the richbaptising it in champagne, and thepetit bourgeois, who has nota wine cellar, in a cheap concoction of bottled stuff with aBordeaux label but a strong Paris flavour. The feast of Noël is,however, more archaically, and at the same time more earnestly,celebrated in provincial France. In the south the head of thefamily kindles the yule-log, orbûche-de-Noël, which is supposedto continue burning until the arrival of spring. Paterfamiliasalso lights thecalen, or Christmas lamp, which represents theStar of Bethlehem, and then all repair to the midnight mass inthose picturesque groups which painters have delighted tocommit to canvas. The inevitablebaraques, or booths, whichare allowed to remain on the great boulevards from ChristmasEve until the Feast of the Kings, on January 6, have made theirappearance. They extend from the Place de la Madeleine tothe Place de la République, and are also visible on some of theother boulevards of the metropolis. Their glittering contentsare the same as usual, and, despite their want of novelty, crowdsof people lounged along the boulevards this afternoon andinspected them with as much curiosity as if they formed part ofa Russian fair which had been temporarily transported fromNijni Novgorod to Paris. What was more attractive, however,was the show of holly, mistletoe, fir-trees, camellias, tea-roses,and tulips in the famous flower-market outside the Madeleine.A large tent has been erected, which protects the sellers ofwinter flowers from the rain, and this gives the market a gayerand more brilliant appearance than usual. What strikes onemore than anything else, however, is the number of Frenchpeople whom one sees purchasing holly bushes and mistletoe,which they carry home in huge bundles, after the good oldEnglish fashion. Notwithstanding the dampness and gloom ofthe weather, which hovers between frost and rain, the generalaspect of Paris to-day is one of cheerful and picturesqueanimation, and the laughing crowds with whom one jostles320in the streets are thoroughly imbued with the festive characterof the season.

In describing the old-custom-loving people of Lower Normandy,a writer on "Calvados," in 1884-5, thus refers to theseason of Christmas and Twelfth-tide: "Now Christmas arrives,and young and old go up to greet the little child Jesus, lying onhis bed of straw at the Virgin Mother's feet and smiling to allthe world. Overhead the old cracked bell clangs exultant,answering to other bells faint and far on the midnight air; ahundred candles are burning and every church window shinesthrough the darkness like the gates of that holy New Jerusalem'whose light was as a stone most precious—a jasper-stone clearas crystal.' With Twelfth-tide this fair vision suffers a metamorphosis,blazoning out into the paganish saturnalia of bonfires,which in Calvados is transferred from St. John's Evele jour desRois. Red flames leap skyward, fed by dry pine fagots, andour erstwhile devout peasants, throwing moderation to the winds,join hands, dance, and leap for good luck through blindingsmoke and embers, shouting their rude doggerel:

Heinrich Heine delighted in the infantile childishness of aProvençal Christmas. He never saw anything prettier in hislife, he said, than a Noël procession on the coast of theMediterranean. A beautiful young woman and an equallylovely child sat on a donkey, which an old fisherman in aflowing brown gown was supposed to be leading into Egypt.Young girls robed in white muslin were supposed to be angels, andhovered near the child and its mother to supply to him sweetmeatsand other refreshments. At a respectful distance there was a processionof nuns and village children, and then a band of vocalistsand instrumentalists. Flowers and streaming banners wereunsparingly used. Bright sunshine played upon them, and thedeep blue sea formed a background. The seafaring people wholooked on, not knowing whether to venerate or laugh, did both.Falling upon their knees they went through a short devotionalexercise, and then rose to join the procession and give themselvesup to unrestricted mirth. In the chateaux of the Southof Francecrèches are still exhibited, andcrèche suppers given tothe poorer neighbours, and to some of the rich, who are placedat a table "above the salt." There are also "Bethlehem Stable"puppet-shows, at which the Holy Family, their visitors, andfour-footed associates are brought forward asdramatis personæ.St. Joseph, the wise men, and the shepherds are made to speakinpatois. But the Virgin says what she has to say in classicalFrench. In the refinement of her diction, her elevation abovethose with her is expressed. At Marseilles an annual fair ofstatuettes is held, the profits of which are spent in setting upBethlehemcrèches in the churches and other places. Eachstatuette represents a contemporaneous celebrity, and is containedin the hollow part of the wax bust of some saint.Gambetta, Thiers, Cavour, Queen Victoria, Grévy, the Pope,Paul Bert, Rouvier (who is a Marseillais), the late Czar and othercelebrities have appeared among thefigurines hidden within thesaintly busts.

"A Winter in Corsica," by "Two Ladies," published in 1868,contains an interesting account of the celebration of Christmasin that picturesque island of the Mediterranean which is knownas the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte—"One day shortlybefore Christmas our hostess, or landlady, was very busy withan old body in the kitchen, who had come to make sundrycakes in preparation for that festive season. We were all calleddown to see what was going on, and our attention wasparticularly directed to the great oven which was heated onpurpose to bake them. One kind of cake was made of chesnutflour, another of eggs andbroche (a kind of curds made fromgoats' milk), but the principal sort was composed chiefly ofalmonds, extremely good and not unlike macaroons, but thickerand more substantial. For several days previously, everybody322in the house had been busy blanching and pounding almonds;not only the two servants, but Rose and Clara, the young work-womenwho were so often staying in the house, and who,indeed, at one time seemed to form part of the establishment.The old cook herself, a stout and dumpy person, was worthlooking at, as she stood surrounded by these young women, whodid very little but watch her operations; and the whole formedquite an animated picture of a foreignménage, which one rarelyhas the opportunity of seeing.

"Towards Christmas, considerable preparations began to bemade in the shops for the coming season, but chiefly, perhaps,for New Year's Day, which is kept throughout France as agrandfête day. Sweetmeats in great variety filled the windows,and especially what were calledpralines—an almond comfitcovered with rough sugar, and of a peculiar flavour. They arevery good, and cost three francs per pound.

"It seemed strange writing to friends at home wishing them'a happy Christmas,' when we seemed scarcely to have donewith summer.

"There was certainly a good deal of novelty in our mode ofpassing Christmas-time in Ajaccio.

"We had expressed the wish to be present at midnight mass,in the cathedral, on Christmas Eve, and our kind hostess readilypromised to take us, and also said we should have apetit souperwith her on our return. She told us afterwards that she hadspoken to the organist, and obtained permission for us to gointo the organ-loft, where we should have a good view over thechurch, and not be inconvenienced by the crowd. Accordingly,a little before eleven o'clock, we all went downstairs, and,accompanied by madame, as well as by a gentleman and hisdaughter, friends of hers, proceeded to the cathedral.

"As there is no gas in Ajaccio, the church of course islighted only with candles, and very dim and gloomy it looked,especially at first, and during a dull monotonous kind of chanting,which we were told were the offices to the Virgin.

"By and by, as midnight drew near, and the mass was aboutto commence, a great number of candles were lighted on thehigh altar and in the side chapels, and the scene became morebrilliant and animated. We looked down upon a perfect sea ofheads, the women all wearing the national handkerchiefs, manyof these of bright colours, and making them conspicuous amongthe men, of whom there were also a very large number.

"At length the organ struck up, the higher priests entered,wearing their richest robes, followed by numerous attendants.Each bowed and knelt as he passed the altar, and took hisallotted place, and then the service began. At one point,supposed to be the moment of our Saviour's birth, there was323quite an uproar. The people clapped their hands, and stamped,and shouted, trumpets sounded, and the organ pealed forth itsloudest tones.

"Then there was a very sweet hymn-tune played, and somebeautiful voices sang Adeste Fideles, which was by far the mostpleasing part of the service to our minds. Next came the readingof the Gospel, with much formality of kissing and bowing,and incensing; the book was moved from side to side and fromplace to place; then one priest on his knees held it up above hishead, while another, sitting, read a short passage, and a thirdcame forward to the front of the enclosed space near the altar,flinging the censer round and about. Then the little belltinkled, and all that mass of heads bowed down lower, the Hostwas raised, the communion taken by the priests, and at oneo'clock all was over.

"We gladly regained the fresh air, which, though rather cold,was much needed after the close atmosphere of the crowdedcathedral. The moon was very bright, and we hastened homewith appetites sharpened by our walk, for what proved to be ahandsome dinner, rather than apetit souper.

"For ourselves, we did not forget the old home custom ofChristmas decorations, and took some pains to dress oursalonwith evergreens, which we brought down from the hills theprevious day. Although we had neither holly nor mistletoe, wefound good substitutes for them in the elegant-leaved lentiscus,the tree heath and sweetly perfumed myrtle; while round themirror and a picture of the Virgin on the opposite wall wetwined garlands of the graceful sarsaparilla. The whole lookedextremely pretty, and gave quite a festive appearance to theroom.

"On Christmas Day we joined some English friends for awalk, about eleven o'clock. It was a charming morning, brightand hot, as we strolled along the shore to the orange-garden ofBarbacaja, where we gathered oranges fresh from the trees.

"On returning home to dinner no plum-pudding or mince-piesawaited us certainly, but we had tolerably good beef, for awonder, and lamb,merles, and new potatoes.

"Christmas Day in Corsica is observed by the people as areligious festival, but not as a social one; and there are nofamily gatherings as in England and Germany. This arises, nodoubt, from that non-existence of true domestic life which muststrike all English taking up a temporary residence in France.

"There was a succession offête days throughout Christmasweek, when the shops were shut and the people dressed in holidayattire. But the great day to which every one seems to lookforward is the first of the year,le Jour de l'An. Presents arethen made by everybody to everybody, and visits of congratulation,324or merely of ceremony, received and expected. The giftsare sometimes costly and handsome, but generally they aretrifling, merely valuable as works of remembrance, consistingchiefly of bonbons, boxes of crystallised fruits, and other confectionery."

The preceding illustration of Eastern art belongs to the sameperiod as many of the Christmas customs which have survivedin Chios, and it carries our thoughts back to the time whenByzantium was the capital of the Greek Empire in the east.From an interesting account by an English writer in theCornhill Magazine, for December, 1886, who spent a Christmasamongst the Greeks of this once prosperous isle of Chios,it appears that, two days before Christmas, he took up hisquarters at "the village of St. George, a good day's journeyfrom the town, on the slopes of a backbone of mountains, whichdivides Chios from north to south." On the morning followingthe arrival at St. George, "echoes of home" were heard whichcaused the writer to exclaim: "Surely they don't haveChristmas waits here." Outside the house stood a crowd ofchildren singing songs and carrying baskets. From the window,the mistress of the house was seen standing amongst thechildren "talking hard, and putting handfuls of something intoeach basket out of a bag." "On descending," says the writer,325"I inquired the cause of this early invasion, and learnt that it iscustomary on the day before Christmas for children to go roundto the houses of the village early, before the celebration of theliturgy, and collect what is called 'the luck of Christ'—that isto say, walnuts, almonds, figs, raisins, and the like. Everyhousewife is careful to have a large stock of these things readyovernight, and if children come after her stock is exhausted shesays, 'Christ has taken them and passed by.' The urchins, whoare not always willing to accept this excuse, revile her withuncomplimentary remarks, and wish her cloven feet, and otherdisagreeable things."

The writer visited the chief inhabitants of St. George, andwas regaled with "spoonfuls of jam, cups of coffee, and glassesof mastic liquer"; and, in a farmyard, "saw oxen with scarlethorns," it being the custom, on the day before Christmas, for"every man to kill his pig, and if he has cattle to anoint theirhorns with blood, thereby securing their health for the comingyear.

"It is very interesting to see the birthplace of our ownChristmas customs here in Greece, for it is an undoubted factthat all we see now in Greek islands has survived since Byzantinedays. Turkish rule has in no way interfered with religiousobservances, and during four or five centuries of isolation fromthe civilised world the conservative spirit of the East haspreserved intact for us customs as they were in the early daysof Christianity; inasmuch as the Eastern Church was the firstChristian Church, it was the parent of all Christian customs.Many of these customs were mere adaptations of the pagan tothe Christian ceremonial—a necessary measure, doubtless, at atime when a new religion was forced on a deeply superstitiouspopulation. The saints of the Christian took the place of thegods of the "Iliad." Old customs attending religious observanceshave been peculiarly tenacious in these islands, and here it isthat we must look for the pedigree of our own quaint Christianhabits. We have seen the children of St. George collectingtheir Christmas-boxes, we have spoken of pig-killing, and wewill now introduce ourselves to Chiote Christmas-trees, therhamnæ, as they are called here, which take the form of anoffering of fruits of the earth and flowers by tenants to theirlandlords.

"The form of these offerings is varied: one tenant we sawchose to make his in the shape of a tripod; others merelyadorn poles, but all of them effect this decoration in a similarfashion, more gaudily than artistically. The pole is over a yardin height, and around it are bound wreaths of myrtle, olive, andorange leaves; to these are fixed any flowers that may befound, geraniums, anemones, and the like, and, by way offurther decoration, oranges, lemons, and strips of gold andcoloured paper are added.

"On Christmas morning the tenants of the numerous gardens326of Chios proceed to the houses of their landlords, riding onmules and carrying arhamna in front of them and a pair offowls behind. As many as three hundred of these may be seenentering the capital of Chios on this day, and I was told thesight is very imposing. At St. George we had not so many ofthem, but sufficient for our purpose. On reaching his landlord'shouse the peasant sets up the trophy in the outer room, to beadmired by all who come; the fowls he hands over to thehousewife; and then he takes the large family jars oramphoræ,as they still call them, to the well, and draws the drinking waterfor his landlord's Christmas necessities.

"In the afternoon each landlord gives 'a table' to his tenants,a good substantial meal, at which many healths are drunk,compliments exchanged, and songs sung, and before returninghome each man receives a present of money in return for hisofferings. A Greek never gives a present without expecting anequivalent in return."

Another Christmas custom in Chios which reminded thewriter of the English custom of carol-singing is thus described:"There are five parishes in the village of St. George, eachsupplied with a church, priests, acolytes, and candle-lighters,who answer to our vergers, and who are responsible for thelighting of the many lamps and candles which adorn an Easternchurch. These good people assemble together on ChristmasDay, after the liturgy is over, and form what is called 'a musicalcompany'; one man is secured to play the lyre, another theharp, another the cymbals, and another leads the singing—ifthe monotonous chanting in which they indulge can bedignified by the title of singing. The candle-lighter, armedwith a brass tray, is the recognised leader of this musicalcompany, and all day long he conducts them from one house toanother in the parish to play, sing, and collect alms. Thesemusicians of St. George have far more consideration for thefeelings of their fellow-creatures than English carol-singers, forthe candle-lighter is always sent on ahead to inquire of thehousehold they propose to visit if there is mourning in thehouse, or any other valid reason why the musicians should notplay, in which case the candle-lighter merely presents his tray,receives his offering, and passes on. Never, if they can help it,will a family refuse admission to the musicians. They have notmany amusements, poor things, and their Christmas entertainmentpleases them vastly.

"The carols of these islands are exceedingly old-world andquaint. When permission is given the troupe advance towardsthe door, singing a sort of greeting as follows: 'Come now andopen your gates to our party; we have one or two sweet wordsto sing to you.' The door is then opened by the master of thehouse; he greets them and begs them to come in, whilst theother members of the family place chairs at one end of theroom, on which the musicians seat themselves. The first carol327is a genuine Christmas one, a sort of religious recognition of theoccasion, according to our notions fraught with a frivolityalmost bordering on blasphemy; but then it must be rememberedthat these peasants have formed their own simple ideas ofthe life of Christ, the Virgin, and the saints, to which they havegiven utterance in their songs. A priest of St. George kindlysupplied me with the words of some of their carols, and this isa translation of one of the prefatory songs with which themusical company commence:—

After this the company sing a series of songs addressed tothe various members of the family, to the father, to the mother,to the daughters, to the sons; if there chances to be a betrothedcouple there, they are sure to be greeted with a special song;the little children, too, are exhorted in song to be good anddiligent at school. Of these songs there are an infinite number,and many of them give us curious glimpses into the life, not ofto-day, but of ages which have long since passed away.

"The following song is addressed to the master of the house,and has doubtless been sung for centuries of Christmases sincethe old Byzantine days when such things as are mentionedin the song really existed in the houses. This is a word-for-wordtranslation:—

On the conclusion of their carols the musicians pause for rest,the cymbal-player throws his cymbal on the floor, and thecandle-lighter does the same thing with his tray, and into thesethe master of the house deposits his gifts to his parish church,and if they are a newly-married couple they tie up presents offood for the musicians in a handkerchief—figs, almonds, &c.,which the cymbal-player fastens round his neck or ties to hisgirdle.

"Before the musicians take their departure the housewifehurries off to her cupboard and produces a tray with theinevitable jam thereon. Coffee and mastic are served, and thecompliments of the season are exchanged. Whilst the328candle-lighter is absent looking for another house at which to sing, themusicians sing their farewell, 'We wish health to your family,and health to yourself. We go to join thepallicari.'

"In villages where the singing of carols has fallen into disusethe inhabitants are content with the priestly blessing only. Todistribute this the priest of each parish starts off on Christmasmorning with the candle-lighter and his tray, and an acolyte towave the censer; he blesses the shops, he sprinkles holy waterover the commodities, and then he does the same by thehouses; the smell of incense perfumes the air, and the candle-lighterrattles his tray ostentatiously to show what a lot ofcoppers he has got."

"Swan's Journal of a Voyage up the Mediterranean, 1826,"gives the following account of Christmas in a Greek Church:—

"Thursday, January 6th, this being Christmas Day with theGreek Catholics, their 'churches are adorned in the gayestmanner. I entered one, in which a sort of raree-show had beenset up, illumed with a multitude of candles: the subject of itwas the birth of Christ, who was represented in the backgroundby a little waxen figure wrapped up in embroidery, and recliningupon an embroidered cushion, which rested upon another ofpink satin. This was supposed to be the manger where he wasborn. Behind the image two paper bulls' heads looked unutterablethings. On the right was the Virgin Mary, and on the leftone of the eastern Magi. Paper clouds, in which the paperheads of numberless cherubs appeared, enveloped the whole;while from a pasteboard cottage stalked a wooden monk, withdogs, and sheep, and camels, goats, lions, and lambs; herewalked a maiden upon a stratum of sods and dried earth, andthere a shepherd flourishing aloft his pastoral staff. Theconstruction of these august figures was chiefly Dutch: theywere intermixed with china images and miserable daubs onpaper. In the centre a real fountain, in miniature, squirtedforth water to the ineffable delight of crowds of prostrateworshippers."

Hone [97] states that after Christmas Day, during the remainderof December, there is a Presepio, or representation of themanger, in which our Saviour was laid, to be seen in many ofthe churches at Rome. That of the Ara Cœli is the best worthseeing, which church occupies the site of the temple of Jupiter,and is adorned with some of its beautiful pillars. On entering,we found daylight completely excluded from the church; anduntil we advanced, we did not perceive the artificial light, which

was so managed as to stream in fluctuating rays, from interveningsilvery clouds, and shed a radiance over the lovely babe andbending mother, who, in the most graceful attitude, lightly holdsup the drapery which half conceals her sleeping infant from thebystanders. He lies in richly embroidered swaddling clothes,and his person, as well as that of his virgin mother, is ornamentedwith diamonds and other precious stones; for whichpurpose, we are informed, the princesses and ladies of highrank lend their jewels. Groups of cattle grazing, peasantry330engaged in different occupations, and other objects, enliventhe picturesque scenery; every living creature in the group,with eyes directed towards the Presepio, falls prostrate inadoration. In the front of this theatrical representation a littlegirl, about six or eight years old, stood on a bench, preachingextempore, as it appeared, to the persons who filled the church,with all the gesticulation of a little actress, probably in commemorationof those words of the psalmist, quoted by ourblessed Lord—"Out of the mouths of babes and sucklingsThou hast perfected praise." In this manner the Scriptures areacted; not "read, marked, and inwardly digested." The wholescene had, however, a striking effect, well calculated to workupon the minds of a people whose religion consists so largely inoutward show. [From "A Narrative of Three Years in Italy."]

As at the beginning, so in the latter part of the nineteenthcentury, the church celebrations of Christmas continue to begreat Christmas attractions in the Eternal City.

From the description of one who was present at theChristmas celebration of 1883, we quote the followingextracts:—

"On Christmas morning, at ten o'clock, when all the worldwas not only awake, but up and doing, mass was being said andsung in the principal churches, but the great string of visitors tothe Imperial City bent their steps towards St. Peter's to witnessthe celebration of this the greatest feast in the greatest ChristianChurch.

"As the heavy leather curtain which hangs before the doorfell behind one, this sacred building seemed indeed the world'scathedral; for here were various crowds from various nations,and men and women followers of all forms of faiths, and menand women of no faith at all. The great church was full oflight and colour—of light that came in broad yellow beamsthrough the great dome and the high eastern windows, makingthe candles on the side altars and the hundred ever-burninglamps around the St. Peter's shrine look dim and yellow in thefulness of its radiance; and of colour combined of friezes ofburnished gold, and brilliant frescoes, and rich altar pieces, andbronze statues, and slabs of oriental alabaster, and blocks of redporphyry and lapis lazuli, and guilded vaulted ceiling, and wallsof inlaid marbles.

"In the large choir chapel, containing the tomb of ClementIX., three successive High Masses were celebrated, the fullchoir of St. Peter's attending. In the handsomely carved oldoak stalls sat bishops in purple and rich lace, canons in white,and minor canons in grey fur capes, priests and deacons, and ahundred acolytes wearing silver-buckled shoes and surplices.This chapel, with its life-size marble figures resting on thecornices, has two organs, and here the choicest music isfrequently heard.

"Of course the choir chapel was much too small to hold the331great crowd, which, therefore, overflowed into the aisles andnave of the vast church, where the music could be heard likewise.This crowd broke up into groups, each worthy of astudy, and all combining to afford an effect at once strange andpicturesque. There are groups of Americans, English, French,Germans, and Italians promenading round the church, talkingin their respective native tongues, gesticulating, and now andthen pausing to admire a picture or examine a statue.Acquaintances meet and greet; friends introduce mutualfriends; compliments are exchanged, and appointments made.Meanwhile masses are being said at all the side altars, whichare surrounded by knots of people who fall on their knees atthe sound of a little bell, and say their prayers quite undisturbedby the general murmur going on around them.

"Presently there is a stir in the crowd surrounding the choirchapel; the organ is at its loudest, and then comes a longprocession of vergers in purple and scarlet facings, and crossand torch bearers, and censer bearers, and acolytes and deaconsand priests and canons and bishops, and a red-robed cardinalin vestments of cloth of gold wrought and figured with many asacred sign, and, moreover, adorned with precious stones; andHigh Mass at St. Peter's, on Christmas Day, is at an end.

"During the day most of the shops and all the Governmentoffices were open. Soldiers were drilled all day long in thePiazza Vittorio Emanuele, and were formally marched to theirvarious barracks, headed by bands discoursing martial music;whilst the postmen delivered their freight of letters as onordinary days of the week. In the afternoon most of those whowere at St. Peter's in the morning assembled to hear GrandVespers at the handsome and famous church of San MariaMaggiore, one of the oldest in Christendom, the Mosaics on thechancel arch dating from the fifth century. The church wasilluminated with hundreds of candles and hung with scarletdrapery, the effect being very fine; the music such as can alonebe heard in Rome. On the high altar was exhibited in amassive case of gold and crystal two staves said to have beentaken from the manger in which Christ was laid, this beingcarried round the church at the conclusion of Vespers. Almostevery English visitor in Rome was present."

"Every one has heard of the tiny principality of Monaco, withits six square miles of territory facing the Mediterranean, andlying below the wonderful Corniche-road, which has been forages the great highway south of the Alps, connecting the Southof France with Northern Italy. Of course many visitors comehere to gamble, but an increasing number are attracted by thebeauty of the scenery and the charm of the climate; and heresome hundreds of Englishmen and Englishwomen spent theirChristmas Day and ate the conventional plum-pudding.332Christmas had been ushered in by a salvo of artillery and aHigh Mass at the cathedral at eleven on Christmas Eve, andholly and mistletoe (which seemed strangely out of placeamongst the yellow roses and hedges of geraniums) were inmany hands. As illustrating the mildness of the climate andthe natural beauty of the district, the following flowers were infull bloom in the open air on Christmas Day: roses of everyvariety, geraniums, primulas, heliotropes, carnations, anemones,narcissus, sweetwilliams, stocks, cactus, and pinks; and tothese may be added lemon trees and orange trees laden withtheir golden fruit. As evening wore on a strong gale burstupon the shore, and Christmas Day closed amongst wavingfoliage and clanging doors and clouds of dust, and the fiercethud of angry surf upon the sea-shore below.

In "The German Christmas Eve," 1846, Madame ApollineFlohr recalls her "childish recollections" of the Christmasfestivities in the "happy family" of which she was a member.They met amid the glare of a hundred lights, and according toan old-established custom, they soon joined in chaunting thesimple hymn which begins:—

After the singing (says the writer), I ventured for the first time,to approach the pile of Christmas gifts intended for my sisters,my brothers, and myself.

The Christmas tree, always the common property of thechildren of the house, bore gilded fruits of every species; andas we gazed with childish delight on these sparkling treasuresour dear parents wiped away the tears they had plentifullyshed, while our young voices were ringing out the sweet hymn,led by our friend, Herr Von Clappart, with such deep andsolemn emotion.

Now, as the dear mother led each child to his or her ownlittle table—for the gifts for each were laid out separately, andthus apportioned beforehand—all was joy and merriment.

A large table stood in the midst, surrounded by smaller ones,literally laden with pretty and ingenious toys, the gifts offriends and kindred. We liked the toys very much indeed.We were, however, too happy to endure quiet pleasure verylong, and all prepared to assemble around the Christmas tree.After a delightful dance around the tree, and around our dearparents, our presents were again examined; for the variety ofofferings made on these occasions would much exceed thebelief of a stranger to our customs. Every article for children's333clothing was here to be found, both for ornament and use; norwere books forgotten. It was then I received my first Bibleand Prayer-book; and at the moment the precious gift wasplaced in my hand, I resolved to accompany my parents tochurch the following morning at five o'clock. (This earlyattendance at public worship on Christmas morning is acustom observed in Central Germany, and is called Christ-Kirche.)

The ceremony of withdrawing, in order to attire ourselves insome of our new dresses, having been performed, we re-enteredthe apartment, upon which the great folding-doors beingthrown open, a second Christmas tree appeared, laden withhundreds of lights. This effect was produced by the tree beingplaced opposite some large looking-glasses, which reflected thelights and redoubled their brilliancy.

Here hung the gifts prepared by the hands of the childrenfor their beloved parents.

My eldest sister, Charlotte, had knitted for her mother abeautiful evening cap, and a long purse for her father.

Emily presented each one of the family with a pair ofmittens; and the little Adolphine made similar offerings ofopen-worked stockings, her first attempt.

Our parents were also surprised and delighted to receive somedrawings, exceedingly well executed, by my brothers, accompaniedby a letter of thanks from those dear boys, for the kindpermission to take lessons which had been granted to themduring the last half-year.

The great bell had called us together at five o'clock in theafternoon, to receive our Christmas gifts; and though at elevenour eyes and hearts were still wide awake, yet were weobliged to retire, and leave all these objects of delight behindus. All remembered that, at least, the elder branches of thefamily must rise betimes the next morning to attend the Christ-Kirche,and to hear a sermon on the birth of the Saviour ofMankind.

The great excitement of the previous evening, and the visionof delight that still hovered around my fancy, prevented mysleeping soundly; so that when the others were attempting tosteal away the next morning to go to church, I was fully roused,and implored so earnestly to be taken with the rest of thefamily, that at length my prayer was granted; but on conditionthat I should keep perfectly still during the service.

Arrived at the church we found it brilliantly illuminated, anddecorated with the boughs of the holly and other evergreens.

It is quite certain that a child of five years old could notunderstand the importance, beauty, and extreme fitness of thesublime service she so often witnessed in after life; yet I canrecollect a peculiarly sweet, sacred, and mysterious feelingtaking possession of me, as my infant mind received the onesimple impression that this was the birthday of the Saviour I334had been taught to love and pray to, since my infant lips couldlisp a word.

Since early impressions are likely to be permanent, it isconsidered most important in my fatherland to surround,Christmas with all joyous and holy associations. A day ofdays, indeed, it is with us—a day never to be forgotten.

So far is this feeling carried, that it is no uncommon pastime,even at the beginning of the new year, to project plans andpresents, happy surprises, and unlooked-for offerings, to bepresented at the far-off time of Christmas festivity.

Another writer, at the latter end of the nineteenth century,gives the following account of the Christmas festivities at theGerman Court, from which it appears that the long-cherishedChristmas customs are well preserved in the highest circle inGermany:—

In accordance with an old custom the Royal Family ofPrussia celebrate Christmas in a private manner at the EmperorWilliam's palace, where the "blue dining-hall" on the firstfloor is arranged as the Christmas room. Two long rows oftables are placed in this hall, and two smaller tables stand inthe corners on either side of the pillared door leading to theballroom. On these tables stand twelve of the finest and tallestfir-trees, reaching nearly to the ceiling, and covered withinnumerable white wax candles placed in wire-holders, butwithout any other decoration.

In the afternoon of the 24th great packages are brought intothis room containing the presents for the members of theImperial household, and in the presence of the Emperor hisChamberlain distributes them on the tables under the trees.The monarch always takes an active part in this work, and,walking about briskly from one table to the other, helps toplace the objects in the most advantageous positions, andfastens on them slips of white paper on which he himself haswritten the names of the recipients. The Empress is alsopresent, occupied with arranging the presents for the ladies ofher own household. The two separate tables still remainempty, until the Emperor and the Empress have left the room,as they are destined to hold the presents for their Majesties.

At four o'clock the entire Royal Family assemble in the largedining-hall of the Palace for their Christmas dinner. Besidesall the Princes and Princesses without exception, the membersof the Imperial household, the chiefs of the Emperor's militaryand civil Cabinets, and a number of adjutants are also present.

Shortly after the termination of the dinner the double doorsleading to the blue hall are thrown wide open at a sign fromthe Emperor, and the brilliant sight of the twelve great fir-treesbearing thousands of lighted tapers is disclosed to view. This335is the great moment of the German Christmas Eve celebration.The Imperial couples then form in procession, and all proceedto the Christmas room. The Emperor and the Empress thenpersonally lead the members of their households to the presentswhich are grouped in long rows on the tables, and which comprisehundreds of articles, both valuable and useful, objects ofart, pictures, statuary, &c. Meanwhile, the two separate tablesstill remain hidden under white draperies. In other rooms allthe officials and servants of the palace, down to the youngeststable-boy, are presented with their Christmas-boxes. At aboutnine o'clock the Imperial Family and their guests again returnto the dining-room, where a plain supper is then served.According to old tradition, the menu always includes thefollowing dishes: "Carp cooked in beer" (a Polish custom),and "Mohnpielen," an East Prussian dish, composed of poppy-seed,white bread, almonds and raisins, stewed in milk. Afterthe supper all return once more to the Christmas room, wherethe second part of the celebration—the exchange of presentsamong the Royal Family—then comes off.

The Emperor's table stands on the right side of the ballroomdoor, and every object placed on it bears a paper with aninscription intimating by whom the present is given. Thepresents for the Empress on the other table are arranged inthe same manner. Among the objects never missing at theEmperor's Christmas are some large Nuremberg ginger cakes,with the inscription "Weihnachten" and the year. Abouthalf-an-hour later tea is taken, and this terminates the ChristmasEve of the first family of the German Empire.

it may be added, is similarly observed in the year 1900.From the Imperial palace to the poor man's cottage there isnot a family in Germany that has not its Christmas treeand "Weihnachts Bescheerung"—Christmas distribution ofpresents. For the very poor districts of Berlin provision ismade by the municipal authorities or charitable societies to givethe children this form of amusement, which they look forwardto throughout the year.

are similar to those in Germany, the prominent feature beingthe beautifully-adorned and splendidly-lighted Christmas-tree.At one of these celebrations, a few years ago, the numerouspresents received by the young Princess Elizabeth included aspeaking doll, fitted with a phonograph cylinder, which createdno small astonishment. Among other things, the doll wasable to recite a poem composed by the Archduchess MarieValerie in honour of Christmas Eve.

The poor and destitute of Vienna are not forgotten, for, in336addition to the Christmas-tree which is set up at the palace forthem, a large number of charitable associations in the variousdistricts of Vienna have also Christmas-trees laden with presentsfor the poor.

You go into the Duomo late on Christmas Eve, and find thetime-stained alabasters and dark aisles lit up with five hundredsof wax candles over seven feet high. The massive silver lampssuspended across the choir have the inner lamps all ablaze, asis also the graceful Byzantine chandelier in the centre of thenave that glitters like a cluster of stars from dozens of tiny glasscups with wick and oil within. In the solemn and mysteriousgloom you pass figures of men and women kneeling in devotionbefore the many shrines. Some are accompanied by well-behavedand discreet dogs, who sit patiently waiting till theirowners' prayer shall be over; whilst others less well trained,run about from group to group to smell out their friends orgrowl at foes. You slowly work your way through the throngto the high altar. That unique reredos, brought from Constantinoplein early times—the magnificent "Pala d'Ora," anenamelled work wrought on plates of gold and silver, andstudded with precious stones—is unveiled, and the front of thealtar has a rich frontispiece of the thirteenth century, which isof silver washed with gold, and embossed figures. Numbers ofponderous candles throw a glimmer over the treasures withwhich St. Mark's is so richly endowed, that are profusely displayedon the altar. Bishops, canons and priests in full dressare standing and kneeling, and the handsome and much-belovedPatriarch of Venice officiates, in dress of gorgeous scarlet andcream-coloured old lace, and heavy-brocaded cope, that isafterwards exchanged for one of ermine, and flashing rings andjewelled cross. There is no music, but a deep quiet pervadesthe dim golden domes overhead and the faintly-lighted transepts.Stray rays of light catch the smooth surface of themosaics, which throw off sparkles of brightness and cast deepershadows beyond the uncertain radiance. After the midnightmass is celebrated you pass out with the stream of people intothe cold, frosty night, with only the bright stars to guide youthrough the silent alleys to your rooms, where you wish eachother "A Merry Christmas!" and retire to sleep, and to dreamof the old home in England.—Queen.

In the south Christmas is bright and gay, and in truth noisy.Thefesta natalizie, as it is called in Naples, is celebrated byfairs and bonfires and fireworks. In the Toledo, that famous337street known to all the world, booths are erected beside theshops, flaming in colour, and filled with all sorts of temptingwares. Throughout Christmas Eve an immense crowd of men,women, and children throng this street, nearly a mile in length.The vendors shriek at the top of their voice, praising themselvesand their goods, and then, with merry peals of laughter,exhibit with Neapolitan drollery all the arts of their trade.The crowd catch the contagious spirit of fun, and toss witticismsto and fro, until the welkin rings with shouts andlaughter. A revolution in Paris could not create greater excitement,or greater noise, than the Christmas fair at Naples, thelargest, and certainly the merriest, in the world. As night338draws on the mirth grows uproarious; improvisations abound.Pulcinello attracts laughing crowds. The bagpipes strike withtheir ear-piercing sounds, and arise shrill above universaldin. Fireworks are let off at every street corner, flamingtorches carried in procession parade the streets; rockets rise inthe air, coloured lamps are hung over doorways, and in themidst of the blaze of light the church bells announce the midnightMass, and the crowd leave the fair and the streets, and onbended knee are worshipping.

Spain in winter must be divided into Spain the frigid and339Spain the semi-tropic; for while snow lies a foot deep atChristmas in the north, in the south the sun is shining brightly,and flowers of spring are peeping out, and a nosegay of heliotropeand open-air geraniums is the Christmas-holly andmistletoe of Andalusia. There is no chill in the air, there is nofrost on the window-pane.

When Christmas Eve comes the two days' holiday commences.At twelve the labourers leave their work, repairhome, and dress in their best. Then the shops are all ablazewith lights, ribbons and streamers, with tempting fare of sweetsand sausages, with red and yellow serge to make warm petticoats;with cymbals, drums, andzambombas. The chiefsweetmeats, peculiar to Christmas, and bought alike by richand poor, are the various kinds of preserved fruits, incrustedwith sugar, and the famousturrni. This last, which is of fourkinds, and may be called in English phraseology, "almond rock,"is brought to your door, and buy it you must. A coarse kind issold to the poor at a cheap rate. Other comestibles, peculiarto Christmas, are almond soup, truffled turkey, roasted chestnuts,and nuts of every sort.

Before theNoche-buena, or Christmas Eve, however, one ortwo good deeds have been done by the civil and militaryauthorities. On the twenty-third or twenty-fourth the customis for the military governor to visit all the soldier prisoners, incompany with their respective defensores, or advocates; and,de officio, there and then, he liberates all who are in gaol forlight offences. This plan is also pursued in the civil prisons;and thus a beautiful custom is kept up in classic, romantic, Old-worldSpain, and a ray of hope enters into and illuminates eventhe bitter darkness of a Spanish prisoners' den.

It is Christmas Eve. The poor man has his relations roundhim, over his humblepuchero (stew): the rich man likewise.Friends have not come, "for it is not the custom." In Spainonly blood relations eat and drink in the house as invited guests.Families meet as in England. Two per cent. of the soldiersget a fortnight's leave of absence and a free pass; and there isjoy in peasant homes over peasant charcoal pans. The duskyshades of evening are stealing over olive grove and witheringvineyard, and every house lights up its tiny oil lamp, and everyimage of the Virgin is illuminated with a taper. In Eija, nearCordova, an image or portrait of the Virgin and the Babenew-born, hangs in well-nigh every room in every house. Andwhy? Because the beautiful belief is rooted in those simpleminds, that, on Christmas Eve, ere the clock strikes twelve, theVirgin, bringing blessings in her train, visits every house whereshe can find an image or portrait ofher Son. And many agirl kneels down in robes of white before her humble portraitof the Babe and prays; and hears a rustle in the room, andthinks, "the Virgin comes: she brings me my Christmas Eveblessing;" and turns, and lo! it isher mother, and the Virgin'sblessing is the mother's kiss!340

In Northern Andalusia you have thezambomba, a flower-potperforated by a hollow reed, which, wetted and rubbed with thefinger, gives out a hollow, scraping, monotonous sound. InSouthern Andalusia thepanderita, or tambourine, is the chiefinstrument. It is wreathed with gaudy ribbons, and decked withbells, and beaten, shaken, and tossed in the air with gracefulabandon to the strains of the Christmas hymn:

Then also men click the castanet in wine-shop and cottage;and in such old-world towns as Eija, where no railway haspenetrated, a breast-plate of eccentrically strung bones—slunground the neck and played with sticks—is still seen andheard.

The turkeys have been slaughtered and are smoking on thefire. The night is drawing on and now the meal is over.Twelve o'clock strikes, and in one moment every bell from everybelfrey clangs out its summons. Poltroon were he who hadgone to bed before twelve onNoche-buena. From everyhouse the inmates hurry to the gaily-lit church and throng itsaisles, a dark-robed crowd of worshippers. The organ pealsout, the priests and choir chant at this midnight hour theChristmas hymn, and at last (in some out-of-the-way towns) thepriests, in gaudiest robes, bring out from under the altar andexpose aloft to the crowds, in swaddling-clothes of gold andwhite, the Babe new-born, and all fall down and cross themselvesin mute adoration. This service is universal, and is called the"Misa del Gallo," or Cock-crow Mass, and even in Madrid itis customary to attend it. There are three masses also onChristmas Day, and the Church rule, strictly observed, is that ifa man fail to attend this Midnight Mass he must, to save hisreligious character, attend all three on Christmas Day. Inantique towns, like Eija, there are two days' early mass(called "Misa di Luz") anterior to the "Misa del Gallo,"at 4 a.m., and in the raw morning the churches are throngedwith rich and poor. In that strange, old-world town, also,the chief dame goes to the Midnight Mass, all her men-servantsin procession before her, each playing a differentinstrument.

Christmas Eve is over. It is 1.30 a.m. on Christmas morning,and the crowds, orderly, devout, cheerful, are wending their wayhome. Then all is hushed; all have sought repose; there areno drunken riots; the dark streets are lit by the tiny oil lamps;the watchman's monotonous cry alone is heard, "Ave Mariapurissima; las dos; y sereno."

The three masses at the churches on Christmas Day are allchanted to joyous music. Then the poor come in to pay their341rent of turkeys, pigs, olives, or what not, to their landlord, andhe gives them a Christmas-box: such as a piece of salt fish,or money, or what may be. Then, when you enter your house,you will find on your table, with the heading, "A HappyChristmas," a book of little leaflets, printed with verses. Theseare the petitions of the postman, scavenger, telegraph man,newsboy, &c., asking you for a Christmas-box. Poor fellows!they get little enough, and a couple of francs is well bestowedon them once a year. After mid-day breakfast or luncheon isover, rich and poor walk out and take the air, and a gaudy,pompous crowd they form as a rule. As regards presents atChristmas, the rule is, in primitive Spain, to send a present totheCura (parish priest) and the doctor. Many Spaniards pay afixed annual sum to their medical man, and he attends all thefamily, including servants. His salary is sent to him at Christmas,with the addition of a turkey, or a cake, or some fine sweetmeats.

On Christmas Eve the provincial hospitals present one oftheir most striking aspects to the visitor. It is a feast-day, andinstead of the usual stew, the soup calledcaldo—and very weakstuff it is—or the stir-about and fried bread, the sick havetheir good sound meats, cooked in savoury and most approvedfashion, their tumbler of wine, their extra cigar. Visitors,kindly Spanish ladies, come in, their hands laden with sweetsand tobacco, &c., and the sight of the black silk dresses trailingover the lowly hospital couches is most human and pathetic.At lastnight—the veritable Christmas Eve comes. The chapelsin these hospitals are generally on the ground floor, andfrequently sunk some feet below it, but open to the hospital;so that the poor inmates who can leave their beds can hobbleto the railing and look down into the chapel—one mass ofdazzling lights, glitter, colour, and music: and thus, withoutthe fatigue of descending the stairs, can join in the service. Athalf-past eleven at night the chapel is gaily lit up; carriageafter carriage, mule-cart after mule-cart rattles up to thehospital door, discharging crowds of ladies and gentlemenin evening dress; thus the common people, chiefly theyoung, with their tambourines and zambombas, pour intothe chapel fromCampo, and alley, and street, and soon thechapel is filled; while above, sitting, hobbling, lying allround the rails, and gazing down upon the motley and noisythrong below, are the inmates of the hospital. The priestbegins the Midnight Mass, and the organs take up the service,the whole of which, for one hour, is chanted. Meanwhile, thetambourines and other musical instruments are busy, and joinin the strains of the organ; and the din, glitter, and excitementare most exhilarating. And thus the occupants of theSpanish provincial hospitals join in the festivities of Christmastide,as seen by one who has dwelt "Among the SpanishPeople."342

A writer who knows the manners and habits of the people ofNorway, and their customs at Christmastide, says:—

At Christiania, and other Norwegian towns, there is, or usedto be, a delicate Christmas custom of offering to a lady a broochor a pair of earings in a truss of hay. The house-door of theperson to be complimented is pushed open, and there is throwninto the house a truss of hay or straw, a sheaf of corn, or a bagof chaff. In some part of this "bottle of hay" envelope, thereis a "needle" as a present to be hunted for. A friend of mineonce received from her betrothed, according to the Christmascustom, an exceedingly large brown paper parcel, which, onbeing opened, revealed a second parcel with a loving motto onthe cover. And so on, parcel within parcel, motto withinmotto, till the kernel of this paper husk—which was at lengthdiscovered to be a delicate piece of minute jewellery—wasarrived at.

One of the prettiest of Christmas customs is the Norwegianpractice of giving, on Christmas Day, a dinner to the birds. OnChristmas morning every gable, gateway, or barn-door, isdecorated with a sheaf of corn fixed on the top of a tall pole,wherefrom it is intended that the birds should make theirChristmas dinner. Even the peasants contrive to have ahandful set by for this purpose, and what the birds do not eaton Christmas Day, remains for them to finish at their leisureduring the winter.

On New Year's Day in Norway, friends and acquaintancesexchange calls and good wishes. In the corner of eachreception-room is placed a little table, furnished all through theday with wine and cakes for the refreshment of the visitors;who talk, and compliment, and flirt, and sip wine, and nibblecake from house to house, with great perseverance.

Between Christmas and Twelfth Day mummers are in season.They are called "Julebukker," or Christmas goblins. Theyinvariably appear after dark, and in masks and fancy dresses.A host may therefore have to entertain in the course of theseason, a Punch, Mephistopheles, Charlemagne, Number, Nip,Gustavus, Oberon, and whole companies of other fanciful andhistoric characters; but, as their antics are performed insilence, they are not particularly cheerful company.

With Christmas Eve begins the festive season known inRussia asSvyatki orSvyatuie Vechera (Holy Evenings), whichlasts till the Epiphany. The numerous sportive ceremonieswhich are associated with it resemble, in many respects, thosewith which we are familiar, but they are rendered speciallyinteresting and valuable by the relics of the past which they343have been the means of preserving—the fragments of ritualsong which refer to the ancient paganism of the land, the time-honouredcustoms which originally belonged to the feasts withwhich the heathen Slavs greeted each year the return of thesun. On Christmas Eve commences the singing of the songscalledKolyadki, a word, generally supposed to be akin toKalendæ, though reference is made in some of them to amysterious being, apparently a solar goddess, named Kolyada."Kolyada, Kolyada! Kolyada has come. We wandered about,we sought holy Kolyada in all the courtyards," commences oneof these old songs, for many a year, no doubt, solemnly sung bythe young people who used in olden times to escort fromhomestead to homestead a sledge in which sat a girl dressed inwhite, who represented the benignant goddess. Nowadaysthese songs have in many places fallen into disuse, or are keptup only by the children who go from house to house, tocongratulate the inhabitants on the arrival of Christmas, and towish them a prosperous New Year. In every home, says oneof these archaic poems, are three inner chambers. In one isthe bright moon, in another the red sun, in a third many stars.The bright moon—that is the master of the house; the red sun—thatis the housewife; the many stars—they are the littlechildren.

The Russian Church sternly sets its face against the old customswith which the Christmas season was associated, denouncing the"fiendish songs," and "devilish games," the "graceless talk,"the "nocturnal gambols," and the various kinds of divinationin which the faithful persisted in indulging. But, althoughrepressed, they were not to be destroyed, and at various seasonsof the year, but especially those of the summer and wintersolstice, the "orthodox," in spite of their pastors, made merrywith old heathenish sports, and, after listening to Christianpsalms in church, went home and sang songs framed by theirancestors in honour of heathen divinities. Thus century aftercentury went by, and the fortunes of Russia underwent greatchanges. But still in the villages were the old customs kept up,and when Christmas Day came round it was greeted by survivalsof the ceremonies with which the ancient Slavs hailed thereturning sun god, who caused the days to lengthen, and filledthe minds of men with hopes of a new year rich in fruits andgrain. One of the customs to which the Church most stronglyobjected was that of mumming. As in other lands, so in Russiait was customary for mummers to go about at Christmastide,visiting various homes in which the festivities of the seasonwere being kept up, and there dancing, and performing all kindsof antics. Prominent parts were always played by humanrepresentatives of a goat and a bear. Some of the party wouldbe disguised as "Lazaruses," that is, as the blind beggars whobear that name, and whose plaintive strains have resounded allover Russia from the earliest times to the present day. The344rest disguised themselves as they best could, a certain numberof them being generally supposed to play the part of thievesdesirous to break in and steal. When, after a time, they wereadmitted into the room where the Christmas guests wereassembled, the goat and the bear would dance a merry roundtogether, the Lazaruses would sing their "dumps so dull andheavy," and the rest of the performers would exert themselvesto produce exhilaration. Even among the upper classes it waslong the custom at this time of year for the young people to dressup and visit their neighbours in disguise. Thus in Count Tolstoy's"Peace and War," a novel which aims at giving a true accountof the Russia of the early part of the present century, there is acharming description of a visit of this kind paid by the youngermembers of one family to another. On a bright frosty nightthe sledges are suddenly ordered, and the young people dressup, and away they drive across the crackling snow to a countryhouse six miles off, all the actors creating a great sensation, butespecially the fair maiden Sonya, who proves irresistible whenclad in her cousin's hussar uniform and adorned with an elegantmoustache. Such mummers as these would lay aside theirdisguises with a light conscience, but the peasant was apt tofeel a depressing qualm when the sports were over; and it issaid that, even at the present day, there are rustics who do notventure to go to church, after having taken part in a mumming,until they have washed off their guilt by immersing themselvesin the benumbing waters of an ice-hole.

Next to the mumming, what the Church most objected towas the divination always practised at Christmas festivals.With one of its forms a number of songs have been associated,termedpodblyudnuiya, as connected with ablyudo, a dish orbowl. Into some vessel of this kind the young people droptokens. A cloth is then thrown over it, and the various objects aredrawn out, one after another, to the sound of songs, from thetenor of which the owners deduce omens relative to their futurehappiness. As bread and salt are also thrown into the bowl,the ceremony may be supposed to have originally partaken ofthe nature of a sacrifice. After these songs are over ought tocome the game known as the "burial of the gold." The lastring remaining in the prophetic bowl is taken out by one of thegirls, who keeps it concealed in her hand. The others sit in acircle, resting their hands on their knees. She walks slowlyround, while the first four lines are sung in chorus of the songbeginning, "See here, gold I bury, I bury." Then she slips thering into one of their hands, from which it is rapidly passed onto another, the song being continued the while. When itcomes to an end the "gold burier" must try to guess in whosehand the ring is concealed. This game is a poetical form ofour "hunt the slipper." Like many other Slavonic customs itis by some archæologists traced home to Greece. By certainmythologists the "gold" is supposed to be an emblem of the345sun, long hidden by envious wintry clouds, but at this time ofyear beginning to prolong the hours of daylight. To the sunreally refer, in all probability, the bonfires with which Christmastide,as well as the New Year and Midsummer is greeted inRussia. In the Ukraine the sweepings from a cottage arecarefully preserved from Christmas Day to New Year's Day,and are then burnt in a garden at sunrise. Among some of theSlavs, such as the Servians, Croatians, and Dalmatians, abadnyak, or piece of wood answering to the northern Yule-log,is solemnly burnt on Christmas Eve. But the significanceoriginally attached to these practices has long been forgotten.Thus the grave attempts of olden times to search the secrets offuturity have degenerated into the sportive guesses of youngpeople, who half believe that they may learn from omens atChristmas time what manner of marriages are in store for them.Divinings of this kind are known to all lands, and bear a strongfamily likeness; but it is, of course, only in a cold country thata spinster can find an opportunity of sitting beside a hole cut inthe surface of a frozen river, listening to prophetic soundsproceeding from beneath the ice, and possibly seeing the imageof the husband who she is to marry within the year tremblingin the freezing water. Throughout the whole period of theSvyatki, the idea of marriage probably keeps possession of theminds of many Russian maidens, and on the eve of the Epiphany,the feast with which those Christmas holidays come to an end,it is still said to be the custom for the village girls to go outinto the open air and to beseech the "stars, stars, dear littlestars," to be so benignant as to

"A certain young man about town" (saysChambers's Journal,December 25, 1869), "once forsook the sweet shady side of PallMall for the sake of smoking his cigar in savage Africa; butwhen Christmas came, he was seized with a desire to spend itin Christian company, and this is how he did spend it: 'WeEnglish once possessed the Senegal; and there, every ChristmasEve, the Feast of Lanterns used to be held. The native womenpicked up the words and airs of the carols; the custom haddescended to the Gambia, and even to the Casemanche, whereit is still preserved. A few minutes after I had ridden up,sounds of music were heard, and a crowd of blacks came to thedoor, carrying the model of a ship made of paper, and illuminatedwithin; and hollowed pumpkins also lighted up for theoccasion. Then they sang some of our dear old Christmas346carols, and among others, one which I had heard years ago onChristmas Eve at Oxford:

You can imagine with what feelings I listened to those simplewords, sung by negresses who knew not a phrase of Englishbesides. You can imagine what recollections they called up, asI sat under an African sky, the palm-trees rustling above myhead, and the crocodiles moaning in the river beyond. Ithought of the snow lying thick upon the ground; of the keen,clear, frosty air. I thought of the ruddy fire which would beblazing in a room I knew; and of those young faces whichwould be beaming still more brightly by its side; I thought of—oh,of a hundred things, which I can laugh at now, because Iam in England, but which, in Africa, made me more wretchedthan I can well express.'

"Next day, sadness and sentiment gave way, for a while atleast, to more prosaical feelings. When Mr. Reade sat downto his Christmas dinner, he must have wished, with Macbeth,'May good digestion wait on appetite,' as he contemplated thefare awaiting discussion, and to which a boar's head grinned awelcome. Snails from France, oysters torn from trees, gazellecutlets, stewed iguana, smoked elephant, fried locusts, manati-breasts,hippopotamus steaks, boiled alligator, roasted crocodileeggs, monkeys on toast, land crabs and Africa soles, carp, andmullet—detestable in themselves, but triumphant proof of theskill of the cook—furnished forth the festival-table, in companywith potatoes, plantains, pine-apples, oranges, papaws, bananas,and various fruits rejoicing in extraordinary shapes, long nativenames, and very nasty flavours; and last, but not least, palm-cabbagestewed in white sauce, 'the ambrosia of the gods,' anda bottle of good Bordeaux at every's man's elbow. When eveningcame, Mr. Reade and a special friend sought the river: 'Therosy wine had rouged our yellow cheeks, and we lay back onthe cushions, and watched the setting sun with languid, half-closedeyes. Four men, who might have served as models toAppelles, bent slowly to their stroke, and murmured forth asweet and plaintive song. Their oars, obedient to their voice,rippled the still water, and dropped from their blades pearls,which the sun made rubies with its rays. Two beautiful girls,who sat before us in the bow, raised their rounded arms andtinkled their bracelets in the air. Then, gliding into the water,they brought us flowers from beneath the dark bushes, andkissed the hands which took them, with wet and laughing lips.Like a dark curtain, the warm night fell upon us; strange criesroused from the forest; beasts of the waters plunged around us,347and my honest friend's hand pressed mine. And Christmas Daywas over. We might seek long for a stranger contrast to anEnglishman's Christmas at home, although—to adapt someseasonable lines—

CHAPTER XIII

CONCLUDING CAROL SERVICE OF THENINETEENTH CENTURY.

Now, returning from the celebrations of Christmas in distantparts of the world, we conclude our historic account of thegreat Christian festival by recording the pleasure with which weattended the

at a fine old English cathedral—the recently restored andbeautiful cathedral at Lichfield, whose triple spires are seen andwell known by travellers on the Trent valley portion of theLondon and North Western main line of railway which linksLondon with the North.

Christmas carols have been sung at Lichfield from long beforethe time of "the mighty Offa," King of the Mercians, in whosedays and by whose influence Lichfield became for a time anarchiepiscopal see, being elevated to that dignity by PopeAdrian, in 785. And, in the seventeenth century, the Deaneryof Lichfield was conferred upon the Rev. Griffin Higgs, thewriter of the events connected with the exhibition of "TheChristmas Prince" at St. John's College, Oxford, in 1607, whoseauthentic account of these interesting historical events will befound in an earlier chapter of this work.

The Christmas carols at Lichfield Cathedral, sung by the fullchoir at the special evening service on St. Stephen's Day(December 26th), have, for many years, attracted large andappreciative congregations, and the last of these celebrations inthe nineteenth century (on December 26, 1900) was wellsustained by the singers and attended by many hundreds ofcitizens and visitors. Eight Christmas Carols and an anthemwere sung, the concluding Carol being "The First Nowell";and the organist (Mr. J. B. Lott, Mus. Bac., Oxon) played thePastoral Symphony from Sullivan's "Light of the World,"Mendelssohn's March ("Cornelius"), the Pastoral Symphonyfrom Handel's "Messiah," and other exquisite voluntaries.From the anthem, E. H. Sears's beautiful verses beginning

INDEX

Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editionswill be renamed.

Creating the works from public domain print editions means that noone owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States withoutpermission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules,set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply tocopying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works toprotect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. ProjectGutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if youcharge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If youdo not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with therules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purposesuch as creation of derivative works, reports, performances andresearch. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may dopractically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution issubject to the trademark license, especially commercialredistribution.

CHAPTER I.	page
The Origin and Associations of Christmas	5

CHAPTER II.
The Earlier Celebrations of the Festival	10

CHAPTER III.
Early Christmas Celebrations in Britain	23

CHAPTER IV.
Christmas, From the Norman Conquest To Magna Charta	40

CHAPTER V.
Christmas, From Magna Charta To the End of the Wars of the Roses	62
(a.d. 1215-1485.)

CHAPTER VI.
Christmas Under Henry VII. and Henry VIII.	94
(a.d. 1485-1547.)

CHAPTER VII.
Christmas Under Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth	115
(a.d. 1547-1603.)

CHAPTER VIII.
Christmas Under James I.	151
(a.d. 1603-1625.)

CHAPTER IX.
Christmas Under Charles the First and the Commonwealth	197
(a.d. 1625-1660.)

CHAPTER X.
Christmas, From the Restoration To the Death Of George II.	215
(a.d. 1660-1760.)

CHAPTER XI.
Modern Christmases at Home	240

CHAPTER XII.
Modern Christmases Abroad	294

CHAPTER XIII.
Concluding Carol Service of the Nineteenth Century	349

INDEX	351

page
Bringing in the Yule Log	Frontispiece
The Herald Angels	2
Virgin and Child	5
Joseph Taking Mary to be Taxed, and the Nativity Events	6
The Nativity (Central portion of Picture in National Gallery)	8
Virgin and Child (Relievo)	9
Group from the Angels' Serenade	10
Adoration of the Magi (From Pulpit of Pisa)	11
"The Inns are Full"	14
Grape Gathering and the Vintage (Mosaic in the Church of St. Constantine, Rome, A.D. 320)	16
German Ninth Century Picture of the Nativity	16
Ancient Roman Illustrations	17
Ancient Roman Illustrations	18
Ancient Agape	19
Ancient Roman Illustrations	21
Early Celebrations in Britain	23
Queen Bertha	27
An Ancient Fireplace	30
Traveling in the Olden Time, with a "Christmas Fool:on the Front Seat	31
The Wild Boar Hunt: Killing the Boar	32
Adoration of the Magi (Picture of Stained Glass, WinchesterCathedral)	34
A King at Dinner	40
Blind Minstrel at a Feast	42
Minstrels' Christmas Serenade at an Old Baronial Hall	44
Westminster Hall	46
Strange Old Stories Illustrated (From Harl. MS.)	50
A Cook of the Period (Early Norman)	55
Monk Undergoing Discipline	56
Wassailing at Christmastide	57
Panoply of a Crusader	58
Royal Party Dining in State	63
Ladies Looking from the Hustings upon the Tournament	73
The Lord of Misrule	74
Curious Cuts of Priestly Players in the Olden Time	76
A Court Fool	77
Virgin and Child (Florentine, 1480. South Kensington Museum)	83
Henry VI.'s Cradle	84
Lady Musician of the Fifteenth Century	91
Rustic Christmas Minstrel with Pipe and Tabor	92
Martin Luther and the Christmas Tree	106
The Little Orleans Madonna of Raphael	107
Magdalen College, Oxford	110
Bringing in the Boar's Head with Minstrelsy	111
Virgin and Child, Chirbury, Shropshire	118
Riding a-Mumming at Christmastide	121
A Dumb Show in the Time of Elizabeth	123
The Fool of the Old Play (From a Print by Breughel)	137
The Acting of one of Shakespeare's Plays in the Time ofQueen Elizabeth	141
Neighbours with Pipe and Tabor	147
Christmas in the Hall	149
The Hobby-Horse	197
Servants' Christmas Feast	202
"The Hackin"	216
Seafaring Pilgrims	219
An Ancient Fireplace	225
A Druid Priestess Bearing Mistletoe	228
A Nest of Fools	229
"The Mask Dance"	231
The Christmas Mummers	234
The Waits	240
The Christmas Plum-Pudding	245
Italian Minstrels in London, at Christmas, 1825	246
Snap Dragon	247
Blindman's Buff	249
The Christmas Dance	250
The Giving Away of Christmas Doles	257
Poor Children's Treat in Modern Times	265
The Christmas Bells	271
Wassailing the Apple-Trees in Devonshire	279
Modern Christmas Performers: Yorkshire Sword-Actors	282
Modern Christmas Characters: "St Peter," "St. Denys"	283
A Scotch First Footing	285
Provençal Plays at Christmastide	320
Nativity Picture (From Byzantine Ivory in the British Museum)	324
Calabrian Shepherds Playing in Rome at Christmas	329
Worshipping the Child Jesus (From a Picture in the Museumat Naples)	337
Angels and Men Worshipping the Child Jesus (From aPicture in Seville Cathedral)	338
Simeon Received the Child Jesus into his Arms (FromModern Stained Glass in Bishopsgate Church, London)	348
Lichfield Cathedral	349

	Youre humble orators,
"To the most reverent Father in God the Lord Cardinall his good Grace."		John Exon
		Jeilez Grevile
		Peter Burnell
		John Salter
		G. Bromley
		Thomas Audeley.

Mr. Onslow, Lord Chancellour.
Anthony Stapleton, Lord Treasurer.
Robert Kelway, Lord Privy Seal.
John Fuller, Chief Justice of the King's Bench.
William Pole, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.
Roger Manwood, Chief Baron of the Exchequer.
Mr. Bashe, Steward of the Household.
Mr. Copley, Marshall of the Household.
Mr. Paten, Chief Butler.
Christopher Hatton, Master of the Game. (He was afterwards Lord Chancellor of England.)
Mr. Blaston		Masters of the Revells.
Mr. Yorke
Mr. Penston
Mr. Jervise
127Mr. Parker, Lieutenant of the Tower.
Mr. Kendall, Carver.
Mr. Martin, Ranger of the Forests.
Mr. Stradling, Sewer.

A Marshal.			A Marshal.
Trumpets.			Trumpets.

Captain of the Guard	Grimes.
Baron of the Grand Port	Dudley.
Baron of the Base Port	Grante.
Gentlemen for Entertainment, three couples	Binge, &c.
Baron of the Petty Port	Williams.
Baron of the New Port	Lovel.

Gentlemen for Entertainment, three couples		Wentworth.
		Zukenden.
		Forrest.

Lawson.	Rotts.	Davison.
Devereux.	Anderson.
Stapleton.	Glascott.
Daniel.	Elken.	cum reliquis.

Chief Ranger and Master of the Game	Forrest.
Master of the Revels	Lambert.
Master of the Revellers	Tevery.
Captain of the Pensioners	Cooke.
Sewer	Archer.
Carver	Moseley.
Another Sewer	Drewery.
Cup-bearer	Painter.
Groom-porter	Bennet.
Sheriff	Leach.
Clerk of the Council	Jones.
Clerk of the Parliament.
Clerk of the Crown	Downes.
Orator	Heke.
Recorder	Starkey.
Solicitor	Dunne.
Serjeant	Goldsmith.
Speaker of the Parliament	Bellen.
Commissary	Greenwood.
Attorney	Holt.
Serjeant	Hitchcombe.
Master of the Requests	Faldo.
Chanplayersor of the Exchequer	Kitts.
Master of the Wards and Idiots	Ellis.
Reader	Cobb.
Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer	Briggs.
Master of the Rolls	Hetlen.
Lord Chief Baron of the Common Pleas	Damporte.
Lord Chief Justice of the Princes Bench	Crew.
Master of the Ordnance	Fitz-Williams.
Lieutenant of the Tower	Lloyd.
Master of the Jewel-house	Darlen.
Treasurer of the House-hold	Smith.
Knight Marshal	Bell.
Master of the Ward-robe	Conney.
Comptroller of the House-hold	Bouthe.
Bishop of St. Giles's in the Fie	Dandye.
Steward of the House-hold	Smith.
Lord Warden of the four Ports	Damporte.
Secretary of State	Jones.
Lord Admiral	Cecil (Richard).
Lord Treasurer	Morrey.
Lord Great Chamberlain	Southworth.
Lord High Constable.
Lord Privy Seal	Knapolck.
Lord Marshal	Lamphew.
Lord MarshalLord Chamberlain of the House-hold	Markham.
Lord High Steward	Kempe.
Lord Chancellor	Johnson.
Archbishop of St. Andrews in Holborn	Bush.
Serjeant at Arms, with the Mace	Flemming.
Gentleman-Usher	Chevett.
The Shield of Pegasus, for the Inner-Temple	Scevington.
Serjeant at Arms, with the Sword	Glascott.
Gentleman-Usher	Paylor.
The Shield of the Griffin, for Gray's-Inn	Wickliffe.
The King at Arms	Perkinson.
The great Shield of the Prince's Arms	Cobley.
The Prince of Purpoole	Helmes.
A Page of Honour	Wandforde.
Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber, six couples.
A Page of Honour	Butler (Roger).
Vice-Chamberlain	Butler (Thomas).
Master of the Horse	Fitz-Hugh.
Yeomen of the Guard, three couples.
Townsmen in Liveries.

	1 Joanes Towse,habet suffragia sex.
	2us Thomas Tucker,habet suffragia septem.

Joseph Fletcher		Thomas Downer
John Smith		Rouland Juxon
Richard Baylye		John Huckstepp
Richard Baylye		James Bearblocke
John Towse		John English

Inter-locutores.
Princeps.		Princeps.
Fortuna.		Stultus.
Tolmæa.		Rebellis Primus.
Thesaurarius.		———— Secundus.
>Camerarius.		———— Tertius.
Jurisconsultus.		———— Quartus.
Philosophus.		Nuncius.

	Sir Richard Swinerton		the Prince's Wards and Squiers of his bodye.
	Sir William Cheyney
	Mr. Edward Cooper, Groome-Porter.

	Sir Thomas Stanley		Sergeaunts at Armes & Gentlemen Ushers to the Prince
	Mr. John Alford
	Mr. Brian Nailor, Master of the Robes of State,Keeper of the Wardrobe, and Surveyor ofLiveries.

	Sir Thomas Clarke, Master of the Roles, & Prothonotarye.
	Mr. Marcheaumount Nedham, Clerke of the Councell-table.

	Sir John Alder, Attourney Generall, and the Prince'sSolicitor.
	Mr. John Sackevile, Baylife Erraunt.

Time.
Veritas, the Daughter of Time.
Opinion		Seducers of Veritas.
Error
Studioso, a Scholler.
Manco, a lame Souldiour.
Clinias, a poore Country-man.
Humphry Swallow, a drunken Cob
Goodwife Spiggot, an Ale-wife.
Philonices, a rangling Lawyer.
Seruus Philonices.
Bellicoso, a Casheere Corporall.

The Clerke of St. Gyleses.
Mooneday.
Tuseday.
Wenesday.
Thurseday.
Frieday.
Satterday.
Suneday.
Night.

	Motus.	Locus.
	Quies.	Vacuum.

Philomathes.		Sophia.
Chrysophilos, Senex Avarus.		Antarchia.
Phantasta, Stolidus Generosus.		Anthadia.
Phantasta, Stolidus Generosus.		Anthadia.
Αφρόνιος, Filius Chrysophili.		Anæa, Mulier Inepta.

	Chrestophilos, Socius Philomathis.
	Crito, Senex, Pater Sophiæ.
	Critonis Seruus.
	Cerdoos, Seruus Chrysophili.
	Petinus, Seruus Phantastæ.

	"Worthelie heere wee bring you Time's Complaint
	Whom we have most just cause for to complaine of,
	For hee hath lent us such a little space
	That what wee doe wants much of its true grace.
	Yet let your wonted love that kindelie take,
	Which we could wish were better for your sake.
	EnterTimewith the Musicians to place them
Time.	O wellsaid, wellsaid; wellcome, wellcome, faith!
	It doth mee good to see I have some friends.
	Come, true observers of due time, come on:
	A fitt of musicke, but keepe time, keepe time
	In your remembrance still, or else you jarre:
	These for my sake too much neglected are.
	The world termes them beggars, fidling roagues,
	But come my fidling friends, I like you well,
	And for my sake I hope this company,
	Naie more the Prince himselfe, will like your tunes.
	Here take your place and shew your greatest skill,
	All now is well that is not verie ill.

	This waie hee comes, here will I place my selfe,
	They saie hee is an honourable Prince,
	Respectfull, curteous, liberall, and learn'd:
	If hee bee soe hee will not choose but heare mee.
	Poore aged Time was never so abused,171
	If not for my sake, yet for his owne good,
	Hee will read over my petition.
	Oft hath the like beene drawne and given up
	To his nobilitie; But carelesse they
	In theire deepe pockets swallow good men's praiers.
	This his owne hand shall have, or I will keepe it:—
	But here they come, stand close and viewe the traine.

Clerke.	"I am the poore, though not unlettered, Clerke,
	And these your subjects of St. Gyles his parishe,
	Who in this officious season would not sharke
	But thought to greet your highnesse with a morrice,
	Which since my riper judgement thought not fitt,
	They have layd down their wisedomes to my witt.

	And that you might perceive (though seeminge rude)
	Wee savour somewhat of the Academie,
	Wee had adventur'd on an enterlude
	But then of actors wee did lacke a manye;
	Therefore we clipt our play into a showe,
	Yet bigg enough to speake more than wee knowe.

	The subject of it was not farr to seeke
	Fine witts worke mickle matter out of nifle:
	Nam'd it I haveThe Seven Dayes of the Weeke,
	Which though perchaunce grave heads may judge a trifle,
	Yet if their action answere but my penninge,
	You shall heare that, that will deserve a hemminge.
	175
	To tell the argument, were to forstalle
	And sour the licquour of our sweete conceate;
	Here are good fellowes that will tell you all
	When wee begin once, you shall quickely ha'te,
	Which if your grace will grace with your attention,
	You shall soone sounde the depth of our invention."

Tenor.	Reddere fælicem si quemquam copia possit
	Copia fælicis nomen habere jubet,
	Copia læte jubet tristes depellere curas,
	Copia quam cingit Bacchus et alma Ceres.

Counter.	Copia quam cingit Bacchus et alma Ceres.

Tenor.	Cujus non animum dulcia vina juvant?
	Dulcia vina juvant dulcem dant vina soporem,
	Magnificas ornant dulcia vina dapes.

Meane.	Frugibus alma Ceres mortalia pectora nutrit,
	Exornant campurn frugibus alma Ceres.
	Si cuiquam desint Cerelia dona, nec illi
	Lenæi patris munera grata placent.

	Nec vobis Cereris nec Bacchi munera desint,
	Annuat et votis Jupiter ipse meis.

Treble.	Copia cum Baccho gaudia læta canunt
	Copia cum Baccho gaudia læta canunt
	Mox omnes cantantes Exeunt.

	Gaudium lætum canimus, canemus
	Hoc idem semper, nec enim dolere
	Jam licet, lætae feriæ hic aguntur
	Vivite læti.

	Sæpius nobis reriæ revertant,
	Sæpius vinum liceat potare,
	Sæpius vobis hilares cánamus
	Vivite læti.

	Princeps.
	Admiralius.
	Thesaurarius.
	Comptrollarius.
	Cancellarius.
	Justitiarius.
	Marescallus.
	Camerarius.
	Camerarius.

Philosophus.	Juridicus.
Cynicus.	Magister Ludorem.
Momus.	Anteambulo Primus.
Polycrates.	Anteambulo Secundus.
Philadelphus.	Stultus.

The Master of the Revels.	Detraction.
The Master of the Revels Boy.	Resolution.
Ingenuity a Doctor of Physicke.

Periander, Tyrannus Corinthi.
Cypsilus, Hæres Periandri, Stultus.
Lycophron Frater Cypsili.
Neotinos, Puer, Satelles Lycoph.
Lysimachos		Nobiles et a Consilijs Periandri.
Aristhæus
Philarches		Juuenes Nobiles in Aulâ Periandri.
Eriterus
Symphilus
Cratæa Mater Periandri.
Melissa Uxor Periandri.
Melissæ Umbra.
Eugenia Filia Periandri.
Pronæa		Duæ Meritriculæ Periandri.
Zona
Larissæa Soror Philarchis.
Europe Aristhæi Filia.
Fæminæ Quatuor Corinthiæ cum 4 or Pueris Inseruientibus.
Arion Celebris Musicus.
Nantæ Quatuor.
Cines Duo Togati.
Vigiles Duo.
Calistus186		Satellites Periandri.
Stratocles
Borius
Tres Aut 4 or Alij Satellites.
Epilogus.

"Old Father Christmas	Hon. Mr. Thelluson
Young Grimston	Hon. Mr. Denison
Baron of Beef	Hon. Miss Thelluson
Plum-Pudding	Hon. Miss Denison
Mince-Pie	Hon. Miss Selina Denison
Wassail-Bowl	Hon. Miss Isabella Denison