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Full text of "Christmas: its origin and associations, together with its historical events and festive celebrations during nineteen centuries: depicting, by pen and pencil, memorable celebrations, stately meetings of early kings, remarkable event, romantic episodes, brave deeds, picturesque customs, time-honoured sports, royal Christmases, coronations and royal marriages, chivalric feats, court banquetings and revellings, Christmas at the colleges and the Inns of court, popular festivities, and Christmas-keeping in different parts of the world, derived from the most authentic sources, and arranged chronological"

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CHRISTMAS. 


CHRISTMAS: 

iTS   ORIGIN   AND   ASSOCIATIONS, 

TOGETHER    WITH 

ITS    HISTORICAL   EVENTS   AND    FES  FIVE 

CELEBRATIONS    DURING    NINETEEN 

CENTURIES  : 

DEPICTING,    BY    PEN    AND    PENCIL. 

MEMORABLE  CELEBRATIONS,  STATELY  MEETINGS  OF  EARLY  KINGS, 

REMARKABLE    EVENTS,.  ROMANTIC    EPISODES,  BRAVE   DEEDS, 

PICTURESQUE  CUSTOMS,  TIME-HONOURED   SPORTS, 

ROYAL     CHRISTMASES,    CORONATIONS    AND     ROYAL    MARRIAGES, 

CHIVALRIC    FEATS,    COURT    BANQUETINGS    AND    REVELLINGS, 

CHRISTMAS    AT  THE  COLLEGES.  A,ND,  THE  INNS  OF  COURT, 

POPULAR     FEStlVTrnES,     ANi^.' CHRI'STMAS-KEEPING 

IN      DIFFER'iNT    "  PARTS'     OF  -'THE     WORLD, 

DERIVED   FROM    THE   MOST    -iUTHENTIC 

SOURCES,    AND     ARRANGED' 

CHRONOLOGICALLY 

••■.':  BY 


At  home,  at  sea,  in  many  distant  lands, 
This  Kingly  Feast  without  a  rival  stands  ! 


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

IQ02. 

THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC   LIBRARY 

CIRCULATION   DEPARTMENT 
WATHAN  STRAUS  BRANCH  348  EAST  32iid  STREET 


t,"^* 


I  q?i9 


394- 


PREFACE. 

Ix  the  third  quarter  of  the  nineteenth  century,  it  fell  to  my  lot 
to  write  an  article  on  Christmas,  its  customs  and  festivities. 
And,  although  I  sought  in  vain  for  a  chronological  account  of  the 
festival,  I  discovered  many  interesting  details  of  its  observances 
dispersed  in  the  works  of  various  authors  ;  and,  while  I  found 
that  some  of  its  greater  celebrations  marked  important  epochs 
in  our  national  history,  I  saw,  also,  that  the  successive  celebra- 
tions of  Christmas  during  nineteen  centuries  were  important 
links  in  the  chain  of  historical  Christian  evidences.  I  became 
enamoured  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  hal- 
lowed associations  of  Christmas,  its  ancient  customs  and  festi- 
vities, and  the  important  part  it  has  played  in  history  combine 
to  make  it  a  most  fascinating  subject.  I  resolved,  therefore, 
to  collect  materials  for  a  larger  work  on  Christmas. 

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

Soon  after  commencing  the  work,  I  realised  that  I  had 
entered  a  very  spacious  field  of  research,  and  that,  having  to 
deal  with  the  accumulated  materials  of  nineteen  centuries,  a 
large  amount  of  labour  would  be  involved,  and  some  years  must 
elapse  before,  even  if  circumstances  proved  favourable,  I  could 
hope  to  see  the  end  of  my  task.  Still,  I  went  on  with  the  work, 
for  I  felt  that  a  complete  account  of  Christmas,  ancient  and 
modern,  at  home  and  abroad,  would  prove  generally  acceptable, 
for  while  the  historical  events  and  legendary  lore  would  interest 
students  and  antiquaries,  the  holiday  sports  and  popular 
celebrations  would  be  no  less  attractive  to  general  readers. 

The  love  of  story-telling  seems  to  be  ingrained  in  human 
nature.  Travellers  tell  of  vari-coloured  races  sitting  round  their 
watch  fires  reciting  deeds  of  the  past ;  and  letters  from  colonists 


THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
CIRCULATION  DEPARTMENT 
WATHAN  STRAUS  BRANCH  348  EAST  32nd  STREET 


viii  PREFACE. 

show  how,  even  amidst  lorcst-clcariiig,  they  have  beguiled  their 
evening  hours  by  telhng  or  reading  stories  as  they  sat  in  the 
glow  of  their  eamp  hres.  And  in  old  England  there  is  the 
same  love  of  tales  and  stories.  One  of  the  ehief  delights  of 
Christmastide  is  to  sit  in  the  united  family  eircle  and  hear,  tell, 
or  read  about  the  quaint  habits  and  pieturesque  customs  of 
Christmas  in  the  olden  time  ;  and  one  of  the  purposes  of 
CHRISTMAS  is  to  furnish  the  retailer  of  Christmas  wares 
with  suitable  things  for  re-iilling  his  pack. 

From  the  vast  store  of  materials  collected  it  is  not  possible  to 
do  more  than  make  a  selection.  How  far  I  have  succeeded  in 
setting  forth  the  subject  in  a  way  suited  to  the  diversity  of  tastes 
among  readers  I  must  leave  to  their  judgment  and  indulgence  ; 
but  I  have  this  satisfaction,  that  the  gems  of  literature  it 
contains  are  very  rich  indeed  ;  and  I  acknowledge  my  great 
indebtedness  to  numerous  writers  of  different  periods  whose 
references  to  Christmas  and  its  time-honoured  customs  are 
quoted. 

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  and 
pictorial  :  it  is  not  to  say  what  might  or  ought  to  have  been, 
but  to  set  forth  from  extant  records  what  has  actually  taken 
place  :  to  give  an  account  of  the  origin  and  hallowed  associations 
of  Christmas,  and  to  depict,  by  pen  and  pencil,  the  important 
historical  events  and  interesting  festivities  of  Christmastide 
during  nineteen  centuries.  With  materials  collected  from 
different  parts  of  the  world,  and  from  writings  both  ancient  and 
modern,  I  have  endeavoured  to  give  in  the  present  work  a 
chronological  account  of  the  celebrations  and  observances  of 
Christmas  from  the  birth  of  Christ  to  the  end  of  the  nineteenth 
century  ;  but,  in  a  few  instances,  the  subject-matter  has  been 
allowed  to  take  precedence  of  the  chronological  arrange- 
ment. Here  will  be  found  accounts  of  primitive  celebrations 
of  the  Nativity,  ecclesiastical  decisions  hxing  the  date  of 
Christmas,  the  connection  of  Christmas  with  the  festivals  of  the 
ancients,  Christmas  in  times  of  persecution,  early  celebrations  in 
Britain,  stately  Christmas  meetings  of  the  Saxon,  Danish,  and 
Xorman  kings  of  England  ;  Christmas  during  the  wars  of  the 
Roses,  Royal  Christmases  under  the  Tudors,  the  Stuarts  and 
the  Kings  and  Queens  of  jModern  England  ;  Christmas  at  the 
Colleges  and  the  Inns  of  Court  ;  Entertainments  of  the  nobility 
and  gentry,  and  popular  festivities ;  accounts  of  Christmas 
celebrations  in  different  parts  of  Europe,  in  America  and 
Canada,  in  the  sultry  lands  of  Africa  and  the  ice-bound  Arctic 
coasts,  in  India  and  China,  at  the  Antipodes,  in  Australia  and 
Xew  Zealand,  and  in  the  Islands  of  the  Pacific  ;  in  short, 
throughout  the  civilised  world. 

In   looking   at    the    celebrations    of    Christmas,    at    different 


PREFACE.  ix 

periods  and  in  different  places,  I  have  observed  that,  whatever 
views  men  hold  respecting  Christ,  they  all  agree  that  His  Advent 
is  to  be  hailed  with  joy,  and  the  nearer  the  forms  of  festivity 
have  approximated  to  the  teaching  of  Him  who  is  celebrated 
the  more  real  has  been  the  joy  of  those  who  have  taken  part  in 
the  celebrations. 

Tiie  descriptions  of  the  festivities  and  customs  of  different 
periods  are  given,  as  far  as  possible,  on  the  authority  of  con- 
temporary authors,  or  writers  who  have  special  knowledge  of 
those  periods,  and  the  most  reliable  authorities  have  been 
consulted  for  facts  and  dates,  great  care  being  talien  to  make 
the  work  as  accurate  and  trustworthy  as  possible.  I  sincerely 
wish  that  all  who  read  it  may  tind  as  much  pleasure  in  its 
perusal  as  I  have  had  in  its  compilation. 

WILLIAM  FRANCIS  UAWSON. 


CHAPTER    I. 

The  Origin  and  Associations  of  Christmas 


PAGE 

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 
(a.d.  1066-1215.) 

CHAPTER   V. 

Christmas,     from     Magna    Charta    to    the     End    of    the 


Wars  of  the   Roses 


(A.D.  1215-1485.) 


CHAPTER    \T. 

Christmas  under  Henry  VII.  and  Henry  VIII. 
(a.d.  1485-1547.) 


94 


CHAPTER   VII. 

Christm.a,s  under  Edward  VI.,  Mary,  and  Elizabeth 
(a.d.  1 547-1603.) 


CONTENTS. 
CHAPTKR   VIII. 


Christmas  unukk  Jamks  I. 


PAGE 


(a.d.  1603-1625.) 

CHAPTER   IX. 

Christmas  under  Charlks  the  First  and  thk  Commoxwkalth     197 
(a.d.  1625-1660.) 

CHAPTER  X. 

Christmas,     from     the     Restoration     to     the     Death     of 


George  II. 


(a.d.  1660-1760.) 


CHAPTER  XL 

Modern  Christmases  at  Ho:>ie 


240 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Modern  Christmases  Abroad 


294 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

Concluding  Carol  Service  of  the  Nineteenth  Century 


349 


Index    . 


551 


LIST   OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


IWGE 

BrIN'GIXG  IX  THE  YULK   LoG  .  .  .  •    Fiviilispiccc 

The  Hi:kald  Axgels  .  .  .  ...  .2 

ViKGix  AXD  Child      .....••        5 

Joseph  Takixg  Mary  to  p,e  Taxed,  axd  the  Nativity  Evexts        6 

Till':  Nativity  {CculraJ  portion  of  Picture  in  Nationat  Galtcry)    .         8 

ViKGix  AXD  Child  [RcUevo)  ....••        9 

Group  from  the  Axgels'  Serexade  .  .  .  .10 

Adoratiox  of  the  Magi  {From  Pulpit  of  Pisa)     .  .  .11 

"The  Ixxs  are  Full"         .  .  .  .  .  -14 

Grape  Gatherixg  axd   the  Vint.vge  {Mosaic  in  the  Churcli  of 

St.  Consfantine,  Rome,  a.d.  320)  .  .  .  .16 

German  Ninth  Century  Picture  of  the  NATivrrv      .  .       16 

AxciEXT  Roman  Illustrations       .  .  .  .  •       17 

AxciEXT  RoMAX  Illustr.vtioxs        .  .  .  ..  .18 

Ancient  Agape  .  .  .  .  .  .  -19 

Ancient  Roman  Illustrations        .  .  .  .  .21 

Early  Celebrations  in  P.ritaix     .  .  .  .  -23 

OuEEX  Bertha  .....  ■      ~7 

An  Ancient  Fireplace         .  .  .  .  .  -3° 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Travellixg  IX  THE  Oldex  Time,  with  a  "Christmas   Fool" 
ox  THE  Froxt  Seat        ...... 

The  Wild  Boar  Huxt:  Killixg  the  Boar 

Adoratiox    ok    the    Magi    (Picfiiir   of  Sluiiwd   Glass,    Winclwsici 
Callu'tlrul)  ....... 

A  King  at  Dixxer     ...... 

Blixd  Mixstrel  .\t  a  Feast  .... 

MixsTRELs'  Christmas  Serexade  at  ax  Old  Bakoxial  Hall 

Westmixster  Hall    ..... 

Straxge  Old  Stories  Illustrated  {From  Hail.  MS.) 

A  Cook  of  the  Period  (Early  Noriuau 

moxk  uxdergoixg  disciplixe 

Wassailixg  at  Christmastide 

Panoply  of  a  Crusader 

Royal  Party  Dixixg  in  State 

Ladies  Lookixg  from  the  Hustings   upon  the  Tournamext 

The  Lord  of  Misrule         ...... 

Curious  Cuts  of  Priestly  Players  ix  the  Oldex  Time 

A  Court  Fool  ....... 

ViRGix  AXD  Child  {Florentine,  1480.     Soutli  Koisiiiiilon  Museum) 

Hexry  VL's  Cradle  ..... 

Lady  Musiciax  of  the  Fifteexth  Cextury 

Rustic  Christm.\s  Mixstrel  with  Pipe  axd  Tabor 

Martix  Luther  axd  the  Christmas  Tree 

The  Little  Orleaxs  Madonna  of  Raphael 

Magdalen  College,  Oxford 

Bringing  ix  the  Boar's  Head  with  Minstrelsy 

Virgin  and  Child,  Chirbury,  Shropshire 

Ridixg  a-Mummixg  at  Christmastide 

A  Dumb  Show  in  the  Time  of  Elizabeth 


31 
32 

34 
40 

42 

44 
46 

50 
55 
56 
57 
5« 
63 
73 
74 
76 

77 

83 

84 

91 

92 

106 

107 

no 

III 

118 

121 

12^ 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


XV 


The  Fool  of  thi-:  Old  Play  {From  a  Print  by  Brciii^licI) 
Thl  Acting  of  oxe  of  Shakespeare's  Plays  i\  the  Time  of 

Queen  Elizabeth 
Neighbours  with  Pipe  and  Tabor 
Christmas  in  the  Hall 
The  Hobby-Horse     . 
Servants'  Christmas  Feast. 
"The  Hackin" 
Seafaring  Pilgrims  . 
An  An'cient  Fireplace 
A  Druid  Priestess  bearing  Misti 
A  Nest  of  Fools 
"The  Mask  Dance"  . 
The  Christmas  Mummers     . 
The  Waits 

The  Christmas  Plum-Pudding 
Italian  Minstrels  in  London,  at  Christmas,  1825 
Snap  Dragon  ...... 

Blindman's  Buff'      ..... 

The  Christmas  Dance  .... 

The  Giving  Away  of  Christmas  Doles  . 
Poor  Children's  Treat  in  Modern  Times 
The  Christmas  Bells  .... 

Wassailing  the  Apple-Trees  in  Devonshire     . 

Modern  Christmas  Performers  :  Yorkshire  Sword-Actors 

Modern  Christmas  Characters:  "St.  Peter,"  "St.  Denys" 

A  Scotch  First  Footing      ... 

Provenqal  Plays  at  Christm.\stide 

Nativity  Picture  {Front  Bvzantiiw  Ivory  in  the  British  Musmni) 

Calabrian  Shepherds  Playing  in  Rome  at  Christm.\s 


TACE 

137 

141 

147 
149 
197 

202 
216 
219 

225 
228 

229 

231 

234 

240 

245 

246 

247 
249 
250 

257 
265 

271 

279 

282 

283 

285 

320 

324 
329 


xvi  LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

WoRSHii'i'iNG  THE  CHILD  Jesus  {Fiviii  a   Picture  in   llic  Miisciiiii 

al  Naples)  ...••••■     337 

AxGKi.s    AND    Men-    Wokshippixg    the    Child    Jesus   {From    a 

Piciurc  in  Seville  Cailiedreil)         .  .  •  •  -338 

Simeon    Received   the    Child    Jesus    into    his    Arms    {From 

Modern   Slained  Glass  in   Bisliopsgale  Clinreh,  London)  .     348 

Lichfield  Cathedral  ,..•••     349 


While  shepherds  watched  their  flocks  by  night, 

All  seated  on  the  ground  ; 
The  angel  of  the  Lord  came  down, 

And  glory  shone  around. 

Carol. 


THE     HERALD    ANGELS. 

Lo  !  God  hath  ope'd  the  glist'ring  gates  of  heaven, 

And  thence  are  streaming  beams  of  glorious  hght  : 
All  earth  is  bath'd  in  the  effulgence  giv'n 

To  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  reveals 

A  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  I 

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. 

W.  F,  D 


•gil 


Vll 


PF?OPFRTY  OF  THE 
CITY  OF  HEV^  YORK 


CHAPTER  I. 


THE    ORIGIN    AND    ASSOCIATIONS    OF 
CHRISTMAS. 

The  First  Christmas  :  The  Advent  of  Christ. 

Behold,  a  virgin  shall  conceive, 

And  bear  a  Son, 

And  shall  call  His  name  Imnianuel. 

{Isaiali  vii.  14.) 


Now  the  birth  of;] psus  Christ  was  on  this  wist  :  When  His 
mother  Mary  had'/oeen  betrothed  to  Joseph/before  they  came 
together  she  was  foiaid^with  child  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  And 
Joseph  her  husbandV  &inM  ^  righteons  m^n^lj'anjd  not  willing  to 
make  her  a  public  exnn-\plt',  \vas  minded  to  pM  her  away  privily. 
But  when  he  thought  on  'these  things,"  b.^liold,  an  angel  of  the 
Lord  appeared  unto  him  in  a  dreilm,  paying,  Joseph,  thou  son 
of  David,  fear  not  to  take  unto  thee  Mary  thy  wife  :  for  that 
which  is  conceived  in  her  is  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  And  she  shall 
bring  forth  a  Son  ;  and  thou  shalt  call  His  name  Jesus  ;  for  it  is 
He  that  shall  save  His  people  from  their  sins.  Now  all  this  is 
come  to  pass,  that  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was  spoken  by  the 
Lord  through  the  prophet,  saying. 

Behold,  the  virgin  shall  be  with  child  and  shall  bring  forth 

a  Son, 
And  they  shall  call  His  name  Immanuel  ; 


6  CHRISTMAS. 

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

{MaftJiezv  i.  18-25.) 
And  there  were  shepherds  in  the  same  country  abiding  in  the 


"  There  went  oul  a  decree  from  Ccesar  Augustus  that  all  the  world  should 
be  taxed.  And  Joseph  went  to  be  taxed  with  Mary  his  espoused  wife, 
being  great  with  child."  (Z«/(v  ii.  1-5.) 


THE   ORIGIX   AND   ASSOCIATIOXS   OF   CHRISTMAS.  7 

Held,  and  keeping  watch  by  night  over  their  tiock.  And  an 
angel  of  the  Lord  stood  by  them,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord 
shone  round  about  them  :  and  they  were  sore  afraid.  And  the 
angel  said  unto  them,  Be  not  afraid  ;  for  behold,  I  bring  you 
good  tidings  of  great  joy  which  shall  be  to  all  the  people  :  for 
there  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  ;  Ye 
shall  find  a  babe  wrapped  in  swaddling  clothes,  and  lying  in  a 
manger.  And  suddenly  there  was  with  the  angel  a  multitude  of 
the  heavenly  host  praising  God,  and  saying, 

Glory  to  God  in  the  highest. 

And  on  earth  peace  among  men  in  whom  He  is  well  pleased. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  wiien  the  angels  went  away  from  them 
into  heaven,  the  shepherds  said  one  to  another,  Let  us  now  go 
even  unto  Bethlehem,  and  see  this  thing  that  is  come  to  pass, 
which  the  Lord  hath  made  known  unto  us.  And  they  came 
with  haste,  and  found  both  Mary  and  Joseph,  and  the  Babe 
lying  in  the  manger.  And  when  they  saw  it,  they  made  know^n 
concerning  the  saying  which  was  spoken  to  them  about  this 
child.  And  all  that  heard  it  wondered  at  the  things  which  were 
spoken  unto  them  by  the  shepherds.  But  Mary  kept  all  these 
sayings,  pondering  them  in  her  heart.  And  the  shepherds 
returned,  glorifying  and  praising  God  for  all  the  things  that 
.they  had  heard  and  seen,  even  as  it  w^as  spoken  unto  them. 

{Luke  ii.  8-20.) 

The  Place  of  the  Nativity. 

The  evangelist  Matthew  tells  us  that  "Jesus  was  born  in 
Bethlehem  of  Judaea  in  the  days- of  Herod  the  king  ; "'  and  Justin 
Martyr,  who  was  born  at  Shechem  and  lived  less  than  a  century 
after  the  time  of  Christ,  places  the  scene  of  the  Nativity  in  a 
cave.  Over  this  cave  has  risen  the  Church  and  Convent  of  the 
Nativity,  and  there  is  a  stone  slab  with  a  star  cut  in  it  to  mark 
the  spot  where  the  Saviour  was  born.  Dean  Farrar,  who  has 
been  at  the  place,  says  :  "  It  is  impossible  to  stand  in  the  little 
Chapel  of  the  Nativity,  and  to  look  without  emotion  on  the  silver 
star  let  into  the  white  marble,  encircled  by  its  sixteen  ever- 
burning lamps,  and  surrounded  by  the  inscription,  '  Hie  de 
1'lrgine  Maria  Jesus  Chrislus  natiis  est.'  ' 

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

Now,  death  is  life  !  and  grief  is  turn'd  to  joy  ! 

Since  glory  shone  on  that  auspicious  morn, 
^Vhen  God  incarnate  came,  not  to  destroy, 

But  man  to  save  and  manhood's  state  adorn  I 

W.  F.  D. 


THE   ORIGIN   AND   ASSOCIATIONS   OF   CHRISTMAS.  9 

The  Word  ''  Christmas  "  :  Its  Orthography  and  Meaning. 
"Christmas"  (pronounced  Kris'mas)  signifies  " Christ's  Mass," 
meaning  the  festival  of  the  Nativity  of  Christ,  and  the 
word  has  been  variously  spelt  at  different  periods.  The  fol- 
lowing are  obsolete  forms  of  it  found  in  old  English  writings  : 
Crystmasse,  Cristmes,  Cristmas,  Crestenmes,  Crestenmas,. 
Cristemes,  Cristynmes,  Crismas,  Kyrsomas,  Xtemas,  Cristes- 
messe,  Cristemasse,  Crystenmas,  Crystynmas,  Chrystmas, 
Chrystemes,  Chrystemasse,  Chrystymesse,  Cristenmas,  Christen- 
mas,  Christmass,  Christmes.  Christmas  has  also  been  called 
Noel  or  Nowel.  As  to  the  derivation  of  the  word  Noel,  some  say 
it  is  a  contraction  of  the  French  iwiivelles  (tidings),  Ics  bonnes 
nonvelles,  that  is  "  The  good  news  of  the  Gospel "  ;  others  take 
it  as  an  abbreviation  of  the  Gascon  or  Provengal  naciai'i,  nadal, 
which  means  the  same  as  the  Latin  natalis,  that  is,  dies  natalis, 
"the  birthday."  In  "The  Franklin's  Tale,"  Chaucer  alludes 
to  "Nowel"  as  a  festive  cry  at  Christmastide  :  "And  'Nowel' 
crieth  every  lusty  man."  Some  say  Noel  is  a  corruption  of 
Yule,  Jii-le,  or  Lie,  meaning  "The  festival  of  the  sun."  The 
name  Yule  is  still  applied  to  the  festival  in  Scotland,  and  some 
other  places.  Christmas  is  represented  in  Welsh  by  Nadolig, 
which  signifies  "the  natal,  or  birth"  ;  in  French  by  Noel ;  and 
in  Italian  by  //  Natale,  which,  together  with  its  cognate  term  in 
Spanish,  is  simply  a  contraction  of  dies  natalis,  "the  birthday." 

CHRISTMAS  :  blest  Feast  of  the  Nativity  ! 

H  eaven  made  thy  lowly  shrine 

R  espleiident  with  the  gift  of  the  eternal  Deity 

I    n  whom  we  live  and  move,  whose  large  benignity 

S  pared  not  His  Son  divine  : 

T  hat  well-beloved  Son  by  God  was  given, 

Mankind  to  save  with  His  redeeming  blood  ; 

A  nd  Jesus  freely  left  the  bliss  of  Heaven, 

S  uftering  death,  to  achieve  our  lasting  good. — W.  F.  1). 


CHAPTER   II. 

THE     EARLIER     CELEBRATIONS     OF     THE 
FESTIVAL. 

The  Earlier  Celebrations. 


The  Angels'  Song  has  been  called  the  hrst  Christmas  Carol,  and 
the  shepherds  who  heard  this  heavenly  song  of  peace  and  good- 
Avill,  and  went  **with  haste"  to  the  birthplace  at  Bethlehem, 
where  they*"  found  Mary,  and  Joseph,  and  the  Babe  lying  in  a 


THE   EARLIER  CELEBRATIONIS   OF   THE   FESTIVAL.        ii 

manger,"   certainly  took   part    in    the    tirst    celebration   of   the 
Nativity.      And    the    Wise    Men,    who    came   afterwards    with 


presents  from  the  East,  being  led  to  Bethlehem  by  the  appear- 
ance of  the  miraculous  star,  may  also  be  regarded  as  taking  part 
in  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  first 
adopted  among  the  Oriental  Churches  it  was  designed  to  com- 
memorate both  the  birth  and  baptism  of  Jesus,  which  two  events 
the  Eastern  Churches  believed  to  have  occurred  on  January  6th. 
Whether  the  shepherds  commemorated  the  Feast  of  the  Nativity 
annually  does  not  appear  from  the  records  of  the  Evangelists  ; 
but  it  is  by  no  means  improbable  that  to  the  end  of  their  lives 
they  would  annually  celebrate  the  most  wonderful  event  which 
they  had  witnessed. 

Within  thirty  years  after  the  death  of  our  Lord,  there  were 
churches  in  jeiiisalem,  Ccesarea,  Rome,  and  the  Svrian  Antioch. 
In  reference  to  the  latter,  Bishop  Ken  beautifully  says  : — 

"  Fair  Antioch  the  rich,  the  great, 
Of  learning  the  niiperial  seat, 

Vou  readily  inclined, 

To  light  which  on  you  shined  ; 
It  soon  shot  up  to  a  meridian  flame, 
\'ou  first  baptized  it  with  a  Christian  name." 

Clement,  one  of  the  Apostolic  Fathers  and  third  Bishop  of  Rome, 
who  Nourished  in  .the  first  century,  says:  "Brethren,  keep 
diligently   feast-days,    and    truly    in  the   tirst  place   the  day  of 


12  CHRISTMAS. 

Christ's  birth."  And  according  to  another  of  the  early  Bishops 
of  Rome,  it  was  ordained  earl)'  in  the  second  century,  "that  in 
the  holy  night  of  the  Nativity  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour,  they  do 
celebrate  public  church  services  and  in  them  solemnly  sing  the 
Angels'  Hymn,  because  also  the  same  night  He  was  declared 
unto  the  shepherds  by  an  angel,  as  the  truth  itself  doth  witness." 
But,  before  proceeding  further  with  the  historical  narrative,  it 
will  be  well  now  to  make  more  particular  reference  to  the  hxing 
of  the  date  of  the  festival. 

FiXIXG    THE    D.ATE    OF    ChRISTM.AS. 

Whether  the  25th  of  December,  which  is  now  observed  as 
Christmas  Day,  correctly  fixes  the  period  of  the  year  when 
Christ  was  born  is  still  doubtful,  although  it  is  a  question  upon 
which  there  has  been  much  controversy.  From  Clement  of 
Alexandria  it  appears,  that  when  the  first  efforts  were  made  to 
fix  the  season  of  the  Advent,  there  were  advocates  for  the  20th 
of  May,  and  for  the  20th  or  21st  of  April.  It  is  also  found  that 
some  communities  of  Christians  celebrated  the  festival  on  the 
ist  or  6th  of  January  ;  others  on  the  29th  of  March,  the  time  of 
the  Jewish  Passover  :  while  others  observed  it  on  the  29th  of 
September,  or  Feast  of  Tabernacles.  The  Oriental  Christians 
generally  were  of  opinion  that  both  the  birth  and  baptism  of 
Christ  took  place  on  the  6th  of  January.  Julius  I.,  Bishop  of 
Rome  (a.d.  337-352),  contended  that  the"  25th  of  December  was 
the  date  of  Christ's  birth,  a  view  to  which  the  majority  of  the 
Eastern  Church  ultimately  came  round,  while  the  Church  of 
the  West  adopted  from  their  brethren  in  the  East  the  view  that 
the  baptism  was  on  the  6th  of  January.  It  is,  at  any  rate, 
certain  that  after  St.  Chrysostom  Christmas  was  observed  on  the 
25th  of  December  in  East  and  West  alike,  except  in  the 
Armenian  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  solicitation 
of  St.  Cyril  of  Jerusalem,  caused  strict  inquiries  to  be  made  on 
the  subject,  and  thereafter,  following  what  seemed  to  be  the  best 
authenticated  tradition,  settled  authoritatively  the  25th  of  Decem- 
ber as  the  anniversary  of  Christ's  birth,  the  Fcstonim  omnium 
metropolis,  as  it  is  styled  by  Chrysostom.  It  may  be  observed, 
however,  that  some  have  represented  this  fixing  "of  the  day  to 
have  been  accomplished  by  St.  Telesphorus,  who  was  Bishop  of 
Rome  A.D.  127-139,  but  the  authority  for  the  assertion  is  very 
doubtful.  There  is  good  ground  for  maintaining  that  Easter 
and  its  accessory  celebrations  mark  with  tolerable  accuracy  the 
anniversaries  of  the  Passion  and  Resurrection  of  our  Lord, 
because  w^e  know  that  the  events  themselves  took  place  at  the 
period  of  the  Jewish  Passover  ;  but  no  such  precision  of  date 
can  be  adduced  as  regards  Christmas.     Dr.  Geikie^  says  :  "The 

'  Notes  to  "  Life  of  Christ." 


THE   EARLIER   CELEBRATIONS   OF    THE   FESTIVAL.        13 

season  at  which  Christ  was  born  is  inferred  from  the  fact  that 
He  was  six  months  younger  than  John,  respecting  the  date  of 
whose  birth  we  have  the  help  of  knowing  the  time  of  the 
annunciation  during  his  father's  ministrations  in  Jerusalem. 
Still,  the  whole  subject  is  very  uncertain.  Ewald  appears  to  fix 
the  date  of  the  birth  as  five  years  earlier  than  our  era.  Petavius 
and  Usher  fix  it  as  on  the  25th  of  December,  five  years  before 
our  era  ;  Bengel,  on  the  25th  of  December,  four  years  before  our 
era  ;  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,  two 
years  before  our  era,  on  January  6th  ;  and  Ideler,  seven  years 
before  our  era,  in  December."  Milton,  following  the  immemorial 
tradition  of  the  Church,  says  that — 

"  It  was  the  winter  wild." 

But  there  are  still  many  who  think  that  the  25th  of  December 
does  not  correspond  with  the  actual  date  of  the  birth  of  Christ, 
and  regard  the  incident  of  the  flocks  and  shepherds  in  the  open 
field,  recorded  bv  St.  Luke,  as  indicative  of  spring  rather  than 
winter.  This  incident,  it  is  thought,  could  not  have  taken  place 
in  the  inclement  month  of  December,  and  it  has  been  conjec- 
tured, with  some  probability,  that  the  25th  of  December  was 
chosen  in  order  to  substitute  the  purified  joy  of  a  Christian 
festival  for  the  license  of  the  Bacchanalia  and  Satnrnalia  which 
were  kept  at  that  season.  It  is  most  probable  that  the  Advent 
took  place  between  December,  749,  of  Rome,  and   February, 

750. 

Dionysius  Exiguus.  surnamed  the  Little,  a  Romish  monk  of 
the  sixth  centurv,  a  Scythian  by  birth,  and  who  died  a.d.  556, 
fixed  the  birth  of  Christ  in  the  year  of  Rome  753,  but  the  best 
authorities  are  now  agreed  that  753  was  not  the  year  in  which 
the  Saviour  of  mankind  was  born.  The  Nativity  is  now 
placed,  not  as  might  have  been  expected,  in  a.d.  i,  but  in 
B.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  the 
sixth  century.  Up  to  that  time  the  received  computation  of 
events  through  the  western  portion  of  Christendom  had  been 
from  the  supposed  foundation  of  Rome  (b.c.  754).  and  events 
were  marked  accordingly  as  happening  in  this  or  that  year. 
Anno  Urbis  CondiUv,  or  by  the  initial  letters  A.U.C.  In  the  East 
some  historians  continued  to  reckon  from  the  era  of  Seleucidaj, 
which  dated  from  the  accession  of  Seleucus  Nicator  to  the 
monarchy  of  Syria,  in  B.C.  312.  The  new  computation  was 
received  by  Christendom  in  the  sixth  century,  and  adopted 
without  adequate  inquiry,  till  the  sixteenth  century.  A  more 
careful  examination  of  the  data  presented  by  the  Gospel 
history,  and,  in  particular,  by  the  fact  that  "  Jesus  was  born 


14 


CHRISTMAS. 


in  Bethlehem  of  Juckea  "  before  the  death  of  Herod,  showed 
that  Dionysius  had  made  a  mistake  of  four  years,  or  perhaps 
more,  in  his  calculations.  The  death  of  Herod  took  place  in 
the  year  of  Rome  a.u.c.  750,  just  before  the  Passover.  This 
year  coincided  with  what  in  our  common  chronology 
would  be  B.C.  4 — so  that  we  have  to  recognise  the  fact  that  our 
own  reckoning  is  erroneous,  and  to  hx  B.C.  5  or  4  as  the  date  of 
the  Nativity. 


"the  inns  ,\re  full." 


Now,   out  of   the    consideration   of   the  time  at  which   the 
Christmas  festival  is   fixed,  naturally  arises   another    question, 


The  Coxxectiox  of  Christmas  with  Axciext  Festivals. 

vSir  Isaac  Newton  ^  says  the  Feast  of  the  Nativity,  and  most 
of  the  other  ecclesiastical  anniversaries,  were  originally  fixed  at 

'  "  Commentary  on  the  Prophecies  of  Daniel." 


THE   EARLIER   CELEBRATIONS   OF    THE   FESTIVAL.        15 

cardinal  points  of  the  year,  without  any  reference  to  the  dates 
of  the  incidents  which  they  commemorated,  dates  which,  by 
lapse  of  time,  it  was  impossible  to  ascertain.     Thus  the  Annun- 
ciation of  the  Virgin  Mary  was  placed  on  the  25th  of  March,  or 
about  the  time  of  the  vernal  equinox  ;  the  Feast  of  St.  Michael 
on  the  29th  of  September,  or  near  the  autumnal  equinox  ;  and 
the  Birth  of  Christ  at  the  time  of  the  winter  solstice.    Christmas 
was  thus  fixed  at  the  time  of  the  year  when  the  most  celebrated 
festivals  of  the  ancients  were  held  in  honour  of  the  return  of 
the  sun  which  at  the  winter  solstice  begins  gradually  to  regain 
power  and  to  ascend  apparently  in  the  horizon.     Previously  to 
this  (says  William  Sandys,  F.S.A.),'  the  year  was  drawing  to  a 
close,  and  the  world  was  typically  considered  to  be  in  the  same 
state.     The  promised  restoration  of  light  and  commencement 
of  a  new  era  were  therefore  hailed  with  rejoicings  and  thanks- 
givings.    The  Saxon  and  other  northern  nations  kept  a  festival 
at   this   time    of   the   year  in  honour  of  Thor,   in  which  they 
mingled    feasting,   drinking,  and    dancing   with    sacrifices   and 
religious  rites.     It  was  called  Yule,  or  Jule,  a  term  of  which  the 
derivation  has  caused  dispute  amongst  antiquaries  ;  some   con- 
sidering it  to  mean  a  festival,  and  others  stating  that  lol,  or  lul 
(spelt  in  various  ways),  is  a  primitive  word,  conveying  the  idea 
of  Revolution  or  Wheel,  and  applicable  therefore  to  the  return 
of  the  sun.     The  Bacchanalia  and  Saturnalia  of  the  Romans 
had  apparently  the  same  object  as  the  Yuletide,  or  feast  of  the 
Northern  nations,  and  were  probably  adopted  from  some  more 
ancient  nations,   as  the    Greeks,   Mexicans,    Persians,  Chinese, 
&c.,  had  all  something  similar.     In  the  course  of  them,  as  is 
well  known,  mastei's  and  slaves  were  supposed  to   be  on  an 
equality  ;  indeed,  the  former  waited  on  the   latter. ^     Presents 
were  mutually  given  and   received,   as   Christmas    presents  in 
these  days.     Towards  the  end  of  the  feast,  when  the  sun  was 
on   its  return,  and  the  world  was  considered  to  be  renovated, 
a  king  or  ruler  was  chosen,  with  considerable  power  granted  to 
him  during  his  ephemeral  reign,  whence  may  have  sprung  some 
of  the  Twelfth-Night  revels,  mingled  with  those  in  honour  of 
the    Manifestation    and   Adoration    of    the    Magi.     And,  in    all 
probability,  some  other  Christmas  customs  are  adopted  from  the 
festivals  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    found 
among  the  decorations  in  the  early  Christian  Churches.     The 
illustration  on    the  following   page    is   from   a    mosaic    in    the 
Church  of  St.  Constantine,  Rome,  a.d.  320. 

'  Introduction  to  "Christmas  Carols,"  1833. 

-  The  Emperor  Nero  himself  is  known  to  have  presided  at  the  Satiniia/ia, 
having  been  made  by  lot  the  Rex  hibeiidi,  or  Master  of  the  Revels.  Indeed  it 
was  at  one  of  these  festivals  that  he  instigated  the  murder  of  the  young  Prince 
Britannicus,  the  last  male  descendant  of  the  family  of  the  Claudii,  who  had  been 
expelled  from  his  rights  by  violence  and  crime  ;  and  the  atrocious  act  was  com- 
•     mitted  amid  the  revels  over  which  Nero  was  presiding  as  master. 


i6 


CHRISTMAS. 


GRAPE   GATHERING   AND   THE    VINTAGE. 
MOSAIC    IN    THE   CHURCH    OF   ST.    CONSTANTINE,    ROME,    A.D.    32O. 

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


M^ 


THE   EARLIER   CELEBRATIONS   OF    THE   FESTIVAL.        17 

festival  of  Christmas  has  a  Juckean  orioin.  He  considers  that 
its  customs  are  siKniiticantly  in  accordance  with  those  of  the 
Jewish  festival  of  the  Dedication  of  the  Temple.  This  feast  was 
held  in  the  winter  time,  on  the  25th  of  Cisleu  (December  20th), 
havmg  been  founded  by  Judas  Maccabaeus  in  honour  of  the 
cleansing  of  the  Temple  in  b.c.  164,  six  years  and  a  half  after 
its  profanation  by  Antiochus  Epiphanes.  In  connection  with 
Dr.  Cassel's  theory  it  may  be  remarked  that  the  German  word 
Wcihnachtcn  (from  iveilieii,  "  to  consecrate,  inaugurate,"  and 
iiaclit,  "night")  leads  directly  to  the  meaning,  "^Night'of  the 
Dedication." 


ANCIENT    ROMAN    n.LUSTRATIONS. 


In  proceeding  w^ith  our  historical  survey,  then,  we  must 
recollect  that  in  the  festivities  of  Christmastide  there  is  a 
mingling  of  the  Divine  with  the  human  elements  of  society — 
the  , establishment  and  development  of  a  Christian  festival  on 
pagan  soil  and  in  the  midst  of  superstitious  surroundings, 
Unless  this  be  borne  in  mind  it  is  impossible  to  understaiid 
some  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  peoples 
who  have  taken  part  in  the  commemoration,  and  not  inappro- 
priately so,  as  the  event  commemorated  is  also  linked  to  the 
past.  "Christmas"  (says  Dean  Stanley)  "brings  before  us  the 
relations  of  the  Christian  religion  to  the  religions  which  went 
before  ;  for  the  birth  at  Bethlehem  was  itself  a  link  with  the 
past.  The  coming  of  Jesus  Christ  was  not  unheralded  or 
unforeseen.  Even  in  the  heathen  world  there  had  been 
anticipations  of  an  event  of  a  character  not  unlike  this.  In 
Plato's  Dialogue  bright  ideals  had  been  drawn  of  the  just 
man  ;  in  Virgil's  Eclogues  there  had  been  a  vision  of  a  new^ 
and  peaceful  order  of  things.  But  it  was  in  the  Jewish  nation 
that  these  anticipations  were   most   distinct.     That   wonderful 

3 


i8 


CHRISTMAS. 


people  in  all  its  history  had  looked,  not  backward,  but  torward. 
The  appearance  of  Jesus  Christ  was  not  merely  the  accomphsh- 
ment  of  certain  predictions  ;  it  was  the  fultilment  of  this  wide 
and  deep  expectation  of  a  whole  people,  and  thiit  people  the 
most  remarkable  in  the  ancient  world."     Thus  Dean  Stanley 
links  Christianity  with  the  older  religions  of  the  world,  as  othei 
writers  have  connected  the  festival  of  Christmas  with  the  fes- 
tivals  of   paganism   and    Judaism.     The    first    Christians  were 
exposed   to   the    dissolute    habits   and   idolatrous   practices  of 
heathenism,  as  well  as  the  superstitious  ceremonials  of  Judaism, 
and  it  is  in  these  influences  that  we  must  seek  the  true  origin 
of  many  of  the  usages  and  institutions  of  Christianity,      ihe  old 
hall  of  Roman  justice  and  exchange- an  edifice  expressive  of 
the  popular  life   of  Greece  and  Rome— was  not  deemed  too 
secular   to    be  used  as  the  first    Christian   place  of   worship  ; 
pagan  statues  were  preserved  as  objects  of   adoration,  being 
changed    but    in    name;    names    describing   the   functions    of 
Church  officers  were  copied  from  the  civil  vocabulary  of  the 
time  •  the  ceremonies  of  Christian  worship  were  accommodated 
as  far  as  possible  to  those  of  the  heathen,  that  new  converts 
might  not  be  much  startled  at  the  change,  and  at  the  Christmas 
festival  Christians  indulged  m  revels  closely  resembling  those 
of  the  Saturnalia. 


ANCIENT    ROMAN    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Christmas  in  Times  of  Persecution. 
It  is  known  that  the  Feast  of  the  Nativity  was  observed  as 
eailv  as  the  first  century,  and  that  it  was  kept  by  the  primitive 
Ch  st'ans  even  in  dark  days  of  persecution  ''  They  wandei^ed 
h.  deserts,  and  in  mountains,  and  in  dens  and  caves  of  the  earth 
H eb  X  ^8)  Yet  they  were  faithful  to  Christ,  and  the  Cata- 
combs' of    Rome    contain    evidence   that   they    celebrated   the 

^  Th?opening  up  of  these  Catacombs  has  brought  to  light 
many  most  interesting  relics  of  primitive  Christianity.  In 
Tese  Christian  cemeteries  and  places  of  worship  there  are 
siens  not  only  of  the  deep  emotion  and  hope  with  which  they 
buried  their  dead,  but  also  of  their  simple  forms  of  worship 
and  the  festive  jov  with  which  they  commemorated  the  Nativity 
of  Christ      On  the  rock-hewn  tombs  these  primitive  Christians 


THE   EARLIER   CELEBRATIOXS   OF    THE   FESTIVAL. 


19 


wrote  the  thoughts  that  were  most  consohng  to  themselves,  or 
painted  on  the  walls  the  hgm'es  which  gave  them  the  most 
pleasure.  The  subjects  of  these  paintings  are  for  the  most  part 
taken  from  the  Bible,  and  the  one  which  illustrates  the  earliest 
and  most  universal  of  these  pictures,  and  exhibits  their  Christmas 
joy,  is  "  The  Adoration  of  the  i\Iagi."  Another  of  these  emblems 
of  joyous  festivity  which  is  frequently  seen,  is  a  vine,  with  its 
branches  and  purple  clusters  spreading  in  every  direction, 
reminding  us  that  in  Eastern  countries  the  vintage  is  the  great 
holiday  of  the  year.  In  the  Jewish  Church  there  was  no 
festival  so  joyous  as  the  Feast  of  Tabernacles,  when  they 
gathered  the  fruit  of  the  vineyard,  and  in  some  of  the  earlier 
celebrations  of  the  Nativity  these  festivities  were  closely  copied. 
And  as  all  down  the  ages  pagan  elements  have  mingled  in  the 
festivities  of  Christmas,  so  in  the  Catacombs  they  are  not  absent. 
There  is  Orpheus  playing  on  his  harp  to  the  beasts  ;  Bacchus 
as  the  god  of  the  vintage  ;  Psyche,  the  buttertiy  of  the  soul  ; 
the  Jordan  as  the  god  of  the  rivers.  The  classical  and  the 
Christian,  the  Hebrew  and  the  Hellenic  elements  had  not  yet 
parted  ;  and  the  unearthing  of  these  pictures  after  the  lapse  of 
centuries  affords  another  interesting  clue  to  the  origin  of  some 
of  the  customs  of  Christmastide.  It  is  astonishing  how  many 
of  the  Catacomb  decorations  are  taken  from  heathen  sources 
and  copied  from  heathen  paintings  ;  yet  we  need  not  wonder 
when  we  reflect  that  the  vine  was  used  by  the  early  Christians 
as  an  emblem  of  gladness,  and  it  was  scarcely  possible  for  them 
to  celebrate  the  Feast  of  the  Nativity — a  festival  of  glad  tidings 
— without  some  sort  of  Bacchanalia.     Thus  it  appears  that  even 


ANCIENT   AGAI'E. 

(From  Withrow's  "  Cafncoiiihs  of  Roiiu:"  which  states  that  the  inscriptions, 
accordint;  to  Dr.  Maitland,  should  be  expanded  thus  :  IRENE  DA  CAL- 
DA[M  AQVAM]—' Peace,  give  hot  water;'  and  AGAPE  MISCE  MI 
[VIXVM  CVM  AQVA]. — "Love,  mix  me  wine  with  water  ;"  the  allusion 
being  to  the  ancient  custom  of  tempering  wine  with  w.ater,  hot  or  cold.) 


20  CHRISTMAS. 

beneath  the  palaces  and  temples  of  pagan  Rome  the  bnlh  of 
Christ  was  celebrated,  this  early  underminmg  of  paganism  by 
Christianity  being,  as  it  were,  the  germ  of  the  hnal  victory,  and 
the  secret  praise,  which  came  like  muffled  music  from  the 
Catacombs  in  honour  of  the  Nativity,  the  prelude  to  the 
triumph-song  in  which  they  shall  unite  who  receive  from 
Christ  the  unwithering  crown. 

But  they  who  would  wear  the  crown  must  hrst  bear  the  cioss 
and  these  early  Christians  had  to  pass  through  dreadful  days  of 
persecution.  Some  of  them  were  made  food  for  the  torches 
of  the  atrocious  Nero,  others  were  thrown  mto  the  Imperial 
lish-ponds  to  fatten  lamprevs  for  the  Bacchanalian  banquets, 
and  many  were  mangled  to  death  by  savage  beasts,  or  still  moie 
savage  men.  to  make  sport  for  thousands  of  pitiless  sightseers, 
whilS  not  a  single  thumb  was  turned  to  make  the  sign  of  mercy. 
But  perhaps  the  most  gigantic  and  horrible  of  all  Christmas 
atrocities  were  those  perpetrated  by  the  tyrant  Diocletian,  who 


became  Emperor  a.d.  284.  The  early  years  of  his  reign  were 
characterised  by  some  sort  of  religious  toleration,  but  when  his 
persecutions  began  many  endured  martyrdom,  and  the  storm  of 
his  fury  burst  on  the  Christians  in  the  year  303.  A  multitude 
of  Christians  of  all  ages  had  assembled  to  commemorate  the 
Nativity  in  the  temple  at  Nicomedia,  in  Bithynia,  when  the 
tyrant  Emperor  had  the  town  surrounded  by  soldiers  and  set 
on  lire,  and  about  twentv  thousand  persons  perished.  The 
persecutions  were  carried  on  throughout  the  Roman  Empire, 
and  the  death-roll  included  some  British  martyrs,  Britain  being 
at  that  time  a  Roman  province.  St.  Alban,  who  was  put  to 
death  at  Verulam  in  Diocletian's  reign,  is  said  to  have  been 
the  first  Christian  martvr  in  Britain.  On  the  retirement  ot 
Diocletian,  satiated  with  slaughter  and  wearied  with  wicked- 
ness Galerius  continued  the  persecutions  for  a  while.  But  the 
time  of  deliverance  was  at  hand,  for  the  martyrs  had  made 
more  converts  in  their  deaths  than  in  their  lives.     It  was  vainly 


THE   EARLIER   CELEBRATIONS   OF    THE   FESTIVAL.        21 


hoped  that  Christianity  would  be  destroyed,  but  in  the  suc- 
ceeding reign  of  Constantine  it  became  the  reHgion  of  the 
empire.  Not  one  of  the  martyrs  had  died  in  vain  or  passed 
through  death  unrecorded. 

"  There  is  a  record  traced  on  high, 
That  shall  endure  eternally  ; 
The  angel  standing  by  God's  throne 
Treasures  there  each  word  and  groan  ; 
And  not  the  martyr's  speech  alone, 
But  every  word  is  there  depicted, 

With  every  circumstance  of  pain — 
The  crimson  stream,  the  gash  inflicted — • 

And  not  a  drop  is  shed  in  vain." 


Celebrations  under  Constantine  the  Great. 

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  father 
at  York  in  306,  w^as  in  Britain  proclaimed  Emperor  of  the 
Roman  Empire)  brighter  days  came  to  the  Christians,  for  his 
first  act  was  one  of  favour  to  them.  He  had  been  present  at 
the  promulgation  of  Diocletian's  edict  of  the  last  and  fiercest 
of  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  im- 
pressed him.  No  sooner  had  he  ascended  the  throne  than  his 
good  feeling  towards  the  Christians  took  the  active  form  of  an 
edict  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  the 
darkness  of  the  Catacombs  and  encouraged  one  another  with 
"  Alleluias,"  which  served  as  a  sort  of  invitatory  or  mutual  call 
to  each  other  to  praise  the  Lord,  might  come  forth  into  the 
Imperial  sunshine  and  hold  their  services  in  basilicas  or  public 
halls,  the  roofs  of  which  (Jerome  tells  us)  "  re-echoed  with  their 
cries  of  Alleluia,"  while  Ambrose  says  the  sound  of  their  psalms 
as  they  sang  in  celebration  of  the  Nativity  "  was  like  the  surging 
of  the  sea  in  great  waves  of  sound."  And  the  Catacombs  contain 
confirmatory  evidence  of  the  joy  with  which  relatives  of  the 
Emperor  participated  in  Christian  festivities.     In  the  tomb  of 


22  CHRISTMAS. 

Constantia,  the  sister  of  the  Emperor  Constantine,  the  only 
decorations  are  children  gathering  the  vintage,  plucking  the 
grapes,  carrying  baskets  of  grapes  on  their  heads,  dancing  on 
the  grapes  to  press  out  the  wine.  This  primitive  conception 
of  the  Founder  of  Christianity  shows  the  faith  of  these  early 
Christians  to  have  been  of  a  joyous  and  festive  character,  and 
the  Graduals  for  Christmas  Eve  and  Christmas  morning,  the 
beautiful  Kyrie  Eleisons  (which  in  later  times  passed  into 
carols),  and  the  other  festival  music  which  has  comedown  to 
us  through  that  wonderful  compilation  of  Christian  song, 
Gregory's  Aiitiphoiiary,  show  that  Christmas  stood  out  pro- 
minently in  the  celebrations  of  the  now  established  Church, 
for  the  Emperor  Constantine  had  transferred  the  seat  of 
government  to  Contantinople,  and  Christianity  was  formally 
recognised  as  the  established  religion. 

Episcopal  References  to  Christmas  axd  Cautions  against 

Excesses. 

Cvprian,  the  intrepid  Bishop  of  Carthage,  whose  stormy 
episcopate  closed  with  the  crown  of  martyrdom  in  the  latter 
half  of  the  third  century,  began  his  treatise  on  the  Nativity 
thus  :  *'  The  much  wished-for  and  long  expected  Nativity  of 
Christ  is  come,  the  famous  solemnity  is  come" — expressions 
which  indicate  the  desire  with  which  the  Church  looked 
forward  to  the  festival,  and  the  fame  which  its  celebrations 
had  acquired  in  the  popular  mind.  And  in  later  times,  after 
the  fulness  of  festivity  at  Christmas  had  resulted  in  some 
excesses,  Bishop  Gregorv  Nazianzen  (who  died  in  389),  fearing 
the  spiritual  thanksgiving  was  in  danger  of  being  subordinated 
to  the  temporal  rejoicing,  cautioned  all  Christians  "against 
feasting  to  excess,  dancing,  and  crowning  the  doors  (practices 
derived  from  the  heathens)  ;  urging  the  celebration  of  the 
festival  after  an  heavenly  and  not  an   earthly   manner." 

In  the  Council,  generally  called  Conciliiun  AfricaniiDi,  held 
a.d.  408,  "  stage-playes  and  spectacles  are  forbidden  on  the 
Lord's -day,  Christmas -day,  and  other  solemn  Christian 
festivalls."  Theodosius  the  younger,  in  his  laws  dc  SpectaciiliSy 
in  425,  forbade  shows  or  games  on  the  Nativity,  and  some 
other  feasts.  And  in  the  Council  of  Auxerre,  in  Burgundy,  in 
578,  disguisings  are  again  forbidden,  and  at  another  Council,  in 
614,  it  was  found  necessary  to  repeat  the  prohibitory  canons 
in  stronger  terms,  declaring  it  to  be  unlawful  to  make  any 
indecent  plays  upon  the  Kalends  of  January,  according  to  the 
profane  practices  of  the  pagans.  But  it  is  also  recorded  that 
the  more  devout  Christians  in  these  early  times  celebrated  the 
festival  without  indulging  in  the  forbidden  excesses. 


CHAPTER   III. 

EARLY    CHRISTMAS    CELEBRATIONS    IN 
BRITAIN. 


Early  Celebrations  ix  Britain. 

It  is  recorded  that  there  were  "  saints  in  Caesar's  household," 
and  we  have  also  the  best  authority  for  saying  there  were 
converts  among  Roman  soldiers.  Cornelius,  a  Roman  cen- 
turion, "was  a  just  man  and  one  that  feared  God,"  and 
other  Roman  converts  are  referred  to  in  Scripture  as  having 
been  found  among  the  officers  of  the  Roman  Empire.  And 
although  it  is  not  known  who  first  preached  the  Gospel  in 
Britain,  it  seems  almost  certain  that  Christianity  entered  with 
the  Roman  invasion  in  a.d.  43.  As  in  Palestine  some  of  the 
earlier  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  earthly 
career  with  the  crown  of  martyrdom.  It  is  also  certain  that 
very  early  in  the  Christian  era  Christmas  \yas  celebrated  in 
Britain,  mingling  in  its  festivities  some  of  the  winter-festival 
customs  of  the  ancient  Britons  and  the  Roman  invaders,  for  traces 
of  those  celebrations  are  still  seen  in  some  of  the  Christmas 
customs  of  modern  times.  Moreover,  it  is  known  that  Christians 
were  tolerated  in  Britain  by  some  of  the  Roman  governors  before 
the  days  of  Constantine.  It  was  in  the  time  of  the  fourth 
Roman  Emperor,  Claudius,  that  part  of  Britain  was  first  really 
conquered.  Claudius  himself  came  over  in  the  year  43,  and  his 
generals  afterwards  went  on  with  the  war,  conquering  one  after 


24  CHRISTMAS. 

another  of  the  British  chiefs,  Caradoc,  whom  the  Romans  called 
Caractacus,  holding  out  the  longest  and  the  most  bravely. 
This  intrepid  King  of  the  Silurians,  who  lived  in  South  Wales 
and  the  neighbouring  parts,  withstood  the  Romans  for  several 
years,  but  was  at  last  defeated  at  a  great  battle,  supposed  to 
have  taken  place  in  Shropshire,  where  there  is  a  hill  still  called 
Caer  Caradoc.  Caradoc  and  his  family  were  taken  prisoners 
and  led  before  the  Emperor  at  Rome,  when  he  made  a  remark- 
able speech  which  has  been  preserved  for  us  by  Tacitus. 
When  he  saw  the  splendid  city  of  Rome,  he  wondered  that 
an  Emperor  who  lived  in  such  splendour  should  have  meddled 
with  his  humble  home  in  Britain  ;  and  in  his  address  before 
the  Emperor  Claudius,  who  received  him  seated  on  his  throne 
with  the  Empress  Agrippina  by  his  side,  Caradoc  said  :  "  My 
fate  this  day  appears  as  sad  for  me  as  it  is  glorious  for  thee.  I 
had  horses,  soldiers,  arms,  and  treasures  ;  is  it  surprising  that 
I.  should  regret  the  loss  of  them  ?  If  it  is  thy  will  to  command 
the  universe,  is  it  a  reason  we  should  voluntarily  accept  slavery  ? 
Had  I  yielded  sooner,  thy  fortune  and  my  glory  would  have 
been  less,  and  oblivion  would  soon  have  followed  my  execution. 
If  thou  sparest  my  life,  I  shall  be  an  eternal  monument  of  thy 
clemency."  Although  the  Romans  had  very  often  killed  their 
captives,  to  the  honour  of  Claudius  be  it  said  that  he  treated 
Caradoc  kindly,  gave  him  his  liberty,  and,  according  to  some 
historians,  allowed  him  to  reign  in  part  of  Britain  as  a  prince 
subject  to  Rome.  It  is  surprising  that  an  emperor  who  had 
shown  such  clemency  could  afterw^ards  become  one  of 
Rome's  sanguinary  tyrants  ;  but  Claudius  was  a  man  of 
weak  intellect. 

There  were  several  of  the  Roman  Emperors  and  Governors 
who  befriended  the  Christians,  took  part  in  their  Christmas 
festivities,  and  professed  faith  in  Christ.  The  Venerable 
Bede  says  :  ''  In  the  reign  of  Marcus  Aurelius  Antonius,  and 
his  partner  in  the  Empire,  Lucius  Verus,  w^hen  Eleutherius 
was  Bishop  of  Rome,  Lucius,  a  British  king,  sent  a  letter  to  his 
prelate,  desiring  his  directions  to  make  him  a  Christian.  The 
holy  bishop  immediately  complied  wdth  this  pious  request  ; 
and  thus  the  Britons,  being  brought  over  to  Christianity, 
continued  without  warping  or  disturbance  till  the  reign  of 
the  Emperor  Diocletian."  And  Selden  says  :  "  Howsoever, 
by  injury  of  time,  the  memory  of  this  great  and  illustrious 
Prince  King  Lucy  hath  been  embezzled  and  smuggled  ;  this, 
upon  the  credit  of  the  ancient  writers,  appears  plainly,  that  the 
pitiful  fopperies  of  the  Pagans,  and  the  worship  of  their  idol 
devils,  did  begin  to  flag,  and  within  a  short  time  would  have 
given  place  to  the  worship  of  the  true  God."  As  this  "  illus- 
trious Prince  King  Lucy  " — Lucius  Verus — flourished  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  second  century,  and  is  credited  with  the 
erection  of  our  first  Christian  Church  on  the  site  of  St. 
Martin's,    at    Canterbury,    it    seems    clear    that    even    in    those 


EARLY  CHRISTMAS   CELEBRATIONS   IX   BRITAIN.  25 

early  days  Christianity  was  making  prot^ress  in  Britain.  Frt)ni 
the  time  of  Juhus  Agricola,  who  was  Roman  Commander  from 
78  to  84,  Britain  had  been  a  Roman  province,  and  ahhough 
the  Romans  never  conqnered  the  whole  of  the  island,  yet  dnring 
their  occupation  of  what  they  called  their  province  (the  whole 
of  Britain,  excepting  that  portion  north  of  the  Firths  of  Forth 
and  Clyde),  they  encouraged  the  Christmas  festivities  and  did 
much  to  civilise  the  people  whom  they  had  conquered  and 
whom  they  governed  for  more  than  three  hundred  years.  They 
built  towns  in  different  parts  of  the  country  and  constructed 
good  roads  from  one  town  to  another,  for  they  were  excellent 
builders  and  road-makers.  Some  of  the  Roman  emperors 
visited  Britain  and  others  Were  chosen  by  the  soldiers  of 
Britain  ;  and  in  the  reigns  of  Constantine  the  Great  and 
other  tolerant  emperors  the  Britains  lived  like  Romans, 
adopted  Roman  manners  and  customs,  and  some  of  them 
learned  to  speak  the  Latin  language.  Christian  churches 
were  built  and  bishoprics  founded  ;  a  hierarchy  was  estab- 
lished, and  at  the  Council  of  Aries,  in  314,  three  British  bishops 
took  part — those  of  York,  London,  and  Camulodunum  (which 
is  now  Colchester  or  Maiden,  authorities  are  divided,  but 
Freeman  says  Colchester).  The  canons  framed  at  Aries  on 
this  occasion  became  the  law  of  the  British  Church,  and  in 
this  more  favourable  period  for  Christians  the  Christmas 
festival  was  kept  with  great  rejoicing.  But  this  settled  state 
of  affairs  was  subsequently  disturbed  by  the  departure  of  the 
Romans  and  the  several  invasions  of  the  Anglo-Saxons  and  the 
Danes  which  preceded  the  Norman  Conquest. 


Christm.as  Again  ix  Troublous  Times  :  The  Departure  of 
THE  Romans  and  the  Invasion  of  the  Anglo-Saxons. 

The  outgoing  of  the  Romans  and  the  incoming  of  the  Angles, 
the  Saxons,  and  the  Jutes  disastrously  affected  the  festival  of 
Christmas,  for  the  invaders  were  heathens,  and  Christianity  was 
swept  westward  before  them.  They  had  lived  in  a  part  of  the 
Continent  which  had  not  been  reached  by  Christianity  nor 
classic  culture,  and  they  worshipped  the  false  gods  of  Woden 


26  CHRISTMAS. 

and  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  to 
om-  country,  it  may  be  well  to  note  that  they  came  over  to 
Britain  from  the  one  country  which  is  known  to  have  borne  the 
name  of  Angeln  or  the  Engle-land,  and  which  is  now  called 
Slesw4ck,  a  district  in  the  middle  of  that  peninsula  which  parts 
the  Baltic  from  the  North  Sea  or  German  Ocean.  The  Romans 
having  become  weakened  through  their  conflicts  with  Germany 
and  other  nations,  at  the  beginning  of  the  iifth  century,  the 
Emperor  Honorius  recalled  the  Roman  legions  from  Britain, 
and  this  made  it  much  easier  for  the  Angles  and  Saxons  (who 
had  previously  tried  to  get  in)"  to  come  and  remain  in  this 
countrv.  Thus  our  Teuton  forefathers  came  and  conquered 
much  the  greater  part  of  Britain,  the  Picts  and  Scots  remaining 
in  the  north  and  the  Welsh  in  the  west  of  the  island.  It  was 
their  custom  to  kill  or  make  slaves  of  all  the  people  they  could, 
and  so  completelv  did  they  conquer  that  part  of  Britain  in 
which  they  settled  that  they  kept  their  own  language  and 
manners  and  their  own  heathenish  religion,  and  destroyed  or 
desecrated  Christian  churches  which  had  been  set  up.  Hence 
Christian  missionaries  were  required  to  convert  our  ancestral 
worshippers  of  Woden  and  Thunder,  and  a  difficult  business  it 
was  to  Christianise  such  pagans,  for  they  stuck  to  their  false 
gods  with  the  same  tenacity  that  the  northern  nations  did. 

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

"  At  Drontheim,  Olaf  the  King 
Heard  the  bells  of  Yule-tide  ring, 
As  he  sat  in  his  banquet-hall. 
Drinking  the  nut-brown  ale, 
With  his  bearded  Berserks  hale 
'  And  tall. 

O'er  his  drinking  horn,  the  sign 
He  made  of  the  Cross  divine 

As  he  drank,  and  muttered  his  prayers  ; 
But  the  Berserks  evermore 
Made  the  sign  of  the  Hammer  of  Thor 

Over  theirs." 

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

The  Christmas  festival  was  duly  observed  by  the  missionaries 
who  came  to  the  South  of  England  from  Rome,  headed  by 
Augustine,  and  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  coiuitry  the  Christian 


EARLY  CHRISTMAS   CELEBRATIONS   IX   BRITAIX 


27 


festivities  were  revived  by  the  Celtic  missionaries  from  lona, 
under  Aidan,  the  famous  Cokuiibian  monk.  At  least  half  of 
England  was  covered  by  the  Columbian  monks,  whose  great 
foundation  upon  the  rocky  island  of  lona,  in  the  Hebrides,  was 
the  source  of  Christianity  to  Scotland.  The  ritual  of  the  Celtic 
differed  from  that  of  the  Romish  missionaries,  and  caused 
confusion,  till  at  the  Synod  of  Whitby  (664)  the  Northumbrian 
Kingdom  adopted  the  Roman  usages,  and  England  obtained 
ecclesiastical  unity  as  a  branch  of  the  Church  of  Rome.  Thus 
unity  in  the  Church  preceded  bv  several  centuries  unity  in  the 
State. 

In  connection  with  Augustine's  mission  to  England,  a  memo- 
rable story  (recorded  in  Green's  "  History  of  the  English 
People  ")  tells  how,  when  but  a  young  Roman  deacon,  Gregory 
had  noted  the  white  bodies,  the  fair  faces,  the  golden  hair  of 
some  youths  who  stood  bound  in  the  market-place  of  Rome. 
"  From  what  country  do  these  slaves  come  ?  "  he  asked  the 
traders  who  brought  them.  "  They  are  English,  Angles  !  "  the 
slave-dealers  answered.  The  deacon's  pity  veiled  itself  in 
poetic  humour.  "Not  Angles,  but  Angels,"  he  said,  ''with 
faces  so  angel-like  !     From  what  countrv  come  they  ?  "     "  They 


QUEEN    BERTHA. 


28  CHRISTMAS. 

come,"  said  the  merchants,  "  from  Deira."  "  De  ira  !  "  was  the 
untranslatable  reply  ;  "aye,  plucked  from  God's  u'e,  and  called 
to  Christ's  mercy!  And  what  is  the  name  of  their  king?" 
'*^lla,"  they  told  him,  and  Gregory  seized  on  the  words  as  of 
good  omen.  "  Alleluia  shall  be  sung  in  yElla's  land  !  "  he  cried, 
and  passed  on,  musing  how  the  angel-faces  should  be  brought 
to  sing  it.  Only  three  or  four  years  had  gone  by  when  the 
deacon  had  become  Bishop  of  Rome,  and  the  marriage  of 
Bertha,  daughter  of  the  Prankish  king,  Charibert  of  Paris,  with 
^thelberht,  King  of  Kent,  gave  him  the  opening  he  sought  ; 
for  Bertha,  like  her  Prankish  kinsfolk,  was  a  Christian. 

And  so,  after  negotiations  with  the  rulers  of  Gaul,  Gregory 
sent  Augustine,  at  the  head  of  a  band  of  monks,  to  preach  the 
gospel  to  the  English  people.  The  missionaries  landed  in  597, 
on  the  very  spot  where  Hengest  had  landed  more  than  a 
century  before,  in  the  Isle  of  Thanet  ;  and  the  king  received 
them  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  of 
Music,"  says  that  wherever  Gregory  sent  missionaries  he  also 
sent  copies  of  the  Gregorian  song  as  he  had  arranged  it  in  his 
'*  Antiphonary."  And  he  bade  them  go  singing  among  the 
people.  And  Augustine  entered  Kent  bearing  a  silver  cross 
and  a  banner  with  the  image  of  Christ  painted  on  it,  while  a 
long  train  of  choristers  walked  behind  him  chanting  the  Kyrie 
Ekisoii.  In  this  way  they  came  to  the  court  of  yP^thelberht, 
who  assigned  them  Canterbury  as  an  abode  ;  and  they  entered 
Canterbury  with  similar  pomp,  and  as  they  passed  through  the 
gates  they  sang  this  petition  :  "  Lord,  we  beseech  Thee  to  keep 
Thy  wrath  away  from  this  citv  and  from  Thy  holv  Church, 
Alleluia  !  " 

As  papal  Rome  preserved  many  relics  of  heathen  Rome, 
so,  in  like  manner.  Pope  Gregory,  in  sending  Augustine 
over  to  convert  the  Anglo-Saxons,  directed  him  to  accommodate 
the  ceremonies  of  the  Christian  worship  as  much  as  possible  to 
those  of  the  heathen,  that  the  people  might  not  be  much 
startled  at  the  change  ;  and,  in  particular,  he  advised  him  to 
allow  converts  to  kill  and  eat  at  the  Christmas  festival  a  great 
number  of  oxen  to  the  glory  of  God,  as  they  had  formerly  done 
to  the  honour  of  the  devil.  The  clergy,  therefore,  endeavoured 
to  connect  the  remnants  of  Pagan  idolatry  with  Christianity, 
and  also  allowed  some  of  the  practices  of  our  British  ancestors 
to  mingle  in  the  festivities  of  Christmastide.  The  religion  of 
the  Druids,  the  priests  of  the  ancient  Britons,  is  supposed  to 
have  been  somewhat  similar  to  that  of  the  Brahmins  of  India, 
the  Magi  of  Persia,  and  the  Chaldeans  of  Syria.  They  wor- 
shipped in  groves,  regarded  the  oak  and  mistletoe  as  objects  of 
veneration,  and  offered  sacrifices.  Before  Christianity  came  to 
Britain  December  was  called  "  Aerra  Geola,"  because  the  sun 
then  "  turns  his  glorious  course."     And  under  different  names. 


EARLY  CHRISTMAS   CELEBRATIONS   IN   BRITAIN. 


29 


such  as  Woden  (another  form  of  Odin),  Thor,  Thunder,  Saturn, 
&c.,  the  pagans  held  their  festivals  of  rejoicing  at  the 
winter  solstice  ;  and  so  many  of  the  ancient  customs  connected 
with  these  festivals  were  modified  and  made  subservient  to 
Christianity. 

Some  of  the  English  even  tried  to  serve  Christ  and  the  older 
gods  together,  like  the  Roman  Emperor,  Alexander  Severus, 
"whose  chapel  contained  Orpheus  side  by  side  with  Abraham 
and  Christ.  "  Roedwald  of  East  Anglia  resolved  to  serve 
Christ  and  the  older  gods  together,  and  a  pagan  and  a  Christian 
altar  fronted  one  another  in  the  same  royal  temple."  '  Kent, 
however,  seems  to  have  been  evangelised  rapidly,  for  it  is 
recorded  that  on  Christmas  Day,  597,  no  less  than  ten  thousand 
persons  were  baptized. 


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

Christmas  was  now  celebrated  as  the  principal  festival  of  the 
year,  for  our  Anglo-Saxon  forefathers  delighted  in  the  festivities 
of  the  Halig-Monath  (holy  month),  as  they  called  the  month 
of  December,  in  allusion  to  Christmas  Day.  At  the  great 
festival  of  Christmas  the  meetings  of  the  Witenagemot  were 
held,  as  well  as  at  Easter  and  Whitsuntide,  wherever  the  Court 
happened  to  be.  And  at  these  times  the  Anglo-Saxon,  and  after- 
wards the  Danish,  Kings  of  England  lived  in  state,  wore  their 
crowns,  and  were  surrounded  by  all  the  great  men  of  their  king- 
doms (together  with  strangers  of  rank)  who  were  sumptuously 
entertained,  and  the  most  important  affairs  of  state  were  brought 
under  consideration.  There  was  also  an  outflow  of  generous 
hospitality  towards  the  poor,  who  had  a  hard  time  of  it  during 
the  rest  of  the  year,  and  who  required  the  Christmas  gifts  to 

'  Green's  "  History  of  the  English  People." 


30  CHRISTMAS. 

provide  them  with  such  creature  comforts  as  would  help  them 
through  the  inclement  season  of  the  year. 

Readers  of  Saxon  history  will  remember  that  chieftains  in  the 
festive  hall  are  alluded  to  in  the  comparison  made  by  one  of 
King  Edwin's  chiefs,  in  discussing  the  welcome  to  he  given 
to  the  Christian  missionary  Paulinus  :  "  The  present  life  of 
man,  O  King,  seems  to  me,  in  comparison  of  that  time  which  is 
unknown  to  us,  like  to  the  swift  flight  of  a  sparrow  through 
the  hall  where  you  sit  at  your  meal  in  winter,  with  your  chiefs 
and  attendants,  warmed  by  a  Are  made  in  the  middle  of  the 
hall,  while  storms  of  rain  or  snow  prevail  without." 


AN    ANCIENT    FIREPLACE. 


The  "  hall  "  was  the  principal  part  of  a  gentleman's  house  in 
Saxon  times — the  place  of  entertainment  and  hospitality — and 
at  Christmastide  the  doors  were  never  shut  against  any  who 
appeared  to  be  worthy  of  welcome.  And  with  such  modes  of 
travelling  as  were  in  vogue  in  those  days  one  can  readily  under- 
stand that,  not  only  at  Christmas,  but  also  at  other  seasons,  the 
rule  of  hospitality  to  strangers  was  a  necessity. 

To  this  period  belong  the  princely  pageants  and  the 
magnificent 

Christmas  Extertainments  of  King  Arthur 

and  the  Knights  of  his  Round  Table.  We  know  that  some 
people  are  inclined  to  discredit  the  accounts  which  have  come 
down  to  us  of  this  famous  British  King  and  Christian  hero,  but 
for  our  own  part  we  are  inclined  to  trust  the  old  chroniclers, 
at  all  events  so  far  as  to  believe  that  they  give  us  true  pictures 


EARLY   CHRISTMAS   CELEBRATIOXS    IX    BRITAIX.  M 


TRAVELLING    IN    THE   OLDEN    TIME,    WITH    A    "CHRISTMAS    FOOL " 
ON    THE   FRONT   SEAT. 


of  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  times  of  which  they  write  ; 
and  in  this  prosaic  age  it  may  surely  be  permitted  to  us  at 
Christmastide  to  linger  over  the  doings  of  those  romantic  days, 

' '  WHen  every  morning  brought  a  noble  chance, 
And  every  chance  brought  out  a  noble  knight."  ' 

Sir  John  Froissart  tells  us  of  the  princely  pageants  which  King 
Arthur  held  at  Windsor  in  the  sixth  century,  and  of  the 
sumptuous  Christmas  banquetings  at  his  Round  Table-^ — the 
very  Round  Table  (so  we  are  to  believe,  on  the  authority  of 
Dr.  Milner)  ^  which  has  been  preserved  in  the  old  chapel,  now 
termed  the  county  hall,  at  Winchester.  It  consists  of  stout  oak 
plank,  perforated  with  many  bullets,  supposed  to  have  been 
shot  by  Cromwell's  soldiers.  It  is  painted  with  a  hgure  to 
represent  King  Arthur,  and  with  the  names  of  his  twenty-four 
knights  as  they  are  stated  in  the  romances  of  the  old  chroniclers. 
This  famous  Prince,  who  instituted  the  military  order  of  the 
Knights  of  the  Round  Table,  is  also  credited  with  the  reintro- 
duction  of  Christianity  at  York  after  the  Saxon  invaders  had 
destroyed  the  first  churches  built  there.  He  was  unwearving 
in  his  warfare  against  enemies  of  the  religion  of  Christ. 
His  first  great  enterprise  was  the  siege  of  a  Saxon  army  at 
York,  and,  having  afterwards  won  brilliant  victories  in  Somerset- 
shire and  other  parts  of  southern  England,  he  again  marched 
northward  and  penetrated  Scotland  to  attack  the  Picts  and 
Scots,  who  had  long  harassed  the  border.  On  returning  from 
Scotland,  Arthur  rested  his  wearied  army  at  York  and  kept 
Christmas  with  great  bountifulness.  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth 
says  he  was  a  prince  of  "  unparalleled  courage  and  generosity," 
and  his  Christmas  at  York  was  kept  with  the  greatest  jov  and 
festivity.  Then  was  the  round  table  tilled  with  jocund  guests, 
and  the  minstrels,  gleeme»,  harpers,  pipe-players,  jugglers,  and 


. ennyson. 


History  of  Winchester." 


32 


CHRISTMAS. 


dancers  were   as  happy  round  about  their  log-fires  as  if  they 
had  shone  in  the  blaze  of  a  thousand  gas-lights. 

King  Arthur  and  his  Knights  also  indulged  in  out-door  amuse- 
ments, as  hunting,  hawking,  running,  leaping,  wrestling,  jousts, 
and  tourneys.  "  So,"  says  Sir  Thomas  Malory,  '  "passed  forth 
all  the  winter  with  all  manner  of  hunting  and  hawking,  and 
jousts  and  tourneys  were  many  between  many  great  lords. 
And  e\er,  in  all  manner  of  places,  Sir  Lavaine  got  great  worship, 
that  he  was  nobly  renowned  among  many  of  the  knights  of  the 


THE  WILD  BOAR   HUNT  :    KILLING  THE  BOAR. 


Round  Table.  Thus  it  passed  on  until  Christmas,  and  every 
day  there  were  jousts  made  for  a  diamond,  that  whosoever 
joust  best  should  have  a  diamond.  But  Sir  Launcelot  would 
not  joust,  but  if  it  were  a  great  joust  cried  ;  but  Sir  Lavaine 
jousted  there  all  the  Christmas  passing  well,  and  most  was 
praised  ;  for  there  were  few  that  did  so  well  as  he  ;  wherefore 
all  manner  of  knights  deemed  that  Sir  Lavaine  should  be  made 

'   "  History  of  King  Artlnir  and  His  Noble  Knit^hts." 


EARLY  CHRISTMAS  CELEBRATIOXS  IX   BRITAIX.  33 

a  Knis^lit  of  tlie  Kouiul  Tabic,  at  the  next  hi^s^li  feast  of 
Pentecost." 

The  Anglo-Saxon  Excesses 

are  referred  to  by  some  of  the  old  chroniclers,  intemperance 
being  a  very  prevalent  vice  at  the  Christmas  festival.  Ale  and 
mead  were  their  favourite  drinks  ;  wines  were  used  as  occasional 
luxuries.  "When  all  were  satisfied  with  dinner/' says  an  old 
chronicler,  "  and  their  tables  were  removed,  they  continued 
drinking  till  the  evening."  And  another  tells  how  drinking  and 
gaming  went  on  through  the  greater  part  of  the  night. 
Chaucer's  one  solitarv  reference  to  Christmastide  is  an  allegorical 
representation  of  the  jovial  feasting  which  was  the  characteristic 
feature  of  this  great  festival  held  in  "  the  colde  frosty  season 
of  December." 

"  Janus  sits  by  the  fire  vvilli  double  beard, 
And  drinketh  of  his  bugle  horn  the  wine  : 
Before  him  stands  the  brawn  of  tusked  swine. 
And  '  Nowel "  cryeth  every  lusty  man.''  ' 

The  Saxons  were  stronglv  attached  to  iield  sports,  and  as  the 
"  brawn  of  the  tusked  swine  "  was  the  hrst  Christmas  dish,  it 
was  provided  by  the  pleasant  preliminary  pastime  of  hunting 
tlie  wild  boar  ;  and  the  incidents  of  the  chase  afforded  interest- 
ing table  talk  when  the  boar's  head  was  brought  in  cere- 
moniously to  the  Christmas  festival. 

Prominent  among  the  Anglo-Saxon  amusements  of  Christmas- 
tide,  Strutt  mentions  their  propensity  for  gaming  with  dice,  as 
derived  from  their  ancestors,  for  Tacitus  assures  us  that  the 
ancient  Germans  would  not  only  hazard  all  their  wealth,  but 
even  stake  their  liberty,  upon  the  turn  of  the  dice  :  ''and  he  who 
loses  submits  to  servitude,  though  younger  and  stronger  than  his 
antagonist,  and  patiently  permits  himself  to  be  bound  and  sold 
in  the  market ;  and  this  madness  they  dignify  by  the  name  of 
honour."  Chess  and  backgammon  were  also  favourite  games 
with  the  Anglo-Saxons,  and  a  large  portion  of  the  night  was 
appropriated  to  the  pursuit  of  these  sedentary  amusements, 
especiallv  at  the  Christmas  season  of  the  year,  when  the  early 
darkness  stopped  out-door  games. 

"  When  they  had  dined,  as  I  can  you  say, 
Lords  and  ladies  went  to  ]ilay  ; 
Some  to  tables,  and  some  to  chess, 
With  other  games  more  and  less. "  - 

Otir  Saxon  forefathers  were  very  superstitious.  They  had 
many  pretenders  to  witchcraft.  They  believed  in  the  powers 
of  philtres  and  spells,  and  invocated  spirits  ;  and  they  relished 
a  blood-curdling  ghost  story  at  Christmas  quite  as  much  as  their 
twentieth-century  descendants.  They  confided  in  prognostics, 
and  believed  in  the  influence  of  particular  times  and  seasons  ; 
'   "The  I-ranklin"s  Tale."  -'  "  Romance  of  Iponndon."' 


34 


CHRISTMAS. 


and  at  Christniastidc  they  derived  peculiar  pleasure  from  their 
belief  in  the  immunity  of  the  season  from  malign  influences — 
a  belief  which  descended  to  Elizabethan  days,  and  is  referred 
to  by  Shakespeare,  in  "  Hamlet "  : — 

"  Some  say  that  ever  'gainst  that  season  comes, 
Wherein  our  Saviour's  birth  is  celebrated, 
The  bird  of  dawning  singeth  all  night  long  : 
And  then,  they  say.  no  spirit  dares  stir  abroad  ; 
The  nights  are  wholesome  ;  then  no  planets  strike, 
No  fairy  takes,  nor  witch  hath  power  to  charm, 
So  hallowed  and  so  gracious  is  the  time." 


Aoir^, 


^11  W'' 


We  cannot  pass  over  this  period  withotit  mentioning  a  great 
Christmas  in  the  history  of  our  Teutonic  kinsmen  on  the 
CtMitinent,  for  the  Saxons  of  England  and  those  of  Germany 
have  the  same  Teutonic  origin.     We  refer  to 


ThI',  Ckowxixg  of  Charlemagne  Emperor  of  the 
Romans  on  Christmas  Day. 


The  coronation  took  place  at  Rome,  on  Christmas  Day,  in 
the  year  800.  Freeman  '  savs  that  when  Charles  was  King  of 
the  Franks  and  Lombards  and  Patrician  of  the  Romans,  he  was 
on  very  friendly  terms  with  the  mighty  Offa,  King  of  the  Angles 
that  dwelt  in  Mercia.  Charles  and  Offa  not  only  exchanged 
letters  and  gifts,  but  each  gave  the  subjects  of  the  other  various 

'  "  Old  English  History." 


EARLY  CHRISTMAS   CELEBRATIONS   IX   BRITAIN.  35 

rights  in  his  dominions,  and  they  made  a  league  together,  "  for 
that  they  two  were  the  mightiest  of  aU  the  kings  that  dwelt  in 
the  Western  lands."  As  conqueror  of  the  old  Saxons  in 
Germany,  Charles  may  be  regarded  as  the  Hrst  King  of  all 
(lermany,  and  he  was  the  lirst  man  of  any  Teutonic  nation  who 
was  called  Roman  Emperor.  He  was  crowned  with  the  diadem 
of  the  Caesars,  by  Pope  Leo,  in  the  name  of  Charles  Augustus, 
Emperor  of  the  Romans.  And  it  was  held  for  a  thousand  years 
after,  down  to  the  year  1806,  that  the  King  of  the  Franks,  or, 
as  he  was  afterwards  called,  the  King  of  Germany,  had  a  right 
to  be  crowned  by  the  Pope  of  Rome,  and  to  be  called  Emperor 
of  the  Romans.  In  the  year  1806,  however,  the  Emperor 
Francis  the  Second,  who  was  also  King  of  Hungary  and  Arch- 
duke of  Austria,  resigned  the  Roman  Empire  and  the  Kingdom 
of  Germany.  Since  that  time  no  Emperor  of  the  Romans  has 
been  chosen  ;  but  a  new  German  Emperor  has  been  created, 
and  the  event  may  be  regarded  as  one  of  Christmastide,  for  the 
victorious  soldiers  who  brought  it  about  spent  their  Christmas 
in  the  French  capital,  and  during  the  festival  arranged  for  the 
re-establishment  of  the  German  Empire.  So  it  happens,  that 
while  referring  to  the  crowning  of  the  iirst  German  Emperor  of 
the  Roman  Empire,  on  Christmas  Day,  800,  we  are  able  to 
record  that  more  than  a  thousand  years  afterwards  the  unilica- 
tion  of  the  German  Empire  and  the  creation  of  its  hrst  Emperor 
also  occurred  at  Christmastide,  under  the  infiuence  of  the 
German  triumphs  over  the  French  in  the  war  of  1870.  ^The 
imposing  event  was  resolved  upon  by  the  German  Princes  on 
December  18,  1870,  the  preliminaries  were  completed  during 
the  Christmas  festival,  and  on  January  18,  1871,  in  the  Galerie 
des  Glaces  of  the  chateau  of  Versailles,  William,  King  of 
Prussia,  was  crowned  and  proclaimed  first  Emperor  of  the  new 
German  Empire. 

Now,  going  back  again  over  a  millennium,  we  come  to 

Christmas  ix  the  Time  of  Alfred  the  Great. 

During  the  reign  of  Alfred  the  Great  a  law  was  passed  w  ith 
relation  to  holidays,  by  virtue  of  which  the  twelve  days  after  the 
Nativity  of  our  Saviour  were  set  apart  for  the  celebration  of  the 
Christmas  festival.  Some  writers  are  of  opinion  that,  but  for 
Alfred's  strict  observance  of  the  "  full  twelve  holy  days,"  he 
would  not  have  been  defeated  by  the  Danes  in  the  year  878.  It 
was  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  the 
most^  deal  they  rode  over  ;  all  but  the  King  Alfred  ;  he  with  a 
-little  band  hardly  fared  after  the  woods  and  on  the  moor-fast- 
nesses." But  whether  or  not  Alfred's  preparations  for  the  battle 
just  referred  to  were  hindered  by  his  enjoyment  of  the  festivities 


.(,  CHRISTMAS. 

oi  Chnstmastide  xvilh  his  subjects,  it  is  quite  certain  that  the 
Kin^-  wou  the  hearts  of  his  people  by  the  great  interest  he  took 
n,    iheir    welfare.     This  good  king-whose    intimacy  with  lis 
people  we  delight  to  associate  with  the  homely  incident  of  the 
bur  lino-  of  a  cottager's  cakes-kept  the  Christmas  festival  quite 
as  heaiiilv  as  any  of  the  early  English  kings,  but  not  so  boistei- 
ously  as  some  of  them.     Of  the  many  beautiful  stones  told  abou 
]nm   one   might  very  well  belong  to  Chnstmastide.     It  is  said 
that,  wishing   to   know  what   the  Danes  were  about    and  ho^^ 
strong  they  were,  King  Alfred  one  day  set  out  from  Athelney  in 
he  diguise  of  a  Christmas  minstrel,  and  went  into  the  Danish 
camp,  and  stayed  there  several  clays,  amusing  the  Danes xvith  his 
playing,  till  he  had  seen  all  he  wanted,  and  then  went  back  with- 
out any  one  iinding  him  out. 
Now,  passing  on  to 

Christmas  uxuek  the  Daxish  Kings  of  Exglaxd, 

we  hud  that  m  961  King  Edgar  celebrated  the  Christinas 
festival  with  great  splendour  at  York  ;  and  m  1013  Etheiec 
kept  his  Christmas  with  the  brave  citizens  of  London  who  had 
defended  the  capital  during  a  siege  and  stoutly  resisted  Swegen 
he  tyrant  king  of  the  Danes.  Sir  Walter  Scott,  m  his  beautiful 
poem  of  '<  Mannion,"  thus  pictures  the  "savage  Dane'  keeping 
the  great  winter  festival  : — 

•'  Even,  heathen  yet,  the  savage  Dane 
At  lol  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  ; 
V\' hile  round,  in  brutal  jest,  were  thrown 
The  half-gnaw'd  rib,  and  marrow  bone  : 
Or  listen'd  all,  in  grim  delight, 
While  Scalds  yell'd  out  the  joys  of  tight. 
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  whde, 
As  best  might  to  the  mind  recall 
The  boisterous  joys  of  Odin's  hall.  ' 

When  the  citizens  of  London  saw  that  Swegen  had  succeeded 
all  over  England  except  their  own  city,  they  thought  it  was  no 
use  holding-  out  any  longer,  and  they  too  submitted  and  gave 
hostages.  And  so  Swegen  was  the  first  Dane  who  was  king,  or 
(as  Florence  calls  him)  "Tyrant  over  all  England  r  and  Ethel- 
red,  sometimes  called  the  "  Unready,"  King  ot  the  W  est  Saxons, 
who  had  struggled  unsuccessfully  against  the  Danes  fled  with 
his  wife  and  children  to  his  brother-in-law's  court  m  Normandy. 
On  the  death  of  Swegen,  the  Danes  of  his  fleet  chose  his  son 


EARLY  CHRISTMAS   CELEBRATIONS   IN   BRITAIN.  37 

Cnut  to  be  King,  but  the  English  invited  Etheh-ecl  to  return  from 
Xormandv  and  renew  the  struggle  with  the  Danes.  He  did  so, 
and  the  Anglo-Saxon  Chronicle  says  :  "  He  held  his  kingdom 
with  great  toil  and  great  difficulty  the  while  that  his  life  histed." 
After  his  death  and  that  of  his  son  Edmund,  Cnut  was  finally 
elected  and  crowned.  Freeman,'  in  recording  the  event,  says 
that  :  "  At  the  Christmas  of  1016-1017,  Cnut  was  a  third  time 
chosen  king  over  all  England,  and  one  of  the  hrst  things  that 
he  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.  Her 
three  children  by  Ethelred  \vere  left  in  Normandy.  She  seems 
not  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  brought 
up  in  Normandy,  and  had  the  feelings  of  Normans  rather  than 
Englishmen,  a  thing  which  again  greatly  helped  the  Norman 
Conquest." 

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

"  '  All  hail  I "  the  monks  at  Christmas  sang  ; 
The  merry  monks  who  kept  with  cheer 
The  gladdest  day  of  all  the  year."  ^ 

It  is  said  that  Cnut,  who  is  also  called  Canute,  "  marked  one  of 
liis  roval  Christmases  by  a  piece  of  sudden  retributive  justice  : 
bored  bevond  all  endurance  by  the  Saxon  Edric's  iteration  of 
the  traitorous  services  he  had  rendered  him,  the  King  exclaimed 
to  Edric,  Earl  of  Northumberland:  'Then  let  him  receive  his 
deserts,  that  he  may  not  betray  us  as  he  betrayed  Ethelred  and 
Edmund!'  upon  which  the  ready  Norwegian  disposed  of  all 
fear  on  that  score  by  cutting  down  the  boaster  with  his  axe,  and 
throwing  his  body  into  the  Thames."  + 

In  the  year  1035,  King  Cnut  died  at  Shaftesbury,  and  was 
buried  in  Winchester  Cathedral.  His  sons,  Harold  and  Hartha- 
cnut, did  not  possess  the  capacity  for  good  government,  otherwise 
the  reign  of  the  Danes  might  have  continued.     As  it  was,  their 

'   ''.Short  History  of  the  Norman  Conquest." 

-   "  History  of  the  I-2nglish  People."'  '  J.  (7.  Whittier. 

■*   '' Chaniljers's  Journal,  "  Dec.  28,  1867. 


38  CHRISTMAS. 

reigns,  though  short,  were  troublesome.  Harold  died  at  Oxford 
in  1040,  and  was  buried  at  Westminster  (being  the  iirst  king  who 
■was  buried  there)  ;  Harthacnut  died  at  Lambeth  at  a  wedding- 
feast  in  1042,  and  was  buried  beside  his  father  in  Winchester 
Cathedral.  And  thus  ended  the  reigns  of  the  Danish  kings  of 
England. 

Now  we  come  to 

The  Rkigx  of  Edward  the  Coxfessok, 

who,  we  are  told,  was  heartily  chosen  by  all  the  people,  for  the 
two  very  good  reasons,  that  he  was  an  Englishman  by  birth,  and 
the  only  man  of  either  the  English  or  the  Danish  royal  families 
who  was  at  hand.  He  was  the  son  of  Ethelred  and  Emma,  and 
at  the  Christmas  festival  of  his  coronation  there  was  great 
rejoicing.  As  his  early  training  had  been  at  the  court  of  his 
uncle,  Kichard  the  Good,  in  Normandy,  he  had  learnt  to  prefer 
Norman-French  customs  and  life  to  those  of  the  English. 
During  his  reign,  therefore,  he  brought  over  many  strangers  and 
appointed  them  to  high  ecclesiastical  and  other  offices,  and 
Norman  influence  and  refinement  of  manners  gradually  increased 
at  the  English  court,  and  this,  of  course,  led  to  the  more  stately 
celebration  of  the  Christmas  festival.  The  King  himself,  being 
of  a  pious  and  meditative  disposition,  naturally  took  more 
interest  in  the  religious  than  the  temporal  rejoicings,  and  the 
administration  of  state  affairs  was  left  almost  entirely  to  members 
of  the  house  of  Godwin  during  the  principal  part  of  his  reign. 
Many  disturbances  occurred  during  Edward's  reign  in  different 
parts  of  the  country,  especially  on  the  Welsh  border.  At  the 
Christmas  meeting  of  the  King  and  his  Wise  Men,  at  Gloucester, 
in  1053,  it  '^^'i^  ordered  that  Rhys,  the  brother  of  Gruffydd,  the 
South  Welsh  king,  be  put  to  death  for  his  great  plunder  and 
mischief.  The  same  year,  the  great  Earl  Godwine,  while  dining 
with  the  king  at  Winchester  at  the  Easter  feast,  suddenly  fell  in 
a  fit,  died  four  days  after,  and  was  buried  in  the  old  cathedral.  A 
few  years  later  (1065),  the  Northumbrians  complained  that  Earl 
Tostig,  Harold's  brother,  had  caused  Gospatric,  one  of  the  chief 
Thanes,  to  be  treacherously  murdered  when  he  came  to  the 
King's  court  the  Christmas  before.  King  Edward  kept  his  last 
Christmas  (1065),  and  had  the  meeting  of  bis  Wise  Men  in 
London  instead  of  Gloucester  as  usual.  His  great  object  was 
to  finish  his  new  church  at  Westminster,  and  to  have  it  hallowed 
before  he  died.  He  lived  just  long  enough  to  have  this  done. 
On  Innocent's  Day  the  new  Minster  was  consecrated,  but  the 
King  was  too  ill  to  be  there,  so  the  Lady  Edith  stood  in  his 
stead.  And  on  January  5,  1066,  King  Edward,  the  son  of 
Ethelred,  died.  On  the  morning  of  the  day  following  his  death, 
the  body  of  the  Confessor  was  laid  in  the  tomb,  in  his  new 
church  ;  and  on  the  same  day — 


EARLY  CHRISTMAS   CELEBRATIONS   IX   BRITAIX.  39 

Harold  was  ckowxed  King 

in  his  stead.  Thus  three  very  important  events — the  consecra- 
tion of  Westminster  Abbey,  the  death  of  Edward  the  Confessor, 
and  the  crownint^  of  Harold — all  t)ccurred  dnrini^  the  same 
Christmas  festival. 

In  the  terrible  year  1066  England  had  three  kings.  The  reign 
of  Harold,  the  son  of  Godwine,  who  succeeded  Edward  the 
Confessor,  terminated  at  the  battle  of  Senlac,  or  Hastings,  and 
on  the  following 

Christmas    Day    William    thk    Conqueror    was   Crowned 

King 

bv  Archbishop  Ealdred.  He  had  not  at  that  time  conquered  all 
the  land,  and  it  was  a  long  while  before  he  really  possessed  the 
whole  of  it.  Still,  he  was  the  king,  chosen,  crowned,  and 
anointed,  and  no  one  ever  was  able  to  drive  him  out  of  the  land, 
and  the  crown  of  England  has  ever  since  been  held  bv  his 
descendants. 


CHAPTER   /r. 

CHRISTMAS,    FROM    THE    NORMAN   CONQUEST 
TO    MAGNA    CHARTA. 

(1066  to  1215.) 
Xow  we  come  to  the 

Christmas  Celebrations  under  the  Normans. 


A    KIN(;    AT    DINNER. 


Lord  Macauhiy  says  "  the  pohte  luxury  of  the  Normans  pre- 
sented a  striking  contrast  to  the  coarse  voracity  and  drunkenness 
of  their  Saxon  and  Danish  neighbours,"  And  certainly  the  alcove 
example  of  a  royal  dinner  scene  (from  a  manuscript  of  the 
fourteenth  century)  gives-  an  idea  of  stately  ceremony  which  is 
not  found  in  anv  manuscripts  previous  to  the  coming  over  of  the 
Normans.  Thev  "loved  to  display  their  magnihcence,  not  in 
huge  piles  of  food  and  hogsheads  of  strong  drink,  but  in  large 
and  stately  ediiices,  rich  armour,  gallant  horses,  choice  falcons, 


FROM    THE   \\)RMAN   COXOUEST   TO   MAGNA    CHARTA.     41 

well-ordered  tournaments,  banquets  delicate  rather  than  abun- 
dant, and  wines  remarkable  rather  for  their  exquisite  flavour 
than  for  their  intoxicatini^  power."  Quite  so.  But  even  the 
Xormans  were  not  all  temperate.  And,  while  it  is  quite  true 
that  the  rehned  manners  and  chivalrous  spirit  of  the  Normans 
exercised  a  powerful  influence  on  the  Anglo-Saxons,  it  is  equally 
true  that  the  conquerors  on  mingling  with  the  English  people 
adopted  many  of  the  ancient  customs  to  which  they  tenaciously 
clung,  and  these  included  the  customs  of  Christmastide. 

The  Norman  kings  and  nobles  displayed  their  j:aste  for  mag- 
nificence in  the  most  remarkable  manner  at  their  coronations, 
tournaments,  and  their  celebrations  of  Christmas,  Piaster,  and 
Whitsuntide.  The  great  councils  of  the  Norman  reigns  which 
assembled  at  Christmas  and  the  other  great  festivals,  were  in 
appearance  a  continuation  of  the  Witenagemots,  but  the  power 
of  the  barons  became  very  formal  in  the  presence  of  such 
despotic  monarchs  as  William  the  Conqueror  and  his  sons.  At 
the  Christmas  festival  all  the  prelates  and  nobles  of  the  kingdom 
were,  by  their  tenures,  obliged  to  attend  their  sovereign  to 
assist  in  the  administration  of  justice  and  in  deliberation  on  the 
great  alfairs  of  the  kingdom.  On  these  occasions  the  King  wore 
his  crown,  and  feasted  his  nobles  in  the  great  hall  of  his  palace, 
and  made  them  presents  as  marks  of  his  royal  favour,  after  which 
they  proceeded  to  the  consideration  of  State  affairs.  Wherever 
the  Court  happened  to  be,  there  was  usually  a  large  assemblage 
of  gleemen,  who  w^ere  jugglers  and  pantomimists  as  well  as 
minstrels,  and  were  accustomed  to  associate  themselves  in  com- 
panies, and  amuse  the  spectators  with  feats  of  strength  and 
agility,  dancing,  tumbling,  and  sleight-of-hand  tricks,  as  well  as 
musical  performances.  Among  the  minstrels  who  came  into 
England  with  William  the  Conqueror  was  one  named  Taillefer, 
who  was  present  at  the  battle  of  Hastings,  and  rode  in  front  of 
the  Norman  army,  inspiriting  the  soldiers  by  his  songs.  He 
sang  of  Roland,  the  heroic  captain  of  Charlemagne,  tossing  his 
sword  in  the  air  and  catching  it  again  as  he  approached  the 
English  line.  He  was  the  first  to  strike  a  blow  at  the  English, 
but  after  mortally  wounding  one  or  two  of  King  Harold's 
warriors,  he  was  himself  struck  down. 

At  the  Christmas  feast  minstrels  played  on  various  musical 
instruments  dilring  dinner,  and  sang  or  told  tales  afterwards, 
both  in  the  hall  and  in  the  chamber  to  which  the  king  and  his 
nobles  retired  for  amusement.  Thus  it  is  written  of  a  court 
minstrel  : — 

"  Before  the  King  he  set  him  down 
And  took  his  harp  of  merry  soun, 
And,  as  he  full  well  can, 
Many  merry  notes  he  began. 
The  king  beheld,  and  sal  full  still, 
To  hear  his  harping  he  had  good  will. 
When  he  left  off  his  harping, 
To  him  said  that  rich  king, 


42 


CHRISTMAS. 

Minstrel,  we  liketh  well  thy  glee, 

^Vhat  thing  that  thou  ask  of  me 

Largely  I  will  thee  pay  ; 

Therefore  ask  now  and  asay."     {S/r  Orpheo. 


r.l.INI)    MINSTREL    AT    A    FEASl  , 


After  the  Conquest  the  first  entertainments  given  by  William 
the  Conqueror  were  those  to  his  victorioits  warriors  : — 

"  Every  warrior's  manly  neck 
Chains  of  regal  honour  deck, 
Wreathed  in  many  a  golden  link  : 
From  the  golden  cup  they  drink 
Nectar  that  the  bees  produce, 
Or  the  grape's  extatic  juice. 
I'lush'd  with  mirth  and  hope  they  hum.'" 

J 'he  Gododiu. 

In  1067  the  Conqueror  kept  a  grand  Christmas  in  London. 
He  had  spent  eight  months  of  that  year  rewarding  his  warriors 
and  gratifying  his  subiects  in  Normandy,  w'here  he  had  held  a 
round  of  feasts  and  made  a  grand  display  of  the  valuable  booty 
which  he  had  won  by  his  sword.  A  part  of  his  plunder  he  sent 
to  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  of 
his  native  duchy,  '*  neither  monks  nor  priests  remaining  without 
a  guerdon."  After  spending  the  greater  part^  of  the  year  in 
splendid  entertainments  in  Normandy,  apparently  undisturbed 
by  the  reports  which  had  reached  him  of  discontent  and 
instirrection  among   his  new  subjects  in   England,  William  at 


FROM    THE   NORMAN   CONQUEST   TO   MAGNA    CHART  A.     43 

length  embarked  at  Dieppe  on  the  6th  of  December,  1067,  and 
returned  to  London  to  celebrate  the  approaching  festival  of 
Christmas.  With  the  object  of  quieting  the  discontent  which 
prevailed,  he  invited  a  considerable  number  of  the  Saxon  chiefs 
to  take  part  in  the  Christmas  festival,  which  was  kept  with 
unusual  splendour  ;  and  he  also  caused  a  proclamation  to  be 
read  in  all  the  churches  of  the  capital  declaring  it  to  be  his  will 
that  "  all  the  citizens  of  London  should  enjoy  their  national 
laws  as  in  the  days  of  King  Edward."  But  his  policy  of 
friendship  and  conciliation  was  soon  changed  into  one  of 
cruelty  and  oppression. 

At  the  instigation  of  Swein,  the  King  of  Denmark,  who 
appeared  in  the  Humber  witli  a  fleet,  the  people  in  the  north 
of  England  and  in  some  other  parts  rose  in  revolt  against  the 
rule  of  the  Conqueror  in  1068.  So  skilfullv  had  the  revolt  been 
planned  that  even  William  was  taken  by  surprise.  While  he 
was  hunting  in  the  Forest  of  Dean  he  heard  of  the  loss  of  York 
and  the  slaughter  of  his  garrison  of  3,000  Normans,  and  resolved 
to  avenge  the  disaster.  Proceeding  to  the  Humber  with  his 
horsemen,  by  a  heavy  bribe  he  got  the  King  of  Denmark  to 
withdraw  his  Heet  ;  then,  after  some  delay,  spent  in  punishing 
revolters  in  the  Welsh  border,  he  attacked  and  took  the  city  of 
York.  The  land  in  Durham  and  Northimiberland  was  still  quite 
unsubdued,  and  some  of  William's  soldiers  had  fared  badly  in 
their  attempts  to  take  possession.  At  the  Christmas  feast  of 
1068  William  made  a  grant  of  the  earldom  of  Northumberland 
to  Robert  of  Comines,  who  set  out  with  a  Norman  army  to  take 
possession.  But  he  fared  no  better  than  his  predecessors  had 
done.  The  men  of  the  land  determined  to  withstand  him,  but 
through  the  help  of  Bishop  ^^thelwine  he  entered  Durham 
peaceably.  But  he  let  his  men  plunder,  so  the  men  of  the  city 
rose  and  slew  him  and  his  followers.  And  now,  says  Freeman,' 
William  ''  did  one  of  the  most  frightful  deeds  of  his  life.  He 
caused  all  Northern  England,  beginning  with  Yorkshire,  to  be 
utterly  laid  waste,  that  its  people  might  not  be  able  to  hght 
against  him  any  more.  The  havoc  was  fearful  ;  men  were 
starved  or  sold  themselves  as  slaves,  and  the  land  did  not 
recover  for  many  years.  Then  King  William  wore  his  crown 
and  kept  his  Christmas  at  York  "  (1069). 

Now  the  Conqueror  set  barons  in  different  parts  of  the 
country,  and  each  of  them  kept  his  own  miniature  court  and 
celebrated  Christmas  after  the  costly  Norman  stvle.  In  his 
beautiful  poem  of  *'  The  Norman  Baron  "  Longfellow  pictures 
one  of  these  Christmas  celebrations,  and  tells  how — 

"  In  the  hall,  the  serf  and  vassal 

Held,  that  night,  their  Christmas  wassail ; 
Many  a  carol,  old  and  saintly, 

Sang  the  minstrels  and  the  waits. 

'  "  Short  Histor)'  of  the  Norman  Conquest." 


44 


CHRISTMAS. 

And  so  loud  these  Saxon  gleemen 
Sang  to  slaves  the  songs  of  freemen. 
That  the  storm  was  heard  but  faintly 
Knocking  at  the  castle-gates. 

Till  at  length  the  lays  they  chaunted 
Reached  tlie  chamber  terror-haunted, 
Where  the  monk,  with  accents  holy, 
Whispered  at  the  Ijaron's  ear. 

Tears  upon  his  eyelids  glistened 
As  he  paused  awhile  and  listened, 
And  the  dying  baron  slowly 

Turned  his  weary  head  to  hear. 

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


A^(il;':-J 


minstrels'    CHRISTMAS    SERENADE    AT   AN    OLD 
KARONIAl.    HALL. 


According  to  Strtitt,  the  popular  sports  and  pastimes  preva- 
lent at  tlie  close  of  the  Saxon  era  were  not  subjected   to  any 


FROM    THE   XORMAX   COXOUEST   TO   MAGXA    CHART  A.     45 

iiKilcnal  chaiit^c  by  the  coining  of  the  Xormans.  Hut  Wilhaiu 
and  his  immediate  successors  restricted  the  privileges  ot  the 
chase,  and  imposed  great  penalties  on  those  who  presumed  to 
destroy  the  game  in  the  royal  forests  without  a  proper  license. 
The  wild  boar  and  the  wolf  "still  afforded  sport  at  the  Christmas 
season,  and  there  was  an  abundance  of  smaller  game.  Leaping, 
running,  wrestling,  the  casting  of  darts,  and  other  pastimes 
which  required  bodily  strength  and  agility  were  also  practised, 
and  when  the  frost  set  in  various  games  were  engaged  in  upon 
the  ice.  It  is  not  known  at  what  time  skating  made  its  hrst 
appearance  in  England,  but  wc  lind  some  traces  of  such  an 
exercise  in  the  thirteenth  century,  at  which  period,  according 
to  Fitzstephen,  it  was  customary  ni  the  winter,  when  the  ice 
would  bear  them,  for  the  young  citizens  of  London  to  fasten 
the  leg  bones  of  animals  under  the  soles  of  their  feet  by  tying 
them  round  their  ankles  ;  and  then,  taking  a  pole  shod  with  iron 
into  their  hands,  they  pushed  themselves  forward  by  striking  it 
against  the  ice,  and  moved  with  celerity  equal,  says  the  author, 
to  a  bird  Hving  through  the  air,  or  an  arrow  from  a  cross-bow  ; 
but  some  allowance,  we  presume,  nnist  he  made  for  the  poetical 
hgure  :  he  then  adds,  "  At  times,  two  of  them  thus  furnished 
agree  to  start  opposite  one  to  another,  at  a  great  distance  ;  they 
meet,  elevate  their  poles,  attack,  and  strike  each  other,  when 
one  or  both  of  them  fall,  and  not  without  some  bodily  hurt  ; 
and,  even  after  their  fall,  are  carried  a  great  distance  from  each 
other,  by  the  rapidity  of  the  motion,  and  whatever  part  of  the 
head  comes  upon  the  ice  it  is  sure  to  be  laid  bare." 

The  meetings  of  the  King  and  his  Wise  Men  for  the  conside- 
ration of  state  affairs  were  continued  at  the  great  festivals,  and 
that  held  at  Christmas  in  1085  is  memorable  on  account  of  the 
resolution  then  passed  to  make  the  Domesday  survey,  in  refer- 
ence to  which  Freeman  says  :  "  One  of  the  greatest  acts  of 
William's  reign,  and  that  by  which  we  come  to  know  more 
about  England  in  his  time  than  from  any  other  source,  was 
done  in  the  assembly  held  at  Gloucester  at  the  Christmas  of 
1085.  Then  the  King  had,  as  the  Chronicle  says,  '  very  deep 
speech  with  his  Wise  Men.'  This  '  deep  speech  '  in  English  is 
in  French  parlciiicitl  ;  and  so  we  see  how  our  assemblies  came 
by  their  later  name.  And  the  end  of  the  deep  speech  was  that 
commissioners  were  sent  through  all  England,  save  only  the 
Bishopric  of  Durham  and  the  earldom  of  Northumberland,  to 
make  a  survey  of  the  land.  They  were  to  set  down  by  whom 
every  piece  of  land,  great  and  small,  was  held  then,  by  whom 
it  was  held  in  King  Edward's  day,  what  it  was  worth  now,  and 
what  it  had  been  worth  in  King  Edward's  day.  All  this  was 
written  in  a  book  kept  at  Winchester,  which  men  called 
Doiiusilav  liook.  It  is  a  most  wonderful  record,  and  tells  us 
more  of  the  state  of  England  just  at  that  moment  tlian  we 
know  of  it  for  a  long  time  before  or  after." 

The  Domesday  Book  was  completed  in  1086.  and  the  following 


46 


CHRISTMAS. 


vcai"  (loS/)  William  ihc  Conqueror  died,  and  his  son,  William 
Rufus,  succeeded  him. 

The  Coroxatiox  of  William  the  Red 

took  place  at  W'estminster  on  September  26,  1087,  Archbishop 
Lanfranc  officiating.  The  King  kept  his  hrst  Christmas  sump- 
tuously at  Westminster,  and,  Freeman  says,  "it  seems  to  have 
been  then  that  he  gave  back  the  earldom  of  Kent  to  his  uncle, 
Bishop  Odo."  The  character  of  the  Royal  Christmases  degene- 
rated during  the  reign  of  Rufus,  whose  licentiousness  fouled  the 
festivities.  In  the  latter  part  of  his  reign  Rufus  reared  the 
spacious  hall  at  Westminster,  where  so  many  Royal  Christmases 
were  afterwards  kept,  and  which  Pope  calls 

"  Rufiis's  roaring  hall." 


WESTMINSTER    HALL. 


It  is  a  magnihcent  relic  of  the  profuse  hospitality  of  former 
times.  Richard  the  Second  heightened  its  walls  and  added 
its  noble  roof  of  British  oak,  which  shows  the  excellence  of 
the  wood  carving  of  that  period.  Although  Sir  Charles  Barry 
has  shortened  the  Hall  of  its  former  proportions  to  lit  it  as  a 
vestibule  to  the  New  Houses  of  Parliament,  it  is  still  a  noble 
and  spacious  building,  and  one  cannot  walk  through  it  without 
in  imagination  recalling  some  of  the  Royal  Christmases  and 
other  stately  scenes  which  have  been  witnessed  there.  The 
last  of  these  festal  glories  was  the  coronation  of  George  the 


FRLm    THE   XORMAX   CONQUEST    TO   MAGXA    CHARTA.     47 

Fourth,  wliich  took  i~)lace  in  1821.  This  grand  old  hall  at 
Westminster  was  the  theatre  of  Rufus's  feasting  and  revelry  ; 
bnt,  vast  as  the  edifice  then  was,  it  did  not  eqnal  the  ideas  of 
the  extravagant  monarch.  An  old  chronicler  states  that  one  of 
the  King's  courtiers,  having  observed  that  the  building  w'as  too 
large  for  the  purposes  of  its  construction,  Rufus  replied,  "  This 
halle  is  not  begge  enough  by  one  half,  and  is  but  a  bedchamber 
in  comparison  of  that  I  mind  to  make."  Yet  this  hall  was  for 
centuries  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  Europe,  and  in  it  the  Christmas 
feasts  were  magnificently  kept. 

After  a  reign  of  thirteen  ^^ears  the  vicious  life  of  William 
Rufus  met  with  a'  tragical  close.  His  dead  body  was  found  by 
peasants  in  a  glade  of  the  New  Forest  with  the  arrow  either  of 
a  hunter  or  an  assassin  in  his  breast.  Su"  Walter  Tyrrel,  a 
Norman  knight,  who  had  been  hunting  with  the  kiug  just  before 
his  death,  fied  to  Normandy  immediatelv  afterwards,  and  was 
suspected  of  being  a  regicide.  The  body  of  Rufus  was  buried 
in  Winchester  Cathedral. 

Christmas  ix  thp:  Reign  of  Henry  I. 

Henry  the  First's  Christmas  festival  at  Windsor,  in  1126,  was 
a  memorable  one.  In  that  year  Henry's  daughter  Matilda 
became  a  widow  by  the  death  of  her  husband,  Henry  V.  of 
Germauv,  and  King  Henry  determined  to  appoint  her  his 
successor  to  the  throne  of  England  and  the  Dukedom  of 
Normandy.  On  Christmas  Day,  1126,  a  general  assembly  of 
the  nobles  and  higher  ecclesiastics  of  the  kingdom  was  held  at 
Windsor  for  the  purpose  of  declaring  the  Empress  Matilda  (as 
she  was  still  called)  the  legitimate  successor  of  Henry  I.,  and 
the  clergy  and  Norman  barons  of  both  countries  swore  alle- 
■giance  to  her  in  the  event  of  the  king's  death.  This  appointment 
of  Matilda  was  made  by  Henry  in  consequence  of  the  calamity 
which  occurred  just  before  Christmas,  in  1120,  when  he  lost 
his  much-loved  son,  Prince  William — the  only  male  legitimate 
issue  of  Henry — through  the  wreck  of  La  BlaiicJie  Xef  (the 
White  Ship).  On  board  the  vessel  were  Prince  William,  his 
half-brother  Richard,  and  Henry's  natural  daughter  the  Countess 
of  Perche,  as  w^ell  as  about  a  hundred  and  forty  young  noblemen 
of  the  most  distinguished  families  in  England  and  Normandy,  all 
of  whom  were  lost  in  their  passage  home,  only  a  few  hours 
after  the  safe  arrival  of  the  king  in  England.  Henry  is  said  to 
have  swooned  at  the  intelligence,  and  was  never  afterwards 
seen  to  smile.  He  had  returned  home  antic'pating  a  joyous 
Christmas  festival,  a  season  of  glad  tidings,  but  he  was  closely 
followed  by  this  sad  news  of  the  death  of  the  heir  apparent. 
The  incident  has  called  forth  one  of  the  most  beautiful  poems 
of  j\Irs.  Hemaus,  from  which  we  quote  two  verses  : — 

"  The  bark  that  held  a  prince  went  down, 
The  sweeping  waves  rolled  on  ; 


48  CHRISTMAS. 

And  wliat  was  Engkuurs  i^loriou.s  cruwn 

To  him  thai  wept  a  son  ? 
He  lived — for  life  may  long  be  borne, 

Ere  sorrow  lireak  its  chain  : 
^Vhy  comes  not  death  to  those  who  mourn? 

lie  never  smiled  again  I 

He  sat  where  festal  bowls  went  roimd, 

He  heard  the  minstrel  sing  ; 
He  saw  the  tourne^'"s  victor  crowned, 

Amidst  the  kingly  ring  ; 
A  murmur  of  the  restless  deep 

Was  blent  with  every  strain, 
A  voice  of  winds  that  would  not  sleep, — 

fie  never  smiled  again  1 '" 

111  1127  Heiirv  invited  the  king  of  the  Scots  to  Windsor  to 
join  in  the  royal  celebration  of  Christinas,  but  the  festivities 
were  marred  by  an  unseemly  quarrel  between  the  two  primates. 
Thurstan,  Archbishop  of  York,  encroaching  upon  the  privileges 
of  his  brother  of  Canterbury  (William  de  Corbeuil),  insisted 
upon  placing  the  crown  upon  the  king's  head  ere  he  set  out 
for  church.  This  the  partisans  of  Canterbury  would  not  allow, 
settling  the  matter  by  turning  Thurstan's  chaphiin  and  followers 
out  of  doors,  and  thereby  causing  such  strife  between  the  heads 
of  the  Church  that  they  both  set  off  to  Rome  to  lay  their 
grievances  before  the  Pope.  And,  subsequently,  appeals  to 
Rome  became  frequent,  until  a  satisfactory  adjustment  of  the 
powers  and  privileges  of  the  two  archbishops  was  arrived  at. 
The  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  was  acknowledged  Primate  of 
all  England  and  Metropolitan  ;  but,  while  the  privilege  of 
crowning  the  sovereign  was  reser\ed  for  the  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  that  of  crowning  the  Queen  Consort  w\as  given 
to  the  Archbishop  of  York. 


Stkaxge  Old  Storiks  of  Christmastidk. 

The  progress  of  literature  und'^r  the  Conqueror  and  his  sons 
was  very  great,   many  devoting  themselves  almost   entirelv  to 


FROM    THE   NORMAN   CONQUEST   TO    MAGNA   CHARTA.     49 

liteniry  pursuits.  Lanfrauc  aucl  Anselm,  the  Archbishops  of 
Cauterhury,  had  proved  themselves  worthy  of  their  exaUed 
statiou.  Their  precepts  aud  examples  had  awakened  the  clergy 
and  kindled  an  ardour  for  learning  unknow;n  in  any  preceding- 
age.  Nor  did  this  enthusiasm  perish  with  its  authors  :  it  was 
kept  alive  by  the  honours  which  were  lavished  on  all  who  could 
boast  of  literary  acquirements.  During  the  reign  of  Henry  I. 
Geoffrey  of  Monmouth  published  his  History  of  the  Britons, 
and  William  of  jMalmesbury  assures  us  that  every  poet  hastened 
to  the  court  of  Henry's  Queen  Matilda,  at  Westminster,  to  read 
his  verses  to  the  Queen  and  partake  of  her  bounty.  William  of 
Malmesbury  carefully  collected  the  lighter  ballads  which 
embodied  the  popular  traditions  of  the  English  kings,  and  he 
tells  an  amusing  storv  which  is  connected  with  the  festival  of 
Christmas.  In  early  times  dancing  developed  into  a  sort  of 
passicMi,  men  and  women  continually  dancing  and  singing- 
together,  holding  one  another  by  the  hands,  and  concluding  the 
dances  with  kisses.  These  levities  were  at  first  encouraged  by 
the  Church,  but  afterwards,  seeing  the  abuse  of  them,  the  priests 
were  compelled  to  reprimand  and  restrain  the  people.  And  the 
story  told  by  William  of  Malmesbury  describes  the  singular 
punishment  which  came  upon  some  young  men  and  women  for 
disturbing  a  priest  who  was  performing  mass  on  the  eve  of 
Christmas.  "I,  Othbert,  a  sinner,"  says  the  story,  "  have  lived 
to  tell  the  tale.  It  was  the  vigil  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  and  in  a 
town  where  was  a  church  of  St.  Magnus.  And  the  priest, 
Rathbertus,  had  just  begun  the  mass,  and  I,  with  my  comrades, 
lifteen  young  women  and  seventeen  young  men,  were  dancing 
outside  the  church.  And  we  were  singing  so  loud  that  our 
songs  were  distinctly  heard  inside  the  building,  and  interrupted 
the  service  of  the  mass.  And  the  priest  came  out  and  told  us 
to  desist  ;  and  when  we  did  not,  he  prayed  God  and  St.  Magnus 
that  we  might  dance  as  our  punishment  for  a  year  to  come.  A 
vouth,  whose  sister  was  dancing  with  us,  seized  her  by  the  arm 
to  drag  her  awav,  but  it  came  off  in  his  hand,  and  she  danced 
on.  For  a  whole  year  we  continued.  No  rain  fell  on  us  ;  cold, 
nor  heat,  nor  hunger,  nor  thirst,  nor  fatigue  affected  us  ;  neither 
our  shoes  nor  our  clothes  wore  out  ;  but  still  we  went  on 
dancing.  We  trod  the  earth  down  to  our  knees,  next  to  our. 
middles,  and  at  last  were  dancing  in  a  pit.  At  the  end  of  the 
vear  release  came." 

Giraldus  Cambrensis,  amongst  many  ridiculous  Christmas 
stories  of  miracles,  visions,  and  apparitions,  tells  of  one  devil 
who  acted  a  considerable  time  as  a  gentleman's  butler  with 
great  prudence  and  probity  ;  and  of  another  who  was  a  very 
diligent  and  learned  clergyman,  and  a  mighty  favourite  of  his 
archbishop.  This  last  clerical  devil  was,  it  seems,  an  excellent 
historian,  and  used  to  divert  the  Archbishop  with  telling  him  old 
stories,  some  of  which  referred  to  the  incarnation  of  our 
Saviour,  and  were  related  at  the  Christmas  season.     "  Before 


50 


CHRISTMAS. 


the  incarnation  of  our  Saviour,"  said  the  Archbishop's  historian, 
"the  devils  had  great  power  over  mankind,  hut  after  that  event 
their  power  was  much  diminished  and  they  were  obhged  to  fiy. 
St)me  of  them  threw  themselves  into  the  sea  ;  some  concealed 
themselves  in  hollow  trees,  or  in  the  clefts  of  rocks  ;  and  I 
myself  plunged  into  a  certain  fountain.  As  soon  as  he  had 
said  this,  hnding  that  he  had  discovered  his  secret,  his  face 
was  covered  with  blushes,  he  went  out  of  the  room,  and  was  no 
more  seen." 

The  following  cut  (taken  from  MS.  HarL,  No.  4751,  of  the 
end  of  the  twelfth  century)  represents  an  elephant^  with  its 
castle  and  armed  men,  engaged  in  battle.  The  bestiaries  relate 
many  strange  things  of  the  elephant.  They  say  that,  though  so 
large  and  powerful,  and  so  courageous  against  larger  animals,  it 
is  afraid  of  a  mouse  ;  that  its  nature  is  so  cold  that  it  will  never 
seek  the  company  of  the  female  until,  wandering  in  the 
direction  of  Paradise,  it  meets  with  the  plant  called  the 
mandrake,  and  eats  of  it,  and  that  each  female  bears  but  one 
young  one  in  her  life. 


Absurd  as  we  consider  such  stories,  they  were  believed  by  the 
Normans,  who  were  no  less  credulous  than  the  Anglo-Saxons. 


FROM    THE   XORMAN   COXOUEST   TO   MAGNA    CHART  A.     51 

This  is  evident  from  the  large  luimber  of  miracles,  revelations, 
visions,  and  enchantments  which  are  related  with  great  gravity 
bv  the  old  chroniclers. 


Thk  Misrule  of  Kixg  Strphkx. 

Stephen  of  Blois  was  crowned  at  Westminster  Abbey  during 
the  Christmas  festival  (December  26,  1135).  As  a  King  of 
Misrule,  he  was  fitly  crowned  at  Christmastide,  and  it  would 
have  been  a  good  thing  for  the  nation  if  his  reign  had  been  of 
the  ephemeral  character  which  was  customary  to  Lords  of 
Misrule.  The  nineteen  years  of  his  reign  were  years  of  disorder 
unparalleled  in  any  period  of  our  history.  On  the  landing  of 
Henry  the  First's  daughter,  "  the  Empress  Matilda,"  who 
claimed  the  English  crown  for  her  son  Henry,  a  long  struggle 
ensued,  and  the  country  was  divided  between  the  adherents  of 
the  two  rivals,  the  West  supporting  Matilda,  and  London  and 
the  East  Stephen.  For  a  time  the  successes  in  war  alternated 
between  the  two  parties.  '  A  defeat  at  Lincoln  left  Stephen  a 
prisoner  in  the  hands  of  his  enemies  ;  but  after  his  escape  he 
laid  siege  to  the  city  of  Oxford,  where  Matilda  had  assembled 
lier  followers.  ''The  Lady"  of  the  English  (as  Matilda  was 
then  called)  had  retreated  into  the  castle,  which,  though  a  place 
of  great  strength,  proved  to  be  insufficiently  victualled.  It  was 
surrounded  and  cut  off  from  all  supplies  without,  and  at 
Christmastide  (1142),  after  a  siege  of  three  months,  Matilda 
consulted  her  own  safety  by  taking  flight.  On  a  cold  December 
night,  when  the  ground  was  covered  with  snow,  she  quitted  the 
castle  at  midnight,  attended  by  four  knights,  who  as  well  as 
herself  were  clothed  in  white,  in  order  that  they  might  pass 
unobserved  through  the  lines  of  their  enemies.  The  adventurous 
"  Ladv "  made  good  her  escape,  and  crossing  the  river  un- 
noticed on  the  ice,  fonnd  her  way  to  Abingdon.  The  long 
anarchy  was  ended  by  the  Treaty  of  Wallingford  (1153), 
Stephen  being  recognised  as  king  during  his  life,  and  the 
succession  devolving  upon  Matilda's  son  Henry.  A  year  had 
hardlv  passed  from  the  signing  of  the  treaty,  when  Stephen's 
death  gave  Henry  the  crown,  and  his  coronation  took  place  at 
Christmastide,  T154.  at  Westminster. 


52  CHRISTMAS. 

The  Reign  of  Henry  II., 

it  has  been  truly  said,  "  initiated  the  rule  of  law,"  as  distinct 
from  despotism,  whether  personal  or  tempered  by  routine,  of 
the  Norman  kings.  And  now  the  despotic  barons  began 
gradually  to  be  shorn  of  their  power,  and  the  dungeons  of  their 
"Adulterine"  castles  to  be  stripped  of  their  horrors,  and  it 
seemed  more  appropriate  to  celebrate  the  season  of  glad 
tidings.  King  Henry  the  Second  kept  his  first  Christmas  at 
Bermondsey  with  great  solemnity,  marking  the  occasion  by 
passing  his  royal  word  to  expel  all  foreigners  from  the  kingdom, 
whereupon  William  of  Ypres  and  his  Flemings  decamped 
without  waiting  for  further  notice.  In  1158  Henry,  celebrating 
the  Christmas  festival  at  Worcester,  took  the  crown  from  his 
head  and  placed  it  upon  the  altar,  after  which  he  never  wore  it. 
But  he  did  not  cease  to  keep  Christmas.  In  1171  he  went  to 
Ireland,  where  the  chiefs  of  the  land  displayed  a  wonderful 
alacrity  in  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  were  rewarded  by 
being  entertained  in  a  style  that  astonished  them.  Finding  no 
place  in  Dublin  large  enough  to  contain  his  own  followers, 
much  less  his  guests,  Henry  had  a  house  built  in  Irish  fashion 
of  twigs  and  wattles  in  the  village  of  Hogges,  and  there  held 
high  revelry  during  Christmastide,  teaching  his  new  subjects  to 
eat  cranes'  flesh,  and  take  their  part  in  miracle  plays,  masques, 
mummeries,  and  tournaments.  And  a  great  number  of  oxen 
were  roasted,  so  that  all  the  people  might  take  part  in  the 
rejoicings. 

Christmas  Entertainments  at  Constantinople. 

In  his  description  of  Christian  Constantinople,  Benjamin  of 
Tudela,  a  Spanish  Jew,  who  travelled  through  the  East  in  the 
twelfth  century  (1159  or  1160),  describes  a  "place  where  the  king 
diverts  himself,  called  the  hippodrome,  near  to  the  wall  of  the 
palace.  There  it  is  that  every  yeai",  on  the  day  of  the  birth  of 
Jesus  the  Nazarene,  the  king  gives  a  grand  entertainment.  There 
are  represented  by  magic  arts  before  the  king  and  queen,  figures 
of  all  kinds  of  men  that  exist  in  the  world  ;  thither  also  are  taken 
lions,  bears,  tigers,  and  wild  asses,  wdiich  are  made  to  fight 
together  ;  as  w'ell  as  birds.  There  is  no  such  sight  to  be  seen 
in  all  the  world."  At  Constantinople,  on  the  marriage  of  the 
Emperor  Manuel  with  Mary,  daughter  of  the  Prince  of  Antioch, 
on  Christmas  Day,  1161,  there  were  great  rejoicings,  and 
similar  spectacular  entertainments  to  those  described  by 
Benjamin  of  Tudela. 

An  Archbishop  Murdered  at  Christmastide. 

During  the  Christmas  festival  of  1170  (December  29th) 
occurred  an  event  memorable  in  ecclesiastical  history — the 
murder  of  Thomas  Becket,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury.  In 
1162  Becket  (who  had  previously  been  Chancellor  to  Henry  II.) 


FROM    THE   \^ORMAN  COy.'OUEST   TO   MAGXA    CHARTA.     53 

^v;ls  made  Archbishop,  in  succession  to  Archbishop  'rhcobakl. 
Tiic  Kins;  s<_)on  found  that  he  who  had  served  him  faithluliy  as 
ChanceUor  would  oppose  him  doggedly  as  Archbishop.  Heniy 
determined  to  subject  the  Church  as  well  as  the  State  to  the 
supremacy  of  the  law  ;  and  Becket  determined  to  resist  the  King 
to  the  end,  thus  manifesting  his  desire  for  martyrdom  in  the 
cause  of  the  Church.  Henry  had  greatly  offended  the  Arch- 
bishop by  causing  his  eldest  son  to  be  crowned  by  the  Arch- 
bishop of  York.  For  this  violation  of  the  rights  of  Canterbury 
Becket  threatened  to  lay  the  country  under  an  interdict,  which 
he  had  the  power  from  the  Pope  to  pronounce.  A  sort  of 
reconciliation  was  effected  between  the  King  and  the  Arch- 
bishop at  Freteval  on  July  21,  1170,  but  a  further  dispute  arose 
on  Becket  delaying  his  return  to  England,  the  King  being- 
anxious  to  get  him  out  of  France.  The  Archbishop  was  full  of 
complaints  against  Henry  for  the  injuries  he  had  done  to  his 
see,  and  the  King  stood  upon  his  dignity,  regardless  of  the 
threatened  interdiction.  The  Archbishop  returned  to  England 
on  the  ist  of  December,  and  was  joyfully  received  by  the 
people.  His  enemies,  however,  and  especially  the  family  of 
De  Broc,  did  all  they  could  to  annoy  him  ;  and  on  Christmas 
Day  he  uttered  a  violent  anathema  against  them.  He  preached 
from  the  text, ''  I  come  to  die  among  you,"  evidently  anticipating 
what  might  be  the  personal  consequences  of  his  action.  He 
told  his  congregation  that  one  of  the  archbishops  had  been  a 
martyr,  and  they  would  probably  soon  see  another ;  but  before 
he  departed  home  he  would  avenge  some  of  the  wrongs  the 
Church  had  suffered  during  the  previous  seven  years.  Then  he 
thundered  forth  his  sentence  of  excommunication  against 
Kanuljih  and  Robert  de  Broc,  and  Nigellus,  rector  of  Harrow. 
Meanwhile  news  had  reached  the  King  that  Becket  had 
excommunicated  certain  bishops  who  had  taken  part  in  his 
son's  coronation.  In  a  fft  of  exasperation  the  King  uttered 
some  hasty  words  of  anger  against  the  Archbishop.  Acting 
upon  these,  four  of  Henry's  knights — Hugh  de  Morville, 
Reginald  FitzUrse,  William  de  Tracy,  and  Richard  Brito — 
crossed  to  England,  taking  with  them  Ranulf  de  Broc  and  a 
band  of  men,  and  murdered  the  Archbishop  in  Canterbury 
Cathedral.  In  the  altercation  which  took  place  before  the 
consummation  of  the  terrible  deed,  the  Primate  was  asked  to 
absolve  the  bishops  whom  he  had  excomnuinicated,  but  he 
refused  in  a  defiant  and  insulting  manner.  "Then  die,"  ex- 
claimed FitzUrse,  striking  at  Becket's  head  with  his  weapon  ; 
but  the  devoted  cross-bearer  warded  oft'  the  blow  with  his.  own 
arm,  which  was  badly  cut,  so  that  the  Archbishop  was  but 
slightly  injured.  One  of  the  attacking  party  then  called  out, 
"  Fly,  or  thou  diest  !  "  The  Archbishop,  however,  clasped  his 
hands,  and,  with  the  blood  streaming  clown  his  face,  fervently 
exclaimed,  "  To  God,  to  St.  Mary,  to  the  holy  patrons  of  this 
Church,  and  to  St.  Denis  I  commend  my  soul  and  the  Church's 


54  CHRISTMAS. 

cause.'"  He  was  then  struck  down  by  a  second  blow,  and  the 
third  completed  the  tras^edv  ;  whereupon  one  of  the  murderers, 
puttins;-  his  foot  on  the  dead  prelate's  neck,  cried,  "Thus  dies  a 
traitor!"  In  1173  the  Archbishop  was  canonised,  and  his 
festival  was  appointed  for  the  day  of  his  martyrdom  ;  and  for 
three  centuries  after  his  death  the  shrine  of  St.  Thomas  at 
Canterbury  was  a  favourite  place  of  pilgrimage,  so  great  was 
the  impression  that  his  martyrdom  made  on  the  minds  of  the 
English  people.  As  early  as  the  Easter  of  1171  Becket's 
sepulchre  was  the  scene  of  many  miracles,  if  Matthew  Paris, 
the  historian,  is  to  be  believed.  What  must  have  been  the 
credulity  of  the  people  in  an  age  when  an  historian  could 
gravely  write,  as  Matthew  Paris  did  in  1171  ?  "  In  this  year, 
about  Easter,  it  pleased  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  to  irradiate  his 
glorious  martyr  Thomas  Becket  with  many  miracles,  that  it 
might  appear  to  all  the  world  he  had  obtained  a  victory  suitable 
to  his  merits.  None  who  approached  his  sepulchre  in  faith 
returned  without  a  cure.  For  strength  was  restored  to  the 
lame,  hearing  to  the  deaf,  sight  to  the  blind,  speech  to  the 
dumb,  health  to  the  lepers,  and  life  to  the  dead.  Nay,  not  only 
men  and  women,  but  even  birds  and  beasts  were  raised  from 
death  to  life." 

Royal  Christmases  .vr  Windsor. 

Windsor  Castle  appears  to  have  been  the  favourite  residence 
of  Henry  II.  When,  in  1175,  he  had  united  with  him  his  son 
Henrv  in  his  crown  and  prerogatives,  the  two'  kings  held -an 
assembly  at  Windsor,  attended  by  the  judges,'  deputies  of 
counties  and  districts,  and  all  the  great  officers  of  state.  Henry 
also  kept  his  ensuing  Christmas  with  the  magnificence  and 
displav  peculiar  to  the  times,  and  all  the  ancient  sports  and 
usages  ;  in  w'hich  the  nobles  and  gentry  of  the  surrounding 
country  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  two 
kings;  and,  in  1184,  Henrv  for  the  last  time,  celebrated  his 
Christmas  in  the  same  hall  of  state  :  his  son,  who  had  shared 
the  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  of 
meat  dressed  in  various  ways.  The  Normans  sent  agents  into 
different  countries  to  collect  the  most  rare  dishes  for  their 
tables,  bv  which  means,  savs  Jt)hn  of  Salisbury,  this  island, 
which  is  naturally  productive  of  plenty  and  variety  of  provisions, 
was  overflowed  with  e\erything  that  could  inflame  a  luxurious 
appetite.  The  same  writer  says  he  was  present  at  an  entertain- 
ment which  lasted  from  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  to 
midnight  ;  at  which  delicacies  were  served  up  which  had  been 
brought  from    Constantinople,   Babylon,  Alexandria,   Palestine, 


FROM    THE  \-ORMAX  COXOUKST   TO   MACXA    CHART  A.     35 

Tripoli,  Syria,  unci  Pluuiiicia.  The  sumptuous  entertainments 
which  the  kings  of  England  gave  to  their  nobles  and  prelates  at 
the  festivals  of  Christmas,  Easter,  and  Whitsuntide  diffused  a 
taste  lor  profuse  and  expensive  banqueting  ;  for  the  wealthy 
barons,  prelates,  and  gentry,  in  their  own  castles  and  mansions, 
imitated  the  splendour  of  the  royal  entertainments.  Great  men 
had  some  kinds  of  provisions  at  their  tables  which  are  not  now 
to  be  found  in  Britain.  When  Henry  II.  entertained  his  own 
court,  the  great  ofticers  of  his  army,  and  all  the  kings  and  great 
men  in  Ireland,  at  the  feast  of  Christmas,  1 171,  the  Irish  princes 
and  chieftains  were  quite  astonished  at  the  profusion  and  variety 
of  provisions  which  tb.ey  beheld,  and  were  with  difficulty 
prevailed  on  by  Henry  to  eat  the  flesh  of  cranes,  a  kind  ot  tood 
to  which  they  had  not  been  accustomed.  Dellegrout,  maupi- 
gyrum,  karumpie,  and  other  dishes  were  then  used,  the 
composition  of  which  is  now  unknown,  or  doubtful.  Persons 
of  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  times 
was  wine  clarified  and  mixed  with  spices,  and  hypocras  was  wine 
mixed  with  honev. 


A   COOK    OF    Tin-:    rKKIOli 


56  CHRISTMAS. 

The  profusion  of  \iands  and  drinks,  obtained  at  threat  expense 
from  different  parts  of  the  world  for  the  gratiiieation  of  the 
animal  appetites  at  such  festivals  as  have  been  described, 
naturally  led  to 

ExcKssKs  IX  Eatixg  axd  Ukixkixg, 

and  from  the  statements  and  illustrations  in  old  manuscripts 
it  would  appear  that  "the  merry  monks "  were  prominent  in 
^astronomical  circles.  And  extant  records  also  state  that  the 
abbots  of  some  of  the  monasteries  found  it  necessary  to  make 
regulations  restraining  the  monks,  and  to  these  regulations  the 
mcniks  objected.  Consecjuently  the  monks  of  St.  Swithin  at 
Winchester  made  a  formal  complaint  to  Henry  II.  against 
their  abbot  for  taking  away  three  of  the  thirteen  dishes  they 
used  to  have  at  dinner.  The  monks  of  Canterbury  were  still 
more  luxurious,  for  thev  had  at  least  seventeen  dishes  every 
day  besides  a  dessert  ;  and  these  dishes  were  dressed  with 
spices  and  sauces  which  excited  the  appetite  as  well  as  pleased 
the  taste.  And  of  course  the  festive  season  of  Christmas  was 
an  occasion  of  special  indulgence.  Sometimes  serious  excesses 
were  followed  by  severe  discipline,  administered  after  the 
manner  shown  in  the  ancient  illustration  which  is  reproduced 
here. 


MONK    UNDERGOING    DlSCIl'I.INE. 


But  these  excesses  were  bv  no  means  coniined  to  the 
monks.  The  Norman  barons  and  gentrv  adopted  manv 
of  the  manners  of  the  English  among  whom  they  lived, 
and  especially  was  this  the  case  in  regard  to  the  drinking 
customs  of  Christmastide.  Instead  of  commending  the 
Normans  of  his  time  for  their'  sobrietv,  as  he  might 
have  done  their  ancestors,  Peter  of  Blois,  who  was 
chaplain  to  Henry  II.,  says:  ''When  you  behold  our  barons 
and  knights  going  upon  a  military  expedition  you  see  their 
baggage    horses    loaded,    not    with     iron    but    wine,    not    with 


FROM    THE   XORMAX  COXOCEST   TO   MAGNA    CHART  A.     57 

lances  but  cliccses,  not  with  swords  but  bottles,  not  with 
sjicars  but  spits.  You  would  imagine  they  were  going  to 
prepare  a  great  feast  rather  than  to  make  war.  There  arc 
even  too  many  who  boast  of  their  excessive  drunkenness  and 
gluttony,  and  labour  to  acquire  fame  by  swallowing  great 
quantities  of  meat  and  drink."  The  earliest  existing  carol 
known  to  antiquaries  is  in  the  Anglo-Norman  language,  and 
contains  references  to  the  drinking  customs  of  the  period  : — 

"  To  Ent^lish  ale,  and  Gascon  wine, 
.\nd  French,  doth  Christmas  much  incline — 

And  Anjou's  too  ; 
lie  makes  his  neighbour  freely  drink, 
-So  that  in  sleep  his  head  doth  sink 

Often  by  day. 
.May  joys  tlow  from  God  above 
To  all  those  who  Christmas  love. 

Lords,  by  Christmas  and  the  host 
Of  this  mansion  hear  my  toast — 

Drink  it  well  —    • 
Each  must  drain  his  cup  of  wine, 


WASSAU.ING    AT    CHRISTMASTIDE. 


58 


CHRISTMA."^. 


And  I  the  firsl  will  loss  oH'niine  : 

Thus  I  advise, 
Here  then  I  hid  you  all  I  Vassal L 
Cursed  be  he  who  will  not  say  Drinkhail."  ' 

Proceeding,  with  our  historical  narrative  we  come  now  to 


The  Romantic  Rkigx  of  Kichakd  the   First, 

surnanicd    Coeur  de    Lion,   the  second  son   of   Henry   II.  and 
Eleanor  of  Aquitaine,  who  succeeded  to  the  English  throne  on 

the  death  of  his  father 
in  ii8y.  Richard  is 
generally  supposed  to 
have  derived  his  sur- 
name from  a  superioritv 
of  animal  courage  ;  but. 
if  the  metrical  romance 
bearing  his  name,  and 
written  in  the  thirteenth 
centurv,  be  entitled  to 
credit,  he  earned  it 
noblv  and  literally,  by 
plucking  out  the  heart 
of  a  lion,  to  whose  fury 
he  had  been  exposed  by 
the  Duke  of  Austria  for 
having  slain  his  son  with 
a  blow  of  his  fist.  In 
the  numerous  descrip- 
tions afforded  by  the 
romance  Richard  is  a 
most  imposing  person- 
age. He  is  said  to  have, 
carried  with  him  to  the 
Crusades,  and  to  have 
afterwards  presented  to 
Tancred,  King  of  Sicily, 
the  wonder  -  working 
sword  of  King  Arthur — 

"  The  gude  sword  Caliburne 
tTiat  Arthur  luffed  so  well." 


He  is  also  said  to  have 
carried  a  shaft,  or  lance, 
14  feet  in  length,  and 


■  Wassail  and  Drinkhail  are  both  derived  from  the  Anglo-Saxon.  They  were 
the  common  drinking  pledges  of  the  age.  Wassail  is  equivalent  to  the  phrase, 
"  ^'our  health,"  of  the  present  day.  Drinkhail,  which  literally  signifies  "  drink 
health,"  was  the  usual  acknowledgment  of  the  other  pledge.  The  carol  from 
which  the  verses  are  quoted  was  evidently  sung  by  the  wandering  minstrels  who 
visited  the  castles  of  the   Norman   nobility  at  the  festive  season  of  Christmas. 


FROM    THE   XORMAN   CONQUEST   TO   MAGXA    CHARTA.    59 

"  ^Vn  axe  for  the  nones, 
To  break  therewith  the  Sarasyns  bones. 
The  head  was  wrout^ht  right  wele, 
Therein  was  twenty  pounds  of  steel." 

Btit,  without  attempting  to  follow  Richard  throtigh  all  the 
brilliant  episodes  of  his  romantic  career,  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  he  was  a  king  of  great  strength  and  courage,  and  that  his 
valorous  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  mag- 
niiicent  Christmases  abroad  with  the  King  of  Sicily  and  other 
potentates,  his  justiciars  (especially  the  extravagant  William 
Longchani}-),  Bishop  of  Ely)  were  no  less  lavish  in  their 
expendittire  for  festive  entertainments  at  home.  And  the  old 
romance  of  ''  Richard  Coeur  de  Lion  ''  assures  us  that — 

"  Christmas  is  a  time  full  honest ; 

Kyng  Richard  it  honoured  with  grel  feste. 

All  his  clerks  and  barouns 

Were  set  in  their  pavylouns, 

And  served  with  grete  plente 

Of  mete  and  drink  and  each  dainle." 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  Crusades  had  a  vast  intluence 
upon  our  literary  tastes,  as  well  as  upon  the  national  manners 
and  the  festivities  of  Christmastide.  On  their  return  from  the 
Holy  Land  the  pilgrims  and  Crusaders  brought  with  them  new 
subjects  for  theatrical  representation,  founded  on  the  objects 
of  their  devotion  and  the  incidents  in  their  wars,  and  these 
found  expression  in  the  early  mysteries  and  other  plays  of 
Christmastide — that  of  St.  George  and  the  Dragon,  which 
survived  to  modern  times,  probably  owing  its  origin  to  this 
period.  It  is  to  Richard  Coenr  de  Lion  that  we  are  indebted 
for  the  rise  of  chivalry  in  England.  It  was  he  who  developed 
tilts  and  tournaments,  and  under  his  auspices  these  diversions 
assumed  a  military  air,  the  genius  of  poetrv  ilourished,  and  the 
fair  sex  was  exalted  in  admiration.  How  delightful  was  it  then, 
beneath  the  inspiring  gaze  of  the  fair — 

' '  Sternly  to  strike  the  quintin  down  ; 
Or  fiercely  storm  some  turf- formed  town  : 
To  rush  with  valour's  doughty  swa}', 
Against  a  Babylon  of  clay  ; 
^\.  Memphis  shake  with  furious  shock, 
Or  raze  some  flower-built  Antioch  ! '" ' 

On  the  death  of  Richard,  in  1199,  his  brother 

JOHX    WAS    CROWNED    KlXG    OF    ExGLAXl). 

The  youngest  and  favourite  son  of  Henry  II.,  John,  was 
humoured    in    childhood    and    grew    to    be   an    arrogant    and 

'  Grattan. 


6o  CHRISTMAS. 

Iictulant  niiiii,  and  was  one  of  the  worst  of  English  kings. 
He  possessed  ability,  bnt  not  discijiline.  He  could  neither 
govern  himself  nor  his  kingdom.  He  was  tyrannical  and  pas- 
sionate, and  spent  a  good  deal  of  time  in  the  gratification  of 
his  animal  appetites.  He  was  fond  of  display  and  good  living, 
and  extravagant  in  his  Christmas  entertainments.  When,  in 
1201,  he  kept  Christmas  at  Guildford  he  taxed  his  purse  and 
ingenuity  in  providing  all  his  servitors  with  costly  apparel,  and 
he  was  greatly  annoyed  because  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
in  a  similar  lit  of  sumptuary  extravagance,  sought  to  outdo  his 
sovereign.  John,  however,  cunningly  concealed  his  displeasure 
at  the  time,  but  punished  the  prelate  by  a  costly  celebration 
of  the  next  Easter  festival  at  Canterbury  at  the  Archbishop's 
expense.  In  consequence  of  John's  frequent  quarrels  with  his 
nobles  the  attendance  at  his  Christmas  feasts  became  smaller 
every  year,  until  he  could  only  muster  a  very  meagre  company 
around  his  festive  board,  and  it  was  said  that  he  had  almost  as 
many  enemies  as  there  \\'ere  nobles  in  the  kingdom. 

In  1205  John  spent  his  Christmas  at  the  ancient  town  of  Brill, 
in  the  Vale  of  Aylesbury,  and  in  12 13  he  kept  a  Royal  Christmas 
in  the  great  hall  at  Westminster. 

Magna  Chakta  de:maxdei)  at  a  Christmas  Festival. 

The  Christmas  of  1214  is  memorable  in  English  history  as  the 
festival  at  which  the  barons  demanded  from  King  John  that 
document  which  as  the  foundation  of  our  English  liberties  is 
known  to  us  by  the  name  of  Magiui  Cliarta,  that  is,  the  Great 
Charter.  John's  tyranny  and  lawlessness  had  become  intolerable, 
and  the  people's  hope  hung  on  the  fortunes  of  the  F"rench  cam- 
paign in  which  he  was  then  engaged.  His  defeat  at  the  battle 
of  Bouvines,  fought  on  July  27,  1214,  gave  strength  to  his 
opponents  ;  and  after  his  return  to  England  the  barons  secretly 
met  at  St.  Edmundsbiu-y  and  swore  to  demand  from  him,  if 
needful  by  force  of  arms,  the  restoration  of  their  liberties 
by  charter  under  the  king's  seal.  Having  agreed  to  assemble 
at  the  Court  for  this  purpose  during  the  -approaching  festi\al 
of  Christmas  they  separated.  When  Christmas  Day  arrived  John 
was  at  Worcester,  attended  only  by  a  few  of  his  immediate 
retainers  and  some  foreign  mercenaries.  None  of  his  great 
vassals  came,  as  was  customary  at  Christmas,  to  offer  their 
congratulations.  His  attendants  tried  in  vain  to  assume  an 
appearance  of  cheerfulness  and  festivity  ;  but  John,  alarmed 
at  the  absence  of  the  barons,  hastily  rode  to  London  and  there 
shut  himself  up  in  the  house  of  the  Knights  Templars.  On  the 
Feast  of  the  Epiphany  the  barons  assembled  in  great  force  at 
London  and  presenting  themselves  in  arms  before  the  King 
formally  demanded  his  conlirmation  of  the  laws  of  Edward  the 
Confessor  and  Henry  I.  At  first  John  assumed  a  bold  and 
deliant   air  and  met  the  barons  with   an   absolute  refusal  and 


FROM    THE   NORMAN   CONQUEST   TO   MAGNA    CHART  A.     6i 

threats  ;  but,  lindin,^  the  nobles  were  hrm,  he  sank  to  the  mean- 
ness of  subterfuge,  and  pleaded  the  necessity  of  time  for  the 
consideration  of  demands  so  weighty.  With  some  reluctance 
the  barons  granted  the  delay,  and  ultimately,  in  1215,  the  tyrant 
bowed  to  the  inevitable,  called  the  barons  to  a  conference  at 
Kunnymede,  anci  there  signed  the  Great  Charter,  whose  most 
important  clauses  protect  the  personal  liberty  and  property  of 
every  freeman  in  the  kingdom  by  giving  security  from  arbitrary 
imprisonment  and  unjust  exactions. 


CHAPTER    V. 

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

(1215-1485.) 

Soon  after  the  disaster  which  overtook  John's  army  at  the 
Wash  the  King  ended  liis  wretched  career  by  death.  He  died 
on  October  18,  12 16,  in  the  castle  of  Newark  on  the  Trent,  and 
the  old  chroniclers  describe  him  as  dying  in  an  extremity  of 
agonv  and  remorse. 

Hkxry  the  Third, 

sometimes  called  "  Henry  of  Winchester,"  came  to  the  throne 
in  tronblous  times,  before  he  was  ten  years  of  age.  The  t}Tanny 
of  his  father  had  alienated  every  class  of  his  snbjects,  and  the 
barons  who  had  obtained  Magna  Charta  from  King  John  had 
called  in  Lonis  of  France.  Bnt  through  the  conciliatory 
measures  of  the  Regent  Pembroke  towards  the  barons,  and  the 
strong  support  which  the  Roman  Church  gave  the  boy-king 
(whose  father  had  meanly  done  homage  to  the  Pope),  the 
foreigners  were  expelled,  and  the  opposition  of  the  barons  was 
suppressed  for  a  time,  though  in  later  years  they  again  struggled 
with  the  crown  for  supremacy  of  power.  When  Henry  had 
grown  to  manhood  and  the  responsibility  of  government  rested 
upon  his  own  shoulders,  he  still  exulted  in  the  protection  of  the 
Holy  See,  which  found  in  him  a  subservient  vassal.  He  fasted 
during  Lent,  but  feasted  right  royally  both  at  Christmas  and 
Easter.  In  1234  he  kept  a  grand  Christmas  in  the  Great  Hall  at 
Westminster,  and  other  royal  Christmases  were  celebrated  at 
Windsor  Castle  and  at  his  palace  at  Winchester.  He  made 
large  additions  to  Windsor  Castle,  and  some  of  his  mandates 
giving  minute  directions  for  the  decoration  of  his  palace  at 
Winchester  are  still  preserved.  He  enjoyed  the  old  plays  and 
ballets  of  Christmastide  introduced  from  France  at  this  period. 

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

62 


TO    THE   E\'D   OF    THE    WARS   OF    THE    ROSES. 


63 


of  the  whole  kingdom.  She  was  accompanied  by  Henry's 
ambassadors  and  a  grand  cavalcade,  in  which  were  more  than 
three  hundred  ladies  on  horseback.  Her  route  lay  through 
Navarre   and    France.     On    reaching  England,   at    Dover,    the 


ROVAI.    PARTY    DIMNC.    IN    STATE. 


princess  and  her  train  proceeded  to  Canterbury,  where  Henry 
awaited  their  coming.  It  was  in  that  ancient  city  that  the  royal 
pair  were  married  by  the  Archbishop  Edmund  and  the  prelates 
who  accompanied  Eleanor.  From  Canterbury  the  newly- 
wedded  king  and  queen  set  out  for  London,  attended  by  a 
splendid  array  of  nobles,  prelates,  knights  and  ladies.  On  the 
2oth  of  Jannarv,  Eleanor  was  crowned  at  Westminster  with 
great  splendour.  Matthew  Paris,  the  historian,  gives  an  interest- 
ing description  of  the  royal  procession,  and  the  loyal  welcome  of 
the  citizens  of  London  :  '*  There  had  assembled  together  so 
great  a  number  of  the  nobility  of  both  sexes,  so  great  a  number 
of  religious  orders,  so  great  a  concourse  of  the  populace,  and  so 
great  a  variety  of  players,  that  London  could  scarcely  contain 
them  in  her  capacious  bosom.  Therefore  was  the  city  adorned 
with  silk  hangings,  and  with  banners,  crowns,  palls,  tapers,  and 
lamps,  and  with  certain  marvellous  ingenuities  and  devices  ;  all 
the  streets  being  cleaned  from  dirt,  mud,  sticks  and  everything 
offensive.  The  citizens  of  London  going  to  meet  the  king  and 
queen,  ornamented  and  trapped  and  wondrously  sported  their 
swift  horses  ;  and  on  the  same  day  they  went  from  the  City  to 
Westminster,  that  they  might  discharge  the  service  of  butler  to 
the  king  in  his  coronation,  which  is  acknowledged  to  belong  to 
them  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  horses 
refulgent  with  new  bits  and  saddles  :  and  they  bore  three  hundred 


64  ■  CHRISTMAS. 

and  sixtv  K'^)lcl  and  silver  cnps,  the  king's  trumpeters  going  before 
and  sounding  their  trumpets  ;  so  that  so  wonderful  a  novelty 
produced  a  laudable  astonishment  in  the  spectators."  The 
literary  monk  of  St.  Albans  also  describes  the  splendour  of 
the  feast,  and  the  order  of  the  service  of  the  different  vassals  of 
the  crown,  many  of  whom  were  called  upon  at  the  coronation  to 
perform  certain  peculiar  services.  According  to  the  ancient 
City  records,  ''  these  served  in  order  in  that  most  elegant  and 
unheard-of  feast  :  the  Bishop  of  Chichester,  the  Chancellor, 
with  the  cup  of  precious  stones,  which  was  one  of  the  ancient 
regalia  of  the  king,  clothed  in  his  pontificals,  preceded  the  king, 
who  was  clad  in  royal  attire,  and  wearing  the  crown.  Hugh 
de  Pateshall  walked  before  with  the  patine,  clothed  in  a  dal- 
matica  ;  and  the  Earls  of  Chester,  Lincoln,  and  Warren,  bearing 
the  swords,  preceded  him.  But  the  two  renowned  knights.  Sir 
Richard  Siward  and  Sir  Nicholas  de  Molis,  carried  the  two  royal 
sceptres  before  the  king  ;  and  the  square  purple  cloth  of  silk, 
which  was  supported  upon  four  silver  lances,  with  four  little 
bells  of  silver  gilt,  held  over  the  king  wherever  he  walked,  was 
carried  by  the  barons  of  the  Cinc]ue  Ports  ;  four  being  assigned 
to  each  lance,  from  the  diversity  of  ports,  that  one  port  should 
not  seem  to  be  preferred  before  the  other.  The  same  in  like 
manner  bore  a  cloth  of  silk  over  the  queen,  walking  behind  the 
king,  which  said  cloths  they  claimed  to  be  theirs  by  right,  and 
obtained  them.  And  William  de  Beauchamp  of  Bedford,  who 
had  the  office  of  almoner  from  times  of  old,  found  the  striped 
cloth  or  btircl,  which  was  laid  down  under  the  king's  feet  as  he 
went  from  the  hall  as  far  as  the  pulpit  of  the  Church  of  West- 
minster ;  and  that  part  of  the  cloth  that  was  ivitliin  the  Church 
always  fell  to  the  sexton  in  whatever  church  the  king  was 
crowned  ;  and  all  that  was  ivitlwiii  the  church  was  distributed 
among  the  poor,  by  the  hands  of  W^illiam  the  almoner."  The 
ancient  records  contain  many  other  particulars  respecting  the 
ceremonies  which  graced  the  marriage  feast  of  Henry  and 
Eleanor  of  Provence,  but  enough  has  been  quoted  to  show  the 
magnihcence  of  the  celebration. 

Year  by  year,  as  the  Christmas  festival  came  round,  it  was 
royally  celebrated  wherever  the  Court  happened  to  be,  even 
though  the  king  had  to  pledge  his  plate  and  jewels  with  the 
citizens  of  London  to  replenish  his  exchequer.  But  Henry's 
Royal  Christmases  did  not  allay  the  growing  disaffection  of  his 
subjects  on  account  of  his  showing  too  much  favour  to  foreigners  ; 
and  some  of  the  barons  who  attended  the  Royal  Christmas  at 
Westminster  in  1241,  left  in  high  dudgeon,  because  the  place  of 
honour  at  the  banquet  was  occupied  by  the  papal  legate,  then 
about  to  leave  England,  ''to  the  sorrow  of  no  man  but  the  king." 
In  1252,  Henry  gave  in  marriage  his  beautiful  daughter 
Margaret,  to  Alexander,  King  of  the  Scots,  and  held  his 
Christmas  at  the  same  time.  The  city  of  York  was  the  scene 
of  the  regal  festivities.     The  marriage  took  place  on  Christmas 


TO   THE   END   OF    THE    WARS  OF   THE   ROSES.  65 

D;iy,  the  briclc\i;Tooin  and  many  of  his  nobles  receiving  knight- 
hood at  the  hands  of  the  Enghsh  king.  Henry  seems  to  have 
concihated  the  EngHsh  barons  for  a  time,  for  most  of  them  were 
present  at  the  marriage  festivities,  and  he  counted  a  thousand 
knights  in  his  train  ;  while  Alexander  brought  sixty  splendidly- 
attired  Scottish  knights  with  him.  That  the  banqueting  was  on 
no  mean  scale  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  six  hundred  fat  oxen 
were  slaughtered  for  the  occasion,  the  gift  of  the  Archbishop  of 
York,  who  also  subscribed  four  thousand  marks  (^^2,700)  towards 
the  expenses.  The  consumption  of  meats  and  drinks  at  such 
feasts  was  enormous.  An  extant  order  of  Henry's,  addressed  to 
his  keeper  of  wines,  directs  him  to  deliver  two  tuns  of  white  and 
one  of  red  wine,  to  make  garhiofilac  and  claret  '  as  usual,'  for  the 
king  at  Christmas  ;  and  upon  another  occasion  the  Sheriffs  of 
Gloucestershire  and  Sussex  were  called  upon  to  supply  part  of 
the  necessary  provisions  ;  the  first  named  being  directed  to  get 
twenty  salmon,  and  make  pies  of  them  ;  while  the  latter  was 
instructed  to  send  ten  peacocks,  ten  brawns  with  their  heads, 
and  other  things.  And  all  this  provision  was  necessary,  for 
while  Henry  feasted  the  rich,  he  did  not  forget  the  poor. 
When  he  kept  his  Christmas  at  Winchester  in  1248,  he  ordered 
his  treasurer  to  fill  W^estminster  Hall  with  poor  people,  and 
feast  them  there  for  a  week.  T\\"enty  years  afterwards,  he  kept 
his  Royal  Christmas  in  London  for  fifteen  days,  opening  a  fair 
meantime  at  Westminster,  and  forbidding  any  shop  to  be 
opened  in  London  as  long  as  the  festival  lasted.  This  pro- 
hibition of  business  naturally  displeased  the  citizens  of  London, 
but  the  king  would  not  withdraw  his  prohibition  until  they 
agreed  to  make  him  a  present  of  two  thousand  pounds,  upon 
the  receipt  of  which  the  prohibition  was  withdrawn. 

We  cannot  pass  over  this  period  without  reference  to  the 
summoning  of 

The  First  English  Parliament, 

which  was  a  great  event  of  Christmastide. 

The  Barons'  Wars  interfered  seriouslv  with  the  Christmas 
festivities,  but  they  solved  the  problem  of. how  to  ensure  the 
government  of  the  realm  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Great  Charter.  The  King  (Henry  HL)  had  sworn  again  and 
again  to  observe  the  Charter,  but  his  oath  w^as  no  sooner  taken 
than  it  was  unscrupulously  broken.  The  barons,  with  the 
patriotic  Simon  de  IMontfort  at  their  head,  were  determined  to 
uphold  the  rights  of  the  people,  and  insisted  on  the  king's  com- 
pHance  with  the  provisions  of  the  Charter  ;  and  this  struggle 
with  the  Crown  yielded  one  of  the  greatest  events  of  Christmas- 
tide  :  the  summoning  of  the  hrst  national  Parliament.  By 
summoning  the  representatives  of  the  cities  and  boroughs  to  sit 
beside  the  knights  of  the  shires,  the  barons  and  the  bishops  in 
the  Parliament  of  the  realm,  Simon  de  Montfort  created  a  new 
force  in   English  politics.     This  first  national   assembly  met  at 

6 


66 


CHRISTMAS. 


Westminster,  in  Jan  nary,  i^6'5,  while  the  kin^  was  a  prisoner  of 
Earl  Simon.  The  form  of  national  representation  thus  in- 
augurated had  an  immense  inHuence  on  the  rising  liberties  of  the 
people,  and  has  endured  to  our  own  times.  It  is  not  surprising, 
therefore,  that  the  adoption  of  this  measure  by  the  great  Earl  of 
Leicester  invested  his  memory  with  a  lustre  which  has  not  been 
dimmed  by  the  lapse  of  centuries.  The  paltering  of  the  king 
called  forth  the  patriotism  of  the  people.  "  So  may  a  glory 
from  defect  arise."  The  sevenfold  lustre  of  the  rainbow  is  only 
seen  when  there  is  rain  as  well  as  sun. 

"  Only  the  prism's  obstruction  shows  aright 
The  secret  of  a  sunbeam,  breaks  its  Hght 
Into  the  jewelled  bow  from  blankest  white  ; 
So  may  a  glory  from  defect  arise." ' 


The  Death  of  Robix  Hood  ox  Christmas  Eve. 

The  famous  freebooter,  Robin  Hood,  who,  according  to 
tradition,  flourished  in  Sherwood  Forest  in  the  distracted  reign 
of  Henry  the  Third,  is  said  to  have  died  on  Christmas  Eve,  in 
the  year  1247.  The  career  of  this  hero  of  many  popular  ballads 
is  not  part  of  our  subject,  though  Hone  ^  records  his  death  as  a 
Christmas  event ;  and  Stowe,  writing  in  1590,  evidently  believes 
in  Robin  Hood  as  an  historical  personage,  for  he  says,  "  he 
suffered  no  wonian  to  be  oppressed  .  .  .  poor  men's  goods  he 
spared,  abundantly  relieving  them  with  that  which  by  theft  he 
got  from  the  abbeys,  and  the  houses  of  rich  old  earles." 


Brow 


nmg. 


'■'  "  Every-day  Book,"  vol.  ii.  p.  1635. 


TO   THE   END   OF   THE    WARS   OF   THE   ROSES. 


67 


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

Rejgn  of  Edward  the  First. 


Edward  the  First  was  in  the  truest  sense  a  national  king. 
He  was  English  to  the  core,  and  he  won  the  love  of  his  people 
by  his  bravery,  justice,  and  good  government.  He  joined  freely 
in  the  national  sports  and  pastimes,  and  kept  the  Christmas 
festival  with  great  splendour.  There  was  much  of  the  chivalric 
in  his  character,  and  he  shared  to  the  full  his  people's  love  of 
hard  fighting.  He  was  invested  with  the  honour  of  knighthood 
and  went  to  foreign  courts  to  display  his  prowess.  Matthew  of 
Westminster  states  that  while  Edward  was  travelling  in  France, 
he  heard  that  a  lord  of  Burgundy  was  continually  committing 
outrages  on  the  persons  and  property  of  his  neighbours.  In 
the  true  spirit  of  chivalry  Edward  attacked  the  castle  of  the 
uncourteous  baron.  His  prowess  asserted  the  cause  of  justice, 
and  he  bestowed  the  domains  which  he  had  won  upon  a  nobler 
lord.  For  the  sake  of  acquiring  military  fame  he  exposed  him- 
self to  great  dangers  in  the  Holy  Land,  and,  during  his  journey 
homeward,  saved  his  life  by  sheer  fighting  in  a  tournament  at 
Challon.  At  his  "  Round  Table  of  Kenilworth "  a  hundred 
lords  and  ladies  "  clad  all  in-  silk"  renewed  the  faded  glories  of 
Arthur's  Court,  and  kept  Christmas  with  great  magnificence. 
In  1277,  Llewellyn,  Prince  of  Wales,  bidden  from  his  mountain 
fastnesses  "with  a  kiss  of  peace,"  sat  a  guest  at  the  Christmas 
feast  of  Edward,  but  he  was  soon  to  fall  the  last  defender  of  his 
weeping  country's  independence  in  unequal  battle  with  the 
English  King.  In  1 281-2,  Edward  kept  his  feast  of  Christmas 
at  Worcester,  and  there  was  "  such  a  frost  and  snow  as  no  man 
living  could  remember  the  like."  Rivers  were  frozen  over,  even 
including  the  Thames  and  Severn  ;  fish  in  ponds,  and  birds  in 
woods  died  for  want  of  food  ;  and  on  the  breaking  up  of  the 
ice  five  of  the  arches  of  old  London  bridge  were  carried  away 
by  the  stream,  and  the  like  happened  to  many  other  bridges. 


68  CHRISTMAS. 

In  1286  Edward  kept  his  Christmas  at  Oxford,  but  the  honour 
was  accompanied  by  an  unpleasant  episode  in  the  hanging  of 
the  Mayor  by  the  King's  command.  In  1290,  1292,  and  1303, 
Edward  the  Eirst  kept  Royal  Christmases  in  the  great  hall  at 
Westminster.  On  his  way  to  Scotland,  in  the  year  1299,  the 
King  witnessed  the  Christmas  ceremonial  of  the  Boy  Bishop. 
He  permitted  one  of  the  boy  bishops  to  say  vespers  before  him 
in  his  chapel  at  Heton,  near  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  and  made  a 
present  to  the  performers  of  forty  shillings,  no  inconsiderable 
sum  in  those  days.  During  his  Scotch  w^U'S,  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  his 
reign  he  celebrated  the  festival  at  other  places  not  usually  so 
honoured — namely.  Bury,  Ipswich,  Bristol,  Berwick,  Carlisle, 
and  Lincoln. 

Edward  the  Second 

succeeded  his  father  in  1307,  being  the  fourth  son  of  Edward  I. 
and  Eleanor  of  Castile.  He  took  great  delight  in  the  Christmas 
revels  and  expended  large  sums  of  money  in  the  entertainment 
of  his  court  favourites.  In  131 1  he  kept  his  Christmas  at  York, 
rejoicing  in  the  presence  of  Piers  Gaveston,  whom  he  had 
recalled  from  banishment  in  utter  disregard  of  advice  given  to 
him  by  his  father  (Edward  I.)  on  his  death-bed.  Edward  II. 
kept  his  Christmas  in  the  great  hall  at  Westminster  in  13 17, 
when,  however,  few  nobles  were  present,  "  because  of  discord 
betwixt  them  and  the  King  ;  "  but  in  1320  the  Royal  Christmas 
was  kept  at  Westminster  *'  with  great  honour  and  glorie."  In 
1324-5  the  King's  Christmas  was  sumptuously  observed  at 
Nottingham,  but  the  following  year  found  Edward  a  prisoner  at 
Kenilworth,  while  his  wife,  who  had  successfully  intrigued  with 
Roger  Mortimer,  leader  of  the  Barons,  observed  the  Christmas 
festivities  with  her  son  at  Wallingford,  glad  at  the  downfall  of 
her  husband.  Edward  was  an  irresolute  and  weak-minded 
king.  He  displayed  singular  incapacity  for  government,  wasting 
almost  all  his  time  in  frivolous  amusements.  The  chief 
characteristics  of  his  reign  were  defeat  and  disgrace  abroad, 
and  misrule  ending  in  misery  at  home.  Instead  of  following 
the  example  of  his  noble  father,  Edward  I.,  who  has  been 
deservedly  styled  *'  the  greatest  of  the  Plantagenets,"  he  proved 
himself  the  weakest  of  that  line  of  kings,  spending  his  time  in 
such  trilling  diversions  as  "  cross  and  pile,"  a  game  of  chance 
with  coins.  He  was  so  utterly  devoid  of  self-respect  that  he 
even  borrow'ed  money  of  his  barber  to  carry  on  this  frivolous 
pastime,  such  items  as  the  following  being  found  in  his  ward- 
robe rolls  : — "  Item,  paid  to  Henry,  the  king's  barber,  for  money 
which  he  lent  the  king  to  play  at  cross  and  pile,  five  shillings. 
Item,  paid  to  Fires  Barnard,  usher  of  the  king's  chamber,  money 
which  he  lent  the  king,  and  which  he  lost  at  cross  and  pile  ;  to 
Monsieur  Robert  Wattewille  eightpence."    At  length  the  barons, 


TO    THE   END   OF    THE    WARS   OF    THE   ROSES.  69 

tired  of  Edward's  niis^^fovernnicnt,  revolted,  and  made  the  king 
a  prisoner.  Durinj^  the  Christmas  festival  of  1326,  Edward  was 
imprisoned  in  Kenilworth  Castle.  While  there  he  was  informed 
that  in  a  Parliament  held  at  Westminster,  during  Christmas 
1326-7,  he  was  deposed,  and  his  son  Edward,  then,  only 
fourteen  years  of  age,  elected  in  his  stead.  On  the  21st  of 
September  in  the  same  year  Edward  II.  ended  his  miserable 
career  in  Berkeley  Castle,  being,  it  is  supposed,  cruelly  murdered 
by  his  keepers. 

Edward  the  Third's  Coroxatiox 

festivities  were  a  sumptuous  enlargement  of  the  Christmas 
celebration,  which  usually  extended  over  Twelfth  Night.  It  is 
said  that  the  banqueting  cost  the  equivalent  of  forty  thousand 
pounds  of  our  money  ;  and  before  the  young  king  there 
appeared  quite  a  multitude  of  minstrels,  mimics,  and  gleemen. 
Professor  Henry  Morley '  gives  a  specimen  of  the  metrical 
romances  which  were  translated  from  the  French  for  recitation 
at  the  royal  and  noble  banquets  of  this  period.  They  were 
''  busy  with  action,  and  told  with  a  lively  freedom  ;  "  and,  in 
the  one  quoted,  *'  The  Fabliau  of  Sir  Cleges,"  we  catch  some 
interesting  references  to  the  celebration  of  Christmas  : — 

"  Every  year  Sir  Cleges  would 
At  Christmas  a  great  feast  hold 

In  worship  of  that  day, 
As  royal  in  alle  thing 
As  he  hadde  been  a  king 

For  sooth  as  I  you  say. 
Rich  and  poor  in  the  country  about 
Should  be  there  withouten  doubt  ; 

There  would  no  man  say  nay. 
Minstrels  would  not  be  behind, 
For  there  they  might  most  mirthes  find 

There  would  they  be  aye. 

"  Minstrels  when  the  feast  was  done 
Withouten  giftcs  should  not  gon, 

And  that  both  rich  and  good  : 
Horse,  robes  and  riche  ring, 
Gold,  silver,  and  other  thing, 

To  mend  with  their  mood. 
Ten  yeare  such  feast  be  held, 
In  the  worship  of  Mary  mild 

And  for  Him  that  died  on  the  rood. 
By  that  his  good  began  to  slake 
For  the  great  feasts  that  he  did  make. 

The  knight  gentil  of  blood. 

"  Kepe  Open  Court  "  at  Christmas. 
Froissart,    in    Cap.    XIIII.    of    his    "  Chronicles,"  =  gives   the 

'  "  Shorter  Poems." 

-  Sir  John  Froissart's  Chronicles  of  England,  France,  Spain,  Portugal,  Scotland, 
Brittany,  Flanders,  and  the  adjoining  countries ;  translated  from  the  original 
French,  at  the  command  of  King  Henry  the  Eighth,  by  John  Bourchier,  Lord 
Berners.     London  edition,  1812. 


70  ■  CHRISTMAS. 

following    account    of    the    Christmas    Celebration    at    which 
Edward  the   Third  was   crowned  : — 

"  After  that  the  most  part  of  the  company  of  Heynaulte  were 
departed,  and  syr  John  Heynaulte  lorde  of  Beamonde  taryed, 
the  Queue  gave  leve  to  her  people  to  departe,  savynge  a 
certayne  noble  knightis  the  whiche  she  kept  styl  about  her  and 
her  sone,  to  counsell  them,  and  commaunded  all  them  that 
departed,  to  be  at  London  the  next  Christmas,  for  as  than  she 
was  determyned  to  kepe  open  court,  and  all  they  promysed  her 
so  to  do.  And  whan  Christmas  was  come,  she  helde  a  great 
court.  And  thyther  came  dukes,  erles,  barons,  knightis,  and  all 
the  nobles  of  the  realme,  with  prelates,  and  burgesses  of  good 
townes,  and  at  this  assemble  it  was  advised  that  the  realme 
coud  nat  long  endure  without  a  head  and  a  chief  lord.  Than 
they  put  in  wrytynge  all  the  dedis  of  the  kyng  who  was  in 
prison,  and  all  that  he  had  done  by  evyll  counsell,  and  all  his 
usages,  and  evyll  behavyngis,  and  how  evyll  he  had  governed 
his  realme,  the  which  was  redde  openlv  in  playn  audience,  to 
thentent  that  the  noble  sagis  of  the  realme  might  take  therof 
good  advyce,  and  to  fall  at  acorde  how  the  realme  shuld  be 
governed  from  thensforth  ;  and  whan  all  the  cases  and  dedis 
that  the  kyng  had  done  and  cosented  to,  and  all  his  behavyng 
and  usages  were  red,  and  wel  understand,  the  barons  and 
knightis  and  al  ye  cousels  of  the  realme,  drew  them  aparte  to 
cousell,  and  the  most  part  of  them  accorded,  and  namely  the 
great  lordes  and  .nobles,  with  the  burgesses  of  ye  good  townes, 
accordyng  as  they  had  hard  say,  and  knew  themselfe  the  most 
parte  of  his  dedis.  Wherfore  they  cqcluded  that  such  a  man 
was  nat  worthy  to  be  a  kyng.  But  they  all  accorded  that 
Edward  his  eldeste  son  who  was  ther  present,  and  was  rvghtful 
heyre,  shuld  be  crowned  kyng  in  stede  of  his  father,  so  that  he 
would  take  good  counsell,  sage  and  true  about  hym,  so  that  the 
realme  from  thensforth  myght  be  better  governed  than  it  was 
before,  and  that  the  olde  kyng  his  father  shuld  be  well  and 
honestly  kept  as  long  as  he  lyved  accordyng  to  his  astate  ;  and 
thus  as  it  was  agreed  by  all  the  nobles,  so  it  was  accomplysshed, 
and  than  was  crowned  with  a  crowne  royall  at  the  palaice  of 
Westminster,  beside  Lodon,  the  yong  kyng  Edward  the  III.  who 
in  his  dayes  after  was  right  fortunate  and  happy  in  amies.  This 
coronacion  was  in  the  yere  of  our  Lorde  MCCCXXVI,  on 
Christymas  day,  and  as  than  the  yong  kyng  was  about  the  age 
of  XVL,  and  they  held  the  fest  tyl  the  covercion  of  saynt  Paule 
followyng  :  and  in  the  mean  tyme  greatly  was  fested  sir  John  of 
Heynaulte  and  all  the  princis  and  nobles  of  his  coutre,  and 
was  gyven  to  hym,  and  to  his  company,  many  ryche  jewels. 
And  so  he  and  his  company  in  great  feast  and  solas  both  with 
lordis  and  ladyes  taried  tyll  the  XH.  day." 

Edward  Balliol,  of  Scotland,  defeated  at  Christmas. 
The  Christmas  of  1332  is  memorable  in  Scottish  annals  as  the 


TO    THE   END   OF    THE    WARS   OF    THE   ROSES.  71 

time  of  the  defeat  of  Edward  Balliol,  the  "  phantom  kin^"  of 
Scotland.  His  success  was  as  unreal  as  a  dream.  He  was 
solemnly  crowned  at  Scone  in  the  month  of  September,  1332, 
fondly  ima.t^anini;"  that  he  had  permanently  conquered  the 
patriotic  Scottish  nobles  who  had  opposed  liim.  His  reij^n, 
liowever,  only  lasted  for  a  few  months.  The  leaders  of  the 
national  party  suddenly  assembled  a  force,  and  attacked  him, 
while  he  was  feasting  at  Annan,  in  Dumfriesshire,  where  he  had 
gone  to  keep  his  Christmas.  A  body  of  horse  under  Sir 
Archibald,  the  young  Earl  of  Moray,  and  Sir  Simon  Eraser, 
made  a  dash  into  the  town  to  surprise  Balliol,  and  he  escaped 
only  by  springing  upon  a  horse  without  any  saddle,  leaving 
behind  him  his  brother  Henry  slain.  Balliol  escaped  to" 
England  and  was  kindly  received  by  Edward  HI.,  who  after- 
wards made  fresh  expeditions  into  Scotland  to  support  him. 
"  Whenever  the  English  king  appeared  the  Scots  retired  to 
their  mountain  fastnesses,  while  Edward  and  his  army  overran 
the  country  with  little  opposition,  burnt  the  houses,  and  laid 
waste  the  lands  of  those  whom  he  styled  rebels  ;  but  whenever 
he  returned  to  England  they  came  forth  again,  only  the  more 
embittered  against  the  contemptible  minion  of  the  English 
king,  the  more  determined  against  the  tyranny  of  England. 
The  regent.  Sir  Andrew  Murray,  pursued,  with  untiring  activity, 
Balliol  and  his  adherents.  When  Edward  marched  homeward 
to  spend  in  London  the  Christmas  of  1336,  he  left  Scotland  to 
all  appearance  prostrate,  and  flattered  himself  that  it  was  com- 
pletely subdued.  Never  was  it  further  from  such  a  condition. 
Only  one  spirit  animated  the  Scottish  nation — that  of  eternal 
resistance  to  the  monarch  who  had  inflicted  on  it  such 
calamities,  and  set  a  slave  on  its  throne."  ' 

Cottage  Christmas-Keepixg  in  the  Fourteenth   Century. 

At  this  period  the  greatest  of  the  Bishops  of  Winchester, 
William  of  Wykeham,  was  a  schoolboy.  He  was  born  of 
humble  parents,  educated  at  Winchester  school,  and  afterwards 
became  secretary  to  Uvedale,  Lord  of  Wickham  Manor,  through 
whom  he  was  introduced  to  King  Edward  HL  In  his  inte- 
resting "  Story  of  the  Boyhood  of  William  of  Wykeham,"  the 
Rev.  W.  A.  C.  Chevalier  thus  pictures  William's  Christmas 
holidays  : — 

"  Three  days  after  William's  arrival  home  was  Christmas-eve. 
There  were  great  preparations  in  the  cottage  for  spending 
Christmas  worthily,  for  if  there  was  one  thing  more  than 
another  that  John  Longe  believed  in,  it  was  the  proper  keeping 
of  Christmas.  It  was  a  part  of  the  worthv  yeoman's  faith.  He 
was  a  humble  and  thorough  believer  in  all  the  tenets  of  Christi- 
anity, he  worshipped  the  Saviour  and  adored  His  Nativity,  but 
his  faith  was  a  cheerful  one,  and  he  thought  he  best  honoured 
his  Master  by  enjoying  the  good  gifts  which  He  sent.  Hence 
'  Cassell's  "  History  of  England." 


CHRISTMAS. 


it  was  a  part  of  his  creed  to  be  jovial  at  Christmas-tide.  And 
so  Dame  Ahce  had  been  bnsy  all  that  day,  and  a  part  of  the 
day  before,  making  Christmas  pies,  dressing  Christmas  meats, 
and  otherwise  making  ready  for  the  great  festival.  John 
Longe,  too,  had  not  been  idle.  He  and  his  men  had  been 
working  hard  all  day  getting  in  huge  Yule-logs  for  the  great 
kitchen  lire,  whilst  William  and  little  Agnes  had  been  employed 
in  decorating  the  kitchen  with  evergreens  and  mistletoe,  dis- 
playing in  great  profusion  the  red  berries  of  the  holly  bushes. 
Everything  was  decked  v^-ith  evergreens,  from  the  cups  and 
platters  on  the  shelves  to  the  hams  and  bacon  hanging  from  the 
ceiling." 

At  length  the  preparations  were  completed  ;  then  came  the 
telling  of  tales  and  cheerful  gossip  round  the  blazing  fire  on 
Christmas  Eve,  and  the  roasting  of  chestnuts  on  the  embers. 
**  Christmas  Day  passed  at  the  little  homestead  with  all  the 
social  and  religious  honours  that  the  honest  yeoman  could  think 
of.  The  little  household  attended  the  service  of  Mass  in  the 
morning,  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  state- 
ment that  "  Edward  the  third  was  right  fortunate  and  happy  in 
amies." 

Edward  the  Third's  Victories  axd  Festivities. 

During  the  invasion  of  France, 
Edward  III.  raised  the  martial  glory 
of  England  by  his  splendid  victories 
at  Crecy,  Poictiers,  and  other  places  ; 
and  he  kept  Christmas  right  royally 
with  his  soldiers  on  French  soil.  After 
the  battle  of  Crecy,  at  which  the  Prince 
of  Wales  gained  the  celebrated  title  of 
the  Black  Prince,  Ed\\ard  marched 
upon  Calais,  and  laid  siege  to  it  ; 
and  at  length  he  took  the  place. 
During  Edward's  absence,  England 
was  invaded  by  David  II.  of  Scotland, 
who  was  defeated  and  taken  prisoner 
by  the  army  under  Philippa,  Edward's 
Queen.  The  brave  Queen  then  joined 
King  Edward  on  the  French  battle- 
ground, and  they  kept  the  Christmas 
of  1346  with  much  rejoicing. 
During  the  Christmas  festivities  of  this  period  the  most  noble 
Order  of  the  Garter  was  instituted  by  King  Edward  III.  to 
excite  emulation  amongst  the  aristocratic  warriors  of  the  time, 
in  imitation  of  orders  of  a  similar  kind,  both  religious  and 
military,  which  had  been  instituted  by  different  monarchs  of 
Europe  ;  and  that  those  who  were  admitted  to  the  order  were 


TO    THE   END   OF    THE    WARS   OF    THE   ROSES. 


73 


enjoined   to   exalt    the  relii^non  of  Christ   is  evident  from  some 
lines  which   Chancer  addressed  to  the   Lords  and   KniLjhts — 


And  again — 


'  Do  forth,  do  fcjrth,  continue  your  succour, 
Hold  up  Christ's  banner,  let  it  not  fall." 


'  Ve  Lordis  eke,  shining  in  noble  fame, 
To  which  appropered  is  the  maintenance 
Of  Christ  'is  cause  ;  in  honour  of  his  name, 
Shove  on,  and  put  his  foes  to  utterance." 


In  imitation  of  King  Arthur,  Edward  III.  set  up  at  Windsor 
a  Round  Table,  which  was  consecrated  with  feasts  and  tourna- 
ments, and  baptized  with  the  blood  of  the  brave.  On  New 
Year's  Day,  1344,  he  issued  his  royal  letters  of  protection  for 
the  safe^coming  and  return  of  foreign  knights  to  the  solemn 
jousts  which  he  appointed  to  be  held  at  Windsor  on  St.  Hilary's 
Day,  in  extension  of  the  Christmas  festivities.  The  festival  was 
opened  with  a  splendid  supper  ;  and  the  next  day,  and  until 
Lent,  all  kinds  of  knightly  feats  of  arms  were  performed.  ''The 
queen  and  her  ladies."  says  an  old  historian,  "  that  they  might 
with  more  convenience  behold  this  spectacle,  were  orderly  seated 
upon  a  firm  ballustrade,  or  scaffold,  with  rails  before  it,  running 
all  round  the  lists.  And  certainly  their  extraordinary  beauties, 
set  so  advantageously  foiih  with  excessive  riches  of  apparel, 
did  prove  a  sight  as  full  of  pleasant  encouragement  to  the 
combatants,  as  the  fierce  hacklings  of  men  and  horses,  gallantly 
armed,  were  a  delightful  terror  to  the  feminine  beholders." 


LADIES    LOOKING    FROM    THE    HUSTINGS    UPON   THE    TOURNAMENT. 


In  1348  Edward  III.  kept  a  grand  Christmas  at  Guildford. 
"  Orders  were  given  to  manufacture  for  the  Christmas  sports 
eighty  tunics  of  buckram  of  different  colours,  and  a  large 
number  of  masks — some  with  faces  of  women,  some  with 
beards,  some  like  angel  heads  of  silver.  There  were  to  be 
mantles  embroidered  with  heads  of  dragons,  tunics  wrought 
with  heads  and  w'ings  of  peacocks,  and  embroidered  in  many 
other  fantastic  ways.  The  celebration  of  Christmas  lasted  from 
All  Hallow's  Eve",  the  31st  of  October,  till  the  day  after  the 
Puriiication,    the    3rd    of    February.     At    the    court    a    lord    of 


74 


CHRISTMAS. 


misrule  was  appointed,  who  reigned  during  the  whole  of  this 
period,  and  was  called  'the  master  of  merry  disports.'  He 
ruled  over  and  organised  all  the  games  and  sports,  and  during 
the  period  of  his  rule  there  was  nothing  but  a  succession  of 
masques,  disguisings,  and  dances  of  all  kinds.  All  the  nobles, 
even  the  Mayor  of  London,  had  an  officer  of  this  kind  chosen 
in  their  households.  Dancing  was  a  very  favourite  amusement. 
It  was  practised  by  the  nobility  of  both  sexes.  The  damsels  of 
London  spent  their  evenings  in  dancing  before  their  masters' 
doors,  and  the  country  lasses  danced  upon  the  village  green."  ' 


THE   LORD   OF   MISRULE. 


A  Royal  Christmas  was  kept  at  Westminster, .  with  great 
splendour,  in  1358,  when  King  Edward  had  two  crowned 
guests  at  his  feast  ;  but  these  were  present  from  no  choice  of 
their  own  :  they  were  the  victims  to  the  fortune  of  war 
at  Poictiers  and  Neville's  Cross.  And  in  1362,  King  David 
of  Scotland  and  the  King  of  Cyprus  met  at  King  Edward's 
grand  entertainments.  The  later  years  of  his  life  were  spent 
by  this  great  warrior-king  in  partial  retirement  from  public 
affairs,  and  under  the  influence  of  his  mistress,  Alice  Ferrers, 
while  John  of  Gaunt  took  a  leading  part  in  the  government  of 
the  state.  In  1376  Edward  the  Black  Prince  died,  and  the 
same  year  King  Edward  III.  kept  his  last  Christmas  at  West- 
minster, the  festival  being  made  memorable  by  all  the  nobles  of 
the  realm  attending  to  swear  fealty  to  the  son  of  the  Black 
Prince,  who,  bv  the  King's  desire,  took  precedence  of  his  uncles 
at  the  banquet  as  befitted  the  heir  apparent  to  the  crown.  The 
King  died  on  the  21st  of  June,  1377,  having  reigned  for  just 
over  half  a  century. 

The  old  chronicler,  Stowe,  refers  to  a 

Terrihle  Christmas  Tempest, 
which  he  savs  occurred  in  1362  :  "The  King  held  his  Christmas 

'  Creighton's  "  Life  of  Edward  the  Black  Prince," 


TO    THE   END   OF    THE    WARS   OF    THE   ROSES.  75 

at  Windsore,  and  the  XV.  day  following  a  sore  and  vehement 
south-west  winde  brake  forth,  so  hideous  that  it  overthrew  high 
houses,  towers,  steeples,  and  trees,  and  so  bowed  them,  that 
the  residue  which  fell  not,  but  remained  standing",  were  the 
weaker." 

King  Edward  the  Third's  wardrobe  accounts  witness  to  the 

Costly  Christm.as  Robes 

that  were  worn  at  this  period.  And  these  accounts  also  show- 
that  Alice  Ferrers  was  associated  with  the  King's  daughter  and 
granddaughter  in  the  Christmas  entertainments.  There  are 
items  in  1376  stating  that  the  King's  daughter  Isabella  (stvled 
Countess  of  Bedford),  and  her  daughter  (afterwards  wife  of 
Vere,  Earl  of  Oxford),  were  provided  with  rich  garments 
trimmed  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  equally 
costly  are  registered  as  sent  by  the  King  to  his  chamber  at 
Shene,  to  be  given  to  Alice  Ferrers.  And  at  a  festival  at 
Windsor  the  King  caused  twelve  ladies  (including  his  daughters 
and  Alice  Ferrers)  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  have 
also  seen  that  eighty  costly  tunics  were  provided  for  the  Christ- 
mas sports  and  disguisings  at  Guildford. 
We  now  come  to  a 

Comically  Cruel  Christmas  Inxidext, 

recorded  by  Sir  John  Froissart,  and  which  he  says  gave  "  great 
joye  "  to  the  hilarious  "  knightes  and  squvers  "  who  kept  the 
festival  with  "the  Erie  of  Foiz  "  : — 

"  So  it  was  on  a  Christmas  day  the  Erie  of  Foiz  helde  a  great 
feest,  and  a  plentifull  of  knightes  and  squyers,  as  it  is  his 
usage  ;  and-  it  was  a  colde  day,. and  the  erle  dvned  in  the  hall, 
and  with  him  great  company  of  lordes ;  and  after  dyner  he 
departed  out  of  the  hall,  and  went  up  into  a  galarye  of  xxiiii 
stayres  of  heyght,  in  which  galarye  ther  was  a  great  chymnev, 
wherin  they  made  fyre  whan  therle  was  ther  ;  and  at  that 
tyme  there  was  but  a  small  fyre,  for  the  erle  loved  no  great 
fyre  ;  howbeit,  he  hadde  woode  ynoughe  there  about,  and  in 
Bierne  is  wode  ynoughe.  The  same  daye  it  was  a  great  frost 
and  very  colde  :  and  when  the  erle  was  in  the  galarye,  and  saw 
the  fyre  so  lytell,  he  sayde  to  the  knightes  and  squiers  about 
hym,  Sirs,  this  is  but  a  small  fyre,  and  the  day  so  colde  :  than 
Ernalton  of  Spayne  went  downe  the  stayres,  and  beneth  in  the 
courte  he  sawe  a  great  meny  of  asses,  laden  with  woode  to 
serve  the  house  :  than  he  went  and  toke  one  of  the  grettest 
asses,  with  all  the  woode,  and  layde  hvm  on  his  backe,  and 
went  up  all  the  stayres  into  the  galary,  and  dyde  cast  downe. 
the  asse  with  all  the  woode  into  the  chvmney,  and  the  asses  fete 


76  CHRISTMAS. 

upward  ;  whcrof  the  ciic  ot"  Foiz  had  great  joye,  and  so  hadde 
all  they  that  were  there,  and  had  marveyle  of  his  strength  howe 
he  alone  eame  up  all  the  stayres  with  the  asse  and  the  woode  in 
his  necke." 


Passing  on  to 


The  Reigx  of  Richard  the  Second, 
the  son  of  Edward  the  Black  Prince  and  Joan  of  Kent,  who 
came  to  the  throne  (in  tutelage)  on  the  death  of  his  grandfather, 
Edward  III.  (1377),  we  find  that  costly  banquetings,  dis- 
guisings,  pageants,  and  plays  continued  to  be  the  diversions 
of  Christmastide  at  court.  From  the  rolls  of  the  royal  ward- 
robe, it  appears  that  at  the  Christmas  festival  in  1391,  the  sages 
of  the  law  were  made  subjects  for  disguisements,  this  entry 
being  made  :  "  Pro  XXI  coifs  de  tela  linea  pro  hominibus  de 
lege  contrafactis  pro  Ludo  regis  tempore  natalis  Domini  anno 
XII."  That  is,  for  twenty-one  linen  coifs  for  counterfeiting 
men  of  the  law  in  the  King's  play  at  Christmas.  And  Strutt ' 
says  that  in  the  same  year  (1391)  the  parish  clerks  of  London 
put  forth  a  play  at  Skinners'  Wells,  near  Smithfield,  which 
continued  three  days  :  the  king,  queen,  and  many  of  the 
nobility,  being  present  at  the  performance. 


[On  one  side  is  the  legend,  moneta  nova  adriam 
STVLTORV  pape,  the  last  E  being  in  the  field  of  the 
piece,  on  which  is  represented  the  I'ope,  with  his  double 
cross  and  tiara,  with  a  fool  in  full  costume  approaching 
his  bauble  to  the  pontifical  cross,  and  two  persons 
behind,  who  form  part  of  his  escort.  On  the  reverse  is 
a  "  mother  fool,"  with  her  bauble,  attended  by  a  gro- 
tesque person  with  a  cardinal's  hat,  with  the  oft-recurring 
legend,  STVi/roRV  infinitvs  est  nvmervs.] 

'  "  Sports  and  Pastimes," 


TO   THE  EXD  OF   THE   WARS  OF   THE  ROSES.  77 

But  the  miracle  plays  and  mysteries  performed  by  the 
Churchmen  differed  greatly  from  the  secular  plays  and  inter- 
ludes which  at  this  period  "  were  acted  by  strolling  companies 
of  minstrels,  jugglers,  tumblers,  dancers,  bourdours,  or  jesters, 
and  other  performers  properly  qualihed  for  the  different  parts 
of  the  entertainment,  w'hich  admitted  of  a  variety  of  exhibitions. 
These  pastimes  are  of  higher  antiejuity  than  the  ecclesiastical 
plays  ;  and  they  were  much  relished  not  only  by  the  vulgar 
part  of  the  people,  but  also  by  the  nobility.  The  courts  of  the 
kings  of  England,  and  the  castles  of  the  great  earls  and  barons, 
were  crowded  with  the  performers  of  the  secular  plays,  where 
they  were  well  received  and  handsomely  rewarded  ;  vast  sums 
of  money  were  lavishly  bestowed  upon  these  secular  itinerants, 
which  induced  the  monks  and  othqr  ecclesiastics  to  turn  actors 
themselves,  in  order  to  obtain  a  share  of  the  public  bounty. 
But  to  give  the  better  colouring  to  their  undertaking,  they  took 
the  subjects  of  their  dialogues  from  the  holy  writ,  and  performed 
them  in  the  churches.  The  secular  showmen,  however,  retained 
their  popularity  notwithstanding  the  exertions  of  their  clerical 
rivals,  who  diligentlv  endeavoured  to  bring  them  into  disgrace, 
by  bitterly  inveighing  against  the  filthiness  and  immorality  of 
their  exhibitions.  On  the  other  hand,  the  itinerant  players 
sometimes  invaded  the  province  of  the  churchmen,  and  per- 
formed their  mysteries,  or  others  similar  to  them,  as  we  find 
from  a  petition  presented  to  Richard  II.  by  the  scholars  of 
St.  Paul's  School,  wherein  complaint  is  made  against  the  secular 
actors,  because  they  took  upon  themselves  to  act  plays  com- 
posed from  the  Scripture  history,  to  the  great  prejudice  of 
the  clergy,  who  had  been  at  much  expense  to  prepare  such 
performances  for  public  exhibition  at  the  festival  of  Christmas." 


In    his    Christmas    feasts    Richard    the    Second    outdid    his 
predecessors   in    prodigal    hospitality.      He    delighted    in    the 


78  CHRISTMAS. 

neiL;libourhood  of  Eltham,  and  spent  much  of  his  time  in 
feasting  with  his  favourites  at  the  royal  palace  there.  In  i3(SC) 
(notwithstanding  the  still  prevalent  distress,  which  had  con- 
tinued from  the  time  of  the  peasant  revolt)  Richard  kept  the 
Christmas  festivities  at  Eltham  with  great  extravagance,  at  the 
same  time  entertaining  Leon,  King  of  Armenia,  in  a  manner 
utterly  unjustified  by  the  state  of  the  royal  exchequer,  which 
had  been  replenished  by  illegal  methods.  And,  on  the  com- 
pletion of  his  enlargements  and  embellishments  of  Westminster 
Hall,  Richard  reopened  it  with  "  a  most  royal  Christmas  feast  " 
of  twenty-eight  oxen  and  three  hundred  sheep,  and  game  and 
fowls  without  number,  feeding  ten  thousand  guests  for  many 
days.  Yet  but  a  few  years  afterwards  (such  is  the  fickleness 
of  fortune  and  the  instability  of  human  affairs)  this  same  king, 
who  had  seen  the  ''  Merciless  Parliament,"  who  had  robbed 
Hereford  of  his  estates,  who  had  been  robed  in  cloth  of  gold 
and  precious  stones,  and  who  had  alienated  his  subjects  by  his 
own  extravagance,  was  himself  deposed  and  sentenced  to  life- 
long banishment,  his  doom  being  pronounced  in  the  very  hall 
which  he  had  reared  to  such  magnihcence  for  his  own  glory. 
Thus  ingloriously  Richard  disappears  from  history,  for  nothing 
certain  is  know^n  of  the  time,  manner,  or  place  of  his  death, 
though  it  is  conjectured  that  he  was  speedily  murdered.  How 
history  repeats  itself  !  Richard's  ignominious  end  recalls  to 
mind  the  verse  in  which  an  English  poet  depicts  the  end  of  an 
Eastern  king  who  was  too  fond  of  revelling  : — 

"  That  night  they  slew  him  on  his  father's  throne,  • 
The  deed  unnoticed  and  the  hand  unknown  : 
Crownless  and  sceptreless  Belshazzar  lay, 
A  robe  of  purple  round  a  form  of  clay  !  " 


Graxd  Christmas  Tourxamext. 

An  example  of  the  tournaments  which  were  favourite  diver- 
sions of  kings  and  nobles  at  this  period  is  found  in  that  held  at 
Christmastide'in  London  in  1389.  Richard  H.,  his  three  uncles, 
and  the  greater  barons  having  heard  of  a  famous  tournament  at 
Paris  at  the  enti-y  of  Isabel,  Queen  of  France,  resolved  to  hold 
one  of  equal  splendour  at  London,  in  which  sixty  English 
knights,    conducted    to    the    scene    of   action    by    sixty    ladies. 


TO    THE   END   OF    THE    WARS   OF    THE   ROSES.  70 

should    challcntfe    all    foreign    knis^hts.      They  therefore    sent 
heralds   into  all  parts   of    En.u'land,   Seotland,  Germany,   Italy, 
Flanders,  Brabant,  Hainault,  and  France  to  proclaim  the  time, 
place,  and  other  circumstances  of  the  proposed  gathering,  and 
to  invite  all  valorous  knights  and  squires  to  honour  it  with  their 
presence.     This,  says  the  historian,  excited  a  strong  desire  in 
the  knights  and  squires  of  all  these  countries  to  attend  to  see 
the  manners  and  equipages  of  the  English,  and  others  to  tourney. 
The  lists  were  prepared  in  Smithheld,  and  chambers  erected 
around    them    for    the    accommodation    of    the    king,    queen, 
princes,    lords,   ladies,   heralds,  and   other  spectators.     As  the 
time  approached   many  important    personages  of    both    sexes, 
attended    by  numerous  retinues,  arrived  in   London.     On  the 
Hrst  day  of  the  tournament   (Smiday)  sixty-hve  horses,  richly 
furnished  for  the  jousts,  issued  one  by  one  from  the  Tower,  each 
conducted  by  a  squire  of  honour,  and  proceeded  in  a  slow  pace 
through   the"  streets    of    London   to  Smithtield,  attended  by  a 
numerous    band    of   trumpeters   and    other    minstrels.      Imme- 
diately after,  sixty  young  ladies,  elegantly  attired  and  riding 
on  palfreys,  issued  from  the  same  place,  and  each  lady  leading 
a  knight  completely  armed  by  a  silver  chain,  they  proceeded 
slowly  to  the  field.     When  they  arrived  there  the  ladies  were 
lifted'  from  the  palfreys  and  conducted  to  the  chambers  pro- 
vided for  them  ;  the  knights  mounted  their  horses  and  began 
the  jousts,  in  which  they  exhibited  such  feats  of  valour  and  dex- 
terity as  won   the   admiration    of   the    spectators.     When   the 
approach  of  night  put  an  end  to  the  jousts  the  company  repaired 
to  the  palace  of   the  Bishop  of  London,  in  St.  Paul's  Street, 
where  the  king  and  queen  then  staying,  the  supper  was  pre- 
pared.   The  ladies,  knights,  and  heralds  who  had  been  appointed 
judges  awarded  one  of  the  prizes,  a  crow^n  of  gold,  to  the  Earl 
of  St.   Paul  as  the  best  performer  among  the  foreign  knights, 
and  the  other,  a  rich  girdle  adorned  with  gold  and  precious 
stones,   to  the   Earl  of  Huntingdon  as  the  best  performer  of 
the  English.     After  a  sumptuous  supper  the  ladies  and  knights 
spent  the  remainder  of  the  night  in  dancing.     The  tournaments 
were    continued    in    a    similar    manner    on    Monday,   Tuesday, 
Wednesday,    Thursday,    and     Friday,    and    on    Saturday    the 
Court,  with  all  the  company,  removed  to  Windsor,  where  the 
jousts,  feasting,  and  other  diversions  were  renewed,  and  lasted 
several    days    longer.      Subsequently   the    king    presented    the 
foreign  ladies,  lords,  and  knights  with  valuable  gifts,  and  they 
returned  to  their  own  countries  highly  pleased  with  the  enter- 
tainment which  they  had  enjoyed  in  England. 

Kixci  Hkxry   thk  Fourth 

was  born  at  Bolingbrukc,  in  Lincolnshire,  being  tlie  eldest  son 
of  John  of  Gaunt  and  of  his  hrst  wife,  the  heiress  of  the  house 
of  Lancaster,  and  a  grandson  of  Edward  III.     On  the  death  of 


8o  CHRISTMAS. 

John  of  Gaunt  in  1399,  Richard  II.  seized  his  lands,  having 
in  the  previous  year  banished  Henry  of  Bohngbroke.  On 
Henry  hearing  what  had  occurred,  knowing  his  own  popu- 
hirity  and  Richard's  unpopuku'ity,  Henry  returned  from 
banishment,  and  succeeded  in  an  attack  on  Richard,  whom 
he  made  a  prisoner.  Then  summoning  a  Parliament,  at  which 
Richard  was  formally  deposed  and  himself  made  king,  Henry 
came  to  the  throne  with  the  title  of  Henry  IV.  Soon,  however, 
he  found  himself  menaced  by  danger.  Some  of  the  lords  who 
had  been  stripped  of  the  honours  and  wealth  heaped  upon 
them  by  Richard  entered  into  a  conspiracy  to  assassinate 
Henry  the  usurper.  During  the  Christmas  holidays  they  met 
frequently  at  the  lodgings  of  the  Abbot  of  Westminster  to  plan 
the  king's  destruction.  After  much  deliberation  they  agreed  to 
hold  a  splendid  tournament  at  Oxford  on  the  3rd  of  January, 
1400.  Henry  was  to  be  invited  to  preside,  and  while  intent  on 
the  spectacle  a  number  of  picked  men  were  to  kill  him  and  his 
sons.  The  king  w^as  keeping  his  Christmas  at  Windsor,  whither 
the  Earl  of  Huntingdon  presented  himself  and  gave  him  the 
invitation.  Henry  accepted  it,  but  on  the  2nd  of  January,  the 
day  previous  to  the  tournament,  the  Earl  of  Rutland,  who  was 
privy  to  the  plot,  went  secretly  to  Windsor  and  informed  the 
king  of  the  arrangements  which  had  been  made  for  his  assas- 
sination. The  same  evening,  after  dusk,  the  king  proceeded  to 
London  ;  and  the  next  day  when  the  conspirators  assembled 
at  Oxford  they  were  surprised  to  find  that  neither  the  king 
nor  their  own  accomplice,  Rutland,  had  arrived.  Suspecting 
treachery  they  resolved  to  proceed  at  once  to  Windsor  and 
surprise  Henry,  but  arrived  only  to  find  that  he  had  escaped. 
They  afterwards  raised  the  standard  of  revolt,  but  their  insur- 
rection proved  abortive,  and  the  fate  of  the  leaders  was 
summary  and  sanguinary. 

The  favourite  palace  of  Henry  the  Fourth  w'as  at  Eltham, 
where,  in  the  second  year  of  his  reign,  he  kept  a  grand 
Christmas,  and  entertained  the  Emperor  of  Constantinople. 
At  this  festival  the  men  of  London  made  a  "gret  mummyng 
to  him  of  XII.  Aldermen  and  theire  sones,  for  which  they  had 
gret  thanke."  Similar  festivities  were  observed  at  several  sub- 
sequent festivals  ;  then  the  king's  health  gave  way,  and  he 
passed  the  last  Christmas  of  his  life  in  seclusion  at  Eltham, 
suft'ering  from  fits  of  epilepsy,  and  lying  frequently  for  hours 
in  an  unconscious  state.  After  Candlemas  he  was  so  much 
better  as  to  be  able  to  return  to  his  palace  at  Westminster,  but 
he  died  there  on  the  20th  of  March  the  same  year  (1413).  The 
final  scene  and  the  parting  words  of  the  king  to  his  son,  who 
became  Henry  V.,  have  been  beautifully  depicted  by  Shakespeare. 

King  Henry  the  Fifth. 

In  connection  with  the  Christmas  festival  in  1414  a  con- 
spiracy  to    murder    the   king   is   alleged   against  the  Lollards, 


TO    THE  END   OF   THE    JVARS  OF   THE   ROSES.  8i 

but  the  charge  has  never  been  satisfactorily  proved.  "  If  we 
are  to  beheve  the  chroniclers  of  the  times  the  Lollards  resolved 
to  anticipate  their  enemies,  to  take  up  arms  and  to  repel  force  by 
force.  Seeing  clearly  that  war  to  the  death  was  determined 
against  them  by  the  Church,  and  that  the  king  had  yielded  at 
least  a  tacit  consent  to  this  iniquitous  policv,  they  came  to  the 
conclusion  to  kill  not  only  the  bishops,  but  the  king  and  all  his 
kin.  So  atrocious  a  conspiracy  is  not  readily  to  be  credited 
against  men  who  contended  for  a  greater  purity  of  gospel 
truth,  nor  against  men  of  the  practical  and  military  knowledge 
of  Lord  Cobham.  But  over  the  whole  of  these  transactions 
there  hangs  a  veil  of  impenetrable  mystery,  and  we  can  only 
say  that  the  Lollards  are  charged  with  endeavouring  to  surprise 
the  king  and  his  brother  at  Eltham,  as  they  were  keeping  their 
Christmas  festivities  there,  and  that  this  attempt  failed  through 
the  Court  receiving  intimation  of  the  design  and  suddenly 
removing  to  Westminster."  ^  Lord  Cobham  was  put  to  death 
bv  cruel  torture  in  St.  Giles's  Fields,  London,  on  Christmas  Day, 
141 8. 

In  the  early  part  of  his  reign  Henry  invaded  France  and 
achieved  a  series  of  brilliant  successes,  including  the  famous 
victory  at  Agincourt.  The  hero  of  this  great  battle  did  not 
allow  the  hoHday  season  to  interfere  with  his  military  opera- 
tions ;  but  he  did  generously  suspend  proceedings  against 
Rouen  upon  Christmas  Day  and  supply  his  hungry  foes  with 
food  for  that  day  only,  so  that  they  might  keep  the  feast  of 
Christmas.  After  his  military  successes  in  France  Henrv  married 
the  Princess  Katherine,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Charles  VI.. 
King  of  France,  and  the  king  and  queen  spent  their  first  Christ- 
mas of  wedded  life  at  Paris,  the  festival  being  celebrated  by 
a  series  of  magniiicent  entertainments.  Henry's  subsequent 
journey  to  England  was  "  like  the  ovation  of  an  ancient  con- 
queror." He  and  his  queen  were  received  with  great  festivity 
at  the  different  towns  on  their  way,  and  on  the  ist  of  February 
they  left  Calais,  and  landed  at  Dover,  where,  according  to 
Monstrelet,  "  Katherine  was  received  as  if  she  had  been  an 
angel  of  God."  All  classes  united  to  make  the  reception 
of  the  hero  of  Agincourt  and  his  beautiful  bride  a  most  mag- 
nificent one.  They  proceeded  first  to  Eltham,  and  thence, 
after  due  rest,  to  London,  where  Katherine  was  crowned  with 
great  rejoicing  on  the  24th  of  February,  1421.  Henry's 
brilliant  career  was  cut  short  by  his  death  on  the  last  day  of 
August,   1422. 

"Small  time,  hut,  in  that  small,  most  greatly  liv'd 
This  star  of  England  :  fortune  made  his  sword  ; 
By  which  the  world's  best  garden  he  achiev'd, 
And  of  it  left  his  son  imperial  lord."^ 

•     Fabian's    account  of    the    stately  feast  at  the  coronation   of 

'  Cassell's  "  History  of  England."  -  Shakespeare. 

7 


82  CHRISTMAS. 

Henry   the    Fifth's    newly-wedded    consort    is    an    interesting 
picture  of  the 

Court  Life  and  Christmas  Festivities  of  the  Period. 

Queen  Katherine  was  conveyed  to  the  great  hall  at  West- 
minster and  there  set  to  dinner.  Upon  her  right  hand,  at  the 
end  of  the  table,  sat  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  Henry, 
surnamed  the  rich  Cardinal  of  Winchester  ;  and  upon  her  left 
hand  the  King  of  Scotland  in  his  royal  robes  ;  near  the  end  sat 
the  Duchess  of  York  and  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon.  The 
Earl  of  March,  holding  a  sceptre,  knelt  upon  her  right  side,  and 
the  Earl- Marshal  upon  her  left ;  his  Countess  sat  at  the  Queen's 
left  foot  under  the  table,  and  the  Countess  of  Kent  at  her  right 
foot.  Humphrey,  Duke  of  Gloucester,  was  overlooker,  and 
stood  before  the  Queen  bareheaded  ;  Sir  Richard  Xevill  was 
carver,  the  Earl  of  Suffolk's  brother  cupbearer,  Sir  John  Steward 
server.  Lord  Clifford  panterer,  Lord  Willoughby  butler.  Lord 
Grey  de  Ruthyn  naperer,  the  Lord  Audley  almoner,  and  the 
Earl  of  Worcester,  Earl-]\Larshal,  rode  about  the  hall  during 
dinner  on  a  charger,  with  a  number  of  constables  to  keep  order. 

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

"  Ce  est  la  signe 
Et  lu  Roy 
Pur  tenir  ioy 
Et  a  tout  sa  gent, 
Elle  mete  sa  entent." 

Second  course — Jellv  coloured  with  columbine  flowers,  white 
potage,  or  cream  of  almonds,  bream  of  the  sea,  conger,  soles, 
cheven,  barbel  wdth  roach,  fresh  salmon,  halibut,  gurnets, 
broiled  roach,  fried  smelt,  crayfish  or  lobster,  leche  damask 
with  the  king's  word  or  proverb  flourished  "  iiiic  saiiz  plus^ 
Lamprey  fresh  baked,  flampeyn  flourished  with  an  escutcheon 
royal,  therein  three  crowns  of  gold,  planted  with  flowers  de 
luce,  and  flowers  of  camomile  wrought  of  confections.  Then 
a  subtlety  representing  a  panther  with  an  image  of  St. 
Katherine  having  a  wheel  in  one  hand  and  a  roll  with  a 
reason  in  the  other,  saying — 

' '  La  royne  ma  file, 
In  ceste  ile, 
Par  bon  reson 
Alues  renoun." 


TO    THE   EXD   OF   THE    WARS  OF   THE   ROSES. 


83 


Third  course — Dates  in  composite,  cream  mottled,  carp, 
turbot,  tench,  perch,  fresh  sturgeon  with  whelks,  porpoise 
ro;iistecl,  memis  fried,  craytish,  prawns,  eels  roasted  with 
lamprey,  a  leche  called  ,the  white  leche  nourished  with  haw- 
thorn leaves  and  red  haws,  and  a  march  pane,  garnished  with 
figures  of  angels,  having  among  them  an  image  of  St.  Katherine 
holding  this  reason — 

"  II  est  ecrit, 

Pour  voir  et  dit 

Per  mariage  plir 

Cast  guerre  ne  dure." 

And  lastly,  a  subtlety  representing  a  tiger  looking  into  a  mirror, 
and  a  man  sitting  on  horseback  fully  armed,  holding  in  his  arms 
a  tiger's  whelp,  with  this  reason,  "  Par  force  sanz  reson  il  ay 
pryse  ceste  beste,"  and  with  his  one  hand  making  a  coun- 
tenance of  throwing  mirrors  at  the  great  tiger,  the  which  held 
this  reason — 

"  Gile  de  mirror, 
Ma  fete  distour." 


^^■j6)ti'«iJ/>A\, 


King  Henry  the  Sixth 

became  king  in  1422,  before  he  was  nine  months  old,  and 
although  the  regency  of  the  two  kingdoms  to  which  he  was 
heir  had  been  arranged  by  Henry  V.  before  his  death,  the  reign 
of  the  third  king  of  the  House  of  Lancaster  saw  the  undoing  of 
much  that  had  been  accomplished  in  the  reigns  of  his  father 


84 


CHRISTMAS. 


Ck^HJlL-^   . 


and  grandfather.  It  was  during  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.  that 
Joan  of  Arc  came  forward  alleging  her  Divine  commission  to 
rescue  France  from  the  English  invader.  But  it  is  not  part 
of  our  subject  to  describe  her  heroic  career.  The  troublous 
times  which  made  the  French  heroine  a  name  in  history  were 
unfavourable  to  Christmas  festivities.  The  Royal  Christmases 
of  Henry  the  Sixth  were  less  costly  than  those  of  his  immediate 
predecessors.  But  as  soon  as  he  was  old  enough  to  do  so  he 
observed  the  festival,  as  did  also  his  soldiers,  even  in  time 
of  war.  Mills '  mentions  that,  "  during  the  memorable  siege 
of  Orleans  [1428-9],  at  the  request  of  the  English  the  festivities 
of  Christmas  suspended  the  horrors  of  war,  and  the  nativity  of 
the  Saviour  was  commemorated  to  the  sound  of  martial  music. 
Talbot,  Suffolk,  and  other  ornaments  of  English  chivalry  made 
presents  of  fruits  to  the  accomplished  Dunois,  who  vied  with 
their  courtesy  by  presenting  to  Suffolk  some  black  plush  he 
wished  for  as  a  lining  for  his  dress  in  the  then  winter  season. 
The  high-spirited  knights  of  one  side  challenged  the  prowest 
knights  of  the  other,  as  their  predecessors  in  chivalry  had  done. 
It  is  observable,  however,  that  these  jousts  were  not  held  in 
honour  of  the  ladies,  but  the  challenge  always  declared  that 
if  there  were  in  the  other  host  a  knight  so  generous  and  loving 
of  his  country  as  to  be  willing  to  combat  in  her  defence,  he 
was  invited  to  present  himself." 

In  1433  Henry  kept  his  Christmas  at  Bury,  and  in  1436  at 
Kenihvorth  Castle.  Nothing  remarkable,  however,  is  recorded 
respecting  these  festivities.  But  some  interesting  particulars 
have  been  preserved  of  a 

Christmas  Play  performed  ix  1445 

at   Middleton  Tower,  Norfolk,  the  family  seat   of  Lord  Scales, 

'   "  History  of  Chivalry." 


TO    THE  END   OF   THE    WARS  OF   THE   ROSES.  85 

one  of  the  early  owners  of  Sandringham,  which  is  now  a 
residence  of  the  Prince  of  Wales.     Mrs.  Herbert  Jones  '  says  : — 

"  One  winter,  when  he  was  about  forty-six  years  old,  in  a 
quiet  interval  soon  after  Henry  the  Sixth's  marriage  to  Margaret 
of  Anjou,  Lord  Scales  and  his  wife  were  living  at  Middleton. 
In  a  south-east  direction  lay  the  higher  ground  where  rose  the 
Blackborough  Priory  of  nuns,  founded  by  a  previous  Lady 
Scales  ;  west  of  them,  at  three  miles'  distance,  bristling  with 
the  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  on 
Christmas  Day,  1445,  before  the  Lord  Scales  at  Middleton,  repre- 
senting scenes  from  the  Nativity  of  our  Lord.  Large  sums  were 
paid  by  order  of  the  mayor  for  the  requisite  dresses,  ornaments, 
and  scenery,  some  of  which  were  supplied  by  the  '  Nathan '  of 
Lynn,  and  others  prepared  and  bought  expressly.  'John  Clerk' 
performed  the  angel  Gabriel,  and  a  lady  of  the  name  of  Gilbert 
the  Virgin  Mary.  Their  parts  were  to  be  sung.  Four  other 
performers  were  also  paid  for  their  services,  and  the  whole 
party,  headed  by  the  mayor,  set  off  with  their  paraphernalia 
in  a  cart,  harnessed  to  four  or  more  horses,  for  Middleton  on 
Christmas  morning.  The  breakfast  of  the  carters  was  paid  for 
at  the  inn  by  the  town,  but  the  magnates  from  Lynn  and  the 
actors  were  entertained  at  the  castle.^ 

"It  was  in  the  courtyard  that  this  quaint  representation  took 
place  ;  the  musical  dialogues,  the  songs  and  hymns,  the  pro- 
fusion of  ornaments,  personal  and  otherwise,  recorded  as  pressed 
on  to  the  stage,  the  grotesque  angel  and  virgin,  must  have  fur- 
nished a  lively  hour  under  the  castle  walls  on  that  long-ago 
Christmas  Day." 

The  Wars  of  the  Roses. 

During  the  destructive  wars  of  York  and  Lancaster  the 
festivities  of  Christmas  were  frequently  interrupted  by  hos- 
tilities, for  some  of  the  most  bloody  encounters  (as,  for  example, 
the  terrible  battle  of  Waketield)  occurred  at  Christmastide.  The 
wars  of  the  contending  factions  continued  throughout  the  reign 
of  Henry  VL,  whose  personal  weakness  left  the  House  of  Lan- 
caster at  the  mercy  of  the  Parliament,  in  which  the  voice  of  the 
Barons  was  paramount.  That  the  country  was  in  a  state  of 
shameful  misgovernment  was  shown  by  the  attitude  of  the 
commercial  class  and  the  insurrection  under  John  Cade  ;  yet 
Henry  could  find  time  for  amusement.  "  Under  pretence  of 
change  of  air  the  court  removed  to  Coventry  that  the  king 
might  enjoy  the  sports  of  the  field."  3 

The  Christmases  of  Henry  were  not  kept  with  the  splendour 

'   "  Sandringham  Past  and  Present,  1S88." 

^  King's  Lynn  Chamherlains'  Accounts  Rolls,  23rd  of  Henry  \"I. 

-  "  Chronicles  of  the  White  Rose  of  York.'' 


<S6  CHRISTMAS. 

which  characterised  those  of  his  rival  and  successor,  Edward  IV. 
Henry's  habits  were  rehgious,  and  his  house  expenses  par- 
simonious— sometimes  necessarily  so,  for  he  was  short  of 
money.  From  the  introduction  to  the  "  Paston  Letters " 
(edited  by  Mr.  James  Gairdner)  it  appears  that  the  king  was 
in  such  impecunious  circumstances  in  145 1  that  he  had  to 
borrow  his  expenses  for  Christmas  :  "  The  government  was 
getting  paralysed  alike  by  debt  and  by  indecision.  '  As  for 
tidings  here,'  writes  John  Bocking,  '  I  certify  you  all  that  is 
nought,  or  will  be  nought.  The  king  borroweth  his  expenses.'  " 
Henry  anticipated  what  Ben  Jonson  discovered  in  a  later  age, 
that— 

"  Christmas  is  near  ; 
And  neither  good  cheer, 
Mirth,  fooling,  nor  wit, 
Nor  any  least  fit 
Of  gambol  or  sport 
Will  come  at  the  Court, 
If  there  be  no  money." 

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],  to 
the  great  joy  of  the  nation,  the  king  began  to  recover  from  his 
painful  illness.  He  woke  up,  as  it  were,  from  a  long  sleep. 
So  decidedly  had  he  regained  his  faculties  that  on  St.  John's 
Day  (27th  December)  he  commanded  his  almoner  to  ride  to 
Canterbury  with  an  offering,  and  his  secretary  to  present 
another  at  the  shrine  of  St.   Edward."  ' 

The  terrible  battle  of  Wakefield  at  Christmastide,  1460,  was 
one  of  the  most  important  victories  won  by  the  Lancastrians 
during  the  Wars  of  the  Roses.  The  king,  Henry  YL,  had  secretly 
encouraged  Richard,  Duke  of  York,  that  the  nation  would  soon 
be  ready  to  assent  to  the  restoration  of  the  legitimate  branch 
of  the  royal  family.  Richard  was  the  son  of  Anne  Mortimer, 
who  w^as  descended  from  Philippa,  the  only  daughter  of  the 
Duke  of  Clarence,  second  son  of  Edward  HL  ;  and  consequently 
he  stood  in  the  order  of  succession  before  the  king  actually  on 
the  throne,  who  was  descended  from  John  of  Gaunt,  a  younger 
son  of  Edward  HI.  The  Duke  of  York  at  length  openly 
advanced  his  title  as  the  true  heir  to  the  crown,  and  urged 
Parliament  to  confer  it  upon  him.  As,  however,  the  Lancas- 
trian branch  of  the  royal  family  had  enjoyed  the  crown  for  three 
generations  it  was  resolved  that  Henry  VL  should  continue  to 
reign  during  his  life  and  that  Richard  should  succeed  him. 
This  compromise  greatly  displeased  the  queen,  Margaret,  who 
was  indignant  at  the  injury  it  inflicted  on  her  son.  She  therefore 
urged  the  nobles  who  had  hitherto  supported  her  husband  to 
take  up  arms  oh  behalf  of  his  son.  Accordingly  the  Earl 
of  Northumberland,  with  Lords  Dacre,  Clifford,  and  Nevil, 
assembled  an  army  at  York,  and  were  soon  joined  by  the 
'  "  Paston  Letters." 


TO    THE   E}^D   OF   THE    WARS   OF   THE  ROSES.  87 

Duke  of  Somerset  and  the  Earl  of  Devon.  '*  Parliament  being 
prorogued  in  Dscember,  the  Duke  of  York  and  the  Earl  of 
Salisbury  hastened  from  London  with  a  large  armed  force 
towards  York,  but  coming  unexpectedly  upon  the  troops  of 
the  Duke  of  Somerset  at  Worksop,  their  vanguard  was  de- 
stroyed. On  the  2ist  of  December,  however,  they  reached 
Sandal  Castle  with  six  thousand  men,  and  kept  their  Christmas 
there,  notwithstanding  that  the  enemy  under  the  Duke  of 
Somerset  and  the  Earl  of  Northumberland  were  close  by  at 
Pontefract "  {William  Wyrcester).  On  the  30th  of  December 
the  opposing  forces  met  at  Wakefield,  and  in  the  terrible  battle 
which  ensued  Richard,  Duke  of  York  was  slain,  his  son,  Lord 
Rutland,  was  murdered  by  Lord  Clifford  while"  escaping  from 
the  battlefield,  and  the  Earl  of  Salisbury  and  others  were  taken 
as  prisoners  to  Pontefract,  where  they  wQve.  beheaded. 

Edward,  son  of  Richard  Duke  of  York,  was  afterwards  joined 
by  his  cousin,  Richard,  Earl  of  Warwick,  the  famous  "  king- 
maker." They  hastened  northwards  and  met  the  Lancastrians 
at  Towton,  where  a  decisive  battle  was  fought,  and  won  by 
the  Yorkists.  Edward  was  then  recognised  by  Parliament  and 
proclaimed  king  as  Edward  IV.,  and  Henry  VI.  was  attainted 
of  high  treason. 

Ix  1461  Edward  the  Fourth 

called  his  first  Parliament  at  Westminster,  and  concluded  the 
session  by  the  unusual  but  popular  measure  of  a  speech  from 
the  throne  to  the  Commons  delivered  by  himself.  It  was  during 
this  session  that  the  statute  was  passed  prohibiting  the  great 
and  rich  from  giving  or  wearing  any  liveries  or  signs  of 
companionship,  except  while  serving  under  the  king  ;  from 
receiving  or  maintaining  plunderers,  robbers,  malefactors,  or 
unlawful  hunters  ;  and  from  allowing  dice  and  cards  in  their 
houses  beyond  the  twelve  days  of  Christmas  (Pari.  Rolls,  488). 

The  Christmas  festival  was  kept  by  Edward  IV.  with  great 
magnificence,  the  king's  natural  inclinations  leading  him  to 
adopt  whatever  was  splendid  and  costly.  "  At  the  Christmas 
festivities  he  appeared  in  a  variety  of  most  costly  dresses,  of  a 
form  never  seen  before,  which  he  thought  displayed  his  person 
to  considerable  advantage  "  {Croyland  Chronicler).  Sir  Frederick 
Madden's  narrative  of  the  visit  of  the  Lord  of  Granthuse, 
Governor  of  Holland,  to  Edward,  in  1472,  paints  in  glowing 
colours  the  luxury  of  the  English  Court.  On  his  arrival  at 
Windsor  he  was  received  by  Lord  Hastings,  who  conducted 
him  to  the  chambers  of  the  King  and  Queen.  These  apartments 
were  richly  hung  "with  cloth  of  gold  arras.  When  he  had 
spoken  with  the  King,  who  presented  him  to  the  Queen's  Grace, 
the  Lord  Chamberlain,  Hastings,  was  ordered  to  conduct  him  to 
his  chamber,  where  supper  was  ready  for  him.  '*  After  he  had 
supped  the  King  had  him  brought  immediately  to  the  Queen's 
own  chamber,  where  she  and  her  ladies  were  playing  at  the 


88  CHRISTMAS. 

marteaux  [a  game  played  with  small  balls  of  different  colom-s]  ; 
and  some  of  her  ladies  were  playing  at  closhevs  [ninepins]  of 
ivory,  and  dancing,  and  some  at  divers  other  games  :  the  which 
sight  was  full  pleasant  to  them.  Also  the  King  danced  with  my 
Lady  Elizabeth,  his  eldest  daughter.  In  the  morning  when 
Matins  was  done,  the  King  heard,  in  his  own  chapel.  Our 
Lady-Mass,  w^iich  was  most  melodiously  chaunted,  the  Lord 
Granthuse  being  present.  When  the  Mass  was  done,  the  King 
gave  the  said  Lord  Granthuse  a  cup  of  gold,  garnished  with 
pearl.  In  the  midst  of  the  cup  was  a  great  piece  of  unicorn's 
horn,  to  my  estimation  seven  inches  in  compass  ;  and  on  the 
cover  of  the  cup  a  great  sapphire."  After  breakfast  the  King 
came  into  the  Quadrangle.  ''  My  Lord  Prince,  also,  borne  by 
his  Chamberlain,  called  Master  Vaughan,  which  bade  the  Lord 
of  Granthuse  welcome.  Then  the  King  had  him  and  all  his 
company  into  the  little  Park,  where  he  made  him  have  great 
sport  ;  and  there  the  King  made  him  ride  on  his  own  horse,  on 
a  right  fair  hobby,  the  which  the  King  gave  him."  The  King's 
dinner  was  "ordained"  in  the  Lodge,  Windsor  Park.  After 
dinner  they  hunted  again,  and  the  King  showed  his  guest  his 
garden  and  vineyard  of  pleasure.  Then  "  the  Queen  did  ordain 
a  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  at 
one  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  Berriers,  Chamberlain  to  the 
Queen,  the  son  of  Lord  Granthuse,  and  Master  George  Barthe, 
Secretary  to  the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  Louis  Stacy,  Usher  to  the 
Duke  of  Burgundy,  George  Martigny,  and  also  certain  nobles  of 
the  King's  own  court.  There  was  a  side  table,  at  which  sat 
a  great  view  (shoiv)  of  ladies,  all  on  the  one  side.  Also,  in  the 
outer  chamber,  sat  the  Queen's  gentlewomen,  all  on  one  side. 
And  on  the  other  side  of  the  table,  over  against  them,  as  many 
of  the  Lord  Granthuse's  servants,  as  touching  to  the  abundant 
welfare,  like  as  it  is  according  to  such  a  banquet.  And  when 
they  had  supped  my  Lady  Elizabeth,  the  King's  eldest  daughter, 
danced  with  the  Duke  of  Buckingham  and  divers  other  ladies 
also.  Then  about  nine  of  the  clock,  the  King  and  the  Queen, 
with  her  ladies  and  gentlewomen,  brought  the  said  Lord  of 
Granthuse  to  three  chambers  of  plesance,  all  hanged  with  white 
silk  and  linen  cloth,  and  all  the  floors  covered  with  carpets. 
There  was  ordained  a  bed  for  himself  of  as  good  down  as  could 
be  gotten.  The  sheets  of  Rennes  cloth  and  also  line  fustians  ; 
the  counterpane,  cloth  of  gold,  furred  with  ermines.  The  tester 
and  ceiler  also  shining  cloth  of  gold  ;  the  curtains  of  white 
sarcenet  ;  as  for  his  head-suit  and  pillows,  they  were  of  the 
Queen's  own  ordonnance.  In  the  second  chamber  was  likewise 
another  state-bed,  all  white.  Also,  in  the  same  chamber,  was 
made  a  couch  with  feather  beds,  and  hanged  with  a  tent,  knit 


TO   THE  END  OF   THE   WARS  OF   THE  ROSES.  89 

like  a  net,  and  there  was  a  cupboard.  In  the  third  chamber 
was  ordained  a  bayne  (balli)  or  two,  which  were  covered  with 
tents  of  white  cloth.  And,  when  the  King  and  the  Queen  with 
all  her  ladies  and  gentlemen  had  showed  him  these  chambers, 
they  turned  again  to  their  own  chambers,  and  left  the  said  Lord 
Granthuse  there,  accompanied  with  the  Lord  Chamberlain 
(Hastings),  who  undressed  him,  and  they  both  went  together 
to  the  bath. — And  when  they  had  been  in  their  baths  as  long  as 
was  their  pleasure,  they  had  green  ginger,  divers  syrups,  comhts, 
and  ipocras,  and  then  they  went  to  bed.  And  in  the  morning 
he  took  his  cup  with  the  King  and  Queen,  and  returned  to 
Westminster  again." 

In  1465  Edward  the  Fourth  and  his  Queen  kept  Christmas  in 
the  Abbey  at  Coventry,  and  for  six  days  (says  WiUiaiii  Wyixcster) 
"  the  Duke  of  Clarence  dissembled  there." 

In  1478  the  King  celebrated  the  Christmas  festival  at  West- 
minster with  great  pomp,  wearing  his  crown,  feasting  his  nobles, 
and  making  presents  to  his  household  ;  and  in  1482-3  he  kept  a 
splendid  Christmas  at  Eltham,  more  than  two  thousand  people 
being  fed  at  his  expense  every  dav.  Edward  almost  entirely 
rebuilt  Eltham  Palace,  of  which  the  hall  Vvas  the  noblest  part. 
In  that  hall  he  kept  the  Christmas  festival,  "  with  bountiful 
hospitality  for  high  and  low,  and  abundance  of  mirth  and 
sport." 

One  of  the  continental  visitors  who  participated  in  the  royal 
festivities  of  this  period  was  Leo  von  Rozmital,  brother  of 
George,  King  of  Bohemia.  His  retinue  included  Tetzel,  who, 
in  describing  the  Court  of  Edward  the  Fourth,  after  remarking 
upon  Edward's  own  handsome  person,  says,  "  The  king  has  the 
Hnest  set  of  courtiers  that  a  man  may  find  in  Christendom.  He 
invited  my  Lord  Leo  and  all  his  noble  companions,  and  gave 
them  a  very  costlv  feast,  and  also  he  gave  to  each  of  them  the 
medal  of  his  order,  to  every  knight  a  golden  one,  and  to  every 
one  who  was  not  a  knight  a  silver  one  ;  and  he  himself  hung 
them  upon  their  necks.  Another  day  the  king  called  us  to 
court.  In  the  morning  the  queen  (Elizabeth  W^oodville)  went 
from  child-bed  to  church  with  a  splendid  procession  of  many 
priests,  bearing  relics,  and  many  scholars,  all  singing,  and 
carrying  burning  candles.  Besides  there  was  a  great  company 
of  women  and  maidens  from  the  country  and  from  London,  who 
were  bidden  to  attend.  There  were  also  a  great  number  of 
trumpeters,  pipers,  and  other  players,  with  forty-two  of  the 
king's  singing  men,  who  sang  very  sweetly.  Also,  there  were 
four  and  twenty  heralds  and  pursuivants,  and  sixty  lords  and 
knights.  Then  came  the  queen,  led  by  two  dukes,  and  with 
a  canopy  borne  over  her.  Behind  her  followed  her  mother  and 
above  sixty  ladies  and  maidens.  Having  heard  the  service  sung, 
and  kneeled  down  in  the  church,  she  returned  with  the  same 
procession  to  her  palace.  Here  all  who  had  taken  part  in  the 
procession  were  invited  to  a  feast,  and  all  sat  down,  the  men 


90  CHRISTMAS. 

and  the  women,  the  clergy  and  the  laity,  each  in  his  rank,  tilling 
four  large  rooms.  Al'so,  the  king  invited  my  lord  and  all  his 
noble  attendants  to  the  table  where  he  usually  dined  with  his 
courtiers.  Aad  one  of  the  king's  greatest  lords  must  sit  at  the 
king's  table  upon  the  king's  stool,  in  the  place  of  the  king  ;  and 
my  lord  sat  at  the  same  table  only  two  steps  below^  him.  Then 
all  the  honours  which  were  due  to  the  king  had  to  be  paid  to 
the  lord  w^ho  sat  in  his  place,  and  also  to  my  lord  ;  and  it  is 
incredible  what  ceremonies  we  observed  there.  While  we  were 
eating,  the  king  was  making  presents  to  all  the  trumpeters, 
pipers,  players,  and  heralds  ;  to  the  last  alone  he  gave  four 
hundred  nobles,  and  every  one,  when  he  received  his  pay,  came 
to  the  tables  and  told  aloud  what  the  king  had  given  him. 
When  my  lord  had  done  eating,  he  was  conducted  into  a  costly 
ornamented  room,  where  the  queen  was  to  dine,  and  there  he 
was  seated  in  a  corner  that  he  might  see  all  the  expensive 
provisions.  The  queen  sat  down  on  a  golden  stool  alone  at  her 
table,  and  her  mother  and  the  queen's  sister  stood  far  below 
her.  And  when  the  queen  spoke  to  her  mother  or  to  the  king's 
sister,  they  kneeled  down  every  time  before  her,  and  remained 
kneeling  until  the  queen  drank  water.  And  all  her  ladies  and 
maids,  and  those  who  w^aited  upon  her,  even  great  lords,  had 
to  kneel  while  she  was  eating,  which  continued  three  hours  (!). 
After  dinner  there  was  dancing,  but  the  queen  remained  sitting 
upon  her  stool,  and  her  mother  kneeled  before  her.  The  king's 
sister  danced  with  two  dukes,  and  the  beautiful  dances  and 
reverences  performed  before  the  queen — the  like  I  have  never 
seen,  nor  such  beautiful  maidens.  Among  them  were  eight 
duchesses,  and  above  thirty  countesses  and  others,  all  daughters 
of  great  people.  After  the  dance  the  king's  singing  men  came 
in  and  sang.  When  the  king  heard  mass  sung  in  his  private 
chapel  my  lord  was  admitted  :  then  the  king  had  his  relics 
shown  to  us,  and  many  sacred  things  in  London.  Among  them 
we  saw  a  stone  from  the  Mount  of  Olives,  upon  which  there  is 
the  footprint  of  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lady's  girdle,  and  many  other 
relics." 

Cards  axd  other  Chkistm.\s  Diversions  ix  the  Fifteenth 

Century. 

The  amusements  of  the  people  in  the  fifteenth  century  are 
referred  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  ;  and 
as  that  Act  is  understood  to  have  been  called  for  bv  the  English 
manufacturers,  who  suffered  by  the  foreign  trade,  it  can  hardly 
be  doubted  that  cards  were  then  manufactured  in  England  on 
a  rather  extensive  scale.  Cards  had  then,  indeed,  evidentlv 
become  very  popular  in  England  ;  and  only  twentv  years 
afterwards  they  are  spoken  of  as  the  common  Christmas  game, 


TO    THE   EXl)   OF   THE    WARS  OF    THE   ROSES. 


91 


for  Margery  Paston  wrote  as  follows  to  her  husband,  John 
Paston,  on  the  24th  of  December  in  1483  : — ■'  Please  it  you  to 
weet  {know)  that  I  sent  your  eldest  son  John  to  my  Lady 
Morley,  to  have  knowledge  of  what  sports  were  used  in  her 
house  in  the  Christmas  next  following  after  the  decease  of  my 
lord  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,  and  canh — such 
disports  she  gave  her  folks  leave  to  play,  and  none  other.  .  .  . 
1  sent  your  younger  son  to  the  lady  Stapleton,  and  she  said 
according  to  my  lady  Morley's  saying  in  that,  and  as  she  had 
seen  used  in  places  of  worship  {gentlemen's  houses)  there  as  she 
had  been.'  .  .  .  After  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century,  cards 
came  into  very  general  use  ;  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  follow- 
ing century,  there  was  such  a  rage  for  card-playing,  that  an 
attempt  was  made  early  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  to  restrict 
their  use  by  law  to  the  period  of  Christmas.  When,  however, 
people  sat  down  to  dinner  at  noon,  and  had  no  other  occupation 
for  the  rest  of  the  day,  they  needed  amusement  of  some  sort 
to  pass  the  time  ;  and  a  poet  of  the  fifteenth  century  observes 
truly— 

'  A  man  may  dryfe  forthe  the  day  that  long  tyme  dwellis 
With  harpyng  and  pipyng,  and  other  mery  spellis, 
With  gle,  and  wyth  game.'  " 


LADY    MUSICIAN    OF    THE    I5TH    CENTURY. 


Another  book  well  known  to  bibliomaniacs  (''  Dives  and 
Pauper,"  ed.  W.  de  Worde,  1496)  says  :  "  For  to  represente  in 
playnge  at  Crystmasse  herodes  and  the  thre  kynges  and  other 
processes  of  the  gospelles  both  then  and  at  Ester  and  other 
tymes  also  it  is  lefuU  and  cOmendable." 


92  CHRISTMAS. 


RUSTIC    CHRISTMAS    MINSTREL   WITH    PIPE    AXD   TABOR. 


Edward  the  Fifth 

succeeded  his  father,  Edward  IV.,  in  the  dangerous  days  of 
1483.  He  was  at  Ludlow  when  his  father  died,  being  under  the 
guardianship  of  his  uncle,  Earl  Rivers,  and  attended  by  other 
members  of  the  Woodville  family.  Almost  immediately  he  set 
out  for  London,  but  when  he  reached  Stony  Stratford,  on  April 
29th,  he  was  met  by  his  uncle  Richard,  Duke  of  Gloucester, 
who  had  arrested  Lord  Rivers  and  Lord  Richard  Grey.  The 
young  king  (a  boy  of  thirteen)  renewed  his  journey  under 
Gloucester's  charge,  and  on  reaching  London  was  lodged  in 
the  Tower.  His  mother,  on  hearing  of  the  arrest  of  Rivers  and 
Grey,  had  taken  sanctuary  at  Westminster.  Lord  Hastings,  a 
supporter  of  the  king,  w^as  arrested  and  executed  because  he 
would  not  sanction  Gloucester's  nefarious  schemes  for  obtain- 
ing the  throne.  About  the  same  time  Rivers  and  Grey  were 
beheaded  at  Pontefract,  whither  they  had  been  taken  by 
Gloucester's  orders.  Soon  afterwards  the  Queen  was  compelled 
to  deliver  up  the  young  Duke  of  York  to  Richard,  who  sent  him 
to  join  his  brother  in  the  Tower.  On  June  22nd,  at  the  request 
of  Richard,  Dr.  Shaw,  brother  of  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London, 
delivered  a  sermon  at  St.  Paul's  Cross,  in  which  he  insisted  on 
the  illegitimacy  of  Edward  V.  and  his  brother.  On  June  25th 
a  deputation  .of  nobles  and  citizens  of  London  offered  the  crown 
to  Richard.  He  accepted  it,  and  began  to  reign  as  Richard  HL 
And,  according  to  a  confession  afterwards  made  by  Sir  James 
Tyrell,  one  of  Richard's  officers,  the  two  young  princes  remained 
in  the  Tower,  being  put  to  death  by  their  Uncle  Richard's 
orders.  Thus,  atrociously,  began  the  reign  of  the  murderous 
usurper, 


TO   THE   END   OF   THE    WARS  OF   THE   ROSES.  93 

Richard  the  Thh^d. 
The  King  kept  his  lirst  Christmas  at  Kenihvorth  Castle, 
having  previonsly  visited  the  city  of  Coventry,  at  the  festival 
of  Corpus  Clirisfi,  to  see  the  plays.  The  accounts  of  Kenihvorth 
Castle  show  that  in  1484  John  Beauhtz  was  paid  ^'20  '*  for 
divers  reparacions  made  in  the  Castell  of  Kyllingworth  "  by 
order  of  Richard  III.  At  this  time,  says  Philip  de  Comines, 
''he  was  reigning  in  greater  splendour  and  authority  than  any 
king  of  England  for  the  last  hundred  years."  The  following 
year  Richard  kept  Christmas  in  the  great  hall  at  Westminster, 
celebrating  the  festival  with  great  pomp  and  splendour,  en- 
couraging the  recreations  usual  at  the  season,  and  so  attentively 
observing  the  ancient  customs  that  a  warrant  is  entered  for  the 
payment  of  "  200  marks  for  certain  new  year's  gifts  bought 
against  the  feast  of  Christmas."  The  festivities  continued 
without  interruption  until  the  day  of  the  Epiphany,  when  they 
terminated  with  an  entertainment  of  extraordinary  magnificence 
given  by  the  monarch  to  his  nobles  in  Westminster  Hall — "  the 
King  himself  wearing  his  crown,"  are  the  words  of  the  Croyland 
historian,  "and  holding  a  splendid  feast  in  the  great  hall,  similar 
to  that  of  his  coronation."  "  Little  did  Richard  imagine  that 
this  would  be  the  last  feast  at  which  he  would  preside — the  last 
time  he  would  display  his  crown  in  peace  before  his  assembled 
peers." '  An  allusion  to  this  Christmas  festival,  and  to  the 
King's  wicked  nature,  is  contained  in  a  note  to  Bacon's  "  Life 
of  King  Henry  VH.,"  which  says  :  "  Richard's  wife  was  Anne, 
the  younger  daughter  of  Warwick  the  King-maker.  She  died 
i6th  March,  1485.  It  was  rumoured  that  her  death  was  by 
poison,  and  that  Richard  wished  to  marry  his  niece  Elizabeth 
of  York,  eldest  daughter  of  Edward  IV.  It  is  said  that  in  the 
festivities  of  the  previous  Christmas  the  Princess  Elizabeth  had 
been  dressed  in  robes  of  the  same  fashion  and  colour  as  those 
of  the  Queen.  Ratcliffe  and  Catesby,  the  King's  confidants,  are 
credited  with  having  represented  to  Richard  that  this  marriage 
of  so  near  a  kinswoman  would  be  an  object  of  horror  to  the 
people,  and  bring  on  him  the  condemnation  of  the  clergy." 

At  a  Christmas  festival  at  Rhedon,  in  Brittany,  Henry  of 
Richmond  met  English  exiles  to  the  number  of  500,  and  swore 
to  marry  Elizabeth  of  York  as  soon  as  he  should  subdue  the 
usurper  ;  and  thereupon  the  exiles  unanimously  agreed  to 
support  him  as  their  sovereign.  On  the  ist  of  August,  1485, 
Henry  set  sail  from  Harfieur  with  an  army  of  3,000  men,  and  a 
few  days  afterwards  landed  at  Milford  Haven.  He  was  received 
with  manifest  delight,  and  as  he  advanced  through  Wales  his 
forces  were  increased  to  upwards  of  6,000  men.  Before  the 
close  of  the  month  he  had  encountered  the  royal  army  and  slain 
the  King  at  Bosworth  Field,  and  by  this  memorable  victory  had 
terminated  the  terrible  Wars  of  the  Roses  and  introduced  into 
England  a  new  dynasty. 

'  Ilalstead's  "  Life  of  Richard  III." 


CHAPTER    VI. 

CHRISTMAS    UNDER    HENRY    VII.    AND 
HENRY    VIII. 

(1485-1547.) 

Henry  the  Seventh 

Was  the  son  of  Edmund  Tudor,  Earl  of  Richmond,  son  of 
Owen  Tudor,  a  Welsh  gentleman  who  had  man-ied  the  widow 
of  Henry  V.  His  mother,  Margaret,  was  a  great-granddaughter 
of  John  of  Gaunt  by  Catherine  Swynford.  In  early  life  Henry 
was  under  the  protection  of  Henry  \T.  ;  but  after  the  battle  of 
Tewkesbury  he  was  taken  by  his  uncle,  Jasper  Tudor,  Earl  of 
Pembroke,  to  Brittany  for  safety.  Edward  I\'.  made  several 
unsuccessful  attempts  to  get  him  into  his  power,  and  Richard 
III.  also  sent  spies  into  Brittany  to  ascertain  his  doings.  On 
Christmas  Day,  1483,  the  English  exiles,  who  gathered  round 
Henry  in  Brittany,  took  an  oath  in  the  Cathedral  of  Rheims  to 
support  him  in  ousting  Richard  and  succeeding  him  to  the 
English  throne.  Henry,  on  his  part,  agreed  to  reconcile  the 
contending  parties  by  marrying  Elizabeth  of  York,  eldest 
daughter  and  co-heir  of  Edward  IV.,  and  this  promise  he 
faithfully  kept.  After  his  defeat  of  Richard  the  Third  at 
Bosworth  he  assumed  the  royal  title,  advanced  to  London, 
and  had  himself  crowned  King  of  England  ;  and  at  the  follow- 
ing Christmas  festival  he  married  Elizabeth  of  York.  The 
Archbishop  who  married  them  (Archbishop  Bourchier)  had 
crowned  both  Richard  III.  and  Henry  VII.,  and  Fuller  c|uaintly 
describes  this  last  official  act  of  marrying  King  Henry  to  Eliza- 
beth of  York  as  the  holding  of  "the  posie  on  which  the  White 
Rose  and  the  Red  Rose  were  tied  together."  And  Bacon  says, 
''  the  so-long-expected  and  so-much-desired  marriage  between 
the  King  and  the  Lady  Elizabeth  was  celebrated  with  greater 
triumph  and  demonstrations,  especially  on  the  people's  part,  of 
joy  and  gladness,  than  the  days  either  of  his  entry  or  coro- 
nation." 

The  Christmas  festivities  were  attended  to  with   increasing 
zest  during  the   reign    of    Henry  VH.,  for   the    King   studied 

94 


CHRISTMAS    UNDER   HENRY   VII.   AND   HENRY   VIII.       95 

magnificence  quite  as  much  as  his  predecessors  had  done.     His 
riding   dress  was  "a  doublet   of  green  or  white  cloth  of  gold 
satin,  with  a  long  gown  of  purple  velvet,  furred  with  ermine, 
powdered,  open  at  the  sides,  and  purpled  with  ermine,  with  a 
rich  sarpe  (scarf)  and  garter."    His  horse  was  richly  caparisoned, 
and  bore  a  saddle  of  estate,  covered  with  gold.     His  Majesty 
was  attended  by  seven  henchmen,  clothed  in  doublets  of  crimson 
satin,  with  gowns  of  white  cloth  of  gold.     The  Queen  appeared 
with  equal  splendour,  **  wearing  a  round  circle  of  gold,  set  with 
pearls  and  precious  stones,  arrayed  in  a  kirtle  of  white  damask 
cloth  of  gold,  furred  with   miniver  pure,  garnished,  having  a 
train  of  the  same,  with  damask  cloth  of  gold,  furred  with  ermine, 
with  a  great  lace,  and  two  buttons  and  tassels  of  white  silk,  and 
gold  at  the  breast  above."     And  the  royal  apartments  were  kept 
with  great  splendour.     At  his  ninth  Christmas  festival  (Dec.  31, 
1494)  the  King  established  new  rules  for  the  government  of  the 
roval  household  (preserved  among  the  Harleian  MSS.),  which 
he  directed  should  be  kept  "  in   most  straightest  wise."     The 
Royal  Household  Book  of  the  period,  in  the  Chapter-house  at 
Westminster,  contains  numerous  disbursements  connected  with 
Christmas  diversions.     In  the  seventh  year  of  this  reign  is  a 
payment    to    Wat   Alyn    (Walter   Alwyn)  in    full   payment    for 
the  disguising  made  at  Christmas,  £is\.  13s.  4d.,  and  payments 
for  similar   purposes   occur  in    the  following   years.      Another 
book,  also  in  the  Chapter-house,  called  "  The  Kyng's  boke  of 
paymentis,"   contains  entries  of  various  sums  given  to  players 
and  others  who  assisted  to  amuse  the  King  at  Christmas,  and 
among  the  rest,  to  the  Lord  of  Misrule  (or  Abbot  as  he  is  some- 
times called),  for  several  years,  "  in  rewarde  for  Iris  besynes  in 
Crestenmes  holydays,  _^'6  13s.  4d."     The  plays  at  this  festival 
seem  to  have  been  acted   by  the    "  gentlemen    of   the    King's 
Chapell,"  as  there  are   several  liberal  payments   to   certain  of 
them    for    plaving   on  Twelfth  Night  ;    for  instance,  an    entry 
on    January    7th,    23    Henry    VH.,    of    a    reward    to    five    of 
them    of    £6    13s.   4d.,    for    acting    before    the     King   on    the 
previous  night  ;    but    there   was    a   distinct   set    of  players  for 
other   times. 

Leland,  speaking  of  1489,  says  :  "  This  Cristmas  I  saw  no  dis- 
gysyngs,  and  but  right  few  plays.  But  ther  was  an  Abbot  of 
Misrule,  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  dyvers 
pleyes." 

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

A  Christmas  Discovery  by  Christopher  Columbus. 

On  Christmas  Day,  1492,  Christopher  Columbus,  the  cele- 
brated Genoese  navigator,  landed   at  a  newly-discovered  port 


96  CHRISTMAS. 

in  Cuba,  which  he  named  Navidad,  because  he  landed  there 
on   Christmas    Day. 

The   Fire  at  the  Royal  Residence,  Shexe, 

was  the  event  of  Christmas,  1497.  It  broke  out  in  the  palace, 
on  the  evening  of  December  21st,  while  the  royal  family  were 
there,  and  for  three  hours  raged  fiercely,  destroying,  with  the 
fairest  portion  of  the  building,  the  rich  furniture,  beds,  tapestry, 
and  other  decorations  of  the  principal  chambers.  Fortunately 
an  alarm  was  given  in  time,  and  the  royal  and  noble  personages 
of  the  Court  escaped  to  a  place  of  safety.  In  conseeiuence  of 
this  iire  the  King  built  the  fine  new  palace  of  Richmond. 

Royal  Christmases 

were  kept  bv  Henry  VII.  at  Westminster  Hall  with  great  hos- 
pitality, the  King  wearing  his  crown,  and  feasting  numerous 
guests,  loading  the  banquet-table  with  peacocks,  swans,  herons, 
conger,  sturgeon,  brawn,  and  all  the  delicacies  of  the  period. 
At  iiis  ninth  Christmas  festival  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen  of 
London  were  feasted  with  great  splendour  at  Westminster, 
the  King  showing  them  various  sports  on  the  night  following 
in  the  great  hall,  which  was  richly  hung  with  tapestry  :  "  which 
sports  being  ended  ///  the  nioniiii^,  the  king,  queen,  and  court 
sat  down  at  a  table  of  stone,  to  120  dishes,  placed*  by  as  many 
knights  and  esquires,  while  the  Mayor  was  served  with  twenty- 
four  dishes  and  abundance  of  wine.  And  finally  the  King -and 
Queen  being  conveyed  with  great  lights  into  the  palace,  the 
Mayor,  with  his  company  iu  barges,  returned  to  London  by 
break  of  the   next  day.'' 

From  the  ancient  records  of  the  Royal  Household  it  appears 
that  on  the  morning  of  New  Year's  Day,  the  King  "  sitting  in  his 
foot-sheet,"  received  according  to  prescribed  ceremony  a  new- 
year's  gift  from  the  Queen,  duly  rewarding  the  various  officers 
and  messengers,  according  to  their  rank.  The  Queen  also  "  sat 
in  her  foot-sheet,"  and  received  gifts  in  the  same  manner, 
paying  a  less  reward.  And  on  this  day,  as  well  as  on  Christ- 
mas Day,  the  King  wore  his  kirtle,  his  surcoat  and  his  pane 
of  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  who 
wore  robes,  who  must  follow  the  King.  The  highest  nobleman 
in  rank,  or  the  King's  brother,  if  present,  to  lead  the  Queen  ; 
another  of  the  King's  brothers,  or  else  the  Prince,  to  walk  with 
the  King's  train-bearer.  On  Tw^elfth  Day  the  King  was  to  go 
"  crowned,  in  his  royal  robes,  kirtle,  and  surcoat,  his  furred  hood 
about  his  neck,  and  his  ermines  upon  his  arms,  of  gold  set  full  of 
rich  stones  with  balasses,  sapphires,  rubies,  emeralds,  and  pearls." 
This  ornament  was  considered  so  sacred,  that  "  no  temporal 
man  "  (none  of  the  laity)  but  the  King  was  to  presume  to  touch 


CHRISTMAS    UNDER   HENRY   VII.  AND    HENRY    VIII.       97 

it  ;  an  esquire  of  the  body  was  to  brin^  it  in  a  fair  handkerchief, 
and  the  King  was  to  put  it  on  with  his  own  hands  ;  he  must  also 
have  his  sceptre  in  his  right  hand,  the  ball  with  the  cross  in  his 
left  hand,  and  must  offer  at  the  altar  gold,  silver,  and  incense, 
which  offering  the  Dean  of  the  Chapel  w'as  to  send  to  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  this  was  to  entitle  the  Dean  to 
the  next  vacant  benefice.  The  King  was  to  change  his  mantle 
when  going  to  meat,  and  to  take  oft'  his  hood  and  lay  it  about 
his  neck,  "  clasping  it  before  with  a  rich  ozvclic."  The  King  and 
the  Queen  on  Twelfth  Night  were  to  take  the  void  (evening 
repast)  in  the  hall  ;  as  for  the  wassail,  the  steward  and  treasurer 
were  to  go  for  it,  bearing  their  staves  ;  the  chapel  choir  to  stand 
on  the  side  of  the  hall,  and  when  the  steward  entered  at  the  hall 
door  he  was  to  cry  three  times,  "  Wassail  !  Wassail  !  Wassail  !  " 
and  the  chapel  to  answer  with  a  good  song  ;  and  when  all  was 
done  the  King  and  Queen  retired  to  their  chamber. 

Among  the  special  features  of  the  banquets  of  this  period 
were  the  devices  for  the  table  called  subtleties,  made 
of  paste,  jelly,  or  blanc-mange,  placed  in  the  middle  of 
the  board,  with  labels  describing  them  ;  various  shapes 
of  animals  were  frequent  ;  and  on  a  saint's  day, 
angels,  prophets,  and  patriarchs  were  set  upon  the  table  in 
plenty.  Certain  dishes  were  also  directed  as  proper  for 
dift'erent  degrees  of  persons  ;  as  "  conies  parboiled,  or  else 
rabbits,  for  they  are  better  for  a  lord "  ;  and  "  for  a  great 
lord  take  squirrels,  for  they  are  better  than  conies  "  ;  a  whole 
chicken  for  a  lord;  and  "seven  mackerel  in  a  dish,  with  a 
dragge  of  fine  sugar,"  was  also  a  dish  for  a  lord.  But  the 
most  famous  dish  was  "  the  peacock  enkakyll,  which  is  foremost 
in  the  procession  to  the  king's  table."  Here  is  the  recipe  for 
this  royal  dish  :  Take  and  flay  oft'  the  skin  with  the  feathers,  tail, 
and  the  neck  and  head  thereon  ;  then  take  the  skin,  and  all  the 
feathers,  and  lay  it  on  the  table  abroad,  and  strew  thereon 
ground  cinnamon  ;  then  take  the  peacock  and  roast  him,  and 
baste  him  with  raw  yolks  of  eggs  ;  and  when  he  is  roasted,  take 
him  oft',  and  let  him  cool  awhile,  and  take  him  and  sew  him  in 
his  skin,  and  gild  his  comb,  and  so  serve  him  with  the  last 
course. 

Card-Playing  was  Forbidden  except  at  Christmas, 

by  a  statute  passed  in  the  reign  of  Henry  YII.  A  Scotch 
writer,'  referring  to  this  prohibition,  says  :  "A  universal  Christ- 
mas custom  of  the  olden  time  was  playing  at  cards  ;  persons 
who  never  touched  a  card  at  any  other  season  of  the  year  felt 
bound  to  play  a  few  games  at  Christmas.  The  practice  had 
even  the  sanction  of  the  law.  A  prohibitory  statute  of  Henry 
VII.'s  reign,  forbade  card-plaving  save  during  the  Christmas 
holidays.  Of  course,  this  prohibition  extended  only  to  persons 
of    humble    rank  ;    Henry's    daughter,  the    Princess    Mai-garet, 

'    "  Book  of  Days."  Fdinbnrah, - 


THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC   LIBRARY 

ClRCULAriON   DcPARTMENT 
NATHAN  STRAUS  BRANCH  348  EAST  32ni  STREET 


98 


CHRISTMAS. 


played  cards  with  her  suitor,  James  IV.  of  Scotland  ;  and 
James  himself  kept  up  the  custom,  receiving  from  his  treasurer, 
at  Melrose,  on  Christmas  Night,  1496,  thirty-five  unicorns,  eleven 
French  crowns,  a  ducat,  a  ridarc,  and  a  /<!//,  in  all  about  equal  to 
£j^2  of  modern  money,  to  use  at  the  card-table."  Now,  as  the 
Scottish  king  was  not  married  to  the  English  princess  until 
1503,  it  is  quite  clear  that  he  had  learned  to  play  cards 
long  before  his  courtship  with  Margaret  ;  for  in  1496,  when 
he  received  so  much  card-money  from  his  treasurer,  the  English 
princess  was  but  seven  years  of  age.  James  had  evidently 
learned  to  play  at  cards  with  the  Scottish  barons  who  fre- 
quented his  father's  Court,  and  whose  lawlessness  led  to  the 
revolt  which  ended  in  the  defeat  and  melancholy  fate  of 
James  III.  (1488),  and  gave  the  succession  to  his  son,  James 
IV.,  at  the  early  age  of  fifteen  years.  The  no  less  tragic  end 
of  James  IV.  at  Flodden  Field,  in  1513,  is  strikingly  depicted  by 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  who  tells  : — 

"  Of  the  stern  strife,  and  carnage  drear, 
Of  Flodden's  fatal  field, 
Where  shiver'd  was  fair  Scotland's  spear, 
And  broken  was  her  shield." 


The  Reigx  of  Hexky  the  Eighth. 

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

Royal  Christmas  at  Richmond, 

with  great  niagiiiiicence.     Proclaimed  king  on  the  22nd  of  April 
at  the   age  of    eighteen,  and   married  on  the   3rd  of   June    to 


CHRISTMAS   UNDER   HENRY   VII.   AND   HENRY   VIII.      99 

Katherine  of  Arra^^on,  widow  of  his  deceased  brother  Arthur, 
Prince  of  Wales,  the  youthful  Monarch  and  his  Queen  were 
afterwards  crowned  at  Westminster  Abbey  by  the  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  and  spent  the  hrst  Christmas  of  their  wedded 
life  at  Richmond.  "  And  a  very  pleasant  time  it  ought  to  have 
been  to  the  Queen,  for  every  species  of  entertainment  was  there 
got  up  by  the  handsome  young  king  and  his  gallant  company  of 
courtiers,  for  her  particular  gratification.  There  was  a  grand 
tournament  on  the  green,  before  the  palace,  which  was  rendered 
brilliant  with  pavilions,  and  the  other  gay  structures  always 
erected  for  these  chivalrous  ceremonies.  The  King  and  Queen 
took  their  places  in  the  customary  elevated  position,  surrounded 
bv  the  nobles  and  beauties  of  the  Court,  to  witness  the  feats  of 
arms  of  the  many  gallant  knights  who  had  thronged  to  display 
their  prowess  before  their  sovereign  ;  these,  with  their  esquires, 
the  heralds,  pages,  and  other  attenclants,  mounted  and  on  foot, 
clad  in  their  gay  apparel,  the  knights  wearing  handsome  suits 
of  armour,  and  careering  on  gaily  caparisoned  horses,  made  a 
very  inspiriting  scene,  in  which  the  interest  deepened  when  the 
usual  combats  between  individuals  or  select  companies  com- 
menced." ' 

"  For  every  knight  that  loved  chivalry, 

And  would  his  thanks  have  a  passant  name, 
Hath  prayed  that  he  might  be  of  that  game, 
And  well  was  him  that  thereto  chosen  was."^ 

The  spectacle  presented  was  one  of  great  splendour  ;  for  "  the 
commencement  of  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  who  was  then 
styled  by  his  loving  subjects  *  the  rose  without  a  thorn,'  wit- 
nessed a  remarkable  revival  of  magnilicence  in  personal 
decoration.  So  brilliant  were  the  dresses  of  both  sexes  at 
the  grand  entertainment  over  which  the  King  and  Queen 
presided  at  Richmond,  that  it  is  difficult  to  convey  an  adequate 
idea  of  their  splendour.  But  in  the  first  half  of  the  sixteenth 
century  the  principal  Courts  of  Europe  were  distinguished  by  a 
similar  love  of  display,  which,  thotigh  it  fostered  habits  of 
luxury,  afforded  an  extraordinary  impulse  towards  art."  3  In 
England  the  love  of  hnery  became  so  general  among  the  people 
that  several  stattites  were  passed  during  Henry's  reign  to  restrain 
it.  But  while  the  King  was  quite  willing  that  his  subjects  should 
observe  due  propriety  in  regard  to  their  own  dress  and  adorn- 
ments, not  exceeding  the  regulations  laid  down  for  their 
particular  rank  or  station  in  life,  he  was  lavish  in  his  own 
expenditure,  and  it  pleased  the  people  to  see  Henry  dressed 
in  kingly  fashion.  He  greatly  increased  his  own  popularity  by 
taking  part  in  the  tournaments,  in  which  "  he  did  exceedingly 
well  "  ;  and  he  also  assisted  in  the  several  curious  and  pictu- 
resque masques  of  Christmastide. 

'  Williams's  "  Domestic  Memoirs  of  the  Royal  Family  and  of  the  Court  of 
England." 
-  Chaucer.  3  "  William's  Domestic  Memoirs." 


loo  CHRISTMAS. 

On  one  occasion  the  King  with  some  of  the  chief  nobles  of 
his  Conrt  appeared  apparehed  as  Robin  Hood  and  his  foresters, 
in  which  disgnise  he  entered  unexpectedly  into  the  Queen's 
chamber,  "  whereat,"  says  Holinshed,  ''  the  Queen  and  her 
ladies  were  greatly  amazed,  as  w^ell  for  the  strange  sight  as 
for  the  sudden  appearance." 

The  splendour  of  the  Court  festivities  necessitated 

Inxreased  Expenditure  for  Christmas-Keeping, 

notwithstanding  that  the  King's  domestic  affairs  were  managed 
by  "  a  good  number  of  honourable,  virtuous,  wise,  expert,  and 
discreet  persons  of  his  Council."  The  preserved  bills  of  fare 
show  that  the  Court  diet  was  liberal  generally,  but  especially 
sumptuous  at  the  grand  entertainments  of  Christmas.  And  the 
Royal  Household  Accounts  also  show  increased  expenditure  for 
the  diversions,  as  well  as  for  the  banquetings,  of  the  festival. 
For  instance,  the  payments  to  the  Lord  of  Misrule,  which  in 
Henry  the  Seventh's  time  never  exceeded  £6  13s.  4d.,  were 
raised  by  Henry  the  Eighth  in  his  first  year  to  _^8  6s.  8d.,  and 
subsequently  to  ^^15  6s.  8d.  In  the  lirst  year  is  a  payment  to 
**  Rob  Amadas  upon  his  bill  for  certain  plate  of  gold  stuf  bought 
of  him  for  the  disguisings,"  ^451  12s.  2d.  ;  and  another  to 
"  Willm.  Buttry  upon  his  bill  for  certen  sylks  bought  of  hmi  for 
the  disguisings,"  ^133  7s.  5d.  In  the  sixth  year  are  charges 
"  To  Leonard  Friscobald  for  diverse  velvets,  and  other  sylks,  for 
the  disguising,"  ^247  12s.  7d.  ;  and  "To  Richard  Gybson  for 
certen  apparell,  &c.,  for  the  disguysing  at  the  fest  of  Cristemes 
last,"  ;^i37  14s.  ^d.  Considerable  payments  are  made  to  the 
same  Gybson  in  after  years  for  the  same  purpose,  particularly  in 
the  eleventh,  for  revels,  called  a  Maskelyn.  In  the  tenth  year 
large  rewards  were  given  to  the  gentlemen  and  children  of  the 
King's  Chapel  ;  the  former  having  ^13  6s.  8d.  "for  their  good 
attendance  in  Xtemas  "  ;  and  "  Mr.  Cornisse  for  pla^^ng  affore 
the  King  opon  newyeres  day  at  nyght  with  the  children," 
£6   135.^  4d. 

Hall,  in  his  Chronicle,  Henry  VIII.  folio  15b,  i6a,  gives  the 
following  account  of  a 

Royal  Masquerade  at  Greenwich, 

where  the  King  w'as  keeping  his  Christmas  in  1512  :  "On  the 
dale  of  the  Epiphanie,  at  night,  the  King  with  XI  others,  wer 
disguised  after  the  maner  of  Italic,  called  a  maske,  a  thing  not 
seen  afore  in  England  ;  thei  were  appareled  in  garments  long 
and  brode,  wrought  all  with  gold,  with  visers  and  cappes  of 
gold  ;  and  after  the  banket  doen,  these  maskers  came  in  with 
six  gentlemen  disguised  in  silke,  bearing  staffe  torches,  and 
desired  the  ladies  to  daunce  :  some  were  content,  and  some  that 
new    the    fashion    of   it    refused,    because    it    was  a  thing  not 


CHRISTMAS   UNDER  HENRY   VII.   AND  HENRY   VIII.     loi 

commonly  seen.  And  after  thei  daunced  and  communed 
toL,fether,  as  the  fashion  of  the  maske  is,  thei  tooke  their  leave 
and  departed,  and  so  did  the  quene  and  all  the  ladies." 

In  1521  the  King  kept  his  Christmas  at  Greenwich  *' with 
great  nobleness  and  open  court,"  and  again  in  1525.  In  1527, 
he  received  the  French  Embassy  here,  and  also  kept  his 
Christmas  "  with  revels,  masks,  disguisings,  and  banquets 
royal  ;  "  as  he  did  again  in  1533,  in  1537,  and  in  1543  ;  the  last- 
mentioned  year  "  he  entertained  twenty-one  of  the  Scottish 
nobility  whom  he  had  taken  prisoners  at  Salom  Moss,  and  gave 
them  their  liberty  without  ransom."  ' 

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

The  King's  Tournamext  Displays. 

To  these  splendid  exercises  Henry  gave  unremitting  atten- 
tion, and  not  to  display  proficiency  in  them  was  almost  to  lose 
his  favour  ;  yet  some  discretion  was  required  to  rival,  but  not 
to  excel  the  King,  whose  ardent  temper  could  not  brook 
superiority  in  another.  But,  although  victory  was  always 
reserved  for  royalty,  it  is  but  fair  to  allow  that  the  King  was 
no  mean  adept  in  those  pursuits  for  which  his  bodily  powers 
and  frequent  exercise  had  qualified  him. 

Among  the  most  distinguished  Knights  of  Henry's  Court 
Charles  Brandon  was  pre-eminent,  not  only  for  his  personal 
beauty  and  the  elegance  that  attended  every  movement  which 
the  various  evolutions  of  the  game  required,  but  for  his  courage, 
judgment,  and  skill,  qualities  which  he  displayed  to  great 
advantage  at  the  royal  festivities.  This  celebrated  man  was 
the  son  of  Sir  William  Brandon,  who,  bearing  the  standard  of 
Henry  the  Seventh,  w'as  slain  by  Richard  the  Third  at  Bosworth 
Field.  Three  sons  of  the  Howard  family  were  also  distinguished 
at  the  royal  tournaments.  Lord  Thomas  Howard  was  one  of 
the  most  promising  warriors,  and,  unfortunately,  one  of  the 
most  dissolute  men  at  the  Court  of  Henry.  Sir  Edward  and 
Sir  Edmund  Howard,  the  one  famed  for  naval  exploits,  the 
other  less  remarkable,  but  not  without  celebrity  for  courage. 
Sir  Thomas  Knevet,  Master  of  the  Horse,  and  Lord  Neville, 
brother  to  the  Marejuis  of  Dorset,  were  also  prominent  in  the 
lists  of  combat.  The  trumpets  blew  to  the  field  the  fresh, 
young  gallants  and  noblemen,  gorgeously  apparelled  with 
curious  devices  of  arts  and  of  embroideries,  "  as  well  in  their 
coats  as  in  trappers  for  their  horses  ;  some  in  gold,  some  in 
silver,  some  in  tinsel,  and  divers  others  in  goldsmith's  work 
goodly  to  behold."  Such  was  the  array  in  which  the  young 
knights  came  forth  at  Richmond,  in  the  splendid  tournament 
which  immediately  succeeded   Henry's   coronation,    "  assuming 

'  Nichols's  "  Progresses  of  Queen  Elizabeth." 


102  CHRISTMAS. 

the  name  and  devices  of  the  knii^hts  or  scliolars  of  Pallas, 
clothed  in  garments  of  green  velvet,  carrying  a  crystal  shield, 
on  which  was  pourtrayed  the  goddess  Minerva,  and  had  the 
bases  and  barbs  of  their  horses  embroidered  with  roses  and 
pomegranates  of  gold  ;  those  of  Diana  were  decorated  with  the 
bramble-bush,  displayed  in  a  similar  manner.  The  prize  of 
valour  was  the  crystal  shield.  Between  the  lists  the  spectators 
were  amused  with  a  pageant,  representing  a  park  enclosed  with 
pales,  containing  fallow  deer,  and  attended  by  foresters  and 
huntsmen.  The  park  being  moved  towards  the  place  where  the 
queen  sat,  the  gates  were  opened,  the  deer  were  let  out, 
pursued  by  greyhounds,  kiJled  and  presented  by  Diana's 
champions  to  the  Queen  and  the  ladies.  Thus  were  they 
included  in  the  amusement,  not  only  as  observers,  but  as 
participators  ;  nor  were  the  populace  without  their  share  of 
enjoyments  ;  streams  of  Rhenish  wine  and  of  claret,  which 
Howed  from  the  mouths  of  animals  sculptured  in  stone  and 
wood,  were  appropriated  to  their  refreshment.  Night  closed 
on  the  joyous  scene  ;  but  before  its  approach  the  King,  perceiv- 
ing that  the  ardour  of  the  combatants  had  become  intemperate 
and  dangerous,  wisely  limited  the  nuniber  of  strokes,  and  closed 
the  tourney. 

"  It  was  about  this  period  that  the  tournament  ceased  to  be 
merely  a  chivalric  combat  ;  and,  united  with  the  pageant, 
acquired  more  of  the  dramatic  character.  The  pageant  con- 
sisted of  a  temporary  building,  moved  on  biers,  generally 
representing  castles,  rocks,  mountains,  palaces,  gardens,  or 
forests.  The  decoration  of  these  ambulating  scenes  was 
attended  with  considerable  expense,  but  was  seldom  conducted 
with  taste  or  consistency.  They  generally  contained  hgures, 
personating  a  curious  medley  of  nymphs,  savages,  heathen 
gods,  and  Christian  saints,  giants  and  the  nine  worthies,  who 
descended  and   danced  among  the  spectators. 

"  On  the  night  of  the  Epiphany  (1516)  a  pageant  was  intro- 
duced into  the  hall  at  Richmond,  representing  a  hill  studded 
with  gold  and  precious  stones,  and  having  on  its  summit  a  tree 
of  gold,  from  which  hung  roses  and  pomegranates.  From  the 
declivity  of  the  hill  descended  a  lady  richlv  attired,  who,  with 
the  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,  an 
artificial  forest  was  drawn  in  by  a  lion  and  an  antelope,  the 
hides  of  which  were  richly  embroidered  with  golden  orna- 
ments ;  the  animals  were  harnessed  with  chains  of  gold,  and  on 
each  sat  a  fair  damsel  in  gay  apparel.  In  the  midst  of  the 
forest,  which  was  thus  introduced,  appeared  a  gilded  tower, 
at  the  gates  of  which  stood  a  youth,  holding  in  his  hands  a 
garland  of  roses,  as  the  prize  of  valour  in  a  tournament  which . 
succeeded  the  pageant."' 

'  "  Recollections  of  Royalty,"  by  Mr.  Charles  C.  Jones,  1828. 


CHRISTMAS   UNDER  HENRY  Vtl.   AND  HENRY  Vlll.     103 

Christmas  Festivities  of  Noblemex  and  Others. 

The  royal  magnificenct;  was  imitated  by  the  nobility  and 
gentry  of  the  period,  who  kept  the  Christmas  festival  with  much 
display  and  prodigality,  maintaining  such  numerous  retinues  as 
to  constitute  a  miniature  court.  The  various  household  books 
that  still  exist  show  the  state  in  which  thev  lived.  From  that 
of  the  Northumberland  family  (15 12),  it  appears  that  the 
"  Almonar "  was  often  "a  maker  of  Interludys,"  and  had  "a 
servaunt  to  the  intent  for  writynge  the  parts."  The  persons  on 
the  establishment  of  the  Chapel  performed  plays  from  some 
sacred  subject  during  Christmas  ;  as  "  My  lorde  usith  and 
accustomyth  to  gyf  yerely,  if  his  lordship  kepe  a  chapell  and  be 
at  home,  them  of  his  lorclschipes  chapell,  if  they  doo  play  the 
Play  of  the  Nativitie  uppon  Cristynmes  day  in  the  mornnynge 
in  my  lords  chapell  befor  his  lordship,  xxs."  Other  players 
were  also  permitted  and  encouraged,  and  a  Master  of  the 
Revells  appointed  to  superintend.  And  "  My  lorde  useth  and 
accustomyth  yerly  to  gyf  hym  which  is  ordynede  to  be  Master 
of  the  Revells  yerly  in  my  lordis  hous  in  Cristmas  for  the 
overseyinge  and  orderinge  of  his  lordschips  Playes,  Interludes, 
and  Dresinge  that  is  plaid  befor  his  lordship  in  his  hous  in  the 
XII  dayes  of  Christenmas,  and  they  to  have  in  rewarde  for  that 
cans  yerly,  xxs."  Another  entry  shows  that  13s.  4d.  was  the 
price  paid  to  the  chaplain,  William  Peres,  iii  the  17th  Henry 
VIII.,  "for  makyng  an  Enterlued  to  be  playd  this  ne.xt 
Christenmas." 

In  this  reign  the  working  classes  were  allowed  greater 
privileges  at  Christmas  than  at  any  other  part  of  the  year. 
The  Act  of  II  Henry  VII.  c.  2,  against  unlawful  games,  ex- 
pressly forbids  Artihcers,  Labourers,  Servants,  or  Apprentices, 
to  play  at  any  such  games,  except  at  Christmas,  and  then  only 
in  their  masters'  houses  by  the  permission  of  the  latter  ;  and  a 
penalty  of  6s.  8d.  was  incurred  by  any  householder  allowing 
such  games,  except  during  those  holidays  ;  which,  according  to 
Stow,  extended  from  All-hallows  evening  to  the  day  after 
Candlemas  Day.  The  Act  of  33  Henry  VIII.  c.  9,  enacts  more 
particularly,  "  That  no  manner  of  Artihcer  or  Craftsman  of  any 
handicraft  or  occupation.  Husbandman,  Apprentice,  Labourer, 
Servant  at  husbandry.  Journeyman,  or  S;:;rvant  of  Artificer, 
Mariners,  Fishermen,  Watermen,  or  any  Serving-man,  shall 
from  the  said  feast  of  the  Nativity  of  St.  ^ohn  Baptist^  play  at 
the  Tables,  Tennis,  Dice,  Cards,  Bowls,  Clash,  Coyting,  Lega- 
ting, or  any  other  unlawful  Game,  out  of  Cliristiiias,  under  the 
pain  of  xxs.  to  be  forfeit  for  every  time  ;  and  in  Christinas  to 
play  at  any  of  the  said  Games  in  their  Masters'  houses,  or  in 
their  Masters'  presence." 

In  his  description  of  the  "  mummings  and  masquerades  "  of  this 
period,   Strutt  ^   says  that  the  "mummeries"  practised  by  the 

'  "  Sports  and  Pastimes." 


104  CHRISTMAS. 

lower  classes  of  the  people  usually  took  place  at  the  Christmas 
holidays  ;  and  such  persons  as  could  not  procure  masks  rubbed 
their  faces  over  with  soot,  or  painted  them  ;  hence  Sebastian 
Brant,  in  his  "  Ship  of  Fools  "  (translated  by  Alexander  Barclay, 
and  printed  by  Pynson,  in  1508)  alluding  to  this  custom, says:  " ' 

"  The  one  hath  a  visor  ugley  set  on  his  face, 
Another  hath  on  a  vile  counterfaite  vesture, 
Or  painteth  his  visage  with  fume  in  such  case, 
That  what  he  is,  himself  is  scantily  sure. " 

Sandys, I  in  reference  to  this  period,  says  :  "  The  lower  classes, 
still  practising  the  ceremonies  and  superstitions  of  their  fore- 
fathers, added  to  them  some  imitations  of  the  revelries  of  their 
superiors,  but,  as  may  be  supposed,  of  a  grosser  description  ;  and 
many  abuses  were  committed.  It  was,  therefore,  found  necessary 
by  an  Act  passed  in  the  3rd  year  of  Henrv  VIII.  to  order  that  no 
person  should  appear  abroad  like  mummers,  covering  their  faces 
with  vizors,  and  in  disguised  apparel,  under  pain  of  three  months' 
imprisonment  ;  and  a  penalty  of  20s.  was  declared  against  such 
as  kept  vizors  in  their  house  for  the  purpose  of  mumming.  It 
was  not  intended,  however,  to  debar  people  from  proper  recrea- 
tions during  this  season,  but,  on  the  contrary,  we  have  reason  to 
believe  that  many  indulgencies  were  afforded  them,  and  that 
landlords  and  masters  assisted  them  with  the  means  of  enjoyiufT 
the  customary  festivities  ;  listening  to  their  tales  of  legendary 
lore,  round  the  yule  block,  when  wearv  of  more  boisterous 
sports,  and  encouraging  them  by  their  presence." 

King  Hexry  VIII. 's  "  Still  Christmas." 
In  the  17th  year  of  his  reign,  in  consequence  of  the  prevalence 
of  the  plague  in  London,  the  King  kept  his  Christmas  quietlv 
in  the  old.  palace  at  Eltham,  whence  it  was  called  the  "  still 
Christmas."  This  suppression  of  the  mirth  and  jollity  which 
were  the  usual  concomitants  of  the  festive  season  did  no^t  satistv 
tiie  haughty  Cardinal  Wolsey,  who  "  laye  at  the  IManor  Jf 
Richemond,  and  there  kept  open  householde,  to  lordes,  ladies, 
and  all  other  that  would  come,  with  plaies  and  disguisyng  in 
most  royall  maner  ;  whiche  sore  greved  the  people,  and  in 
especiall  the  Kynges  servauntes,  to  se  hvm  kepe  an  open  Court 
and  the  Kyng  a  secret  Court."  ^ 

The  Royal  Christmases 

subsequently  kept,  however,  made  amends  for  the  cessation  of 
festivities  at  the  Kyng's  "  Still  Christmas,"  especially  the  royal 
celebrations  at  Greenwich.  In  1527  the  "  solemne  Christmas" 
held  there  was  "  wath  revels,  maskes,  disguisings,  and  banquets  • 
and  on  the  thirtieth  of  December  and  the  third  of  January  were 
solemne  Justs  holden,  when  at  night  the  King  and  fifteen  other 

'  Introduction  to  "Christmas  Carols."  =  Hall's  "Chronicle." 


CHRISTMAS   LWD£i?   HENRY   VI 1.   AND   HENRY   MIL     105 

with  him,  came  to  Bridewell,  and  there  putting  on  masking 
apparell,  took  his  barge,  and  rowed  to  the  Cardinall's  (Woolsey) 
place,  where  were  at  supper  many  Lords  and  Ladyes,  who 
danced  with  the  maskers,  and  after  the  dancing  was  made 
a  great  Banquet."  ' 

During  the  girlhood  of  the  Princess  (afterwards  Queen)  Marv, 
entertainments  were  given  for  her  amusement,  especially  at 
Christmastide  ;  and  she  gave  presents  to  the  King's  players,  the 
children  of  the  Chapel,  and  others.  But,  Sandys  says,  that  "as 
she  grew  up,  and  her  temper  got  soured,  she  probably  lost  all 
enjoyment  of  such  scenes."  Ellis,  in  his  *'  Original  Letters," 
gives  a  curious  application  from  the  Council  for  the  household 
of  the  Lady  Mary  to  the  Cardinal  Wolsey,  to  obtain  his  direc- 
tions and  leave  to  celebrate  the  ensuing  Christmas.  In  this 
letter  the  reader  is  reminded  of  the  long  train  of  sports  and 
merriment  which  made  Christmas  cheerful  to  our  ancestors. 
The  Cardinal,  at  the  same  time  that  he  established  a  household 
for  the  young  Duke  of  Richmond,  had  also  "  ordained  a  council, 
and  stablished  another  household  for  the  Lady  Mary,  then 
being  Princess  of  the  Realm."  ^  The  letter  which  seems  to  have 
been  written  in  the  same  year  in  which  the  household  was 
established,  1525,  is  as  follows  : — 

"  Please  it  youre  Grace  for  the  great  repaire  of  straungers  sup- 
posed unto  the  Pryncesse  honorable  householde  this  solempne 
test  of  Cristmas,  We  humbly  beseche  the  same  to  let  us  knowe 
youre  gracious  pleasure  concernyng  as  well  a  ship  of  silver  for 
the  almes  disshe  requysite  for  her  high  estate,  and  spice  plats, 
as  also  for  trumpetts  and  a  rebek  to  be  sent,  and  whither  we 
shall  appoynte  any  Lord  of  Mysrule  for  the  said  honorable 
householde,  provide  for  enterluds,  disgysyngs,  or  pleyes  in  the 
said  fest,  or  for  banket  on  twelf  nvght.  And  in  likewise  whither 
the'  Pryncesse  shall  sende  any  newe  yeres  gifts  to  the  Kinge,  the 
Queue,  your  Grace,  and  the  Frensshe  Queue,  and  of  the  value 
and  devise  of  the  same.  Besechyng  yowre  Grace  also  to  pardon 
oure  busy  and  importunate  suts  to  the  same  in  suche  behalf 
made.  Thus  oure  right  syngler  goode  lorde  we  pray  the  holy 
Trynyte  have  you  in  his  holy  preservacion.  At  Teoxbiuy,  the 
xxvij  day  of  November. 

Youre  humble  orators, 
John  Exon 

"  To  the  most  reverent  Father  Jeilez  Grevile 

in  God  the  Lord  Cardinall  Peter  Burxell 

his  good  Grace."  John  Salter 

G.  Bromley 
THO^L\s  Audeley." 

CHRIST^LA.S    AXI)    THE    KeFORM.ATIOX. 

The  great  Reformer,  Martin  Luther,  took  much  interest  in 
the    festivities    of    Christmastide,    including,     of    course,    the 

'  Baker's  "  Chronicle."  ^  Hall's  "  Chronicle." 


io6 


CHRISTMAS. 


Christmas-tree.     One    of    his    biographers '    tells    how   young 
Luther,  with  other  boys  of  Mansfeld,  a  village  to  the  north-west 


MARTIN    LUTHER   AND   THE   CHRISTMAS   TREE. 


of  Eisleben,  sang  Christmas  carols  "  in  honour  of  the  Babe  of 
Bethlehem."  And  the  same  writer  says,  *'  Luther  may  be  justly 
regarded  as  the  central  representative  of  the  Reformation  in  its 
early  period,  for  this  among  other  reasons — that  he,  more 
powerfully  _  than  any  other,  impressed  upon  the  new  doctrine 
the  character  of  glad  tidings  of  great  joy."  On  Christmas  Day, 
1521,  Martin  Luther  "administered  the  communion  in  both 
kinds,  and  almost  without  discrimination  of  applicants,"  in  the 
parish  church  of  Eisenach,  his  "  beloved  town." 

In  England,  the  desire  for  some  reform  in  the  Church  was 
recognised  even  by  Cardinal  Wolsey,  who  obtained  from  the 
Pope  permission  to  suppress  thirty  monasteries,  and  use  their 
revenues  for  educational  purposes  ;  and  Wolsey's  schemes  of 
reform  might  have  progressed  further  if  Henry  VII L  had  not 
been  fascinated  by  Anne  Boleyn.  But  the  King's  amour  w-ith 
the  "  little  lively  brunette  "  precipitated  a  crisis  in  the  relations 
between  Church  and  State.  Henry,  who,  by  virtue  of  a  papal 
dispensation,  had  married  his  brother's  wddow,  Katherine,  now 

'  Peter  Bayne,  LL.D. 


CHinsTMA.';   UNDER  HENRY  VI 1.  AND  HENRY  Vltl.    107 

needed  papal  consent  to  a  divorce,  that  he  niis^ht  marry  Anne- 
Boleyn,  and  when  he  found  that  he  could  not  obtain  it,  he 
resolved  to  be  his  own  Pope,  "sole  protector  and  supreme  head 
of  the  Church  and  cleri^ry  of  Ens^fland."     And  among  the  events 


'/'l^S  l-tTViue.  (tDi>'^iu«tAvDO^  M^BOtil4A>-iiV 


of  Christmastide  may  be  mentioned  the  resolution  of  the  King's 
minister,  Thomas  Cromwell,  and  his  party,  in  1533,  to  break 
the  ecclesiastical  connection  with  Rome,  and  establish  an 
independent  Church  in  England.     The   necessary    Bills   were 


io»  CHRISTMAS. 

framed  and  mtroduccd  to  Parliament  soon  after  the  Christmas 
hohdays  by  Cronnveh,  who  for  his  snccessful  services  was  made 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  for  life.  Authority  in  all  matters 
ecclesiastical,  as  well  as  civil,  was  vested  solely  in  the  Crown, 
and  the  "courts  spiritual"  became  as  thoroughly  the  King's 
courts  as  the  temporal  courts  at  Westminster.  The  enslave- 
ment of  the  clergy,  the  dissolution  of  the  monasteries,  and  the 
gagging  of  the  pulpits  followed,  the  vears  of  Cromwell's 
administration  being  an  English  reign  of  terror.  But  the  ruth- 
less mmner  in  which  he  struck  down  his  victims  sickened  the 
English  people,  and  they  exhibited  their  disapprobation  in  a 
manner  which  arrested  the  attention  of  the  King.  The  time 
of  Cromwell  himself  was  coming,  for  the  block  was  the  goal  to 
which  Henry's  favourite  minister  was  surely  hastening  ;  and 
it  is  only  anticipating  events  by  very  few  years,  to  say  that 
he  was  beheaded  on  Tower  Hill,  July  28,   1540. 

Another  Royal  Christmas. 

That  following  the  execution  of  Anne  Boleyn  (I536),  Henry 
spent  in  the  company  of  his  third  Queen,  Jane  Seymour,  at 
Richmond  Palace,  with  a  merry  party,  and  subsequently  crossed 
the  frozen  Thames  to  Greenwich.  During  the  following  summer 
the  Queen  went  with  her  husband  on  a  progress,  and  in  the 
autumn  retired  to  Hamj^ton  Court,  where  she  gave  birth  to 
a  son  (who  became  Edward  VL),  and  died  twelve  days  after- 
wards, on  the   14th  of  October,   1537. 

During  the  married  life  of  Queen  Jane,  the  Princess  Mary 
was  often  with  the  Court  at  Richmond,  affecting  affectionate 
attachment  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  upon 
Mary,  as  somewhat  altering  her  prospects  ;  but  "after  acting 
as  chief  mourner  to  her  friendly  stepmother,  she  spent  a 
pleasant  Christmas  at  Richmond,  where  she  remained  till 
February.  Her  losses  at  cards  during  the  Christmas  festivities 
were  very  considerable,  for  she  was  fond  of  gambling.  And 
she  appears  to  have  also  amused  herself  a  good  deal  with  her 
attendant,  "Jane  the  Fool,"  to  whose  maintenance  she  con- 
tributed while  staying  at  Richmond.  One  curious  entry  in  the 
Household  Book  of  the  Princess  Mary  is  :  "  Item,  for  shaving 
Jane  fooles  hedde,  iiiid."  Another  is  :  "  Item,  geven  Heywood, 
playeng  an  enterlude  with  his  children  before  my  Ladye's 
grace  xls." 

The  great  event  of  Christmas,  1539,  was 

The  Laxdixg  oe  Axxe  oe  Cleves, 

at  Deal,  on  the  27th  of  December.  King  Henry  had  become 
alarmed  at  the  combination  between  France  and  Spain,  and  his 
unprmcipled   Chancellor,   Cromwell,   desirous   of  regaining  his 


CHRISTMAS   UNDER  HENRY   VII.   AND   HENRY   VIII.     109 

lost  inlluence  with  the  Kini^,  recommended  a  Protestant 
marriage.  He  told  Henry  that  Anne,  danghter  of  John  HI., 
Duke  of  Cleves,  was  greatly  extolled  for  her  beauty  and  good 
sense,  and  that  by  marrying  her  he  would  acquire  the  friendship 
of  the  Princes  of  Germany,  in  counterpoise  to  the  designs  of 
France  and  Spain.  Henry  despatched  Hans  Holbein  to  take 
the  lady's  portrait,  and,  being  delighted  with  the  picture  pro- 
duced, soon  concluded  a  treaty  of  marriage,  and  sent  the  Lord 
Admiral  Fitzwilliam,  Earl  of  Southampton,  to  receiye  the 
Princess  at  Calais,  and  conduct  her  to  England.  On  her  arriyal 
Henry  was  greatly  disappointed.  He  did  not  think  the  Princess 
as  charming  as  her  portrait  ;  and,  unfortunately  for  her,  she 
was  unable  to  woo  him  with  winning  words,  for  she  could 
speak  no  language  but  German,  and  of  that  Henry  did  not 
understand  a  word.  Though  not  ugly  (as  many  contemporaries 
testify),  she  was  plain  in  person  and  manners,  and  she  and  her 
maidens,  of  whom  she  brought  a  great  train,  are  said  to  haye 
been  as  homely  and  awkward  a  bevy  as  ever  came  to  England 
in  the  cause  of  Royal  matrimony.  The  Royal  Bluebeard,  who 
had  consorted  with  such  celebrated  beauties  as  Anne  Boleyn 
and  Jane  Seymour,  recollecting  what  his  queens  had  been,  and 
what  Holbein  and  Cromwell  had  told  him  should  again  be, 
entered  the  presence  of  Anne  of  Cleyes  with  great  anticipation, 
but  was  thunderstruck  at  the  first  sight  of  the  reality.  Lord  John 
Russell,  who  was  present,  declared  "  that  he  had  never  seen  his 
highness  so  mnrvellously  astonished  and  abashed  as  on  that 
occasion."  The  marriage  was  celebrated  on  the  6th  of  January, 
1540,  but  Henry  never  became  reconciled  to  his  German 
queen  ;  and  he  very  soon  vented  his  anger  upon  Cromwell  for 
being  the  means  of  bringing  him,  not  a  wife,  but  "  a  great 
Flanders  mare." 

Christmas  at  the  Colleges. 

The  fine  old  tower  of  Magdalen  College,  embowered  in 
verdure  (as  though  decorated  for  Christmas),  is  one  of  the  most 
picturesque  of  the  venerable  academical  institutions  of  Oxford. 
It  stands  on  the  east  side  of  the  Cherwell,  and  is  the  first 
object  of  interest  to  catch  the  eye  of  the  traveller  who  enters 
the  city  from  the  London  Road.  This  college  was  the  scene  of 
many  Christmas  festivities  in  the  olden  time,  when  it  w-as  the 
custom  of  the  several  colleges  to  elect  a  "  Christmas  Lord,  or 
Lord  of  Misrule,  styled  in  the  registers  Rex  Fabanim  and  Rcx 
Rt'iiiii  Fabannii  ;  which  custom  continued  till  the  Reformation 
of  Religion,  and  then  that  producing  Puritanism,  and  Puri  anism 
Presbytery,  the  profession  of  it  looked  upon  such  laudable  and 
ingenious  customs  as  Popish,  diabolical  and  anti-Christian."  ' 
Queen's  College,  Oxford  (whose  members  have  from  time 
immemorial    been  daily   summoned  to  dine   in  hall  by   sound 

'  Wood's  "  Athenre  Oxonienses." 


no 


CHRISTMAS. 


MAGDALEN   COLLEGE,    OXFORD. 


of  trumpet,  instead  of  by  bell  as  elsewhere),  is  noted  for  its 
ancient  Christmas  ceremony  of  ushering  in  the  boar's  head  with 
the  singing  of  the  famous  carol — 

' '  Caput  afri  differo 

Reddens  laiides  Domino. 

The  boar's  head  in  hand  bring  I, 

With  garlands  gay  and  rosemary, 

I  pray  you  all  sing  merrily 

Qtii  esiis  in  convivio. " 

Tradition  says  that  this  old  custom  commemorates  the  deliver- 
ance of  a  student  of  the  college,  who,  while  walking  in  the 
country,  studying  Ai-istotle,  was  attacked  by  a  wild  boar  from 
Shotover  Forest,  whereupon  he  crammed  the  philosopher  down 
the  throat  of  the  savage,  and  thus  escaped  from  its  tusks. 

Warton  '  mentions  that,  "  in  an  original  draught  of  the 
Statutes  of  Trinity  College,  at  Cambridge,  founded  in  1546,  one 
of  the  chapters  is  entitled  De  Prcvfcdo  Liidonnii  qui  Inipcralor 
(fidtiir,   under  whose  direction  and  authority  Latin   Comedies 

'  "  History  of  English  Poetry." 


CHRISTMAS   UNDER   HENRY   VII.   AND   HENRY    VIII.     in 


BRINGING    IN    THE    BOARS    HEAD    WITH    MINSTRELSY. 


and  Tragedies  are  to  be  exhibited  in  the  hall  at  Christmas. 
With  regard  to  the  peculiar  business  and  office  of  Imperator 
it  is  ordered  that  one  of  the  Masters  of  Arts  shall  be  placed 
over  the  juniors,  every  Christmas,  for  the  regulation  of  their 
games  and  diversions  at  that  season  of  festivity.  At  the  same 
time,  he  is  to  govern  the  whole  society  in  the  hall  and  chapel, 
as  a  republic  committed  to  his  special  charge  by  a  set  of  laws 
which  he  is  to  frame  in  Latin  and  Greek  verse.  His  sovereignty 
is  to  last  during  the  twelve  days  of  Christmas,  and  he  is  to 
exercise  the  same  power  on  Candlemas.  His  fee  amounted 
to  forty  shillings.  Similar  customs  were  observed  at  other 
colleges  during  Christmastide.  In  a  subsequent  chapter  of  this 
work  will  be  found  an  account  of  a  grand  exhibition  of  the 
Christmas  Prince,  at  St.  John's  College,  Oxford,  in  the  year 
1607. 

Christmas  at  the  Iws  of  Court  and  Great  Houses. 

In  the  time  of  Henry  the  Eighth  the  Christmases  at  the  Inns 
of  Court  became  celebrated,  especially  those  at  Lincoln's  Inn, 
which  had  kept  them  as  early  as  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.  The 
Temples  and  Gray's  Inn  afterwards  disputed  the  palm  with  it. 


^^-  CHRISTMAS. 

Every  Corporation  appointed  a  Lord  of  Misrule  or  Master  of 
Merry  Disports,  and,  according  to  Stow,  there  was  the  Hke 
in  the  house  of  every  nobleman  of  honour  or  good  worship 
were  he  spiritual  or  temporal."  And  during  the  period  of  the 
sway  ot  the  Lord  of  Misrule,  "there  were  tine  and  subtle 
disguisings,  masks,  and  mummeries,  with  playing  at  cards  for 
counters,  nails,  and  points  in  every  house,  more  for  pastime 
than  tor  gain.  '  Town  and  country  would  seem  to  have  vied 
with  each  other  as  to  which  should  exhibit  the  greatest  extra- 
vagance in  the  Christmas  entertainments,  but  (as  'in  the  days  of 
Massmger  the  poet),  the  town  carried  off  the  palm  :— 

-ru  •     1--  "  ^^^^  ™''^^'  ^^^'^  of  country  Christmasses— 

1  heir  thirty-pound  buttered  eggs,  their  pies  of  carps'  tongues, 

1  heir  pheasants  drenched  with  ambergris,  the  carcases 

Of  three  fat  wethers  bruised  for  gravy,  to 

Make  sauce  for  a  single  peacock';  yet  their  feasts 

Were  fasts,  compared  with  the  city's." 

The  earliest  particular  account  of  the  regulations  for  conduct- 
ing- one  of  these  grand  Christmases  is  in  the  9th  of  Henry 
Vlll.,'  when,  besides  the  King  for  Christmas  Day,  the  Marshal 
and  the  Master  of  the  Revels,  it  is  ordered  that  the  King  of 
Cockneys,  on  Childermas  Day,  should  sit  and  have  due  service 
and  '  that  Jack  Straw,  and  all  his  adherents,  should  be  thence- 
torth  utterly  banished,  and  no  more  to  be  used  in  this  house 
upon  pain  to  forfeit  for  every  time  live  pounds,  to  be  levied 
on  every  fellow  hapning  to  offend  against  this  rule."  "Jack 
Straw  "  was  a  kind  of  masque,  which  was  very  much  disliked 
by  the  aristocratic  and  elder  part  of  the  community,  hence  the 
amount  of  the  tine  imposed.  The  Society  of  Gray's  Inn,  how- 
ever, m  1527,  got  into  a  worse  scrape  than  permitting  Tack 
Straw  and  his  adherents,  for  they  acted  a  play  (the  first  on 
record  at  the  Inns  of  Court)  during  this  Christmas,  the  effect 
whereof  was,  that  Lord  Governance  was  ruled  by  Dissipation 
and  Negligence,  by  whose  evil  order  Lady  Public  Weal  was 
put  from  Governance.  Cardinal  Wolsey,  conscience-smitten, 
thought  this  to  be  a  reflection  on  himself,  and  deprived  the 
author,  Sergeant  Roe,  of  his  coif,  and  committed  him  to  the 
Heet,  together  with  Thomas  Moyle,  one  of  the  actors,  until 
it  was  satisfactorily  explained  to  him. 

It  was  found  necessary  from  time  to  time  to  make  regulations  ' 
to  limit  the  extent  of  these  revels  and  plays,  and  to  provide  for 
the  expenses,  which  were  considerable,  and  they  were  therefore 
not  performed  every  year.  In  1531  the  Lincoln's  Inn  Society 
agreed  that  if  the  two  Temples  kept  Christmas,  they  would  also 
do  so,  not  hkmg  to  be  outdone.  And  later  an  order  was  made 
in  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  whole 

'  Dugdale,  "  Origines  Juridiciales." 


CHRISTMAS   UNDER   HENRY   VII.   AND   HENRY   VIII.     113 

body  of  students  should  jointly  contribute  towards  the  dresses, 
scenes,  and  decorations. 

As  an  example  of  the  Christmas  hospitality  of  the  period,  we 
refer  to  the  establishment  of  John  Carminow,  whose  family  was 
of  high  repute  in  the  county  of  Cornwall  in  the  time  of  Henry 
the  Eighth.  Hals  says  that  "  he  kept  open  house  for  all  comers 
and  goers,  drinkers,  minstrells,  dancers,  and  what  not,  during  the 
Christmas  time,  and  that  his  usual  allowance  of  provision  for 
those  twelve  days,  was  twelve  fat  bullocks,  twenty  Cornish 
bushels  of  wheat  {i.e.,  fifty  Winchesters),  thirty-six  sheep,  with 
hogs,  lambs,  and  fowls  of  all  sort,  and  drink  made  of  wheat  and 
oat-malt  proportionable  ;  for  at  that  time  barley-malt  was  little 
known  or  used  in  those  parts." 

That  the  beneliced  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  the 
benefice  of  West  Kington,  in  W^iltshire.  A  citation  for  heresy 
being  issued  against  Latimer,  he  wrote  with  his  peculiar  medley 
of  humour  and  pathos  :  "  I  intend  to  make  merry  with  my 
parishioners  this  Christmas,  for  all  the  sorrow,  lest  perchance 
I  may  never  return  to  them  again." 

One  of  the  most  celebrated  personages  of  this  period  was 

Will  Somers,  the  King's  Jester. 

This  famous  fool  enlivened  the  Christmas  festivities  at  the 
Court  of  Henry  the  Eighth,  and  many  quaint  stories  are  told 
of  his  drolleries  and  witticisms.  Though  a  reputed  fool,  his 
sarcastic  wit  and  sparkling  talents  at  repartee  won  him  great 
celebrity.  Very  little  is  known  of  his  actual  biography,  but 
some  interesting  things  are  told  about  him  in  a  scarce  tract, 
entitled  "A  pleasant  History  of  the  Life  and  Death  of  Will 
Somers,"  &c.  (which  was  first  published  in  1676,  and  a  great 
part  of  which  is  said  to  have  been  taken  from  Andrew  Borde's 
collection  of  "The  Merry  Jests  and  Witty  Shifts  of  Scoggin  "). 
"And  now  who  but  Will  Sommers,  the  King's  Fool  ?  who  had 
got  such  an  interest  in  him  by  his  quick  and  facetious  jests,  that 
he  could  have  admittance  to  his  Majesty's  Chamber,  and  have 
his  ear,  when  a  great  nobleman,  nay,  a  privy  counsellor,  could 
.not  be  suffered  to  speak  with  him  :  and  farther,  if  the  King 
were  angry  or  displeased  with  anything,  if  no  man  else  durst ' 
demand  the  cause  of  his  discontent,  then  was  Will  Sommers 
provided  with  one  pleasant  conceit  or  another,  to  take  off  the 
edge  of  his  displeasure.  Being  of  an  easy  and  tractable  dis- 
position he  soon  found  the  fashions  of  the  court,  and  obtained 
a  general  love  and  notice  of  the  nobility  ;  for  he  was  no  carrv- 
tale,  nor  flattering  insinuator  to  breed  discord  and  dissension, 
but  an  honest,  plain,  downright  [man],  that  would  speak  home 
without  halting,  and  tell  the  truth  of  purpose  to  shame  the  devil 
— so  that  his  plainness,  mixed  with  a  kind  of  facetiousness,  and 

9 


1 14  CHRISTMAS. 

tartness  with  pleasantry,  made  him  acceptable  into  the  company 
of  all  men."  There  cannot,  perhaps,  be  a  greater  proof  of  the 
estimation  in  which  Somers  was  held  by  King  Henry,  than 
the  circumstance  of  his  portrait  having  been  twice  introduced 
into  the  same  piece  with  that  of  the  King  ;  once  in  the  line 
picture  by  Holbein  of  Henry  VHI.  and  his  family,  and  again,  in 
an  illuminated  Psalter  which  was  expressly  written  for  the 
King,  by  John  Mallard,  his  chaplain  and  secretary  {^^  Regis 
Orator  cl  Calaiiio^'),  and  is  now  preserved  in  the  British 
Museum.  According  to  an  ancient  custom,  there  is  pretixed 
to  Psalm  hi.,  ''dixit  incipcns"  in  the  Psalter,  a  miniature  illumi- 
nation of  King  David  and  a  Fool,  whose  figures,  in  this 
instance,  are  portraits  of  Henry  VHI.  and  his  favourite  Will 
Somers.  The  King  is  seated  at  a  kind  of  altar  table,  and 
playing  on  the  harp,  whilst  Somers  who  is  standing  near  him, 
with  his  hands  clasped  over  his  breast,  appears  to  listen  with 
admiration.  The  King  wears  a  round  flat  cap,  furred,  and  a 
vest  of  imperial  purple  striped  wdth  gold,  and  fluted  at  bottom  ; 
his  doublet  is  red,  padded  with  white  ;  his  hose  crimson  ;  on 
his  right  leg  is  a  blue  garter.  Somers  is  in  a  vest,  \\i\h  a  hood 
thrown  over  the  back  ;  his  stockings  are  blue  ;  at  his  girdle  is 
a  black  pouch. 

When  Henry  YHI.  became  old  and  inactive,  his  Christmases 
grew  gradually  duller,  until  he  did  little  more  than  sit  out  a 
play  or  two,  and  gamble  with  his  courtiers,  his  Christmas  play- 
money  requiring  a  special  draught  upon  the  treasury,  usually  for 
a  hundred  pounds.     He  died  on  January  28,  1547. 


CHAPTER    ML 

CHRISTMAS    UNDER  EDWARD    VI.,   MARY, 
AND    ELIZABETH. 

(1547-1603.) 

Christmas  under  King  Edward  VI. — George  Ferrers 
"  Master  of  the  King's  Pastimes." 

During  the  short  reign  of  the  youthful  monarch  Edward  the 
Sixth  (1547-1553),  the  splendour  of  the  Royal  Christmases 
somewhat  abated,  though  they  were  still  continued  ;  and  the 
King  being  much  grieved  at  the  condemnation  of  the  Duke  of 
Somerset,  his  uncle  and  Protector,  it  was  thought  expedient  to 
divert  his  mind  by  additional  pastimes  at  the  Christmas 
festival,  1551-2.  "  It  was  devised,"  says  Holinshed,  "that  the 
feast  of  Christ's  nativitie,  commonlie  called  Christmasse,  then 
at  hand,  should  be  solemnlie  kept  at  Greenwich,  with  open 
houshold,  and  franke  resort  to  Court  (which  is  called  keeping 
of  the  hall),  what  time  of  old  ordinarie  course  there  is  alwaise 
one  appointed  to  make  sport  in  the  court,  commonlie  Lord  of 
Misrule  ;  whose  office  is  not  unknown  to  such  as  have  been 
brought  up  in  noblemen's  houses,  and  among  great  housekeepers, 
who  use  liberall  feasting  in  that  season.  There  was  therefore 
by  order  of  the  Councell,  a  wise  gentleman,  and  learned,  named 
George  Ferrers,  appointed  to  that  office  for  this  yeare  ;  who, 
being  of  better  credit  and  estimation  than  comonlie  his  pre- 
decessors had  been  before,  received  all  his  commissions  and 
warrants  by  the  name  of  the  maister  of  the  King's  pastimes. 
Which  gentleman  so  well  supplied  his  office,  both  in  show  of 
sundry  sights  and  devices  of  rare  inventions,  and  in  act  of 
diverse  interludes,  and  matters  of  pastime  plaied  by  persons,  as 
not  onlie  satisfied  the  common  sort,  but  also  were  verie  well 
liked  and  allowed  by  the  Councell,  and  other  of  skill  in  the  like 
pastimes  ;  but  best  of  all  by  the  young  King  himselfe,  as 
appeered  by  his  princelie  liberalitie  in  rewarding  that  service." 
The  old  chronicler  quaintly  adds,  that  "  Christmas  being  thus 
passed  with  much  mirth  and  pastime,  it  was  thought  now  good 
to  proceed  to  the  execution  of  the  judgment  against  the  Duke 

115 


ii6  CHRISTMAS. 

of  Somerset.''  The  clay  of  execution  was  the  22nd  of  januarv, 
1552,  six  weeks  after  the  passing  of  the  sentence. 

King  Edward  took  part  in  some  of  the  Christmas  masques 
performed  at  his  Court,  with  other  youths  of  his  age  and  stature, 
aU  the  performers  being  suitably  attired  in  costly  garments. 
Will  Somers  also  figured  in  some  of  these  masques.  The  young 
King  seems  to  have  found  more  amusement  in  the  pageants 
superintended  by  Master  Ferrers  than  he  had  gained  from  some 
of  the  solemnities  of  the  state  in  which  he  had  been  obliged  to 
play  a  prominent  part  ;  but  none  of  the  diversions  restored  him 
to  good  health.  Large  sums  of  money  were  expended  on  these 
Christmas  entertainments,  and  the  King  handsomely  rewarded 
the  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  W'ith 
the  means  of  making  sport,  as  "  Master  of  the  King's  Pastimes." 
He  complained  to  Sir  Thomas  Cawarden  that  the  dresses 
provided  for  his  assistants  were  not  sufficient,  and  immediately 
an  order  was  given  for  better  provision.  He  provided  clowns, 
jugglers,  tumblers,  men  to  dance  the  fool's  dance,  besides  being 
assisted  by  the  "  Court  Fool  "  of  the  time — John  Smyth.  This 
man  w^as  newly  supplied  for  the  occasion,  having  a  long  fool's 
coat  of  yellow  cloth  of  gold,  fringed  all  over  with  white,  red, 
and  green  velvet,  containing  7^  yards  at  £2  per  yard,  guarded 
with  plain  yellow  cloth  of  gold,  4  yards  at  33s.  4d.  per  yard  ; 
W'ith  a  hood  and  a  pair  of  buskins  of  the  same  figured  gold 
containing  2^  yards  at  _^5,  and  a  girdle  of  yellow  sarsenet 
containing  one  quarter  i6d.,  the  whole  value  of  "  the 
fool's  dress "  being  ;^26  14s.  8d.  Ferrers,  as  the  "  Lord  of 
Misrule  "  wore  a  robe  of  rich  stuff  made  of  silk  and  golden 
thread  containing  9  yards  at  i6s.  a  yard,  guarded  with 
embroidered  cloth  of  gold,  wrought  in  knots,  14  yards  at 
IIS.  4d.  a  yard  ;  having  fur  of  red  feathers,  with  a  cape  of 
camlet  thrum.  A  coat  of  Hat  silver,  fine  with  works,  5  yards 
at  50S.,  with  an  embroidered  garb  of  leaves  of  gold  and  coloured 
silk,  containing  15  yards  at  20s.  a  yard.  He  wore  a  cap  of 
maintenance,  hose  buskins,  panticles  of  Bruges  satin,  a  girdle  of 
yellow  sarsenet  with  various  decorations,  the  cost  of  his  dress 
being  £^2  8s.  8d.,  which,  considering  the  relative  value  of 
money,  must  be  considered  a  very  costly  dress. 

The  oftice  which  George  Ferrers  so  ably  filled  had  been 
too  often  held  by  those  who  possessed  neither  the  wit  nor 
the  genius  it  required  ;  but,  originally,  persons  of  high  rank  and 
ability  had  been  chosen  to  perform  these  somewhat  difficult 
duties.  Ferrers  received  ^'100  for  the  charges  of  his  office  ; 
and  afterwards  the  Lord  Mayor,  who  probably  had  been  at  the 
Royal  festival,  entertained  him  in  London.  The  cost  of  the 
Royal  festivities  exceeded  ,^'700. 

Stowe,  in  his  "Annals,"  thus  refers  to  the  celebration  :  "  The 
King  kept  his  Christmasse  with  open  houshold  at  Greenwich, 


UNDER   EDWARD    VI.,   MARY,   AND   ELIZABETH.         117 

George  Ferrers,  Gentleman  of  Lincolnes  Inne,  bein.y;  Lord  of 
the  merry  Disports  all  the  12  dayes,  who  so  pleasantly  and 
wisely  behaved  himselfe,  that  the  King  had  great  delight  in  his 
pastimes.  On  Monday  the  fourth  of  January,  the  said  Lord  of 
Merry  Disports  came  by  water  to  London,  and  landed  at  the 
Tower-wharfe,  entered  the  Tower,  and  then  rode  through  the 
Tower-streete,  where  he  was  received  by  Sergeant  Vawce,  Lord 
of  Misrule  to  John  Mainard,  one  of  the  Sheriffes  of  London,  and 
so  conducted  through  the  Citie  with  a  great  company  of  young 
Lords  and  gentlemen,  to  the  house  of  Sir  George  Barne,  Lord 
Maior  ;  where  he,  with  the  chiefe  of  his  company  dined,  and 
after  had  a  great  banquet  ;  and,  at  his  departure,  the  Lord 
Maior  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- 
head of  wine,  and  a  barrell  of  beere,  at  his  gate,  for  his  traine 
that  followed  him  ;  the  residue  of  his  gentlemen  and  servants 
dined  at  other  Aldermen's  houses,  and  with  the  sheriffes,  and  so 
departed  to  the  Tower  wharfe  againe,  and  to  the  Court  by  water, 
to  the  great  commendation  of  the  Maior  and  Aldermen,  and 
highl}'  accepted  of  the  King  and  Councell." 

Religious  Matters 

occupied  public  attention  throughout  the  reign  of  Edward  VL 
The  young  king  was  willing  to  support  the  reforming  projects 
of  Archbishop  Cranmer,  and  assented  to  the  publication  of  the 
new  Liturgy  in  the  Prayer  Book  of  1549,  and  the  Act  of 
Uniformity.  And  w'ith  the  sanction  of  the  sovereign,  Cranmer, 
in  1552,  issued  a  revised  Liturgy,  known  as  the  Second  Prayer 
Book  of  King  Edward  VL,  and  the  Forty-two  Articles,  which 
were  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  of 
Henry  VI I L,  and  made  a  will  excluding  Mary  and  Elizabeth 
from  the  succession  in  favour  of  Lady  Jane  Grey,  daughter- 
in-law  of  Northumberland,  which  was  sanctioned  by  Archbishop 
Cranmer  and  the  Privy  Council.  Although  Cranmer  had 
sanctioned  this  act  with  great  reluctance,  and  on  the  assurance 
of  the  judges,  it  sufticed  to  secure  his  condemnation  for  high 
treason  on  Mary's  accession.  Edward  sank  rapidly  and  died 
on  July  6,  1553. 

The  Duke  of  Northumberland  then 

Proclaimed  Lady  Jane  Grey  Queex, 

but  the  people  refused  to  recognise  the  usurpation.  After  a 
brief  reign  of  eleven   days. 

The  Crown  w'as  traxsferred  to  Mary, 

daughter  of  Henry  VHL  and  CatheFine  of  Arragon,  and  Lady  Jane 
Grey  and  her  husband  were  sent  to  the  Tower,  and  subsequently 


ii8 


CHRISTMAS. 


condemned  to  death.      They  were  kept  in  captivity  for  some 
time,  and  were  not  executed  until  after  Wyatt's  rebelHon  in  1554. 

Mary  was  a  firm  Roman  Cathohc, 
and  she  looked  to  her  uncle,  Charles  V. 
of  Spain,  for  assistance  and  support. 
In  January,  1554,  much  to  the  disap- 
pointment of  her  subjects,  she  con- 
cluded a  treaty  of  marriage  with  Philip 
of  Spain,  son  of  Charles  V.  After- 
wards her  reign  was  disturbed  by 
insurrections,  and  also  by  the  persecu- 
tion of  Protestants  by  Cardinal  Pole, 
who  came  over  to  England  to  push 
forward  the  Roman   Catholic  reaction. 

This  Troubled  Reigx 

was  not  congenial  to  Christmas  fes- 
tivities, though  they  were  still  kept  up 
in  different  parts  of  the  country.  Dur- 
ing the  Christmas  festival  (January  2, 
1554)  a  splendid  embassy,  sent  by  the 
Emperor,  Charles  the  Fifth,  headed  by 
the  Counts  Egmont  and  Lalain,  the  Lord 
of  Courrieres,  and  the  Sieur  de  Nigry, 
-i^jj^a^a^.,>-r.,-_//.y.,.>,^,.;V  l^udcd  in  Kent,  to  arrange  the  marriage 
between  Queen  Mary  and  Philip.  The 
unpopularity  of  the  proceeding  was 
immediately  manifested,  for  the  men  of  Kent,  taking  Egmont 
for  Philip,  rose  in  fury  and  would  have  killed  him  if  they  could 
have  got  at  him.  Although  an  attempt  was  made  to  allay  the 
fears  of  the  English,  within  a  few  days  three  insurrections  broke 
out  in  different  parts  of  the  kingdom,  the  most  formidable 
being  that  under  Sir  Thomas  Wyatt,  who  fixed  his  headquarters 
at  Rochester.  In  city  and  court  alike  panic  prevailed.  The 
lawyers  in  Westminster  Hall  pleaded  in  suits  of  armour  hidden 
under  their  robes,  and  Dr.  Weston  preached  before  the  Queen 
in  Whitehall  Chapel,  on  Candlemas  Day,  in  armour  under  his 
clerical  vestments.  Mary  alone  seemed  calm  and  self-possessed. 
She  mounted  her  horse,  and,  attended  by  her  ladies  and  her 
Council,  rode  into  the  City,  where,  summoning  Sir  Thomas  White, 
Lord  Mayor,  and  the  Aldermen,  who  all  came  clad  in  armour 
under  their  civic  livery,  she  ascended  a  chair  of  State,  and  with 
her  sceptre  in  her  hand  addressed  them,  declaring  she  would 
never  marry  except  with  the  leave  of  her  Parliament.  Her 
courage  gained  the  day.  The  rebeUion  was  speedily  quelled 
and  the  ringleaders  put  to  death  ;  and  the  following  July  the 
marriage  took  place.  Mary's  subsequent  reign  was  a  "  reign  of 
terror,  a  time  of  fire  and  blood,  such  as  has  no  parallel  in  the 
history  of  England."  ^ 

'  Cassell's  "  History  of  England.'' 


UNDER   EDWARD    VI.,    MARY,    AND   ELIZABETH.         119 

Christmas  D.i versions  of  Queen  Mary. 

■During  her  "  reign  of  terror  "  Queen  Mary  was  diverted  by 
Christmas  plays  and  pageants,  and  she  showed  some  interest  in  the 
amusements  of  the  people.  Strutt's  "  Sports  and  Pastimes,"  in  an 
rutiele  on  the  "  Antiquity  of  Tumbling,"  says  :  "  It  would  seem 
that  these  artists  were  reallv  famous  mirth-makers  ;  for  one  of 
them  had  the  address  to  excite  the  merriment  of  that  solemn  bigot 
Queen  Mary.  '  After  her  Majesty,'  observes  Strype,  *  had  reviewed 
the  royal  pensioners  in  Greenwich  Park,  there  came  a  tumbler, 
and  played  many  pretty  feats,  the  Queen  and  Cardinal  Pole 
looking  on  ;  whereat  she  was  observed  to  laugh  heartily.'  " 
Strutt  also  mentions  that  "  when  Mary  visited  her  sister,  the 
Princess  Elizabeth,  during  her  confinement  at  Hatiield  House, 
the  next  morning,  after  mass,  a  grand  exhibition  of  bear-baiting 
was  made  for  their  amusement,  with  which,  it  is  said,  '  their 
highnesses  were  right  well  content.'  "  The  idle  pageantry  of 
the  Boy-bishop,  which  had  been  formally  abrogated  by  procla- 
mation from  the  King,  in  the  thirty-third  year  of  Henry  VHI., 
was  revived  by  his  daughter  Mary.  Strutt  says  that  '' in  the 
second  year  of  her  reign  an  edict,  dated  November  13,  1554, 
was  issued  from  the  Bishoyi  of  London  to  all  the  clergy  of  his 
diocese,  to  have  a  Boy-bishop  in  procession.  The  year  follow- 
ing, 'the  child  Bishop,  of  Panics  Church,  with  his  company,' 
were  admitted  into  the  Queen's  privy  chamber,  where  he  sang 
before  her  on  Saint  Nicholas  Day,  and  upon  Holy  Innocents 
Day.  After  the  death  of  Mary  this  sillv  mummery  was  totally 
discontinued." 

The  Christmas  entertainments  of  Philip  and  Mary  at  Rich- 
mond are  thus  described  by  Folkstone  Williams  :  '  "  The  Queen 
strove  to  entertain  her  Royal  husband  with  masques,  notwith- 
standing that  he  had  seen  many  fair  and  rich  beyond  the  seas  ; 
and  Nicholas  Udall,  the  stern  schoolmaster,  was  ordered  to 
furnish  the  drama.  An  idea  of  these  performances  may  be 
gathered  from  the  properties  of  a  masque  of  patrons  of  gallies 
like  Venetian  senators  with  galley-slaves  for  their  torch-bearers, 
represented  at  Court  in  Christmas  of  the  first  and  second  years 
of  Philip  and  Mary,  with  a  Masque  of  six  Venuses,  or  amorous 
ladies,  with  six  Cupids,  and  as  many  torch-bearers.  Among 
them  were  lions'  heads,  sixteen  other  headpieces,  made  in 
quaint  fashion  for  the  Turkish  magistrates,  as  well  as  eight 
falchions  for  them,  the  sheaths  covered  with  green  velvet,  and 
bullioned  with  copper.  There  were  eight  headpieces  for 
women-masks,  goddesses  and  huntresses.  A  masque  of  eight 
mariners,  of  cloth  of  gold  and  silver,  and  six  pairs  of  chains  for 
the  galley  slaves.  Another  mask  of  goddesses  and  huntresses, 
with  Turks,  was  performed  on  the  following  Shrovetide  ;  and 
one  of  six  Hercules,  or  men  of  war,  coming  from  the  sea  with 
six  Mariners  to   their  torch-bearers,   was  plaved  a  little  later. 

'  "  Domestic  Memoirs  of  the  Royal  Family." 


I20  CHRISTMAS. 

Besides  which,  we  iind  mention  of  a  masque  of  covetous  men 
with  long  noses — a  masque  of  men  Hke  Argus — a  masque  of 
women  Moors — a  masque  of  Amazons — one  of  black  and  tawney 
tinsel,  with  baboons'  faces — one  of  Polanders,  and  one  of  women 
with  Diana  hunting." 

Nichols  ("  Progresses,"  vol.  i.  p.  i8)  says  that  in  1557  the  Prin- 
cess Elizabeth  was  present  at  a  Royal  Christmas  kept  with  great 
solemnity  by  Queen  Mary  and  King  Philip  at  Hampton  Court. 
*'  On  Christmas  Eve,  the  great  hall  of  the  palace  was  illuminated 
with  a  thousand  lamps  curiously  disposed.  The  Princess  supped 
at  the  same  table  in  the  hall  with  the  King  and  Queen,  next  the 
cloth  of  state  ;  and  after  supper,  was  served  with  a  perfumed 
naiikin  and  plates  of  confects  by  the  Lord  Paget.  But  she 
retire:!  to  her  ladies  before  the  revels,  maskings,  and  disguisings 
began.  On  St.  Stephen's  day  she  heard  mattins  in  the  Queen's 
closet  adjoining  to  the  chapel,  where  she  was  attired  in  a  robe 
of  white  sattin,  strung  all  over  with  large  pearls.  On  the  29th 
day  of  December  she  sate  with  their  majesties  and  the  nobility 
at  a  grand  spectacle  of  justing,  when  two  hundred  spears  were 
broken.  Half  of  the  combatants  were  accoutred  in  the  Almaine 
and  half  in  the  Spanish  fashion.  Thus  our  chronicler,  who  is 
fond  of  minute  description.  But  these  and  other  particularities, 
insigniiicant  as  they  seem,  which  he  has  recorded  so  carefully, 
are  a  vindication  of  Queen  Mary's  character  in  the  treatment  of 
her  sister  ;  they  prove  that  the  Princess,  during  her  residence  at 
Hatfield,  lived  in  splendour  and  affluence  ;  that  she  was  often 
admitted  to  the  diversions  of  the  Court  ;  and  that  her  present 
situation  was  by  no  means  a  state  of  oppression  and  im- 
prisonment, as  it  has  been  represented  by  most  of  our 
historians." 


UNDER   EDWARD    VI.,   MARY,   AND   ELIZABETH.         121 

The  Ko:\iish  Priestly  Practices 
1)11   "  Christmass-daye,"  at  this   period,  are   referred  to  in   the 
following  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  earnestly 
Do  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, 
^\'hereby  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  l)oth  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  stande 
To  see  the  sport,  and  with  their  voyce  do  helpe  them  and  their  hande." 

The  Christ.m.as  Mummers 
played  a  prominent  part  in  the  festivities   of  this  period,  and 
the  following  ilhistration  shows  how  they  went  a-mnmming. 


'■Cif. 


% 


"sf    "^ 


^ 


RIDING   A-MUMMI.\G   AT  CHRISTMASTIDE. 


^22  CHRISTMAS. 

Queen  Mary  died  on  November  17,  1558,  and  her  half-sister, 

ELIZA15KTH,    CAME    TO    THE    ThROXE 

in  perilous  times,  for  plots  of  assassination  were  rife,  and 
England  \v;is  engaged  on  the  side  of  Spain  in  war  with  France. 
But  the  alliance  with  Spain  soon  came  to  an  end,  for  Queen 
Elizabeth  saw  that  the  defence  of  Protestantism  at  home  and 
peace  with  France  abroad  were  necessary  for  her  own  security 
and  the  good  of  her  subjects.  She  began  her  reign  by  regard- 
ing the  welfare  of  her  people,  and  she  soon  won  and  neve;  lost 
their  affection. 

With  the  accession  of  Queen  Elizabeth  there  was  a  revival  of 
the  courtly  pomp  and  pageantry  which  were  marked  character- 
istics of  her  father's  reign.  Jiist  before  the  Christmas  festival 
(1558)  the  new  queen  made  a  state  entry  into  the  metropolis, 
attended  by  a  magnihcent  throng  of  nobles,  ladies,  and  gentle- 
men, and  a  vast  concourse  of  people  from  all  the  country Vound. 
At  Highgate  she  was  met  by  the  bishops,  who  kneeled  bv  the 
wayside  and  offered  their  allegiance.  She  received  them 
graciously  and  gave  them  all  her  hand  to  kiss,  except  Bonner, 
whom  she  treated  with  marked  coldness,  on  account  of  his 
atrocious  cruelties  :  an  intimation  of  her  own  intentions  on  the 
score  of  religion  which  gave  satisfaction  to  the  people.  In  the 
pageantry  which  was  got  up  to  grace  her  entry  into  London,  a 
hgure  representing  "  Truth  "  dropped  from  one  of  the  triumphal 
arches,  and  laid  before  the  young  Queen  a  copy  of  the  Scriptures. 
Holinshed  says  she  received  the  book  with  becoming  reverence, 
and,  pressing  it  to  her  bosom,  declared  that  of  all  the  gifts  and 
honours  conferred  upon  her  by  the  loyalty  of  the  people  this 
was  the  most  acceptable.  Yet  Green,'  in  describing  Elizabeth's 
reign,  says  :  "  Nothing  is  more  revolting  in  the'  Queen,  but 
nothing  is  more  characteristic,  than  her  shameless  mendacity. 
It  was  an  age  of  political  lying,  but  in  the  profusion  and 
recklessness  of  her  lies  Elizabeth  stood  without  a  peer  in 
Christendom." 

Sir  William  Fitzwilliam,  writing  to  Mr.  More,  of  Loseley, 
Surrey,  a  few  weeks  after  the  accession  of  Elizabeth,  as  an 
important  piece  of  Court  news,  says  :  "  You  shall  understand 
that  yesterday,  being  Christmas  Day,  the  Queen's  Majesty 
repaired  to  her  great  closet  with  her  nobles  and  ladies,  as 
hath  been  accustomed  in  such  high  feasts  ;  and  she,  perceiving 
a  bishop  preparing  himself  to  mass,  all  in  the  old  form,  tarried 
there  until  the  gospel  was  done,  and  when  all  the  people  looked 
for  her  to  have  offered  according  to  the  old  fashion,  she  with 
her  nobles  returned  again  from  the  closet  and  the  mass,  on  to 
her  privy  chamber,  which  was  strange  unto  divers.  Blessed  be 
God  in  all  His  gifts." 

During  the  Christmas  festival  (1558)  preparations  went  on  for 

'  "  History  of  the  English  People." 


UNDER   EDWARD    VI.,   MARY,    AXD    ELIZABETH. 


123 


the  coroniition  of  Elizabeth,  which  was  to  take  place  on  the  15th 
of  January.  On  the  12th  of  that  month  she  proceeded  to  the 
Tower  by  water,  attended  by  the  lord  mayor  and  citizens,  and 
Lireeted  with  peals  of  ordnance,  with  music  and  gorgeous 
pageantry — a  marked  contrast  to  her  previous  entrance  there 
as  a  suspected  traitor  in  imminent  peril  of  her  life.  Two  days 
later  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  train 
of  godly  and  beautiful  ladies,  richly  appointed,"  and  all  riding 
on  horseback.  The  streets  through  which  the  procession  passed 
were  adorned  with  stately  pageants,  costly  decorations,  and 
various  artistic  devices,  and  were  crowded  with  enthusiastic 
spectators,  eager  to  welcome  their  new  sovereign,  and  to 
applaud  ''  the  signs  they  noticed  in  her  of  a  most  prince-like 
courage,  and  great  readiness  of  wit."  On  the  following  day 
(Sunday,  the  15th  of  January)  Elizabeth  was  crowned  in  West- 
minster Abbey,  by  Dr.  Oglethorpe,  Bishop  of  Carlisle,  "Queen 
of  England,  France,  and  Ireland,  Defender  of  the  Faith."  The 
ceremonials  of  the  coronation  were  regulated  according  to 
ancient  custom,  and  the  entertainment  in  Westminster  Hall 
was  on  a  scale  of  great  mayniiicence. 


A    DUMB    SHOW    IN   THE   TIME   OF   ELIZABETH. 
{From  Messrs.  Cassell  &  Co.'s  "English  Plays,"  by  permission.) 


124  CHRISTMAS. 

Elizabeth  was  particularly  fond  of  dramatic  displays,  and  her 
iirst  Royal  Christmas  was  celebrated  with  plays  and  pageants  of 
a  most  costly  description.  Complaints,  however,  being  made 
of  the  expense  of  these  entertainments,  she  determined  to  con- 
trol them,  and  directed  an  estimate  to  be  made  in  the  second 
year  of  her  reign  for  the  masques  and  pastimes  to  be  shown 
before  her  at  Christmas  and  Shrovetide.  Sir  Thomas  Cawarden 
was^then,  as  he  had  for  some  time  previous  been.  Master  of 
the  Revels.  According  to  Collier,  the  estimate  amounted  to 
£22y  IIS.  2O.,  being  nearly  ;^200  less  than  the  expenses  in  the 
former  year.  The  control  over  the  expenses,  however,  must 
soon  have  ceased,  for  in  subsequent  years  the  sums  were  greatly 
enlarged. 

Nichols  '  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  procession 
to  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  ;  and 
after  the  play  was  over,  there  was  a  fine  mask  ;  and,  afterw^ards, 
a  great  banquet  which  lasted  till  midnight. 

In  this  reign  a  more  decorous  and  even  refined  style  of  enter- 
tainment had  usurped  the  place  of  the  boisterousfeastings  of 
former  times,  but  there  was  no  diminution  in  that  ancient  spirit 
of  hospitality,  the  exercise  of  which  had  become  a  part  of  the 
national  faith.  This  is  evident  from  the  poems  of  Thomas 
Tusser  (born  1515 — died  1580)  and  other  writers,  who  show  that 
the  English  noblemen  and  yeomen  of  that  time  made  hospitality 
a  prominent  feature  in  the  festivities  of  the  Christmas  season. 
In  his  "  Christmas  Husbandry  Fare,"  Tusser  says  : — 

"  Good  husband  and  housewife,  now  chiefly  be  glad 
Things  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." 

'  "  Progresses." 


UNDER   EDWARD    VI.,   MARY,   AND   ELIZABETH.         125 

Grand  Christmas  of  the  Inner  Temple,  1561-2. 

Professor  Henry  Morley '  says  the  lirst  English  tragedy, 
"  Gorboduc,"  was  written  for  the  Christmas  festivities  of  the 
Inner  Temple  in  the  year  1561  by  two  young  members  of 
that  Inn — Thomas  Norton,  then  twenty-nine  years  old,  and 
Thomas  Sack^ille,  then  aged  twenty-tive.  And  the  play  was 
performed  at  this  '*  Grand  Christmass "  kept  by  the  members 
of  the  Inner  Temple.  Before  a  "Grand  Christmas"  was  kept 
tlie  matter  was  discussed  in  a  parliament  of  the  Inn,  held  on  the 
eve  of  St.  Thomas's  Day,  December  21st.  If  it  was  resolved 
upon,  the  two  youngest  of  those  who  served  as  butlers  for  the 
festival  lighted  two  torches,  with  which  they  preceded  the 
benchers  to  the  upper  end  of  the  hall.  The  senior  bencher 
there  made  a  speech  ;  ofiicers  were  appointed  for  the  occasion, 
"  and  then,  in  token  of  joy  and  good  liking,  the  Bench  and 
company  pass  beneath  the  hearth  and  sing  a  carol."  ^  The 
revellings  began  on  Christmas  Eve,  when  three  Masters  of  the 
Revels  sat  at  the  head  of  one  of  the  tables.  All  took  their 
places  to  the  sound  of  music  played  before  the  hearth.  Then 
the  musicians  withdrew  to  the  buttery,  and  were  themselves 
feasted.  They  returned  when  dinner  was  ended  to  sing  a  song 
at  the  highest  table.  Then  all  tables  were  cleared,  and  revels 
and  dancing  were  begun,  to  be  continued  until  supper  and  after 
supper.  The  senior  Master  of  the  Revels,  after  dinner  and 
after  supper,  sang  a  carol  or  song,  and  commanded  other  gentle- 
men there  present  to  join  him.  This  form  of  high  festivity 
was  maintained  during  the  twelve  days  of  Christmas,  closing 
on  Twelfth  Night.  On  Christmas  Day  (which  in  1561  was  a 
Thursday),  at  the  Hrst  course  of  the  dinner,  the  boar's  head 
was  brought  in  upon  a  platter,  followed  by  minstrelsy.  On 
St.  Stephen's  Day,  December  the  26th,  the  Constable  Marshal 
entered  the  hall  in  gilt  armour,  with  a  nest  of  feathers  of  all 
colours  on  his  helm,  and  a  gilt  pole-axe  in  his  hand  ;  with  him 
sixteen  trumpeters,  four  drums  and  fifes,  and  four  men  armed 
from  the  middle  upward.  Those  all  marched  three  times  about 
the  hearth,  and  the  Constable  Marshal,  then  kneeling  to  the 
Lord  Chancellor,  made  a  speech,  desiring  the  honour  of  ad- 
mission into  his  service,  delivered  his  naked  sword,  and  was 
solemnly  seated.  That  was  the  usual  ceremonial  when  a  Grand 
Christmas  was  kept.  At  this  particular  Christmas,  1561,  in  the 
fourth  year  of  Elizabeth,  it  was  Lord  Robert  Dudley,  afterwards 
Earl  of  Leicester,  who  was  Constable  Marshal,  and  with 
chivalrous  gallantry,  taking  in  fantastic  style  the  name  of 
Palaphilos,  Knight  of  the  Honourable  Order  of  Pegasus, 
Pegasus  being  the  armorial  device  of  the  Inner  Temple,  he 
contributed  to  the  splendour  of  this  part  of  the  entertainment. 
After  the  seating  of  the  Constable   Marshal,  on   the  same  St. 

'  "  English  Plays."  -  Sir  William  Dugdale's  "  Origines  Juridiciales." 


126  CHRISniAS. 

Stephen's  Day,  December  the  26th,  the  Master  of  the  Game 
entered  in  green  velvet,  and  the  Ranger  of  the  Forest  in  green 
satin  ;  these  also  went  three  times  about  the  hre,  blowing' their 
hunting-horns.  When  they  also  had  been  ceremoniously  seated, 
there  entered  a  huntsman  with  a  fox  and  a  cat  bound  at  the  end 
of  a  staff.  He  was  followed  by  nine  or  ten  couple  of  hounds, 
who  hunted  the  fox  and  the  cat  to  the  glowing  horns,  and  killed 
them  beneath  the  lire.  After  dinner,  the  Constable  Marshal 
called  a  burlesque  Court,  and  began  the  Revels,  with  the  help 
of  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  to 
breakfast  with  him  when  service  had  closed  in  the  church. 
After  breakfast,  the  authority  of  this  Christmas  ofiicial  was  in 
abeyance  till  the  after-dinner  Revels.  So  the  ceremonies  went 
on  till  the  Banqueting  Night,  which  followed  New  Year's  Day. 
That  was  the  night  of  hospitality.  Invitations  were  sent  out  to 
every.  House  of  Court,  that  they  and  the  Inns  of  Chancery  might 
see  a  play  and  masque.  The  hall  was  furnished  with  scaffolds 
for  the  ladies  who  w^ere  then  invited  to  behold  the  sports. 
After  the  play,  there  was  a  banquet  for  the  ladies  in  the 
library  ;  and  in  the  hall  there  was  also  a  banquet  for  the 
Lord  Chancellor  and  invited  ancients  of  other  Houses.  On 
Twelfth  Day,  the  last  of  the  Revels,  there  were  brawn,  mustard, 
and  malmsey  for  breakfast  after  morning  prayer,  and  the  dinner 
as  on  St.  John's  Day. 

The  following  particulars  of  this  "Grand  Christmas  "  at  the 
Inner  Temple  are  from  Nichols's  "  Progresses  of  Queen  Eliza- 
beth "  :— 

"  In  the  fourth  year  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  reign  there  was  kept 
a  magnihcent  Christmas  here  ;  at  which  the  Lord  Robert  Dudley 
(afterwards  Earl  of  Leicester)  was  the  chief  person  (his  title 
Palaphilos),  being  Constable  and  Marshall  ;  whose  officers  were 
as  followeth  : 

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  after- 
wards Lord  Chancellor  of  England.) 

Mr.  Blaston  ) 

Mn  Peiiston  [  ^^^^^^^'^  ^^  ^^'^  ^^vells. 
Mr.  Jervise 


UNDER   EDWARD    17,    MARY,   AND   ELIZABETH.         127 

Mr.  Parker,  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower. 
Mr.  Kendall,  Carver. 
Mr.  Martin,  Ranger  of  the  Forests. 
Mr.  Stradling,  Sewer. 

"  And  there  were  fourscore  of  the  Guard  ;  beside  divers  others 
not  here  named. 

"Touching  the  particulars  of  this  Grand  Feast,  Gerard  Leigh, 
in  his  'Accidence  of  Armory,'  p.  119,  &c.,  having  spoken  of 
the  Pegasus  borne  for  the  amies  of  this  Society,  thus  goes  on  : 
'  After  I  had  travelled  through  the  East  parts  of  the  unknown 
world,  to  understand  of  deedes  of  amies,  and  so  arriving  in  the 
fair  river  of  Thames,  I  landed  within  half  a  league  from  the  City 
t)f  London,  which  was  (as  I  conjecture)  in  December  last  ;  and 
drawing  neer  the  City,  suddenly  heard  the  shot  of  double  canons, 
in  so  great  a  number,  and  so  terrible,  that  it  darkened  the  whole 
ayr  ;  wherewith,  although  I  was  in  my  native  country,  yet  stood 
I  amazed,  not  knowing  what  it  meant.  Thus,  as  I  abode  in 
despair,  either  to  return  or  to  continue  my  former  purpose,  I 
chanced  to  see  coming  towards  me  an  honest  citizen,  clothed  in 
a  long  garment,  keeping  the  highway,  seeming  to  walk  for  his 
recreation,  which  prognosticated  rather  peace  than  perill  ;  of 
whom  I  demanded  the  cause  of  this  great  shot  ;  who  friendly 
answered,  "  It  is,"  quoth  he,  ''  a  warning  shot  to  the  Constable 
Marshall  of  the  Inner  Temple,  to  prepare  to  dinner." 

"  '  "Why,"  said  I,  "  what,  is  he  of  that  estate  that  seeketh  no 
other  means  to  warn  his  officers  than  with  so  terrible  shot  in  so 
peaceable  a  country  ?  "  "  Marry,"  saith  he,  "  he  uttereth  himself 
the  better  to  be  that  offtcer  whose  name  he  beareth." 

" '  I  then  demanded,  "What  province  did  he  govern,  that  needed 
such  an  oi'ficer  ?  "  He  answered  me,  "  The  province  was  not 
great  in  quantity,  but  antient  in  true  nobility.  A  place,"  said 
he,  "privileged  by  the  most  exceUent  Princess  the  High 
Governor  of  the  whole  Island,  wherein  are  store  of  Gentlemen 
of  the  whole  Realm,  that  repair  thither  to  learn  to  rule  and 
obey  by  Law,  to  yield  their  tleece  to  their  Prince  and  Common- 
weal ;  as  also  to  use  all  other  exercises  of  body  and  mind 
whereunto  nature  most  aptly  serveth  to  adorn,  by  speaking, 
countenance,  gesture,  and  use  of  apparel  the  person  of  a 
Gentleman  ;  whereby  amity  is  obtained,  and  continued,  that 
Gentlemen  of  all  countries,  in  their  young  years,  nourished 
together  in  one  place,  with  such  comely  order,  and  daily  con- 
ference, are  knit  by  continual  acquaintance  iii  such  unity  of 
minds  and  manners  as  lightly  never  after  is  severed,  than  which 
is  nothing  more  proiitable  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  good 
Commonweal  ;  for  that,  the  best  of  their  people  from  tender 
years  trained  up  in  precepts  of  justice,  it  could  not  choose  but 
yield  forth  a  protitable  People  to  a  wise  Commonweal  ;  where- 


128  CHRISTMAS. 

fore  I  determined  with  myself  to  make  proof  of  what   I   heard 
by  report. 

"  '  The  next  day  I  thou^i,^ht  of  my  pastime  to  walk  to  this 
Temple,  and  entring  in  at  the  gates,  I  found  the  building 
nothing  costly  ;  but  many  comely  Gentlemen  of  face  and 
person,  and  thereto  very  courteous,  saw  I  to  pass  to  and  fro, 
so  as  it  seemed  a  Prince's  port  to  be  at  laand  :  and  passing 
forward,  entred  into  a  Church  of  antient  building,  wherein 
were  many  monuments  of  noble  personages  armed  in  knightly 
habit,  with  their  cotes  depainted  in  ancient  shield ;,  whereat  I 
took  pleasure  to  behold.  Thus  gazing  as  one  bereft  with  the 
rare  sight,  there  came  unto  me  an  Hereaught,  by  name  Pala- 
philos,  a  King  of  Amies,  who  courteously  saluted  me,  saying, 
"  For  that  I  was  a  stranger,  and  seeming  by  my  demeanour  a 
lover  of  honour,  I  was  his  guest  of  right,"  whose  courtesy  (as 
reason  was)  I  obeyed  ;  answering,  "  I  was  at  his  commandment." 

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

"  * — Thus  talking,  we  entred  the  Prince  his  Hall,  where  anon 
we  heard  the  noise  of  drum  and  fyfe.  "  What  meaneth  this 
drum  ?  "  said  I.  Quoth  he,  "  This  is  to  warn  Gentlemen  of  the 
Houshold  to  repair  to  the  dresser  ;  wherefore  come  on  with 
me,  and  ye  shall  stand  where  ye  may  best  see  the  Hall  served  :" 
and  so  from  thence  brought  me  into  a  long  gallery,  that 
stretched  itself  along  the  Hall  neer  the  Prince's  table,  where  I 
saw  the  Prince  set  :  a  man  of  tall  personage,  a  manly  counte- 
nance, somewhat  brown  of  visage,  strongly  featured,  and 
thereto  comely  proportioned  in  all  lineaments  of  body.  At  the 
nether  end  of  the  same  table  were  placed  the  Embassadors  of 
sundry  Princes.  Before  him  stood  the  carver,  sewer,  and  cup- 
bearer, with  great  number  of  gentlemen-wayters  attending  his 
person  ;  the  ushers  making  place  to  strangers,  of  sundry  regions 
that  came  to  behold  the  honour  of  this  mighty  Captain.  After 
the  placing  of  these  honourable  guests,  the  Lord  Steward, 
Treasurer,  and  Keeper  of  Pallas  Seal,  with  divers  honourable 
personages  of  that  Nobility,  were  placed  at  a  side-table  neer 
adjoining  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  of 
the  Revels,  the  King  of  Arms,  the  Dean  of  the  Chappel,  and 
divers  Gentlemen  Pensioners  to  furnish  the  same. 

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

" '  On  the  other  side  against  them  began  the  table,  the 
Lieutenant  of  the  Tower,  accompanied  with  divers  Captains  of 


UNDER   EDWARD    17.,    MARY,   AXD   ELIZABETH.         121) 

foot-bands  and  shot.  At  the  nether  end  of  the  Hall  be.t^'an  the 
table,  the  High  Butler,  the  Panter,  Clerks  of  the  Kitchen, 
Master  Cook  of  the  Privy  Kitchen,  furnished  throughout  with 
the  souldiers  and  Guard  of  the  Prince  :  all  which,  with  number 
of  tnferior  ofticers  placed  and  served  in  the  Hall,  besides  the 
great  resort  of  strangers,  I  spare  to  write. 

"  '  The  Prince  so  served  with  tender  meats,  sweet  fruits,  and 
dainty  delicates  confectioned  w^ith  curious  cookery,  as  it  seemed 
wonder  a  world  to  observe  the  provision  :  and  at  every  course 
the  trumpetters  blew  the  couragious  blast  of  deadly  war,  with 
noise  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  timed  their  stroke. 

*"  Thus  the  Hall  was  served  after  the  nibst  ancient  order  of 
the  Island  ;  in  commendation  whereof  I  say,  I  have  also  seen 
the  service  of  great  Princes,  in  solemn  seasons  and  times  of 
triumph,  yet  the  order  hereof  was  not  inferior  to  any. 

"  '  But  to  proceed,  this  Herehaught  Palaphilos,  even  before  the 
second  course  came  in,  standing  at  the  high  table,  said  in  this 
manner  :  "  The  mighty  Palaphilos,  Prince  of  Sophie,  High 
Constable  Marshall  of  the  Knights  Templars,  Patron  of  the 
Honourable  Order  of  Pegasus  :  "  and  therewith  cryeth,  "  A 
Largess."  The  Prince,  praysing  the  Herehaught,  bountifully 
rewarded  him  with  a  chain  to  the  value  of  an  hundred  talents. 

"  '  I  assure  you  I  languish  for  want  of  cunning  ripely  to  utter 
that  I  saw^  so/orderly  handled  appertaining  to  service  ;  where- 
fore I  cease,  and  return  to  my  purpose. 

'' '  The  supper  ended,  and  tables  taken  up,  the  High  Constable 
rose,  and  a  while  stood  under  the  place  of  honour,  where  his 
atchievement  was  beautifully  embroidered,  and  devised  of 
sundry  matters,  w4th  the  Ambassadors  of  foreign  nations,  as  he 
thought  good,  till  Palaphilos,  King  of  Armes,  came  in,  his 
Herehaught  Marshal,  and  Pursuivant  before  him  ;  and  after 
followed  his  messenger  and  Calligate  Knight  ;  who  putting  off 
his  coronal,  made  his  humble  obeysance  to  the  Prince,  by  whom 
he  was  commanded  to  draw  neer,  and  understand  his  pleasure  ; 
saving  to  him  ;  in  few  words,  to  this  effect  :  ''  Palaphilos, 
seeing  it  hath  pleased  the  high  Pallas,  to  think  me  to  demerit 
the  office  of  this  place  ;  and  thereto  this  night  past  vouchsafed 
to  descend  from  heavens  to  increase  my  further  honour,  by 
creating  me  Knight  of  her  Order  of  Pegasus  ;  as  also  com- 
manded me  to  join  in  the  same  Society  such  valiant  Gentlemen 
throughout  her  province,  whose  living  honour  hath  best 
deserved  the  same,  the  choice  whereof  most  aptly  belongeth 
to  your  skill,  being  the  watchman  of  their  doings,  and  register 
of  their  deserts  ;  I  will  ye  choose  as  well  throughout  our  whole 
armyes,  as  elsew^here,  of  such  special  gentlemen,  as  the  gods 
hath  appointed,  the  number  of  twenty-four,  and  the  names  of 
them  present  us  :  commanding  also  those  chosen  persons  to 
appear  in  our  presence  in  knightly  habit,  that  with  conveniency 

10 


I30  CHRISTMAS. 

we  may  proceed  in  our  purpose."  This  done,  Palaphilos  obey- 
ing his  Prince's  commandement,  with  twenty-four  vahant 
Knights,  all  apparelled  in  long  white  vestures,  with  each  man  a 
scarf  of  Pallas  colours,  and  them  presented,  with  their  names, 
to  the  Prince  ;  who  allowed  well  his  choise,  and  commanded 
him  to  do  his  office.  Who,  after  his  duty  to  the  Prince,  bowed 
towards  these  worthy  personages,  standing  every  man  in  his 
antienty,  as  he  had  borne  armes  in  the  field,  and  began  to  shew 
his  Prince's  pleasure  ;  with  the  honour  of  the  Order. '  " 

"  Other  Particulars  touching  these  Grand  Cliristmasscs,  extracted 
out  of  the  Acconipts  of  the  House. 

"  First,  it  hath  been  the  duty  of  the  Steward,  to  provide  five 
fat  brawns,  vessels,  wood,  and  other  necessaries  belonging  to  the 
kitchen  :  as  also  all  manner  of  spices,  flesh,  fow'l,  and  other 
cafes  for  the  kitchen. 

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

"Twelve  fine  large  table  cloths,  of  damask  and  diaper. 
Twenty  dozen  of  napkins  suitable  at  the  least.  Three  dozen 
of  fair  large  towels  ;  whereof  the  Gentleman  Sewers,  and 
Butlers  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  Butlers 
was  to  give  attendance  on  the  highest  table  in  the  Hall,  with 
wine,  ale  and  beer  :  and  all  the  other  Butlers  to  attend-at  the 
other  tables  in  like  sort. 

"  The  cupboard  of  plate  is  to  remain  in  the  Hall  on  Christmas 
Day,  St.  Stephen's  Day  and  New  Year's  Day,  from  breakfast 
time  ended  untill  after  supper.  Upon  the  banquetting  night  it 
was  removed  into  the  buttry  ;  which  in  all  respects  was  very 
laudably  performed. 

"The  office  of  the  Constable  Marshall  to  provide  for  his 
employment,  a  fair  gilt  compleat  barneys,  with  a  nest  of 
fethers  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  settling 
of  all  which  ceremonies,  during  the  said  Grand  Christmas,  a 
solemn  consultation  was  held  at  their  Parliament  in  this  house  ; 
in  the  form  following  : 

"  First,  at  the  Parliament  kept  in  their  Parliament  Chamber 
in  this  House,  on  the  even  at  night  of  St.  Thomas  the  Apostle, 
officers  are  to  attend,  according  as  they  had  been  long  before 
that  time,  at  a  former  Parliament  named  and  elected  to  undergo 
several  offices  for  this  time  of  solemnity,  honour,  and  pleasance  ; 
of   which    officers   these   are  the  most   eminent  ;    namelv,  the 


UNDER   EDWARD    VI.,   MARY,   AXD   ELIZABETH.         131 

Steward,  Marshall,  Constable  Marshall,  Butler  and  Master  of 
the  Game.  These  officers  are  made  known  and  elected  in 
Trinity  Term  next  before  ;  and  to  have  knowledg  thereof 
by  letters,  in  the  country,  to  the  end  they  may  prepare  them- 
selves against  All- Hallow-tide  ;  that,  if  such  nominated  officers 
happen  to  fail,  others  may  then  be  chosen  in  their  rooms.  The 
other  officers  are  appointed  at  other  times  nearer  Christmas  Day. 

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

''Christmas  Eve. — The  Marshall  at  dinner  is  to  place  at  the 
highest  table's  end,  and  next  to  the  Library,  all  on  one  side 
thereof,  the  most  antient  persons  in  the  company  present :  the 
Dean  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,  the 
King's  Serjeant  and  Chief  Butler  ;  and  w^hen  the  Steward  hath 
served  in,  and  set  on  the  table  the  first  mess,  then  he  is  also  to 
sit  down. 

"Also  at  the  supper  end  of  the  other  table,  on  the  other  side 
of  the  Hall,  are  to  be  placed  the  three  jMasters  of  the  Revels  ; 
and  at  the  lower  end  of  the  bench-table  are  to  sit,  the  King's 
Attorney,  the  Ranger  of  the  Forest,  and  the  Master  of  the 
Game.  And  at  the  lower  end  of  the  table,  on  the  other  side 
of  the  Hall,  the  fourth  Master  of  the  Revels,  the  Common 
Serjeant,  and  Constable- Marshall.  And  at  the  upper  end  of 
the  Utter  Barrister's  table,  the  Marshal  sitteth,  when  he  hath 
served  in  the  first  mess  ;  the  Clark  of  the  Kitchen  also,  and  the 
Clark  of  the  Sowce-tub,  when  they  have  done  their  offices  in 
the  kitchen,  sit  down.  And  at  the  upper  end  of  the  Clark's 
table,  the  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower,  and  the  attendant  to  the 
Buttery  are  placed. 

*'  At  these  two  tables  last  rehersed,  the  persons  they  may  sit 
upon  both  sides  of  the  table  ;  but  of  the  other  three  tables  all 
are  to  sit  upon  one  side.  And  then  the  Butlers  or  Christmas 
Servants,  are  first  to  cover  the  tables  with  fair  linnen  table- 
cloths ;  and  furnish  them  with  salt-cellers,  napkins,  and 
trenchers,  and  a  silver  spoon.  And  then  the  Butlers  of  the 
House  must  place  at  the  salt-celler,  at  every  the  said  first  three 
highest  tables,  a  stock  of  trenchers  and  bread  ;  and  at  the  other 
tables,  bread  onely  without  trenchers. 


132  CHRISTMAS. 

"  At  the  iirst  course  the  minstrels  must  sound  their  instru- 
ments, and  go  before  ;  and  the  Steward  and  Marshall  are  next 
to  follow  together  ;  and  after  them  the  Gentleman  Sewer  ; 
and  then  cometh  the  meat.  Those  three  officers  are  to  make 
altogether  three  solemn  curtesies,  at  three  several  times,  between 
the  skreen  and  the  upper  table  ;  beginning  with  the  first  at  the 
end  of  the  Bencher's  table  ;  the  second  at  the  midst  ;  and  the 
third  at  the  other  end  ;  and  then  standing  by  the  Sewer 
performeth  his  office. 

"  When  the  first  table  is  set  and  served,  the  Steward's  table 
is  next  to  be  served.  After  him  the  Master's  table  of  the 
Revells  ;  then  that  of  the  Master  of  the  Game.  The  High 
Constable-Marshall  ;  then  the  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower  :  then 
the  Utter  Barrister's  table  ;  and  lastly  the  Clerk's  table  ;  all 
which  time  the  musick  must  stand  right  above  the  harth  side, 
with  the  noise  of  their  musick  ;  their  faces  direct  towards  the 
highest  table  ;  and  that  done,  to  return  into  the  buttry,  with 
their  music  sounding. 

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

''  Then,  after  a  little  repose,  the  persons  at  the  highest  table 
arise  and  prepare  to  revells  :  in  which  time,  the  Butlers,  and 
other  Servitors  with  them,  are  to  dine  in  the  Library. 

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

**At  night  before  supper  are  revels  and  dancing,  and  so 
also  after  supper  during  the  twelve  dales  of  Christmas.  The 
antientest  Master  of  the  Revels  is,  after  dinner  and  supper,  to 
sing  a  caroll  or  song  ;  and  command  other  gentlemen  then 
there  present  to  sing  with  him  and  the  company  ;  and  so  it 
is  very  decently  performed. 

"A  repast  at  dinner  is  8d. 

*'  Chrisliiias  Day. — Service  in  the  Church  ended,  the  Gentle- 
men presently  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  Ordinary 
Butlers  of  the  House  are  decently  to  set  bread,  napkins,  and 
trenchers  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    in 


UXDER   EDWARD    17.,    MARV,    AXD    ELIZABETH.         133 

gowns  ;lre  to  attend  at  supper,  and  to  bear  two  fair  torches 
of  wax,  next  before  the  Musicians  and  Trumpetters,  and  to 
stand  above  the  tire  with  the  musick  till  the  tirst  course  be 
served  in  through  the  Hall.  Which  performed,  they,  with 
the  musick,  are  to  return  into  the  butterv.  The  like  course 
is  to  be  observed  in  all  tilings,  during  the  time  of  Christmas. 
The  like  at  supper. 

*'At  service  time,  this  evening,  the  two  voungest  Butlers  are 
to  bear  two  torches  Geiicalogin. 

"A  repast  at  dinner  is  I2d.  which  strangers  of  worth  are 
admitted  to  take  in  the  Hall  ;  and  such  are  to  be  placed  at  the 
discretion  of  the  Marshall. 

"  S/.  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  Gentlemen 
of  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  serve 
as  afore.  After  the  first  course  served  in,  the  Constable- 
Marshall  cometh  into  the  Hall,  arrayed  with  a  fair  rich 
compleat  harneys,  white  and  bright,  and  gilt,  with  a  nest  of 
fethers  of  all  colours  upon  his  crest  or  helm,  and  a  gilt  pole-axe 
in  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  Trum- 
petters ;  four  drums  and  fifes  going  in  rank  before  them  ;  and 
with  them  attendeth  four  men  in  white  harneys,  from  the 
middle  upwards,  and  halberds  in  their  hands,  bearing  on 
their  shoulders  the  Tower  :  which  persons,  with  the  drums, 
trumpets  and  musick,  go  three  times  about  the  fire.  Then  the 
Constable-Marshall,  after  two  or  three  curtesies  made,  kneeleth 
down  before  the  Lord  Chancellor  ;  behind  him  the  Lieutenant  ; 
and  they  kneeling,  the  Constable-]\Iarshall  pronounceth  an 
oration  of  a  quarter  of  an  hour's  length,  therby  declaring 
the  purpose  of  his  coming  ;  and  that  his  purpose  is  to  be 
admitted  into  his  Lordship's  service. 

"The  Lord  Chancellor  saith,  'He  will  take  further  advice 
therein.' 

"  Then  the  Constable-AIarshall,  standing  up,  in  submissive 
manner  delivereth  his  naked  sword  to  the  Steward  ;  who  giveth 
it  to  the  Lord  Chancellor  :  and  thereupon  the  Lord  Chancellor 
willeth  the  Marshall  to  place  the  Constable-Marshall  in  his  seat : 
and  so  he  doth,  with  che  Lieutenant  also  in  his  seat  or  place. 
During  this  ceremony  the  Tower  is  placed  beneath  the  hre. 

"  Then  cometh  the  Master  of  the  Game,  apparelled  in  green 
velvet,  and  the  Ranger  of  the  Forest  also,  in  a  green  suit  of  satten  ; 
bearing  in  his  hand  a  green  bow  and  divers  arrows,  with  either 
of  them  a  hunting  horn  about  their  necks  ;  blowing  together 
three  blasts  of  venery,  they  pace  round  about  the  hre  three 
times.     Then  the  Master  of  the  Game  maketh  three  curtesies; 


134  CHRISTMAS. 

as  aforesaid  ;  and  kneeleth  down  before  the  Lord  Chancellor, 
declaring  the  cause  of  his  coming  ;  and  desireth  to  be  admitted 
mto  his  service,  &c.  All  this  time  the  Ranger  of  the  Forest 
standeth  directly  behind  him.  Then  the  Master  of  the  Game 
standeth  up. 

"  This  ceremony  also  performed,  a  Huntsman  cometh  into  the 
Hall,  with  a  fox  and  a  purse-net  ;  with  a  cat,  both  bound  at  the 
end  of  a  staff  ;  and  with  them  nine  or  ten  couple  of  hounds, 
with  the  blowing  of  hunting  homes.  And  the  fox  and  cat  are 
by  the  hounds  set  upon,  and  killed  beneath  the  fire.  This  sport 
finished  the  Marshall  placeth  them  in  their  several  appointed 
places. 

"  Then  proceedeth  the  second  course  ;  which  done,  and 
served  out,  the  Common  Serjeant  delivereth  a  plausible 
speech  to  the  Lord  Chancellour,  and  his  company  at  the 
highest  table,  how  necessary  a  thing  it  is  to  have  officers  at 
this  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  inferreth 
the  necessity;  which  heard  the  Lord  Chancellor  desireth 
respite  of  farther  advice.  Then  the  antientest  of  the  Masters 
of  the  Revels  singeth  a  song  with  the  assistance  of  others  there 
present. 

"At  Supper  the  Hall  is  to  be  served  in  all  solemnity,  as  upon 
Christmas  Day,  both  the  first  and  second  course  to  the  highest 
table.  Supper  ended  the  Constable-Marshall  presenteth  him- 
self with  drums  afore  him,  mounted  upon  a  scaffold,  born  by 
four  men  ;  and  goeth  three  times  round  about  the  harthe,  cryin^ 
out  aloud,  '  A  Lord,  a  lord,'  &c.  Then  he  descendeth  and  goeth 
to  dance,  &c.  And  after  he  calleth  his  Court  every  one  by 
name,  one  by  one,  in  this  manner  : 

"  Sir  Francis  Flatterer  of  Fowlehiirst,  in  the  county  of 
Btickinghain. 

"Sir  Randlc  Rakabite,  of  Rascall-HaJh  in  the  county  of  Rake- 
hell. 

"  Sir  Morgan  Mnmchance,  of  Much  Monkery,  in  the  county  of 
Mad  Mopery.  '  ^ 

"  Sir  Bartholomew  Baldbreech,  of  Bnttocks-biirv,  in  the  county 
of  Brekeneck. 

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

"  At  every  mess  is  a  pot  of  wine  allowed. 

"  Every  repast  is  6d. 

"  St.  John's  Day.— About  seaven  of  the  clock  in  the  morning, 
the  Lord  of  Misrule,  is  abroad,  and  if  he  lack  any  ofticer  or 
attendant,  he  repaireth  to  their  chambers,  and  compelleth  them 
to  attend  in  person  upon  him  after  service  in  the  church,  to 
breakfast,  with  brawn,  mustard,  and  malmsey.     After  breakfast 


UNDER   EDWARD    VI.,   MARY,   AND   ELIZABETH.         135 

ended,  his  Lordship's  power  is  in  suspense,  until  his  personal 
presence  at  night  ;  and  then  his  power  is  most  potent. 

"  At  dinner  and  supper  is  observed  the  diet  and  service  per- 
formed on  St.  Stephen's  Day.  After  the  second  course  served 
in,  the  King's  Serjeant,  orator-hke,  declareth  the  disorder  of  the 
Constable-Marshall,  and  of  the  Common-Serjeant  :  which  com- 
plaint is  answered  by  the  Common-Serjeant  ;  who  defendeth 
himself  and  the  Constable- Marshall  with  words  of  great  efficacy. 
Hereto  the  King's  Serjeant  replyeth.  They  rejoyn,  &c.,  and 
who  so  is  found  faulty  is  committed  to  the  Tower,  &c. 

"  If  any  ofticer  be  absent  at  dinner  or  supper  times  ;  if  it  be 
complained  of,  he  that  sitteth  in  his  place  is  adjudged  to  have 
like  punishment  as  the  offtcer  should  have  had  being  present  : 
and  then  withal  he  is  enjoyned  to  supply  the  office  of  the  true 
absent  officer,  in  all  pointe.  If  any  offendor  escape  from  the 
Lieutenant  into  the  Buttery,  and  bring  into  the  Hall  a  manchet 
upon  the  point  of  a  knife,  he  is  pardoned  :  for  the  buttry  in 
that  case  is  a  sanctuary.  After  cheese  served  to  the  table  not 
any  is  commanded  to  sing. 

''  Chihienuas  Day. — In  the  morning,  as  afore  on  Monday,  the 
Hall  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.  At 
dinner,  roast  beef,  venison-pasties,  with  like  solemnities  as  afore. 
And  at  supper,  mutton  and  hens  i^oasted. 

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

''The  Banqiietting  NigJit. — It  is  proper  to  the  Butler's  office,. 
to  give  warning  to  every  House  of  Court,  of  this  banquet  ;  ta 
the  end  that  they  and  the  Innes  of  Chancery,  be  invited  thereto 
to  see  a  play  and  mask.  The  hall  is  to  be  furnished  with 
scaffolds  to  sit  on,  for  Ladies  to  behold  the  sports,  on  each 
side.  Which  ended  the  ladyes  are  to  be  brought  into  the 
Library,  unto  the  Banquet  there  ;  and  a  table  is  to  be  covered 
and  furnished  with  all  banquetting  dishes,  for  the  Lord  Chan- 
cellor, in  the  Hall ;  where  he  is  to  call  to  him  the  Ancients  of 
other  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  ^larshall  and  Steward  are  to  come  before  the  Lord 
Chancellour's  mess.  The  Butlers  for  Christmas  must  serve  wine  ; 
and  the  Butlers  of  the  House  beer  and  ale,  &c.  When  the 
banquet  is  ended,  then  cometh  into  the  Hall  the  Constable- 
Marshall,  fairly  mounted  on  his  mule  ;  and  deviseth  some  sport 
for  passing  away  the  rest  of  the  night. 

"  Tivclf  Day. — At  breakfast,  brawn,  mustard,  and  malmsey,. 
aft^r  morning  prayer  ended.  And  at  dinner,  the  Hall  is  to  be 
served  as  upon  St.  John's  Day." 


I3f>  CHRISTMAS. 

The  performance  of  "  Gorboduc  "  at  the  Inner  Temple  was 
received  with  such  great  applause,  and  the  services  of  Lord 
Robert  Dudley,  first  favourite  of  the  Queen,  so  highly  appre- 
ciated at  that  particular  ''grand  Christmasse,"  that  Queen 
P:iizabeth  commanded  a  repetition  of  the  play  about  a  fort- 
night later,  before  herself,  at  her  Court  at  Whitehall.  A  con- 
temporary MS.  note  (Cotton  MSS.,  A'it.  F.  v.)  says  of 

The  Performance  before  the  Queen, 

that  "on  the  i8th  of  January,  1562,  there  was  a  play  in  the 
Queen's  Hall  at  Westminster  bv  the  gentlemen  of  the  Temple 
after  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  the 
play  was  hrst  published,  in  September  of  that  year,  by  William 
Griffith,  a  bookseller  in  St.  Dunstan's  Churchyard  ;' but  nine 
years  afterwards  an  authorised  and  "true  copy"  of  the  play 
was  published  by  John  Day,  of  Aldersgate,  the  title  being  then 
altered  from  "Gorboduc  "  (in  which  name  the  spurious  edition 
had  been  issued)  to  "  Ferrex  and  Porrex."  The  title  of  this 
edition  set  forth  that  the  play  was  "  without  addition  or  altera- 
tion, but  altogether  as  the  same  was  shewed  on  stage  before 
the  Queen's  Majestic,  by  the  gentlemen  of  the  Inner  Temple." 
The  argument  of  the  play  was  taken  from  Geofi:'rey  of  Mon- 
mouth's "  History  of  British  Kings,"  and  was  a  call  to  Englishmen 
to  cease  from  strife  among  themselves  and  become  an  united 
people,  obedient  to  one  undisputed  rule  : — 

"  Within  one  land  one  single  rule  is  best : 
Divided  reigns  do  make  divided  hearts  ; 
But  peace  preserves  the  country. and  the  prince." 

It  recalled  the  horrors  of  the  civil  wars,  and  forbade  the  like 
again  : — 

"  What  princes  slain  before  their  timely  hour  ! 
What  waste  of  towns  and  people  in  the  land  ! 
^yhat  treasons  heap'd  on  murders  and  on  spoils  ! 
Whose  just  revenge  e'en  yet  is  scarcely  ceas'd  : 
Ruthful  remembrance  is  yet  raw  in  mind. 
The  gods  forbid  the  like  to  chance  again." 

A  good  description  of  the  play,  with  copious  extracts,  is  pub- 
lished in  Morley's  "  English  Plays,"  from  which  it  also  appears 
that  "  Queen  Mary's  expenditure  on  players  and  musicians  had 
been  between  two  and  three  thousand  pounds  a  year  in  salaries. 
Elizabeth  reduced  this  establishment,  but  still  paid  salaries 
to  interlude  players  and  musicians,  to  a  keeper  of  bears  and 
mastiffs,  a-s  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  additional 
use  was  made  of  their  services  ;  and  each  Gentleman  of  the 


UNDER   EDWARD    VI.,   MARY,   AXD   ELIZABETH.         137 

Chapel  had  nineteenpencc  a  day,  with  board  and  clothing. 
The  Master  of  the  Chapel  who  at  this  time  had  the  training 
of  the  children  w^as  Richard  Edwards,  who  had  written  lighter 
pieces  for  them  to  act  before  her  Majesty,  and  now^  applied  his 
skill  to  the  writing  of  English  comedies,  and  teaching  his  boys 
to  act  them  for  the  pleasure  of  the  Queen.  The  new  form  of 
entertainment  made  its  way  at  Court  and  through  the  country." 


THE   FOOL   OF   THE   OLD    PLAY. 
(From  a  Print  hy  lirciiiilni.) 


At  this  period 

The  Christmas  Revels  at  the  Ixxs  of  Court 

were  observed  with  much  zest  and  jollitv.     Sandys  (writing  in 
1833  of  Elizabeth's  time)  says  : — 

'*  The  order  of  the  usual  Christmas  amusements  at  the  Inns 
of  Court  at  this  period  would  cause  some  curious  scenes  if 
carried  into  effect  in  the  present  day.  Barristers  singing  and 
dancing  before  the  judges,  Serjeants  and  benchers,  would 
'  draw  a  house  '  if  spectators  were  admitted.      Of    so    serious 


138  CHRISTMAS. 

import  was  this  dancing  considered,  that  by  an  order  in 
Lincoln's  Inn  of  February,  7th  James  I.,  the  under  barristers 
were  by  decimation  put  out  of  commons  because  the  whole 
bar  offended  by  not  dancing  on  Candlemas  Day  preceding, 
according  to  the  ancient  order  of  the  society,  when  the  judges 
were  present ;  with  a  threat  that  if  the  fault  were  repeated,  they 
should  be  fined  or  disbarred." 

Sir  William  Dugdale  makes  the  following  reference  to 

The  Christmas  Revels  of  the  Inner  Temple  : — 

'*  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  b-y  the  Master 
of  the  Revells  :  and  one  of  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Utter  Barr  are 
chosen  to  sing  a  song  to  the  Judges,  Serjeants,  or  Masters  of 
the  Bench  ;  which  is  usually  performed ;  and  in  default  thereof, 
there  may  be  an  amerciament.  Then  the  judges  and  Benchers 
take  their  places,  and  sit  down  at  the  uppei'end  of  the  Hall. 
Which  done,  the  Utter-Barristers  and  Inner-Barristers,  perform  a 
second  solemn  Revell  before  them.  Which  ended,  the  Utter- 
Barristers  take  their  places  and  sit  down.  Some  of  the  Gentle- 
men of  the  Iniier-Barr,  do  present  the  House  with  dancing, 
which  is  called  the  Post  Revells,  and  continue  their  Dances,  till 
the  Judges  or  Bench  think  meet  to  rise  and  depart." 

The  Hard  Frost  of  1564 

gave  the  citizens  of  London  an  opportunity  of  keeping 
Christmas  on  the  ice.  An  old  chronicler  says  :  "  From 
2ist  December,  1564,  a  hard  frost  prevailed,  and  on  new 
year's  eve,  people  went  over  and  alongst  the  Thames  on  the  ise 
from  London  Bridge  to  Westminster.  Some  plaied  at  the  foot- 
ball as  boldlie  there,  as  if  it  had  been  on  the  drie  land  ;  divers 
of  the  Court,  being  then  at  Westminster  shot  dailie  at  prickes 
set  upon  the  Thames,  and  tradition  says.  Queen  Elizabeth 
herself  walked  upon  the  ise.  The  people  both  men  and 
women,  went  on  the  Thames  in  greater  numbers  than  in  any 
street  of  the  City  of  London.  On  the  third  dale  of  'January, 
1565,  at  night  it  began  to  thaw,  and  on  the  fifth  there  was  no 
ise  to  be  scene  between  London  Bridge  and  Lambeth,  which 
sudden  thaw  caused  great  floods,  and  high  waters,  that  bore 
downe  bridges  and  houses  and  drowned  Manie  people  in 
England." 

How  Queen  Elizabeth  went  to  Worship,  Christmas,  1565. 

Nichols'  gives    the    following   particular   account   of   Queen 
Elizabeth's  attendance  at  Divine  worship,  at  the   "  Chappell  of 

'     '  Progresses." 


UNDER    EDWARD    17.,    MARY,    AND    ELIZABETH.         139 

Whitehall,  Westminster,"  Christmas   Eve   and  Christmas   Day, 
1565  :— 

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

"  Item,  on  Christmas  Day  her  Majesty  came  to  service  very 
richly  apparelled  in  a  gown  of  purple  velvet  embroidered  with 
silver  very  richly  set  with  stones,  with  a  rich  collar  set  with 
stones  ;  the  Earl  of  Warwick  bare  the  sword,  the  Lady  Strange 
the  trayn.  After  the  Creed,  the  Queene's  Majesty  went  down  to 
the  offering,  and  having  a  short  forme  with  a  carpet,  and  a 
cushion  laid  by  a  gentleman  usher,-  the  .  .  .  taken  by  the 
Lord  Chamberlain,  her  Majesty  kneeled  down,  her  offering 
given  her  by  the  Marquis  of  Northampton  ;  after  which  she 
went  into  her  traverse,  where  she  abode  till  the  time  of  the 
communion,  and  then  came  forth,  and  kneeled  down  at  the 
cushion  and  carpet  aforesaid  ;  the  Gentlemen  Ushers  delivered 
the  towel  to  the  Lord  Chamberlain,  who  delivered  the  same  to 
be  holden  by  the  Earl  of  Sussex  on  the  right  hand,  and  the 
Earl  of  Leicester  on  the  left  hand  ;  the  Bishop  of  Rochester 
served  the  Queen  both  of  wine  and  bread  ;  then  the  Queen 
went  into  the  traverse  again  ;  and  the  Ladie  Cicilie,  wife  of  the 
Marquis  of  Baden,  came  out  of  the  traverse,  and  kneeled  at 
the  place  where  the  Queen  kneeled,  but  she  had  no  cushion, 
but  one  to  kneel  on  ;  after  she  had  received  she  returned  to  the 
traverse  again  ;  then  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  and  the 
Lord  Chamberlain  received  the  Communion  with  the  Mother  of 
the  Maids  ;  after  which  the  service  proceeded  to  the  end,  and 
the  Queen  returned  again  to  the  Chamber  of  presence  strait, 
and  not  the  closet.  Her  Majesty  dined  not  abroad  ;  the  said 
Oiticers  of  Arms  had  a  mess  of  meat  of  seven  dishes,  with 
bread,  beer,  ale,  and  wine." 


Royal  Christmases  at  Hampton  Court. 

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


140 


CHRISTMAS. 


Queen  Elizabeth's  Singers  and  Players. 

The  Christmas  entertainments  of  Queen  Ehzabeth  were 
enlivened  by  the  beautiful  singing  of  the  children  of  her 
Majesty's  Chapel.  From  the  notes  to  Gascoigne's  Princely 
Pleasures  (1821)  it  appears  that  Queen  Elizabeth  retained  on 
her  Royal  establishment  four  sets  of  singing  boys;  which 
belonged  to  the  Cathedral  of  St.  Paul,  the  Abbey  of  West-' 
minster,  St.  George's  Chapel,  Windsor,  and  the  "Household 
Chapel.  For  the  support  and  reinforcement  of  her  musical 
bands,  Elizabeth,  like  the  other  English  Sovereigns,  issued 
warrants  for  taking  "  up  suche  apt  and  meete  children,  as  are  litt 
to  be  instructed  and  framed  in  the  Art  and  Science  of  Musicke 
and  Singing."  Thomas  Tusser,  the  well-known  author  of  "  Five 
Hundreth  Points  of  Good  Husbandrye,"  was  in  his  youth  a 
choir  boy  of  St.  Paul's.  Nor  is  it  astonishing,  that  although 
masses  had  ceased  to  be  performed,  the  Queen  should  yet 
endeavour  to  preserve  sacred  melody  in  a  high  state  of  perfec- 
tion ;  since,  according  to  Burney,"  she  was  herself  greatly 
skilled  in  musical  learning.  "  If  her  Majesty,"  says  that 
eminent  author,  "  was  ever  able  to  execute  any  of  the  pieces 
that  are  preserved  in  a  MS.  which  goes  under  the  name  of 
Queen  Elizabeth's  Virginal-book,  she  must  have  been  a  very 
great  player,  as  some  of  the  pieces  which  were  composed  by 
Tallis,  Bird,  Giles,  Farnaby,  Dr.  Bull,  and  others,  are  so  difficult 
that  it  would  be  hardly  possible  to  find  a  master  in  Europe  who 
would  undertake  to  play  any  of  them  at  the  end  of  a  month's 
practice."  ^  But  the  children  of  the  chapel  were  also  employed 
in  the  theatrical  exhibitions  represented  at  Court,  for  which 
their  musical  education  had  peculiarly  qualified  them.  Richard 
Edwards,  an  eminent  poet  and  musician  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  had  written  two  comedies;  Damon  and  Pythias,  and 
Palemon  and  Arcite,  which,  according  to  Wood,  were  often 
acted  before  the  Queen,  both  at  Court  and  at  Oxford.     With 


History  of  Music,"  vol.  iii.  p.  15. 


UNDER    EDWARD    VI.,    MARY,    AXD    ELIZABETH. 


141 


the  latter  of  these  Queen  Ehzabeth  was  so  much  dehghtecl  that 
she  promised  Edwards  a  reward,  which  she  subsequent!}'  gave 
him  by  making  him  iirst  Gentleman  of  her  Chapel,  and  in  1561 
Master  of  the  Children  on  the  death  of  Richard  Bowyer.  As 
the  Queen  was  particularly  attached  to  dramatic  entertainments, 
about  1569  she  formed  the  children  of  the  Royal  Chapel  into  a 


THi:    .\,iTlN( 


OV    ONE    (M-    S 


ItAKKSrilARi:  S    PI. AYS    IN 
ELIZABETH. 


TlIK    TIME    (IF 


(/>'_\'  pcniiissioii,  from  Messrs.  Casscil  &  Co.'s  "  IlluslraL-d  Histoiy  of  England.") 


company  of  theatrical  performers,  and  placed  them  under  the 
superintendence  of  Edwards.  Not  long  after  she  formed  a 
second  society  of  players  under  the  title  of  the  "Children  of  the 
Revels,"  and  by  these  two  companies  all  Lyiy's  plays,  and  many 
of  Shakespeare's  and  Jonson's,  were  first  performed.  Jonson 
has  celebrated  one  of  the  chapel  children,  named  Salathiel 
Pavy,   who  was  famous  for  his  performance  of  old  men,  but 


142  CHRISTMAS. 

who    died   about    1601,    under   the    a.cje    of    thirteen.     In    his 
beautiful  epitaph  of  Pavy,  Jonson  says  : — 

"  'Tvvas  a  child  that  did  so  thrive 

In  grace  and  feature, 
As  heaven  and  nature  seem'd  to  strive 

Which  own'd  the  creature. 
Years  he  number'd  scarce  thirteen 

When  fates  turn'd  cruel, 
Yet  three  fill'd  Zodiacs  had  he  been 

The  stage's  jewel  ; 
And  did  act,  what  now  we  moan, 

Old  men  so  duly, 
That  the  Parcce  thought  him  one 

He  played  so  truly." 

The  Shakespearian  period  had  its  grand  Christmases,  for 
The  Christmas  Players 

at  the  Court  of  Queen  Ehzabeth  inchided  England's  greatest 
dramatist,  William  Shakespeare  ;  and  the  Queen  not  only  took 
delight  in  witnessing  Shakespeare's  plays,  but  also  admired  the 
poet  as  a  player.  The  histrionic  ability  of  Shakespeare  was  by 
no  means  contemptible,  though  probably  not  such  as  to  have 
transmitted  his  name  to  posterity  had  he  confined  himself 
exclusively  to  acting.  Rowe  informs  us  that  "the  tip-top  of 
his  performances  was  the  ghost  in  his  own  Hamlet;"  but 
Aubrey  states  that  he  "  did  act  exceedingly  well  "  ;  and  Cheetle, 
a  contemporary  of  the  poet,  who  had  seeii  him  perform,  assures 
us  that  he  was  ''  excellent  in  the  quality  he  professed."  An 
anecdote  is  preserved  in  connection  with  Shakespeare's  playing 
before  Queen  Elizabeth.  While  he  was  taking  the  part  of  a 
king,  in  the  presence  of  the  Queen,  Elizabeth  rose,  and,  in 
crossing  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  w^hether  this  was  the  result  of  in- 
advertence, or  a  determination  to  preserve  the  consistency  of 
his  part,  moved  again  towards  him,  and  again  dropped  "her 
glove.  Shakespeare  then  stooped  down  to  pick  it  up,  saying, 
in  the  character  of  the  monarch  whom  he  was  playing — 

' '  And  though  now  bent  on  this  high  embassy, 
Yet  stoop  we  to  take  up  our  cousin's  glove." 

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

Graxd  Christmas  at  Gray's  Inx. 

In  1594  there  was  a  celebrated  Christmas  at  Gray's  Inn,  of 
which  an  account  was  published  in  1688  under  the  following 
title  :— 

"  Gesta  Grayorum  :  or  the  History  of  the  High  and  Mighty 
Prince,  Henry  Prince  of  Purpoole,  Arch-Duke  of  Stapulia  and 
Bernardia,  Duke  of  High  and  Nether  Holborn,  Marquis  of  St. 


U\'DER   EDWARD    VI.,   MARY,   AND   ELIZABETH.         143 

Giles  and  Tottenham,  Count  Palatine  of  Bloomsbury  and 
Clerkeuwell,  Great  Lord  of  the  Cantons  of  Islington,  Kentish- 
Town,  Paddington,  and  Knights-bridge,  Knight  of  the  most 
Heroical  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  enter- 
tainment of  Q.  Elizabeth  ;  who,  with  the  Nobles  of  both  Courts, 
was  present  thereat.  London,  Printed  for  W.  Canning,  at  his 
shop  in  the  Temple-Cloysters,  MDCLXXXVIIL  Price  one 
shilling."  4to  nine  sheets,  dedicated  "  To  the  most  honourable 
Matthew  Smyth,  Esq.,  Comptroller  of  the  honourable  society  of 
the  Inner  Temple." 

The  Prince  of  Purpoole  was  IMr.  Henry  Helmes,  a  Norfolk 
gentleman,  "  who  was  thought  to  be  accomplished  with  all  good 
parts,  tit  for  so  great  a  dignity  ;  and  was  also  a  very  proper  man 
of  personage,  and  very  active  in  dancing  and  revelling."  His 
coffers  were  filled  by  voluntary  contributors,  amongst  whom  the 
lord  treasurer,  Sir  William  Cecil,  sent  him  ten  pounds,  and  a 
purse  of  rich  needlework. 

The  performers  were  highly  applauded  by  Queen  Elizabeth, 
who  expressed  satisfaction  in  her  own  peculiar  style.  When 
the  actors  had  performed  their  Masque,  some  of  her  Majesty's 
courtiers  danced  a  measure,  whereupon  the  Queen  exclaimed  : 
"  What  !  shall  we  have  bread  and  cheese  after  a  banquet  ? " 
Finally  the  Prince  and  his  Ofiicers  of  State  were  honoured  by 
kissing  her  fair  hands,  and  receiving  the  most  tlattering  com- 
mendations. The  whole  amusement  terminated  in  fighting  at 
barriers  ;  the  Earl  of  Essex,  and  others,  challengers  ;  the  Earl 
of  Cumberland  and  company  defendants,  "  into  which  number," 
says  the  narrator,  "  our  Prince  was  taken,  and  behaved  himself 
so  valiantly  and  skilfully  therein,  that  he  had  the  prize  adjudged 
due  unto  him,  which  it  pleased  her  Majesty  to  deliver  him  with 
her  own  hands  ;  telling  him,  that  it  was  not  her  gift,  for  if  it 
had,  it  should  have  been  better  ;  but  she  gave  it  to  him,  as  that 
prize  which  was  due  to  his  desert,  and  good  behaviour  in  those 
exercises  ;  and  that  hereafter  he  should  be  remembered  with  a 
better  reward  from  herself.  The  prize  was  a  jewel,  set  with 
seventeen  diamonds  and  four  rubies  ;  in  value  accounted  worth 
a  hundred  marks." 

The  following  is  the  Gray's  Inn  list  of  performers,  which 
included  some  gentlemen  who  were  afterwards  "  distinguished 
members  in  the  law." 

[From  "  Gesta  Gravorum,"  page  6.] 

"The  order  of  the  Prince  of  Purpoole's  proceedings,  with  his 
officers  and  attendants  at  his  honourable  inthronization  ;  which 
was  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. 


144 


CHRISTMAS. 


A  Marshal.  I 
Trumpets.    ) 

Pursuevant  at  Arms 

Townsmen  in  the  Prince's  Livery  I 
with  Ilalberts.  ) 

Captain  of  the  Guard 

Baron  of  the  Grand  Port 

Baron  of  the  Base  Port   ... 

Gentlemen  for  Entertainment,  three  couples 

Baron  of  the  Petty  Port 

Baron  of  the  New  Port   ... 


( A  Marshal. 
( Trumpets. 

Lanye. 
\  Yeomen  of  the  Guard 
(  three  couples. 

Grimes. 
Dudley. 

Grante. 

Binge,  &^e. 

IFiUiams. 

Love/. 
I  Wentworth. 


Gentlemen  for  Entertainment,  three  couples  ...  ...       -  Zukenden. 

\  Forrest. 
Lieutenant  of  the  Pensioners     ...  ...  ...  ...  Tonstal. 

Gentlemen  Pensioners,  twelve  couples,  viz.  : 
Lawson.     ^  TRotts.         "j  TDavison. 

I  I  Anderson.  I  | 


Devereux. 

Stapleton. 


lascott. 
Iken. 


Daniel.       J  [e 

Chief  Ranger  and  Master  of  the  (; 
Master  of  the  Revels 
Master  of  the  Revellers  ... 
Captain  of  the  Pensioners 
Sewer 
Carver        ...  ..." 

Another  Sesver     ... 

Cup-bearer 

Groom-porter 

Sheriff       

Clerk  of  the  Council 
Clerk  of  the  Parliament. 
Clerk  of  the  Crown 

Orator        

Recorder   ... 

Solicitor     ... 

Serjeant     ... 

Speaker  of  the  Parliament 

Commis-sary 

Attorney    ... 

Serjeant     ... 

Master  of  the  Requests    ... 

Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer 

Master  of  the  Wards  and  Idiots 

Reader 

Lord  Chief  Baron  of  the  Exchequer 

Master  of  the  Rolls 

Lord  Chief  Baron  of  the  Common  Pleas 

Lord  Chief  Justice  of  the  Princes  Bench 

Master  of  the  Ordnance  ... 

Lieutenant  of  the  Tower 

Master  of  the  Jewel-house 

Treasurer  of  the  House-hold 

Knight  Marshal    ... 

Master  of  the  Ward-robe 

Comptroller  of  the  House-hold.. 

Bishop  of  St.  Giles's  in  the  Fie.. 

Steward  of  the  House-hold 

Lord  Warden  of  the  four  Ports . . 

Secretary  of  State 

Lord  Admiral 

Lord  Treasurer     ... 

Lord  Great  Chamberlain 

Lord  High  Constable. 


J      i 


cum  reliquis. 

Forrest. 

Lambert. 

Tevcry. 

Cooke. 

Archer. 

JMoseley. 

Drew  cry. 

Painter. 

Ben  net. 

Leach . 

/ones. 


Downes. 
Heke. 
Starkey. 
Dunne. 
Goldsmith. 
Bellen. 
Greenwood. 
Holt. 

Hitchcombe. 
Faldo. 
Kitts. 
Ellis. 
Cobb. 
Briggs. 
Hetlcn. 
Damporte. 
Crew. 

Fitz-  Williams. 
Lloyd. 
Darlen. 
Smith. 
Bell. 
Conney. 
Bon  the. 
Dandye. 
Smith. 
Damporte. 
Jones. 

Cecil  (Richard). 
Morrcy. 
Southtvorth. 


UNDER   EDWARD    VI.,   MARY,   AND   ELIZABETH. 


145 


Lord  Marshal        ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  Kuapolck. 

Lord  Privy  Seal   ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  Lamphew. 

Lord  Chamberlain  of  the  House-hold...  ...  ...  Markhaiii. 

Lord  High  Steward         ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  Keinpe. 

Lord  Chancellor...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  Johnson. 

Archbishop  of  St.  Andrews  in  Holborn  ...  ...  fiitsh. 

Serjeant  at  Arms,  with  the  Mace  ...  ...  ...  Flenuiiing: 

Gentleman- Usher  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  Chevett. 

The  Shield  of  Pegasus,  for  the  Liner-Temple...  ...  Scevitigtou. 

Serjeant  at  Arms,  with  the  Sword         ...  ...  ...  Glascott. 

Gentleman-Usher  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  Paylor. 

The  Shield  of  the  Griffin,  for  Gray's-Lin  ...  ...  IVickliffe. 

The  King  at  Arms  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  Pcrkiiison. 

The  great  Shield  of  the  Prince's  Arms...  ...  ...  Cobley. 

The  Prince  of  Purpoole  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  Helnies. 

A  Page  of  Honour  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  Wandforde. 

Gentlemen  of  the  Privy  Chamber,  six  couples. 

A  Page  of  Honour  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  Bittkr  (Koger). 

Vice-Chamberlain  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  Butler  {Tho??ias). 

Master  of  the  Horse         ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  Fitz-Hiti;h. 

Yeomen  of  the  Guard,  three  couples. 
Townsmen  in  Liveries. 

The  Family  and  Followers." 


Christmas's  Lamext.\tiox 

is  the  subject  of  an  old  song  preserved  in  the  Roxburgh  Collec- 
tion of  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  to 
London."  It  appears  to  have  been  published  at  the  end  of  the 
sixteenth  or  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century.  The 
burden  of  the  song  is  that  Christmas  "  charity  from  the  country 
is  tied,"  and  the  first  verse  will  sufficiently  indicate  the  style  of 
the  writin.tr  : — 


Christmas  is  my  name,  far  have  I  gone, 
Have  I  gone,  have  I  gone,  have  I  gone, 

witliout  regard, 
Whereas  great  men  by  flocks  there  be  flown, 
There  be  flown,  there  be  flown,  there  be  flown, 

to  London-ward  ; 
Where  they  in  pomp  and  pleasure  do  waste 
That  which  Christmas  was  wonted  to  feast, 

Welladay  ! 
Houses  where  music  was  wont  for  to  ring 
Nothing  but  bats  and  owlets  do  sing. 

Wellada)-  !     Welladay  \     A\'elladay  ! 

where  should  I  stay? 


Old  Christmas  Returned 

is  the  title  of  a  lively  Christmas  ditty  which  is  a  kind  of  replv 
to  the  preceding  ballad.  It  is  preserved  in  the  collection  formed 
by  Samuel  Pepys,  some  time  Secretary  to  the  Admiraltv,  and 
author  of  the  famous  diary,  and  by  him  bequeathed  to  ]\iagda- 

II 


146  CHRISTMAS. 

lene  College,  Cambridge.  The  full  title  and  first  verse  of  the 
old  song  are  as  follows  : — 

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

'  Who  feasts  the  poor,  a  true  reward  shall  find, 
Or  helps  the  old,  the  feeble,  lame,  and  blind.'  " 

"  All  you  that  to  feasting  and  mirth  are  inclined, 
Come,  here  is  good  news  for  to  pleasure  your  mind  ; 
Old  Christmas  is  come  for  to  keep  open  house, 
He  scorns  to  be  guilty  of  starving  a  mouse  ; 
Then  come,  boys,  and  welcome,  for  diet  the  chief. 
Plum-pudding,  goose,  capon,  minc'd  pies,  and  roast  beef." 

Christmas-Keeping  in  the  Country 

w'as  revived  in  accordance  with  the  commands  of  Queen  Eliza- 
beth, who  listened  sympathetically  to  the  "  Lamentations  "  of  her 
lowlier  subjects.  Their  complaint  was  that  the  royal  and  public 
pageants  at  Christmastide  allured  to  the  metropolis  many  country 
gentlemen,  who,  neglecting  the  comforts  of  their  dependents  in 
the  country  at  this  season,  dissipated  in  town  part  of  their  means 
for  assisting  them,  and  incapacitated  themselves  from  continuing 
that  hospitality  for  which  the  country  had  been  so  long  noted. 
In  order  to  check  this  practice,  the  gentlemen  of  Norfolk  and 
Suffolk  were  commanded  by  Queen  Elizabeth  to  depart  from 
London-  before  Christmas,  and  "  to  repair  to  their  counties,  and 
there  to  keep  hospitality  amongst  their  neighbours."  The 
presence  of  the  higher  classes  was  needed  among  the  country 
people  to  give  that  assistance  which  was  quaintly  recommended 
by  Tusser  in  his  '*  Hundreth  good  Points  of  Husbandrie"  : 

"  At  Christmas  be  mery,  and  thanke  God  of  all  : 

And  feast  thy  pore  neighbours,  the  great  with  the  small. 
"\'ea  al  the  yere  long  have  an  eie  to  the  poore  : 
And  God  shall  sende  luck  to  kepe  open  thy  doore." 

Henry  Lord  Berkeley,  who  had  a  seat  in  Warwickshire, 
appears  to  have  set  a  good  example  in  this  respect  to  the 
noblemen  of  the  period,  for,  according  to  Dugdale,  "  the  greatest 
part  of  this  lord's  abydinge  after  his  mother's  death,  happenynge 
in  the  sixth  yeare  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  was  at  Callowdon,  till  his 
own  death  in  the  eleventh  of  Kinge  James,  from  whence,  once 
in  two  or  three  yeares,  hee  used  in  July  to  come  to  Berkeley." 
The  historic  house  of  Berkeley  essentially  belongs  to  Gloucester- 
shire ;  but  on  the  death  of  Edward  VL,  Henry  Lord  Berkeley, 


148  CHRISTMAS. 

by  descent  from  the  ]\Io\vbrays  and  the  Segraves,  became 
possessed  of  the  ancient  Manor  and  castellated  mansion  of 
Calndon,  near  Coventry,  where  he  lived  in  splendour,  and  kept 
a  grand  retinue,  being  profuse  in  his  hospitalities  at  Christmas, 
as  well  as  in  his  alms  to  the  poor  throughout  the  year.  "  As 
touchinge  the  Almes  to  the  poore  of  5  &  six  country  p'ishes  & 
villages  hard  adjoyninge  to  Callowdon  were  relieved,  wdth  each 
of  them  a  neepe  of  holsome  pottage,  with  a  peece  of  beoffe  or 
mutton  therin,  halfe  a  cheate  loafe,  &  a  kan  of  beere,  besides 
the  private  Almes  that  dayly  went  out  of  his  purse  never  without 
eight  or  ten  shillings  in  single  money  of  ijd  iijd  &  groates,  & 
besides  his  Maundy  &  Thursday  before  Ester  day,  wherein 
many  poore  men  and  women  w^ere  clothed  by  the  liberality  of 
this  lord  and  his  first  wife,  whilest  they  lived  ;  and  besides 
twenty  markes,  or  twenty  povmd,  or  more,  which  thrice  each 
yeare,  against  the  feaste  of  Christmas,  Ester,  and  Whitsontide, 
was  sent  by  this  Lord  to  two  or  three  of  the  chiefest  Inhabitants 
of  these  villages,  and  of  Gosford  Street  at  Coventry,  to  bee  dis- 
tributed amongst  the  poore  accordinge  to  their  discretions. 
Such  was  the  humanity  of  this  Lord,  that  in  tymes  of  Christmas 
and  other  festyvalls,  when  his  neighbor  townships  were  invited 
and  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,  having 
guests  of  Honour  or  remarkable  ranke  that  filled  his  owne  table, 
to  seate  himselfe  at  the  lower  end  ;  and  when  such  guests  filled 
but  half  his  bord,  &  a  meaner  degree  the  rest  of  his  table,  then 
to  seate  himselfe  the  last  of  the  first  ranke,  &  the  first  of  the 
later,  which  was  about  the  midst  of  his  large  tables,  neare  the 
salt." 

Another  home  of  Christmas  hospitality  in  the  days  of  "  Good 
Queen  Bess"  was  Penshurst  in  Kent,  the  birthplace  of  the  dis- 
tinguished and  chivalrous  Sir  Philip  Sidney.  "All  who  enjoyed 
the  hospitality  of  Penshurst,"  says  Mills's  History  of  Chivalry, 
^'  were  equal  in  consideration  of  the  host  ;  there  were  no  odious 
distinctions  of  rank  or  fortune  ;  *  the  dishes  did  not  grow  coarser 
as  they  receded  from  the  head  of  the  table,'  and  no  huge  salt- 
cellar divided  the  noble  from  the  ignoble  guests."  That  hos- 
pitality was  the  honourable  distinction  of  the  Sidney  family  in 
general  is  also  evident  from  Ben  Jonson's  lines  on  Penshurst  : 


"  Whose  liberal  board  doth  flow 
With  all  that  hospitality  doth  know  ! 
Where  comes  no  guest  but  is  allow'd  to  eat, 
Without  his  fear,  and  of  thy  Lord's  own  meat. 
Where  the  same  beer  and  bread,  and  self-same  wine, 
That  is  His  Lordship's,  shall  be  also  mine."  ' 


Gifford's  "  Ben  Jonson,"  vol.  viii.  p.  254. 


UXDER   EDWARD    VI.,   MARY,   AND   ELIZABETH. 


149 


A  reviewer  of  ''The  Sidneys  of  Penshurst,"  by  Philip  Sidney, 
says  there  is  a  tradition  that  the  Black  Prince  and  his  Fair  Maid 
of  Kent  once  spent  their  Christmastide  at  Penshurst,  whose 
banqueting   hah,  one   of  the  iinest  in  England,  dates  back  to 


CHRISTMAS    IN    THE    HALL. 

"  A  man  might  then  behold, 
At  Christmas,  in  each  hall, 
Good  fires  to  curb  the  cold, 
And  meat  for  great  and  small." 

that  age  of  chivalry.  At  Penshurst  Spenser  wrote  part  of  his 
"  Shepherd's  Calendar,"  and  Ben  Jonson  drank  and  rhymed  and 
revelled  in  this  stateliest  of  English  manor  houses. 


ISO 


CHRISTMAS. 


Queen  Elizabeth  died  on  March  2t„  1603,  after  nominating 
James  VI.  of  Scotland  as  her  successor,  and 

The  Accession  of  Kixg  James, 

as  James  I.  of  England,  united  the  crowns  of  England  and 
Scotland,  which  had  been  the  aim  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots 
before  her  death. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 
CHRISTMAS     UNDER    JAMES     I. 

(1603-1625.) 

Court   Masques. 

The  Court  entertainments  of  Christmastide  in  the  reign  of 
James  the  First  consisted  chiefly  of  tlie  magnificent  masques  of 
Ben  Jonson  and  others,  who,  by  their  training  in  the  preceding 
reign,  had  acquired  a  mastery  of  the  dramatic  art.  The 
company  to  wliich  Shakespeare  belonged  (that  of  Lord 
Chamberlain's  players)  became  the  King's  players  on  the 
accession  of  James,  and  several  of  Shakespeare's  plays  were 
produced  at  Court.  But  very  "early  in  this  reign  plays  gave 
place  to  the  more  costly  and  elaborate  entertainments  called 
masques,  but  which  were  very  different  from  the  dumb-show 
masques  of  Elizabeth's  reign,  the  masquerades  of  Henry  the 
Eighth,  and  the  low-buffoonery  masques  of  earlier  times.  At 
the  Court  of  James  thousands  of  pounds  were  sometimes 
expended  on  the  production  of  a  single  masque.  To  the  aid 
of  poetry,  composed  by  poets  of  the  first  rank,  came  the  most 
skilful  musicians  and  the  most  ingenious  machinists.  Inigo 
Jones,  who  became  architect  to  the  Court  in  1606,  shared 
honours  with  Ben  Jonson  in  the  production  of  the  Court 
masques,  as  did  also  Henr}-  Lawes,  the  eminent  musician. 
In  some  of  the  masques  the  devices  of  ahire  were  the  work  of 
''  Master  Jones,"  as  well  as  the  invention  and  the  architecture 
of  the  whole  of  the  scenerv.  D' Israeli  ^  says: — "That  the 
moveable  scenery  of  these  masques  formed  as  perfect  a  scenical 
illusion  as  any  that  our  own  age,  with  all  its  perfection  and 
decoration,  has  attained  to,  will  not  be  denied  by  those  who 
have  read  the  few  masques  that  have  been  printed.  They 
usually  contrived  a  double  division  of  the  scene  ;  one  part  was 
for  some  time  concealed  from  the  spectator,  which  produced 
surprise  and  varietv.  Thus  in  the  Lord's  Masc^ue,  at  the 
marriage  of  the  Palatine,  the  scene  W'as  divided  into  two  parts 
from  the  roof  to  the  floor  ;  the  lower  part  being  first  discovered, 
there  appeared  a  wood  in  perspective,  the  innermost  part  being 
of  "  releeve  or  whole  round,"  the  rest  painted.     On  the  left  a 

'  "  Curiosities  of  Literature." 


152  CHRISTMAS. 

cave,  and  on  the  right  a  thicket  from  which  issued  Orpheus. 
At  the  back  of  the  scene,  at  the  sudden  fall  of  a  curtain,  the 
upper  part  broke  on  the  spectators,  a  heaven  of  clouds  of  all 
hues  ;  the  stars  suddenly  vanished,  the  clouds  dispersed  ;  an 
element  of  artificial  fire  played  about  the  house  of  Prometheus 
— a  bright  and  transparent  cloud  reaching  from  the  heavens  to 
the  earth,  whence  the  eight  maskers  descended  with  the  music 
of  a  full  song  ;  and  at  the  end  of  their  descent  the  cloud  broke 
in  twain,  and  one  part  of  it,  as  with  a  wind,  was  blown  athwart 
the  scene.  While  this  cloud  was  vanishing,  the  wood,  being 
the  under  part  of  the  scene,  was  insensibly  changing  :  a  per- 
spective view  opened,  with  porticoes  on  each  side,  and  female 
statues  of  silver,  accompanied  with  ornaments  of  architecture, 
filled  the  end  of  the  house  of  Prometheus,  and  seemed  all  of 
goldsmith's  work.  The  women  of  Prometheus  descended  from 
their  niches  till  the  anger  of  Jupiter  turned  them  again  into 
statues.  It  is  evident,  too,  that  the  size  of  the  procenium 
accorded  with  the  magnificence  of  the  scene  ;  for  I  find 
choruses  described,  'and  changeable  conveyances  of  the  song,' 
in  manner  of  an  echo,  performed  by  more  than  forty  different 
voices  and  instruments  in  various  parts  of  the  scene." 

The  masque,  as  Lord  Bacon  says,  was  composed  for  princes, 
and  bv  princes  it  was  played.  The  King  and  Queen,  Prince 
Henry,  and  Prince  Charles  (afterwards  Charles  the  First)  all 
appeared  in  Court  masques,  as  did  also  the  nobility  and  gentry 
of  the  Court,  foreign  ambassadors,  and  other  eminent  per- 
sonages. 

In  his  notes  to  "  The  Masque  of  Queens,"  Ben  Jonson  refers 
several  times  to  "  the  King's  Majesty's  book  (our  sovereign)  of 
Demonology."  The  goat  ridden  was  said  to  be  often  the  devil 
himself,  but  "  of  the  green  cock,  we  have  no  other  ground  (to 
confess  ingenuously)  than  a  vulgar  fable  of  a  witch,  that  with  a 
cock  of  that  colour,  and  a  bottom  of  blue  thread,  would  trans- 
port herself  through  the  air  ;  and  so  escaped  (at  the  time  of  her 
being  brought  to  execution)  from  the  hand  of  justice.  It  was  a 
tale  when  I  went  to  school." 

That  there  was  no  lack  of  ability  for  carrying  out  the  Court 
commands  in  regard  to  the  Christmas  entertamments  of  this 
period  is  evident  from  the  company  of  eminent  men  who  used 
to  meet  at  the  "  Mermaid."  "  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,"  says 
Gifford,^  "  previously  to  his  unfortunate  engagement  with  the 
wretched  Cobham  and  others,  had  instituted  a  meeting  of  beaux 
esprits  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  Shakes- 
peare, Beaumont,  Fletcher,  Selden,  Cotton,  Carew,  Martin, 
Donne,  and   many  others,  whose  names,   even  at   this   distant 

'  "  Memoirs  of  Ben  Jonson." 


CHKIsniAS    UXDER   yAMES    I.  i53 

period,  call  up  a  mingled  feeling  of  reverence  and  ^^P^^^;' 
Here  in  the  full  flow  and  confidence  ot  friendship  the  hxel> 
and  interesting  -  wit-combats  "  took  place  between  Shakespeai-e 
and  Jonson;  and  hither,  m  probable  allusion  to  them,  Beau- 
mont fondly  lets  his  thoughts  wander  m  his  letter  to  Jonson 
from  the  country. 

"  What  things  have  we  seen, 

Done  at  the  Mermaid  ?  heard  words  that  have  been, 

So  nimble,  and  so  full  of  subtle  flame, 

As  if  that  every  one  from  whom  they  came. 

Had  meant  to  put  his  whole  wit  in  a  jest,'  &c. 

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

A  Royal  Christmas  at  Roystox, 

at  his  new  hunting  seat  there,  and  "  between  the  i8th  of 
December  and  22nd  of  January  he  there  knighted  Sir  Richard 
Hussev  of  Salop  ;  Sir  Edward  Bushell,  ot  Gloucestershire  ;  Sii 
John  Fenwick,  of  Northumberland  ;  Sir  John  Huet,  of  London  ; 
Sir  Robert  Jermyn,  of  Suftolk  ;  Sir  Isaac  Jermyn  of  Suttolk  ; 
Sir  John  Rowse;  Sir  Thomas  Muschamp,  of  Surrey.  Mr. 
Chamberlame,  ma  letter  to  Mr.  Winwood  troin  London 
December  i8th,  savs  :  'The  King  came  back  from  Roy^ton  on 
Saturdav  ;  but  so  far  from  being  weary  or  satisfyed  with  tho.e 
sports,  thit  presently  after  the  holy-days  he  makes  reckoning  to 
be  there  againe,  or,  as  some  say,  to  go  further  towards  Lincoln- 
shire, to  a  place  called  Ancastcr  Heath:  ' 

In  this  letter  Mr.  Chamberlaine  also  refers  to 

Other  Court  Amusements  of  Christmastide, 

for,  proceeding,  he  says  :—  . 

"In  the  meantime  here  is  great  provision  tor  Cockpit,  to 
entertaine  him  at  home,  and  of  Masks  and  Revells  against  the 
marriage  of  Sir  Philip  Herbert  and  the  Lady  Susan  ^  -^'^  -'hich 
is  to  be  celebrated  on  St.  John's  Day.  The  Queen  hath  hke- 
vise  a  great  Mask  in  hand  against  Twelftl^tide  for  which 
there  was  ^3,000  delivered  a  month  ago.  Her  brother,  the 
Duke  of  Hoist,  is  here  still,  procuring  a  levy  of  men  to  carry 
Into  Hungary.  The  Tragedy  of  '  Gowr>  '  u.th  all  Jhe  -^lon 
and  actors,  hath  been  twice  represented  by  the  King  .  Pla> eis^ 
with  exceeding  concourse  of  all  sorts  of  people  ;  but  uhethei 
the  matter  or  manner  be  not  well  handled,  or  that  it  be  thought 
unfit  that  Princes  should  be  played  on  the  stage  m  their  lite-^ 
time  I  hear  that  some  great  Councellors  are  much  displeased 
Sil,  and  so  'tis  thought  shall.be  forbidden.  And  so  wishing 
a  merry  Christmas  and  many  a  good  year  to  you  and   Mis. 

»   "  Progresses  of  King  James  the  First.' 


154  CHRISTMAS. 

Winwood,  I  committ  you  to  God.  Yours,  most  assuredly, 
John  Chamberlaixe.'' 

"  On  the  26th  of  January,  Mr.  Chamberlaine  writes  thus  to 
Mr.  Winwood  :  '  I  doubt  not  but  Dudley  Carleton  hath 
acquainted  you  with  all  their  Christmas-games  at  Court,  fcr 
he  was  a  spectator  of  all  the  sports  and  shows.  The  King  went 
to  Royston  two  days  after  Twelfth-tide,  where  and  thereabout 
he  hath  continued  ever  since,  and  finds  such  felicity  in  that 
hunting  life,  that  he  hath  written  to  the  Councill  that  it  is  the 
only  means  to  maintain  his  health,  which  being  the  health  and 
welfare  of  us  all,  he  desires  them  to  take  the  charge  and  burden 
of  affairs,  and  foresee  that  he  be  not  interrupted  or  troubled 
with  too  imich  biisiiiess.' " 

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

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

On  Jrnuary  8th,  another  letter  of  Mr.  Chamberlaine  thus 
refers  to  gaming  at  Court  :  "  On  the  Twelfth-eve  there  was 
great  golden  play  at  Court.  No  Gamester  admitted  that 
brought  not  ^^300  at  least.  Montgomery  played  the  King's 
money,  and  won  him  £750,  which  he  had  for  his  labour.  The 
Lord  Montegle  lost  the  Queen  ;^400.  Sir  Robert  Cary,  for  the 
Prince,  ;^30o  ;  and  the  Earl  Salisbury,  ^300  ;  the  Lord  Buck- 
hurst,  ;^5oo  ;  et  sic  de  ccvtcris.  So  that  I  heard  of  no  winner  but 
the  King  and  Sir  Francis  Wolley,  who  got  above  ;^8oo.  The 
King  went  a  hawking-journey  yesterday  to  Theobalds  and 
returns  to-morrow. 

"  Above  Westminster  the  Thames  is  quite  frozen  over  ;  and 
the  Archbishop  came  from  Lambeth,  on  Twelfth-day,  over  the 
ice    to    Court.     Many   fanciful    experiments   are    daily   put    in 


CHRISTMAS    UNDER   JAMES   I.  155 

practice  ;  as  certain  youths  burnt  a  gallon  of  wine  upon  the  ice, 
and  made  all  the  passengers  partakers.  But  the  best  is,  of  an 
honest  woman  (they  say)  that  had  a  great  longing  to  encrease 
her  family  on  the  Thames  "  (Nichols's  ''  Progresses  "). 

The  Reigx  of  James  I.'s  Favourites 

dates  from  Christmas  Day,  1607,  when  he  knighted  Robert 
Carr,  or  Ker,  a  young  border  Scot  of  the  Kers  of  Fernihurst, 
the  first  of  the  favourites  who  ruled  both  the  King  and  the 
kingdom.  Carr  had  been  some  years  in  France,  and  being 
a  handsome  youth — "  straight-limbed,  well-formed,  strong- 
shouldered,  and  smooth-faced  " — he  had  been  led  to  believe 
that  if  he  cultivated  his  personal  appearance  and  a  courtliness 
of  address,  he  was  sure  of  making  his  fortune  at  the  Court  of 
James.  "  Accordingly  he  managed  to  appear  as  page  to  Lord 
Dingwall  at  a  grand  tilting  match  at  Westminster,  in  1606. 
According  to  chivalric  usage  it  became  his  duty  to  present  his 
lord's  shield  to  his  Majesty  ;  but  in  manoeuvring  his  horse  on 
the  occasion  it  fell  and  broke  his  leg.  That  fall. was  his  rise. 
James  was  immediately  struck  w'ith  the  beauty  of  the  youth 
who  lay  disabled  at  his  feet,  and  had  him  straightway  carried 
into  a  house  near  Charing  Cross,  and  sent  his  own  surgeon  to 
him.  .  .  .  On  Christmas  Day,  1607,  James  knighted  him  and 
made  him  a  gentleman  of  the  bedchamber,  so  as  to  have  him 
constantly  about  his  person.  Such  w-as  his  favour  that  every 
one  pressed  around  him  to  obtain  their  suits  with  the  King.  He 
received  rich  presents  ;  the  ladies  courted  his  attention  ;  the 
greatest  lords  did  him  the  most  obsequious  and  disgusting 
homage."  ^  He  afterwards  formed  that  connection  with  Frances 
Howard,  Countess  of  Essex,  which  resulted  in  her  divorce  from 
her  husband,  and,  subsecjuently,  on  his  marrying  Lady  Essex, 
the  King  made  him  Earl  of  Somerset,  that  the  lady  might  not 
lose  in  rank.  On  the  circumstances  attending  the  murder  of 
Sir  Thomas  Overbury  being  brought  to  light,  the  complicity  of 
Somerset  was  thought  to  be  involved  in  the  ascertained  guilt 
•of  his  wife.  In  May,  16 16,  the  Countess  was  convicted  ;  a 
week  later  her  husband  shared  her  fate.  After  a  long  imprison- 
ment Somerset  was  pardoned,  and  ended  his  life  in  obscurity. 

In  this  reign  the  Court  revels  and  shows  of  Christmas  were 
imitated  at  the  country  seats  of  the  nobility  and  gentry,  and  at 
the  Colleges  of  Oxford  and  Cambridge.  An  account  has  been 
preserved  of  one  of  the  most  remarkable  exhibitions  of  this 
kind,  entitled — 

"THE    CHRISTMAS   PRINCE." 

It  took  place  in  the  year  1607,  at  St.  John's  College,  Oxford, 
and  the  authentic  accoimt  was  published  from  the  original 
manuscript,   in    1816,  by    Robert    Tripbook,  of  22,   Old  Bond 

'   Casseir.s  "  History  of  England."' 


156  CHRISTMAS 

Street,  London  :  ''  To  the  President,  Fellows,  and  Scholars  of 
St.  John  Baptist  College,  in  the  University  of  Oxford,  this 
curions  Record  of  an  ancient  cnstom  in  their  Society,  is  respect- 
fully inscribed  by  the  Publisher."  Of  the  authenticity  of  this 
description  the  Publisher  says  "  no  doubt  can  possibly  exist,  it 
was  written  by  an  eye-witness  of,  and  performer  in,  the  sports  ; 
and  is  now  printed,  for  the  first  time,  from  the  original  manu- 
script preserved  in  the  College  Library. 

''  From  the  Boy  Bishop,  the  Christmas  Prince  may  be  sup- 
posed to  derive  his  origin.  Whilst  the  former  was  bearing 
sway  in  the  ecclesiastical  foundations,  the  latter  was  elected  to 
celebrate  the  festivities  of  Christmas  in  the  King's  palace,  at  the 
seats  of  the  nobility,  at  the  universities,  and  in  the  Lins  of  Court. 
The  custom  prevailed  till  the  ascendancy  of  the  Puritans  during 
the  civil  war  ;  and  some  idea  of  the  expense,  and  general 
support  it  received,  may  be  formed  from  the  account  of  the 
Gray's  Inn  Prince  and  an  extract  from  one  of  the  Strafford 
Papers.  The  latter  is  from  a  letter  written  by  the  Rev.  G. 
Garrard  to  the  Earl  of  Strafford,  dated  Jan.  8,  1635  :  '  The 
Middle  Temple  House  have  set  up  a  prince,  who  carries  himself 
in  great  state  ;  one  Mr.  Vivian  a  Cornish  gentleman,  whose 
father  Sir  Francis  Vivian  was  lined  in  the  Star-Chamber  about 
a  castle  he  held  in  Cornwall,  about  three  years  since.  He  hath 
all  his  great  officers  attending  him,  lord  keeper,  lord  treasurer, 
eight  white  staves  at  the  least,  captain  of  his  pensioners,  captain 
of  his  guard,  two  chaplains,  who  on  Sunday  last  preached 
before  him,  and  in  the  pulpit  made  three  low  legs  to  his 
excellency  before  they  began,  which  is  much  laughed  at.  My 
lord  chamberlain  lent  him  two  fair  cloths  of  state,  one  hung  up 
in  the  hall  under  which  he  dines,  the  other  in  his  privy 
chamber  ;  he  is  served  on  the  knee,  and  all  that  come  to  see 
him  kiss  his  hand  on  their  knee.  My  lord  of  Salisbury  hath 
sent  him  pole-axes  for  his  pensioners.  He  sent  to  my  lord  of 
Holland,  his  justice  in  Eyre,  for  venison,  which  he  willingly 
sends  him  ;  to  the  lord  mayor  and  sheriffs  of  London  for  wine, 
all  obey.  Twelfth-day  was  a  great  day,  going  to  the  chapel 
many  petitions  were  delivered  him,  which  he  gave  to  his 
masters  of  the  requests.  He  hath  a  favourite,  whom  with  some 
others,  gentlemen  of  great  quality,  he  knighted  at  his  return 
from  church,  and  dined  in  great  state  ;  at  the  going  out  of  the 
chambers  into  the  garden,  when  he  drank  the  King's  health,  the 
glass  being  at  his  mouth  he  let  it  fall,  which  much  defaced  his 
purple  satten  suit,  for  so  he  was  clothed  that  day,  having  a 
cloak  of  the  same  down  to  his  foot,  for  he  mourns  for  his  father 
who  lately  died.  It  cost  this  prince  ^2,000  out  of  his  own 
purse.  I  hear  of  no  other  design,  but  that  all  this  is  done  to 
make  them  fit  to  give  the  prince  elector  a  royal  entertainment 
with  masks,  dancings,  and  some  other  exercises  of  wit,  in 
orations  or  arraignments,  that  day  that  they  invite  him.' 

"  The  writer,  or  narrator,  of  the   events  connected  with  the 


CHRISTMAS    UXDER    fAMES   I.  157 

Christmas  Prince  of  St.  John's  was  Griffin  Higgs,  who  was 
descended  of  a  respectable  and  opulent  family  in  Gloucester- 
shire, though  he  was  himself  born  at  Stoke  Abbat,  near  Henley 
on  Thames,  in  1589.  He  was  educated  at  St.  John's,  and 
thence,  in  161 1,  elected  fellow  of  Merton  college,  where  he 
distinguished  himself,  in  the  execution  of  the  procuratorial 
duties,  as  a  man  of  great  courage,  though,  says  Wood,  of  little 
stature.  In  1627  he  was  appointed  chaplain  to  the  Queen  of 
Bohemia,  by  her  brother  Charles  the  First,  and  during  his 
absence,  in  the  performance  of  his  duties,  was  created  a  doctor 
of  divinity  at  Leyden  by  the  learned  Andrew  Rivet.  He 
returned,  after  a  residence  abroad  of  about  twelve  years,  when 
he  had  the  valuable  rectory  of  Clive  or  Cliff,  near  Dover,  and 
shortly  after  the  deanery  of  Lichheld,  conferred  upon  him. 
During  the  civil  wars  he  was  a  sufferer  for  the  roval  cause,  and, 
losing  his  preferment,  retired  to  the  place  of  his  birth,  where  he 
•died  in  the  year  1659,  and  was  buried  in  the  chancel  of  the 
church  of  South  Stoke. 

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

The  following  explanation  is  given  of  "  the  apparently 
strange  titles  of  the  Prince  of  St.  John's  :  '  The  most  magnifi- 
cent and  renowned  Thomas,  by  the  favour  of  Fortune,  Prince 
of  Alba  Fortiinata,  Lord  St.  Johns,  high  Regent  of  the  Hall, 
Duke  of  St.  Giles,  Marquis  of  Magdalens,  Landgrave  of  the 
Grove,  County  Palatine  of  the  Cloisters,  Chief  Bailiff  of  the 
Beaumonts,  High  Ruler  of  Rome,  ALaster  of  the  Manor  of 
Waltham,  Governor  of  Gloucester  Green,  Sole  Commander  of 
all  Tilts,'  &c.  The  Prince  of  Alba  Foriunata  alludes,  as  may  be 
readily  conjectured,  to  the  name  of  the  founder,  Sir  Thomas 
White  ;  St.  John's,  and  the  Hall,  are  equally  clear  ;  Alagdalens 
is  the  parish  in  which  a  portion  of  the  college  stands,  and  a 
part  of  which  belongs  to  the  society ;  the  Grove  and  the 
Cloisters  are  again  parts  of  the  home  domain  of  the  college  ; 
Beaumonts  is  the  name  of  a  portion  of  land  belonging  to  the 
college,  on  which  stands  the  ruin  of  the  palace  of  Beaumonts, 
built  about  the  year  1128  by  King  Henry  the  First  ;  Rome  is  a 
piece  of  land  so  called,  near  to  the  end  of  the  walk  called 
Xon  Ultra,  on  the  north  side  of  Oxford.  The  manor  of 
Waltham,  or  Walton,  is  situate  in  the  north  suburb  of  Oxford, 
and  is  the  property  of  the  college,  as  is  a  considerable  portion 
of  Gloucester-green,  which  though  now  better  known  as  the 
site  of  an  extensive  bridewell,  was  in  1607  literallv  a  meadow, 
and  without  any  building  more  contiguous  than  Gloucester-hall, 
from  which  house  it  derived  its  name." 


158  CHRISTMAS. 

Then  follows  "  A  true  and  faithfull  relation  of  the  rising  and 
fall  of  Thomas  Tucker,  Prince  of  Alba  Foiiiiiiata,  Lord  St. 
Johns,  &c.,  with  all  the  occurrents  which  happened  throughout 
his  whole  domination." 

"  It  happened  in  the  yeare  of  our  Lord  1607,  the  31  of 
October,  beinge  All  Sayntes  Eve,  that  at  night  a  her  was  made 
in  the  Hall  of  St.  John  Baptist's  Colledge,  in  Oxon,  accordinge  to 
the  custome  and  statuts  of  the  same  place,  at  which  time  the 
whole  companye  or  most  parte  of  the  Students  of  the  same 
house  mette  together  to  beginne  their  Christmas,  of  which 
some  came  to  see  sports,  to  witte  the  Seniors  as  well  Graduates, 
as  Under-graduates.  Others  to  make  sports,  viz.,  Studentes  of 
the  seconde  veare,  whom  they  call  Poulderlings,  others  to  make 
sporte  with  all,  of  this  last  sorte  were  they  whome  they  call 
Fresh-menn,  Funics  of  the  first  yeare,  who  are  by  no  meanes 
admitted  to  be  agents  or  behoulders  of  those  sports,  before 
themselves  have  been  patient  peifourmers  of  them.  But  (as  it 
often  falleth  out)  the  Freshmen  or  patients,  thinkinge  the 
Poulderlings  or  Agentes  too  buysie  and  nimble,  They  them  too 
dull  and  backwarde  in  theyr' duety,  the  stanclers  by  findinge 
both  of  them  too  forwarde  and  violente,  the  sportes  for  that 
night  for  feare  of  tumultes  weare  broken  upp,  everye  mann 
betakinge  himself  to  his  reste. 

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

"  Wherfore  for  the  avoydinge  both  the  one,  and  the  other, 
some  who  studied  the  quiet  of  all,  mentioned  the  choosinge  of  a 
Christmas  Lord,  or  Prince  of  the  Revells,  who  should  have 
authorytie  both  to  appoynt  &  moderate  all  such  games,  and 
pastimes  as  should  ensue,  &  to  punishe  all  offenders  which 
should  any  way  hinder  or  interrupte  the  free  &  quiet  passage 
of  anv  antient  &  allowed  sporte. 

"  This  motion  (for  that  the  person  of  a  Prince  or  Lorde  of  the 
Revells  had  not  been  knowen  amongst  them  for  thirty  yeares 
before,  and  so  consequentlye  the  danger,  charge  and  trouble  of 
such  jestinge  was  cleane  forgotten)  was  presentlye  allowed  and 
greedilye  apprehended  of  all  ;  Wher  upon  13  of  the  senior 
Under  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  a 
Graduate  or  an  Under  Graduate,  thinkinge  the  former  would 
not  vouchsafe  to  undertake  it  at  theyr  appoyntmentes,  the  latter 


CHRISTMAS    UNDER    TAMES   I.  159 

should  not  be  upheld  &  backed  as  it  was  meete  &  necessary  for 
such  a  place,  they  came  forth  rather  to  make  triall  what  would 
be  done,  than  to  resolve  what  should  be  done.     And  therefore 
at  their  first  entrance  into  the  Hall  meeting  Sir  Towse  a  younge 
man  (as  they  thought)  litt  for  the  choyse,  they  laid  handes  on 
him,   and  by  maine  strength  liftinge  him  upp,  viva   voce,  pro- 
nounced him  Lord.     But  hee  as  stronglye  refusinge  the  place 
as  they  violentlye  thrust  it  upon  him,  shewing  with  all  reasons 
why  hee  could  by  no  me mes  undergoe  such  a  charge,  they  gott 
onlye  this  good  by  their  iirst  attempt,  that  they  understood  heer 
by  how  that  the  whole   Colledge  was  rather  willinge  a  Seniour 
Batchelour  at  least,  if  not  a  junior  Master  should  be   chosen  in 
to   the   place  rather  than  any   Under  graduate,   because   they 
would  rather  an  earnest  sporte  than  a  scoffinge  jest  should  be 
made  of  it.     Wher  fore  the  Electors  returninge  againe  into  the 
Parlour  and  shuttinge  the  dore  close  upon  themselves  begaune 
more    seriously   to    consult    of   the    matter,  and  tindinge  some 
unable,   some  unwillinge  to  take  the  place,  at  length  they  con- 
cluded  to    make    the    2   assay   but   with   more   formahtie    and 
deliberation  ;  resolvinge,  if  they  were  not  now  seconded  of  all 
handes,  to  meddle  no  more  with   it.     Wherfore,  enteringe  the 
second  time  in  to  the  Hall  they  desired  one  of  the   10  Seniors 
&  one  of  the  Deanes  of  the  Colledge  to  hold  the  Scrutinye  and 
the  Vice-President  to  sitt  by  as  overseer,  who  willingly  harken- 
inge  to  their  request,  sate  all  3  downe  at  the  highe  table  :  Then 
the    Electors  went  up  one   by  one  in  senioritye   to  give  their 
voyce  by  writinge.     In  the  meane  time  there  was  great  expec- 
tation who  should  bee  the  Man.     Some  in  the  lower  ende  of  the 
Hall,  to  make  sporte,  had  theyr  Names  loudest  in  their  mouthes 
whome  they  least  thought  of  in  their  mindes,  &  whome  they 
knew  should  come  shortest  of  the  place.     At  length    all  the 
voyces  being  given  and,  accordinge  to  custome,  the  Scrutinie  at 
large  being  burned,  the  Vice-president  with    the   rest  stoode 
upp,  and  out  of  the  abstract  the   Deane   read  distinctly  in  the 
hearinge  of  all  present  as  foUoweth 

"  Nominaiiiiir  in  hoc  Scnttiiiio  duo  qiionini 
\  I  Joanes  Towse,  habet  siiffragia  sex. 
\  2^  Thomas  Tucker,  habet  siiffragia  scplein. 

"These  wordes  were  not  out  of  his  mouthe  before  a  generall 
and  loud  crie  was  made  of  Tucker,  Tucker,  Vivat,  Vivat,  &ct. 
After  which  all  the  younger  sorte  rane  forth  of  the  Colledge 
crieinge  the  same  in  the  streets  ;  which  Sir  Tucker  beinge 
then  howsde  not  farr  from  the  Colledge,  over  hearinge,  kept 
himself  close  till  the  companye  were  past,  and  then,  as  soone 
and  secretly  as  he  could,  gott  him  to  his  Chamber  ;  where 
(after  he  had  been  longe  sought  for  abroad  in  the  Towne,  and 
at  home  in  the  Colledge,  haste  and  desire  out  runinge  it  self,  and 
seekinge  there  last  where  it  might  hrst  hnde)  he  was  in  a 
manner  surprised,  and  more  by  violence  than  any  will  of  his. 


i6o  CHRISTMAS. 

owne,  taken  upp  &  with  continuall  &  jovfull  outcries,  carried 
about  the  Hah,  and  so  backe  to  his  Chamber,  as  his  owne 
request  was,  where  for  that  night  he  rested,  dismissinge  the 
Company  and  desiringe  some  time  to  think  of  their  loves  and 
goodwill,  and  to  consider  of  his  owne  charge  and  place. 

''About  3  or  4  dayes  after,  on  the  5  of  November  the  Lord 
Elect  with  the  Batchelours,  and  some  of  the  Senior  Under- 
graduates came  into  the  Hall  where  every  man  beinge  seated  in 
his  order,  many  speaches  were  made  by  diverse  of  diverse 
matters,  some  commendinge  a  monarchicall  state  of  Govern- 
mente,  and  the  sometimes  suddayne  necessitye  of  Dictators, 
others  discommendinge  both.  Some  again  extollinge  sportes 
&  revells,  others  mainely  disallowinge  them,  all  of  them  draw- 
inge  some  conclusion  concerninge  the  like  or  dislike  of  the 
government  newly  begune,  and  like  for  a  little  space  to  con- 
tinue amongst  them.  In  the  ende  the  Lord  Elect  himselfe,  to 
conclude  all,  delivered  his  owne  minde  in  manner  followinge  : — 

"  QucC  beneficia  (Viri  Elect  ores  clarissimi)  plus  difficultatis 
atq.,,  oneris  apportant  collacata,  qua  debite  administrata  ;  pote- 
runt  honoris,  caute  magis  primo  in  limine  credo  excipienda  qua 
aut  imensas  dignitatis  expectatione  appetenda  auide,  aut  boni 
incogniti  coeco  appetitu  app'hendenda  temere.  Quoru  in  albo 
(Electores  conscripti)  cu  semper  dignitates  istiusmodi  serio 
retulerim,  Vos  (pace  dica  vestrce  diligentias)  non  tam  mihi 
videmini  gratias  debere  expectare,  qua  ipse  istud  onus  suscep- 
turus  videor  promereri.  Na  illud  demum  gratijs  excipitur 
beneficiu  (pro  temporu  ratione  loquor)  quod  nee  sollicitudo 
vrget  nee  ofiiciu — Inhnitie  autem  adeo  sunt  anxietates,  quns  vel 
istam  dominatus  urarinvuxny  circumcingunt,  vt  pauci  velint  ipsas 
cu  dominatu  lubenter  amplecti,  nulli  possint  euitare,  nulli  sus- 
tinere.  Na  vbi  veri  imperij  facies  est  repriesentanda  expectanda 
semper  est  aliqua  curarCx  proportio.  Veru  cum  dignitas  Electoria, 
amicitia  suffragatoria,  populi  applausus,  oniii  consensus  Demo- 
cratice  tollendje  causa  ad  primatum  euocauerint,  lubens  animi 
nostri  strenuas  renuentis  temperabo  impetu,  et  sedulo  impenda 
curam,  vt  Reip  :  (si  vobis  minus  possim  singulis)  toti  satisfacia. 
Hie  ego  non  ita  existimo  opportunu  progressuu  nostroru 
aduersarijs  cura  imperij  promiscuam  et  indigestam  collau- 
dantilT^  respondere,  aut  stat*^  Monarchici  necessitate  efferentib''^ 
assentari  :  Disceptationii  vestrarii  non  accessi  judex,  accersor 
imperator  ;  Amori  vestro  (Viri  nobis  ad  prime  chari)  lubens 
tribuo  gloriai  nostrae  ortu  ;  progressu  augustu  atq,  gloriosu  a 
vobis  ex  ofticio  vestro  exigere,  praeter  aniore  nostrum  fore  no 
arbitror.  Tyrauidem  non  protiteor,  imperiu  exercebo.  Cujus 
foeliciores  processus  vt  promoueantur,  atq,  indies  stabiliant  zeris 
magis  quam  oris  debetis  esse  prodigi.  Quare  primitias  amuris, 
atq,  officij  vestri  statuo  extemplo  exigendas,  ne  aut  ipse  sine 
authoritate  imperare,  aut  imperium  sine  gloria  capessisse  videar 
iro\«7f/«)'  Atheniensem  sequimur,  cujus  ad  norman  Ego  ad 
munus   regui  jam  suffectus,   Mineru:e,   Vulcano   et    Prometheo 


CHRISTMAS   UNDER  JAMES  I.  i6i 

sacra  cu  ludorum  curatoribus  pro  moris  vsu,  prima  niea  in  his 
sacris  authoritate  lieri  curabo.  Interim  vero  (Viri  nostra 
authoritate  adhnc  majores)  juxta  prcedicta^  Reipublicaj  jmagine 
choragos,  seu  adjutores  desidero,  qui  no  tantum  ludis  pra^pon- 
antur,  sed  et  liberalitate  pro  opu  ratione  in  Reipublicie  impensas 
vtentes,  ex  aere  publico  praemia  partim  proponant,  partim  de 
sno  insumant,  hoc  nomine  quod  illoru  sint  pr:efecti.  Qu?e  aha 
vestri  sunt  ofhcij  moniti  pr^estabitis,  quae  anioris,  vitro  (vti 
Spero)  offeretis. 

"This  was  counted  sufiicient  for  his  private  installmente,  but 
with  all  it  was  thought  necessary  that  some  more  publicke 
notice  hereof  should  be  given  to  the  whole  Universitie,  with 
more  solemnitie  and  better  fashion  ;  yet  before  they  would 
venter  to  publish  their  private  intendements,  they  were  desirous 
to  knowe  what  authoritie  and  jurisdiction  would  be  graunted  to 
them,  what  money  allowed  them  towards  the  better  going 
through  with  that  they  had  begune.  And  not  long  after  the 
whole  company  of  the  Batchelours  sent  2  bills  to  the  Masters 
lire,  the  one  cravinge  duety  and  alleageance,  the  other  money 
and  maintenance  in  manner  &  forme  foUowinge  : 

'*  The  coppye  of  a  Bill  sent  by  the  Lord  Elect,  and  the 
whole  Company  of  the  Batchelours  to  the  Masters  lire, 
cravinge  their  duety  and  alleageance. 
"  Not  doubtinge  of  those  ceremonious  and  outward  duetyes 
which  vourselves  (for  example  sake)  will  performe,  Wee  Tlioiiias 
Tucker  with  the  rest  of  the  Bacchelours  are  bold  to  entreat,  but 
as  Tlioinas,  Lord  Elect,  with  the  rest  of  our  Councell  are  ready  to 
expect,  that  no  Tutor  or  Officer  whatsoever  shall  at  any  time,  or 
upon  any  occasion,  intermeddle,  or  partake  with  any  scholler, 
or  youth  whatsoever,  but  leavinge  all  matters  to  the  discretion 
of  our  selves,  stand  to  those  censures  and  judgementes  which 
wee  shall  give  of  all  offenders  that  are  under  our  govermente  in 
causes  appertaininge  to  our  government.  All  wayes  promisinge 
a  carefull  readinesse  to  see  schollerlike  excercise  performed, 
and  orderly  quietnesse  mayntained  in  all  sortes  ;  This  as  Wee 
promise  for  our  owne  partes,  so  Wee  would  willingly  desire 
that  you  should  promise  the  performance  of  the  rest  of  your 
partes,  accordinge  to  that  bountye  &  love  which  allready  you 
have  shewed  us. 

Yours,  Thom.as  Tucker 

Joseph  Fletcher  Thomas  Dowxer 

John  Smith  Rouland  Juxox 

Richard  fe.wLYE  Johx  Huckstepp 

Richard  Holbrooke  James  Bearblocke 

JoHX  Towse  Johx  Exglish 

"  This  Bill  subscribed  with  all  their  handes  was  scene  and 
allowed  by  all  the  Masters,  who  promised  rather  more  than 
lesse  than  that  which  was  demanded.  But  concerninge  the 
other  Bill  for  Subsidyes,  it  was  answered  that  it  was  not  in  their 

12 


i62  CHRISTMAS. 

power  to  grant  it  without  the  President,  whose  cominge  home 
was  every  day  expected  :  against  which  time  it  was  provided, 
and  deUveredunto  him  ;  who  together  with  the  lo  Seniors,  was 
loath  to  grant  any  thinge  till  they  were  certified  what  sportes 
should  bee,  of  what  quality  &  charge,  that  so  they  might  the 
better  proportion  the  one  to  the  other,  the  meanes  to  the 
matter  :  They  were  allso  willinge  to  knowe  what  particular  Men 
would  take  upon  them  the  care  of  furnishinge  particular  nightes. 
For  they  would  by  no  meanes  relye  upon  generall  promises 
because  they  were  not  ignorant  how  that  which  concerneth  all 
in  generall  is  by  no  man  in  speciall  regarded.  Wherfore  they 
beinge  somewhat,  although  not  fully,  satisiied  in  their  demaundes 
by  some  of  the  Masters,  whom  they  seemed  cheefiy  to  trust  with 
the  whole  businesse,  the  Bill  was  againe  perused,  and  every  man 
cea/.ed  in  manner  and  forme  followinge  : 

''  'The  coppye  of  an  auncient  Act  for  taxes  and  subsidyes 

made   in   the   raygne   of   our   Predecessor   of  famous 

memorye,  in  this  Parliament  held  in  Aula  Regxi  the 

vi""  of  November  1577  and   now  for  Our  Self  new 

ratified  and  published,  anno  regni  j°  November  7°  1607. 

" '  Because  all  lovinge  &  loyall  Subjects  doe  owe  not  onely 

themselves,  but  allso   their  landes,  livinges,  goodes,  and  what 

soever  they  call  theirs,  to  the  good  of  the  Commonwealth,  and 

estate    under     which   they    peaceably    enjoy    all.   It    is  further 

enacted  that  no  man  dissemble  his  estate,  or  hide  his  abilitye, 

but  be  willinge  at  all  times  to  pay  such    duetyes,  taxes,  and 

subsidies,  as  shall  be  lawfully  demaunded  &  thought  reasonable 

without   the   hinderance   of  his   owne    estate,    upon   payne    of 

forfettinge  himself  and  his  goodes  whatsoever.' 

[List  of  contributions  amounting  to  52"  xiii*  vii  ] 

"  Though  the  whole  company  had  thus  largely  contributed 
towards  the  ensuinge  sportes,  yet  it  was  found  that  when  all 
thinges  necessary  should  be  layed  toegether,  a  great  sum  of  money 
would  be  wantinge,  and  therfore  a  course  was  thought  upon  of 
sendinge  out  privie  Scales  to  able  &  willinge  Gentlemen  which 
had  been  sometimes  Fellowes  or  commoners  of  the  Colledge 
that  it  would  please  them  to  better  the  stocke,  and  out  of  their 
good  will  contribute  somewhat  towardes  the  Prince's  Revells." 

Then  followed  the  form  of  the  writ  issued,  *'  To  our  trustye 
and  welbeloved  Knight,  or  Esquire,"  &c.  "  Given  under  our 
privye  Seale  at  our  Pallace  of  St.  John's  in  Oxen,  the  seventh  of 
December  in  the  first  yeare  of  our  rayne,  1607."  Then  follow 
"  the  names  of  those  who  were  served  with  this  writt,  and  who 
most  willingly  obeyed  upon  the  receipt  thereof,"  contributing 
altogether  xvi''  x'  o.  "  Others  were  served  and  bragd  of  it,  as 
though  they  had  given,  but  sent  nothing." 

"  For  all  these  Subsidies  at  home,  and  helpes  abroad,  yet  it 
was  founde  that  in  the  ende  there  would  rather  be  want  (as 
indeed   it   happened)  than  any    superlluitye,    and    therfore    the 


CHRISTMAS    UNDER    JAMES   I.  163 

Prince  tooke  order  with  the  Bowsers  to  send  out  warrantes  to 
all  the  Tenantes  &  other  friendes  of  the  Colledge,  that  they 
should  send  in  extraordinary  provision  against  every  Feast, 
which  accordingly  was  performed  ;  some  sendinge  money,  some 
wine,  some  venison,  some  other  }")rovision,  everyone  accordinge 
to  his  abilitye. 

"  All  thinges  beinge  thus  sufiiciently  (as  it  was  thought) 
jM-ovided  for,  the  Councell  table,  with  the  Lord  himself,  mett 
together  to  nominate  officers  &  to  appoint  the  day  of  the  Prince's 
publike  installment  which  was  agreed  should  be  on  St.  Andrews 
Day  at  night  ;  because  at  that  time  the  Colledge  allso  was  to 
chouse  their  new  officers  for  the  yeare  followinge. 

"  Now  for  that  they  would  not  playnely  and  barely  install  him 
without  any  farther  ceremonies,  it  was  thought  htt  that  his 
whole  ensuinge  Regiment  (for  good  lucke  sake)  should  be 
consecrated  to  the  Dcitic  of  Fortune,  as  the  sole  Mistres  and 
Patronesse  of  his  estate,  and  therfore  a  schollerlike  devise  called 
.1/7/  Foiiuncv  was  provided  for  his  installment  ;  which  was 
performed  in  manner  &  forme  followinge  : 

ARA  FORTUN/E. 
Inter-loctitorcs. 

PRINCErS.  RUSTICUS. 

FORTUNA.  StUI.'IUS. 

TOLM.'EA.  ReBELLIS    PRIMHS. 

Thesaurarius.  Secundus. 

Camerarius.  •    Tertius. 

JURISCONSULTUS. QltARTUS. 

PniLOSOPHUS.  NUNCIUS. 

[The  Drama  is  not  given  on  account  of  its  length.  And  it 
will  be  remarked  that,  whenever  asterisks  are  substituted,  some 
portion  of  the  JMS.  has  been  omitted.] 

"  This  showe  by  ourselves  was  not  thought  worthve  of  a  stage 
or  scaffoldes,  and  therfore  after  supper  the  tables  were  onlye 
sett  together,  which  was  not  done  with  out  great  toyle  &  difficulty, 
by  reason  of  the  great  multitude  of  people  (which,  by  the 
default  of  the  dorekeepers,  and  divers  others,  every  man  bring- 
inge  in  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  by 
the  whole  audience,  who,  how  unrulye  so  ever  they  meante  to 
bee  afterwardes,  resolved  I  think  at  first  with  their  good  applause 
and  quiet  behaviour  to  drawe  us  on  so  farr,  as  wee  should  not 
bee  able  to  returne  backwardes  without  shame  &  discreditt. 
They  gave  us  at  the  ende  4  severall  &  generall  plaudites  ;  at  the 
2  wherof  the  Canopie  which  hunge  over  the  Altare  of  Fortune 
(as  it  had  been  frighted  with  the  noise,  or  meante  to  signifie 
that  2  plaudites  were  as  much  as  it  deserved)  suddenly  fell 
downe  ;  but  it  was  cleanly  supported  by  some  of  the  standers  by 
till  the  companv  was  voyded,  that  none  but  our  selves  took  notice 
of  it.  " 


i64  CHRISTMAS. 

"Some  upon  the  si^^ht  of  this  Showe  (for  the  better enobhnge 
of  his  person,  and  drawinge  his  pedigree  even  from  the  Godes 
because  the  Prince's  name  was  Tucker,  and  the  last  Prince 
before  him  was  Dr.  Case)  made  this  conceipt  that  Casus  ct 
Fortnna  geniienint  Tvx^poi'  Principcui  Foiiiiiuiluiii — so  the  one  his 
father,  and  the  other  his  mother. 

"  Another  accident  worthy  observation  (and  which  was  allso 
then  observed)  was  that  the  Foole  carelesly  sittinge  downe  at  the 
Prince's  feete  brake  his  staff  in  the  midst,  whence  wee  could  not 
but  directly  gather  a  verye  ill  omen,  that  the  default  and  foUye  of 
some  would  bee  the  very  breaknecke  of  our  ensueing  sports, 
which  how  it  fell  out,  I  leave  to  the  censures  of  others  ;  our 
selves  (I  am  sure)  were  guilty  to  our  selves  of  many  weaknesses 
and  faultes,  the  number  wherof  were  increased  by  the  crossinge 
untowardnesse,  and  backwardnesse  of  divers  of  the  Prince's 
neerest  followers,  nay  the  Prince  himself  had  some  weaknesses 
which  did  much  prejudice  his  state,  wherof  the  chief  est  weere 
his  openesse,  and  familiaritye  with  all  sortes,  beinge  unwillinge  to 
displease  eny,  yet  not  able  to  please  all.  But  to  proceede  : — On 
St.  Thomas  day  at  night  the  officers  before  elect  were  solemnly 
proclaimed  by  a  Sergeant  at  amies,  and  an  Herauld,  the  trum- 
petts  soundinge  beetwixt  every  title.  This  proclamation  after  it 
was  read,  was  for  a  time  hunge  up  in  the  Hall,  that  every  man 
might  the  better  understande  the  qualitie  of  his  owne  place,  and 
they  that  were  of  lower,  or  no  place,  might  learne  what  duety  to 
performe  to  others. 

"  The  manner  wherof  was  as  followeth  : 
"  Whereas  by  the  contagious  poyson,  and  spreadinge  malice 
of  some  ill  disposed  persons,  hath  been  threatned  not 
onelye  the  danger  of  subvertinge  peaceable  &  orderlye  pro- 
ceedinges,  but  the  allmost  utter  annihilatinge  of  auncient  & 
laudable  customes — It  hath  been  thought  convenient,  or 
rather  absolutely  necessarye  for  the  avoydinge  of  a  most 
dangerous  ensuinge  Anarchic,  a  more  settled  order  of 
goverment,  for  the  better  safetye  of  all  well  meaninge 
Subjects,  and  curbinge  of  discontented,  headstronge  persons, 
should  bee  established.  And  whereas  through  wante  of  good 
lawes  by  wise  and  discreet  Magistrates  to  bee  duely  and 
truely  executed,  a  giddye  conceipt  hath  possest  the 
mindes  of  manye  turbulent  spirites,  of  endueringe  no 
superiour,  hardly  an  equall,  whereby  the  common-wealth 
might  growe  to  bee  a  manye-headed  monster — It  hath 
been  provided  by  the  staide  and  mature  deliberations  of 
well-experienced  governours  and  provident  counsellours,that 
one  whose  highe  deserts  might  answere  his  high  advance- 
ment should  bee  sett  over  all  to  the  rulinge  and  directinge 
of  all — Therefore  by  these  presentes  bee  it  knowne  unto 
all  of  what  estate  or  condicion  soever  whome  it  shall 
concerne  that  Thomas  Tucker,  an  honorable  wise  &  learned 
Gentleman  to  the  great  comeforte  of  the  weale-publicjue  from 


CHRISTMAS   UNDER   jAMES   L  165 

hcnce-forth  to  be  reputed,  taken  and  obayed  for  the  true, 

onelv  and  undoubted  Monarche  of  this  reveUinjL^e  Chmate, 

whom  the  ^tfenerall  consent  and  joynte  approbation  of  the 

whole    Common-wealth    hath  invested  and    crowned  with 

these  honours  and  titles  followinge  : 

"  The  most  magnificent  and  renowned  Thomas  by  the  favour 

of    Fortune,  Prince    of   Alba    Fortunata,   Lord   St.  Johns, 

high  Regent  of   the  Hall,  Duke  of   St.    Giles,  Marquesse 

of  Magdalens,  Landgrave  of   the  Grove,  County  Palatine 

of   the  Cloisters,  Chiefe  Bailiffe  of   the    Beaumonts,    high 

Ruler  of  Rome,  Maister  of  the  Manor  of  Waltham,  Governour 

of  Gloster-greene,  sole  Commaunder  of  all  Titles,  Tournea- 

ments,  and    Triumphes,  Superintendent  in  all  Solemnities 

whatsoever. 

"  Now  because  they  whom  the  unknowne  cares,  &  unweildie 

burdens  of  a  sole  regiment  shall  relie  upon,  neede  extraordinary 

helpe  in  the  more  than  ordinarye  affaires,  Hee  hath  as  well  for 

the  better  discharge  &  ease  of  those  royall  duetyes  (as  it  were) 

which  attend  on  his  place,  as  for  the  avoidinge  the  odious  & 

ingratefuU  suspition  of  a  single  dominion,  and  private  Tyranye. 

selected  and  chosen  unto  himself  a  grave  and  learned  assistance 

both  for  Councell  and  government,  whom,  and  every  of  which, 

his  princely  will  is,  shall  in  their  severall  places  &  dignities  bee 

both  honoured  and  obeid,  with  no  lesse  respect  and  observance 

than  if  himself  were  there  present  in  person.    And  that  carelesse 

ignorance    may  bee  no    lawfuU    excuse  for   the  breach  of   his 

will  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  manner 

followinge  : 

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

Sir  Frauncis  Hudson,  Keeper  of  the  Parkes,  &  Warder 

of  the  Warrens. 

Sir  Thomas  Grice,  Forrester  &  Sargeaunt  of  the  Wood- 

howse. 

"  The  right  honourable  Rowland  Lord  Juxon,  Lord  Chauncelour, 

Keeper  of  the  Great  Scale,  Signer  of  all  publicke  Charters, 

Allower  of  all  Priviledges,  hath  for  his  subordinate  officers. 

Sir  William  Dickenson,  Master  of  the  Reciuests,  &  the 

Prince's  Remembrancer. 

Sir  Owen  Vertue,  Gierke  of  the  Sit^aiet,  and  Chafer  of 

Waxe. 

"  The    right    honourable    Thomas    Lord     Downer,    Lord    high 

Treasurer,     Receaver    General    of    all    Rents,     Revenues, 

Subsidies,  belonginge  by  Nature,  custome  or    accident  to 

the  Prince  ;  the  great  Payemaster  of  all  necessary  charges 


1 66  CHRISTMAS. 

appcrtavninge    to    the    Court,    hath    for    his    subordinate 
Ofiicers— 

Sir  John  Wilhamson,  Steward  of  the   Household,  Dis- 

burser  for  the  Familye. 
Sir    Christopher  Wren,  Cot^erer,    and  Clerke    of  the 
Exchequer. 
"  The    right    honourable    Joseph    Lord    Fletcher,    Lord     high 
Adniirall,  great  Commaunder  of  all  the  narrow  seas,  Hoods 
and    passages  ;    Surveyor   of   the    Navye,   Mayster    of   the 
Ordinance,  hath  for  his  subordinate  Officers, 

Sir  Stephen  Angier,  Warden  of  the  Cinque  Ports,  and 

Victualler  of  the  Fleet. 
Sir  Anthony  Steevens/Captayne  of  the  Guard. 
''  The  right  honourable  Richard  Lord  Baylie,  Lord  high 
Marshall,  President  of  all  Titles,  and  Tourneaments, 
Commander  in  all  Triumphes,  Suppressor  of  suddayne 
tumultes.  Supervisor  of  all  games,  and  publique  pastimes, 
hath  for  his  subordinate  Officers, 

Sir  William  Blagrove,  Master  of  the  Revells. 
Sir  John   Hungerford,  Knight   Marshall,  severe   Com- 
mander  of   the  Wayes  for  the  Prince's  passage. 
"  The  right  honourable  John  Lord  Towse,  Lord  high  Chamber- 
layne,    Purveyor  for  the   Prince's  pallace,  Overseer  of  all 
feasts    and    iDanquets,    furnisher    of    all    Chambers,    and 
Galleries,  Examiner  of   all   private  pastimes,   hath  for   his 
subordinate  Officers, 

Sir     Richard    Swinerton  )   the     Prince's    Wards    and 
Sir    William    Cheyney      \       Squiers  of  his  bodye. 
Mr.  Edward  Cooper,  Groome- Porter. 
"  The  right  honourable  Richard  Lord  Holbrooke,  Comptroller 
Generall,  Chiefe  overseer  of  all  Purseavants,  Orderer  of  all 
household  Servaunts,  hath  for  his  subordinate  officers, 

„.^     „,  ox     1       )   Sertreaunts      at      Ar.nes      & 

Sir    Thomas    Stanley  Gentlemen    Ushers    to    the 

Mr.     John    Alford  r,  ■ 

J  )       Prmce. 

Mr.    Brian    Nailor,   Master    of    the    Robes    of    State, 

Keeper    of     the    Wardrobe,    and     Surveyor    of 

Liveries. 

"  The     right     honourable     James     Lord    Berbloke,    principall 

Secretarye,  Lord    privye  Scale,   designer  of  all  Embasies, 

Drawer  of  all  Edicts  and  Letters,  Scribe  to  the  State,  hath 

for  his  subordinate  Officers, 

Sir  Thomas  Clarke,  Master  of    the  Roles,   &  Protho- 

notarye. 
Mv.  Marcheaumount  Nedham,  Clerke  of  the  Councell- 
table. 
"  The  right  honourable  John  Lord  English,  Lord  Chiefe  Justice, 
Examiner   of   all    causes   Capitall  ;    Sessor  upon  life   and 
death.  Judge  of  controversies  criminall,  hath  for  his  sub- 
ordinate Officers, 


CHRISTMAS    UXDER   yA^[l■S   I.  167 

Sir  John  Alder,  Attounicy  General],  and  the  Prince's 

Solicitor. 
Mr.  John  Sackevile,  Baylife  Erraunt. 

"  Now  because  good  Governours  without  good  laws,  carefull 
Magistrates  without  wholesome  Statutes  are  like  dumb  (though 
paynted)  images,  or  unweapon'd  soldiers — Hee  of  his  absolute 
aiithoritye,  conferred  upon  him  in  the  late  free  election,  doth 
ratilie  and  establish  all  such  Decrees  and  Statutes,  as  Hee  now 
lindeth  wisely  and  warely  ordayned  of  his  famous  Predecessor  ; 
promisinge  onely  by  a  full  and  severe  execution  to  put  life 
in  their  dead  remembrance.  Adding  moreover  some  few 
cautions  to  be  observed  in  his  ensuinge  Triumphs." 

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

"  The  same  night  the  Prince,  with  the  rest  of  his  Councell 
meetinge  at  the  high  table  in  the  Hall,  a  Bill  was  preferred 
by  the  Lord  Treasurer  for  the  advancement  of  Mr.  Henery 
Swinarton  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  was 
presently  drawne  by  the  Gierke  of  the  Councell-table,  and 
jironounced  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  his 
subordinate  Officers, 

Mr.  Willian^  Kippin,  Surveyor  of  the  Walkes. 

Mr.  Christopher  Riley,  Corrector  of  the  Printe. 

''  From  this  time  forward,  and  not  before,  the  Prince  was 
thought  fully  to  be  instal'd,  and  the  forme  of  government  fully 
established,  in-so-much  that  none  might  or  durst  contradict 
anything  which  was  appoynted  by  himself,  or  any  of  his 
officers. 

"  The  Holy-dayes  beinge  now  at  hand,  his  privye-chamber 
was  provided  and  furnisht,  wherein  a  chayre  of  state  was  placed 
upon  a  carpett  with  a  cloth  of  state  hanged  over  it,  newly  made 
for  the  same  purpose.  On  Christmas  Day  in  the  morninge  he 
was  attended  on  to  prayers  by  the  whole  companye  of  the 
Bacchelours,  and  some  others  of  his  Gentlemen  Ushers,  bare 
before  him.  At  dinner  beinge  sett  downe  in  the  Hall  at  the 
high  table  in  the  Vice-president's  place  (for  the  President 
himself  was  then  allso  present)  he  was  served  with  20  dishes 
to  a  messe,  all  which  were  brought  in  by  Gentlemen  of  the 
Howse  attired  in  his  Guard's  coats,  ushered  in  by  the  Lord 
Comptroller,  and  other  Officers  of  the  Hall.  The  first  messe 
was  a  Boar's  Head,  which  was  carried  by  the  tallest  and  lustiest 
of  all  the  Guard,  before  whom  (as  attendants)  wente  first,  one 
attired  in  a  horseman's  coate,  with  a  Boars-speare  in  his  hande. 


i68         •  CHRISTMAS. 

next  to  him  an  other  Huntsman  in  greene,  with  a  bloody  faucion 
drawne  ;  next  to  him  2  Pages  in  tafatye  sarcenet,  each"  of  them 
with  a  messe  of  mustard ;  next  to  whome  came  hee  that  carried 
the  Boares-head  crost  with  a  greene  silk  scarfe,  by  which  hunge 
the  empty  scabbard  of  the  faulcion  which  was  carried  before 
him.  As  they  entered  the  Hall,  he  sang  this  Christmas  Caroll, 
the  three  last  verses  of  everie  staffe  beinge  repeated  after  him 
by  the  whole  companye  : 

1.  The  Boare  is  dead, 
Loe,  here  is  his  head, 

What  man  could  have  done  more 
Than  his  head  off  to  strike, 
jMeleager  like, 

i\nd  bringe  it  as  I  doe  before  ? 

2.  He  livinge  spoyled 
Where  good  men  toyled, 

Which  made  kinde  Ceres  sorrye  ; 
But  now  dead  and  drawne, 
Is  very  good  brawne, 

And  wee  have  brought  it  for  you. 

3..  Then  sett  downe  the  Swineyard, 
The  foe  to  the  Vineyard, 

Lett  Bacchus  crowne  his  fall, 
Lett  this  Boare's-head  and  mustard 
Stand  for  Pigg,  Goose,  and  Custard, 

And  so  you  are  wellcome  all. 

"At  this  time,  as  on  all  other  Holy-dayes,  the  Princes  allowed 
Musitions  (which  were  sent  for  from  Readinge,  because  our 
owne  Town  Musick  had  given  us  the  slipp,  as"  they  use  to  doe 
at  that  time  when  we  had  most  need  of  them)  played  all  dinner 
time,  and  allso  at  supper.  The  Prince-as  ofte  as  hee  satt  in  the 
Hall  was  attended  on  by  a  Commoner  and  Scholler  of  the 
Colledge  in  tafaty  sarcenett.  After  supper  there  was  a  private 
Showe  performed  in  the  manner  of  an  Interlude,  contayninge 
the  order  of  the  Saturnalls,  and  shewinge  the  first  cause  of 
Christmas-candles,  and  in  the  ende  there  was  an  application 
made  to  the  Day  and  Nativitie  of  Christ,  all  winch  was 
performed  in  manner  followinge  : 

SATURN  ALLV. 
Hercui.es 

CURIUS 

Douhus 

"  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  ncis^h- 
bours  of  St.   Giles's  presented  him  with  a   maske,   or  morris, 


CHRISTMAS    UNDER   yAMES   I.  i6() 

which  th()ui;"h  it  were  Init  rudely  perfornied,  yet  itt  beint,^  so 
freely  and  k)vini;'lv  protered,  it  c(juld  not  hut  bee  as  lovint^ly 
received. 

"  The  same  nighte,  the  twelve  daies  were  suddenly,  and  as 
it  were  extempore,  brought  in,  to  offer  their  service  to  the 
Prince,  the  holy-daies  speaking  Latine,  and  the  working-daies 
English,  the  transition  was  this  : 

Yee  sec  these  working-daies  they  weafe  no  satten, 
And  I  assure  you  they  can  speake  no  Latten  ; 
But  if  you  please  to  stay  a-while, 
Some  shepheard  for  them  will  change  the  style. 

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

These  daunces  were  performed  of  yore 
By  many  worthy  Elfes, 
Now  if  you  will  have  any  more 
Pray  shake  your  heeles  your  selves. 

"  The  next  day  being  Innocents-day,  it  was  expected,  and 
partly  determined  by  our  selves,  that  the  Tragedy  of  Pliiloiiiela 
should  have  been  ptiblickly  acted,  which  (as  wee  thought)  would 
well  have  fitted  the  day,  by  reason  of  the  murder  of  Innocent 
It  is.  But  the  carpenters  being  no  way  ready  with  the  stage,  or 
scaffolds  (whereof  notwithstanding  some  were  made  before 
Christmas),  wee  W'ere  constrained  to  deferre  it  till  the  nexte 
day,  which  was  the  29th  of  December. 

rillLOMELA. 

Tereus,  Rex  Thracia;. 
Progne,  Regina,  Uxor  Terei, 
Eugenes,  a  consilijs  Terei. 
Phaulus,  Seruus  Terei, 
Tres  Socii  Terei  a  Classe, 
Ancilla  Prognes. 
Philomela,  Soror  Prognes 
Itis,  Filius  Pronges  et  Terei 
-Vncilia  Philomeki;. 
Faustulus,  Pastor  Regius. 
Fauslula,  Pastoris  Filia. 

Chorus. 

Terra 
Mare. 

"  The  whole  play  was  wel  acted  and  wel  liked. 

"  New-yeare's  eve  was  wholly  spent  in  preparation  for  the 
Prince's  triumphs,  so  that  nothing  was  done  or  expected  that 
night. 


170  CHRISTMAS. 

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

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

"'I  here  was  some  what  else  written  in  the  paper  which 
covered  them,  but  what  it  is  uncertaine. 

"At  night  were  celebrated  the  Prince's  triiunphs,  at  which 
tune  onely  and  never  before  nor  after  he  was  carryed  in  full 
state  from  his  pallace  to  the  hall,  where  in  the  sight  of  the 
whole  University  a  supplication  was  presented  unto  him  by 
Tmie  and  seconded  with  a  shew  called  Times  Coiiiplaiiil.  It 
was  jierformed  in  manner  and  forme  following  : 

TIME'S   COMPLAINT. 
Time. 

Veritas,  the  Daughter  of  Time. 
Opinion  I   o    i  n  -    • 

Error       i'  '^'^'^"cers  of  \  eritas. 

Studioso,  a  Scholler. 
Manco,  a  lame  Souldiour. 
Clinjas,  a  poore  Country-man. 
Humphry  Swallow,  a  drunken  Cob 
Goodwife  Spiggot,  an  Ale-wife. 
Philonices,  a  rangling  Lawyer. 
Seruus  Philonices. 
Bellicoso,  a  Casheere  Corporall. 

PROLOGUE.' 

"  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. 
Vet  let  your  wonted  love  that  kindelie  take. 
Which  we  could  wish  were  better  for  your  sake. 

£n^er  Time  wi//i  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. 

Time  exjecting  t/ie  comming  of  the  Prince  {to  whom  hee  preferreth  a  pelition)- 
placeth  hitnselfe  on  the  stage  titl  the  traine  bee  past. 
This  waie  hee  comes,  here  will  I  place  my  selfe, 
They  saie  hee  is  an  honourable  Prince, 
RespectfuU,  curteous,  liberall,  and  learn'd  : 
If  hee  bee  see  hee  will  not  choose  but  heare  mee. 

'  This  portion  is  inserted  to  introduce  the  Prince's  Triumph,  as  they  are  termed. 


CHRISTMAS   UXDER  ^AMES  1.  T71 

Poore  aged  Time  was  never  so  abused, 

And  in  these  daies  Princes  themselves  are  wrong"*!. 

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. 

Enter  lirst  six  Kuighte  Mai'shalls  men  in  suitable  liveries  with 
links  and  truncheons  two  by  two. 

Next  the  Knighte  Marshall  alone  in  armour  and  bases  with 
a  truncheon. 

Then  fower  other  of  his  men  as  before. 

After  these  fower  Knightes  in  rich  apparel!  with  hats  and 
feathers,  rapiers  and  daggers,  bootes  and  spurres,  everie 
one  his  Lackie  attending  on  him  with  torch-light,  all  two 
by  two. 

After  these  the  Master  of  the  Kee|iiests,  the  Master  of  the 
Robes  in  vaste  velvet  gownes,  with  Lackies  and  torches 
before  them. 

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

After  these  an  Herald  at  Armes  bare,  with  two  Lackies 
attendant  bearing  torches. 

After  these  six  of  the  privie  Counsell  in  SchoUars  gowaies  and 
civill  hoods,  everie  one  attended  on  by  a  Footman  bear- 
ing on  his  jacket  both  behind  and  before  his  Lord's 
armes  according  to  his  offtce  (as  it  is  before  mentioned) 
with  torches  alsoe  in  theire  hands. 

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

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

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

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

"  When  this  traine  hrst  entered  out  of  the  Prince's  palace 
there  was  a  volye  of  shotte  to  the  number  of  fiftie  or  three-score 
gunnes,  and  once  againe  as  it  passed  through  the  quadrangle, 
and  the  third  time  when  the  Prince  was  readie  to  enter  uppon 
the  stage  in  the  hall,  after  which  third  peale  ended,  the  nobilitie 
iiaving  past  along  some  parte  of  the  stage,  the  rest  of  the  traine 
disposed  in  places  provided  for  them,  and  the  Prince  himselfe 
newlie  entered,  the  showe  went  forward. 


172  CHRISTMAS. 

"  It  hath  bcciie  observed  if  they  which  performe  much  in 
these  kinde  of  sportes  must  needs  doe  something  amisse,  or 
at  the  least  such  is  the  danger  and  trouble  of  them,  that  some- 
thing in  the  doing  will  miscarry,  and  so  be  taken  amisse,  and 
such  was  our  fortune  at  this  time  ;  for  the  Prologue  (to  the 
great  prejudice  of  that  which  followed)  was  most  shamefully 
out,  and  having  but  halfe  a  verse  to  say,  so  that  by  the  very 
sense  the  audience  was  able  to  prompt  him  in  that  which 
followed,  yet  hee  could  not  goe  forward,  but  after  long  stay  and 
silence,  was  compelled  abruptly  to  leave  the  stage,  whereupon 
beemg  to  play  another  part,  hee  was  so  dasht,  that  hee  did 
nothing  well  that  night. 

"After  him  Good-wife  Spiggot,  comming  forth  before  her 
tune,  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  j-tleased  the  audience  to  terme  it),  either  saying  nothing 
at  all,  or  nothing  to  the  purpose. 

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

'twas  pitty  there  should  bee 


In  any  pleasing  thing  satiety. 

^  "  To  make  up  the  messe  of  absurdities  the  company  had  so 
hl'd  the  stage,  that  there  was  no  roome  to  doe  any  thing  well, 
to  bee  sure  many  thinges  were  mistaken  and  therefore  could 
not  but  bee  very  distastfull,  for  it  was  thought  that  particular 
men  were  aymed  at,  and  disciphered  by  the  drunken-man,  and 
Justice  Bryar,  though  it  was  fully  knowne  to  our-selves  that  the 
author  had  no  such  purpose. 

"  In  hne,  expectation  the  devourer  of  all  good  endeavours 
had  swallowed  more  in  the  very  name  and  title  of  the  interlude 
than  was  either  provided  or  intended  in  the  whole  matter,  for 
wee  onely  proposed  to  our  selves  a  shew,  but  the  towne  expected 
a  perfect  and  absolute  play,  so  that  all  things  mett  to  make  us 
unhappy  that  night,  and  had  not  Time  him  selfe  (whose  lines 
and  actions  were  thought  good)  somewhat  pleased  them,  they 
would  never  have  endured  us  without  hissing,  howsoever  in 
the  end  they  gave  us  two  or  three  cold  plaudites,  though  they 
departed  no  way  satisfyed,  unlesse  it  were  in  the  shew  about 
the  quadrangle,  wherein  the  Prince  was  carryd  to  his  chamber 
m  the  same  state  that  hee  came  from  thence  in  the  beginning 
(as  is  above  mentioned),  the  whole  company  of  actors'beeing 
added  to  his  traine  who  immediately  followed  him  before  the 
guard  in  this  order  : 

First,  Time  alone,  attended,  with  two  pages  and  lightes. 

Next,  Veritas  alone,  likewise  attended. 

Then  Error  and  Opinion,  which  all  the  way  they  went  pull'd 


CHRISTMAS    UNDER    fAMES   I.  173 

Veritas  by  the  sleeve,  one  by  one  and  the  other  by  the 
other,  but  shee  would  not  harken  to  them. 
After  these  came  Studioso  and  Philonices,  both   pleadini^  the 
case,  one  upon    his   lni.L;ers  and   the  other  with   both   his 
hands. 
Then   came    Manco,    the    lame   souldiour  and    Philonices  his 
man  ;  the  souldiour  haulting  without  his  cruch,  the  other 
beating  him  with  the  cruch  for  counterfeyting. 
After  these  came  Clinias  and   Bellicoso  houlding  the  halter 
betwixt  them,  which   Bellicoso  had  found  in  Clinias  his 
pocket. 
Last   after   these    came    Humphry  Swallow   and    good   wife 
Spiggot,  hee  reeling  uppon  her,  she  pulling  and  havling 
him  for  the  money  he  ought  her. 
After  these  came  the  guard  as  before,  and  so  the  Prince  in 

full  state  was  conveyed  to  his  pallace. 
"  Here  wee  were  all  so  discouraged  that  wee  could  have 
found  in  our  heartes  to  have  gone  no  farther.  But  then  con- 
sulting w4th  our  selves  wee  thought  it  no  way  iitt  to  leave  when 
thinges  were  at  the  worst,  and  therefore  resolved  by  more 
industry  and  better  care  of  those  things  which  should  follow, 
to  sue  out  a  line  of  recovery  for  our  credites.  Whereuppon 
the  comedy  which  was  already  a  foote  and  appointed  to  bee 
done  on  12  day,  was  revewed  and  corrected  by  the  best  judg- 
ments in  the  house,  &  a  Chorus  by  their  direction  inserted,  to 
excuse  former  faults,  all  which  was  a  cause  that  Tvvelfe  eve  & 
Twelfe  day  past  away  in  silence,  because  the  comedy  beeing 
wholy  altered  could  not  bee  so  soone  acted,  neyther  could  any 
other  thing  bee  so  suddenly  provided  to  furnish  those  nights. 

"  Heere  the  Lord-treasurer  made  a  complaint  to  the  King 
and  the  rest  of  his  councell  that  his  treasure  was  poore  and 
almost  exhausted,  so  that  without  a  fresh  supply  or  new  subsidy 
nothing  more  could  bee  done.  And  that  this  might  not  seem 
an  idle  complaint,  a  bill  of  some  of  the  particulars  and  chiefe 
expences  was  exhibited,  wherein  it  might  appeare  how  costly 
the  presedent  revels  had  beene." 

The  "  Bill  of  Expences  "  amounted  to  Ixiiij''  v'  o''. 
"  This  bill  beeing  scene  and  allowed,  they  begane  to  cast  about 
for  more  money,  whereuppon  a  new  privy  scale  was  drawn  in 
Latin."      "  Those    which    were    served    with    this    writte    and 
obey'd  "  contributed  a  total  sum  of  5". 

"  This  beeing  not  as  yet  sufficient  there  was  a  new  subsedy 
levyed  by  the  Junior  Masters  and  the  rest  of  the  Colledge  to  the 
summe  of  Six  Poundes  three  shillings,  whereuppon  finding  them- 
selves againe  before  hand,  and  resolving  to  save  nothing  for  a 
deare  yeare,  they  proceeded  to  new  expences  and  new  troubles. 
*'  The  Suneday  after,  beeing  the  last  day  of  the  Vacation  and 
tenth  day  of  the  moneth,  two  shewes  were  privately  performed 
in  the  Lodging,  the  one  presently  after  dinner  called  Soimiiinii 
Fiindaloris,  viz.,  the   tradition  that  wee   have   concearning  the 


174  CHRISTMAS. 

three  trees  that  wee  have  in  the  President  his  garden.  This 
interkide  by  the  reason  of  the  death  of  him  that  made  it,  not 
long  after  was  lost,  and  so  conld  not  bee  heere  inserted  ;  but  it 
was  very  well  liked,  and  so  wel  deserved,  for  that  it  was  both 
wel  penned  and  well  acted. 

"  Now  because  before  were  divers  voutlis  whose  voyces  or 
personages  would  not  suffer  them  to  act  any  thing  in  publicke, 
yet  withall  it  was  thought  iitt,  that  in  so  "publicke  a  buisnes 
every  one  should  doe  some  thing,  therefore  a  mocke  play  was 
provided  called. The  7  Daycs  of  the  U\rkc,  which  was  to  be  per- 
formed by  them  which  could  do  nothing  in  earnest,  and,  that 
they  should  bee  sure  to  spoyle  nothing," every  man's  part  was 
sorted  to  his  person,  and  it  was  resolved  that  the  worse  it 
was  done,  the  better  it  would  be  liked,  and  so  it  fell  out  ;  for 
the  same  day  after  supper  it  was  presented  by  one  who  bore 
the  name  of  the  Gierke  of  St.  Gyleses,  and  acted  privatelv  in 
the  lodging  in  manner  and  forme  following  : 

THE   SEVEN    DAVE.S   OF   THE   WEEKE. 

lutcrloqiitores. 

The  Gierke  of  St.  Gyleses. 

Mooneday. 

Tuseday. 

Wenesday. 

Thurseday. 

Frieday. 

Satterday. 

Suneday. 

Night. 

Ghorus. 

A  Woman 
A  Paire  of  Snuffers. 
Enter  the  Gierke  -with  all  his  Acleurs. 

Prologue 

Gierke.      "  I  am  the  poore,  though  not  unlettered,  Gierke, 
And  these  your  subjects  of  St.  Gyles  his  parishe, 
Who  in  this  officious  season  would  not  sharke 
I5ut  thought  to  greet  your  highnesse  \vith  a  niorrice, 
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  dipt  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  have  The  Seven  Dayes  of  the  ]Veeke, 
W^hich  though  perchaunce  grave  heads  may  judge  a  trifle, 
Vet  if  their  action  answere  but  my  penninge, 
Vou  shall  heare  that,  that  will  deserve  a  lieniminge. 


CHRISTMAS   UNDER  JAMES   I.  175 

To  tell  the  aitjunienl,  were  to  forstalle 
And  sour  the  licquour  of  our  swcete  conceate  ; 
Here  are  good  fellowes  that  will  tell  you  all 
When  wee  begin  once,  you  shall  (juickely  ha'te, 

Which  if  your  grace  will  grace  willi  your  attention, 
\'nu  sliall  soone  sounde  the  depth  of  our  invention."' 

[Tlicii  follows  the  mock  play  in  seven  Acts.] 

"  Nothin<j;,  thronghont  the  whole  yeare,  was  better  liked  and 
more  pleasant  than  this  shewe,  in  so  mnch  that,  although  it 
were  more  privately  done  before  our  selves  onely  or  some  few 
friends,  yet  the  report  of  it  went  about  all  the  towne,  till  it 
came  to  the  Vice-chauncellours  and  L.  Clifford's  eares,  who 
were  very  desyrous  to  see  it  acted  againe,  and  so  it  was  as 
heereafter  shal  bee  specifyed. 

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

"  But  heere  the  President  and  some  of  the  Seniors  in  abun- 
dance of  care  were  affrayd  to  put  any  thing  againe  to  the 
publicke  view  of  the  University,  because  their  last  paines  at 
The  Complaint  of  Time  had  so  ill  thriving.  Besides  the  season 
was  so  severe  and  tempestuous  with  wind  and  snow,  which  had 
continued  some  dayes  without  ceasing,  and  the  complaint  of 
the  poore  was  so  grievious  for  want  of  wood  and  meate,  which 
by  this  time  were  growne  very  scant  and  deere,  that  they  urged 
it  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  time 
after,  till  the  weather  should  breake  up  and  bee  more  temperate, 
for  they  thought  it  no  way  fitt  publickly  to  revell  at  a  time  of 
such  generall  wo  and  calamity. 

"  But  yet  because  all  thinges  were  in  a  readinesse  and  the 
expectation  of  the  whole  towne  was  set  uppon  that  night,  the 
younger  men  of  the  Colledge  went  forward  with  their  buisnes, 
intending  to  take  no  notice  of  what  the  officers  had  aggreed 
uppon,  wherefore  some  of  the  officers  were  fayne  to  come  in 
person  to  forbid  the  worke-men,  and  to  undo  some  things  which 
were  already  done,  to  the  great  griefe  and  discouragement  of 
all  the  youth,  who,  though  the  weather  was  extreame  cold,  were 
themselves  most  hotte  uppon  the  matter  in  hand,  resolving  now 
or  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  it 


176  CHRISTMAS. 

begann  to  thaw,  whereiippon  the  President  was  agayne  impor- 
tuu'd  by  the  Prince  himselfe  and  his  councell  for  the  performance 
of  the  Comedy  that  night ;  who  (seeing  they  were  all  so  earnest) 
did  not  so  much  graunt,  as  not  deny  them,  their  request,  where- 
uppon  they  begann  againe  to  sett  forward  the  buisnes,  and  what 
they  wanted  in  time  they  made  up  by  their  willingnesse  and 
paynes,  so  that  for  all  these  crosses  they  begann  the  play  before 
7  a  clocke  and  performed  it  in  manner  following  : 

I'lIILOMATHES. 

1  iNTER  LOQUTORES. 

Chorus. 

Janus. 
Tempus. 

Motus  Locus. 

Quies  \'acuum. 

rhilomathes.  Sophia. 

Chrysophilos,  Senex  Avarus.  Anlarchia. 

Phantasta,  Stolidus  Gencrosus.  iVnthadia. 

A0ooj'ioc,  Filius  Chrysophili.  Anrea,  Mulicr  Inupta. 

Chrestophilos,  Socius  Philomathis. 
Crito,  Senex,  Pater  SophiLt. 
Ciitonis  Seruus. 
Cerdoos,  Seruus  Chrysophili. 
Petinus,  Seruus  Phantastce. 


"  This  play  was  very  well  acted,  but  especially  the  Chorus,  the 
stage  was  never  more  free,  the  audience  never  more  quiett  and 
contented,  so  that  they  went  away  many  of  them  crieing — 
Abitudc  salisfactiiiii  est!  itt  was  so  well  liked  and  applauded 
of  all  that  saw  itt. 

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

"  But  in  the  meane  time  on  Sunday  nighte,  being  the  Seven- 
teenth of  January,  the  Vice-chancelor,  and  the  L.  Clifford,  with 
many  other  Doctors  and  Gentlemen  were  invited  to  supper  in 
the  President's  lodging,  where  after  supper  they  were  enter- 
tained with  a  shew  before  mentioned,  to  witt,  The  Sei'cii  Daves 
ill  llie  ]]\'eke,  to  which,  by  this  time,  there  was  somewhat  added, 
but  not  much  :  all  was  most  kindly  accepted,  and  the  nighte  was 
spent  in  great  mirth.  For  the  straungenes  of  the  matter,  and 
rarity  of  the  fashion  of  their  action  pleased  above  expectation. 

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

"  *  My  Lord,  I  which  am  the  lowest,  am  now  become  the 
lowdest,  though  (I   hope)  not  the  lewdest  of  your  Lordshippe's 


CHRISTMAS   UNDER   JAMES   I.  177 

servaimtes.  And  though  I  come  pridic  Calcndas,  before  I  am 
cald,  yet  (I  hope)  my  audacity  shaU  liave  audience,  and  my 
faithfuhies  favor.  I  am  your  Lordshippe's  Elephaunt  and 
heere  is  your  castell,  so  that  where  other  Lords  are  brought 
to  their  castells,  heere  your  castell  is  brought  to  you.  Est  locus 
ill  carccre,  there  is  a  locke  upon  your  Lordshippe's  castell,  which 
was  committed  unto  my  trust,  how  faithfull  I  have  been  therein 
they  can  tell  who  have  taken  an  exact  measure  of  my  ofhce  by 
the  foote  :  the  matter  of  which  your  castell  is  builded  is  so 
precious,  that  there  is  none  amongst  company  but  is  contented 
to  wear  of  it  within  his  buttons,  the  end  for  which  it  was  builded 
is  very  commendable,  that  they  may  bee  kepte  in  order  with 
wood,  which  otherwise  would  not  bee  kepte  in  order,  heere 
is  fans  latus  pcdibus  tribns,  a  fountaine  to  wash  three  mens  legs, 
that  they  which  have  bene  aiirinin  Iciins,  over  shoes,  heere  may 
be  cniniin  tcniis  over  bootes  too.  This  your  Lordshippe's  oracle 
or  Tripos,  out  of  which  malefactors  tell  the  truth  and  foretell 
of  their  amendment.  Nay,  I  wil  bee  bould  to  compare  it  to 
your  Lordshippe's  braine,  for  what  is  there  designed  is  heere 
executed.  In  these  sells  or  ventricles  are  fancy,  understanding, 
and  memory.  For  such  as  your  Lordshippe  doth  not  fancy  are 
put  in  the  first  hole,  such  as  were  dull  and  without  under- 
standing were  put  in  the  second  hole,  but  such  as  your 
Lordshippe  threatned  (remember  this)  or  I'le  remember  you, 
were  put  in  the  last  and  lowest  dungeon,  cum  neuiini  obtrudi 
potest  itnr  ad  inc.  When  they  cannot  bee  ruled  otherwise  they 
are  brought  unto  mee,  and  my  entertainment  is  strata  discuni- 
bitur  astro,  they  straite  sett  downe  att  this  oister  table,  where  they 
are  fast  and  doe  fast,  ffor  vinitur  cxij:^uo  uicUiis,  they  make  small 
meales,  till  the  flames  of  clemency  doe  mitigate  the  Salamanders 
of  your  Lordshippe's  severity.  Now,  my  Lord,  since  I  have 
told  you  what  I  am,  I  will  bee  bold  to  tell  you  what  you  may 
bee — You  are  mortall — Ergo  you  must  die,  the  three  sisters  will 
not  spare  you,  though  you  were  their  owne  brother,  and  there- 
fore while  you  have  your  good  witts  about  you,  fac  quid  vobis, 
make  your  will,  that  wee  may  know  amongst  so  many  well 
deserving  men,  that  doe  lay  claime  to  this  your  castell,  to 
whome  as  rightfull  heire  itt  shall  lawfully  descend,  that 
so  all  controversies  being  ended,  before  your  Lordshippe's 
deceasse,  hereafter  your  bones  may  ly,  and  wee  your  subjects 
live,  in  all  rest  and  quietnes. 

"  '  Dixi.' 

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

"  On  the  Thursday  following  the  Prince  was  solemnly  invited 
by  the  Canons  of  Christchurch  to  a  comedy  called  Yiilctide, 
where  many  thinges  were  either  ill  ment  by  them,  or  ill  taken 
by  us,  but  wee  had  very  good  reason  to  think  the  former,  both 

13 


1 78  CHRISTMAS. 

for  that  the  whole  towne  thought  so,  and  the  whole  play  was 
a  medley  of  Christmas  sportes,  by  which  occasion  Christmas 
Lords  were  much  jested  at,  and  our  Prince  w^as  soe  placed  that 
many  thinges  were  acted  upon  him,  but  yet,  Mr.  Deane  him- 
self e,  then  vice-chancelor,  very  kindly  sent  for  the  Prince  and 
some  others  of  our  howse,  ancl  laboured  to  satisfie  us,  protesting 
that  no  such  thing  was  mente,  as  was  reported,  whereupon  wee 
went  away  contented,  and  forebore  the  speaking  of  many  things 
which  otherwise  were  afterwards  intended,  for  aunswering  of 
them  in  their  owne  kind. 

"  On  Candlemas  nightc  it  was  thoughte  by  our  selves,  and 
reported  in  the  towne,  that  the  Prince  should  resigne  his 
place,  but  nothing  being  in  readines  for  that  purpose  itt  was 
deferred,  but  yet,  least  nothing  should  bee  clone,  there  was  a 
Vigilate  (as  they  terme  it)  a  watching  nighte  procured  by  the 
Prince  ancl  his  Counsell,  and  graunted  by  the  officers  of  the 
Colledge,  which  was  performed  in  manner  following. 

"THE    VIGILATE. 

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

"The  high  and  mighty  Thomas  by  the  favour  of  Fortune  Prince 
of  Alba  Fortunata,  Lord   St.   Johns,    High   Regent  of  the 
Hall,    &c.     To    all    Presidents,   Vice    Presidents,    Oflicers, 
Readers,  Masters,    Batchelors,  Felowes,    SchoUers,    Com- 
moners,  Under-commoners,  Servaunts,   Scruitors,    sendeth 
greeting. 
Whereas  of  late  by  the  turbulent   spirits  of  seditious   minded 
persons  hath  bene  buzzed  into  the  eares  of  many  of  our  loving 
and    liege    subjectes  a  fearefull    and    dangerous  report   of  our 
sudden  downefall,  which  according  to  their  libelling  speeches 
should    att    this   nighte    fall    upon    us — We    ha\"e    thought    it 
necessary  not  so   much  for  our  owne  feares  which   are   none 
at    all,    as   for    satisiieing   and    strengthening   our   welmeaning 
friends  in  their  love  and  duty,  to  publish  and  by  these  presents 
to  all  our  loyal   subjects   of  what  state  and  condicion  soever, 
that  they   make  their  personall  appearance  to  the  setting  and 
furnishing  of  a   most   strong  guarde  ancl  carefull  watch  as  well 
for  their  security  as  the  safety   of  our  owne  royall  person,   & 
the  whole   Common-wealth  ;   In   the  which  generall  watch  for 
the    better    comfort  and  ease  of  all  men,  our  selfe,    with  our 
honourable  privy  Counsell,  and  the  rest  of  our  Nobility,  intend 
to  bee  personally  present. 


CHRISTMAS    UXDER   }AMES   I.  lyO 

"  But  because  wee  are  no  way  minded  to  ojipresse  any  man 
above  his  power,  on  our  princely  bounty,  wee  give  licence  to 
such  as  (for  age  or  infirmity)  are  not  able  to  perform  that  duty, 
to  forfaite  for  their  absence,  yf  they  plead  age  ijs.  vi''.  ;  if 
intirmity,  xii''.,  towards  the  furnishing  of  his  Highnes  with  a 
tall  and  sufficient  watchman. 

"  Now  4-»ecause  that  which  wee  have  wisely  thought,  and  for 

om-  peace  and  safety,  may  not  proove  the  cause  of  new  troubles 

and  dissentions,  wee  have  thought  good  to  adjoine  some  few 

cautions,  in  way  of  admonitions  to  bee  observed. 

"  First,  for  that  the  disorders  of  an  unruly  and  mutinous  watch 

doe  often  open  as  it  were  the  gate  of  danger  and  outrage, 

our  princely  will  and  pleasure  is,  that  each  man  keepe  his 

station  with  out  murmuring,  performing  cheerefully  all  such 

offices  and  duties,  as  shal   bee  lawfully  enjoin'd  by  us,  or 

our  offices,  upon  paine  of  forfeiting  ijs.  vi".,  as  for  age. 

"  Secondly,  because  sloth  is  a  kind  of  disease  in  a  well-ordered 

Common-wealth  wee  further  charge  and  command  by  the 

vertue  of  our  absolute  authority,   that  no  man  bee  found 

winking,  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  famine 

which  may  ensue  and  justly  follow  the  free  and  undoubted 

liberty  of  a  riotous  and  luxurious  time,  yt  is  by  us  thought 

necessary  that  no  man   should  in   hugger  mugger  eate  or 

drincke   more   than  is  publickly  scene  and  allowed  by  the 

face  of  the  body  civill  and  politicke,  upon  paine  of  paieing 

twise,  for  such  is  in  a  manner  stolen  provision,  and   the 

second  paiement  to  bee  arbitrary. 

"  Given  att  our  Mannor  of  Whites-hall,  the  seacond  of 
February,  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  the 
steward  and  buttler  (who  for  their  auncient  fidelity  kept  their 
places  according  as  they  had  long  before  lx;ene  appointed  by 
the  Colledge)  were  commaunded  to  bring  their  bookes,  and  by 
tliem  to  call  up  all  the  howse,  whereupon  (every  one  beeing  first 
charged  to  aunswere  to  his  name)  it  presently  appeared  who 
were  present  and  who  were  absent. 

''  After  this  the  Master  of  the  Revels  and  the  Knight  Marshall 
were  willed  to  appoint  severall  sportes  that>  no  man  might  bee 
scene  idle  upon  payne  of  the  Prince's  high  displeasure  where- 
upon presently  some  w^ent  to  cardes,  some  to  dice,  some  to 
dauncing,  everv  one  to  some  thing. 

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


i8o  CHRISTMAS. 

"  These  are  six  carpet  knights,  and  I  one  page 
Can  easily  bring  in  six  that  bee  of  age, 
They  come  to  visile  this  your  highnes  court, 
And  if  they  can,  to  make  your  honour  sport. 
Nay,  this  is  all,  for  I  have  scene  the  day 
A  richer  maske  had  not  so  much  to  say. 

"After  these  maskers  had  finished  the  measures,  , and  some 
few  other  damices,  the  said  page  waved  them  forth  with  his 
wan,  and  spake  these  two  verses  : 

"  There  are  three  they  say  would  shew  you  an  anticke, 
But  when  you  see  them,  you'll  thinke  them  franticke. 

"  Then  tliere  came  in  three  in  an  anticke  which  were  wcU 
attyred  for  that  purpose,  and  daunced  well  to  the  great  dclitc 
of  the  beholders. 

"  After  these  had  stoUen  away  one  by  one,  as  the  manner  is, 
it  pleased  the  Prince  to  aske  what  was  a  clocke,  it  beeing 
aunswered  almost  twelve  hee  presently  called  in  for  supper. 
But  iirst  the  bill  of  those  which  were  before  noted  to  bee 
absent  was  called,  to  see  whether  any  of  them  would  yet 
appeare,  and  the  Prince  would  deale  favourably  with  them.  It 
was  also  examined  whether  any  of  those  which  were  present 
before  were  now  gon  to  bed,  and  accordingly  authority  was 
given  by  the  Prince  to  the  marshalls  of  the  hall  and  other 
officers  to  search  the  chambers  for  sleepers,  and  where  they 
made  aunswere  to  aske  the  reason  of  their  slothfull  neglect  or 
wilfull  contempt  of  the  Prince's  commands,  and  if  they  pleaded 
either  iniirmity  or  age  to  take  their  tine,  and  so  quietly  to 
depart,  first  causing  them  faithfull  to  give  their  words  that  they 
harboured  no  other  idle  or  suspicious  parsons.  But  if  they 
knoct  at  any  of  the  chambers  of  those  that  were  absent  and 
nobody  would  answer,  then  they  had  full  authority  to  breake 
open  the  dores  and  to  make  a  privy  search,  and  if  they  found 
any  abed  they  tooke  them  as  they  wxre  in  their  shirts  and 
carryed  them  downe  in  state  to  the  hall  after  this  maimer  : — 
"  First  went  the  marshals  with  lights  to  make  room. 

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

Then  came  two  other  squires  whereof  one  carryed  his  dtiblct 
the  other  his  breeches. 

Then  came  two  with  lights. 

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

Last  behind  came  one  squire  more  that  carryed  his  slioes  & 
stockings. 

"All  these  beeing  entered  the  hall,  the  squires  made  their 
attendance  about  him,  with  great  observance,  every  one 
reaching  him  his  apparrell  as  it  pleased  him  to  call  for  it,  and 
then  also  helping  him  on  with  it.  And  this  was  the  punishment 
of  those  that  were  found  a  bed. 


CHRISTMAS    UNDER   y^AMES   I.  i8i 

"  Others  which  were  found  up  in  their  chambers  &  would 
not  answer  were  violently  brought  downe  with  bills  and  staves 
as  malefactors  and  by  the  Knight  Marshals  appointment  were 
committed  close  prisoners  to  the  Prince's  castle,  videl.  the 
stocks,  which  were  placed  upon  a  table  to  that  purpose,  that 
those  which  were  punished  might  bee  scene  to  the  terrour  of 
others. 

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

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

'*  Towardes  the  end  of  supper  two  gentlemen  of  the  second 
table  fell  out,  wee  could  never  distinctly  know  about  what,  it 
was  verely  supposed  themselves  scarsly  knew,  but  from  wordes 
they  fell  suddenly  to  blowes,  and  ere  any  man  was  aware,  one 
of  them  had  stabbed  the  other  into  the  arme  with  his  knife  to 
the  great  prejudice  of  the  mirth,  which  should  or  would  have 
followed  that  night.  But  the  offender  was  presently  appre- 
hended (and  though  a  gentleman  of  some  worth)  put  into  my 
Lord's  stocks,  where  hee  lay  most  part  of  that  night  with  shame 
and  blame  enough.  And  yet  for  all  that  punisliment  the  next 
day  he  was  convented  before  the  ofticers  of  the  Colledgc,  and 
there  agayne  more  grievously  pimished  ;  for  the  fault  was  much 
agravated  by  the  circumstances  of  the  time,  place  and  person 
that  was  hurt,  who  wns  a  very  worshipfuU  knight's  sonne  and 
heyre. 

"After  this  the  Prince  with  some  of  the  better  sort  of  the 
howse  beein^g  much  disconted  with  the  mischaunce  that  had 
happened,  retyred  themselves  into  the  president  lodging,  where 
privatly  they  made  themselves  merry,  with  a  wassail  called  the 
live  bells  of-  Magdalen  Church,  because  it  was  an  auncient  note 
of  those  bells,  that  they  were  almost  never  silent.  This  shew 
for  the  better  grace  of  the  night  was  performed  by  some  of  the 
Masters  and  officers  themselves  in  manner  following  : 

"  Killer  the  Gierke  of  Ma<>tlaleiis  alone, 

"  Your  kind  acceptance  of  the  late  devise 
Presented  by  St.  Gyles's  clerke,  my  neighbour, 
Hath  hartned  niee  to  furnish  in  a  trice 
This  nights  up  sitting  with  a  two  houres  labour  : 

For  any  thing  I  hope,  though  ne're  so  naghty 

Wil  be  accepted  in  a  \'igilate. 

I  have  observed  as  your  sportes  did  passe  all 

(A  fault  of  mine  to  bee  too  curious) 

The  twelfe  night  sliptaway  without  a  wassail, 

A  great  defect,  to  custome  most  injurious  : 

Which  I  to  mend  have  done  my  best  endeavmir 
To  bring  it  in,  for  better  lale  than  never. 


i82  CHRISTMAS. 

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  He  bring  them  downe  &  tune  them. 

K\'/'/. 

"  After  a  while  he  returned  with  five  others  presenting  his 
iive  bells,  and  tyed  with  five  bell-ropes,  which  after  he  had 
pulled  one  by  one,  they  all  began  a  peale,  and  sang  in  Latin  as 
foUoweth  : — 

"  Jam  sumus  la,'tis  dapibus  repleti, 
Copiam  vobis  ferimus  fluentem, 
Gaudium  voltis  canimus  jocose 

Mvite  ]xU. 

Te  deum  dicunt  (venerande  Bacche) 
Te  deum  dicunt  (reverenda  mater) 
Vos  graves  vobis  removete  luctus  : 

Vivite  \x\.\. 

Dat  Ceres  vires,  hominumque  firmat 
Corpora,  et  Bacchus  pater  ille  vini 
Liberal  curis  animos  molestis  : 

Vivite  Lv'ti. 

Ne  dolor  vestros  animos  fatiget, 
Vos  jubet  laeta  ha?c  reniovere  curas 
Turba,  la;tari  feriixque  suadent 

Vivite  l?eti. 

En  Ceres  Icetce  segctis  creatrix, 

Et  pater  vini  placidique  somni 

Pocula  haec  vobis  hilares  ministrant 

o  '  monarcha 

hume  •  ■  , 

(  magister. 

BibiDit   oiinics   oniine  diwi,    adores  hire  ttltima  carmitia  so'/ii/s  lept'tiiut  :  inox 
singidi  toti  convciitui  sic  ordine  gratitlantitr. 

Tenor.      Reddere  fvlicem  si  quemquam  copia  possit 
Copia  f  L-licis  nomen  haljere  jubet, 
Copia  lix'tc  jubet  tristcs  depellere  curas, 
Copia  quam  cingit  Bacchus  et  alma  Ceres. 

Counter,     (^uem  non  dclcctant  moderate  pocula  sumpta  ? 

Tenor.         Cujus  non  animum  dulcia  vina  juvant  ? 

Dulcia  vina  juvant  dulcem  dant  vina  soporcm, 
Magnificas  ornant  dulcia  vina  dapes. 

Meane.     Erugibus  alma  Ceres  mortalia  pcctora  nutrit, 
Exornant  campurn  frugibus  alma  Ceres. 
Si  cuiquam  desint  Cerelia  dona,  nee  illi 
Len:vi  patris  munera  grata  placent. 

Nee  vobis  Cereris  nee  Bacchi  munera  desint, 
Annuat  et  votis  Jupiter  ipse  meis. 

Treble.     Alma  Ceres  vestris  epulis  lastatur,  et  ecce 
Copia  cum  Baccho  gaudia  laita  canunt 

Mox  oDines  cant  antes  Exeunt, 


CHRISTMAS    UXDER   y'AMES   I.  183 

(laiulium  Ix'tuni  canimus,  canemus 
Hoc  idem  semper,  nee  eiiini  doleic 
Jam  licet,  hvta'  feri;v  hie  at^iintur 

\'ivite  leti. 

Sa'pius  nobis  leriie  revertant, 
Sa?pius  vinum  liceal  potare, 
Saepius  vohis  hilares  canamus 

X'ivite  kx'ti. 

"  This  then  was  suddenly  and  extempore  clapt  to.ijether  for 
want  of  a  better,  but  notwithstanding^  was  as  wiUin^t^dy  and 
cliearefully  receaved  as  it  was  proferd. 

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

"  On  the  sixt  of  February,  beeing  egge  Satterday,  it  pleased 
some  gentlemen  schollers  in  the  towne  to  make  a  dauncing 
night  of  it.  They  had  provided  many  new  and  curious  daunces 
for  the  maske  of  Penelope's  Woers,  but  the  yeare  beeing  far 
spent  and  Lent  drawing  on  and  many  other  thinges  to  bee  per- 
formed, the  Prince  was  not  able  to  bestow  that  state  upon  them 
which  their  love  &  skill  deserved.  But  their  good  will  was 
very  kindely  received  by  the  Prince  in  this  night's  private 
travels.  They  had  some  apparell  suddenly  provided  for  them, 
and  these  few  Latin  verses  for  their  induction  : 

"  Isti  fuere  credo  Penelopes  proci 

(luos  justa  forsan  ira  Telemachi  domo 
Expulit  Ulyssis. 

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

''  Against  the  next  Tuesday  following,  beeing  Shrovetuesdaj', 
the  great  stage  was  againe  set  up  and  the  scaffolds  built  about 
tlie  hall  for  the  Prince's  resignation,  which  was  performed  that 
night  with  great  state  and  solemnity  in  manner  and  forme 
tollowing  : 

IRA  SEU  TUMULUS  FORTUNE. 

INTERLOCUTORES. 

Princeps. 

Admiralius. 

Thesaurarius. 

Comptrollarius. 

Cancellarius. 

Justitiarius. 

Marescallus. 

Camerarius. 


CHRISTMAS. 

Philosophiis.  Juridicus. 

Cynicus.  Magister  Ludorem. 

Alonius.  Anteambulo  Primus. 

Polycrates.  Anteamlxtlo  Secundus. 

Philadelphus.  Stultiis. 


Minerva  Fortiina. 

Eupliemia  Tolmcea. 


"  Many  straungers  of  all  sorts  were  invited  to  this  shew,  and 
many  more  came  tofjether,  for  the  name's  sake  only  of  a  resig- 
nacon,  to  see  the  manner  and  solemnity  of  it,  for  that  it  was 
reported  (and  truly)  that  there  was  nothing  els  to  bee  done  or 
seene  beside  the  resignacon  and  no  man  thought  so  much  could 
have  beene  said  of  so  little  matter. 

"  The  stage  was  never  so  oppressed  with  company,  insomuch 
that  it  was  verely  thought  it  could  not  bee  performed  that  night 
for  want  of  roome  ;  but  the  audience  was  so  favourable  as  to 
stand  as  close  and  yeeld  as  much  backe  as  was  possible  ;  so 
that  for  all  tumults  it  began  about  7  a  clocke,  and  was  very  well 
liked  of  all. 

"  Only  some  few,  more  upon  their  owne  guilty  suspicion  than 
our  plaine  intention,  thinking  themselves  toucht  at  that  verse  of 
Mom  us : 

"  Dixi  et  quern  dederat  cursuni  fortuna  peregi, 

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

"  After  the  shew  was  ended,  the  sometimes  Lord  was  carried 
in  state  to  his  owne  private  chamber  after  this  manner  : 
First  went  two  Squires  with  lights. 
Next  Euphemia  and  Tolma^a. 
Then  3  other  Squires  with  lightes. 
Next  Minerva  and  Fortuna. 

Then  came  4  other  Squires  with  lightes,  and  in  the  midst  of 

them    4   schollers    bearing  on  their  shoulders  a  tombe 

or  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  and 

hood  as  the  chiefe  mourner. 
Then  all  the  rest  of  his  Counsell  and  company  likewise  in 

blacke  gownes  and  hoodes,  like  mourners,  two  by  two. 
''  All  these  were  said  to  goe  to  the  Temple  of  Minerva  there 
to  consecrate  and  erecte  the  sepulcher,  and  this  state  was  very 
well  liked  of  all  that  saw  itt. 

"  Heere  wee  thought  to  have  made  an  end  of  all,  and  to  have 
puld  downe  the  scaffolds  and  stage,  but  then  many  said 
that  so  much  preparacon  was  too  much  for  so  small  a  show. 
Besides    there  was  an   English  Tragedy  almost  ready,    which 


CHRISTMAS    UNDER    yAMES   I.  185 

they  were  very  earnest  should  bee  performed,  but  many  arj^u- 
ments  were  alledged  a^jainst  it:  first,  for  the  time,  beeause  it 
was  neere  Lent,  and  consequently  a  season  uniitt  for  plaies — 
Secondly,  the  stile  for  that  itt  was  Eni^lish,  a  lanfjuage  imiitt  for 
the  Universitie,  especially  to  end  so  much  late  sporte  with  all — 
Thirdly,  the  suspicon  of  some  did  more  hinder  it  than  all  the 
rest,  for  that  it  was  thought  that  some  particulars  were  aimed 
att  in  the  Chorus,  which  must  needs  bee  distastfull — Lastly,  the 
ill  lucke,  which  wee  had  before  with  English,  made  many  very 
loth  to  have  anything  done  againe  in  that  straine. 

"  But  these  objections  being  aunswered  all  well  as  might  bee, 
and  faithfuU  promise  being  made  and  taken  that  if  any  word 
were  thought  personal),  it  should  be  presently  put  out,  the 
stage  was  suffered  to  stand,  and  the  scaffolds  somewhat 
enlarged  against  the  Saturday  following.  Att  which  time  such 
a  concourse  of  people  from  all  places,  and  of  all  sorts  came 
together  presently  after  dinner,  that  itt  was  thought  impossible 
any  thing  should  have  beene  done  that  night  for  tumults.  Yet 
in  the  beginning  such  order  and  care  was  taken  (everyone  being 
willing  att  the  last  cast  to  helpe  towardes  the  making  a  good 
end,)  that  the  stage  was  kept  voide  of  all  company,  and  the 
scaffoldes  were  reserved  for  straungers  and  men  sorte,  better 
than  ever  they  were  before,  so  that  it  began  very  peaceably 
somewhat  before  six  a  clocke,  and  was  performed  in  manner 
following  : 

TERIANDER. 


The  Master  ot  the  Revels.  Detraction. 

The  Master  of  the  Revels  Boj'.  Resolution. 

Ingenuity  a  Doctor  ot  Physicke. 

IXTERLOCUTORES. 

Peviander,  Tyrannus  Corinthi. 

Cypsilus,  IL^res  Periandri,  Stultus. 

LycophroB  Prater  Cypsili. 

Neotinos,  Puer,  Satelles  Lycoph. 

Lysimachos  I  ,.  ...        ^     ^       ....    „    .      ,  . 
\   ■  .u  ■  Mobiles  et  a  Lonsi  11s  1  enanihi. 

Anstha-us     )  J 

Philarches) 

P^riterus      '-Juuencs  Nobiles  in  ^Vula  Periandri. 

Symphilus ) 

Cratiea  Mater  Periandri. 

Melissa  Uxor  Periandri. 

Melissae  Umbra. 

Eugenia  Filia  Periandri. 

Promiea  I  j^^j^  Meritricula;  Periandri. 

Zona      ) 

Larisscea  Soror  Philarchis. 

Europe  Aristhiei  Filia. 

FxmiinK  Quatuor  Corinthia'  cum  4  or  Pueris  Inseruientibus 

Arion  Celebris  Musicus. 

Nanta:  Quatuor. 

Cines  Duo  Togati. 

Vigiles  Duo. 


CHRISTMAS. 


Calistus     \ 

Stratocles  -  Satellites  Periandri. 

Borius       ) 

Tres  Aut  4  or  Alij  Satellites. 

Epilogus. 


"  Gentlemen,  welcome  !  our  great  promises 
Wee  would  make  upp,  your  selves  must  needs  confesse, 
But  our  small  timbred  actors,  narrow  roome, 
Necessity  of  thrifte  make  all  short  come 
Of  our  fir^t  apprehensions  ;  wee  must  keepe 
Our  auntient  customes  though  wee  after  creepe. 
But  wee  forgett  times  limitts,  Nowe  tis  Lente — 
Old  store  this  weeke  may  lawfully  be  spente 
Our  former  shewes  were  giv'n  to  our  cai'd  Lorde, 
This,  and  att  his  request,  for  you  was  storde. 
By  many  hands  was  Periander  slaine. 
Your  gentler  hands  will  give  him  live  againe. 

FINIS. 

"A  certain  gentlewoman,  upon  the  hearing  of  these  two  last 
verses,  made  two  other  verses,  and  in  way  of  an  aunswer  sent 
them  to  the  Prince,  who  having  lirst  plaied  Periander  after- 
wards himselfe  also  pronounced  the  Epilogue. 

''  The  verses  were  these 

If  that  my  hand  or  hart  him  life  could  give, 
By  hand  and  hart  should  Periander  live. 

"  But  it  is  almost  incredible  to  thinke  how  well  this  Tragedy- 
was  performed  of  all  parties,  and  how  well  liked  of  the  whole, 
which  (as  many  of  them  as  were  within  the  hall)  were  very 
quiet  and  attentive.  But  those  that  were  without  and  could 
not  get  in  made  such  an  hideous  noice,  and  raised  such  a 
tumult  with  breaking  of  windows  all  about  the  colledge,  throw- 
inge  of  stones  into  the  hall  and  such  like  ryott,  that  the  officers 
of  the  coll  :  (beeing  iirst  dar'd  to  appeare)  were  faine  to  rush 
forth  in  the  beginning  of  the  play,  with  about  a  dozen  whitlers 
well  armed  and  swords  drawne,  whereat  the  whole  company 
(which  were  gathered  together  before  the  chapell  doore  to  try 
whether  they  could  breake  it  open)  seeing  them  come  behind 
them  out  of  the  lodging,  presently  gave  backe,  and  ranne  away 
though  itt  was  thought  they  were"  not  so  few  as  4  or  500. 

"  The  officers  gave  some  faire  words  and  some  fowle  as  they 
saw  occasion,  the  whiflers  were  very  heedfuU  to  marke  who  were 
the  ringleaders  of  the  rest,  and  having  some  notice  given  of 
them  by  some  of  our  friendes,  thev  took  some  of  them  and 
committed  them  to  the  Porter's  lodge,  where  they  lay  close 
prisoners  till  the  play  was  done,  and"  then  thev  were  brought 
forth  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. 


CHRISTMAS    UNDER   jAMES   I.  187 

''  The  Chorus  of  this  Traticd}'  much  pleased  for  the  rarity  of 
it.  Dclractiou  heeing  taken  from  among  the  company,  where 
hee  had  hked  to  have  been  beaten  for  his  sawsines  (as  it  was 
supposed)  for  nobody  at  first  toke  liim  for  an  actor.  The 
chiefest  in  the  hall  commaunded  that  notice  should  be  taken  of 
him,  that  hee  might  afterwards  bee  punished  for  his  boldnes ; — 
but  as  soone  as  it  at  once  appeared  that  he  was  an  actor,  their 
disdaine  and  anger  turned  to  much  pleasure  and  content. 

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

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

"  But  in  the  midst  of  all  this  good  liking  wee  were  neere  two 
mischaunces,  the  one.  from  Lycophron  who  lost  a  faire  gold 
ring  from  his  finger,  which  notwithstanding  all  the  hurleburly 
in  the  end  of  the  play,  was  soone  found  againe  ;  the  other  from 
Periander,  who,  going  to  kill  his  daughter  Eugenia,  did  not 
so  couch  his  dagger  within  his  hand,  but  that  hee  prickt  her 
through  all  her  attire,  but  (as  God  would  have  it)  it  was  onely  a 
scratch  and  so  it  passed. 

THE    COXCLUSIOX. 

''  IManv  other  thinges  were  in  this  yeare  intended  which  neither 
were  nor  could  be  performed.  As  the  maske  of  Penelope's 
Wooer,  with  the  State  of  Telemachus,  with  a  Controversie  of  Jrus 
and  his  ragged  Company,  whereof  a  great  parte  was  made.  The 
devise  of  the  Embassage  from  Lubber-land,  whereof  also  a  parte 
was  made.  The  Creation  of  White  Knights  of  the  order  of 
Aristotle's  Well,  which  should  bee  sworne  to  defend  Aristotle 
against  all  authors,  water  against  wine,  footemen  against  horse- 
men, and  many  more  such  like  injunctions.  A  lottery  for  those 
of  the  colledge  or  straungers  as  itt  pleased  them  to  draw,  not 
for  matters  of  wealth,  but  only  of  mirth  and  witt.  The  triumph 
of  all  the  founders  of  the  colledges  in  Oxford,  a  devise  much 
thought  on,  but  it  required  more  invention,  more  cost  than  the 
time  would  affoord.  The  holding  of  a  court  leet  and  baron 
for  the  Prince,  wherein  there  should  have  beene  leasses  drawne, 
copies  taken,  surrenders  made,  all  which  were  not  so  much 
neglected  as  prevented  by  the  shortnes  of  time  and  want  of 
money,  better  wits  and  richer  dales  may  hereafter  make  upp 
which  was  then  lefte  unperfect. 

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

"  Wee  intended  in  these  exercises  the  practise  and  audacity 
of  our  youth,  the  credit  and  good  name  of  our  colledge,  the 
love  and  favor  of  the  University  ;  but  instead  of  all  these  (so 
easie  a  thing  it  is  to  be  deceived  in  a  good  meaning)  wee  met 


iS8  CHRISTMAS. 

with  peevishnesse  at  home,  perversncs  abroad,  contradictions 
everywhere  ;  some  never  thought  themselves  entreated  enough 
to  their  owne  good  and  creditt  ;  others  thought  themselves  able 
to  doe  nothing  if  they  could  not  thwarte  and  hinder  some- 
thing ;  most  stood  by  and  gave  aime,  willing  to  see  much  and 
doe  nothing,  nay  perchaunce  they  were  ready  to  procure  most 
trouble,  which  would  bee  sure  to  yield  least  helpe.  And  yet 
wee  may  not  so  much  grudge  at  faults  at  home  as  wee  may 
justly  complaine  of  hard  measure  abroad  ;  for  instead  of  the 
love  and  favour  of  the  Universitie,  wee  found  our  selves  (wee  will 
say  justly)  taxed  for  any  the  least  error  (though  ingenious  spirits 
would  have  pardoned  many  things,  where  all  things  were  in- 
tended for  their  owne  pleasure)  but  most  unjustly  censured, 
and  envied  for  that  which  was  done  (wee  dare  sav)  indifferently 
well  :  so  that,  in  a  word,  wee  paide  deere  for  trouble,  and  in 
a  manner  hired  and  sent  for  men  to  doe  us  wrong. 

"  Let  others  herafter  take  heed  how  they  attemptc  the  like, 
unlesse  they  find  better  meanes  at  home,  and  better  mindes 
abroad.  And  yet  wee  cannot  complaine  of  all,  some  ment  well 
and  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  a 
common  benefitt. 

'^  Serin  7'ix  rcctc  agiiosdt,  qui  Iiidicm  ncscit. 

"  FIXIS." 

Christmas  Tournaments. 

During  the  reign  of  James  the  First  there  was  a  revival  of 
chivalric  exercises,  especially  in  connection  with  the  training  of 
the  young  Prince  Henry.  Almost  as  soon  as  he  could  wield  a 
lance  and  manage  his  horse  when  clothed  in  complete  armour, 
he  insisted  on  taking  his  place  at  the  lists  ;  and  from  this  time 
no  great  tournament  took  place  in  England  in  which  his  Koyal 
Highness  did  not  take  part.  The  most  important  of  these 
exhibitions  was 

The  Grand  "  Feat  of  Armes  " 

which  took  place  on  Twelfth  Night,  1610,  at  the  palace  of 
Whitehall,  in  the  presence  of  King  James  I.  and  his  queen,  and 
a  brilliant  assemblage  of  lords,  ladies,  and  gentlemen,  among 
whom  were  several  foreign  ambassadors,  when  the  heir-appa- 
rent, Prince  Henry,  was  in  the  i6th  year  of  his  age,  and 
therefore  arrived  at  the  period  for  claiming  the  principality 
of  Wales  and  the  duchy  of  Cornwall.  It  was  granted  to  him 
by  the  king  and  the  High  Court  of  Parliament,  and  the  4th  of 
June  following  appointed  for  his  investiture:  "the  Christmas 
before  which,"  Sir  Charles  Cornwallis  says,  "  his  highnesse,  not 
onely  for  his  owne  recreation,  but  also  that   the  world  might 


CHRISTMAS    UNDER   JAMES   I.  189 

kiimv  what  a  brave  prince  they  were  likely  to  enjoy,  nnder  the 
name  of  Meliades,  lord  c^f  the  isles,  (an  ancient  title  due  to  the 
lirst  born  of  Scotland,)  did,  in  his  name,  by  some  appointed  for 
the  same  purpose,  strangely  attired,  accompanied  with  drummes 
and  trumpets,  in  the  presence,  before  the  king  and  queene,  and 
in  the  presence  of  the  whole  Court,  deliver  a  challenge  to  all 
knights  of  Great  Britiiine."  The  challenge  was  to  this  effect, 
"  That  Meliades,  their  noble  master,  burning  with  an  earnest  desire 
to  trie  the  valour  of  his  young  yeares  in  foraigne  counfrycs,  and 
to  know  where  vertue  triumphed  most,  had  sent  them  abroad  to 
espy  the  same,  who,  after  their  long  travailes  in  all  countreys, 
and  returne,"  had  nowhere  discovered  it,  "  save  in  the  for- 
tunate isle  of  Great  Britaine  :  which  ministring  matter  of 
exceeding  joy  to  their  young  Meliades,  who  (as  they  said)  could 
lineally  derive  his  pedegree  from  the  famous  knights  of  this 
isle,  was  the  cause  that  he  had  now  sent  to  present  the  hrst 
fruits  of  his  chivalrie  at  his  majesties'  feete  :  then  after  return- 
ing with  a  short  speech  to  her  majestic,  next  to  the  earles, 
lords,  and  knights,  excusing  their  lord  in  this  their  so  sudden 
and  short  warning,  and,  lastly,  to  the  ladies  ;  they,  after  humble 
delivery  of  their  chartle  concerning  time,  place,  conditions, 
number  of  weapons  and  assailants,  tooke  their  leave,  departing 
solemnly  as  they  entered." 

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

"To  our  verie  loving  good  fircind  sir  Gilbert  Loughton,  knight,  geave  iheis  with 

speed  : 
"  After  our  hartie  connnendacions  unto  you.  The  prince,  his  highnes,  hath 
commanded  us  to  signilie  to  you  that  whereas  he  doth  intend  to  make  a  challenge 
in  his  ovvne  person  at  the  Barriers,  with  six  other  a*isi*itants,  to  bee  performed 
some  tyme  this  Christmas  ;  and  that  he  hath  made  choice  of  you  for  one  of  the 
defendants  (whereof  wee  have  comandement  to  give  you  knowledge),  that 
therup])on  you  may  so  repaire  hither  to  prepare  yourselfe,  as  you  may  bee  iitt  to 
attcntl  him.  Hereunto  expecting  your  speedie  answer  wee  rest,  from  Whitehall 
this  25lh  of  December,  1609.     Your  very  loving  friends, 

Nottingham.  T.  Suffoi.ke.  E.  Worcester." 

On  New  Year's  Day,  16 10,  or  the  day  after,  the  Prince's 
challenge  was  proclaimed  at  court,  and  "  his  higlmesse,  in  his 
own  lodging,  in  the  Christmas,  did  feast  the  earles,  barons,  and 
knights,  assailants  and  defendants,  until  the  great  Twelfth 
appointed  night,  on  which  this  great  fight  was  to  be  performed." 

On  the  6th  of  January,  in  the  evening,  "the  barriers"  were 
held  at  the  palace  of  VVhitehall,  in   the  presence  of  the  king 


I  go  CHRISTMAS. 

and  queen,  the  ambassadors  of  Spain  and  Venice,  and  the  peers 
and  ladies  of  the  land,  with  a  multitude  of  others  assembled  in 
the  banquetting-house  :  at  the  upper  end  whereof  was  the 
king's  chair  of  state,  and  on  the  right  a  sumptuous  pavilion  for 
the  prince  and  his  associates,  whence,  "  with  great  bravery  and 
ingenious  devices,  they  descended  into  the  middellof  the  roome, 
and  there  the  prince  performed  his  hrst  feates  of  amies,  that  is 
to  say,  at  Barriers,  against  all  commers,  being  assisted  onlie  with 
six  others,  viz.,  the  duke  of  Lenox,  the  earle  of  Arundell,  the 
earle  of  Southampton,  the  lord  Hay,  sir  Thomas  Somerset,  and 
sir  Richard  Preston,  w'ho  was  shortly  afterwards  created  lord 
Dingwell." 

To  answer  these  challengers  came  hfty-six  earles,  barons, 
knights,  and  esquiers.  They  were  at  "the  lower  end  of  the 
roome,  where  was  erected  a  very  delicat  and  pleasant  place, 
where  in  privat  manner  they  and  their  traine  remained,  which 
was  so  very  great  that  no  man  imagined  that  the  place  could 
have  concealed  halfe  so  many."  Thence  they  issued  in  comely 
order,  **  to  the  middell  of  the  roome,  where  sate  the  king  and 
the  queene,  and  the  court,  to  behold  the  barriers,  with  the 
several  showes  and  devices  of  each  combatant."  Every  chal- 
lenger fought  with  eight  several  defendants  two  several  combats 
at  two  several  weapons,  viz.  at  push  of  pike,  and  with  single 
sword.  "  The  prince  performed  this  challenge  with  wonderous 
skill  and  courage,  to  the  great  joy  and  admiration  of  the 
beholders,"  he  "  not  being  full  sixteene  yeeres  of  age  until  the 
19th  of  February."  These  feats,  and  other  "  triumphant 
shewes,"  began  before  ten  o'clock  at  night,  and  continued  until 
three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  "  being  Sonday."  The  speeches 
at  "  the  barriers  "  w^ere  written  by  Ben  Jonson.  The  next  day 
(Sunday)  the  prince  rode  in  great  pomp  to  convoy  the  king  to 
St.  James',  whither  he  had  invited  him  and  all  the  court  to 
supper,  the  queen  alone  being  absent  ;  and  then  the  prince 
bestowed  prizes  to  the  three  combatants  best  deserving  ;  namely, 
the  Earl  of  Montgomery,  Sir  Thomas  Darey  (son  of  Lord 
Darey),  and  Sir  Robert  Gourdon.  Thus  ended  the  Twelftide 
court  festivities  in  1610. 

During  the  early  years  of  James's  reign  tournaments  divided 
with  masques  the  favour  of  the  Court  ;  and,  as  we  have  just 
seen  when  Prince  Henry  reached  his  sixteenth  year,  he  put 
himself  forth  in  a  more  heroic  manner  than  usual  with  princes 
of  his  time  to  engage  in  "  feats  of  amies  "  and  chivalric  exer- 
cises ;  but  after  his  death  (161 2)  these  sports  fell  quite  out  of 
fashion,  and  George  Wither,  a  poet  of  the  period,  expresses,  in 
the  person  of  Britannia,  the  feelings  of  the  nation  : — 

"  Alas  !  who  now  shall  grace  my  tournaments, 
Or  honour  nie  with  deeds  of  chivalry? 
What  shall  become  of  all  my  merriments, 
My  ceremonies,  shows  of  heraldry, 
And  other  rites  ?  " 


CHRISTMAS    UNDER    fAMES   I. 


i()i 


Religious  matters  received  a  s^ood  deal  of  attention  from 
James  I.  in  the  later  years  of  his  reign,  and  his  Majesty's 
proposals  raised  the  question  of  the  observance  of 


Thk  Christmas  Festival  ix  Scotlaxd. 

In  1617  the  King  made  a  journey  to  Scotland  with  the 
object  of  establishing  the  English  Church  in  all  its  forms 
and  authority  as  the  State  Church  of  Scotland  for  ever.  One 
of  the  famous  Five  Articles  in  which  the  King  set  forth  his 
will  proposed  "  That  the  festivals  of  Christmas,  Good  Friday, 
Easter,  Ascension  Day,  and  Whit  Sunday,  should  be  ob- 
served in  Scotland  just  as  in  England."  The  Articles  w^ere 
received  with  unequivocal  marks  of  displeasure,  many  of  the 
churches  refusing  to  obey  the  royal  command,  and  the 
revival  of  the  festival  of  Christmas  was  denounced  as  the  return 
of  the  ancient  Saturnalia.  Three  years  later  the  King  obtained 
an  Act  of  Parliament  enforcing  the  Articles  on  the  repugnant 
spirit  of  the  people.  "  Dr.  Laud,  whose  name  we  now  meet 
for  the  first  time,  afterwards  to  become  so  notorious,  even 
ui-ged  James  to  go  further  lengths  ;  but  his  fatal  advice  was 
destined  to  act  with  more  force  on  the  next  generation."' 

The  King  returned  to  London  very  much  displeased  with  the 
religious  views  of  his  Scotch  subjects,  and  his  sourness  seems 
to  have  manifested  itself  even  at  Christ mastide,  for  on  December 
2oth  of  this  year  Mr.  Chamberlaine  thus  wrote  to  Sir  Dudley 
Caileton  :  "The  King  hath  been  at  Theobald's  ever  since 
\W'dnesday,  and  came  to  town  this  day.  I  am  sorry  to  hear 
that  he  grows  every  day  more  froward,  and  with  such  a  kind  of 
morosity,  that  doth  either  argue  a  great  discontent  in  mind,  or 
a  distemper  of  humours  in  his  bodv.  Yet  he  is  never  so  out  of 
tune  but  the  very  sight  of  my  Lord  of  Buckingham  doth  settle 
and  quiet  all."- 


Cassell's  "  History  uf  England.' 


-  Nichols's  "  Progresses. 


192  CHRISTMAS. 

So  soothed  and  softened  was  the  Kuv^  by  "  my  Lord  of 
Buckingham  "  that  Mr.  Chamberlaine,  writ'ing  again  on  the  3rd 
of  January,  says  that  on  New  Year's  Day  the  earl  was  created 
"  Marquis  of  Buckingham,  a  dignity  the  King  hath  not  be- 
stowed since  his  coming  to  this  crown."  And,  says  the  same 
writer,  "This  night  was  the  Lord  Marquiss's  [Buckingham's] 
great 

Fe.\st,  where  were  the  Kixg  .\xd  Prin'ce, 

with  Lords  and  Ladies  sans  minbrc.  You  may  guess  at  the 
rest  of  the  cheer  by  this  scanthng,  that  there  were  said  to  be 
seventeen  dozen  of  pheasants,  and  twelve  partridges  in  a  dish 
throughout  ;  which  methinks  was  rather  spoil  than  largess  ; 
yet  for  all  the  plenty  of  presents,  the  supper  cost  ^600.  Sir 
Thomas  Edmondes  undertook  the  providing  and  managing  of 
all,  so  that  it  was  much  after  the  French.  The  King  was 
exceedingly  pleased,  and  could  not  be  satisfied  with  commend- 
ing the  meat  and  the  Master  ;  and  yet  some  stick  not  to  say, 
that  young  Sir  Henry  Mildmay,  a  son  of  George  Brooke,  that 
was  executed  at  Winchester,  and  a  son  of  Sir  William  Monson's, 
begins  to  come  into  consideration." 

The  Failixg  Health  oe  the  Kixg 

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

"  '  On  Twelfth  Day  the  King  went  to  Chappel,  but  they  liad 
much  ado  to  support  him.  He  offered  gold,  frankincence,  and 
myrrhe,  and  touched  80  of  the  evil.'  '  In  the  evening  'the 
French  Ambassador  and  his  choise  followers  were  brought  to 
court  by  the  Earle  of  Warwick  to  be  present  at  a  Maske  ;  he 
seated  as  before  with  the  King,  the  better  sort  of  the  other  on  a 
fourme  behind  the  Lords,  the  Lord  Treasurer  onely  and  the 
Marquesse  of  Hamilton  sitting  at  the  upper  end  of  it,  and  all 
the  rest  in  a  box,  and  in  the  best  places  of  the  scaffolds  on  the 
right  hand  of  his  Majesty.  No  other  Ambassadors  were  at 
that   time  present  or  invited.'" 

As  to 

The  Christmas  Festivities 

of  the  next  year  (1621-2)  Nichols  ^   says  Mr.  Meade  wrote  thus 
to  Sir  Martin  Stuteville  : — 

" '  The  Lieutenant  of  Middle  Temple  played  a  game  this 
Christmas-time,  whereat  his  Majesty  was  highly  displeased. 
He  made  choise  of  some  thirty  of  the  civillest  and  best- 
fashioned  gentlemen  of  the  House  to  sup  with  him  ;  and,  being 
at  supper,  took  a  cup  of  wine  in  one  hand,  and  held  his  sword 
drawn   in   the   other,  and  so  began  a  health   to  the  distressed 


Camden's  Annals."  2  (<  p 


rogresses. 


CHRISTMAS    UXDER   ^AMES   I.  193 

Lady  Elizabeth  [the  Queen  of  Bohemia],  and  having  drunk, 
kissed  his  sword,  and  laying  his  hand  upon  it,  took  an  oath  to 
Hve  and  die  in  her  service  ;  then  delivered  the  cup  and  sword 
to  the  next,  and  so  the  health  and  ceremonie  went  round. 

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

In  this  reign  many  accomplished  writers  assisted  in  the 
Christmas  festivities.  Professor  Henry  Morley  ^  mentions  that 
in  December,  1623,  the  name  of  Philip  Massinger,  poet  and 
dramatist,  tirst  appeared  in  the  office  book  of  the  Master  of  the 
Revells,  when  his  ''  Bondman "  was  acted,  and  the  play  was 
hrst  printed  in  1624. 

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

King  James  I.  and  Bishop  Axdrewes  on  Christmas  D.-ws. 

The  remarkable  fact  that  Bishop  Andrewes  preached  seven- 
teen sermons  on  the  Nativity  before  James  I.  gives  an  unusual 
interest  to  the  Christmas  Day  services  of  this  reign.  Nichols 
makes  the  following  references  to  them  : — 

1605.  "  On  Christmas  Day  the  King  attended  Divine  Service 
at  Whitehall,  where  Dr  Lancelot  Andrews,  then  recently 
promoted  to  the  Bishoprick  of  Chichester,  preached  before  his 
Majesty,  on  the  Epistle  of  St.  Paul  to  the  Hebrews,  ii.  16." 

1606.  ''  On  Christmas  Day,  the  King  attended  Divine  Service 
at  Whitehall,  where  Bishop  Andrews,  now  decidedly  the  King's 
favourite  Preacher,  discoursed  on  Esaias  i.x.  6." 

1607.  "  On  Thursday,  being  Christmas  Day,  the  King  attended 
Divine  Service  at  Whitehall,  and  there  heard  Bishop  Andrews 
preach  on  i  Tim.  iii.  16." 

1609.  "  Monday,  December  25,  being  Christmas  Day,  the 
King  attended  Divine  Service  at  Whitehall,  and  there  heard 
the  Bishop  of  Elv,  Dr.  Andrews,  on  Galat.  iv.  4,  5."  In  a  note 
Nichols  says  :  "This  sermon  was  much  admired  by  the  King. 
This  was  probably  the  reason  that  it  was  printed  in  16 10, 
together  with  that  the  Bishop  preached  on  the  same  occasion 
in  that  year,  under  the  following  title  :  '  Two  Sermons  preached 
before  the  King's  Majestic  at  Whitehall ;  of  the  Birth  of  Christ  ; 
the  one  on  Christmas  Day,  anno  1609,  the  other  on  Christmas 
Day  last,  anno    16 10.     By  the  Bishop  of  Elie,  his  Majestie's 

'   "Library  of  English  Literature." 
14 


194  CHRISTMAS. 

Almoner.     Imprinted  at  London  by  Robert  Barker,  Printer  to 
the  King's  most  excellent  Majestie,  anno  1610.'  " 

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

161 1.  "  On  Christmas  Day  the  King  attended  Divine  Service 
at  Whitehall  and  Bishop  Andrews  preached  on  John.  i.  14." 

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

1613.  "  Saturdav,  25th  December,  being  Christmas  Day,  was 
kept  with  the  usual  solemnities  ;  the  King  attended  Divine 
service  at  Whitehall,  and  Bishop  Andrews  preached." 

1614.  "  His  Majesty  returned  to  keep  Christmas  Day,  as  was 
customary,  at  Whitehall.  Bishop  Andrews  addressed  him  from 
the  pulpit  as  usual." 

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

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

1618.  "On  the  25th  [December],  Bishop  Andrews  resumed 
his  po^t  as  preacher  on  Christmas  Day,  before  the  King  at 
Wliitehall.     His  text  was  from  Luke  ii.  12,  13." 

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

16^0.  "  During  the  month  of  December,  before  the  King  left 
the  country,  he  knighted  at  Newmarket,  Sir  Francis  Michell, 
afterward  degraded  in  June  162 1  ;  and  at  Theobalds,  Sir  Gilbert 
Cornwall.  On  the  23rd,  his  Majestie  *  came  to  Westminster, 
but  went  not  to  Chappel,  being  prevented  by  the  gout.'  On 
Monday,  the  25th,  however,  being  Christmas  Day,  Bishop 
Andrews  preached  before  him  at  Whitehall,  on  Matt.  ii.  i,  2  ; 
and  during  Christmas,  Sir  Clement  Cotterell  and  Sir  Henry 
Carvell  were  there  knighted." 

1622.  "On  the  25th  [December]  Bishop  Andrews  resumed 
his  Christmas  station  in  the  pulpit  at  Whitehall,  and  thence 
preached  to  the  King  and  his  Court  on  the  same  text 
as  he  had  adopted  on  the  same  occasion  two  years  before, 
Matt.  ii.  I,  2." 

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


CHRISTMAS    UXDEK    TAMES   I. 


195 


1624.  "  On  Saturduy,  the  25th  of  December,  Bishop  Andrews 
preached  before  his  Majesty  at  Whitehall,  on  Psalm  ii.  7,  it 
being  at  least  the  seventeenth,  as  it  was  the  last,  Christmas  Day 
on  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  Right 
Honourable  and  Reverend  Father  in  God,  Lancelot  Andrewes, 
sometime  Lord  Bishop  of  Winchester,"  were  preserved  to 
posterity  by  an  order  of  Charles  L,  who,  after  Bishop  Andrewes's 
death,  commanded  Bishops  Laud  and  Buckeridge  to  collect 
and  publish  his  sermons.  This  series  of  sermons  on  the 
Nativity  have  recently  been  reprinted  in  "  The  Ancient  and 
Modern  Library  of  Theological  Literature,"  and  the  editor,  after 
referring  to  the  ability  and  integrity  of  Bishop  Andrewes,  says  : 
*'  An  interest  apart  from  that  which  must  be  created  by  his 
genius,  learning,  and  character,  belongs  to  him  as  the  exponent 
of  the  mind  and  practice  of  the  English  Church  in  the  years 
that  intervened  between  the  Reformation  and  the  Revolution." 


The  Popular  Amusements  of  Christmastide 

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

*'  The  ordinary  recreations  which  we  have  in  winter  are 
cards,  tables  and  dice,  shovelboard,  chess-play,  the  philosopher's 
game,  small  trunks,  billiards,  music,  masks,  singing,  dancing, 
ule  games,  catches,  purposes,  questions  ;  merry  tales  of  errant 
knights,  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  amusing 
story  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,  and 
Clvmme    of    Clouoh,    were    favourites   anions'   the    lovers    of 


196 


CHRISTMAS. 


romance  ;  but  the  people  of  this  age,  bemg  very  superstitious, 
were  very  fond  of  stories  about  ghosts  and  gobhns,  beheving 
them  to  be  founded  on  fact,  and  also  attributing  feats  performed 
by  conjurors  and  jugglers  to  supernatural  agency.  The  King 
himself  was  equally  superstitious,  for  Strutt  in  describing  the 
tricks  of  jugglers  says  :  "  Our  learned  monarch,  James  I.,  was 
perfectly  convinced  that  these,  and  other  inferior  feats  exhibited 
by  the  tregetours,  could  only  be  performed  by  the  agency  of 
the  devil,  *  who,'  sa^'s  he,  '  will  learne  them  many  juglarie 
tricks,  at  cardes  and  dice,  to  deceive  men's  senses  thereby,  and 
such  innumerable  false  practiques,  which  are  proved  by  over- 
many  in  this  age.'  "   ^ 

Looking  back  to  the  ancient  superstitions  about  ghosts  and 
fairies,  Dryden,  the  poet,  has  some  lines  which  may  fitly  close 
this  chapter  : — 

"  I  speak  of  ancient  times,  for  now  the  swain 
Returning  late  may  pass  the  woods  in  vain, 
And  never  hope  to  see  the  mighty' train  ; 
In  vain  the  dairy  now  with  mint  is  dressed, 
The  dairy-maid  expects  no  fairy  guest, 
To  skim  the  bowls  and  after  pay  the  feast. 
She  sighs  and  shakes  her  empty  shoes  in  vain, 
No  silver  penny  to  reward  her  pain  : 
For  priests,  with  prayers  and  other  godly  gear, 
Have  made  the  merry  goblins  disappear." 

'  "  Da;monologie,"  by  King  James  I. 


CHAPTER   IX. 


CHRISTMAS     UNDER     CHARLES 
COMMONWEALTH. 


AND     THE 


(1625-1660.) 

King  Charles  the  First 

was  the  second  son  of  James  I.  and  of  Anne,  daughter  of 
Frederick  III.,  King  of  Denmark,  and  he  came  to  the  throne 
on  the  death  of  his  father  in  March  1625.  As  Prince  Charles 
he  had  taken  part  in  the  Court  entertainments  of  Christmastide, 
and  had  particularly  distinguished  himself  in  Ben  Jonson's 
masque,  "The  Vision  of  Delight."  These  magnihcent  Christ- 
mas masques  were  continued  after  Charles's  accession  to  the 
throne  until  the  troubles  of  his  reign  stopped  them.  Gifford  ' 
mentions  that  Jonson's  "  Masque  of  Owls  "  was  presented  at 
Keniiworth  Castle,  "  By  the  Ghost  of  Captain  Cox  mounted  on 
his  Hobby-horse,  in   1626  "  : — 

"  Enter  Captain  Cox,  on  his  Hobby-horse. 

Room  I  room  I  for  my  horse  will  wince, 

If  he  come  within  so  many  yards  of  a  prince  ; 


THE    HOBBY-HORSE. 

'  Works  of  Ben  Jonson."' 


THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC   LIBRARY 

CIBCUl  AfK.N   DEPARTMENT 
HOTHAH  STRAUS  BRftNQH  ?^  E^S^  3?nd  street 


19^  CHRISTMAS. 

And  though  he  have  not  on  his  wings, 

He  will  do  strange  things, 

He  is  the  Pegasus  that  uses 

To  wait  on  Warwick  Muses  ; 

And  on  gaudy-days  he  paces 

Before  the  Coventry  Graces  ; 

For  to  tell  you  true,  and  in  rhyme, 

He  was  foal'd  in  Queen  Elizabeth's  time, 

When  the  great  Earl  of  Lester 

In  this  castle  did  feast  her." 

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

The  Lord  of  Misrule 

also  made  merry  at  Christmas  at  this  period  ;  but  it  sometimes 
happened  that  when  he  went  forth  with  his  band  of  merry  men, 
they  got  into  trouble.  An  instance  of  this,  which  occurred  in 
1627,  is  recorded  in  one  of  Meade's  letters  to  Sir  Martin  Stute- 
ville.  The  letter  is  worth  reprinting  as  an  illustration  of  the 
manners  of  the  age,  and  as  relating  to  what  was  probably  the 
last  Lord  of  Misrule  elected  by  the  barristers.  Meade  writes  : — 
"  On  Saturday  the  Templars  chose  one  Mr.  Palmer  their  Lord  of 
Misrule,  who,  on  Twelfth-eve,  late  in  the  night,  sent  out  to 
gather  up  his  rents  at  live  shillings  a  house  in  Ram-alley  and 
Fleet  Street.  At  every  door  they  came  to  they  winded  the 
Temple-horn,  and  if  at  the  second  blast  or  summons  they 
within  opened  not  the  door,  then  the  Lord  of  Misrule  cried 
out,  '  Give  fire,  gunner  !  '  His  gunner  was  a  robustious  Vulcan, 
and  the  gun  or  petard  itself  was  a  huge  overgrown  smith's 
hammer.  This  being  complained  of  to  my  Lord  Mayor,  he 
said  he  would  be  with  them  about  eleven  o'clock  on  Sunday 
night  last  ;  willing  that  all  that  ward  should  attend  him  with 
their  halberds,  and  that  himself,  besides  those  that  came  out  of 
his  house,  should  bring  the  watches  along  with  him.  His  lord- 
ship, thus  attended,  advanced  as  high  as  Ram-alley  in  martial 
equipage  :  when  forth  came  the  Lord  of  Misrule,  attended  by 
his  gallants,  out  of  the  Temple-gate,  with  their  swords  all  armed 
ill  cuerpo.  A  halberdier  bade  the  Lord  of  Misrule  come  to  my 
Lord  Mayor.  He  answered.  No  !  let  the  Lord  Mayor  come 
to  me  !  At  length  they  agreed  to  meet  halfway  :  and,  as  the 
interview  of  rival  princes  is  never  without  danger  of  some  ill 
accident,  so  it  happened  in  this  :  for  first,  Mr.  Palmer  being 
quarrelled  with  for  not  pulling  off  his  hat  to  my  Lord  Mayor, 
and  giving  cross  answers,  the  halberds  began  to  fly  about  his 
ears,  and  he  and  his  company  to  brandish  their  swords.  At 
last  being  beaten  to  the  ground,  and  the  Lord  of  Misrule  sore 
wounded,  they  were  fain  to  yield  to  the  longer  and  more 
numerous  weapon.     My  Lord  Mayor  taking  Mr.  Palmer  by  the 


UNDER   CHARLES  I.   AND    THE   COMMONWEALTH.      199 

shoulder,  led  him  to  the  Compter,  and  thrust  him  in  at  the 
prison-gate  with  a  kind  of.  indignation  ;  and  so,  notwithstanding 
his  hurts,  he  was  forced  to  he  among  the  common  prisoners  for 
two  nights.  On  Tuesday  the  King's  attorney  became  a  suitor 
to  my  Lord  Mayor  for  their  hberty:  which  his  lordship  granted, 
upon  condition  that  they  should  repay  the  gathered  rents,  and 
do  reparations  upon  broken  doors.  Thus  the  game  ended. 
Mr.  Attorney-General,  being  of  the  same  house,  fetched  them 
in  his  own  coach,  and  carried  them  to  the  court,  where  the 
King  himself  reconciled  my  Lord  Mayor  and  them  together 
with  joining  all  hands  ;  the  gentlemen  of  the  Temple  being  this 
Shrovetide  to  present  a  Mask  to  their  majesties,  over  and  besides 
the  King's  own  great  Mask,  to  be  performed  at  the  Banquetting- 
house  by  an  hundred  actors." 
We  get  other  glances  at 

The  Christmas  Festivities  in  the  17TH  Century 

through  contemporary  writers  of  the  period.  Nicholas  Breton,  ^ 
writing  in  merry  mood,  says  :  "  It  is  now  Christmas,  and  not  a 
cup  of  drink  must  pass  without  a  carol  ;  the  beasts,  fowl,  and 
hsh  come  to  a  general  execution,  and  the  corn  is  ground  to 
dust  for  the  bakehouse  and  the  pastry  :  cards  and  dice  purge 
many  a  purse,  and  the  youth  show  their  agility  in  shoeing  of 
the  wild  mare  :  now,  good  cheer,  and  welcome,  and  God  be 
with  you,  and  I  thank  you  : — and  against  the  New  Year  provide 
for  the  presents  : — The  Lord  of  Misrule  is  no  mean  man  for  his 
time,  and  the  guests  of  the  high  table  must  lack  no  wine  :  the 
lusty  bloods  must  look  about  them  like  men,  and  piping  and 
dancing  puts  away  much  melancholy  :  stolen  venison  is  sweet, 
and  a  fat  coney  is  worth  money  :  pit-falls  are  now  set  for 
small  birds,  and  a  woodcock  hangs  himself  in  a  gin  :  a  good 
lire  heats  all  the  house,  and  a  full  alms-basket  makes  the 
beggar's  prayers  : — the  maskers  and  the  mummers  make  the 
merry  sport,  but  if  they  lose  their  money  their  drum  goes  dead  : 
swearers  and  swaggerers  are  sent  away  to  the  ale-house,  and 
unruly  wenches  go  in  danger  of  judgment ;  musicians  now  make 
tiieir  instruments  speak  out,  and  a  good  song  is  worth  the 
hearing.  In  sum  it  is  a  holy  time,  a  dut}'  in  Christians  for  the 
remembrance  of  Christ  and  custom  among  friends  for  the  main- 
tenance of  good  fellowship.  In  brief  I  thus  conclude  it  :  I  hold 
it  a  memory  of  the  Heaven's  love  and  the  world's  peace,  the 
mirth  of  the  honest,  and  the  meeting  of  the  friendly.  Farewell." 
In  1633,  William  Prynne,  a  Puritan  lawyer,  published  his  "  His- 
triomastix,"  against  plays,  masques,  balls,  the  decking  of  houses 
with  evergreens  at  Christmas,  &c.,  for  which  he  was  committed 
to  the  Tower,  prosecuted  in  the  Star  Chamber,  and  sentenced 
to  pay  a  line  to  the  King  of  _;^'5,ooo,  to  be  expelled  from  the 
University  of  Oxford,  from  the  Society  of   Lincoln's  Inn,  and 

'   "  P'antasticks,"  1626. 


200  CHRISTMAS. 

from  his  profession  of  the  law  ;  to  stand  twice  in  the  piliory, 
each  time  losing  an  ear ;  to  have  his  book  burnt  before  his  face 
by  the  hangman  ;  and  to  suffer  perpetual  imprisonment  :  a  most 
barbarous  sentence,  which  Green '  says,  "showed  the  hard  cruelty 
of  the  Primate." 

Milton's  masque  of  ''  Comus"  was  produced  the  following  year 
(1634)  for  performance  at  Ludlow  Castle,  in  Shropshire,  which 
was  the  seat  of  government  for  the  Principality  of  Wales,  the 
Earl  of  Bridgewater  being  then  the  Lord  President,  and  having 
a  jurisdiction  and  military  command  that  comprised  the  English 
counties  of  Gloucester,  Worcester,  Hereford  and  Shropshire. 
Ludlow  Castle  was  to  the  Lord  President  of  Wales  of  that 
period  what  Dublin  Castle  is  to  the  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland 
in  the  present  day  ;  and,  as  hospitalitv  was  one  of  the  duties  of 
the  Lord  President's  office,  the  Earl  and  Countess  of  Bridge- 
water  gave  a  grand  entertainment  to  the  country  people,  in 
which  the  masque  of  "  Comus  "  was  an  important  feature.  The 
music  was  composed  by  the  eminent  musician  Henry  Lawes, 
and  the  masque  was  adapted  for  performance  by  the  family 
of  the  earl  and  countess,  who  then  had  ten  children — eight 
daughters  and  two  sons. 

It  is  quite  refreshing  to  think  of  the  author  of  "  Paradise 
Lost,"  with  his  friend  Lawes,  the  musician,  among  the  country 
■dancers,  listening  to  the  song  of  the  attendant  spirit  : — 

"  Back,  shepherds,  back  ;  enough  jour  play 
Till  next  sun-shine  holiday  : 
Here  be,  without  duck  or  nod. 
Other  trippings  to  be  trod 
Of  lighter  toes,  and  such  court  guise 
As  Mercury  did  first  devise 
With  the  mincing  Dryades, 
On  the  lawns,  and  on  the  leas." 

"  But  Milton  was  a  coiuiier  when  he  wrote  the  Masque  at 
Ludlow  Castle,"  says  Charles  Lamb,  "and  still  more  of  a 
courtier  when  he  composed  the  'Arcades'"  (a  masque,  or 
entertainment  presented  to  the  Countess  Dowager  of  Derby,  at 
Harefield,  by  some  noble  persons  of  her  family).  "When  the 
national  struggle  was  to  begin,  he  becomingly  cast  these  varie- 
ties behind  him." 

From  "  Archasologia  "  (vol.  xviii.  p.  335),  we  learn  that 
^'  Richard  Evelyn,  Esq.,  High  Sheriff"  of  Surrey  and  Sussex  in 
1634,  held  a  splendid  Christmas  at  his  mansion  at  Wotton, 
having  a  regular  Lord  of  Misrule  for  the  occasion :  and  it 
appears  it  was  then  the  custom  for  the  neighbours  to  send 
presents  of  eatables  to  provide  for  the  great  consumption 
consequent  upon  such  entertainments.  The  following  is  a  list 
of  those  sent  on  this  occasion  :  two  sides  of  venison,  two  half 
brawns,  three  pigs,  ninety  capons,  live  geese,  six  turkeys,  four 

'   "  History  of  the  English  People." 


UNDER   CHARLES  I.   AND    THE   COMMONWEALTH.      201 

rabbits,  eight  partridges,  two  pullets,  live  sugar  loaves,  half  a 
pound  of  nutmeg,  one  basket  of  apples,  two  baskets  of  pears." 

Hone'  states  that  "  in  the  ninth  year  of  King  Charles  I.  the 
four  Inns  of  Court  provided  a  Christmas  mask,  which  cost 
^^2,400,  and  the  King  invited  a  hundred  and  twenty  gentlemen 
of  the  four  Inns  to  a  mask  at  Whitehall  on  Shrove  Tuesday 
following."  And  Sandys  says  that  on  the  13th  December,  1637, 
a  warrant  under  Privy  Seal  was  issued  to  George  Kirke,  for 
;^'i5o  to  provide  masking  apparel  for  the  King  ;  and  on  the  ist 
of  the  same  month  Edmund  Taverner  had  a  warrant  for  ;^' 1,400 
towards  the  charge  of  a  mask  to  be  presented  at  Whitehall  the 
next  Twelfth  Night.  A  similar  sum  for  a  similar  purpose  was 
granted  to  Michael  Oldisworth  on  the  3rd  of  January,  1639. 

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

As  indicating  the  prolongation  of  the  Christmas  revels  at  this 
period,  it  is  recorded  that  in  February,  1633,  there  was  a 
celebrated  masque,  called  "  The  Triumph  of  Peace,"  presented 
jointly  by  the  two  Temples,  Lincoln's  Inn  and  Gray's  Inn,  which 
cost  the  Societies  about  ;^'20,ooo.  Evelyn,  in  his  "  Memoirs," 
relates,  that  on  the  15th  December,  1641,  he  was  elected  one  of 
the  Comptrollers  of  the  Middle  Temple  revellers,  ''as  the  custom 
of  ye  young  students  and  gentlemen  was,  the  Christmas  being 
kept  this  yeare  with  greate  solemnity  "  ;  but  he  got  excused. 

An  order  still  existed  directing  the  nobility  and  gentry  who 
had  mansions  in  the  country  "to  repair  to  them  to  keep 
hospitality  meet  to  their  degrees  ;  "  for  a  note  in  Collier's 
History  states  that  Sir  J.  Astley,  on  the  20th  of  March,  1637, 
in  consequence  of  ill-health,  obtained  a  license  to  reside  in 
London,  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  petty 
princes,  and  in  the  arrangement  of  their  households  copied 
their  sovereign,  having  officers  of  the  same  import,  and  even 
heralds  wearing  their  coat  of  arms  at  Christmas,  and  other 
solemn  feasts,  crying  largesse  thrice  at  the  proper  times.  They 
feasted  in  their  halls  where  many  of  the  Christmas  sports  were 
performed.  When  coals  were  introduced  the  hearth  was  com- 
monly in  the  middle,  whence,  according  to  Aubrey,  is  the  saying, 
"  Round  about  our  coal-tire."  Christmas  was  considered  as  the 
commemoration  of  a  holy  festival,  to  be  observed  with  cheer- 
fulness as  well  as  devotion.  The  comforts  and  personal  gratifi- 
cation of  their  dependants  were  provided  for  by  the  landlords, 
their  merriment  encouraged,  and  their  sports  joined.  The 
working  man  looked  forward  to  Christmas  as  the  time  which 
repaid  his  former  toils  ;  and  gratitude  for  worldly  comforts  then 

'  "  Year  Book." 


202  CHRISTMAS. 

received  caused  him  to  reHect  on  the  eternal  blessings  bestowed 
on  mankind  bv  the  event  then  commemorated. 


iERVANTS'    CHRISTMAS    FEAST. 


Of  all  our  English  poets,  Robert  Herrick,  a  writer  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  has  left  us  the  most  complete  contem- 
porary picture  of  the  Christmas  season.  He  was  born  in 
Cheapside,.  London,  and  received  his  earlv  education,  it  is 
supposed,  at  Westminster  School,  whence  he  removed  to  Cam- 
bridge, and  after  taking  his  M.A.  degree  in  1620,  left  Cambridge. 
He  afterwards  spent  some  years  in  London  in  familiar  inter- 
course with  the  wits  and  writers  of  the  age,  enjoying  those  "  lyric 
feasts  "  which  are  celebrated  in  his  "  Od'e  to  Ben  Jonson  "  :— 

"  Ah  Ben  ! 

Say  how  or  when 

Shall  we,  thy  guests 

Meet  at  those  lyric  feasts 

Made  at  the  Sun, 

The  Dog,  the  Triple  Tun  ; 

Where  we  such  clusters  had 

As  made  us  nobly  wild,  not  mad? 

And  yet  each  verse  of  thine 

Outdid  the  meat,  outdid  the  frolic  wine. 


Ui\DER   CHARLES   I.   AND    THE   COMMONWEALTH.      203 

In  1629  he  accepted  the  hving  of  Dean  Prior,  in  Devonshire, 
where  he  hved  as  a  bachelor  Vicar,  being  ejected  by  the  Long 
Parhament,  returning  on  the  Restoration  under  Charles  the 
Second,  and  dying  at  length  at  the  age  of  eighty-four.  He  was 
buried  in  the  Church  at  Dean  Prior,  where  a  memorial  tablet 
has  latterly  been  erected  to  his  memory.  And  it  is  htting  that 
he  should  die  and  be  buried  in  the  quiet  Devonshire  hamlet 
from  which  he  drew  so  much  of  his  happiest  inspiration,  and 
which  will  always  be  associated  now  with  the  endless  charm 
of  the  "  Hesperides." 

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

"  No  new  device  or  late-found  trick 

We  send  you  ;  but  here  a  jolly 

Verse  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  care 

That  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  use 

Husbands  and  wives  by  streaks  to  choo.'^e  : 

Of  crackling  laurel,  which  fore-sounds 

A  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  shine 

With  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  fired  chestnuts  leap 

For  joy  to  see  the  fruits  ye  reap. 

From  the  plump  chalice  and  the  cup 

That  tempts  till  it  be  tossed  up. 

Then  as  ye  sit  about  your  eml)ers, 

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, 

Till  Liber  Pater  twirls  the  house 

About  your  ears,  and  lay  upon 

The  year,  your  cares,  that's  fled  and  gone. 

And  let  the  russet  swains  the  plough 

And  harrow  hang  up  resting  now  ; 

And  to  the  bagpipe  all  address 

Till  sleep  takes  place  of  weariness. 

And  thus,  throughout,  with  Christmas  plays, 

Frolic  the  full  twelve  holy-days." 


204  CHRISTMAS. 

Sir  Isaac  Newton's  Birth,  ox  Christmas  Day, 

at  Woolsthorpe,  Lincolnshire,  was  the  most  important  Christmas 
event  of  the  memorable  year  which  saw  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  War  (1642).  In  the  year  of  the  Restoration  he  entered 
Cambridge,  where  the  teaching  of  Isaac  Barrow  quickened  his 
genius  for  mathematics,  and  from  the  time  he  left  College  his 
hfe  became  a  series  of  wonderful  physical  discoveries.  As  early 
as  1666,  he  discovered  the  law  of  gravitation,  but  it  was  not 
till  the  eve  of  the  Revolution  that  his  "Principia"  revealed  to 
the  world  his  new  theory  of  the  universe. 

The  Customs  of  Christmastide  ix  the  Seventeexth 
Cextury. 

"A  Christmas  Carol,"  by  George  Wither,  a  well-known 
poet  ot  this  period,  contains  many  allusions  to  the  customs  of 
Christmastide  : — 

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  them 
^  A  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  noise 

Perceive  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  advance 
With  crowdy-muttons  '  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  lawn 

With  droppings  of  the  barrel  ; 

'  Fiddlers. 


UNDER   CHARLES   I.   A\'D    THE    COMMONWEALTH.      205 

And  those  that  hardly  all  the  year 
1  lad  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  justices 

With  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  ihey  shall  be  rnerry. 

Good  farmers  in  the  country  nurse 

The  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  call 

Each  other  forth  to  rambling  : 
Anon  you'll  see  them  in  the  hall 

For  nuts  and  apples  scrambling. 
Hark  !  how  the  roofs  with  laughter  sound  I 
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  bowls 

About  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,' 
And  to  the  dealing  of  the  ox 
Our  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-ho 
And  twenty  other  gambols  mo, 

Because  they  will  be  merry. 

Then  wherefore  in  these  merry  days 

Should  we,  I  pray,  be  duller? 
No,  let  us  sing  some  roundelays, 

To  make  our  mirth  the  fuller. 


'  An  allusion  to  the  Christmas  money-box,  made  of  earthenware  which  required 
to  be  broken  to  obtain  possession  of  the  money  it  held. 


2o6  CHRISTMAS. 

.  And,  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  before 
the  Civil  War  troubles  of  the  reign  of  Charles  the  First  had 
interfered  to  damp  the  national  hilarity,  or  check  the  rejoicings 
at  the  festive  season  of  Christmas. 

The  Defeat  of  the  Royalists, 

the  overthrow  of  the  monarchy,  and  the  changes  resulting  there- 
from   at    Christmastide  are  alluded  to   in  "  The  Complaint  of 
Christmas,  written  after  Twelftide,  and  printed  before  Candle- 
mas, 1646,"  by  old  John  Taylor,  the   Water  Poet,  who  says  : 
"  All  the  liberty  and  harmless  sports,  the  merry  gambols,  dances 
and  friscols,  with  which   the  toiling  ploughman  and  labourer 
once  a  year  were  wont  to  be  recreated,  and  their  spirits  and 
hopes  revived  for  a  whole  twelvemonth,  are  now  extinct  and 
put  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  estimation 
amongst      them— holly,    ivy,    mistletoe,    rosemary,    bays,    are 
accounted  ungodly  branches  of  superstition  for  your  entertain- 
ment.    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  great 
candle,  or  to  lay  one  block  the  more  in  the  lire  for  your  sake, 
Master  Christmas,  is  enough  to  make  a  man  to  be  suspected  and 
taken  for  a  Christian,  for  which  he  shall  be  apprehended  for 
committing  high  Parliament    Treason  and  mighty  malignancy 
against  the  general  Council  of  the  Directorian  private  Presby- 
terian Conventicle." 

With  the  success  of  the   Parliamentcnrians,   certain    changes 
came  in  the  ruling  manners  of  the  age  ;  but 

The  Attempt  to  Abolish  Christmas  Day 

was,  of  course,  a  signal  failure.  The  event  commemorated 
made  it  impossible  for  the  commemoration  to  cease.  Men 
may  differ  as  to  the  mode  of  celebration,  but  the  Christ  must 
and  will  be  celebrated. 

"In  1642,"  says  Sandys,  "the  first  ordinances  w^ere  issued 
to  suppress  the  performance  of  plays,  and  hesitation  was 
expressed  as  to  the  manner  of  keeping  Christmas.  Some  shops 
m  London  were  even  opened  on  Christmas  Day,  1643,  P^^'^  of 
the  people  being  fearful  of  a  Popish  observance  of^the  day. 
The  Puritans  gradually  prevailed,  and  in  1647  some  parish 
officers  were  committed  for  permitting  ministers  to  preach  upon 
Christmas  Day,  and  for  adorning  the  church.  On  the  3rd  of 
June   in   the  same  year,   it    was    ordained    by   the    Lords    and 


UNDER   CHARLES   I.   A\D    THE   COMMONWEALTH.      207 

Commons  in  Parliament  that  the  feast  of  the  Nativity  of  Christ, 
with  other  hohdays,  should  be  no  longer  obser\ed,  and  that  all 
scholars,  apprentices,  and  other  servants,  with  the  leave  and 
approbation  of  their  masters,  should  have  such  relaxation  from 
labour  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  every  month  as  they  used  to 
have  from  such  festivals  and  holy  days  ;  and  in  Canterbury,  on 
the  22nd  of  December  following,  the  crier  went  round  by 
direction  of  the  Mayor,  and  proclaimed  that  Christmas  Day  and 
all  other  superstitious  festivals  should  be  put  down,  and  a  market 
kept  upon  that  day." 

In  describing  "  The  First  Christmas  under  the  Puritan 
Directory,"  the  Saturday  Rcvieiv  (December  2j,  1884)  says  : — 
"  It  must  have  been  taken  as  a  piece  of  good  luck  by  the 
Parliamentary  and  Puritanical  masters  of  England,  or,  as  they 
would  have  said,  as  '  a  providence,'  that  the  Christmas  Day  of 
1645  fell  upon  a  week-day.  It  was  the  first  Christmas  Day  after 
the  legislative  abolition  of  the  Anglican  Prayer-book  and  the 
establishment  of  '  the  Directory  '  in  its  stead  ;  and,  if  it  had 
fallen  upon  a  Sunday,  the  Churches  must  have  been  opened. 
A  '  Sabbath  '  could  not  be  ignored,  even  though  it  chanced  to  be 
the  25th  of  December.  There  can  be  small  doubt  that,  if  the 
Presbyterian  and  Independent  preachers  who  held  all  the 
English  parishes  subject  to  the  Parliament  had  been  obliged  to 
go  into  the  pulpits  on  the  25th  of  December  1645,  they  would 
again  have  irritated  the  masses  of  the  people'  by  ferociously 
'  improving  the  occasion.'  The  Parliament  had  not  the  courage 
to  repeat  the  brutal  experiment  of  the  previous  year.  It  was 
easy  to  abolish  the  feast  by  an  ordinance  ;  but  it  was  risky  to 
insist  by  an  ordinance  that  the  English  people  and  English 
families  should  keep  the  dearest  and  most  sacred  of  their 
festivals  as  a  fast.  The  rulers  knew  that  such  an  ordinance 
would  not  be  obeyed.  They  resolved  simply  to  ignore  the 
day,  or  treat  it  as  any  ordinary  Thursday.  Doubtless  many  of 
the  members  kept  up  some  sort  of  celebration  of  the  old  family 
festival  in  their  own  private  houses.  But  the  legislators  marched 
solemnly  to  the  Lower  House,  and  the  '  divines  '  marched  as 
solemnly  to  the  Assembly  in  the  Jerusalem  Chamber,  affecting 
to  take  no  notice  of  the  unusual  aspect  of  the  shops  and  streets, 
which  everywhere  bore  witness  to  the  fact  that  there  was  a  deep 
and  fundamental  estrangement  between  'the  State '  and 'the 
people,'  and  that  the  people  were  actually  keeping  the  festival 
which  the  '  Synod  '  had  declared  to  be  profane  and  superstitious, 
and  which  tne  Parliament  to  please  the  Scots,  the  Noncon- 
formists, and  the  Sectaries,  had  abolished  by  law.  '  Notwith- 
standing the  Ordinance,'  wrote  a  Member  of  the  House  of 
Commons,  the  Erastian  Whitelock,  in  his  'Memorials,'  'yet 
generally  this  day,  in  London,  the  shops  were  shut  and  the  day 
observed.'  The  Christmas  number  of  the  Mcrciiriiis  AcaJciiiiciis 
(December  25  to  31,  1645),  states  that  General  Browne,  who 
was  a  Presbyterian  zealot,  '  proclaimed  '  the  abolition  of  Christ- 


2o8  CHRISTMAS. 

mas  Day  at  Abingdon,  and  '  sent  out  his  warrants  for  men  to 
work  on  that  day  especiahy.'  ....  The  Pariiamentary  news- 
paper,  The    Weekly    Account,    (LI  1 1,    week,   1645),  has  the  bald 
record  :     '  Thursday,    Decemb.    25.      The    Commons  sate  in  a 
Grand  Committee  concerning  the  privileges  of  members  of  then- 
House.'     The    news   in    the    Tuesday   paper.    The    Kingdom e's 
Weekly    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  especially 
debated  some  things  in  reference  to  the  privileges  of  that  House, 
and  made  some   orders  therein.'  ....  The   Presbyterian  and 
Independent  divines    spent  Christmas  Day  in  the  'Synod'   of 
Westminster.     December  the  25th,  1645,  was  entered  in  their 
minutes   as  'Session  561.'  ....  The  City  newspaper  of  that 
period,  Meirurius  Civicns,  or  London's  Intelligencer,  in  what  we 
may   call   its    Christmas    number   (No.    135,    December    18    to 
December    24,    1645),    printed    an    article    explaining   to    the 
citizens  of  London  the  absurdity,  if  not  the  impiety,  of  keeping 
Christmas  Day.     Every  good  citizen  was  expected  to  open  his 
shop  as  usual  on  the  coming  Thursday,  and  compel  his  appren- 
tices to  keep  behind  the  counter.     The  City  newspaper  stated, 
that  it  was  more  probable  that  the  Saviour  was  born  in  Septem- 
ber than  in  December,  and  quotes  '  a  late  reverend  minister's 
opinion,  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  the 
apprentices  want  a  holiday, '  let  them  keep  the  hft  of  November, 
and  other  dayes  of  that  nature,  or  the  late  great  mercy  of  God 
in  the  taking  of  Hereford,  which  deserves  an  especiall  day  of 
thanksgiving.'     The  mass  of  the  English  folk  meanwhile  pro- 
tested   by   all    such   ways  as  were  open  to  them   against  the 
outlandish   new  religion  which  was   being  invented  for  them. 
The  Mercnricns  Civicus  complained  that,  '  Many  people  in  these 
times  are  too  much  addicted  to  the  superstitious  observance  of 
this  day,   December  25th,  and  other  saints  days,  as  they  are 
called.'     It   was   asked   in  a  '  Hue  and  Cry  after   Christmas,' 
published  anonymously  at  the  end  of  the  year  1645,  'Where 
may  Christmas  be  found  ?  '     The  answer  is,  '  In  the  corner  of  a 
translator's  shop,   where  the  cobbler  was  wont   so   merrily  to 
chant    his    carols.'     The   Moderate  Intelligencer,   which  devoted 
itself   to    '  impartially    communicating   martiall    affaires,'    in  its 
forty-third  number   (December  25,   1645,  to  January   i,   1646), 
expressed   itself   as   scandalized   at    the   zeal   with    which    the 
English  people,  in  spite  of  Parliament  and  the  Assembly,  had 
kept  their  Christmas.     Social  phenomena  lay  beyond  the  usual 
ken  of  the  military  chroniclers  ;  but  '  we  shall  only    observe,' 
they  wrote,  '  the  loathnesse  of  the  People  to  part  with  it,  which 
certainly   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  Moses 


UNDER   CHARLES   I.   AND    THE   COMMONWEALTH.      209 

did  the  Brazen  Serpent.'  The  Scriptural  knowledge  of  the 
Puritan  military  newsmen  was  curiously  at  fault  ;  they  evidently 
confounded  Moses  with  Hezekiah,  unless  they  substituted  the 
lawgiver  for  the  king,  because  they  thought  it  unwise  to  repre- 
sent the  King  as  the  foe  of  idolatry.  The  traditional  scorn  of 
the  Pharisee  for  the  common  people  which  know  not  the  law 
comes  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  upon 
the  Lord's  Day,  or  Sabbath  (like  the  prelatical  Book  of  Sports), 
these  would  want  no  observers.  Unwillingness  to  obey,  in  a 
multitude,  argues  generally  the  goodnesse  of  a  law,  readinesse 
the  contrary,  especially  in  those  laws  which  have  anything  of 
religion  in  them.'  Hence  the  puritanical  tyrants  thought  the 
observation  of  Christmas  Day  should  be  visited  in  future  years 
with  more  severe  penalties.  A  few  days  after  Christmas  a 
pamphlet  was  issued  under  the  title  of  *  The  Arraignment,  Con- 
viction, and  Imprisonment  of  Christmas.'  A  letter  from  a 
'  Malignant  scholar '  in  Oxford,  where  Christmas  had  been 
observed  as  usual,  to  *  a  Malignant  lady  in  London,'  had  con- 
tained the  promise  or  threat,  according  to  the  pamphleteer, 
that  the  King  would  shortly  appear  in  London,  and  restore  to 
his  poor  people  their  old  social  and  religious  liberties.  '  We 
shall  soon  be  in  London,  and  have  all  things  as  they  were  wont." 
There  was  small  chance,  six  months  after  Naseby,  of  the  fulhl- 
ment  of  the  prediction.  The  puritanical  pamphleteer,  however, 
owns  that  it  would  be  welcome  to  '  every  'prentice  boy,'  because 
the  return  of  the  King  would  have  meant  the  return  of  a  free 
Christmas,  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  gentleman 
called  Christmas,  who  was  wont  to  be  a  very  familiar  ghest  [sic). 
Whoever  hnds  him  again  shall  be  rewarded  with  a  benediction 
from  the  Pope,  a  hundred  oaths  from  the  Cavaliers,  forty  kisses 
from  the  wanton  wenches,  and  be  made  pursuivant  to  the  next 
Archbishop.'  'The  poor,' he  added,  'are  sorry  for  it.  They 
go  to  every  door  a-begging,  as  they  were  wont  to  do,  '  Good 
Mistress,  somewhat  against  this  good  time.'  Instead  of  going 
to  the  alehouse  to  be  drunke,  they  are  fain  to  work  all  the  holy 
dayes.'  Again,  '  The  schoUars  come  into  the  hall,  where  their 
hungry  stomacks  had  thought  to  have  found  good  brawne  and 
Christmas  pie,  roast-beef  and  plum-porridge.  But  no  such 
matter.  Away,  ye  profane  !  These  are  superstitious  meats  ; 
your  stomacks  must  be  fed  with  sound  doctrine.'  " 

In  the  National  Ma<^aziiic  (1857),  Dr.  Doran,  on  "  The  Ups 
and  Downs  of  Christmas,"  remarks  upon  the  stout  resistance 
given  by  the  citizens  of  London  to  the  order  of  the  Puritan 
Parliament,  that  shops  should  be  opened  and  churches  closed 
on  Christmas  Day.  "  We  may  have  a  sermon  on  any  other 
day,"  said  the  London  apprentices,  who  did  not  always  go  to 

15 


2IO  CHRISTMAS. 

hear  it,  '*  why  should  we  be  deprived  on  this  day  ?  "  "  It  is  no 
longer  lawful  for  the  day  to  be  kept,"  was  the  reply.  "  Nay," 
exclaimed  the  sharp-witted  fellows,  "  you  keep  it  yourselves  by 
thus  distinguishing  it  by  desecration."  "They  declared,"  says 
Dr.  Doran,  "  they  would  go  to  church  ;  numerous  preachers 
promised  to  be  ready  for  them  with  prayer  and  lecture  ;  and 
the  porters  of  Cornhill  swore  they  would  dress  up  their  conduit 
with  holly,  if  it  were  only  to  prove  that  in  that  orthodox  and 
heavily-enduring  body  there  was  some  respect  yet  left  for 
Christianity  and  hard  drinking — for  the  raising  of  the  holly  was 
ever  accompanied  by  the  lifting  of  tankards. 

"  Nor  was  the  gallant  Christmas  spirit  less  lively  in  the  countrv 
than  in  the  capital.  At  Oxford  there  was  a  world  of  skull- 
breaking  ;  and  at  Ipswich  the  festival  was  celebrated  by  some 
loss  of  life.  Canterbury  especially  distinguished  itself  by  its 
violent  opposition  to  the  municipal  order  to  be  mirthless.  There 
was  a  combat  there,  which  was  most  rudely  maintained,  and  in 
which  the  mayor  got  pummelled  until  he  was  as  senseless  as  a 
pocket  of  hops.  The  mob  mauled  him  terribly,  broke  all  his 
windows,  as  well  as  his  bones,  and,  as  we  are  told,  '  burnt  the 
stoupes  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  Kentish 
men  met  in  Canterbury,  and  passed  a  solemn  resolution  that  if 
they  could  not  have  their  Christmas  Day,  they  were  determined 
to  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),  and 
entitled — 

"  The  Declaration  of  many  thousands  of  the  city  of  Canter- 
bury, or  county  of  Kent.  Concerning  the  late  tumult  in  the 
city  of  Canterbury,  provokt  by  the  Mayor's  violent  proceed- 
ings against  those  who  desired  to  continue  the  celebration  of 
the  Feast  of  Christ's  Nativity,  1,500  years  and  upwards  main- 
tained in  the  Church.  Together  with  their  Resolutions  for  the 
restitution  of  His  Majestic  to  his  Crown  and  dignity,  whereby 
Religion  may  be  restored  to  its  ancient  splendour,  and  the 
known  Laws  of  this  Kingdom  maintained.  As  also  their  desires 
to  all  His  Majesties  loyall  subjects  within  his  Dominions,  for 
their  concurrence  and  assistance  in  this  so  good  and  pious  a 
work." 

The  resolutions  of  the  Canterbury  citizens  were  not  couched 
in  the  choicest  terms,  for  the  tract  states  that  the  two  Houses 
of  Parliament  "  have  sate  above  seven  years  to  hatch  Cocatrices 
and  Vipers,  they  have  tilled  the  kingdom  with  Serpents,  blood- 
thirsty Souldiers,  extorting  Committees,  Sequestrators,  Excise- 
men ;  all  the  Rogues  and  scumme  of  the  kingdom  have  they 
set  on  work  to  torment  and  vex  the  people,  to  rob  them,  and  to 
eat  the  bread  out  of  their  mouthes  ;  they  have  raised  a  causelesse 
and  unnaturall  Warre  against  their   own  Soveraigne  Lord  and 


UNDER   CHARLES   I.   AND    THE   COMMONWEALTH.      211 

King,  a  most  pious  Christian  Prince,  contrary  to  their  allegiance 
and  duty,  and  have  shed  innocent  blood  in  this  Land.  Religion 
is  onely  talkt  of,  nothing  done  ;  they  have  put  down  what  is 
good,"  &c.,  &c.  And  further  on  the  tract  says  : — "The  cause  of 
this  so  sudden  a  posture  of  defence  which  we  have  put  our 
selves  into  was  the  violent  proceedings  of  the  Mayor  of  this 
city  of  Canterbury  and  his  uncivill  carriage  in  persuance  of 
some  petty  order  of  the  House  of  Commons  for  hindering  the 
celebration  of  Christ's  Nativity  so  long  continued  in  the  Church 
of  God.  That  which  we  so  much  desired  that  day  was  but  a 
Sermon,  which  any  other  day  of  the  weeke  was  toUerable  by' 
the  orders  and  practise  of  the  two  Houses  and  all  their 
adherents,  but  that  day  (because  it  was  Christ's  birth  day)  we 
must  have  none  ;  that  which  is  good  all  the  yeer  long,  yet  is 
this  day  superstitious.  The  Mayor  causing  some  of  us  to  be 
beaten  contrary  to  his  oath  and  office,  who  ought  to  preserve 
the  peace,  and  to  that  purpose  chiefiy  is  the  sword  of  justice 
put  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  were 
unarmed,  behaved  ourselves  civilly,  intended  no  such  tumult 
as  afterwards  we  were  forc'd  unto  ;  but  at  last,  seeing  the 
manifest  wrong  done  to  our  children,  servants,  and  neighbours, 
by  beating,  wounding,  and  imprisoning  them,  and  to  release 
them  that  were  imprisoned,  and  did  call  unto  our  assistance  our 
brethren  of  the  county  of  Kent,  who  very  readily  came  in  to 
us,  as  have  associated  themselves  to  us  in  this  our  just  and 
lawfull  defence,  and  do  concurre  with  us  in  this  our  Remon- 
strance concerning  the  King  Majestic,  and  the  settlement  of 
the  peace  in  this  Kingdome."  And  the  tract  afterwards  ex- 
presses the  desire  that  "  all  his  Majesties  lovall  subjects  within 
his  Dominions "  will  "  readily  and  cheerfully  concurre  and 
assist  in  this  so  good  and  pious  a  work." 

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

''  That  no  observation  shall  be  had  of  the  five  and  twentieth 
day  of  December,  commonly  called  Christmas  Day  ;  nor  any 
solemnity  used  or  exercised  in  churches  upon  that  day  in 
respect  thereof." 

Referring  to  the  celebration  of  Christmas  Day  in  1657, 
Evelyn  says  : — 

"  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  the 
chapel  was  surrounded  with  soldiers,  and  all  the  communicants 
and  assembly  surprised  and  kept  prisoners  by  them,  some  in 
the  house,  others  carried  away.  It  fell  to  my  share  to  be 
confined  to  a  room  in  the  house,  where  yet  I  was  permitted  to 
dine  with  the  master  of  it,  the  Countess  of  Dorset,  Lady 
Hatton,  and  some  others  of  quality"  who  invited  me.     In  the 


212  CHRISTMAS. 

afternoon  came  Colonel  Whalley,  Goft'e,  and  others  from 
Whitehall  to  examine  us  one  by  one  ;  some  they  committed  to 
the  Marshal,  some  to  prison.  When  I  came  before  them  they 
took  my  name  and  abode,  examined  me  why,  contrary  to  the 
ordinance  made  that  none  should  any  longer  observe  the 
superstitious  time  of  the  Nativity  (as  esteemed  by  them),  I 
durst  offend,  and  particularly  be  at  Common  Prayers,  which 
they  told  me  was  but  the  mass  in  English,  and  particularly  pray 
for  Charles  Stuart,  for  which  we  had  no  Scripture.  I  told 
them  we  did  not  pray  for  Charles  Stuart,  but  for  all  Christian 
kings,  princes,  and  governors.  They  replied,  in  so  doing  we 
prayed  for  the  King  of  Spain  too,  who  was  their  enemy  and  a 
Papist  ;  with  other  frivolous  and  ensnaring  questions  and  much 
threatening,  and,  finding  no  colour  to  detain  me,  they  dismissed 
me  with  much  pity  of  my  ignorance.  These  were  men  of  high 
flight  and  above  ordinances,  and  spake  spiteful  things  of  our 
Lord's  Nativity.  As  we  went  up  to  receive  the  sacrament  the 
miscreants  held  their  muskets  against  us,  as  if  they  would  have 
shot  us  at  the  altar,  but  yet  suffering  us  to  finish  the  office  of 
communion,  as  perhaps  not  having  instructions  what  to  do  in 
case  they  found  us  in  that  action  ;  so  I  got  home  late  the  next 
day,  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  different 
parts  of  the  country,  though  with  less  ostentation  than  formerly  ; 
and  various  publications  appeared  which  plainly  showed  that 
the  popular  sentiments  were  in  favour  of  the  festivities.  The 
motto  of  No.  37  of  Mercitrius  Deiiiociitus,  from  December  22, 
1652,  begins  : 

"  Old  Christmas  now  is  come  to  town 
Though  few  do  him  regard, 
He  laughs  to  see  them  going  down 
That  have  put  down  his  Lord." 

In  "  The  Vindication  of  Father  Christmas,"  1653,  a  mock 
complaint  in  the  character  of  Father  Christmas,  he  laments  the 
treatment  he  had  received  for  the  last  twelve  years,  and  that  he 
was  even  then  but  coolly  received.  "  But  welcome,  or  not 
welcome,  I  am  come,"  he  says,  and  then  states  that  his  "  best 
and  freest  welcome  was  with  some  kinde  of  country  farmers 
in  Devonshire,"  thus  describing  his  entertainment  among 
them  : — "  After  dinner  we  arose  from  the  boord,  and  sate  by 
the  fire,  where  the  harth  was  imbrodered  all  over  with  roasted 
apples,  piping  hot,  expecting  a  bole  of  ale  for  a  cooler,  which 
immediately  was  transformed  into  warm  lamb  wool.  After 
which  we  discoursed  merily,  without  either  prophaneness  or 
obscenity  ;  some  went  to  cards  ;  others  sung  carols  and  pleasant 
songs  (suitable  to  the  times),  and  then  the  poor  laboring  Hinds, 
and  maid-servants,  with  the  plow-boys,  went  nimbly  to  dancing  ; 


UNDER   CHARLES   I.   AND    THE   COMMONWEALTH.      213 

the  poor  toyling  wretches  being  glad  of  my  company,  because 
they  had  httle  or  no  sport  at  all  till  I  came  amongst  them  ;  and 
therefore  they  skipped  and  leaped  for  joy,  singing  a  carol  to  the 
tune  of  hey, 

"  Let's  dance  and  sing,  and  make  good  chear, 
For  Christmas  comes  but  once  a  year  : 
Draw  hogsheads  dry,  let  flagons  fly, 

P'or  now  the  bells  shall  ring  ; 
Whilst  we  endeavour  to  make  good 
The  title  'gainst  a  King. 

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


The  National  Troubles 

were  not  brought  to  an  end  by  the  execution  of  Charles  I.  on 
the  30th  of  January,  1649.  In  addition  to  the  rioting  caused 
by  the  attempt  to  abolish  the  festival  of  Christmas  by  law,  the 
Lord  Protector  (Oliver  Cromwell)  had  to  struggle  against  dis- 
contented republicans  and  also  against  fresh  outbreaks  of 
the  Royalists  ;  and,  although  able  to  carry  on  the  Protectorate 
to  the  end  of  his  own  life,  Cromwell  was  unable  to  secure  a 
strong  successor.  He  died  on  September  3,  1658,  having 
on  his  deathbed  nominated  his  son  Richard  to  succeed  him. 
Richard  Cromwell  was  accepted  in  England  and  by  the 
European  Powers,  and  carried  himself  discreetly  in  his  new 
position.  A  Parliament  was  assembled  on  January  17,  1659, 
which  recognised  the  new  Protector,  but  the  republican 
minority,  headed  by  Vane  and  Haseh'ig,  united  with  the 
ofiicers  of  the  army,  headed  by  Lambert,  Fleetwood,  and 
Desborough,  to  force  him  to  dissolve  Parliament  (April  22, 
1659).  The  Protector's  supporters  urged  him  to  meet  force 
bv  force,  but  he  replied,  "  I  will  not  have  a  drop  of  blood 
spilt  for  the  preservation  of  my  greatness,  which  is  a  burden 
to  me."  He  signed  a  formal  abdication  (May,  1659),  in  return 
for  which  the  restored  Rump  undertook  the  discharge  of  his 
debts.  After  the  Restoration  Richard  Cromwell  tied  to  the 
Continent,   where    he  remained    for  many  years,  returning  to 


214 


CHRISTMAS. 


England  in  1680.  A  portion  of  his  property  was  afterwards 
restored  to  him.  He  died  at  Cheshunt,  Hertfordshire,  in  1712. 
On  Richard  Cromwell  declining  to  uphold  the  Protectorate 
by  force  of  arms,  the  only  hope  of  establishing  a  settled  form 
of  government  and  of  saving  the  country  from  a  military 
despotism  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  invited 
to  return  to  England.  He  at  once  responded,  and  entered 
London  in  triumph  as  Charles  H.,  on  May  29,  1660,  having 
previously  signed  the  declaration  of  Breda.  By  this  declara- 
tion the  King  granted  a  free  and  general  pardon  to  all  "who 
within  forty  days  after  the  publishing  hereof  shall  lay  hold  upon 
this  our  grace  and  favour,  and  shall  by  any  public  act  declare 
their  doing  so,"  except  such  as  the  Parliament  of  both  houses 
should  except. 


CHAPTER   X. 

CHRISTMAS    FROM    THE    RESTORATION    TO 
THE    DEATH    OF    GEORGE    II. 

(1660-1760.) 


The  Restoration  of  the 
Monarchy 

under  Charles  II.,  sometimes  styled 
the  "  Merry  Monarch,"  was  an 
occasion  of  great  rejoicing,  and  the 
spirit  in  which  the  so-long-fugitive 
Prince,  who  once  eluded  his  pur- 
suers by  hiding  in  an  oak,  was  now 
welcomed  as  "  Charles  our  King  " 
by  "the  roaring,  ranting"  portion 
of  the  populace  is  set  forth  in  the 
following  ballad,  written  for  the 
iirst  Christmas  after  the  Restoration, 
printed  in  London  the  same  year, 
and  now  copied  from  a  collection 
of  illustrated  broadsides  preserved 
in  the  Library  of  the  British 
Museum  : — 


MERRY    BOYS   OF   CHRISTMAS, 

OR 

The    Milk-maid's    New    Year's    Gift. 

When  Lads  and  Lasses  take  delight, 

together  for  to  be ; 
They  pass  a.way  the  Winter  night, 

and  live  most  merrily. 

To  the  tune  of,  Hej'  boys  tip  go  we. 

Come,  come  my  roaring  ranting  boys 

lets  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  prepare 

to  drink  some  Christmas  Beer. 
215 


2l6 


CHRISTMAS. 


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  l^rave  minc'd  pies  : 
Roast  Beef  and  brave  Plum-porridge, 

our  Loyal  hearts  to  chear, 
Then  prithee  make  no  more  ado, 

but  bring  us  Christmas  Beer. 


"  THE    HACKIN.' 


!;l^,"i''Af''  T'T^u^'^^r'^^.^P'!^  '''"^  sparkling,  the  Hnckin  must  be  boiled  by  Daybreak  or  else  two 
of  hef  hzfnes°s'?'  'f^^J'^'J"?  ^7  '^e  Arms  and  run  her  round  the  Market  Plaice,  till  she  was  a  hamed 
ot  her  lazmess.  -Rouud  about  our  Coal  Fire,  or  Christinas  Entertainments,  published  in  1740.] 


FROM    THE   RESrORATIOX    TO   DEATH   OF   GEORGE   II.     217 

Many  of  the  popukir  songs  of  this  period  complain  of  the 
dechne  of  the  Christmas  celebrations  during  the  time  of  the 
Commonwealth,  and  some  of  them  contrast  the  present  with 
former  celebrations.  In  a  ballad  called  " 'J'he  Old  and  Young 
Courtier,"  printed  in  1670,  comparing  the  times  of  Queen 
Elizabeth  with  those  of  her  successors,  the  fifth  and  twelfth 
verses  contain  the  following  parallel  respecting  Christmas  : — 


"  With  a  good  old  fashion,  when  Christmasse  was  come, 
To  call  in  all  his  old  neighbours  with  bagpipe  and  drum, 
With  good  chear  enough  to  furnish  every  old  room, 
And  old  liquor,  able  to  make  a  cat  speak,  and  man  dumb. 

Like  an  old  Courtier  of  the  Queen's, 

And  the  Queen's  old  Courtier." 


"  With  a  new  fashion,  when  Christmas  is  drawing  on. 
On  a  new  journey  to  London  straight  we  all  must  begone. 
And  leave  none  to  keep  house,  but  our  new  porter  John, 
Who  relieves  the  poor  with  a  thump  on  the  back  with  a  stone ; 
Like  a  young  courtier  of  the  King's, 
And  the  King's  young  courtier."  {Percy''s  Reliques.) 

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

"  A  man  might  then  behold, 
At  Christmas,  in  each  hall, 
*  Good  fires  to  curb  the  cold. 

And  meat  for  great  and  small  ; 
The  neighbours  were  friendly  bidden, 

And  all  had  welcome  true. 
The  poor  from  the  gates  were  not  chidden. 
When  this  old  cap  was  new. 

Black  jacks  to  every  man 

Were  filled  with  wine  and  beer  ; 
No  pewter  pot  nor  can 

In  those  days  did  appear  : 
Good  cheer  in  a  nobleman's  house 

Was  counted  a  seemly  shew  ; 
We  wanted  no  brawn  nor  souse. 

When  this  old  cap  was  new."  {Evans's  Ballads.) 

Referring  to  the  Restoration  of  the  monarchy,  and  contrasting 
it  with  the  Protectorate  period.  Poor  Robin  s.  Almanack,  1685, 
says  :— 

"  Now  thanks  to  God  for  Charles'  return, 
Whose  absence  made  old  Christmas  mourn  ; 
For  then  we  scarcely  did  it  know. 
Whether  it  Christmas  were  or  no. 

To  feast  the  poor  was  counted  sin. 
When  treason  that  great  praise  did  win. 
May  we  ne'er  see  the  like  again. 
The  roguish  Rump  should  o'er  us  reign." 


2i8  CHRISTMAS. 

After  the  Restoration  an  effort  was  made  to  revive  the 
Christmas  entertainments  of  the  Court  at  Whitehall,  but  they 
do  not  appear  to  have  recovered  their  former  splendour.  The 
habits  of  Charles  the  Second  were  of  too  sensual  a  nature  to 
induce  him  to  interest  himself  in  such  pursuits  ;  besides  which 
the  manners  of  the  country  had  been  changed  during  the  sway 
of  the  Puritans.  Pepys  states  that  Charles  II.  visited  Lincoln's 
Inn  to  see  the  Christmas  revels  of  1661,  "  there  being,  according 
to  an  old  custom,  a  Prince  and  all  his  nobles,  and  other  matters 
of  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  keeping 
Christmas.  Charles  II.  gave  over  keeping  'that  festival  on  this 
account ;  his  munificence  gave  great  ofl:'ence  at  Court."  Sandys 
mentions  that  a  pastoral  called  Calisto,  written  by  Crowne,  was 
acted  by  the  daughters  of  the  Duke  of  York  and  the  young 
nobihty.  About  the  same  time  the  Lady  Anne,  afterwards 
Queen,  acted  the  part  of  Semandra  in  Lee's  "  Mithridates." 
Betterton  and  his  wife  instructed  the  performers,  in  remem- 
brance of  which,  when  Anne  came  to  the  throne,  she  gave  the 
latter  a  pension  of  ^100  a  year. 

The  Inns  of  Court  also  had  their  Christmas  feasts  ;  but  the 
conduct  of  them  was  evidently  not  so  much  coveted  as  in 
former  times,  for  there  is  an  entry  in  the  records  of  Gray's 
Inn  on  November  3,  1682,  "That  Mr.  Richard  Gipps,  on  his 
promise  to  perform  the  office  of  Master  of  the  Revels,  this  and 
the  next  Term,  be  called  to  the  Bar  of  Grace,"  i.e.,  without 
payment  of  the  usual  fees:  thus  holding  out  a  reward  for  his ' 
services,  instead  of  allowing  him,  as  in  former  times,  to  spend 
a  large  portion  of  his  private  fortune  unrequited,  except  by  the 
honour  of  the  temporary  office. 

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

"  Next  for  the  glory  of  the  place, 
Here  has  been  rode  many  a  race,  — 
King  Charles  the  Second  I  saw  here ; 
But  I've  forgotten  in  what  year." 

Chkistm.^s  at  Sea  in  1675. 

The  Rev.  Henry  Teonge,  chaplain  of  an  Enghsh  ship  of  war, 
gives  in  his  diary  a   description   of  the  manner  in   which  the 

Christmas  was  spent    on  board,  in   1675  : — "Dec.  25,  1675. 

Crismas  clay  wee  keepe  thus.  At  4  in  the  morning  our  trum- 
peters all  doe  flatt  their  trumpetts,  and  begin  at  our  Captain's 
cabin,  and  thence  to  all  the  officers'  and  gentlemen's  cabins  ; 


FROM    THE   RESTORATION    TO   DEATH   OF   GEORGE   II.     219 

playins^  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.  Our 
Captaine  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  severall 
sorts  ;  dranke  healths  to  the  King,  to  our  wives  and  friends, 
and  ended  the  day  with  much  civill  myrth." 


Christmas-Keeping  ix  the  Country, 

at  this  period,  is  referred  to  by  different  writers. 

Among  the  Garrick  Plays  in  the  British  Museum  is  "  TJie  CJin'st- 
Jinis  Ordinary^  a  Private  SJioiv  ;  wherein  is  expressed  the  jovial 
Freedom  of  that  Festival  :  as  it  was  acted  at  a  Gentleman's 
House  among  other  Revels.  By  W.  R.,  Master  of  Arts,  4  to. 
London,  1682." 

The  Memoirs  of  the  hospitable  Sir  John  Reresby  (Camden 
Society)  contain  references  to  the  Christmas  festivities  at 
Thrybergh.  In  1682,  there  assembled  on  Christmas  Eve 
nineteen  of  the  poorer  tenants  from  Denby  and  Hooton  ;  on 
Christmas  Day  twenty-six  of  the  poorer  tenants  from  Thrybergh, 
Brinsford,  and  Mexborough  ;  on  St.  Stephen's  Day  farmers  and 
better  sort  of  tenants  to  the  number  of  fifty-four  ;  on  St.  John's- 
day  forty  five  of  the  chief  tenants  ;  on  the  30th  of  December 
eighteen  gentlemen  of  the  neighbourhood  with  their  wives  ;  on 
the  ist  of  January  sixteen  gentlemen  ;  on  the  4th  twelve  of  the 
neighbouring  clergymen  ;  and  on  the  6th  seven  gentlemen  and 
tradesmen.  Among  the  guests  who  lodged  at  the  house  were 
"  Mr.  Rigden,  merchant  of  York,  and  his  wife,  a  handsome 
woman,"  and  "  Mr.  Belton,  an  ingenious  clerg}-man,  but  too 
much  a  good  fellow-."  How  the  "  ingenious  clergyman " 
became  "too  much  of  a  good  fellow"  may  be  easily  guessed 
from   Sir  John's  further  observation  th^t  ^^  the  expense  of  liquor, 


220  CHRISTMAS. 

both  of  wine  &  olhcrs,  ivas  considerable,  as  of  other  provisions, 
and  my  friends  appeared  well  satisfied."  In  1684,  writes  Sir 
John,  "  I  returned  to  Thrybergh,  by  God's  mercy,  in  safety,  to 
keep  Christmas  amongst  my  neighbours  and  tenants.  I  had 
more  company  this  Christmas  than  heretofore.  The  four  hrst 
days  of  the  new  year  all  my  tenants  of  Thrybergh,  Brinsf(M-d, 
Denby,  Mexborough,  Hooton  Roberts,  and"Rotterham  dined 
with  me  ;  the  rest  of  the  time  some  four-score  of  gentlemen  and 
yeomen  with  their  wives  were  invited,  besides  some  that  came 
from  York  ;  so  that  all  the  beds  in  the  house  and  most  in  the 
town  were  taken  up.  There  were  seldom  less  than  four-score, 
counting  all  sorts  of  people,  that  dined  in  the  house  every  dav, 
and  some  days  many  more.  On  New  Year's-day  chiefly"  there 
dined  above  three  hundred,  so  that  whole  sheep^  were  roasted 
and  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  splendour 
and  hospitality.  He  began  Christmas  at  All  Hallowtide,  and 
continued  it  till  Candlemas,  during  which  time  any  man  was 
permitted  to  stay  three  days  without  being  asked  who  he  was, 
or  from  whence  he  came."  This  generous  knight  had  many 
guests  who  rejoiced  in  the  couplet  : — 

"  If  I  ask  not  my  guest  whence  and  whither  his  way, 
'Tis  because  I  would  have  him  here  with  me  to  stay." 

It  is  no  part  of  our  purpose  to  enter  into  details  of  the 
events  which  led  up  to  the  Revolution.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that 
during  the  reign  of  Charles  II.  began  the  great  struggle  between 
the  King  and  the  people,  but  Charles  steadily  refused  to  alter 
the  succession  by  excluding  his  brother  James'  He  died  on  the 
6th  of  February,  1685,  and 

James  II.  came  to  the  Throne 

in  the  midst  of  an  unsettled  state  of  affairs.  James  made  a 
bold,  but  unsuccessful,  attempt  to  restore  the  power  of  Roman- 
ism in  England,  and,  ultimately,  consulted  his  own  safetv  bv 
fleeing  to  France,  landing  at  Ambleteuse,  in  Brittanv,"^  on 
Christmas  Day,  1688, 

The  Christmas  of  the  Revolution. 

The  flight  of  James  put  an  end  to  the  struggle  between  Crown 
and  people,  and  the  offering  of  the  Crown,"with  constitutional 
limitations,  to  William,  Prince  of  Orange,  and  his  wife  Mary, 
daughter  of  King  James  II.  and  granddaughter  of  King  Charles 
I.  of  England,  speedily  followed. 


FROM    THE   RESTORATION    TO   DEATH   OF   GEORGE   II.     221 

William  axd  Mary 

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

The  Christmas  Festivities 

Brand  says  that  in  "  Batt  upon  Batt,"  a  Poem  by  a  Person  of 
Quality  (1694),  speaking  of  Batt's  carving  knives  and  other 
implements,  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  skill 
Makes  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. 

When  brawn,  ivith  poiudred  zv/g;  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,  feel 

The  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  the 
Christmas  Gambols  in  1694  : — 

"  O  mortal  man  !  is  eating  all  you  do 
At  Christ-Tide  ?  or  the  making  Sing-songs  ?     No  : 
Our  Batt  can  dance,  play  at  high  Jinks  with  Dice, 
At  any  primitive,  orthodoxal  Vice. 
Shooing  the  wild  Mare,  tumbling  the  young  We7iches, 
Drinking  all  Night,  and  sleeping  on  the  Benches. 
Shew  me  a  man  can  shuffle  fair  and  cut, 
Yet  always  have  three  Trays  in  hand  at  Putt  : 
Shew  me  a  man  can  turn  up  Noddy  still, 
And  deal  himself  three  Fives  too  when  he  will  : 
Conclude  with  one  and  thirty,  and  a  Pair, 
Never  fail  Teti  in  stock,  and  yet  play  fair, 
If  Batt  be  not  that  Wight,  I  lose  my  aim." 


222  CHRISTMAS. 

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

"  Voung  Men  and  Maidens,  now 
At  Feed  the  Dove  (with  laurel  leaf  in  mouth) 
Or  Blindman's  Buff,  or  Hunt  the  Slipper  play, 
Replete  with  glee.      Some,  haply.  Cards  adopt ; 
Of  It  to  Forfeits  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  salute 
The  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  imprint 
The  ardent  kiss." 

Poor  Robin's  ^////a//^zc/^  (1695)  thus  rejoices  at  the  return  of 
the  festival  : — 

"  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  weather 

And  our  stomachs  agree. 

Observe  how  the  chimneys 

Do  smoak  all  about. 
The  cooks  are  providing 

For  dinner,  no  doubt ; 
But  those  on  whose  tables 

No  victuals  appear, 
O  may  they  keep  Lent 

All  the  rest  of  the  year  ! 

With  holly  and  ivy 

So  green  and  so  gay  ; 
We  deck  up  our  houses 

As  fresh  as  the  day, 
With  bays  and  rosemary, 

And  laurel  compleat. 
And  every  one  now 

Is  a  king  in  conceit. 


But  as  for  curmudgeons, 

Who  will  not  be  free, 
I  wish  they  may  die 

On  the  three-legged  tree." 

At  Christmastide,  1696,  an  Act  of  Attainder  was  passed  against 
bu-   John    Fenwick,   one    of   the  most   ardent    of  the  Jacobite 


FROM   THE   RESTORATION    TO   DEATH   OF   GEORGE   II.     223 

conspirators  who  took  part  in  the  plot  to  assassinate  the  Kini;". 
He  was  executed  on  Tower  Hill,  January  28,  1697.  This  was 
the  last  instance  in  English  history  in  which  a  person  was 
attainted  by  Act  of  Parliament,  and  Hallam's  opinion  of  this  Act 
of  Attainder  is  that  "  it  did  not,  like  some  acts  of  attainder, 
inflict  a  punishment  beyond  the  offence,  but  supplied  the 
deficiency  of  legal  evidence." 

Peter  the  Great,  of  Russia,  kept  the  Christmas  of  1697  in 
England,  residing  at  Sayes  Court,  a  house  of  the  celebrated 
John  Evelyn,  close  to  Deptford  Dockyard. 


Christmas,  1701. 
[From  Poor  Robin's  Almanack.'] 

Now  enter  Christmas  like  a  man, 
Armed  with  spit  and  dripping-pan, 
Attended  with  pasty,  pknn-pie. 
Puddings,  phnn-porridge,  furmity  ; 
With  beef,  pork,  mutton  of  each  sort 
More  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  pies 
Must  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, 
Vet  more  the  merrier  is  the  best 
As  well  of  dishes  as  of  guest. 

But  the  times  are  grown  so  bad 
Scarce  one  dish  for  the  poor  is  had  ; 
Good  housekeeping  is  laid  aside. 
And  all  is  spent  to  maintain  pride ; 
Good  works  are  counted  popish,  and 
Small  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  amiss 
And  send  a  remedy  to  this. 
That  Christmas  day  again  may  rise 
And  we  enjoy  our  Christmas  pies. 


224  CHRISTMAS. 

The  Christmas  customs  of  this  period  are  thus  referred  to  by 
the  '*  Belhnan,  on  Christmas  Eve  "  : — 

"  This  night  (you  may  my  Ahimnack  believe) 
Is  the  return  of  famous  Christmas  Eve  : 
Ye  virgins  then  your  cleanly  rooms  prepare, 
And  let  the  windows  bays  and  laurels  wear  ; 
Your  Rosemary  preserve  to  dress  your  Beef, 
Not  forget  me,  which  I  advise  in  chief." 


Christmas,  at  Haddox  Hall, 

was    magnificently  kept    in    the    early  part    of   the    eighteenth 
century.     The  amount  of  good  cheer  that  was  required  for  the 
table    may   be   readily  imagined   from   the   magnitude   of   the 
culinary  furniture  in  the  kitchen — two  vast  fireplaces,  with  irons 
for  sustaining  a  surprising  number  of  spits,  and  several  enormous 
chopping-blocks — which   survived   to    the    nineteenth    century. 
John,  the  ninth  Earl  and  first  Duke  of  Rutland  (created  Marquis 
of  Granby  and  Duke  of  Rutland  in  1703),  revived  in  the  ancient 
spirit   the   hospitality   of   Christmastide.     He   kept   sevenscore 
servants,  and  his  twelve  days'  feasts  at  Christmas  recalled  the 
bountiful  celebrations  of  the  "  King  of  the  Peak,"  Sir  George 
Vernon — the  last  male  heir  of  the  Vernon  family  in  Derbyshire 
who   inherited  the   manor   of    Haddon,   and  who   died  in   the 
seventh  year  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  reign.     "The  King  of  the 
Peak  "   was  the  father  of  the  charming  Dorothy  Vernon,  the 
fair   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  ;  and 
now  we  must  fill,  in  fancy,  the  Long  Gallery  with  the  splendour 
of  a  revel  and  the  stately  joy  of  a  great  ball  in  the  time  of 
Elizabeth.     In  the  midst  of  the  noise  and  excitement  the  fair 
young  daughter    of   the  house  steals   unobserved   away.     She 
issues   from   her  door,  and   her   light  feet  fly  with   tremulous 
speed  along  the  darkling  Terrace,  flecked  with  light  from  the 
blazing  ball-room,  till  they  reach  a  postern  in  the  wall,  which 
opens  upon  the  void  of  the  night  outside  dancing  Haddon.     At 
that  postern  some  one  is  waiting  eagerly  for  her ;  waiting  with 
swift  horses.     That  some  one  is  young  Sir  John  Manners,  second 
son    of   the   House  of  Rutland,  and  her   own  true  love.     The 
anxious  lovers  mount,  and  ride  rapidly  and  silently  away  ;  and 
so  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  sympathetic 
pleasure   that    night-ride    and    the    hurried    marriage  ;    and — 


FROM    THE   RESrORATIOX    TO   DEATH   OF   GEORGE   II.     225 

forgettins;'  that  the  thing  happened  •  ages  Icng  agone ' — we 
\vish,  with  fuU  hearts,  all  hapj^ness  to  the  dear  and  charming 
Dorothy  1  " 

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  ancient 
glories  of  Haddon  : 

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


AX    ANCIENT    KI REPLACE. 


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


Queen  Axxe  kept  .\  Rov.'^l  Christm.-vs 

at  Windsor,  in  1703,  and  entertained  the  new  King  of  Spain, 
who  arrived  at  Spithead  on  the  26th  of  December.  ''  The  Queen 
dispatched  the  Dukes  of  Somerset  and  Marlborough  to  conduct 
him  to  Windsor,  and  Prince  George  met  him  on  the  wav  at 
Petworth,  the  seat  of  the  Duke  of  Somerset,  and  conducted  him 
to  Windsor  on  the  29th.  The  King  was  entertained  in  great 
state  for  three  days  at  Windsor,  during  which  time  he  was 
politic  enough  to  ingratiate  himself  with  the  Duchess  of 
Marlborough.     When    the    Duchess    presented    the   basin    and 

16 


226  CHRISTMAS. 

napkin  after  supper  to  the  Queen  for  her  to  wash  her  hands,, 
the  King  gaUantly  took  the  napkin  and  held  it  himself,  and  on 
returning  it  to  the  Queen's  great  favourite,  he  presented  her 
with  a  superb  diamond  ring.  After  three  days  the  King 
returned  to  Portsmouth,  and  on  the  4th  of  January,  1704,  he 
embarked  on  board  the  Heet  commanded  by  Sir  George  Rooke, 
for  Portugal,  accompanied  by  a  body  of  land  forces  under  the 
Duke  of  Schomberg.  The  voyage  was,  however,  a  most  stormy 
one,  and  when  the  fleet  had  nearly  reached  Cape  Finisterre,  it 
was  compelled  to  put  back  to  Spithead,  where  it  remained  till 
the  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  the 
Infanta,  whom  he  went  to  marrv."  ^ 

At  the  Christmas  festivities  the  following  year  (1704)  there 
were  great  rejoicings  over  the  return  home  of  the  Duke  of 
Marlborough  from  the  continental  wars.  "  He  arrived  in 
England  in  the  middle  of  December,  carrying  with  him  Marshal 
Tallard  and  the  rest  of  the  distinguished  officers,  with  the 
standards  and  other  trophies  of  his  victories.  He  was  received 
with  acclaim  by  all  classes,  except  a  few  Ultra  Tories,  who 
threatened  to  impeach  him  for  his  rash  march  to  the  Danube. 
As  Parliament  had  assembled,  Marlborough  took  his  seat  in  the 
House  of  Peers  the  day  after  his  arrival,  where  he  was  com- 
plimented on  his  magnificent  success  by  the  Lord  Keeper. 
This  was  followed  bv  a  deputation  with  a  vote  of  thanks  from 
the  Commons,  and  by  similar  honours  from  the  City.  But 
perhaps  the  most  palpable  triumph  of  Marlborough  was  the 
transferring  of  the  military  trophies  which  he  had  taken  from 
the  Tower,  where  they  were  first  deposited,  to  Westminster 
Hall.  This  was  done  by  each  soldier  carrying  a  standard  or 
other  trophy,  amid  the  thunders  of  artillery  and  the  hurrahs  of 
the  people  ;  such  a  spectacle  never  having  been  witnessed  since 
the  days  of  the  Spanish  Armada.  The' Royal  Manor  of  Wood- 
stock was  granted  him,  and  Blenheim  Mansion  erected  at  the 
cost  of  the  nation." 

Christmas-kekpixg  in  the  Country. 

The  country  squire  of  three  hundred  a  year,  an  independent 
gentleman  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne,  is  described  as  having 
"  never  played  at  cards  but  at  Christmas,  when  the  family  pack 
was  produced  from  the  mantle-piece."  "  His  chief  drink  the 
year  round  was  generally  ale,  except  at  this  season,  the  5th  of 
November,  or  some  gala  days,  when  he  would  make  a  bowl  of 
strong  brandy  punch,  garnished  with  a  toast  and  nutmeg.  In 
the  corner  of  his  hall,  by  the  fireside,  stood  a  large  wooden  two- 
armed   chair,  with  a  cushion,  and  within  the   chimney  corner 

'  Cassell's  "  History  of  England." 


FROM    THE    RESTORATION    TO    DEATH    OF    GEORGE    II.     227 

were  a  couple  of  seats.  Here,  at  Christmas,  he  entertained  his 
tenants,  assembled  round  a  glowing  tire,  made  ol  the  roots  of 
trees,  and  other  great  logs,  and  told  and  heard  the  traditionary 
tales  of  the  village,  respecting  ghosts  and  witches,  till  fear  made 
them  afraid  to  move.  In  the  meantime  the  jorum  of  ale  was  in 
continual  circulation."  ' 


"  This  is  Yuletide  I     Bring  the  holly  boughs, 

Deck  the  old  mansion  with  its  berries  red  ; 
Bring  in  the  mistletoe,  that  lover's  vows 

Be  sweetly  sealed  the  while  it  hangs  o'erhead. 
Pile  on  the  logs,  fresh  gathered  from  the  wood, 

And  let  the  firelight  dance  upon  the  walls, 
The  while  we  tell  the  stories  of  the  good, 

The  brave,  the  noble,  that  the  past  recalls." - 

Many  interesting  tales  respecting  the  manners  and  customs  of 
the  eighteenth  century  are  given  by  Steele  and  Addison  in  their 
well-known  series  of  papers  entitled  the  Spectator.  Charity  and 
hospitality  are  conspicuous  traits  of  the  typical  country  gentle- 
man of  the  period,  Sir  Roger  de  Coverley.  '*  Sir  Roger,"  says 
the  Spectator,  "  after  the  laudable  custom  of  his  ancestors, 
always  keeps  open  hotise  at  Christmas.  I  learned  from  him, 
that  he  had  killed  eight  fat  hogs  for  this  season  ;  that  he  had 
dealt  about  his  chines  very  liberally  amongst  his  neighbours  ; 
and  that  in  particular  he  had  sent  a  string  of  hog's  puddings 
with  a  pack  of  cards  to  every  poor  family  in  the  parish.  '  I 
have  often  thought,'  says  Sir  Roger,  '  it  happens  well  that 
Christmas  should  fall  out  in  the  middle  of  winter.  It  is  the 
most  dead  uncomfortable  time  of  the  year,  when  the  poor 
people  would  suffer  very  much  from  their  poverty  and  cold,  if 
they  had  not  good  cheer,  warm  iires,  and  Christmas  gambols  to 
support  them.  I  love  to  rejoice  their  poor  hearts  at  this  season^ 
and  to  see  the  whole  village  merry  in  my  great  hall.  I  allow  a 
double  quantity  of  malt  to  mv  small  beer,  and  set  it  running  for 
twelve  days  to  everyone  that  calls  for  it.  I  have  always  a  piece 
of  cold  beef  and  a  mince-pie  upon  the  table,  and  am  wonder- 
fully pleased  to  see  my  tenants  pass  away  a  whole  evening  in 
playing  their  innocent  tricks,  and  smutting  one  another.  Our 
friend  Will  Wimble  is  as  merrv  as  any  of  them,  and  shows  a 
thousand  roguish  tricks  upon  these  occasions." 

Puppet-shows  and  other  scenic  exhibitions  with  moving 
figures  were  among  the  Christmas  amusements  in  the  reign  of 
Queen  Anne.  Strutt  quotes  a  description  of  such  an  exhibition 
"  by  the  manager  of  a  show  exhibited  at  the  great  house  in  the 
Strand,  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  in 
England,  being  made  bv  a  famous  engineer  from    the    camp 

'  Grose.  ^  Herbert  II.  Adams. 


228 


CHRISTMAS. 


A    DRUID    PRIESTESS    BEARING    MISTLETOE. 


before  Lisle,  who,  with  great  labour  and  industry,  has  collected 
into  a  moving  picture  the  following  figures  :  first',  it  doth  repre- 
sent the  confederate  camp,  and  the  army  lying  intrenched 
before  the  town  ;  secondly,  the  convoys  and  the  mules  with 
Prince  Eugene's  baggage  ;  thirdly,  the  English  forces  com- 
manded by  the  Duke  of  Marlborough  ;  likewise,  several  vessels 
laden  with  provisions  for  the  army,  which  are  so  artificially 
done  as  to  seem  to  drive  the  water  before  them.  The  city  and 
the  citadel  are  very  fine,  with  all  its  outworks,  ravelins,  horn- 
works,  counter-scarps,  half-moons,  and  palisades;  the  French 
horse  marching  out  at  one  gate,  and  the  confederate  army 
marching  in  at  the  other  ;  the  prince's  travelling  coach  with  two 
generals  in  it,  one  saluting  the  company  as  it  passes  bv  ;  then  a 
trumpeter  sounds  a  call  as  he  rides,  at  the  noise  whereof  a 
sleeping  sentinel  starts,  and  lifts  up  his  head,  but,  not  being 
espied,  lies  down  to  sleep  again  ;  beside  abundance  more 
admirable  curiosities  too  tedious  to  be  inserted  here.'  He  then 
modestly  adds,  '  In  short,  the  whole  piece  is  so  contrived  by  art 
that  it  seems  to  be  life  and  nature.'  ' 

Tumbling  and  feats  of  agility  were  also  fashionable  during  the 
Chri-tmas  festival  at  this  period,  for  in  one  of  the  Tatlers^(No. 
115,  dated  January  3,  1709)  the  following  passage  occurs  :  "  I 
went  on  Friday  last  to  the  Opera,  and  was  surprised  to  find  a 


FROM    THE    KESTORATIOX    TO    DEATH    OF   GFIORGE    II.     229 


thin  house  at  so  noble  an  entertainment,  'till  I  heard  that  the 
tumbler  was  not  to  make  his  appearance  that 
night."  The  sword-dance — dancing  "  among  the 
points  of  swords  and  spears  with  most  wonderful 
agility,  and  even  with  the  most  elegant  and  graceful 
motions" — rope-dancing,  feats  of  balancing,  leap- 
ing and  vaulting,  tricks  by  horses  and  other  animals, 
and  bull-baiting  and  bear-baiting  were  also  among 
the  public  amusements.  And  Hot  Cockles  was  one 
of  the  favourite  indoor  amusements  of  Christmas- 
tide.  Strutt,  in  his  "  Sports  and  Pastimes,"  says, 
Hot  Cockles  is  from  the  French  haiitcs-coqiiilles, 
"  a  play  in  which  one  kneels,  and  covering  his 
eyes,  lays  his  head  in  another's  lap  and  guesses 
who  struck  him."  John  Gay,  a  poet  of  the  time, 
thus  pleasantly  writes  of  the  game  : — 

"  As  at  Hot  Cockles  once  I  laid  nie  down, 
And  felt  the  weighty  hand  of  many  a  clown, 
Buxoma  gave  a  gentle  tap,  and  I 
Quick  rose,  and  read  soft  mischief  in  her  eye."' 

On  the  death  of  Queen  Anne 
(August  II,  1714)  Prince  George 
Louis  of  Hanover  was  proclaimed 
King  of  England  as 

George  the  First. 

There  was  little  change  in  the 
Christmas  festivities  in  this  reign, 
for,  as  Mr.  Thackeray  savs  in  his 
lively  sketch  of  George  I.:  *' He 
was  a  moderate  ruler  of  England. 
His  aim  was  to  leave  it  to  itself 
as  much  as  possible,  and  to  live 
out  of  it  as  much  as  he  could. 
His  heart  was  in  Hanover."  The 
most  important  addition  to  the 
plays  of  the  period  was 

The  Christmas  Pantomime. 

In  his  "  English  Plays,"  Pro- 
fessor Henry  Morlev  thus  records 
the  introduction  of  the  modern 
English  pantomime,  which  has 
since  been  the  great  show  of 
Christmastide  : — 

"  The  theatre  in  Lincoln's  Inn 
Fields,  which  Christopher  Rich 
had  been  restoring,  his  son,  John 
Rich,   was   allowed    to    open    on 


A    NEST   OF    FOOI.S 


230  CHRISTMAS. 

the  i8th  of  December,  1714.  John  Rich  was  a  clever  mimic, 
and  after  a  year  or  two  he  found  it  to  his  advantage  to  compete 
with  the  actors  in  a  fashion  of  his  own.  He  was  the  inventor 
of  the  modern  Enghsh  form  of  pantomime,  with  a  serious  part 
that  he  took  from  Ovid's  Metamorphosis  or  any  fabulous  history, 
and  a  comic  addition  of  the  courtship  of  harlequin  and  colum- 
bine, with  surprising  tricks  and  transformations.  He  introduced 
the  old  Itahan  characters  of  pantomime  under  changed  con- 
ditions, and  beginning  with  'Harlequin  Sorcerer'  in  1717, 
continued  to  produce  these  entertainments  until  a  year  before 
his  death  in  1761.  They  have  since  been  retained  as  Christmas 
shows  upon  the  English  stage." 

In  a  note  to  "The  Dunciad,"  Pope  complains  of  "the  extra- 
vagancies introduced  on  the  stage,  and  frequented  by  persons 
of  the  first  quality  in  England  to  the  twentieth  and  thirtieth 
time,"  and  states  that  ''all  the  extravagances  "  in  the  following 
lines  of  the  poem  actually  appeared  on  the  stage  : — 

' '  See  now,  what  Dulness  and  her  sons  admire  ! 
See  what  the  charms,  that  smite  the  simple  hear 
Not  touched  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  Ijall, 
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  I  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  the 
pantomime  : — 

"  They  in  the  drama  find  no  joys, 
But  doat  on  mimicry  and  toys. 
Thus,  when  a  dance  is  in  my  bill. 
Nobility  my  boxes  fill  ; 
Or  send  three  days  before  the  time. 
To  crowd  a  new-made  pantomime." 

"  Old  Merry  PLExtiFUL  Christmas," 

atlthis  period,  is  sketched  by  a  writer  in  Poor  Robin's  Almanack, 
for  1723,  thus  : — "Now  comes  on  old  merry  plentiful  Christmas. 
The  Husbandman  lays  his  great  Log  behind  the  lire,  and  with  a 


FROM    THE    RESTORATION    TO    DEATH    OF   GEORGE    IL     231 


"  THE    MASK    DAN'CE." 

few  of  his  neighbours,  over  a  good  hre,  taps  his  Christmas  beer, 
cuts  his  Christmas  cheese,  and  sets  forward  for  a  merry  Christ- 
mas. The  Landlord  (for  we  hope  there  are  yet  some  generous 
ones  left)  invites  his  Tenants  and  Labourers,  and  with  a  good 
Sirloin  of  Roast  Beef,  and  a  few  pitchers  of  nappy  ale  or  beer, 
he  wisheth  them  all  a  merry  Christmas.  The  beggar  begs  his 
bread,  sells  some  of  it  for  money  to  buy  drink,  and  without  fear 
of  being  arrested,  or  call'd  upon  for  parish  duties,  has  as  merry 
a  Christmas  as  any  of  them  all." 

So  the  people  made  merry  at  Christmas  throughout  the  rpigu 
of  George  L,  who  died  on  June  10,  1727,  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  son. 


George  the  Second. 

In  this  reign  the  customs  of  Christmas  were  kept  up  with 
unabated  heartiness,  and  liberality  to  the  poor  was  not  for- 
gotten. The  customary  distributions  of  creature  comforts  on 
Christmas  Eve  were  continued,  and,  in  some  instances,  pro- 
vision for  the  maintenance  of  them  was  made  in  the  wills  Of 
worthy  parishioners.  An  instance  of  this  kind  is  recorded  in 
Devonshire.  "  It  appears,  from  a  statement  of  charities  in  an 
old  book,  that  John  Martyn,  by  will,  28th  of  November,  1729, 
gave  to  the  churchwardens  and  overseers  of  the  poor  of  the 
parish  of  St.  Mary  Major,  Exeter,  twenty  pounds,  to  be  put  out 
at  interest,  and  the  prohts  thereof  to  be  laid  out  every  Christmas 
Eve  in  twenty  pieces  of  beef,  to  be  distributed  to  twenty  poor 


232  CHRISTMAS. 

people  of  the  parish,  such  as  had  no   rehef  on  that   day,  for 


ever 
That 


Christmas  Housekeeping  i\  London, 


at  this  period,  was  excellent,  both  as  to  quantity  and  quality   is 
evident,  from  a  contribution  made  to  Read's  Weekly  foimiaJ  oi 
Saturclay,  January  9,   1731,  by  Mr.  Thomas   North,  who  thus 
describes  the  Christmas  entertainment  and  good  cheer  he  met 
with  in  London  at  the  house  of  a  friend  :  -  It  was  the  house 
of  an  eminent  and  worthy  merchant,  and  tho',  sir,  I  have  been 
accustomed  in  my  own  country  to  what  may  very  well  be  called 
good  housekeeping,  yet  I  assure  you  I   should  have  taken  this 
dinner  to  have  been  provided  for  a  whole  parish,  rather  than 
tor  about  a  dozen  gentlemen  :  'Tis  impossible  for  me  to  give 
you  ha  tour  bill  of  fare,  so  you  must  be  content  to  know  that 
we  had  turkies,  geese,  capons,  puddings  of  a  dozen  sorts  more 
than  I  had  ever  seen  in  my  life,  besides  brawn,  roast  beef,  and 
many  things  of  which   I  know  not  the  names,  minc'd  pyes  in 
abundance,  and  a  thing  they  call  plumb  pottage,  which  may  be 
good  for  ought   I   know,  though   it   seems  to   me   to  have   so 
different  tastes.     Our  wines  were  of  the  best,  as  were  all  the 
rest  of  our  liquors  ;  in  short,  the  God  of  plenty  seemed  to  reim 
here,  and  to  make  everything  perfect,  our  company  was  polite 
and  every  way  agreeable;  nothing  but  mirth  and  loyal  healths 
went  round.     If  a  stranger  were  to  have  made  an  estimate  of 
London  from  this  place,  he  would  imagine  it  not  only  the  most 
rich  but  the  most  happy  city  in  the  world." 

Another  interesting  item  of  this  period  is  the  following— 

Curious  Christmas  Advertisement, 

which  has  been  cut  from  some  publication  and  (by  the  late 
^^\- io^eph  Hasltwood)  inserted  between  pages  358  and  3=50  of 
thd  British  Museum  large  paper  copy  of  Brand's  "Antiquities  " 
and  dated  December,  1739  •' — 

T"This  clay  is  published.  Price  6d 
HE  TRIAL  OF  OLD  FATHER  CHRISTMAS  for 
encouraging  his  Majesty's  subjects  in  Idleness,  Drunkenness 
Uaming  Rioting,  and  all  manner  of  Extravagance  and 
Debauchery,  at  the  Assizes  held  in  the  city  of  Profusion  before 
the  Lord  Chief  Justice  Churchman,  Mr.  Justice  Feast,  Mr 
Justice  Gambol,  and  several  other  his  Majesty's  Justices  of  Over 
and  Terminer,  and  Gaol- Delivery.  ^ 

"To  which  is  added  a  Diary  found  in  the  Pocket  of  Old 

father  Christmas,  with  Directions  to  all  Lovers  of  him  how  to 

welcome  their  neighbours  ;  likewise  the  Judge's  sentence  and 

Opinion  how  Christmas  ought  to  be  kept  ;  and  further  Witty 

"  Old  English  Customs  and  Charities,"  1842. 


FROM    THE   RESTORATION    TO   DEATH   OF   GEORGE   II.     233 

Tales    and    Merry    Stories    designed    for    Christmas    Evenings 
Diversion,  when  ronnd  about  our  Coal   Fire. 

By  Josiah   King, 

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

Now  we  come  to  a  quaintly  interesting  accoimt  of 

Christmas  Extertaixmext  ix  the  Oldex  Time. 

The  manner  of  observing  the  Christmas  festival  in  the  time 
of  George  the  Second  is  described  in  an  amusing  little  book 
entitled  "  Round  about  our  Coal  Fire,  or  Christmas  Entertain- 
ments," published  in  1740,  and  "  illustrated  with  many  diverting 
cuts."     We  quote  the  following  extracts  : — 

PROLOGUE. 

I. 

"  O  you  merry,  merry  souls, 
Christmas  is  a  coming, 
We  shall  have  flowing  Bowls, 
Dancing,  piping,  drumming. 


Delicate  minced  Pies, 

To  feast  every  Virgin, 
Capon  and  Goose  likewise, 

Brawn  and  a  dish  of  Sturgeon. 


Then  for  your  Chiistmas  Box, 
Sweet  Plumb-cakes  and  money, 

Delicate  Holland  Smocks, 
Kisses  sweet  as  Honey. 


'  Hey  for  the  Christmas  Ball, 
Where  we  shall  be  jolly, 

Jigging  short  and  tall, 

Kate,  Dick,  Ralph,  and  Molly. 


Then  to  the  Hop  we'll  go. 
Where  we'll  jig  and  caper. 

Maidens  all-a-row. 
Will  shall  pay  the  Scraper. 


'  Hodge  shall  dance  with  Prue, 
Keeping  Time  with  Kisses 
We'll  have  a  jovial  Crew, 
Of  sweet  smirking  Misses. 


234 


CHRISTMAS. 


THE   CHRISTMAS    MUMMERS. 


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

"  You  must  understand,  good  People,  that  the  manner  of 
celebrating  this  great  Course  of  Holydays  is  vastly  different  now 
to  what  it  was  in  former  days  :  There  was  once  upon  a  time 
Hospitality  in  the  land  ;  an  English  gentleman  at  the  opening 
of  the  great  Day,  had  all  his  Tenants  and  Neighbours  enter'd  his 
Hall  by  Day-break,  the  strong  Beer  was  broach'd,  and  the 
Black  Jacks  went  plentifully  about  with  Toast,  Sugar,  Nutmeg, 
and  good  Cheshire  Cheese  ;  the  Rooms -were  embower'd  with 
Holly,  Ivy,  Cypress,  Bays,  Laurel,  and  Missleto,  and  a  bouncing 
Christmas  Log  in  the  Chimney  glowing  like  the  cheeks  of  a 
•country  Milk-maid  ;  then  was  the  pewter  as  bright  as  Clahnda, 


FROM    THE    RESTORATION    TO    DEATH    OF    GEORGE    II.     235 

and  every  bit  of  Brass  as  polished  as  the  most  retined  Gentle- 
man ;  the  Servants  were  then  running  here  and  there,  with 
merry  Hearts  and  jolly  Countenances  ;  every  one  was  busy 
welcoming  of  Guests,  and  look'd  as  smug  as  new-lick'd  Puppies  ; 
the  Lasses  as  blithe  and  buxom  as  the  maids  in  good  Queen 
Besses  Days,  when  they  eat  Sir- Loins  of  Roast  Beef  for  Breakfast  ; 
Pl'<>  would  scuttle  about  to  make  a  Toast  for  John,  while  Tom 
run  lianiiii  scaniiii  to  draw  a  Jug  of  Ale  for  Margery  :  Gaffer 
Spriggins  was  bid  thrice  welcome  by  the  'Squire,  and  Gooddy 
Goose  did  not  fail  of  a  smacking  Buss  from  his  Worship  while 
his  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,  the  Hackin 
must  be  boiled  by  Day-break,  or  else  two  young  Men  took  the 
Maiden  by  the  Arms,  and  run  her  round  the  Market-place,  till 
she  was  ashamed  of  her  Laziness.  And  what  was  worse  than 
this,  she  must  not  play  with  the  Young  Fellows  that  Day,  but 
stand  Neuter,  like  a  Girl  doing  penance  in  a  Winding-sheet  at 
a  Church-door. 

"  But  now  let  us  enquire  a  little  farther,  to  arrive  at  the  Sense 
of  the  Thing  ;  this  great  Festival  was  in  former  Times  kept 
with  so  much  Freedom  and  Openness  of  Heart,  that  every  one 
in  the  Country  where  a  Gentleman  resided,  possessed  at  least  a 
Day  of  Pleasure  in  the  Christinas  Holydays  ;  the  Tables  were 
all  spread  from  the  first  to  the  lasf,  the  Sir-Loyns  of  Beef,  the 
Minc'd-Pies,  the  Plumb- Porridge,-  the  Capons,  Turkeys,  Geese, 
and  Plumb-Puddings,  were  all  brought  upon  the  board  ;  and 
all  those  who  had  sliarp  stomachs  and  sharp  Knives  eat  heartily 
and  were  welcome,  which  gave  rise  to  the  Proverb — 

Merry  in  the  Hall,  when  Beards  wag  all.'''' 

'*  There  were  then  Turnspits  employed,  who  by  the  time 
Dinner  was  over,  would  look  as  black  and  as  greasy  as  a  Welch 
Porridge-pot,  but  the  Jacks  have  since  turned  them  all  out  of 
Doors.  The  Geese  which  used  to  be  fatted  for  the  honest 
Neighbours,  have  been  of  late  sent  to  London,  and  the  Quills 
made  into  Pens  to  convey  away  the  Landlord's  Estate  ;  the 
Sheep  are  drove  away  to  raise  Money  to  answer  the  Loss  of  a 
Game  at  Dice  or  Cards,  and  their  Skins  made  into  Parchment 
for  Deeds  and  Indentures  ;  nay  even  the  poor  innocent  Bee, 
who  used  to  pay  its  Tribute  to  the  Lord  once  a  Year  at  least  in 
good  Metheglin,  for  the  Entertainment  of  the  Guests,  and  its 
Wax  converted  into  beneficial  Plaisters  for  sick  Neighboui's,  is 
now  used  for  the  sealing  of  Deeds  to  his  Disadvantage. 

"  But  give  me  the  Man  wJio  has  a  good  Heart,  and  has  Spirit 
enough  to  keep  up  the  Old  way  of  Hospitality,  feeds  his  People 
till  they  are  as  plump  as  Partridges,  and  as  fat  as  Porpoises 
that  every  Servant  may  appear  as  jolly  as  the  late  Bishop  of 
WincJicsters  Porter  at  Chelsea. 


23^'  CHRISTMAS. 

"The  News- Papers  however  inform  us,  that  the  Sph-it  of 
Hospitahty  has  not  quite  forsaken  us  ;  for  three  or  four  of 
them  tell  us.  that  several  of  the  Gentry  are  gone  clown  to  their 
respective  Seats  in  the  Country,  in  order  to  keep  their  Christmas 
ni  the  Old  Way,  and  entertain  their  Tenants  and  Trades-folks 
as  their  Ancestors  used  to  do  and  I  wish  them  a  merry  Christ- 
mas accordingly.  I  must  also  take  notice  to  the  stingy  Tribe, 
that  if  they  don't  at  least  make  their  Tenants  or  Tradesmen 
drmk  when  they  come  to  see  them  in  the  Christmas  Holydays, 
they  have  Liberty  of  retaliating  which  is  a  Law  of  very  ancient 
Date.  "  ^ 

"A  merry  Gentleman  of  my  Acquaintance  desires  I  will 
msert,  that  the  old  Folks  in  Days  of  yore  kept  open  House  at 
Christmas  out  of  Literest  ;  for  then,  says  he,  they  receive  the 
greatest  Part  of  their  Rent  in  Kind  ;  such  as  Wheat,  Barley  or 
Malt,  Oxen,  Calves,  Sheep,  Swme,  Turkeys,  Capon,  Geese,  and 
such  like  ;  and  they  not  having  Room  enough  to  preserve  their 
Grain,  or  Fodder  enough  to  preserve  their  Cattle  or  Poultry, 
nor  Markets  to  sell  off  the  Overplus,  they  were  obliged  to  use 
them  in  their  own  Houses  ;  and  by  treating  the  People  of  the 
Country,  gained  Credit  amongst  them,  and  riveted  the  Minds 
and  Goodwill  of  their  Neighbours  so  hrmly  in  them,  that  no 
one  durst  venture  to  oppose  them.  The  "'Squire's  Will  was 
done  whatever  came  on  it  ;  for  if  he  happened  to  ask  a  Neigh- 
bour what  it  was  a  Clock,  they  returned  with  a  low  Scrape,  it  is 
what  your  W'orship  pleases. 

"  The  Dancing  and  Singing  of  the  Benchers  in  the  great  Inns 
of  Court  in  Christmas,  is  in  some  sort  founded  upon  Interest  ; 
for  they  hold,  as  I  am  informed,,  some  Priviledge  by  Dancing 
about  the  Fire  in  the  middle  of  their  Hall,  and  singing  the  Song 
of  Roiimi  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  Diver- 
sions are  within  Doors,  either  in  Exercise  "or  by  the  Fire-side. 

"  Country- Dancing  is  one  of  the  chief  Exercises. 

"Then  comes  Mumming  or  Masquerading,  when  the  'Squire's 
W^ardrobe  is  ransacked  for  Dresses  of  all  Kinds,  and  the  coal- 
hole searched  around,  or  corks  burnt  to  black  the  Faces  of  the 
Fair,  or  make  Deputy-Mustaches,  and  every  one  in  the  Family 
except  the  'Squire  himself  must  be  transformed  from  what  they 
were.     ... 

"  Or  else  there  is  a  Match  at  Bliiui-Mau's-Buff,  and  then  it 
is  lawful  to  set  anything  in  the  way  for  Folks  to  tumble 
over.     .     . 

"  As  for  Puss  ill  the  Comer,  that  is  a  very  harmless  Sport,  and 
one  may  romp  at  it  as  much  as  one  will. 

"  The  next  game  to  this  is  Ouestious  ami  Commauds,  when  the 
Commander  may  oblige  his  Subject  to  answer  any  lawful  Ques- 
tion, and  make  the  same  obey  him  instanHy,  under  the  penalty 
of  being  smutted,  or  paying  such   Forfeit  as  may  be  laid  on  the 


FROM    THE    RESTORATION    TO    DEATH    OF    GEORGE    IL     237 

Aggressor  ;  but  the  Forfeits  being  generally  iixecl  at  some 
certain  Price,  as  a  Shilling,  Half  a  Crown,  &c.,  so  every  one 
knowing  what  to  do  if  they  shonld  be  too  stubborn  to  submit, 
make  themselves  easy  at  discretion. 

"  As  for  the  Game  of  Hoop  and  Hide,  the  Parties  have  the 
Liberty  of  hiding  where  they  will,  in  any  part  of  the  House  ; 
and  if  they  happen  to  be  caught,  the  Dispute  ends  in  Kiss- 
ing, &c. 

"  Most  of  the  other  Diversions  are  Cards  and  Dice,  but  they 
are  seldom  set  on  foot,  unless  a  Lawyer  is  at  hand,  to  breed 
some  dispute  for  him  to  decide,  or  at  least  have  some 
Party  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." 

At  this  period 

David  Gakrick's  Christmas  Acting 

won  him  great  applause.  At  Christmas,  1741,  he  brought  out 
at  Goodman's  Fields  a  Christmas  Farce,  written  bv  himself, 
entitled  "The  Lying  Valet,"  wherein  the  great  actor  took  the  part 
of  "  Sharp."  It  was  thought  the  most  diverting  farce  ever  per- 
formed. *' There  was  a  general  roar  from  beginning  to  end. 
So  great  was  his  versatility  that  people  were  not  able  to  deter- 
mine whether  he  was  best  in  tragedy  or  comedy."  On  his 
beneiit,  when  his  real  name  was  placed  on  the  bills  for  the  lirst 
time,  there  was  an  immense  gathering,  and  the  applause  was 
quite  extraordinarv. 

The  Christmas  festivities  of  1745  were  marred  by  the 

Disturbances  of  the  Jacobites, 

under  the  romantic  "  Prince  Charlie,"  whose  attempted  invasion 
of  England  speedilv  collapsed. 

Pointer,  in  his  O.voiiieiisis  Acadciiiia  (1749)  refers  to 

An  Old  Christmas  Custom 

of  this  period.     He  states  that  at  Alerton  College,  Oxford,  the 
Fellows  meet  together  in  the  Hall,  on  Christmas  Eve,  to  sing  a 
Psalm  and  drink  a  grace-cup  to  one  another  (called  Pociihim 
CJniritalis),  wishing  one  another  health  and  happiness. 
The  Christmas  of  1752  was 

The  First  Christmas  under  the  "  Xew  Style," 

and  manv  refused  to  observe  the  festival  eleven  days  earlier  than 
usual,  but  insisted  on  keeping  "  Old  Christmas  Dav."  Whv 
should  they  be  robbed  of  eleven  days  bv  a  new  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment ?  It  was  of  no  use  to  tell  them  that  it  had  been  discovered 
that  the  fractional  few  minutes  which  are  tailed  on  to  the  davs 


238  CHRISTMAS. 

and  hours  which  make  up  the  year  had,  by  neglect  through 
many  centuries,  brought  us  into  a  wrong  condition,  and  that 
to  set  us  right  it  would  be  necessary  to  give  credit  for  eleven 
days  which  nobody  was  conscious  of  having  enjoyed.  The 
law,  however,  had  said  that  it  should  be  so.  Accordingly,  the 
day  after  the  2nd  of  September,  1752,  was  called  the  14th,  to 
the  great  indignation  of  thousands,  who  reckoned  that  they  had 
thus  been  cut  off  from  nearly  a  fortnight  of  life  which  honestly 
belonged  to  them.  These  persons  sturdily  refused  to  acknow- 
ledge the  Christmas  Eve  and  Day  of  the  new  calendar.  They 
averred  that  the  true  festival  was  that  which  now  began  on  the 
5th  of  January  next  year.  They  w^ould  go  to  church,  they  said, 
on  no  other  day  ;  nor  eat  mince-pies  nor  drink  punch  but  in 
reference  to  this  one  day.  The  clergy  had  a  hard  time  of  it 
with  these  recusants.  It  will  be  well,  therefore,  to  quote  one 
singular  example  to  show  how  this  recusancy  was  encountered. 
It  is  from  a  collection  of  pamphlet-sermons  preserved  by 
George  III.,  none  of  which,  however,  have  anything  curious 
or  particularly  meritorious  about  them  save  this  one,  which  was 
preached  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  con- 
gregation anxious  to  see  the  day  celebrated  as  that  of  the 
anniversary  of  the  Nativity.  -The  service  for  Christmas  Day, 
however,  was  not  used.  "  I  will  answer  your  expectations  so 
far,"  said  the  preacher  in  his  sermon,  "  as  to  give  you  a  sermon 
on  the  day ;  and  the  rather  because  I  perceive  you  are  dis- 
appointed of  soniething  else  that  you  expected."  The  purport 
of  the  discourse  is  to  show  that  the  change  of  style  was  desir- 
able, and  that  it  having  been  effected  by  Act  "of  Parliament, 
with  the  sanction  of  the  King,  there  was  nothing  for  it  but 
acquiescence.  "  For,"  says  the  preacher,  "  had  I,  to  oblige  you, 
disobeyed  this  Act  of  Parliament,  it  is  very  probable  I  might 
have  lost  my  benefice,  which,  you  know,  is  all  the  subsistence  I 
have  in  the  world  ;  and  I  should  have  been  rightly  served  ;  for 
who  am  I  that  I  should  fly  in  the  face  of  his  Majesty  and  the 
Parliament  ?  These  things  are  left  to  be  ordered  by  the  higher 
powers  ;  and  in  any  such  case  as  that,  I  hope  not  to  think 
myself  wiser  than  the  King,  the  whole  nobility,  and  principal 
gentry  of  Great  Britain  "  !  ! 

The  peasants  of  Buckinghamshire,  however,  pitched  upon  a 
very  pretty  method  to  settle  the  question  of  Christmas,  left  so 
meekly  by  Mr.  Blackburne  to  the  King,  nobility,  and  most  of 
the  gentry.  They  bethought  themselves  of  a  blackthorn  near 
one  of  their  villages  ;  and  this  thorn  was  for  the  nonce  declared 
to  be  the  growth  of  a  slip  from  the  Christmas-Howering  thorn 
at  Glastonbury.  If  the  Buckinghamshire  thorn,  so  argued  the 
peasants,  will  only  blossom  in  the  night  of  the  24th  of  December, 
we  will  go  to  church  next  day,  and  allow  that  the  Christmas  by 
Act  of   Parliament  is  the  true  Christmas  ;  but  no  blossom  no 


FROM    THE   RESTORATIOX    TO   DEATH   OF   GEORGE    II.     239 

feast,  and  there  shall  be  no  revel  till  the  eve  of  old  Christmas 
Day.  They  watched  the  thorn  and  drank  to  its  budding  ;  but 
as  it  produced  no  promise  of  a  flower  by  the  morning,  they 
turned  to  go  homewards  as  best  they  might,  perfectly  satished 
with  the  success  of  the  experiment.  Some  were  interrupted  in 
their  way  by  their  respective  "  vicars,"  who  took  them  by  the 
arm  and  would  fain  have  persuaded  them  to  go  to  church. 
They  argued  the  question  by  field,  stile,  and  church-gate  ;  but 
not  a  Bucks  peasant  would  consent  to  enter  a  pew  till  the  parson 
had  promised  to  preach  a  sermon  to,  and  smoke  a  pipe  with, 
them  on  the  only  Christmas  Dav  they  chose  to  acknowledge. 

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


CHAPTER   XL 
MODERN    CHRISTMASES    AT    HOME. 


THE    WAITS. 


King  George  the  Third 

came  to  the  throne  on  the  death  of  his  grandfather,  George  II. 
(October  25,  1760),  and  the  hrst  Christmas  of  his  reign  "'was 
a  high  festival  at  Court,  wiien  his  Majesty,  preceded  by  heralds, 
pursuivants,  &c.,  went  with  their  usual  state  to  the  Chapel 
Royal,  ancl  heard  a  sermon  preached  by  his  Grace  the  Arch- 
bishop of 'York  ;  and  it  being  a  collar  day,  the  Knights  of  the 
Garter,    Thistle    and    Bath,    appeared    in    the    collars    of   their 


MODERN   CHRISTMASES   AT  HOME.  241 

respective  orders.  After  the  sermon  was  over,  his  Majesty, 
Prince  Edward  and  Princess  Augnsta  went  into  the  Chapel 
Royal,  and  received  the  sacrament  from  the  hands  of  the 
Bishop  of  Durham  ;  and  the  King  offered  the  byzant,  or  wedge 
of  gold,  in  a  purse,  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor,  and  the  royal 
family  all  made  offerings.  His  Majesty  afterwards  dined  with 
his  royal  mother  at  Leicester  House,  ancl  in  the  evening  returned 
to  St.  James's."' 
At  this  period 

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

"  After  the  death  of  Queen  Caroline,  the  King  was  very 
fond  of  a  game  at  cards  with  the  Countess  of  Pembroke, 
Albemarle,  and  other  distinguished  ladies.  His  attachment  to 
cards  was  transferred  to  his  attachment  for  the  ladies,  and  it 
was  said  that  what  he  gained  by  the  one  he  lost  by  the  other.'' 
Cards  were  very  much  resorted  to  at  the  family  parties  and 
other  social  gatherings  held  during  the  twelve  days  of  Christ- 
mas. Hone  makes  various  allusions  to  card-playing  at  Christmas- 
tide,  ancl  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  the 
Christmas  holidays.  Irving  regrets  *'  that  we  have  no  record  of 
this  Christmas  visit  to  Barton  ;  that  the  poet  had  no  Boswell  to 
follow  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  Christmas 
revels  ;  providing  all  kinds  of  merriment  ;  keeping  the  card- 
table  in  an  uproar,  and  finally  opening  the  ball  on  the  first  day 
of  the  year  in  his  spring-velvet  suit,  with  the  jessamv  Bride  for 
a  partner." 

From  the  reprint  additions  made  in  the  British  Museum  large 
paper  copy  of  Brand's  "Antiquities,"  by  the  late  Mr.  Joseph  Hasle- 
wood,  and  dated  January,  1779,  we  quote  the  following  verses 
descriptive  of  the  concluding  portion  of  the  Christmas  festivities 
at  this  period  : — 

TWELFTH   DAY. 

Now  the  jovial  girls  and  boys, 

Struggling  for  the  cake  and  plumbs, 
Testify  their  eager  joys, 

And  lick  their  fingers  and  their  thuml)S. 

Statesmen  like,  they  struggle  still. 

Scarcely  hands  kept  out  of  dishes. 
And  yet,  when  they  have  had  their  fill. 

Still  anxious  for  the  loaves  and  fishes. 


Huish's  "  Life  of  George  the  Third.' 
17 


242  CHRISTMAS. 

Kings  and  Queens,  in  petty  state, 

Now  their  sovereign  will  declare, 
But  other  sovereigns'  plans  they  hate. 

Full  fond  of  peace — detesting  war. 

One  moral  from  this  tale  appears, 

Worth  notice  when  a  world's  at  stake  ; 
That  all  our  hopes  and  all  our  fears. 

Are  but  a  struggling  for  the  Cake. 

Other  particulars  of  the 

Popular  Christmas  Festivities 

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

'*  At  Ripon,  on  Christmas  Eve,  the  grocers,  send  each  of  their 
customers  a  pound  or  half  of  currants  and  raisins  to  make  a 
Christmas  pudding.  The  chandlers  also  send  large  mould 
candles,  and  the  coopers  logs  of  wood,  generally  called  Yule 
clogs,  which  are  always  used  on  Christmas  Eve  ;  but  should  it 
be  so  large  as  not  to  be  all  burnt  that  night,  which  is  frequently 
the  case,  the  remains  are  kept  till  old  Christmas  Eve."  ' 

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

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

"A  school  there  was,  within  a  well-known  town, 
(Bridgwater  call'd),  in  which  the  boys  were  wont. 
At  hreakitig-iip  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'd 
Should,  instantly,  perambulate  the  streets 
With  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'd 
In  all  their  breasts  ;  but,  when  the    morning  came, 


Gentleman'' s  Magazine,  1 790. 


AIODEKN   CHKISTMASES   AT   HOME.  243 

Straightway  was  heard,  resounding  through  the  streets, 

The  pleasing  blast  (more  welcome  far,  to  them, 

Than  is,  to  sportsmen,  the  delightful  cry 

Of  hounds  on  chase),  which  soon  together  brought 

A  tribe  of  boys,  who,  thund'ring  at  the  doors 

Of  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  the  Geiitlcinaii's  Ma<^aziiieior  February,  1795,  gives 
the  following  account  of  a  Christmas  Eve  custom  at  the  house 
of  Sir Holt,  Bart.,  of  Aston,  near  Birmingham  : 

"  As  soon  as  supper  is  over,  a  table  is  set  in  the  hall.  On  it 
is  placed  a  brown  loaf,  with  twenty  silver  threepences  stuck  on 
the  top  of  it,  a  tankard  of  ale,  with  pipes  and  tobacco  ;  and 
the  two  oldest  servants  have  chairs  behind  it,  to  sit  as  judges  if 
they  please.  The  steward  brings  the  servants,  both  men  and 
women,  by  one  at  a  time,  covered  with  a  winnow-sheet,  and 
lays  their  right  hand  on  the  loaf,  exposing  no  other  part  of  the 
body.  The  oldest  of  the  two  judges  guesses  at  the  person,  by 
naming  a  name,  then  the  younger  judge,  and  lastly  the  oldest 
again.  If  they  hit  upon  the  right  name,  the  steward  leads  the 
person  back  again  ;  but,  if  they"  do  not,  he  takes  off  the 
winnow^-sheet,  and  the  person  receives  a  threepence,  makes  a 
low  obeisance  to  the  judges,  but  speaks  not  a  word.  When  the 
second  servant  was  brought,  the  vounger  judge  guessed  first 
and  third  ;  and- this  they  did  alternately,  till  all  the  money  was 
given  away.  Whatever  servant  had  not  slept  in  the  house  the 
preceding  night  forfeited  his  right  to  the  money.  No  account 
is  given  of  the  origin  of  this  strange  custom,  but  it  has  been 
practised  ever  since  the  family  lived  there.  When  the  money 
is  gone,  the  servants  have  full  liberty  to  drink,  dance,  sing,  and 
go  to  bed  when  they  please." 

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

THE   DELIGHTS   OF   CHRISTMAS. 

A  New  Song  by  R.  P. 

(Tune — "  Since  Love  is  my  Plan.") 

In  the  Poor  Soldier. 

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. 


244  CHRISTMAS. 

Then  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'; 
P"or  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. 

P'or  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  store 

With  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.' 

Charles  Lamb  on  Christmas. 

In  his  essay  on  "  Recollections  ot  Christ's  Hospital,"  Charles 
Lamb  thus  refers  to  the  Christmas  festivities  of  his  schoolboy 
days  : — 

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

'  Copied  from  an  undated  leaflet  inserted  in  the  British  Museum  copy  of 
Brand's   "Antiquities,'"  by  the  Inte  Mr.  Joseph  Ilazlewood. 


MODERN  CHRISTMASES   AT   HOME.  245 

In  a  sonnet  sent  to  Coleridge,  in  1797,  Lamb  says  : — 

"  It  were  unwisely  done,  should  we  refuse 
To  cheer  our  path,  as  featly  as  we  may — 
Our  lonely  path  to  cheer,  as  travellers  \ise, 
With  merry  song,  quaint  tale,  or  roundelay. 
And  we  will  sometimes  talk  past  troubles  o'er, 
Of  mercies  shown,  and  all  our  sickness  heal'd, 
And  in  His  judgments  God  remembering  love  : 
And  we  will  learn  to  praise  God  evermore, 
P'or  those  '  glad  tidings  of  great  joy,'  reveal'd 
By  that  sooth  messenger,  sent  from  above." 

Writing  to  Southe}',  in  1798,  Lamb  tells  the  poet  that  Christ- 
mas is  a  "  glorious  theme  "  ;  and  addressing  his  "  dear  old  friend 
and  absentee,"  Mr.  Manning,  at  Canton,  on  December  25,  1815, 


THE   CHRISTMAS    PI.UM-PUDDINC 

{From  an  old  print.) 


246 


CHRISTMAS. 


Lamb  says: — ''This  is  Christmas  Day,  1815,  with  us;  what  it 
may  be  with  you  I  don't  know,  the  12th  of  June  next  year  per- 
haps ;  and  if  it  should  be  the  consecrated  season  with  you, 
I  don't  see  how  you  can  keep  it.  You  have  no  turkeys  ;  you 
would  not  desecrate  the  festival  by  offering  up  a  withered 
Chinese  bantam,  instead  of  the  savoury  grand  Norfolcian  holo- 
caust, that  smokes  all  around  my  nostrils  at  this  moment  from  a 
thousand  firesides.  Then  what  puddings  have  you  ?  Where 
will  you  get  holly  to  stick  in  your  churches,  or  churches  to  stick 
your  dried  tea-leaves  (that  must  be  the  substitute)  in  ?  Come 
out  of  Babylon,  O  my  friend." 


ITALIAN    MINSTRELS    IN    LONDO.\,    AT   CHRISTMAS,    1825. 

(Fro//i  a  sketch  of  thai  period.) 


"  Ranged  in  a  row,  with  guitars  slung 
Before  them  thus,"they  played  and  sung  ; 
Their  instruments  and  choral  voice 
Bid  each  glad  guest  still  more  rejoice  ; 
And  each  guest  wish'd  again  to  hear 
Their  wild  guitars  and  voices  clear."  ' 


The  Christmas  Games 

at  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century  include  the  old 
Christmas  game  of  Forfeits,  for  every  breach  of  the  rules  of 
which  the  players  have  to  deposit  some  little  article  as  a  forfeit, 

'  Hone's  "  Every-day  Book,"  1826. 


MODERX    CHRISTMASES   AT   HOME. 


247 


to  be  redeemed  by  some  sportive  penalty,  imposed  by  the  "Crier 
of  the  Forfeits"  (usuahy  a  bonnie  lassie).  The  "  crying  of  the 
forfeits  "  and  paying  of  the  penalties  creates  much  merrinaent, 
particularly  when  a  bashful  youth  is  sentenced  to  '*  kiss  through 
the  fire-tongs  "  some  beautiful  romp  of  a  girl,  who  delights 
playing  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  of  Hot  Cockles,  Hunt  the 
Slipper,  and  "the  vulgar  game  of  Post  ami  Pair";  but  Cants 
are  still  popular,  and  Snapdragon  continues  such  Christmas 
merriment  as  is   set  forth   in  the  followintj  verses  : — 


SNAP  DRAGON. 

Here  he  comes  with  flaming  bowl, 
Don't  he  mean  to  take  his  toll, 

Snip  !  Snap  I  Dragon  I 
Take  care  you  don't  take  too  much, 
Be  not  greedy  in  your  clutch, 

Snip  I  Snap  !  Dragon  1 

With  his  blue  and  lapping  tongue 
Many  of  you  will  be  stung. 

Snip  !  Snap  I  Dragon  I 
For  he  snaps  at  all  that  comes 
Snatching  at  his  feast  of  plums, 

Snip  !  Snap  !  Dragon  1 


248  CHRISTMAS. 

But  old  Christmas  makes  him  come, 
Though  he  looks  so  fee  !  fa  !  fum  ! 

Snip  !  Snap !  Dragon  ! 
Don't  'ee  fear  him,  be  but  bold  — 
Out  he  goes,  his  flames  are  cold, 

Snip  I  Snap  I   Dragon  !  " 

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

Blixdmax's  Buff, 

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

"  The  very  youngest  of  our  brothers  and  sisters  can  join  in 
this  old  English  game  :    and  it  is  selfish  to   select  only  such 
sports  as  they  cannot  become  sharers  of.     Its  ancient  name  is 
'  hoodman-blind  '  ;  and  when  hoods  were  worn  by  both  men 
and  women — centuries  before  hats  and  caps  were  so  common 
as  they  are  now— the  hood  was  reversed,  placed  hind-before, 
and  was,  no  doubt,  a  much  surer  way  of  blinding  the  player  than 
that  now  adopted — for  we  have  seen  Charley  try  to  catch  his 
pretty  cousin  Caroline,  by  chasing  her  behind  chairs  and  into 
all  sorts  of  corners,  to   our  strong  conviction  that  he  was  not 
half  so  well  blinded  as  he  ought  to  have  been.     Some  said  he 
could  see  through  the  black  silk  handkerchief  ;   others  that  it 
ought  to  have  been  tied  clean  over  his  nose,  for  that  when  he 
looked  down  he  could  see  her  feet,  wherever  she  moved  ;  and 
Charley  had  often  been  heard  to  say  that  she  had  the  prettiest 
foot  and  ankle  he  had  ever  seen.     But  there  he  goes,  head  over 
heels  across  a  chair,  tearing  off  Caroline's  gown  "skirt  in  his  fall, 
as  he  clutches  it  in  the  hope  of  saving  himself.     Now,  that  is 
what  I  call  retributive  justice  ;  for  she  threw  down  the  chair  for 
hnn  to  stumble  over,  and,  if  he  has  grazed  his  knees,  she  suffers 
under  a  torn  dress,  and  must  retire  until  one  of  the  maids  darn 
up  the  rent.     But  now  the  mirth  and  glee  grow  'fast  and  furious,' 
for  hoodman  blind  has  imprisoned  three  or  four  of  the  youngest 
boys  in  a  corner,  and  can  place  his  hand  on  whichever  he  likes. 
Into  w^hat  a  small  compass  thev  have  forced  themselves  !     But 
the  one  behind  has  the  wall  at' his  back,  and,  taking  advantage 
of  so  good  a  purchase,  he  sends  his  three  laughing  companions 
sprawling  on  the  floor,  and    is    himself   caught  through  their 
having  fallen,   as  his  shoulder  is  the  first  that  is  grasped  by 
Blindman-bufl: — so  that  he   must  now   submit  to  be  hooded." 


MODERN   CHRISl'MASES    AT   HOME. 


249 


B  L  I  N  D  M  A  N    S      1!  U  F  F  . 

{/n  the  last  century.] 

The   Christmas   Danxe. 

"  Again  the  ball-room  is  wide  open  thrown, 

The  oak  beams  festooned  with  the  garlands  gay  ; 
The  red  dais  where  the  fiddlers  sit  alone, 

Where,  flushed  with  pride,  the  good  old  tunes  they  play. 
Strike,  fiddlers,  strike  I  were  ready  for  the  set  ; 

The  young  folks'  feet  are  eager  for  the  dance  ; 
We'll  trip  Sir  Roger  and  the  minuet, 

And  revel  in  the  latest  games  from  France.'" ' 

"  Man  should  be  called  a  dancint^  animal,"  SRid  Old  Florentine ; 
and  Burton,  in  his  ''Anatomy  of  Melancholy,"  says,  "Young 
lasses  are  never  better  pleased  than  when,  upon  a  holiday,  after 
even-song,  they  may  meet  their  sweethearts  and  dance."  And 
dancing  is  just  as  popular  at  Christmas  in  the  present  day, 
as  it  was  in  that  mediaeval  age  w'hen  (according  to  William 
of  Malmesbury)  the  priest  Rathbertus,  being  disturbed  at  his 
Christmas  mass  by  young  men  and  women  dancing  outside 
the  church,  prayed  God  and  St.  Magnus  that  they  might 
continue  to  dance  for  a  whole  year  without  cessation — a 
prayer  which  the  old  chronicler  gravely  assures  us  was 
answered. 

'  Herbert  H.  Adams. 


250 


CHRISTMAS. 


IHE    Lllklb'J-MAS    DA.XCE. 


Christmas  Eve  ix  the  Oldex  Time. 

And  well  our  Christian  sires  of  old 
Loved  when  the  year  its  course  had  roll'd, 
And  brought  blithe  Christmas  back  again, 
Witt!  all  his  hospitable  train. 
Domestic  and  religious  rite 
Gave  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, 
S^w  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  hall 
To  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,  share 
The  vulgar  game  of  "  post  and  pair." 
All  hail'd,  with  uncontroH'd  delight, 
And  general  voice,  the  happy  night 
That  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  grace 
Bore  then  upon  its  massive  board 
No  mark  to  part  the  squire  and  lord. 


AIODERN   CHRISTMASES   AT  HOME.  251 

Then  was  brought  in  the  lusty  brawn 

By  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  tell 

How,  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  witli  ribbons,  blithely  trowls. 

There  the  huge  sirloin  reek'd  ;  hard  by 

Plum-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  din 

If  unmelodious  was  the  song. 

It  was  a  hearty  note,  and  strong. 

Who  lists  may  in  their  mumming  see 

Traces  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  I 

England  was  merry  England  when 

Old  Christmas  brought  his  sports  again. 

'Twas  Christmas  broached  the  mightiest  ale, 

'Twas  Christmas  told  the  merriest  tale  ; 

A  Christmas  gambol  oft  could  cheer 

The  poor  man's  heart  through  half  the  year. 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  1808. 

Lyson's  "  Magna  Britannia  "  (1813)  states  the  following  as  an 
Old  Exglish  Custom. 

"  At  Cumnor  the  parishioners,  who  paid  vicarial  tithes,  claimed 
a  custom  of  being  entertained  at  the  vicarage  on  the  afternoon 
of  Christmas  Day,  with  four  bushels  of  malt  brewed  into  ale  and 
beer,  two  bushels  of  wheat  made  into  bread,  ^nd  half  a  hundred 
weight  of  cheese.  The  remainder  was  given  to  the  poor  the 
next  morning  after  divine  service." 

Mason  (''  Statistical  Account  of  Ireland,"  1814)  records  the 
following 

Irish  Christmas  Customs  : — 

"At  Culdaff,  previous  to  Christmas,  it  is  customary  with  the 
labouring  classes  to  raffle  for  mutton,  when  a  sufficient  number 
can  subscribe  to  defray  the  cost  of  a  sheep.  During  the 
Christmas  holidays  they  amuse  themselves  with  a  game  of 
kamman,  which  consists  in  impelling  a  wooden  ball  with 
a  crooked  stick  to  a  given  point,  while  an  adversary  endeavours 
to  drive  it  in  a  contrarv  direction." 

Yorkshire. 

A  writer  in  "Time's  Telescope"  (1822)  states  that  in  York- 
shire at  eight  o'clock  on  Christmas  Eve  the  bells  greet  "  Old 


252-  CHRISTMAS. 

Father  Christinas  "  with  a  merry  peal,  the  children  parade  the 
streets  with  drums,  trumpets,  bells,  or  perhaps,  in  their  absence, 
with  the  poker  and  shovel,  taken  from  their  humble  cottatre 
hre  ;  the  yule  candle  is  lighted,  and— 

"High  on  the  cheerful  fire 
Is  blazing  seen  th'  enormous  Christmas  brand." 

Supper  is  served,  of  which  one  dish,  from  the  lordly  mansion 
to  the  humblest  shed,  is  invariably  furmetv  ;  yule  cake,  one  of 
which  IS  always  made  for  each  individual  in  the  family  and 
other  more  substantial  viands  are  also  added.  ' 

Some  Social  Festivities 

of  Christmastide  are  sketched  by  a  contributor  to  the  New 
Monthly  Magazine,  December  i,   1825,  who  says  :— 

"  On  the  north  side  of  the  church  at  M.  are  a  great  many 
holly-trees.     It  is  from  these  that  our  dining  and  bed-rooms  are 
furnished  with  boughs.     Families  take  it  by  turns  to  entertain 
their   friends.     They  meet  early;    the   beef   and  pudding  are 
noble  ;  the  mince-pies— peculiar  ;  the  nuts  half  play-things  and 
half-eatables  ;  the  oranges  as  cold  and  acid  as  they  ou^rht  to  be, 
furnishing  us  with  a  superfluity  which  we  can  afford" to  laugh 
at  ;  the  cakes  indestructible  ;  the  wassail  bowls  generous,  old 
English,  huge,  demanding  ladles,  threatening  overflow  as  they 
come  in,  solid  with  roasted  apples  when  set  down.     Towards 
bed-time  you  hear  of  elder-wine,  and  not  seldom  of  punch.     At 
the  manorhouse  it  is  pretty  much  the  same  as  elsewhere.    Girls, 
although  they  be  ladies,  are  kissed  under  the  mistletoe.     If  any 
family  among  us  happen  to  have  hit  upon  an  exquisite  brewdnt?, 
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  among 
great  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  and 
merriment  within.     Playing  at  knights  and  ladies  last  year,  a 
jade  of  a  charming  creature  must  needs  send  me  out  for  a  piece 
of  ice  to  put  in  her  wine.     It  was  evening  and  a  hard  frost.     I 
shall  never  forget  the  cold,_  cutting,  dreary,  dead  look  of  every 
thing  out  of  doors,  with  a  wind  through  the  wiry  trees,  and  the 
snow    on    the   ground,   contrasted  with    the  sudden    return  to 
warmth,  light,  and  joviality. 

"  I  remember  we  had  a  discussion  that  time  as  to  what  was 
the  great  point  and  crowning  glory  of  Christmas.  Many  were 
for  mmce-pie  ;  some  for  the  beef  and  plum-pudding  ;  more  for 
the  wassail-bowl  ;  a  maiden  ladv  timidly  said  the  mistletoe  • 
but  we  agreed  at  last,  that  althotigh  all  these  were  prodigious,' 
and  some  of  them  exclusively  belonging  to  the  season,  the  Jire 
was  the  great  indispensable.  Upon  which  we  all  turned  our 
faces  towards  it,  and  began  warming  our  already  scorched 
hands.     A  great  blazing  Are,  too  big,  is  the  visible  heart  and 


MODERX    CHRISTMASES   AT   HOME.  253 

soul  of  Christmas.  You  mav  do  without  beef  and  phuu-pudchn^  ; 
even  the  absence  of  mince-pie  mav  be  tolerated  ;  there  nuist  be 
a  bowl,  poetically  speaking,  but  it  need  not  be  absolutely  wassail. 
The  bowl  may  give  place  to  the  bottle.  But  a  huge,  Jieaped-up, 
oi'cr  heaped-up,  all-attracting  hre,  with  a  semicircle  of  faces 
about  it,  is  not  to  be  denied  us.  It  is  the  lar  and  genius  of 
the  meeting  ;  the  proof  positive  of  the  season  ;  the  representa- 
tive of  all  our  wiU"m  emotions  and  bright  thoughts  ;  the  glorious 
eye  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  a 
fire  ?  The  absence  of  other  luxuries  still  leaves  you  in  pos- 
session of  that  ;  but 

'  WTio  can  hold  a  fire  in  his  hand 
With  thinking  on  the  frostiest  twelfth-cake  ?  ' 

"  Let  me  have  a  dinner  of  some  sort,  no  matter  what,  and 
then  give  me  my  hre,  and  my  friends,  the  humblest  glass  of 
wine,  and  a  few  penn'orths  of  chestnuts,  and  I  will  still  make 
out  my  Christmas.  What  !  Have  we  not  Burgundy  in  our 
blood  ?  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  this 
word,  as  if  to  answer  me  in  the  affirmative.  Right  thou  old 
spirit  of  harmony,  wandering  about  in  that  ark  of  thine,  and 
touching  the  public  ear  with  sweetness  and  an  abstraction  ! 
Let  the  multitude  bustle  on,  but  not  unarrested  by  thee  and 
by  others,  and  not  unreminded  of  the  happiness  of  renewing 
a  wise  childhood.]  As  to  our  old  friends  the  chestnuts,  if 
anybody  wants  an  excuse  to  his  dignity  for  roasting  them,  let 
him  take  the  authority  of  Milton.  '  Who  now,'  says  he  lamenting 
the  loss  of  his  friend  Deodati, — '  who  now  will  help  to  soothe 
my  cares  for  me,  and  make  the  long  night  seem  short  with  his 
conversation  ;  while  the  roasting  pear  hisses  tenderly  on  the 
fire,  and  the  nuts  burst  away  with  a  noise, — 

*  And  out  of  doors  a  washing  storm  o'erwhelms 
Nature  pitch-dark,  and  rides  the  thundering  elms  ?  '  " 


254 


CHRISTMAS. 


ChHISTMAS    IX    THE    HiGHLAXDS. 

From  Grant's  "  Popular  Superstitions 
of  the  Highlands"  Hone  gathered  the 
following  account  : — 

"As  soon  as  the  brightening  glow    of 
the  eastern  sky  warns  the  anxious  house- 
maid of  the  approach  of  Christmas  Day, 
she  rises  full  of  anxiety  at  the  prospect 
of    her    morning    labours.       The    meal, 
which    was   steeped  in  the   soivans-bowie 
a  fortnight  ago,  to  make  the  Prechdachdan 
sour,   or  sour  scones,  is  the  first  object  of 
her  attention.      The  gridiron   is    put    on 
the    fire,  and  the    sour    scones  are    soon 
followed     by.  .hard     cakes,    soft     cakes, 
buttered  cakes,  brandered  bannocks,  and 
pannich    perm.       The    baking   being    once    over,    the    sowans 
pot    succeeds    the   gridiron,    full    of    new   sowans,    w^hich    are 
to    be    given    to    the    family,    agreeably    to   custom,    this    day 
m    then-   beds.      The   sowans  are  boiled  into   the  consistence 
of    molasses,    when    the    Lagan-k-vricli,     or    yeast    bread,    to 
distinguish    it    from    boiled    sowans,    is    ready.       It    is    then 
poured  into  as  many  bickers  as  there  are  individuals  to  partake 
of  it,  and  presertly  served  to  the  whole,  old  and  young.     It 
would    suit    well    the    pen    of    a    Burns,    or    the   pencil  "of    a 
Hogarth,  to    paint   the  scene  which  follows.      The  ambrosial 
food   is  despatched  in  aspiring  draughts    by  the  family,  who 
soon  give  evident  proofs  of  the  enlivening  effects  of  the  Lagan- 
le-vrich.     As  soon  as  each  despatches  his  bicker,  he  jumps  out 
of  bed — the  elder  branches  to  examine  the  ominous  signs  of  the 
day,^  and  the  younger  to  enter  on  its  amusements.     Flocking  to 
the  swing,  a  favourite  amusement  on  this  occasion,  the  youngest 
of  the  family  get  the  first   'shoulder;  and  the  next  oldest  in 
regular  succession.    In  order  to  add  the  more  to  the  spirit  of  the 
exercise,  it  is  a  common  practice  with  the  person  in  the  swing, 
and  the   person  appointed  to  swing  him,  to  enter  into  a  veiy 
warm    and    humorous    altercation.      As    the    swinged    person 
approaches  the  swinger,  he  exclaims,  Ei  mi  in  dial,  '  I'll  eat 
your  kail.'     To  this  the  swinger  replies,  with  a  violent  shove, 
Cha  ni  u  mu  dial,  '  You  shan't  eat  my  kail.'     These  threats  and 
repulses  are  sometimes  carried  to  such  a   height,  as  to  break 
down  or  capsize  the  threatener,  which  generally  puts  an  end 
to  the  quarrel. 

"  As  the  day  advances,  those  minor  amusements  are  terminated 
at  the  report  of  the  gun,  or  the  rattle  of  the  ball  clubs— the  gun 
inviting  the  marksman  to  the  '  Kiavamudid,'  or  prize-shooting, 
and  the  latter  to   '  Liidid-vouil,'  or  the  ball  combatants— both 

'   ''  A  black  Chrislmas  makes  a  fat  kirk-yard."     A  windy  Ghristmas  and  a  calm 
Candlemas  are  signs  of  a  good  year. 


MODERX    CHRISTMASES   AT   HOME.  255 

the  principal  sports  of  the  day.  Tired  at  lent^th  of  the  active 
amusements  of  the  iield,  they  exchans^e  them  for  the  substantial 
entertainments  of  the  table.  Groaning  under  the  'sonsy  haggis,'  ' 
and  many  other  savoury  dainties,  luiseen  for  twelve  months 
before,  the  relish  communicated  to  the  company,  by  the 
appearance  of  the  festive  board,  is  more  easily  conceived 
than  described.  The  dinner  once  despatched,  the  flowing 
bowl  succeeds,  and  the  sparkling  glass  files  to  and  fro  like  a 
weaver's  shuttle.  As  it  continues  its  rounds,  the  spirits  of  the 
company  become  more  jovial  nnd  happy.  Animated  by  its 
cheering  intiuence,  even  old  decrepitude  no  longer  feels  his 
habitual  pains — the  fire  of  youth  is  in  his  eye,  as  he  details 
to  the  company  the  exploits  which  distinguished  him  in  the 
days  of  '  aiild  langsviie  ; '  while  the  young,  with  hearts  inflamed 
with  '  lore  and  glory,'  long  to  mingle  in  the  more  lively  scenes 
of  mirth,  to  display  their  prowess  and  agihty.  Leaving  the 
patriarchs  to  finish  those  professions  of  friendship  for  each 
other,  in  which  they  are  so  devoutly  engaged,  the  younger 
part  of  the  company  will  shape  their  course  to  the  ball-room, 
or  the  card-table,  as  their  individual  inclinations  suggest  ;  and 
the  remainder  of  the  evening  is  spent  with  the  greatest  pleasure 
of  which  human  nature  is  susceptible." 

Sword  Daxcixg  at  Christmas. 

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

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

And  the  present  writer  heard  of  similar  festivities  at  Christ- 
mastide  in  the  Madeley  district  of  Shropshire,  accompanied  by 
grotesque  imitations  of  the  ancient  hobl^y-horse. 

'  The  "savoury  haggis"  (from  /ta^  to  chop)  is  a  dish  commonly  made  in  a 
sheep's  maw,  of  its  kings,  heart,  and  Hver,  mixed  with  suet,  onions,  salt,  and 
pepper  ;  or  of  oatmeal  mixed  with  the  latter,  without  any  animal  food. 


256  CHRISTMAS. 

Cumberland. 

"A.  W.   R.,"  writing  to  Hone's  "Year  Book/'  December  8, 
1827,  says  :— 

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

"  With  Christmas  Eve  commences  a  regular  series  of  '  fes- 
tivities and  merry  makings.'  Night  after  niglit,  if  you  want  the 
farmer  or  his  family,  you  must  look  for  them  anywhere  but  at 
home  ;  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  Christ- 
mas, every  farmer  gives  two  '  feasts,'  one  called  '  t'  ould  foaks 
neet,'  which  is  for  those  who  are  married,  and  the  other  '  t' 
young  foaks  neet,'  for  those  who  are  single.  Suppose  you  and 
I,  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  behold 
several  card  parties,  some  at  '  whist,'  others  at  '  loo '  (there 
called  *  lant '),  or  any  other  game  that  may  suit  their  fancy. 
You  w^ill  be  surprised  on  looking  over  the  company  to  find  that 
there  is  no  distinction  of  persons.  Masters  and  servants,  rich 
and  poor,  humble  and  lofty,  all  mingle  together  without  restraint 
— all  cares  are  forgotten — and  each  one  seems  to  glory  in  his 
own  enjoyment  and  in  that  of  his  fellow-creatures.  It  is  pleasant 
to  hnd  ourselves  in  such  society,  especially  as  it  is  rarely  in  one's 
life  that  such  opportunities  offer.  Cast  your  eyes  towards  the 
sideboard,  and  there  see  that  large  bowl  of  punch,  which  the 
good  wife  is  inviting  her  guests  to  partake  of.  with  apples, 
oranges,  biscuits,  and  other  agreeable  eatables  in  plenty.  The 
hospitable  master  welcomes  us  with  a  smiling  countenance  and 
requests  us  to  take  seats  and  join  one  of  the  tables. 

"  In  due  time  some  one  enters  to  tell  the  company  that  supper 
is  waiting  in  the  next  room.  Thither  we  adjourn,  and  find  the 
raised  and  mince  pies,  all  sorts  of  tarts,  and  all  cold — except 
the  welcomes  and  entreaties — with  cream,  ale,  &c.,  in  abun- 
dance ;  in  the  midst  of  all  a  large  goose  pie,  which  seems  to 
say  '  Come  and  cut  again.' 

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

"  Such  are  the  innocent  amusements  of  these  people." 

"  With  gentle  deeds  and  kindly  thoughts, 
And  loving  words  withal, 
Welcome  the  merry  Christmas  in. 
And  hear  a  brother's  call."' 

'  F.  Lawrence. 


MODERX  CHRISTMASES  AT  HOME. 
Provision  for  the  Pooh  ox  Christmas  Day. 


IIKIMMAS    \HM.V. 


By  the  will  of  John  Popple,  dated  the  12th  of  March,  1830, 
_:^'4  yearly  is  to  be  paid  unto  the  vicar,  churchwardens,  and 
overseers  of  the  poor  of  the  parish  of  Burnham,  Buckingham- 
shire, to  provide  for  the  poor  people  who  should  be  residing  in 
the  poorhouse,  a  dinner,  with  a  proper  quantity  of  good  ale  and 
likewise  with  tobacco  and  snuff  on  Christmas  Day.^ 

This  kindly  provision  of  Mr.  Popple  for  the  poor  shows  that 
he  wished  to  keep  up  the  good  old  Christmas  customs  which 
are  so  much  admired  by  the  "  old  man  "  in  Southey's  "  The 
Old  Mansion  "  (a  poem  of  this  period).  In  recalling  the  good 
doings  at  the  mansion  "  in  my  lady's  time  "  the  *'  old  man  '' 
savs  : — 

"  A  woful  day 
'Tvvas  for  the  poor  when  to  her  grave  she  went  ! 


"  Old  Knglish  Customs  and  Charities,"'  1S42. 
18 


258 


CHRISTMAS,. 

Were  they  sick  ? 
She  had  rare  cordial  waters,  and  for  herbs 
She  could  have  taught  tht?  doctors.     Then  at  winter, 
When  weekly  she  distributed  the  bread 
In  the  poor  old  porch,  to  see  her  and  to  hear 
The  blessings  on  her  1     And  I  warrant  them 
They  were  a  blessing  to  her  when  her  wealth 
Had  l;een  no  comfort  else.     At  Christmas,  sir  I 
It  would  have  warmed  your  heart  if  you  had  seen 
Her  Christmas  kitchen  ;  how  the  blazing  fire 
Made  her  fine  pewter  shine,  and  holly  boughs 
So  cheerful  red  ;  and  as  for  mistletoe, 
The  finest  l)ough  that  grew  in  the  country  round 
Was  mark'd  for  madam.     Then  her  old  ale  went 
So  bountiful  about  I  a  Christmas  cask, — 
And  'twas  a  noble  one  ! — God  help  me,  sir  I 
But  I  shall  never  see  such  days  again." 


The  Royal  Chkistmases 

In  the  reigns  oi  George  IV.  and  William  IV.,  tlioiigh  not  kept 
with  the  grandeur  of  earlier  reigns,  were  observed  with  niucli 
rejoicing  and  festivity,  and  the  Royal  Bounties  to  the  poor  of 
the  metropolis  and  the  country  districts  surrotinding  Windsor 
and  the  other  Royal  Palaces  were  dispensed  with  the  customary 
generosity.  In  his  "  Sketch  Book/'  Washington  Irving,  who  was 
born  in  the  reign  of  George  III.  (17^3),  and  lived  on  through 
the  reigns  of  George  IV.,  and  William  IV.,  and  the  lirst  two 
decades  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Victoria,  gives  delightful 
descriptions  of  the 


Festivities  of  the  Nobility  and  Gentry 

of  the  period,  recalling  the  times  when  the  old  halls  of  castles 
and  manor  houses  resounded  with  the  harp  and  the  Christmas 
Carol  and  their  ample  boards  groaned  under  the  weight  of 
hospitality.  He  had  travelled  a  good  deal  on  both  sides  of  the 
Atlantic  and  he  gives  a  pictiiresqtie  account  of  an  old  English 


MODER.V   CMRISTMASES   AT  HOME.  259 

static  coach  journey  "  on  the  day  preceding;'  Christmas."  The 
coach  was  crowded  with  passengers.  "  It  was  also  loaded  with 
hampers  of  t^ame,  and  baskets  and  bo.xes  of  delicacies  ;  and 
hares  huns;"  dangling  their  long  ears  about  the  coachman's  bo.\, 
presents  from  distant  friends  for  the  impending"  feast.  I  had 
three  hne  rosy-cheeked  schoolboys  for  my  fellow-passengers 
inside,  full  of  thq  buxom  health  and  manly  spirit  which  I  have 
observed  in  the  children  of  this  country.  They  were  returning 
home  for  the  holidavs  in  high  glee,  and  promising  themselves  a 
world  of  enjoyment.  It  was  delightful  to  hear  the  gigantic 
plans  of  the  little  rogues,  and  the  impracticable  feats  they  were 
to  perform  during  their  six  weeks'  emancipation  from  the 
abhorred  thraldom  of  book,  birch,  and  pedagogue." 

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

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

"  In  the  evening  we  reached  a  village  where  I  had  determined 
to  pass  the  night.  As  we  drove  into  the  great  gateway  of  the 
inn,  I  saw  on  one  side  the  light  of  a  rousing  kitchen  hre  beam- 
ing through  a  window.  I  entered,  and  admired,  for  the 
hundredth  time,  that  picture  of  convenience,  neatness,  and 
broad,  honest  enjoyment,  the  kitchen  of  an  English  inn.  It 
w.is  of  spacious  dimensions,  hung  round  with  copper  and  tin 
vessels  highly  polished,  and  decorated  here  and  there  with  a 
Christmas  green.  .  .  .  The  scene  completely  realised  poor 
Robin's  [1O84]  humbleidea  of  the  comforts  of  mid-winter  : 

'  Now  trees  their  leafy  hats  do  bare 
To  reverence  winter's  silver  hair  ; 
A  handsome  hostess,  merry  host, 
A  pot  of  ale  now  and  a  toast, 
Toljacco  and  a  good  coal  fire, 
Are  things  this  season  doth  require.'  " 

Mr.  Irving  afterwards  depicts,  in  his  own  graphic  style,  the 
Christmas  festivities  observed  at  an  old-fashioned  English  hall, 
and  tells  how  the  generous  squire  pointed  with  pleasure  to  the 
indications  of  good  cheer  reeking  from  the  chimneys  of  the 
comfortable  farmhouses,  and  low  thatched  cottages.  "  I  love," 
said  he,  ''to  see  this  da}'  well  kept  by  rich  and  poor  ;  it  is  a 
great  thing  to  have  one  day  in  the  year,  at  least,  when  you  are 
sure  of  being  welcome  wherever  you  go,  and  of  having,  as  it 
were,  the  world  all  thrown  open  to  you  ;  and  I  am  almost 
disposed  to  join  with  poor  Robin,  in  his  malediction  on  every 
churlish  enemy  to  this  honest  festival  : 


26o  CHRISTMAS. 

"  '  Those  who  at  Christmas  do  repine, 

And  would  fain  hence  despatch  him, 

May  they  with  old  Duke  Humphry  dine, 

Or  else  may  Squire  Ketch  catch  'em.' 

"  The  squire  went  on  to  lament  the  deplorable  decay  of  the 
games  and  amusements  which  were  once  prevalent' at  this 
season  among  the  lower  orders,  and  countenanced  •  by  the 
higher  ;  when  the  old  halls  of  castles  and  manor-houses'  were 
thrown  open  at  daylight  ;  when  the  tables  were  covered  with 
brawn,  and  beef,  and  humming  ale  ;  when  the  harp  and  the 
carol  resounded  all  day  long,  and  when  rich  and  poor  were 
alike  welcome  to  enter  and  make  merrv.  '  Our  old  games  and 
local  customs,'  said  he,  'had  a  great  effect  in  niaking  the 
peasant  fond  of  his  home,  and  the  promotion  of  them  by  the 
gentry  made  him  fond  of  his  lord.  They  made  the  times 
merrier,  and  kinder  and  better  ;  and  I  can  truly  sav  with  one  of 
our  old  poets  : 

■'  '  I  like  them  well — the  curious  preciseness 
And  all-pretended  gravity  of  those 
That  seek  to  banish  hence  these  harmless  sports, 
Have  thrust  away  much  ancient  honesty.' "' 


The  Christmases  of  Queen  Victoria 

have  been  kept  with  much  bountifulness,  but  after  the  gracious 
manner  of  a  Christian  Queen  who  cares  more  for  the  welfare  of 
her  beloved  subjects  than  for  ostentatious  display.  Her 
Majesty's  Royal  bounties  to  the  poor  of  the  metropolis'  and  its 
envn-ons,  and  also  to  others  in  the  country  districts  surrounding^ 
the  several  Royal  Palaces  are  well  known,  the  ancient  Christina"^ 
and  New  Year's  gifts  being  dispensed  with  great  generosity 
The  number  of  aged  and  afflicted  persons  usually  relieved  by 
the  Lord  High  Almoner  in  sums  of  5s.  and  13s.  exceeds  an 
aggi-egate  of  1,200.  Then  there  is  the  distribution  of  the  beef 
—a  most  interesting  feature  of  the  Roval  Bounty— which  takes 
place  in  the  Riding  School  at  Windsor  Castle,  under  the 
superintendence  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  table 
placed  m  the  middle  of  the  Riding  School,  and  covered  with 
white  cloths  from  the  Lord  Steward's  department  of  the  .palace 
During  the  distribution  the  bells  of  St.  John's  Church  ring  a 
merry  peal.     There  are   usuallv  many  hundreds  of  recipie^nts 


MODERX   CHRISTMASES   AT   HOME.  261 

and  the  weis^ht  of  the  beef  allotted  amounts  t(j  many  thousands 
of  pounds.  Coals  and  clothing  and  other  creature  comforts  are 
liberally  dispensed,  according  to  the  needs  of  the  poor.  In 
times  of  war  and  seasons  of  distress  hospitable  entertainments, 
Christmas-trees,  &c.,  are  also  provided  for  the  wives  and 
children  of  soldiers  and  sailors  on  active  service  ;  :  nd  in  many 
other  wavs  the  Koyal  Bounty  is  extended  to  the  poor  and 
needy  at  Christmastide. 

The  Chktstmas  at  Windsor  Castlk,  ix   1841, 

is  thus  referred  to  in  the  '*  Life  of  the  Prince  Consort  "  (by 
Theodore  Martin)  : — 

"When  Christmas  came  rcnmdwith  its  pleasant  festivities  and 
its  shining  Christmas-trees,  it  had  within  it  a  new  source  of 
delight  for  the  Roval  parents.  '  To  think,'  savs  the  Queen's 
'  journal,'  '  that  we  have  two  children  now,  and  one  who  enjoys 
the  sight  already,  is  like  a  dream  !  '  And  in  writing  to  his 
father  the  Prince  expresses  the  same  feeling.  '  This,'  he  says, 
'  is  the  dear  Christmas  Eve,  on  which  I  have  so  often  listened 
with  impatience  for  your  step,  which  was  to  usher  us  into  the 
present-room.  To-day  I  ha\e  two  children  of  my  own  to  give 
presents  to,  who,  they  know  not  why,  are  full  of  happy  wonder 
at  the  German  Christmas-tree  and  its  radiant  candles.' 

"The  coming  year  was  danced  into  in  good  old  English 
fashion.  In  the  middle  of  the  dance,  as  the  clock  finished 
striking  twelve,  a  fionrish  of  trumpets  was  blowm,  in  accordance 
with  a  German  custom.  This,  the  Queen's  '  Journal  '  records, 
'  had  a  fine  solemn  eftect,  and  quite  affected  dear  Albert,  who 
turned  pale,  and  had  tears  in  his  eyes,  and  pressed  mv  hand 
very  warmlv.  It  touched  me  too,  for  I  felt  that  he  must  think 
of  his  dear  native  countrv,  which  he  has  left  for  me.'  " 

Christmas  at  Osborne. 

Writing  from  Cowes,  on  Christmas  Eve,  in  reference  to  the 
Christm:is  festivities  at  Osborne  in  the  last  decade  of  the 
nineteenth  centurv,  a  correspondent   says  : — 

"  After  transacting  business  the  Queen  drove  out  this  after- 
noon, returning  to  Osborne  just  as  the  setting  sun  illumines  with 
its  rosv  rays  the  Paladin  Towers  of  her  Majesty's  marine 
residence.  The  Queen  desires  to  live,  as  far  as  the  cares  of 
State  permit,  the  life  of  a  private  lady.  Her  Majesty  loves  the 
seclusion  of  this  lordly  estate,  and  here  at  Christmas  time  she 
enjoys  the  society  of  her  children  and  grandchildren,  who  meet 
together  as  less  exalted  families  do  at  this  merry  season  to 
reciprocate  the  same  homely  delights  as  those  which  are 
experienced    throughout    the    land. 

"  This  afternoon  a  pleasant  little  festivitv  has  been  celebrated 
at  Osborne  House,  where  her  Majesty,  with  an  ever-kindly 
interest  in  her  servants  and  dependants,  has  for  nianv  years 
inaugurated    Christmas  in  a  similar   way,  the  chiUhcn    of    her 


2^2  CHRISTMAS. 

tenantry  and  the  old  and  iniirm  enjoying  by  the  Royal  bounty 
the    first    taste    of   Christmas   fare."    The  Osborne  estate    now 
comprises  5,000  acres,  and    it    includes    the    Prince    Consort's 
model  farm.     The  children  of  the  labourers— who  are  housed 
in     excellent    cottages  — attend    the    Whippingham    National 
Schools,  a    pretty  block   of   buildings,  distant    one    mile    from 
Osborne.     About    half   the  number  of   scholars  live  upon  the 
Queen's    estate,   and,  in    accordance   with  annual   custom,  the 
mistresses  of  the  schools,  the  Misses  Thomas,  accompanied  by 
the  staff  of  teachers,  have  conducted  a  little  band  of  boys  and 
girls— fifty-four  in  all— to  the  house,  there  to   take  tea  and  to 
receive  the  customary  Christmas  gifts.     Until  very  recently  the 
Queen   herself  presided   at  the   distribution  ;  but"  the  Princess 
Beatrice  has  lately  relieved  her  mother  of  the  fatigue  involved  ; 
for  the  ceremony  is  no  mere  formality,  it  is  made  the  occasion 
of  many  a  kindly  word  the  remembrance  of  which  far  outlasts 
the  gifts.     All  sorts  of  rumours  are  current  on  the  estate  for 
weeks  before  this  Christmas  Eve  gathering  as  to  the  nature  of 
the  presents  to  be  bestowed,  for  no  one  is  supposed  to  know 
beforehand  what  they  will  be  ;  but  there  was  a  pretty  shrewd 
guess  to-day  that  the  boys  would  be  given  gloves,  and  the  girls 
cloaks.     In  some  cases  the  former  had  had  scarves  or  cloth  for 
suits,  and  the  latter  dresses  or  shawls.     Whatever  the  Christmas 
presents  may  be,  here  they  are,  arranged  upon  tables  in   two 
long  lines,  in  the  servants'  hall.     To  this  holly-decorated  apart- 
ment the  expectant  youngsters  are  brought,  and  their  delighted 
gaze  falls  upon  a  huge  Christmas-tree  laden  with  beautiful  toys. 
Everybody  knows  that  the  tree  will  be  there,  and  moreover  tliat 
its  summit  will  be  crowned  with   a  splendid  doll.     Now,  the 
ultimate  ownership  of  this  doll  is  a  matter  of  much  concern  ;  it 
needs  deliberation,  as  it  is  awarded  to  the  best  child,  and  the 
judges  are  the  children  themselves.     The  trophy  is  handed  to 
the  keeping  of  Miss  Thomas,  and  on  the  next   ist  of  May  the 
children  select  by  their  votes  the  most  popular  girl  in  the  school 
to  be  elected  May  Queen.     To  her  the  gift  goes,  and  no  fairer 
way  could  be  devised.     The  Princess  Beatrice  always  makes  a 
point  of  knowing  to  whom  the  prize  has  been  awarded.     Her 
Royal  Highness  is  so  constantly  a  visitor  to  the  cottagers  and  to 
the  school  that  she  has  many  an  inquiry  to  make  of  the  little 
ones  as  they  come  forward  to  receive  their  gifts. 

"The  girls  are  called  up  first  by  the  mistress,  and  Mr.  Andrew 
Blake,  the  steward,  introduces  each  child  to  the  Princess 
Beatrice,  to  whom  Mr.  Blake  hands  the  presents  that  her 
Royal  Highness  may  bestow  them  upon  the  recipients  with  a 
word  of  good  will,  which  makes  the  day  memorable.  Then  the 
boys  are  summoned  to  participate  in  the  distribution  of  good 
thmgs,  which,  it  should  be  explained,  consist  not  only  of 
seasonable  and  sensible  clothing,  but  toys  from  the  "tree, 
presented  by  the  Queen's  grandchildren,  who,  with  their 
parents,  grace  the  ceremony  with  their  presence  and  make  the 


MODERN   CHRISTMASES   AT   HOME.  263 

occasion  one  of  family  interest.  The  Ladies-in-Waitini^  also 
attend.  Each  boy  and  girl  gets  in  addition  a  nicelv-bound 
storv-book  and  a  large  slice  of  plnm  pndding  neatly  packed  in 
paper,  and  if  any  little  one  is  sick  at  home  its  portion  is 
carefully  reseryed.  But  the  hospitality  of  the  Queen  is  not 
limited  to  the  children.  On  alternate  years  the  old  men  and 
women  resident  on  the  estate  are  given,  under  the  same 
j-ileasant  auspices,  presents  of  blankets  or  clothing.  To-day  it 
was  the  turn  of  the  men,  and  they  received  tweed  for  suits. 
The  aged  people  have  their  pudding  as  well.  For  the  farm 
labourers  and  boys,  who  are  not  bidden  to  this  entertainment, 
there  is  a  distribution  of  tickets,  each  representing  a  goodly 
joint  of  beef  for  the  Christmas  dinner.  The  festivity  this  after- 
noon was  brought  to  a  close  by  the  children  singing  the 
National  Anthem  in  the  courtyard. 

"  The  Queen  is  accustomed  to  spend  Christmas  Day  very 
quietly,  attending  service  at  the  Chapel  at  Osborne  in  the 
morning,  and  in  the  evening  the  Royal  family  meeting  at  dinner. 
There  are  Christmas  trees  for  the  children,  and  for  the  servants 
too,  but  the  houshold  reserves  its  principal  festivity  for  the  New 
Year — a  day  which  is  specially  set  aside  for  their  entertain- 
ment." 

The  Christmas  Ff.stivitiks  at  Saxdrixgham 

are  observed  with  generous  hospitality  by  their  Royal  High- 
nesses the  Prince  and  Princess  of  Wales,  who  take  special 
interest  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  tenants,  and  also  remember 
the  poor.  A  time-honoured  custom  on  Christmas  Eve  is  the 
distribution  of  prime  joints  of  meat  to  the  labourers  employed 
on  the  Royal  estate,  and  to  the  poor  of  the  live  parishes  of 
Sandringham,  West  Newton,  Babinglev,  Dersingham,  and  Wol- 
ferton.  From  twelve  to  iifteen  hundred  pounds  of  meat  are 
usually  distributed,  and  such  other  gifts  are  made  as  the  incle- 
mency of  the  season  and  the  necessities  of  the  poor  require. 
In  Sandringham  ''  Past  and  Present,"  1888,  Mrs.  Herbert  Jones 
says  : — "  Sandringham,  which  is  the  centre  of  a  generous  hospi- 
tality, has  not  only  been  in  every  way  raised,  benelited,  and 
enriched  since  it  passed  into  the  royal  hands,  which  may  be 
said  to  have  created  it  afresh,  but  rests  under  the  happy  glow 
shed  (H'er  it  by  the  preference  of  a  princess 

"  '  Whose  peerless  feature  joined  with  her  hirth, 
Approve  her  fit  for  none  hut  for  a  king.' 

Shakespeare's  Henry  7Y." 

Thk    Christmas  Gf.xerosity  of  thf   lath   Dukf   of 
Edixburgh. 

In  a  letter  to  the  press  a  lieutenant  of  Marines  makes  the 
following  reference  to  a  Christmas  entertainment  given  by 
H.R.H.  the  Duke  of  Edinburgh,  in  1886  :  "Last  night  a  large 


2^H  CHRISTMAS. 

party  consisting  of  many  officers  of  the  Fleet,  including  all  the 

old  ships     of  the  Duke,  and  three  or  four  midshipmen  from 

every  ship  m  the   Fleet,   were  invited   to  a  Christmas-tree  at 

t.J?''''  ,f  f;  ^"  ^^'^  ^"""^""^^  °^"  ^^^^  evening  two  lotteries 
weie  drawn  all  the  numbers  being  prizes,  each  guest  conse- 
quently gettmg  two.  I  have  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing 
many  of  these,  and  they  are  all  most  beautiful  and  useful  objects 
rangmg  m  value  from  five  shillings  to  perhaps  three  or"  four 
pounds.  I  should  think  that  at  least  half  the  prizes  I  have  seen 
were  worth  over  one  pound." 

Other  Seasonable  Hospitaeity  and  Benevolence. 

The  good  example  set  by  royalty  is  followed  throughout  the 
land,  f-riendly  hospitalities  are  general  at  Christmastide,  and 
m  London  and  other  large  centres  of  population  many  thou- 
sands of  poor  people  are  provided  with  free  breakfasts,  dinners 
teas,  and  suppers  on  Christmas  Day,  public  halls  and  school- 
rooms being  utilised  for  purposes  of  entertainment  ;  children 
m  hospitals  are  plentifully  supplied  with  toys,  and  Christmas 
parties  are  also  given  to  the  poor  at  the  private  residences  of 
benevolent  people.  As  an  illustrative  instance  of  generous 
Christmas  hospitality  by  a  landowner  we  cite  the  following:— 

Christmas  Dlnner  to  Five  Thousand  Poor. 

On  Christmas  Eve,  1887,  Sir  Watkin  Williams  Wynn,  Bart 
the  largest  landowner  in  the  Principality  of  Wales,  gave  his 
annual  Christmas  gifts  to  the  aged  and  deserving  poor  through"- 
out  the  extensive  mining  districts  of  Ruabon,  Rhosllanerchrugoo- 
Cern,    and    Rhosymedre,    Denbighshire,  where    much    dish-e?s 
prevailed  in  consequence  of  the  depression  in  trade      Several 
fine  oxen  were  slain  in  Wynnstay  Park,  and  the  beef  was  dis- 
tributed  m  pieces  ranging  from  41b.   to  ylb.,  according  to  the 
number  of  members  in  each  family.     A  Christmas  dinner  Mas 
thus    provided    or  upwards  of  5,000  persons.     In  addition  to 
this,  Lady    Williams  Wynn    provided    thousands   of    yards    of 
flannel  and  cloth  l^or  clothing,  together  with  a  large  number  of 
blankets,  the  aged  men  and  women   also   receiving  a  shilling 
with  the  gift.      The  hon.  baronet  had  also  erected  an  elaborat'e 
spacious  hospital    to    the    memory    of    his    uncle,  the   late   Sir 
Watkin  Williams  Wynn,  M.P.,  and  presented  it  to  the  parish. 

Distributions  of  Christmas  Fare  to  the  Poor 

are  liberally  niade  from  various  centres  in  different  parts  of 
London  and  thus  many  thousands  of  those  who  have  fallen 
below  the  poverty  line  share  in  the  festivities  of  Christmastide 
This  illus  ration  of  Christian  caterers  dispensing  creature 
comforts  to  the  poor  children  may  be  taken  as  representative 
ot  many  such  Christmas  scenes   in  the  metropolis.     For  over 


MODERX   CHRISTMASES  AT   HOME. 


265 


forty  years    the   St.  Giles'   Christian    Mission,    now    under    the 
superintendence  of  Mr.  \\\  M.  Wheatley,  has  been  exercising 


rOOR   CHILDREN'S   TREAT    IN    MODERN    TIMES. 


a  beneiicial  influence  among  the  needy  poor,  and,  it  is  stated, 
that  at  least  104,000  people  have  through  this  Mission  been 
enabled  to  make  a  fresh  start  in  life.  Many  other  Church 
Missions  are  doing  similar  work.  In  addition  to  treats  to  poor 
children  and  aged  people  at  Christmastide,  there  are  also  great 
distributions  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  the 
recipients  had  nearly  reached  her  102nd  year.  She  was  born 
in  Hampshire,  and  down  to  a  very  recent  period  had  been  able 
to  do  needlework. 

In  many  cities  and  towns  Christmas  gifts  are  distributed  on 
St.  Thomas's  Day,  and  as  an  example  we  cite  the  Brighton 
distribution  in  1886,  on  which  occasion  the  Brighton  Police 
Court  was  tilled  by  a  congregation  of  some  of  the  "oldest 
inhabitants."  And  there  was  a  distribution  from  the  magistrates' 
poor-box  of  a  Christmas  gift  of  half  a  sovereign  to  150  of  the 
aged  poor  whose  claims  to  the  bounty  had  been  inquired  into 
by  the  police.  Formerly  100  used  to  be  cheered  in  this  way, 
but  the  contributions  to  the  box  this  year  enabled  a  wider  circle 
to  share  in  the  dole.  There  was  a  wonderful  collection  of  old 
people,  for  the  average  age  was  over  83  years.  The  oldest  was 
u  venerable  widow,  who  confessed  to  being  96  years  old,  the 


266  CHRISTMAS. 

next  was  another  lady  of  94  years,  and  then    came  two  old 
tellows  who  had   each    attained   93    years.     Many  of   the    re- 
cipients were  too  inhrm  to  appear,  but  the  oldest  of  them  all 
the  lady  of  96  came  into  court  despite  the  sharpness  of  the 
wind  and  the  frozen  roads. 

The  Christmas  at  Belvoir  Castle, 

kept  with  generous  liberality  by  the  Duke  of  Rutland,  in  i88s 
may  be  cited  as  an  example  of  Christmas  customs  continued  hy 
the  head  of  a  noble  house  : 

"The  usual  Christmas  gifts  were  given  to  the  poor  of  Knipton 
Uoolsthorpe,  and  Redmile— nearly  two  hundred  in  number—- 
consisting  of  calico,   flannel    dresses,  stockings,  and    handker- 
chiefs, each  person  at  the  same  time  receiving  a  loaf  of  bread 
and   a   pint  of   ale.      Twenty-one    bales  of   goods,  containing 
counterpanes,  blankets,  and  sheets,  were  also  sent  to  the  clerg? 
of  as  many  different  villages  for  distribution  amongst  the  poor 
Ihe  servants  at  the  Castle  and  workmen  of  the  establishment 
had  their.  Christmas  dinner,  tea,  and  supper,  the  servants'  hall 
having  been   beautifully  decorated.     At  one  end  of  the  room 
was  a  coronet,  with  the  letter  '  R ' ;  and  at  the  opposite  end 
iree  coronets,  with  the  'peacock  in  pride,'  being  the  crest  of 
the   Rutland  family.     The  following  mottoes,  in  large  letters 
were  conspicuous,    'Long   live  the  Duke  of    Rutland,'    '  Lonc^ 
live  Lord  and  Lady  John  Manners  and  family,'  and  '  A  Merry 
Christmas  to  you  all.'      These  were  enclosed" in  a  neat  border 
bvom  the  top   of  the  room   were  suspended  long  festoons  of 
linked  ribbons  of  red,   white,   blue,   and  orant^e.     All  present 
thoroughly  enjoyed  themselves,  as  it  was  the  wish  of  his  Grace 
they  should  do." 

Similar  hospitalities    are   dispensed   by   other  noblemen   and 
gentlemen  m  different  parts  of  the  country  at  Christmas. 

The  lordly  hospitality  of  Lincolnshire  is  depicted  in 
"  The  Baron's  Yule  Feast  : 

A  Christmas  Rhyme  ;  by  Thomas  Cooper,  the  Chartist  "  (1846)  • 
which  IS  inscribed  to  the  Countess  of  Blessin^ton,  and  in  the 
advertisement  the  author  offers  "but  one  apoioi^y  for  the  pro- 
duction of  a  metrical  essay,  composed  chiefly  of  ^imperfect  and 
immature  pieces  :  The  ambition  to  contribute  towards  the  fund 
of  Christmas  entertainment."  The  scene  of  the  Baron's  Yule 
t-east  IS  depicted  in  Torksey's  Hall,  Torksey  being  one  of  the 
hrst  towns  in  Lincolnshire  in  the  Saxon  period.  '  After  some 
introductory  verses  the  writer  says  : 

It  is  the  season  when  our  sires 

Kept  jocund  holiday  ; 
And,  now,  around  our  charier  fires, 

Old  Vule  shall  have  a  lay  :— 


MODERN   CHRfSTMASES   AT   HOME.  267 

A  prisnn-liard  is  once  more  free  ; 
And,  ere  he  yields  his  voice  to  thee, 
His  song  a  merry-song  shall  be  ! 

Sir  Wilfrid  de  Thorold  freely  holds 

What  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  wnlds 

From  marish,  heath,  and  nioor,- 

To  feast  in  his  hall 

Both  free  and  thrall. 

Shall  come  as  they  came  of  yore. 


Now  merrily  ring  the  lady-bells 

Of  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  chime 

And  the  great  bell  loud  and  deep  :  — 
Say  the  gossips,  '  Let's  talk  of  the  holy  time 

When  the  shepherds  watched  their  sheep ; 
And  the  Babe  was  born  for  all  souls'  crime 

In  the  weakness  of  flesh  to  weep.' — 
But,  anon,  shrills  the  pipe  of  the  merry  mime 

And  their  simple  hearts  upleap. 

'  God  save  your  souls,  good  Christian  folk  I 
God  save  your  souls  from  sin  I — 

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  play 
Who  ever  saith  to  her  lover,  '  Nay  ' — 
When  he  sues  for  a  lover's  boon. 

While  Hoi)  the  smith  with  sturdy  arm 

Circleth  the  feigned  maid  ; 
And,  spite  of  Jack's  assumed  alarm, 
Busseth  his  lips,  like  a  lover  warm, 

And  will  not  '  Nay'  be  said. 

Then  lofife  the  gossips,  as  if  wit 

Were  mingled  with  the  joke  : 
Gentles, — they  were  with  folly  smit, — 
Natheless,  their  memories  acquit 

Of  crime — these  simple  folk  1 

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  I 

Come  haste  ye  to  bold  Thorold's  hall. 

And  crowd  his  kitchen  wide  ; 
For  there,  he  saith,  Ixith  free  and  thrall 

Shall  sport  this  good  Vule-tide," 


268  CHRISTMAS. 

In  subsequent  verses  the  writer  depicts  the  bruioinu-  ni  of  the 
yule  lo^-  to  the  Baron's  Hall, 

"  Where  its  brave  old  heart 
A  glow  shall  impart 
To  the  heart  of  each  guest  at  the  festival. 

^  They  pile  the  "\'ule-log  on  the  hearth,— 

Soak  toasted  crabs  in  ale  ; 
And  while  they  sip,  their  homely  mirth 
Is  joyous  as  if  all  the  earth 

For  man  were  void  of  hale  I 

And  why  should  fears  for  future  years, 
-Mix  jolly  ale  with  thoughts  of  tears 

When  in  the  horn  'tis  poured  ? 
And  why  should  ghost  of  sorrow  fright 
The  bcjid  heart  of  an  English  knight 

When  lieef  is  on  the  hoard  ? 

De  Thorold's  guests  are  wiser  than 

The  men  of  mopish  lore  ; 
For  round  they  push  the  smiling  can 

And  slice  the  plattered  store." 

And  round  they  thrust  the  jionderous  cheese, 

And  the  loaves  of  wheat  and  rye  : 
None  stinteth  him  for  lack  of  ease— 
For  each  a  stintless  welcome  sees 

In  the  Baron's  blythesome  eye. 

The  Baron  joineth  the  joyous  feast — 

But  not  in  pomp  or  pride  ; 
He  smileth  on  the  humblest  guest 
So  gladsomely— all  feel  that  rest 

Of  heart  which  doth  abide 
Where  deeds  of  generousness  attest 
The  welcome  of  the  tongue  professed 

Is  not  within  belied." 

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

"  So  rare  and  gentle,  that  the  hall 
Rings  with  applause  which  one  and  all 
Render  who  share  the  festival.'' 


Soine  of  the  poets  of  this  period  have  dealt  playfully  with  the 
est.vities  of  Chnstmastide,  as,  for  example,  Laman  i31anchard 
(164^)  in  the  following  ehusion  : — 


MODERN  CHRISTMASES   AT  HOME.  269 

CHRISTMAS  CHIT-CHAT. 

In   a   Large   Family   Circle. 

"The  day  of  all  days  we  have  seen 

Is  Christmas,"  said  Sue  to  Eugene; 

"  More  welcome  in  village  and  city 

Than  Mayday,"  said  Andrew  to  Kitty. 

"  Why  '  Mistletoe's'  twenty  times  sweeter 

Than  '  May,'"  said  Matilda  to  I'eter  ; 

"  And  so  you  will  find  it,  if  I'm  a 

True  prophet,"  said  James  to  Jemima. 

"  ril  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  ; 

"  Ves,  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  on 

Hefore  dinner,"  said  Martha  to  John. 

"  Vou"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  1  "  said — displaying  his  leg — 

George  Frederick  Augustus  to  Teg. 

"  At  Christmas  refinement  is  all  fuss 

And  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  dilemma 

Needs  '  bishop,'  "  said  Alfred  to  Emma  ; 

"  What  fun  when  with  fear  a  stout  crony 

Turns  pale,"  said  Maria  to  Tony  ; 

"  And  Hector,  unable  to  rally. 

Runs  screaming,"  said  Jacob  to  Sally. 

"  While  you  and  I  dance  in  the  dark 

The  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  a 

Heart'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  chalice 

Six  times,"  said  fond  Edmund  to  Alice. 

"  We  are  going  home  tealess  and  coffeeless 

Shabby  !  "  said  Soph  to  Theophilus  ; 

"  To  meet  again  under  the  holly, 

Ei  cefera,"  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  1 


270 


CHRISTMAS, 


Christmas  Eve,  1849, 

is  the  tiine  of  Robert  Browiiin-'s  heautitL.l  poem  of  "  Christmas 
Eve  and  Easter  Day,"  in  which  the  poet  sings  the  son^  of  man's 
mimortahty,  proekuming,  as  Easter  Day  breaks  and  Christ  rises, 


"  Mercy  every  way  is  infinite. 


.T^cy'^^^^Ai^-^^tf  .**■' 


And,  in  his  beantiful  poem  of  "  In  Memoriam,"  Lord  Tennyson 
associates  some  of  his  hnest  verses  with  the  ringing  of 

The  Christmas  Bells. 

"  Ring  out,  wild  bells,  to  the  wild  sky, 
The  flying  cloud,  the  frosty  light : 
The  year  is  dying  in  the  night  ; 
King  out,  wild  bells,  and  let  hiui  die. 

Ring  out  the  old,  ring  in  the  new. 

Ring,  happy  bells,  across  the  snow  : 

The  year  is  going,  let  him  go  ; 
Ring  out  the  false,  ring  in  the  true. 


Rnig  out  old  shapes  of  foul  disease  ; 
Ring  out  the  narrowing  lust  of  gold 
Ring  out  the  thousand  wars  of  old. 

Ring  in  the  thousand  years  of  peace. 

King  in  the  \aliant  man  and  free, 
The  larger  heart,  the  kindlier  hand  ; 
Ring  out  the  darkness  of  the  land, 

Rmg  in  the  Christ  that  is  to  be." 


MOD£RX  CHRISTMASES  AT  HOME. 


271 


/Mv'X 


IllE   CHRISTMAS    lihl.l.>. 

As  the  poet  Lont^fellow  stood  on  the  lofty  tower  of  Bruges 
Cathedral  the  belfry  chimes  set  hiiu  musing,  and  of  those 
chimes  he  says  : 

"  Then  most  musical  and  solemn,  brinLjing  hack  the  oklcn  limes. 
With  their  strange,  unearthly  changes,  rang  the  melanchuly  chimes. 
Like  the  psalms  from  some  old  cloister,  when  the  muis  sing  in  the  chi)ir  ; 
And  the  great  bell  tolled  among  them,  like  the  chanting  of  a  friar. 
Visions  of  the  days  departed,  shadowy  phantoms  filled  my  brain  : 
They  who  live  in  history  only  seemed  to  walk  the  earth  again.'' 

Christmas  and  New  Year  Cards 

were  lirst  circulated  in  England  in  1846.  That  year  not  more 
than  a  thousand  copies  were  printed,  and  that  was  considered  a 
large  sale.  The  numbers  distributed  annually  soon  increased  to 
tens  and  hundreds  of  thousands,  and  now  there  are  millions  of 


J72 


CHRISTMAS. 


them.  Ml.  J.  C.  Hoi-sley,  a  member  of  the  Royal  Academv, 
designed  this  hrst  card  which  was  sent  out  in  1846  It  repre- 
sents a  family  party  of  three  generations-orandfather  and 
grandmother,  father  and  mother,  and  little  children— and  all 
are  supposed  to  be  joining  in  the  sentiment,  "A  Merry  Christ- 
mas and  a  Happy  New  Year  to  you."  The  card  was  issued 
from  the  olhce  of  one  of  the  periodicals  of  the  time,  Felix 
Summerky  s  Home  Treasury.  It  was  hrst  lithographed,  and 
then  it  was  coloured  by  hand. 

Christmas  and  New-  Year  Cards  became  very  popular  m  the 
decade  1870-1880.  But  then,  however,  simple  cards  alone  did 
not  suffice.  Like  many  other  things,  they  felt  the  inHuence  of 
the  latter-day  renaissance  of  art,  and  by  a  sort  of  evolutionary 
process  developed  cards  monochrome  and  coloured,  "  Christmas 
Bell  cards,  palettes,  scrolls,  circular  and  oval  panels,  stars,  fans 
crescents,  and  other  shaped  novelties  ;  embossed  cards  the 
iridescent  series,  the  rustic  and  frosted  cards,  the  foldim;-  series 
the  jewel  cards,  the  crayons,  and  private  cards  on  which  the 
sender  s  name  and  sentiments  are  printed  in  gold,  silver  or 
colours  ;  hand-painted  cards  with  landscapes,  seascapes,  and 
fioral  decorations  ;  paintings  on  porcelain  ;  satin  cards,  fringed 
silk  plush  Broche,  and  other  artistically  made-up  novelties  ; 
art-gem  panels  ;  elaborate  booklets,  and  other  elerant 
souvenirs  of  the  festive  season.  Many  of  the  Christmas  booklets 
are    beautifully    illustrated    editions    of    popular    poems    and 

Cell  OlS. 

"Quartette  "  cards,  "  Snap  "  cards,  and  other  cards  of  -ames 
tor  the  diversion  of  social  gatherings  are  also  extensively  used 
at  Christmastide.  ^ 


Rustic  Christmas  Masque. 

In  compliance  with  a  wish  expressed  by  the  Ladv  Londes- 
borough,  a  Masque,  entitled,  "  Recollections  of  Old  Christmas  " 
was  performed  at  Grimston  at  Christmas,  1850,  the  following 
prologue  being  contributed  by  Barry  Cornwall  •— 


MODERN   CHRISTMASES  AT  HOME. 


273 


When  winter  nights  grow  long, 

And  winds  without  blow  cold, 
We  sit  in  a  ring  round  the  warm  wood-lire, 

And  listen  to  stories  old  I 
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, 
(jreen  branches'of  holly  for  Christmas  time  ! 
O  the  holly,  the  bright  green  holly  ! 
It  tells  (like  a  tongue)  that  the  limes  are  jolly  I 

Sometimes — (in  our  grave  house 
Observe  this  happeneth  not  ;) 

])Ul  at  times,  the  evergreen  laurel  boughs, 
And  the  holly  are  all  forgot  I 

And  then  I  what  then?     Why  the  men  laugh  low. 

And  hang  up  a  branch  of — the  misletoe  I 

Oh,  brave  is  the  laurel !  and  brave  is  the  holly 
Hut  the  misletoe  banisheth  melancholy  ! 

Ah,  n(il)ody  knows,  nor  ever  s/ia/ZVinnw, 

What  is  done  under  the  misletoe  I  " 


A  printed  copy  of  the  Masque,  which  bears  date,  "  Tuesday, 
XXIV  December,  MDCCCL./'  is  preserved  in  the  British 
Museum. 


CHARACTERS 

(Which  speak) 


Old  P\ather  Christmas 
Young  Grimston 
Baron  of  Beef    . . . 
Plum-Pudding  ... 
Mince-Pie 
Wassail- Bowl    ... 


Hon.  Mr.  Thelluson 
Hon.  Mr.  Denison 
Hon.  Miss  Thelluson 
Hon.  Miss  Denison 
Hon.  Miss  Selina  Denison 
Hon.  Miss  Isabella  Denison 


"CHARACTERS 

(Which  do  not  speak,  or  say  as  little  as  possible — all  that  they  are  requested 

to  do) 
Ursa  Minor        ...  ...  ...  ...      Hon.  Miss  Ursula  Denison 

Baby  Cake  ...  ...  ...  ...      Hon.  Henry  Charles  Deni.son." 


19 


274  CHRISTMAS. 

Under  the  Holly  Bough. 

Ye  who  have  scorn'd  each  other 
Or  injured  friend  or  Ijrother, 

In  this  fast  fading  year  ; 
Ve  who,  by  word  or  deed, 
Have  made  a  kind  heart  l)leed, 

Come  gather  here. 
Let  sinn'd  against  and  sinning, 
Forget  their  strife's  beginning  ; 
Be  Hnks  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  ; 
And  let  your  hearts  grow  fonder, 
As  memory  shall  ponder 

Each  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  mind 
Made  aliens  from  your  kind, 

Come  gather  here. 
Let  not  the  useless  sorrow 
Pursue  you  night  and  morrow, 

If  e'er  you  hoped — hope  now — 
Take  heart :  uncloud  your  faces, 
And  join  in  our  embraces 

Under  the  holly  bough. 

Charles  Mac/cay,  LL.D. 

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

Ghost  Stories. 

Everybody  knows  that  Christmas  is  the  time  for  ghost  stories 
and  that  Charles  Dickens  and  other  writers  have  supplied  us 
with  tales  of  the  true  blood-curdling  tvpe.  Thomas  Hood's 
"  Haunted  House,"  S.  T.  Coleridge's  "  Ancient  Mariner  "  and 
some  other  weird  works  of  poetry  have  also  been  found  service- 
able in  producing  that  strange  chill  of  the  blood,  that  creeping 
kind  of  feeling  all  over  you,  which  is  one  of  the  enjoyments  of 
Chnstmastide.  Coleridge  (says  the  late  Mr.  George  Dawson)  ' 
''  holds  the  first  place  amongst  English  poets  in  this  objective 
teaching  of  the  vague,  the  mystic,  the  dreamy,  and  the  iniagina- 

'   ''  Biographical  Lectures." 


MODERN   CHRISTMASES   AT   HOME.  275 

tive.  I  defy  any  man  of  imati,inati()ii  or  sensibility  to  have  '  The 
Ancient  Mariner  '  read  to  him,  by  the  flickering  tireHght  on 
Christmas  night,  by  a  master  mind  possessed  by  the  mystic 
spirit  of  the  poem,  and  not  hnd  himseh'  taken  away  fi"om  the 
good  regions  of  '  abiUty  to  acconnt  for,'  and  taken  into  some  far- 
off  dreamland,  and  made  even  to  start  at  his  own  footfall,  and 
almost  to  shndder  at  his  own  shadow.  You  shall  sit  round  the 
hre  at  Christmas  time,  good  men  and  true  every  one  of  you  ; 
you  shall  come  there  armed  with  your  patent  philosophy  ;  that 
creak  you  have  heard,  it  is  only  the  door — the  list  is  not  care- 
fully put  roimd  the  door,  and  it  is  the  wintry  wind  that  whistles 
through  the  crevices.  Ghosts  and  spectres  belong. to  the  olden 
times  ;  science  has  waved  its  wand  and  laid  them  all.  We  have 
no  superstition  about  us  ;  we  walk  enlightened  nineteenth-cen- 
tury men  ;  it  is  quite  beneath  us  to  be  superstitious.  By  and 
bye,  one  begins  to  tell  tales  of  ghosts  and  spirits  ;  and  another 
begins,  and  it  goes  all  round  ;  and  there  comes  over  you  a 
curious  feeling — a  very  unphilosophical  feeling,  in  fact,  because 
the  pulsations  of  air  from  the  tongue  of  the  storyteller  ought  not 
to  bring  over  you  that  peculiar  feeling.  You  have  only  heard 
words,  tales — confessedly  by  the  storyteller  himself  only  tales, 
such  as  may  figure  in  the  next  monthly  magazine  for  pure 
entertainment  and  amusement.  But  why  do  you  feel  so,  then  ? 
If  you  say  that  these  things  are  mere  hallucinations,  vague  air- 
beating  or  tale-telling,  why,  good  philosopher,  do  you  feel  so 
curious,  so  all-overish,  as  it  were  ?  Again,  you  are  a  man 
without  the  least  terror  in  you,  as  brave  and  bold  a  man  as 
ever  stepped  :  living  man  cannot  frighten  vou,  and  verily  the 
dead  rise  not  with  ^'ou.  But  you  are  brought,  towards  midnight, 
to  the  stile  over  which  is  gained  a  view  of  the  village  church- 
yard, where  sleep  the  dead  in  quietness.  Your  manhood  begins 
just  to  ooze  away  a  little  ;  you  are  caught  occasionally  whistling 
to  keep  your  courage  up  ;  you  do  not  expect  to  see  a  ghost,  but 
you  are  ready  to  see  one,  or  to  make  one."  At  such  a  moment, 
think  of  the  scene  depicted  by  Coleridge  : — 

"  'Twas  night,  calm  night,  the  iiiodn  was  liigh  ; 
The  dead  men  stood  together. 

All  stood  together  on  the  deck, 

For  a  charnel-dungeon  fitter  : 
All  fixed  on  me  their  stony  eyes, 

That  in  the  moon  did  glitter. 

The  pang,  the  curse,  with  which  they  died. 

Had  never  passed  away  : 
I  could  not  draw  my  eyes  from  theirs, 

Nor  turn  them  up  to  pray."' 

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

"  Angels  and  ministers  of  grace,  defend  us  !  " 


276 


CHRISTMAS. 


"In  the  year  142 1,  the  widow  of  Ralph  Cranbourne,  of 
Dipmore  End,  in  the  parish  of  Sandhnrst,  Berks,  was  one 
midnight  alarmed  by  a  noise  in  her  bedchamber,  and,  looking 
up,  she  saw  at  her  bedfoot  the  appearance  of  a  skeleton  (which 
she  verily  believed  was  her  husband)  nodding  and  talking  to  her 
upon  its  fingers,  or  linger  bones,  after  the  manner  of  a  dumb 
person.  Whereupon  she  was  so  terrified,  that  after  striving  to 
scream  aloud,  which  she  could  not,  for  her  tongue  clave  to  her 
mouth,  she  fell  backward  as  in  a  swoon  ;  yet  not  so  insensible 
withal  but  she  could  see  that  at  this  the  iigure  became  greatly 
agitated  and  distressed,  and  would  have  clasped  her,  but  upon 
her  appearance  of  loathing  it  desisted,  only  moving  its  jaw- 
upward  and  downward,  as  if  it  would  cry  for  help  but  could 
not  for  want  of  its  parts  of  speech.  At 'length,  she  growing 
more  and  more  faint,  and  likely  to  die  of  fear,  the  "spectre 
suddenly,  as  if  at  a  thought,  began  to  swing  round  its  hand, 
which  w^as  loose  at  the  wrist,  with  a  brisk  motion,  and  the 
finger  bones  being  long  and  hard,  and  striking  sharply  against 
each  other,  made  a  loud  noise  like  to  the  springing  of  a  watch- 
man's rattle.  At  which  alarm,  the  neighbours  running  in,  stoutly 
armed,  as  against  thieves  or  murderers,  the  specti-e  suddenly 
departed."  ^ 

"  His  shoes  they  were  coffins,  his  dim  eye  reveal 'd 

The  gleam  of  a  grave-lamp  with  vapours  oppress'd  ; 

And  a  dark  crimson  necklace  of  blood-drops  congeal'd 

Reflected  each  bone  that  jagg'd  out  of  his  breast."  = 


Welcome  to  Christmas. 
By  Mary  Howitt. 

He  comes— the  brave  old  Christmas  ! 

His  sturdy  steps  I  hear  ; 
We  will  give  him  a  hearty  welcome, 

P'or  he  comes  but  once  a  year  ! 


'  "  History  of  Iknks,"  vol,  xxv. 


"  Grim,  King  of  the  Ghosts, 


MODERN   CHRISTMASES   AT   HOME.  277 

And  of  all  our  old  ac(|vuunlancc 

'Tis  he  we  like  ihe  hest  ; 
There's  a  jolly  old  way  about  him— 

There's  a  warm  heart  in  his  breast. 

lie  is  not  too  proud  to  enter 

Your  house  though  it  be  mean ; 
Vet  is  company  fit  for  a  courtier, 

And  is  welcomed  by  the  (^neen  I 

He  can  tell  )'ou  a  hundred  stories 

Of  the  Old  World's  whims  and  ways, 
And  how  they  merrily  wish'd  him  joy 

In  our  fathers'  courting  days. 

/  He  laughs  with  the  heartiest  laughter 
[        That  does  one  good  to  hear  ; 
'Tis  a  pity  so  brave  an  old  fellow 
Should  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  actitjns, 

And  plenty  of  warm  good-will  ; 
With  our  hearts  as  full  of  kindness 

As  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  1 

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  thai  with  wonderful  presents 
^    His  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  I 

He  hales  to  hoard  his  pelf ; 
He  wishes  to  make  all  people 

As  gay  as  he  is  himself. 


27^  CHRISTMAS. 

So  he  goes  to  the  parish  unions- 
North,  south,  and  west  and  east — 

And  there  he  gives  the  paupers, 
Al  his  own  expense  a  feast. 

■    He  gives  the  old  men  tobacco, 

And  the  women  a  cup  of  tea  ; 
.     And  he  takes  the  pauper  cliildren, 
And  dances  them  on  his  knee. 

I  wish  you  could  see  those  paupers 

Sit  down  to  his  noble  cheer, 
You  would  wish,  like  them,  and  no  wonder, 

That  he  stayVl  the  livelong  year. 

Yes,  he  is  the  best  old  fellow 

That  ever  on  earth  you  met  ; 
And  he  gave  us  a  boon  when  first  he  came 

Which  we  can  never  forget. 

So  we  will  give  him  a  welcome 

Shall  gladden  his  old  heart's  core  ! 
And  let  us  in  good  and  gracious  deeds 
Resemble  him  more  and  more  I 
December  21,1 850. 

Wassailing  the  Apple-tkkes. 
Writing  on  this  subject,  in  the  Anliqiiarx,  March,  189s  Alr 
Harry  Hems,  of  Exeter,  introduces  the  reduced  copy^of  an 
illustration  which  appears  on  the  following  page,  and  which 
he  states  was  pubhshed  in  the  lUustmtcd  London  Neivs,  Tanuarv 
II,   1851. 

The  picture  (says  Mr.  Hems)  "  presents,  as  will  be  seen  a 
frosty,  moDiihght  night,  with  a  brilliantly-lit  old  farmhouse '111 
the  background.  In  the  fore  are  leafless  fruit-trees,  and  three 
men  hring  guns  at  them,  whilst  the  jovial  farmer  and  another 
man  drmk  success  to  the  year's  crop  from  glasses  evidently  hlled 
from  a  jug  of  cider,  which  the  latter  also  holds  a-high.  A  crowd 
of  peasants— men,  women  and  children— are  gathered  around 

and  the  following  description  is  appended  : "  ' 

Amongst  the  scenes  of  jocund  hospitality  in  this  holiday 
season,  that  are  handed  down  to  us,  is  one\vhich  not  only 
presents  an  enlivening  picture,  but  offers  proof  of  the  supersti- 
tion that  still  jM-evails  in  the  Western  counties.  On  Twelfth- 
even,  in  Devonshire,  it  is  customary  for  the  farmer  to  leave  his 
warm  hreside,  accompanied  by  a  band  of  rustics,  with  guns, 
blunderbusses,  &c.,  presenting  an  appearance  which  at  other 
tmies  would  be  somewhat  alarming.  Thus  armed,  the  band 
proceeds  to  an  adjoining  orchard,  where  is  selected  one  of  the 
most  fruitful  and  aged  of  the  apple-tiees,  grouping  round  which 
they  stand  and  offer  up  their  invocations  in  the  following  quaint 
doggerel  rhyme  : — 

"  '  Here's  to  thee, 
Old  apple-tree  ! 
Whence  thou  mayst  bud. 
And  whence  thou  mayst  blow, 


MODERN  CHRISTMASES  AT   HOME.  279 

.  And  whence  ihuu  niuysl  bear 

Apples  enow  : 

Hals  full, 

Caps  full, 
Bushels,  bushels,  sacks  full, 
,Vnd  my  pockets  full  loo  ! 

Huzza  I  huzza  I  ' 

The  cidci-jii^i;  is  ihcir  passed  round,  and,  with  many  a  hearty 
shout,  the  party  tire  off  their  ^uns,  charged  with  powder  only, 
amidst  the  branches,  sometimes  frightening  the  owl  from  its 
midnight  haunt.  With  conlident  hopes  they  return  to  the 
farmhouse,  and  are  refused  admittance,  in  spite  of  all  weather, 


WASSAII.INd     IIIIO    AI'I'I.E-TREES    l.\    DEVONSHIRE. 

till  some  lucky  wight  guesses  aright  the  pecnliar  roast  the 
maidens  are  preparing  for  their  comfort.  This  done,  all  enter, 
and  soon  right  merrily  the  jovial  glass  goes  round,  that  man  who 
gained  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  be 
one  of  great  antiquity. 

"'The  illustration  is  from  a  sketch  by  Mr.  Colebrooke, 
Stockdale.'  '"  . 

We  may  add  that,  in  the  seventeenth  century,  a  similar 
custom  seems  to  have  been  observed  in  some  places  on  Christ- 
mas Eve,  for  in  Herrick's  Hespcrides  the  wassailing  of  fruit  trees 
is  among  the  Christmas  Eve  ceremonies  : — 


-^°  CHRISTMAS. 

"  Wassail  the  trees,  lliat  they  may  beaie 
^■()u  man)'  a  phim,  and  many  a  peare  ; 
For  mure  or  less  fruits  they  will  bring, 
As  you  do  give  them  wassailing. " 

Christmas  Mokxixg  ix  Exeter  Cathedral. 

\ynting  from  Exeter,  in  1852.  a  correspondent  says  "the 
custom  of  welcoming  this  season  of  holy  joy  ^yith  '  psalms  and 
hymns  and  spn-itual  songs'  lingers  in  "the  cathedral  city  of 
Exeter;  where,  during  Christmas  Eve,  the  parish  clion-s 
perambulate  the  streets  singing  anthems,  with  instrumental 
accompannnents.  The  smgmg  is  protracted  through  the  night, 
when  the  celebration  often  assumes  a  more  secular  character 
than  IS  strictly  in  accordance  with  the  festival.  A  more  sacred 
commemoration  is,  however,  at  hand. 

"At  a  quarter-past  seven  o'clock  on  Christmas  mornin- the 
assemblage  of  persons  in  the  naye  of  Exeter  Cathedral  is  usually 
very  numerous  :  there  are  the  remnants  of  the  previous  vigil 
with  unwashed  faces  and  sleepy  eyes  ;  but  a  large  number  are 
early  risers,  who  have  left  their  beds  for  better  purposes  than  a 

"S  \  u,  '^^  'f  ''  ^''^""^  "'"'^^''  of  t^^e  choir,  and  the  fine  Old 
Hundredth  Psalm  is  sung  from  the  gallery  to  a  full  organ,  whose 
billows  ot  sound  roll  through  the  vaulted  edifice.  The  scene  is 
strikingly  picturesque  :  all  is  dim  and  shadowy  ;  the  red  light 
from  he  fiarmg  candles  falling  upon  upturned  faces,  and  here 
and  here  falling  upon  a  piece  of  grave  sculpture,  whilst  the 
grey  light  of  day  begins  to  stream  through  the  antique  windows 
adding  to  he  solemnity  of  the  scene.  As  the  last  verse  of  the 
psalm  peals  torth,  the  crowd  begins  to  move,  and  the  spacious 
cathedral  is  soon  left  to  the  more  devout  few  who  remain  to 
attend  the  morning  service  in  the  Lady-chapel." 

A  Welsh  Christmas. 

Fi-om  the  "  Christmas  Chronicles  of  Llanfairpwllycrochon,"  by 
K.  P.  Hampton  Roberts,  in  Xolcs  and  Oncncs,  December  21,  1878 
we  quote  the  following  :  '      /   ^ 

"  Now  Thomas  Thomas,  and  Mary  Jones,  and  all  their  neigh- 
bours, had  great  veneration  for  Christmas,  and  enjoyed  much 
pleasure  in  ookmg  forward  to  the  annual  recurrence  of  the 
east.  Not  that  they  looked  upon  it  as  a  feast  in  any  ecclesias- 
■l^J'^'r^:  '  Llanfairpwllycrochon  was  decidedly  Calvinistically 
Methodist,  and  rejected  all  such  things  as'  mere  popish 
superstition.  ^    ^ 

''The  Christmas  goose  was  a  great  institution  at  Llanfair- 
}n\-llycrochon.  The  annual  goose  club  had  no  existence  there, 
It  IS,  true,  but  the  annual  goose  had  nevertheless.  Thomas 
Ihomas,  after  his  memorable  visit  to  London,  came  home 
imbued  with  one  English  idea  which  startled  the  villagers  more 
than  anything  had  done  since  the  famous  bonfire  on  the  outlying 


MODERN  CHRlsntASES  AT  HOME.  281 

hill  wiicn  the  heir  eame  of  age,  and  it  was  a  long  time  before 
they  reeovered  from  their  surprise.  It  was  nothing  less  than  a 
proposition  to  substitute  beef  for  the  Christmas  dinner  instead 
of  a  goose.  Here  was  a  sad  falling  off  from  the  ways  of 
Llanfairpwllycrochon  !  And  Thomas  Thomas  was  a  man  who 
persisted  in  an  idea  once  it  entered  his  mind — an  event  of  rare 
occurrence,  it  is  true,  and  consequently  all  the  more  stubborn 
whenever  it  did  occur.  Thomas  Thomas  had,  however,  sufficient 
respect  for  the  opinion  of  his  neighbours  to  make  him  compromise 
matters  by  providing  for  himself  alone  a  small  beefsteak  as  an 
adjunct  to  the  time-honoured  goose. 

"Another  Christmas  institution  at  Llanfairpwllvcrochon  was 
the  universal  pudding,  mixed  as  is  wont  by  every  member  of  the 
family.  Then  there  was  the  bun-loaf,  or  banibrilli,  one  of  the 
grand  institutions  of  Llanfairpwllvcrochon.  Many  were  the 
pains  taken  over  this  huge  loaf — made  large  enough  to  last  a 
week  or  fortnight, 'according  to  the  appetites  of  the  juvenile 
partakers— and  the  combined  *'  Christmas-boxes  "  of  the  grocer 
and  baker  went  to  make  up  the  appetising  whole,  with  much 
more  in  addition. 

*'  Christmas  Eve  was  a  day  of  exceeding  joy  at  Llanfairpwlly- 
crochon. The  manufacture  of  paper  ornaments  and  '  kissing 
flushes,'  radiant  with  oranges,  apples,  paper  roses,  and  such  like 
fanciful  additions  as  might  suit  the  taste  or  means  of  the  house- 
holder, occupied  most  of  the  day.  And  then  they  had  to  be  put 
up,  and  the  house  in  its  Christmas  decorations  looked  more 
resplendent  than  the  imagination  of  the  most  advanced  villager 
— at  present  at  school,  and  of  the  mature  age  of  five  and  a  half 
vears,  the  rising  hope  of  the  schoolmaster,  and  a  Lord  Chancellor 
in  embryo  in  hne — could  have  pictured.  As  a  reward  for  the 
dav's  toil  came  the  night's  sweet  task  of  making  cyfiaUi,  i.e., 
toifee.  Thomas  Thomas,  and  those  who  spoke  the  Saxon 
tongue  among  the  villagers,  called  it  'taffy.'  Once  had 
Thomas  Thomas  been  corrected  in  his  pronunciation,  but  the 
hardy  Saxon  who  ventured  on  the  bold  proceeding  was  silenced 
when  he  heard  that  he  was  not  to  think  he  w-as  going  to  persuade 
a  reasonable  man  into  mutilating  the  English  tongue.  '  Taffy 
it  iss,  and  taffy  I  says,'  and  there  was  an  end  of  the  matter. 
Without  taffy  the  inhabitants  of  Llanfairpwllycrochon,  it  w-as 
tirmly  believed  by  the  vicar,  would  not  have  known  the  differ- 
ence between  Christmas  and  another  time,  and  it  is  not  therefore 
matter  for  surprise  that  thev  should  so  tenaciously  cling  to  its 
annual  making.  At  midnight,  when  the  syrupy  stuff  was  sufti- 
ciently  boiled,  it  would  be  poured  into  a  pan  and  put  into  the 
open  air  to  cool.  Here  was  an  opportunity  for  the  beaux  of  the 
village  which  could  not  be  missed.  They  would  steal,  if  possible, 
the  whole,  pan  and  all,  and  entail  a  second  making  on  the 
unfortunate  victims  of  their  practical  joke. 

"  Sometimes  the  Christmas  Eve  proceedings  would  be  varied 
by  holding  a  large  evening  party,  continued  all  night,  the  principal 


282 


CHRISTMAS. 


amusement  at  winch  would  he  the  boiling  ,)t  toffee,  one  arm 
aknig,  when  another  was  tired,  the  large  wooden  spoon,  and 
turnnig  the  boihng  mass  of  sugar  and  treacle,  this  process  beim>- 
contniued  for  many  hours,  until  nothing  would  be  left  to  partakS 
ot  but  a  black,  burnt  sort  of  crisp,  sugary  cinder.  Sometimes 
he  long  boiling  would  only  result  in  a  soft  mass,  disagreeable  to 
the  taste  and  awkward  to  the  han:',  the  combined  efforts  of  each 
member  of  the  party  failing  to  secure  consistency  or  strength  in 
the  mixed  ingredients. 

"And  then  there  were  the  carols  at  midnight,  and  many  more 
were  the  Christmas  customs  at  Llanfairpwllycrochon." 

EFFECTS  OF  THE  SEASON. 

"  These  ChrisUiias  decorations  are  so  jolly  ! '' 
She  cried,  zeal  shining  in  her  orbs  of  blue. 

•'Don't  you  like  laurel  gleaming  under  holly  ?  " 

He  answered,  "  /love  mistletoe  over  vew  !  "—J'li/nh. 


ST.    GEORGE"    I\    COMBAT    WITH    "  ST.    I'PyiER 


Yorkshire  Sword-actors. 
Under  this  title,  Mr.  T.  M.  Fallow,  M.A.,  F.S.A.,  writin- 


in 


MODERX   CHRISTMASES   AT  HOME.  283 

the  Aitliqiiarv,  Alav,  1H95,  gives  an  aecount  of  rustic  perfor- 
mances which  were  witnessed  at  Christmastide  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Leeds  about  fifteen  years  earher,  and  he  iUustrates 
the  subject  with  a  series  of  pictures  from  photographs  taken  at 
the  time,  which  are  here  reproduced.  Tiie  play  depicted  is 
that  of  the  "  Seven  Champions  of  Christendom,"  and  in  the 
picture  on  the  preceding  page  "  St.  George  "  is  shown  engaged 
in  combat  with  "St.  Peter,"  while  "St.  Andrew"  and  "  St. 
Denys  "  are  each  kneeling  on  one  knee,  a  sign  of  their  having 
been  vanquished. 

"  It  may  be  well  to  point  out,"  says  Mr.  Fallow,  "  that  in  the 
West  Riding,  or  at  any  rate  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Leeds,  the 
sword-actors  were  quite  distinct  from  the  '  mummers.'  They 
generally  numbered  nine  or  ten  lads,  who,  disguised  by  false 
beards  as  men,  were  dressed  in  costume  as  appropriate  to  the 
occasion  as  their  knowledge  and  finances  would  permit,  and  who 
acted,  with  more  or  less  skill,  a  short  play,  which,  as  a  rule,  was 
either  the  '  Peace  Egg'  or  the  '  Seven  Champions  of  Christendom.' 
The  following  illustration  shows  two  of  the  '  champions,'  as 
photographed  at  the  time  stated  : — 


"  ST.     I'ETER." 


ST.    DEN  VS. 


"  There  was  a  little  indei'miteness,"  says  Mr.  Fallow,  "  as  to 
the  characters  represented  in  the  play,  but  usually  they  wefe  the 


2^4  CHRISTMAS. 

King  of  Enyi^t,  his  clau-htcr,  ;i  fool  or  jester,  St.  Ceoroe  St 
Andrew,  St.  Patrick,  St.  David,  St.  Denys,  St.  James,  and  a  St' 
1  hewhs,  who  represented  a  Northern  nation— Russia,  or  sonie- 
tmies  Denmark— and  whose  exact  identity  seems  obscure,  'i^he 
seven  champions  occasionally  included  St.  Peter  of  Rome  as  in 
the  group  whose  .photograph  is  given.  St.  Georije  engaged  in 
mortal  combat  with  each  champion  in  succession,  iightiniv  for 
the  hand  of  the  King  of  Egypt's  daughter.  When' at  length 
each  of  the  six  was  slain,  St.  George,  having  vanquished  them 
all,  won  he  fair  lady,  amid  the  applause  of  the  bystanders. 
1  lien  at  the  conclusion,  after  a  general  clashing  and  crossing  of 
swords,  the  fool  or  jester  stepped  forward,  and  wound  up 'the 
performance  with  an  appeal  for  pecuniary  recognition." 

Other  Christmas  Performances. 

In  a  Christmas  article,  published  in  i86g,  Dr.  Rimbault 
mentions  the  performance  of  "  St.  George  and  the  Dragon  "  in 
the  extreme  w^estern  and  northern  parts  of  the  country  The 
following  hve  characters  are  given  :  Father  Christmas,  Turkish 
Knight,  king  of  Egypt,  St.  George,  Doctor.  Other  writers 
mention  similar  plays,  with  variations  of  characters,  as  seen  in 
the  rural  parts  of  Northamptonshire,  Warwickshire,  and  Stafford- 
shire, and  the  present  writer  has  himself  seen  such  plays  at 
Madeley,  in  Shropshire. 

S.  Arnott,  of  Turnham  Green,  writing  in  Notes  and  Oiicnc^, 
December  21,  1878,  says:  "When  I  was  living  at  Holhnoton 
near  Hastings,  in  the  year  1869,  the  village  boys  were  in  the 
habit  of  visiting  the  houses  of  the  gentry  at  Christmas  time  to 
perform  a  play,  which  had  been  handed  down  by  tradition  " 
1  he  description  of  the  play  which  then  followed  shows  that  it 
was  another  variation  of  the  well-known  Christmas  play  and 
mcluded  the  "Turkish  Knight,"  the  "Bold  Slasher,"  and  other 
familiar  characters. 

A  Scotch  First  Footing;. 

Writing  on  "  Mid-winter  Customs  in  the  North,"  Mr.  Edward 
Garrett  says  "  it  is  not  easy  to  write  of  '  Christmas  customs  in  the 
North,'  because  many  of  them,  even  though  connected  with  the 
Christmas  festival,  do  not  take  place  till  January  6th,  that  being 
Christmas  Day,  Old  Style,  while  most  of  them  are  associated 
with  the  New  Year,  either  Old  or  New  Style,  one  of  the  most 
striking  celebrations  coming  off  on  January  nth,  regarded  as 
'  New  Year's  Eve.'  " 

"Christmas  itself  has  never  been  a  national  Scottish  festival 
since  the  Reformation.  On  its  purely  festive  side,.it  has  become 
somewhat  of  a  '  fashion  '  of  late  years,  but  its  ancient  customs 
have  only  lingered  on  in  those  districts  where  Episcopacy  has 


MODERN  CHRISTMASES  AT  HOME. 


285 


A    SCOTCH    FIRST   FOOTI.NC.. 


taken  deep  root.  Such  a  district  is  '  Buchan ' — a  track  of 
country  in  the  north-east  of  Aberdeenshire — a  phice  which 
cannot  be  better  described  than  in  the  words  of  one  of  its  own 
gifted  sons,  Dr.  Walter  Smith  : — 

"  '  A  treeless  land,  where  beeves  are  good. 

And  men  have  quaint,  old-fashioned  ways, 
And  every  burn  has  ballad  lore, 

And  every  hamlet  has  its  song. 
And  on  its  surf-beat,  rocky  shore 

The  eerie  legend  lingers  long. 
Old  customs  live  there,  unaware 

That  they  are  garments  cast  away, 
And  what  of  light  is  lingering  there 

Is  lingering  light  of  yesterday.'  " 

YuLETiDK  Customs  ix  Shetland. 

The  inlierent  ScancUnavianism  of  the  Shetlander,  which  leads 
him  to  repudiate  the  appellation  of  Scotchman,  and  to  cherish 
in  secret  the  old  customs  and  superstitions  of  his  ancestoi's, 
asserts  itself  yearly  in  the  high  jinks  with  which  he  continues  to 
honour  the  old  holy  days  of  Yule.     Until  within  the  last  two  or 


^^^  CHRISTMAS. 

three  years,  he  pertinaciously  adhered  to  the  old  style  in  his 
observance  o  these  festivities.  On  Christmas  Eve,  New  Year's 
i^ve,  and  Lphelya— the  twenty-fourth  day  after  Yule  and  that 
on  which  the  holy  or  holidays  are  supposed  to  be  'up  -tl^^^^ 
youths  ot  Lerwick,  attired  in  fantastic  dresses,  go  '' ^uising  ^ 
about  the  town  in  bands,  visiting  their  friends  and  Acquaintances 
and  leproducmg  in  miniature  the  carnival  of  more  southern 
climes.  On  one  or  other  of  these  occasions  a  torchlight  proces- 
sion forms  part  of  the  revelry.  Formerb-  blazing  tar  blrrels  wei  e 
ragged  about  the  town,  and  afterwards,  x^.th  the  first  break  of 
mo  ning,  dashed  over  the  Knab  into  the  sea.     But  this  ancient 

The  ^^r ™?.r''^°"'  ^'^'  ''^^■>'  ^''''P^'^y  ^ee"  discontinued. 
1  he  di  esses  of  the  guisers  are  often  of  the  most  expensive  and 
fanciful    description.     Highlanders,    Spanish    cavaliers,    neg  o 

rnrW  '  "^^'l'"''  '^  '^"  ^''""^'^  ^''^^^«'  ^^erseymere  breeches,  ^id 
sea  let  coats  turned  up  with  buff,  of  the  reign  of  Georc^e  II 
Robin  Hoods,  and  Maid  Marians  xvere  found  in  the  motley 
throng.  Some,  with  a  boldness  worthy  of  Aristophanes  himself 
caricature  the  dress,  the  walk,  or  some  other^ccentricity  f 
leading  personages  in  the  town  ;  others-for  the  spirit  of  "the 
Happy  Land"  has  reached  these  hyperborean  regions-make 
p  easant  game  of  well-knoxMi  political  characters. '  Each  band 
of  guisers  has  its  fiddler,  who  walks  before  it,  playing  "Scallo 

oi'Lu^otC  "■  "?'  T""^'-^  ""''''"  '''  ''The'Nip'pin'  G^nc/- 
oi   some  other  archaic  tune.     Thus  conducted,  and  blowinLx'a 

doSrs  c^  In  I  "°'"'  u'  wf  "  ^^^^^"■°''^^^'  ''''  "^^^kers  enter  The 
cloors  of  all  houses  which  they  find  open,  dance  a  measure  with 
he  inmates,  partake  of  and  offer  refreshment,  and  then  depar 
to  repeat  the  same  courtesies  elsewhere.  At  daylight  the  horn 
of  the  Most  Worthy  Grand  Guiser,  a  mysterious  iSonage  whose 
personality  and  functions  are  enveloped  in  the^leepest^co  ceal- 
ment,  is  heard  summoning  all  the  bands  to  end  the  r  revel  ,  and 
when,  in  he  cold  grey  dawn  of  the  winter  morning,  the  wm^hy 
citizens  of  Lerwick  awake  to  pursue  their  wonted  avocations  not 

Ramn^i'in'r"%"n'''v  '"'"""''^^^''^  °^  ''''  ^^^^^^  before.-Sh'enf^^ 
Kampim,  in  Good  TT  ords. 

Now,  passing  from  the  islands  to  the  sea  itself,  it  is  pleasant 
to  note  that  in  recent  years  Christian  hearts  have  carried 

Christmas  Cheer  to  the  North  Sea  Fishermen 

l^^t^^Z^t"  '^  ""u"'  ^f  Fishermen  "  twelve  thousand 
biave  and  haidy  fishermen  have  been  cheered  at  Christmastide 

snr4'a     "d     bt.'''  '?"°"'^  ^""^'^  "°^^-  ^'^^^  -edical  I^kI 
su  gical    aid     books    and    magazines,    woollen    garments    and 

he'onc'etnd' '  'rT""'''  ^  ''''^''''-  ^-^^^^^^^^  -^'  --  turnTig 
the  once  wild  and  desperate  ocean  roughs  into  clean-livine 
sailors  and  good  husbands  and  fathers-thSrefore  are  these  chvf 
on  the  North  Sea  better  far  than  those  that  are  gone.  Thoi^and 
of  these  brave  men  turn  at  Christmas  to  the  MJ3.S.F  flag  as  to 
the  one  bright  link  which  binds  them  to  friendlv  hearts  fshoie 


MODERX'   CHRISTMASES   AT  HOME.  287 

assuring  them  that  in  England's  Christmas  festivities  they  and 
their  hke  have  a  real  part,  and  are  no  longer  forgotten. 

Some  facts  recorded  by  the  Rev.  John  Sinclair  '  illustrate  the 
dangers  of  the  wild  winter  sea,  and  also  set  forth  some 

Christmas  Experiences  ix  the  Orkney  Isles. 

They  were  related  to  Mr.  Sinclair  by  Mr.  Traill,  chief  of  the 
clan,  with  whom  he  stayed  on  the  occasion  of  his  visit  to  the 
island  of  Pappa  Westra.  The  first  of  the  two  incidents  was  as 
follows: — "One  Christmas  Day,"  says  Mr.  Traill,  "during  a 
heavy  gale,  I  wrapped  my  cloak  about  me,  and  started  off  with 
my  telescope  to  walk  upon  the  cliffs.  Coming  to  the  other  side 
of  the  island,  on  which  the  surf  was  beating  violently,  I  observed 
a  vessel  a  few  miles  off  fire  a  signal  of  distress.  I  hastened  to 
the  nearest  point,  and  with  the  help  of  my  glass  perceived  that 
she  was  Dutch  built,  and  that,  having  lost  her  rudder,  she  was 
tiuite  unmanageable.  She  fired  several  guns  at  short  intervals, 
and  mv  people  came  in  large  numbers  to  give  assistance.  But 
tlie  surf  was  so  fearful  that  nothing  could  be  done.  No  boat 
could  have  lived  a  moment  in  such  a  sea.  We  w^ere  all  utterly 
helpless.  As  the  vessel  drifted  towards  us,  I  could  see  the 
whole  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  all 
be  mangled  corpses.  I  could  make  out  the  expression  of  their 
features,  and  see  in  what  manner  each  was  preparing  for  inevit- 
able death.  But  whether  they  climbed  up  into  the  shrouds,  or 
held  by  ropes  on  deck  while  the  sea  was  washing  over  the 
bulwarks,  their  fate  was  the  same.  The  first  wave  lifted  the 
vessel  so  high  that  I  almost  thought  it  would  have  placed  her 
upon  the  land.  She  fell  back,  keel  upwards.  The  next  wave 
struck  her  w'ith  such  terrific  force  against  the  cliffs  that  she  was 
shivered  at  once  into  a  thousand  pieces  ;  hardly  two  planks  held 
together.  It  seemed  as  if  she  had  been  made  of  glass.  Not  a 
soul  escaped.  One  or  two  bodies,  with  a  few  planks  and  casks, 
were  all  that  ever  reached  the  shore."  Well  might  Mr.  Traill 
add,  "  I  was  haunted  for  months  by  the  remembrance  of  that 
heartrending  sight." 

The  other  story  related  by  Mr.  Traill  shows  that  a  Christmas 
party  may  be  detained  indefinitely  in  one  of  these  remote 
islands,  should  the  weather  prove  unfavourable.  At  Christmas- 
tide,  a  former  Laird  of  Westra  "  collected  a  numerous  party 
from  all  the  neighbouring  islands  to  celebrate  the  christening  of 
his  eldest  son."  His  hospitalities  cost  him  dear,  A  storm 
arose  ;  his  guests  could  not  get  away  ;  instsiid  of  enjoying  their 
society  for  a  few  days,  he  w^as  obliged  to  entertain  them  at 
a  ruinous  expense  for  many  weeks.  His  larder,  his  cellar,  and 
his  barns,  were  by  degrees  exhausted.     His  farm  stock  had  all 

'  "  Old  Times  and  Distant  I'laces,"  1S75. 


288  CHRISTMAS. 

been  slaughtered,  except  the  old  hull,  which  he  was  reserving 
as  a  hist  resource,  when  at  length  the  wind  abated,  and  a  cahii 
delivered  him  from  this  ruinous  situation. 

Thus    it    appears    that    in   these   remote   islands   of  Scotland 
Chris  mas    is    not    forgotten.     But    a    writer    in    a    well-known 
bcx)tch   journal    says   the    surest    sign    of   the    general    joy   is 
Christmas  in  the  Workhouse  "  :— 

"Christmas  was  gay  in  the  old  squire's  hall, 

Ciay  at  the  village  inn, 
Cheery  and  loud  by  the  farmer's  fire, 

Happy  the  manse  within  ; 
But  the  surest  signs  of  the  general  joy, 

Am\  that  all  the  world  was  happy— very, 
Were  the  sounds  that  proved  at  the  workhouse  door 

That  even  '  the  paupers  '  were  merry." 

A   Remarkable  Christmas  Gathering. 

The    Greenwich    Hospital    for   Sick   Seamen    of   all  Nations 
presented  on  Christmas  Day,  1880,  a  remarkable  i^atherino-  of 
national  representatives.     There  were   179  sailors,  represen'im-- 
31  nationalities,  belonging  to  ships  of  19  distinct  nations     Thev 
were  summed  up  thus  :-England,  yy  ;  Wales,  3  ;  Scotland,  q"- 
Ireland,   11  ;    Norway,    10;    Sweden,   9;     Finland,   6;    United 
States,  5  ;  Denmark,  5  ;  British  India,  4 ;  France,  3  ;  Germany, 
3;  Nova  Scotia,   3  ;  Russia,  2;  Austria,  2;   Italy,  2;  Cape  de 
\eid    Islands,    2;    Chih,    2;    Jamaica,    2;    Barbadoes,    2-    St 
Thomas,   2  ;  Spain     i  ;   Portugal,    i  ;  Canada,    i  ;   New  Bruns- 
wick, i  ;   Transvaal,  i  ;  Gold  Coast,  i  ;  Brazil,   i  •  St    Kitts    i  • 
Mauritius,    i  ;     Society    Islands,     i.     The    mercantile    marines 
represented  were  no  bad  index  to  the  proportion  of  the  carrying 
trade  of  the  world  each  nation  undertakes  r—Englanci  96  vessels 
reland    3  ;  Scotland,   16  ;  Wales,  4  ;  Norway,  7  ;  Sweden,   s  ;' 
,  Lnited  States,  6  ;   Denmark,  2  ;   France,  2  ;  Germany,  3  •  Nova 
Scotia,  7  ;  Russia,  2  ;  Netherlands,  4  ;  Channel  Islands,  2  ;  New 
Brunswick,  2  ;   Italy,  i  ;  Zanzibar,  i  ;  Spain,  i. 

The  early  morning  brought  warm  Christmas  wishes  to  the 
patients.  Each  found  by  his  bedside  a  packet  addressed  to  him 
by  name.  Some  good  lady  had  taken  the  enormous  pains  to 
work  a  pretty,  and,  at  the  same  time,  stout  and  serviceable 
wallet,  with  the  inscription,  "My  letters,"'  embroidered  there- 
upon, and  to  accompany  this  little  gift,  in  every  case,  with 
a  short  and  seasonable  letter  of  Christmas  wishes,  using  other 
languages  than  English,  to  suit  the  convenience  of  every 
'""S^'n^h  J^'^J'^'^'^'^l  ""^^e^"  ^^-hich  these  offerings  came  were 
■  ^-.^-y-  ,  C*ther  gifts,  Christmas  cards  and  Christmas  read- 
ing in  the  shape  of  magazines  and  illustrated  papers  were  "ladly 
welcomed.  t-       .' 

The  decorations  of  the  corridors  and  rooms  had  yiven 
occupa  ion  to  the  sick  sailors  for  several  days,  and  sentiments 
ot   loyalty  to  the  Queen  and  the  Royal  Family  were  abundantly 


MODERN  CHRISTMASES  AT  HOME.  289 

displayed,  together   with    portraits    of  members  of  the  Royal 
Family  which  had  been  drawn  from  fancy. 

The  officers  and  nurses  had  dedicated  to  them  some  specimens 
of  real  sailor  poetry,  conibining  the  names  of  the  staff.  With 
grim  humour,,  the  "  operation  room "  bore  above  it  "  Nil 
despcrandum  "  ;  and  the  decorated  walls  of  the  hospital  told 
the  onlookers  that  "  small  vessels  should  keep  in  shore,"  that 
"windmills  are  not  turned  by  a  pair  of  bellows,"  that  "good 
things  are  not  found  in  heaps,"  that  "  hasty  people  fish  in 
empty  ponds,"  that  "  plenty,  like  want,  ruins  many,"  &c. 

The  dinner  at  one  o'clock  was  a  great  success.  All  who 
could  get  out  of  bed  made  it  a  point  of  honour  to  be  present. 
But'  for  adverse  winds  keeping  ships  from  entering  the 
Thames,  the  guests  would  have  been  more  numerous.  But,.^ 
as  it  was,  the  patients  under  the  roof  numbered  179.  There 
were,  of  course,  difticulties  of  language  ;  but  no  "  jack  "  ever 
ploughed  the  sea  who  does  not  understand  a  Christmas  dinner  ; 
and,  besides,  the  hospital  in  its  nurses  and  staff  possesses  the 
means  of  conversing  in  seventeen  different  languages. 

The  scene  w^as  a  thoroughly  Christmas  one  ;  and  many  other 
festive  scenes,  almost  as  interesting,  were  seen  in  all  parts  of 
England.  Whether  recorded  or  unrecorded,  who  does  not 
rejoice  in  such  efforts  to  promote  "  goodwill  amongst  men," 
and  long  for  the  time — 

"When  peace  shall  over  all  the  eartli 
Its  ancient  splendours  fling, 
And  the  whole  world  send  back  the  song, 
Which  now  the  angels  sing." 

Christmas  Crackers. 

One  of  the  popular  instittitions  inseparable  from  the  festivities 
of  Christmastide  has  long  been  the  "cracker."  The  satisfaction 
which  young  people  especially  experience  in  pulling  the  ojiposite 
ends  of  a  gelatine  and  paper  cylinder  is  of  the  keenest,  accom- 
panied as  the  operation  is  by  a  mixed  anticipation — half  fearful 
as  to  the  explosion  that  is  to  follow,  and  wholly  delightful  with 
regard  to  the  bonbon  or  motto  which  will  thus  be  brought  to' 
light.  Much  amusement  is  afforded  to  the  lads  and  lassies  by 
the  fortune-telling  verses  which  some  of  the  crackers  contain. 
But  the  cracker  of  our  early  days  was  something  far  different 
from  what  it  is  now.  The  sharp  "crack"  with  which  the 
article  exploded,  and  from  which  it  took  its  name,  was  then  its 
principal,  and,  in  some  cases,  its  only  feature  ;  and  the  exclama- 
tion, "  I  know  I  shall  scream,"  which  John  Leech,  in  one  of  his 
sketches,  puts  into  the  mouth  of  two  pretty  girls  engaged  in 
cracker-pulling,  indicated  about  the  all  of  delight  which  that 
occupation  afforded.  Since  then,  however,  the  cracker  has 
undergone  a  gradual  development.  Becoming  by  degrees  a 
receptacle  for  bon-bons,  rhvmed  mottoes,  little  paper  caps  and 

20 


290  CHRISTMAS. 

aprons,  and  similar  toys,  it  has  passed  on  to  another  and  higher 
stage  anc  IS  even  made  a  vehicle  for  high  art  illustrations. 
Considerable  artistic  talent  has  been  introduced  in  the  adorn- 
ment of  these  novelties.  For  instance,  the  "  Silhouette  "  crackers 
are  illustrated  with  black  figures,  comprising  portraits  of  well- 
known  characters  in  the  political,  military,  and  social  world 
exquisitely  executed,  while  appropriate  desions  have  been 
adapted  to  other  varieties,  respectively  designated  -Cameos," 

th?t Thp"^?''  V  ^^?:f  ^^  ^^°^'''"  '^'•'  '''''^  it  ^^  q^ite  evident 
that  the  education  of  the  young  in  matters  of  good  taste  is  not 
overlooked  in  the  provision  of  opportunities  for  merriment. 

SANTA  CLAUS  AND  THE  STOCKING. 

Hang  up  the  ha])y'.s  stocking  !     Be 
sure  you  don't  forget  !     The  dear 
little    dimpled    darling,  she    never 
saw    Christmas    yet  !      But     I've 
told  her  all  about  it,  and  she  opened 
her  big  blue   eyes  ;    and   I'm  sure 
she  understood  it— she  looked  so 
funny  and  wise.     *^*  Dear,  what 
a  tiny  stocking  !     It   doesn't  take 
much  to  hold  such  little  pink  toes 
as  baby's  away  from  the  frost  and 
cold.      But    then,    for    the   baby's 
Christmas,  it  will  never  do  at  all. 
\yhy  !      Santa   wouldn't  be  look- 
ing     for      anything      half     so 
small.       *^*     I      know     what 
will  do  for    the    baby.      I've 
thought    of  the    very    best 
plan.       I'll       borrow      a 
stocking  of  Grandma's, 
the  longest   that   ever 
I    can.     And  you'll 
hang     it    by    mine, 
dear  mother,   right 
here  in  the  corner, 
so  !     And   leave   a 
letter  to  Santa,  and 
fasten    it    on  to  the 
toe.     *^*  Write— this 
is  the  baby's  stocking, 
that  hangs  in  the  corner 
here.      You  never  have 
seen     her,     Santa,     for 
she     only     came     this 
year.  But        she's 

just     the     blessed'st 
baby.       And     now 
before      you      go, 
just       cram      her 
stocking       with 
goodies,    from 
the  top  clean 
down     to 
t  h  e 
toe  ! 


MODERN  CHRISTMASES  AT  HOME.  291 

Fatally  Bi'rxt  ix  Christmas  Costumes. 

The  Cliristmasticlc  ol"  1885-6  was  marred  by  two  fatal 
aecidents  which  again  illustrate  the  danger  of  dressing  for 
entertainments  in  highly-inflammable  materials.  In  the  first 
case  a  London  lady,  on  Boxing  Night,  was  entertaining  some 
friends,  and  appeared  herself  in  the  costume  of  Wiiiler.  She 
was  dressed  in  a  white  robe  of  thin  fabric,  and  stood  imder 
a  canopy  from  which  fell  pieces  of  cotton  wool  to  represent 
sncnvllakes,  and  in  their  descent  one  of  them  caught  light  at  the 
candelabra,  and  fell  at  deceased's  feet.  In  trying  to  put  it  out 
with  her  foot  her  dress  caught  fire,  and  she  was  immediately 
enveloped  in  flames.  So  inflammable  was  the  material  that, 
although  prompt  assistance  was  rendered,  she  was  so  severely 
burnt  as  to  become  unconscious.  A  medical  man  was  sent  for, 
and  everything  possible  was  done  for  her  ;  but  she  sank 
gradually,  and  died  from  exhaustion.  The  second  of  these 
tragical  incidents  plunged  a  Paris  family  in  deep  sorrow.  The 
parents,  who  lived  in  a  beautiful  detached  house  in  the  Rue  de 
la  Bienfaisance,  had  arranged  that  their  children  and  some 
youthful  cousins  were  to  play  before  a  party  of  friends  on  New 
Year's  Night  on  the  stage  of  a  little  theatre  which  had  just  been 
added  to  their  house.  The  play  was  to  represent  the  decrepit 
old  year  going  out  and  the  new  one  coming  in.  The  eldest 
daughter,  a  charming  girl  of  fourteen,  was  to  be  the  good  genius 
of  1886,  and  to  be  dressed  in  a  loose  transparent  robe.  On  the 
appointed  evening,  after  the  company  had  assembled,  she 
donned  her  stage  costume  and  ran  into  her  mother's  bedroom 
to  see  how  it  became  her.  While  looking  at  herself  in  a  mirror 
on  the  toilette  table  her  loose  sleeve  came  in  contact  with  the 
flame  of  a  candle  and  blazed  up.  She  screamed  for  help  and 
tried  to  roll  herself  in  the  bed  clothes  ;  but  the  bed,  being 
covered  with  a  lace  coverlet  and  curtained  with  muslin  was  also 
set  on  fire,  and  soon  the  whole  room  was  ablaze.  By  the  time 
help  arrived  the  girl's  clothes  were  all  burning  into  the  flesh  ; 
but  such  was  her  vitality  that,  in  spite  of  the  dreadful  state  in 
which  every  inch  of  her  body  was,  she  survived  the  accident 
many  hours. 

Similar  disasters  occurred  at  Christmas  festivities  in  1889,  at 
Detroit,  and  in  1891,  at  Wortley,  Leeds.  In  the  former  several 
little  children  were  fatally  burnt,  and  in  the  latter  fifteen 
children  were  set  on  fire,  eleven  of  them  fatally. 


2Q2  CHRISTMAS. 

Christmas  Literature 

is  too  Lirge  a  subject  to  enter  upon  at  length,  for  a  bulky 
volume  would  scarcely  suflice  to  describe  the  niunerous 
Christmas  annuals,  illustrated  Christmas  numbers,  newspaper 
supplements  and  variety  papers  which  have  become  popular 
at  Christmastide  since  the  iirst  appearance  of  Dickens's 
"  Christmas  Stories."  The  development  of  the  Christmas  trade 
in  this  light  literature  has  been  marvellous,  and  it  is  increasing 
year  by  year.  And  the  same  may  be  said  of  the  charming  gift- 
JDOoks  which  are  published  annually  just  before  Christmas. 

Christmas  Letter  Missions. 

Through  the  various  letter  missions  that  have  been  established 
thousands  of  Christmas  letters  and  illustrated  missives,  bright 
with  anecdote,  are  despatched  annually  to  the  inmates  of 
convalescent  homes  and  hospitals,  and  are  heartily  welcomed 
by  the  recipients,  for  every  one  likes  to  be  remembered  on 
Christmas  Day. 

The  Post-Office  Officials  and  Postmex 

have,  however,  been  very  heavily  weighted  with  these  new 
Christmas  customs.  They  have  inflicted  upon  postmen  and 
letter-sorters  an  amount  of  extra  labour  that  is  almost  incredible. 
The  postal-parcel  work  is  also  very  heavy  at  the  festive  season. 

The  Railways  at  Christmas. 

"  Home  for  the  holidays,  here  we  go  ; 
Bless  me,  the  train  is  exceedingly  slow  ! 
Pray,  Mr.  Engineer,  get  up  your  steam, 
And  let  us  be  off,  with  a  puff  and  a  scream  I 
We  have  two  long  hours  to  travel,  you  say  ; 
Come,  Mr.  Engineer,  gallop  away  I  "  ' 

This  familiar  verse  recalls  the  eagerness  of  the  schoolboy  to 
be  home  for  the  Christmas  holidays.  And  adults  are  no  less 
eager  to  join  their  friends  at  the  festive  season  ;  many  travel 
long  journeys  in  order  to  do  so.  Hence  the  great  pressure  of 
work  on  railway  employes,  and  the  congested  state  of  the 
traffic  at  Christmastide.  Two  or  three  clays  before  Christmas 
Day  the  newspapers  publish  what  are  called  *''  railway  arrange- 
ments," detailing  the  privileges  granted  by  this  and  that 
company,  and  presenting  the  holiday  traveller  with  a  sort  of 
appetising  programme  ;  and  any  one  who  will  spend  an  hour 
at  any  of  the  great  termini  of  the  metropolis  at  this  period  can 

'  Eliza  Cook. 


MODERM   CHRISTMASES  AT  HOME. 


293 


see  the  remarkable  extent  U)  which  the  pubhc  avail  themselves 
of  the  facilities  offered.  The  growth  of  railway  travelling  at 
Christmastide  has,  indeed,  been  marvellons  in  recent  years,  and 
it  becomes  greater  every  year.  The  crowded  state  of  the  rail- 
way stations,  and  the  trains  that  roll  out  of  them  heavily  laden 
with  men,  women,  and  children,  wedged  together  by  parcels 
bursting  with  good  cheer,  show  most  unmistakably  that  we 
have  not  forgotten  the  traditions  of  Christmas  as  a  time  of 
happy  gatherings  in  the  family  circles  of  Old  England. 

But,  as  there  is  also  much  Christmas-keeping  in  other  jiarts 
of  the  world,  we  pass  now  to — 


CHAPTER   XII . 
MODERN    CHRISTMASES    ABROAD. 

Christmas-Kekpixg  in  the  Arctic  Regions,  1850-1. 

''The  bluejackets  are  generally  better  hands  than  the  red- 
coats at  improvising  a  jollification — Jack,  at  any  rate,  does  not 
take  his  pleasures  sadly.  The  gallant  bands  that  have  from 
time  to  time  gone  forth  to  a  bloodless  campaign  in  the  icy 
north,  have  always  managed  to  keep  their  Christmas  right 
joyously.  Certainly  they  could  not  complain  of  uncongenial 
skies  or  unseasonable  temperatures  ;  while,  so  far  as  snow  and 
ice  are  necessary  to  thorough  enjoyment,  the  supply  in  the 
Arctic  regions  is  on  a  scale  sufficient  to  satisfy  the  most  ardent 
admirer  of  an  old-fashioned  Christmas.  The  frozen-in  Investi- 
gators under  McClure  kept  their  first  Arctic  Christmas  soberly, 
cheerfully,  and  in  good  fellowship,  round  tables  groaning  with 
good  cheer,  in  the  shape  of  Sandwich  Island  beef,  musk  veal 
from  the  Prince  of  Wales's  Strait,  mince-meat  from  England, 
splendid  preserves  from  the  Green  Isle,  and  dainty  dishes  from 
Scotland.  Every  one  talked  of  home,  and  speculated  respecting 
the  doings  of  dear  ones  there  ;  and  healths  were  drunk,  not 
omitting  those  of  their  fellow-labourers  sauntering  somewhere 
in  the  regions  about,  but  how  near  or  how  far  away  none  could 
tell.  When  the  festival  came  round  again,  the  Iiivcstiilator  and 
Enterprise  were  alone  in  their  glory,  and  they  were  separated  by 
miles  of  frozen  sea  ;  but  they  had  solved  the  great  problem.' 
On  board  the  Investii^ator,  frost-bound  in  the  Bay  of  Mercy, 
things  went  as  merry  as  the  proverbial  marriage-bell.  After 
divine  service,  everybody  took  a  constitutional  on  the  ice  until 
dinner-time  ;  then  the  ofBcers  sat  down  to  a  meal  of  which  the 
piece  de  resistance  was  a  haunch  of  Banks'  Island  reindeer, 
weighing  twenty  pounds,  with  fat  two  inches  thick,  and  a  most 
delicious  flavour  ;  while  the  crew  were  regaling  upon  venison 
and  other  good  things,  double  allowance  of  grog  included  ;  and 
dinner  discussed,  dancing,  singing,  and  skylarking  filled  up  the 

'The  discovery  of  the  North- West  Passage  for  navigation  from  the  Atlantic 
Ocean  to  the  Pacific,  by  the  northern  coasts  of  the  American  continent  ;  first 
successfully  traversed  by  Sir  R.  McClure  in  1 850-1. 


MODERN  CHRISTMASES  ABROAD.  2% 

holiday  hours  till  bedtime  ;  the  fun  beins;-  kept  up  with  unllag- 
ging  humour,  and  with  such  propriety  withal  as  to  make  their 
leader  wish  the  anxious  folks  at  home  could  have  witnessed  the 
scene  created  amidst  so  many  gloomy  influences,  by  the  crew 
of  a  ship  after  two  years'  sojourn  in  those  ice-bound  regions 
upon  their  own  resources.  Another  Christmas  found  the  brave 
fellows  still  coniined  in  their  snowy  prison  ;  but  their  table 
boasted  plum-pudding  rich  enough  for  Arctic  appetites,  Banks' 
Land  venison,  Mercy  Bay  hare-soup,  ptarmigan  pasties,  and 
musk-ox  beef — hung-beef,  surely,  seeing  it  had  been  dangling 
in  the  rigging  above  two  years.  The  poets  among  the  men 
wrote  songs  making  light  of  the  hardships  they  had  endured  ; 
the  painters  exhibited  pictures  of  past  perils  ;  comic  actors 
were  not  wanting  ;  and  the  whole  company,  casting  all  anxiety 
to  the  winds,  enjoyed  themselves  to  the  utmost."  ' 

In  the  spring  of  1870,  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  Franco- 
German  war,  Germany  sent  out  two  ships,  the  Gennania  and 
the  Hansa,  with  the  hope  of  reaching  the  North  Pole.  As  is 
usually  the  case  in  Arctic  expeditions,  little  could  be  done 
during  the  first  season,  and  the  ships  were  obliged  to  take  up 
their  winter-quarters  off  the  east  coast  of  Greenland.  They 
had  already  been  separated,  so  that  the  crew  of  one  vessel,  had 
no  idea  of  the  condition  of  the  other.  An  officer  upon  the 
Gcniiaiiia  gives  the  following  interesting  account  of  their 
Christmas  festivities  in  the  Arctic  regions  : — 

"To  the  men  who  have  already  lived  many  weary  months 
among  the  icebergs,  Christmas  signifies,  in  addition  to  its  other 
associations,  that  the  half  of  their  long  night — with  its  fearful 
storms,  its  enforced  cessation  of  all  energy,  its  discomfort  and 
sadness — has  passed,  and  that  the  sun  will  soon  again  shed  its 
life  and  warmth-giving  beams  on  the  long-deserted  North. 
From  this  time  the  grim  twilight,  during  which  noon  has  been 
hardly  distinguishable  from  the  other  hours,  grows  daily  lighter, 
until  at  length  all  hearts  are  gladdened,  and  a  cheerful  activity 
is  once  again  called  forth  by  the  first  glimpse  of  the  sun. 
Christmas,  the  midnight  of  the  Arctic  explorer,  thus  marks  a 
period  in  his  life  which  he  has  good  cause  to  consider  a  joyful 
one. 

"  For  days  before  the  festival,  an  unusual  activity  was  observ- 
able all  over  the  ship  ;  and  as  soon  as  the  severe  storm  which 
raged  from  December  i6th  to  the  21st  had  abated,  parties 
were  organised,  under  our  botanist,  Dr.  Pansch,  to  certain  points 
of  Sabine  Island,  near  to  which  we  were  anchored,  where,  in  a 
strangely  sheltered  nook,  several  varieties  of  a  native  Greenland 
evergreen  plant,  Aiidrouicda  {ctragoiia,  were  to  be  found.  A 
great  quantity  of  this  plant  was  conveyed  on  board,  to  be  con- 
verted into  a  Christmas-tree.  Under  the  orders  of  Dr.  Pansch, 
the  Andromeda  was  wound  round  small  pieces  of  wood,  several 

'   Chaiiihers's  Journal,  December  25,  1S69. 


296  CHRISTMAS. 

of  which  were  attached,  Hke  fir-twigs,  to  a  large  bough  ;  and 
when  these  boughs  were  fastened  to  a  pole,  they  formed  a  very 
respectable  fir-tree. 

"After  dinner  on  Christmas  Day,  the  cabin  was  cleared  for 
the  completion  of  the  preparations  ;  and  on  our  recall  at  six 
o'clock,  we  found  that  all  had  assumed  an  unwontedly  festive 
appearance.  The  walls  were  decorated  with  the  signal-flags 
and  our  national  eagle  ;  and  the  large  cabin  table,  somewhat 
enlarged  to  make  room  to  seat  seventeen  men,  was  covered 
w^ith  a  clean  white  cloth,  which  had  been  reserved  for  the 
occasion.  On  the  table  stood  the  '  fir '  tree,  shining  in  the 
splendour  of  many  little  wax-lights,  and  ornaments  ^vith  all 
sorts  of  little  treasures,  some  of  which,  such  as  the  gilded 
walnuts,  had  already  seen  a  Christmas  in  Germany  ;  below  the 
tree  was  a  small  present  for  each  of  us,  provided  long  before- 
hand, in  readiness  for  the  clay,  by  loving  friends  and  relatives 
at  home.  There  was  a  packet  too  for  each  of  the  crew,  con- 
taining some  httle  joking  gift,  prepared  by  the  mirth-loving  Dr. 
Pansch,  and  a  useful  present  also  ;  while  the  officers  were  each 
and  all  remembered. 

"  When  the  lights  burned  down,  and  the  resinous  Andromeda 
was  beginning  to  take  fire,  the  tree  was  put  aside,  and  a  feast 
began,  at  which  full  justice  was  done  to  the  costly  Sicilian  wine 
with  which  a  friend  had  generously  supplied  us  "before  we  left 
home.  We  had  a  dish  of  roast  seal  !  Some  cakes  were  made 
by  the  cook,  and  the  steward  produced  his  best  stores.  For 
the  evening,  the  division  between  the  fore  and  aft  cabins  was 
removed,  and  there  was  free  intercourse  between  officers  and 
men  ;  many  a  toast  was  drunk  to  the  memory  of  friends  at 
home,  and  at  midnight  a  polar  ball  was  improvised  by  a  dance 
on  the  ice.  The  boatswain,  the  best  musician  of  the  party, 
seated  himself  with  his  hand-organ  between  the  antlers  of  a 
reindeer  which  lay  near  the  ship,  and  the  men  danced  two  and 
two  on  their  novel  flooring  of  hard  ice  ! 

"  Such  was  our  experience  of  a  Christmas  in  the  north  polar 
circle  ;  but  the  uncertainties  of  Arctic  voyaging  are  great,  and 
the  two  ships  of  our  expedition  made  trial  of  the  widely  difterent 
fates  which  await  the  travellers  in  those  frozen  regions  :  and 
while  we  on  the  Germania  were  singularly  fortunate  in  escaping 
accidents  and  in  keeping  our  crew,  in  spite  of  some  hardships, 
hi  sound  health  and  good  spirits,  the  Haiisa  was  crushed  by  the 
ice,  and  her  crew,  after  facing  unheard-of  dangers,  and  passing 
two  hundred  days  on  a  block  of  ice,  were  barelv  rescued  to 
return  home." 

Yet  even  to  the  crew  of  the  ill-fated //az/sa  Christmas  brought 
some  festivities.  The  tremendous  gale  which  had  raged  for 
many  days  ceased  just  before  the  clay,  and  the  heavy  fall  of 
snow  with  which  it  terminated,  and  which  had  almost  buried 
the  black  huts  that  the  shipwrecked  men  had  constructed  for 
themselves  upon  the  drifting  icebergs  from  the  debris  of  the 


MODERX   CHRIsniASES  ABROAD.  297 

wreck,  had  produced  a  considerable  rise  in  tlie  temperature, 
and  there  was  every  indication  that  a  season  of  cahn  mi,u;ht  now 
be  anticipated. 

The  lot^-book  of  the  Haiisa  thus  describes  the  celebration  of 
the  festival  : — '*  The  tree  was  erected  in  the  afternoon,  while 
the  t^reater  part  of  the  crew  took  a  walk  ;  and  the  lonely  hut 
shone  with  wonderful  brightness  amid  the  snow.  Christmas 
upon  a  Greenland  iceberg  !  The  tree  was  artistically  put 
together  of  firwood  and  mat-weed,  and  Dr.  Laube  had  saved  a 
twist  of  wax-taper  for  the  illumination.  Chains  cf  coloured 
paper  and  newly-baked  cakes  were  not  wanting,  and  the  men 
had  made  a  knapsack  and  a  revolver  case  as  a  present  for  the 
captain.  We  opened  the  leaden  chests  of  presents  from 
Professor  Hochstetter  and  the  Geological  Society,  and  were 
much  amused  by  their  contents.  Each  man  had  a  glass  of 
jiort  wine  ;  and  we  then  turned  over  the  old  newspapers  which 
we  found  in  the  chests,  and  drew  lots  for  the  presents,  which 
consisted  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  and 
gingerbread." 

"  We  observed  the  day  very  quietly,"  writes  Dr.  Laube  in  his 
diary.  "  If  this  Christmas  be  the  kist  we  are  to  see,  it  was  at 
least  a  cheerful  one  ;  but  should  a  happy  return  home  be 
decreed  for  us,  the  next  will,  we  trust,  be  far  brighter.  May 
God  so  grant  !  " 

Christmas  ix  the  Crimea. 

The  Christmas  of  1854  was  a  dismal  one  for  the  soldiers  in 
the  Crimea,  witnessing  and  enduring  what  Lord  John  Russell 
spoke  of  as  "the  horrible  and  heartrending  scenes  of  that 
Crimean  winter.'' 

"Thanks  to  General  Muddle,"  says  a  journal  of  the  period, 
"  the  Crimean  Christmas  of  1854  was  anything  but  what  it  ought 
to  and  might  have  been  ;.and  the  knowledge  that  plenty  of  good 
things  had  been  provided  by  thoughtful  hearts  at  home,  but 
which  were  anywhere  but  where  they  were  wanted,  did  not 
add  to  the  merriment  of  our  poor  overworked,  underfed  army  ; 
and  although  some  desperate  efforts  were  made  to  be  jolly  on 
dreary  outpost  and  in  uncomfortable  trenches,  they  only  resulted 
in  miserable  failure.  The  following  Christmas  was  doubly 
enjoyable  by  comparison.  The  stubborn  fortress  (Sebastopol) 
had  fallen  at  last  to  its  more  stubborn  assailants  ;  habit  had 
deprived  frost  and  snow  of  their  terrors,  and  every  hut  ran  over 
with  hams,  preserves,  vegetables,  and  mysterious  tins,  till  it 
resembled  a  grocer's  store.  The  valleys  of  Miscomia,  too,  were 
rich  in  mistletoe,  to  be  had  for  the  trouble  of  gathering  ;  but 
few  cared  to  undergo  that  trouble  for  the  sake  of  what  only 
reminded  them  of  unattainable  sweets,  and  made  them  sigh  for 
the  girls  they  had  left  behin^lU-hjaailLj  ->^ 

THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC   LIBRARY 

CIRC4JLAHON  DtPARTMENT 
NATHAN  STRAUS  BRANCH  348  EAST  32nd  STflilT 


29S  CHRISTMAS. 

In  1855,  IMessrs.  Macmillan  &  Co.  published  a  poem  by 
H.  R.  F.,  entitled  "  Christmas  Dawn,  1854,"  i"  which  the  writer 
pictures  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  soil 
For  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  day 
And  speak  of  happiness  ?     The  church  is  deckt 
With  festive  garlands,  and  the  sunbeams  glance 
From  glossy  evergreens  ;  the  mistletoe 
Pearl-studded,  and  the  holly's  lustrous  bough 
Gleaming  with  coral  fruitage  ;  but  we  muse 
Of  laurel  blent  with  cypress.     Gaze  we  down 
Yon  crowded  aisle  ?  the  mourner's  dusky  weeds 
Sadden  the  eye  ;  and  they  who  wear  them  not 
Have  mourning  in  their  hearts,  or  lavish  tears 
Of  sympathy  on  griefs  too  deeply  lodged 
For  man's  weak  ministry. 

A  happy  Christmas  1 
Ah  me  I  how  many  hearths  are  desolate  ! 
How  many  a  vacant  seat  awaits  in  vain 
The  loved  one  who  returns  not  !     Shall  we  drain 
The  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  of 
sorrow"  ;  and  then  again  he  mused  : 

"  In  humbler  mood  to  hail  the  auspicious  day, 
Shin^forth  rejoicing  in  thy  strength,  O  sun, 
Shine  through  the  dubious  mists  and  tearful  show'rs 
That  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  won 
Upon  a  stranger  shore.     Ah  !  not  in  vain 
Went  up  from  many  a  wild  Crimean  ridge 
The  soldier's  pray'r,  responsive  to  the  vows 
Breathed  far  away  in  many  an  English  home. 
Not  vain  the  awakened  charities,  that  gush 
Through  countless  channels — Christian  brotherhoods 
Of  mercy  ;  and  that  glorious  sister-band 
Who  sow  by  Death's  chill  waters  ! — Not  in  vain. 
My  country  1  ever  loved,  but  dearest  now 
In  this  thine  hour  of  sorrow,  hast  thou  learnt 
To  bow  to  Him  who  chastens.     We  must  weep — 
We  may  rejoice  in  weeping." 

Christm.-\s  IX  Abyssinia. 

Wherever  Englishmen  are  on  the  25th  of  December,  there  is 
Christmas.  Whether  it  be  in  the  icy  regions  of  the  Arctic  zone, 
or  in  the  sweltering  heat  of  tropical  sunshine,  the  coming  round 
of  the  great  feast  brings  with  it  to  every  Englishman  a  hearty 


MODERN   CHRISTMASES   ABROAD.  299 

desire  to  celebrate  it  duly.  And  if  this  cannot  be  done  in 
exactly  home-fashion,  the  festival  is  kept  as  happily  as  circum- 
stances will  allow.  In  this  spirit  did  our  soldiers  keep  Christmas 
in  Abyssinia,  in  1867,  with  the  thermometer  at  seventy-live  in 
the  shade,  and  even  here  the  edibles  included  at  least  one 
traditional  dish — a  joint  of  roast  beef.  There  was  al«o  an 
abundance  of  spur-fowls,  guinea-fowls,  venison,  mutton,  &c., 
and  the  place  in  which  the  festive  board  was  spread  was 
decorated  with  branches  of  Hr  and  such  other  substitutes  for 
holly  and  mistletoe  as  could  be  found. 

Christmas-kkefixg  IX  India 

at  different  periods  shows  the  same  determination  of  cnir  British 
soldiers  to  honour  the  Christmas  festival. 

In  1857,  the  saviours  of  our  Indian  Empire  very  nearly  lost 
their  Christmas.  The  army  was  encamped  at  Intha,  within 
sight  of  Nepaul,  waiting  for  the  rain  to  clear  off  and  the  tents  to 
dry,  ere  it  moved  on  to  drive  the  Sepoys  into  the  Raptee.  The 
skies  cleared  on  Christmas  morning,  and  Lord  Clyde  was  for 
marching  at  once,  but  relented  in  time  to  save  the  men's 
puddings  from  being  spoiled — not  only  relented,  but  himself 
gave  a  Christmas  banquet,  at  which  the  favoured  guests  sat 
down  to  well-served  tables  laden  with  barons  of  beef,  turkeys, 
mutton,  game,  hsh,  fowls,  plum-puddings,  mince-pies,  &c. 
To  allay  the  thirst  such  substantial  fare  created,  appeared 
beakers  of  pale  ale  from  Burton  and  Glasgow;  porter  from 
London  and  Dublin  ;  champagne,  moselle,  sherry,  and  old  port, 
'  rather  bothered  by  travelling  twenty  miles  a  day  on  a  camel 
back.'  Following  the  chief's  example,  each  regiment  had  a 
glorious  spread,  and  throughout  the  wide  expanse  of  tents 
sounds  of  rejoicing  were  heard,  for  the  soldiers  kept  Christmas 
right  merrily. 

Similarly, 
The  British  Soldiers  and  Sailors  ix  South  Africa 

did  their  best  to  observe  the  Christmas  festival  in  good  old 
English  style,  even  during  the  sieges  of  Ladysmith,  Kimberley, 
and  Mafeking,  when  provisions  were  to  be  had  only  at  famine 
prices.  The  ingenious  Tommy  Atkins,  in  distant  lands,  has 
often  found  sylvan  substitutes  for  mistletoe  and  holly,  and  native 
viands  to  take  the  place  of  plum-puddings  and  mince-pies,  but 
it  is  not  so  easy  to  iind  substitutes  for  the  social  circles  in  old 
England,  and  when  the  time  comes  round  for  the  Christmas 
dance  Tommy's  thoughts  "  Return  again  to  the  girl  I've  left 
behind  me." 

Moreover,  it  sometimes  falls  to  the  lot  of  soldiers  and  war 
correspondents  to  spend  their  Christmas  in  most  outlandish 
places.  Mr.  Archibald  Forbes  has  left  on  record  (in  the  Eti<ilisli 
Illiislrated  Ma^i^aziiw,  1885)  an  interesting  account  of  his  own 


300  CHRISTMAS. 

Christmastide  IX  THE  Khybek  Pass. 

In  his  graphic  style  the  intrepid  war  correspondent  describes 
the  "ride  long  and  hard"  which  Kinloch  and  he  had  through 
the  Khyher  to  Jeiahdxid  plain  to  fulhl  "the  tryst  they  had  made 
to  spend  Christmas  Day  with  the  cheery  comrades  "of  Sir  Sam 
Browne's  headquarter  staiT."  They  had  an  adventurous  journey 
together  from  the  Dakka  camp  to  Jumrood,  where  Forbes  left 
Kinloch  with  Maude's  division. 

Further    on,   Mr.  Forbes  says  :  "  I  am   not  prepared    to    be 
definite,  after    live  years,  as  to  the  number  of    plum-puddings 
forming  that  little  hillock  on  the  top  of  my  dak-gharry  between 
Jhelum  and   Peshawur,  on  the  apex  of  which  "sat  the  faithful 
John  amidst  a  whirl  of  dust.     At  Peshawur  the  heap  of  Christ- 
mas gifts  were  loaded  into  the  panniers  of  a  camel,  and  the  ship 
of  the  desert  started  on  its  measured  solemn  tramp  up  through 
the  dehles  of  the  Khyber."     Then  Mr.  Forbes  tell  us  how  he 
joined  Kinloch  again  at  General  Maude's  headquarters  at  Jum- 
rood.     Kinloch   "  had  not  forgotten    his    tryst,   but   meanwhile 
there  were  military  duties  to  be  done."     After  the  discharge  of 
these  "military  duties,"  which  included  a  night  march  to  surprise 
a    barbarous    clan    called   Zukkur-Kehls,    Forbes    and    Kinloch 
joined  General  Tytler's  column  on  its  return  march  to  Dakka, 
because  at  Dakka  they  would  be  nearer  to  their  friends  of  Sir 
Sam  Browne's  headquarters.     "  Tytler  determined  to  make  his 
exit  from  the  Zukkur-Kahl  Valley  by  a  previously  unexplored 
pass,  toward   which  the  force  moved  for  its  night's  bivouac. 
About  the  entrance  to  the  glen  there  was  a  line  forest  of  ilex  and 
holly,  large,  sturdy,  spreading  trees,  whence  dangled  long  sprays 
of  mistletoe  ;  the  mistletoe  bough  was  here  indeed,  and"  Christ- 
mas was  close,  but    where   the   fair   ones   whom,  under    other 
circumstances,  the  amorous  youth  of  Our  column  would   ha\'e 
so  enthusiastically  led  under  that  spray  which  accords  so  sweet 
a  license  ?     The  young  ones  prattled  of  those  impossible  joys  ; 
but  the  seniors,  less  frivolous,  were  concerned  by  the  increasing 
narrowness  of  the  gorge,  and  by  the  dropping  hre  that  hung  on 
our   skirts   as   we    entered    it.     However,    there   was  but   one 
casualty — a  poor  fellow  of   the    17th  Regiment  had  his   thigh 
smashed  by  a  bullet — and  we  spent  the"  night  under  the  ilex 
trees  without  further  molestation.  ...   It  was  Christmas  Eve 
when  we  sat  chatting  with  young  Beatsou  in  his  lonely  post  by 
the  Chardai  streamlet ;  but  a  few  hours  of  morning  riding  would 
carry  us  to  Jellalabad  whither  Sir  Sam  Browne's  camp  had  been 
advanced,  and  we  were  easy  on  the  score  of  being  triie  to  tryst. 
As  in  the  cold  grey  dawn  we  resumed  our  journey,  leaving  the 
young  officer  who  had  been   our  host  to  concern  himself  with 
the  watchfulness  of  his  picquets  and  the  vigilance  of  his  patrols, 
there  was  a  sound  of  unintentional  mockery  in  the  conventional 
wish  of  a  '  Merry  Christmas  '  to  the  gallant  lad,  and  there  was  a 
wistfulness  in  his  answering  smile.   .   .   .  The  road  to  the  encamp- 


MODERN   CHRISTMASES   ABROAD.  301 

ment,  the  white  canvas  of  whose  tents  showed  throui^di  theinter- 
venin,!^  hills,  was  traversed  at  a  hand  gallop  ;  and  presently 
Kinloch  and  myself  found  ourselves  in  the  street  of  the  head- 
quarter camp,  shaking  hands  wnth  friends  and  comrades,  and  trving 
to  reply  to  a  medley  of  disjointed  questions.  The  bugles  weix' 
sounding  for  the  Christmas  Day  Church  Parade  as  we  finished  a 
hurried  breakfast.  Out  there  on  the  plain  the  British  troops  of 
the  division  were  standing  in  hollow  square,  the  officers  grouped 
in  the  centre.  .  .  .  The  headquarter  street  w^e  found  swept  and 
garnished,  the  flagstaff  bedecked  with  holly,  and  a  regimental 
band  playing  '  Home,  Sweet  Home.'  Dear  old  Sir  Sam  Browne 
did  not  believe  in  luxury  when  on  campaign,  but  now  for  the 
iirst  time  I  saw  him  at  least  comfortable.  .  .  .  The  mess  ante- 
room was  the  camp  street  outside  the  dining  tent  ;  and  at  the 
fashionable  late  hour  of  eight  we  *  went  in  '  to  dinner,  to  the 
strains  of  the  Roast  Beef  of  Old  EiiglaiuL  It  was  a  right  jovial 
feast,  and  the  most  cordial  good-fellowship  prevailed.  He 
would  have  been  a  cynical  epicurean  who  would  have  criticised 
the  appointments  ;  the  banquet  itself  was  above  all  cavil. 
Rummaging  among  some  old  papers  the  other  day,  I  found  the 
iiic'iiii,  which  deserves  to  be  quoted  :  '  Soup — Julienne,  f'ish — 
Whitebait  (from  the  Cabul  River).  Entrees — Cotelettes  aux 
Champignons,  Poulets  a  hi  Mavonaise.  Joints — Ham  and  fowls, 
roast  beef,  roast  saddle  of  mutton,  boiled  brisket  of  beef,  boiled 
leg  of  mutton  and  caper  sauce.  Curry — chicken.  Sweets^ — 
Lemon  jelly,  blancmange,  apricot  tart,  plum-pudding.  Grilled 
sardines,  cheese  fritters,  cheese,  dessert.'  Truth  compels  the 
avowal  that  there  was  no  table-linen,  nor  was  the  board 
resplendent  with  plate  or  gay  with  flowers.  Table  crockery 
was  deficient,  or  to  be  more  accurate,  there  was  none.  All  the 
dishes  were  of  metal,  and  the  soup  was  eaten,  or  rather  drunk, 
out  of  mugs  and  iron  teacups.  But  it  tasted  none  the  worse  on 
this  account,  and  let  it  be  recorded  that  there  n^ere  champagne 
glasses,  while  between  every  two  guests  a  portly  magnum  reared 
its  golden  head.  Except  *  The  Queen,'  of  course,  there  were 
but  two  toasts  after  the  feast — one  was  'Absent  Friends,'  drunk 
in  a  wistful  silence,  and  the  other,  the  caterer's  health,  greeted 
with  vociferous  enthusiasm.  A  few  fields  off  the  wood  had 
been  collecting  all  day  for  the  Christmas  camp-lire  of  the  loth 
Hussars,  and  by  ten  o'clock  the  blaze  of  it  was  mounting  high 
into  the  murky  gloom.  A  right  merry  and  social  gathering  it 
was  round  the  bright  glow  of  this  Yule  log  in  a  far-off  land. 
The  flames  danced  on  the  wide  circle  of  bearded  faces,  on  the 
tangled  fleeces  of  the  postheens,  on  the  gold  braid  of  the  forage 
caps,  on  the  sombre  hoods  of  lieshliks.  .  .  .  The  songs  ranged 
from  gay  to  grave  ;  the  former  mood  in  the  ascendency.  But 
occasionally  there  was  sung  a  ditty,  the  associations  with  which 
brought  it  about  that  there  came  something  strangely  like  a  tear 
into  the  voice  of  the  singer,  and  that  a  yearning  wistfulness  fell 
upon   the  faces   of  the  listeners.     The  bronzed  troopers  in  the 


302  CHRISTMAS. 

background  shaded  with  their  hands  the  fire-flash  from  their 
eyes  ;  and  as  the  faniihar  homely  strain  ceased  that  recalled 
home  and  love  and  trailed  at  the  heart  strings  till  the  breast  felt 
to  heave  and  the  tears  to  rise,  there  would  be  a  little  pause  of 
eloquent  silence  which  told  how  thoughts  had  gone  astraying 
half  across  the  globe  to  the  loved  ones  in  dear  old  England/and 
were  loath  to  come  back  again  to  the  rum  and  the  camp  fire  in 
Jellalabad  plain.  Ah,  how  many  stood  or  sat  around  that  camp 
fire  that  were  never  to  see  old  England  more  ?  The  snow  had 
not  melted  on  the  Sufed  Koh  when  half  a  squadron  of  the 
troopers  were  drowned  in  the  treacherous  Cabul  river.  No 
brighter  soul  or  sweeter  singer  round  that  fire  than  Monty  Slade  ; 
but  the  life  went  out  of  Monty  Slade  with  his  face  to  the  foe 
and  his  w^et  sword  grasped  in  a  soldier-grip  ;  and  he  lies  under 
the  palm  trees  by  the  wells  of  El  Teb." 

Christmas  in  Canada. 

In  Canada  the  severe  and  long-continued  frosts  convert  a 
good  deal  of  land  and  water  into  fields  of  ice,  and  skating  is  a 
very  popular  amusement  of  Christmastide.  Sleighing  is  also 
very  fashionable,  and  the  large  tracts  of  country  covered  with 
snow  afl:brd  ample  scope  for  the  pastime.  The  jingle  of  the 
sleigh  bells  is  heard  in  all  the  principal  thoroughfares  which  at 
the  season  of  the  great  winter  festival  present  quite  an  animated 
appearance.  The  ears  of  the  sleigh  drivers  are  usually  covered 
either  by  the  cap  or  with  a  comforter,  which  in  very  cold 
weather  is  also  wrapped  over  the  mouth  and  nose. 

"Christmas  Day,"  says  an  English  Colonist,  "is spent  quietly 
m  our  own  houses.  New  Year's  Day  is  the  day  of  general 
rejoicing,  when  every  one  either  visits  or  receives  their  friends  : 
and  so,  thinking  of  the  merry  times  we  have  had  in  Old 
England,  and  comparing  them  with  the  quietness  of  to-day,  we 
feel  more  like  strangers  in  a  strange  land  than  ever  before. 

"  As  a  special  treat,  we  are  to  have  a  real  English  Christmas 
dmner  to-day,  and  our  housekeeper  has  made  a  wonderful 
plum-pudding.  The  turkey  is  already  steaming  upon  the  table, 
and  we  soon  fall  to  work  upon  him.  He  is  well  cooked,  but 
there  seems  to  be  something  wrong  with  his  legs,  which  are  so 
tough  and  sinewy  that  we  come  to  the  conclusion  that  he  must 
have  been  training  for  a  walking  match.  The  rest  of  the  dinner 
passes  off  very  well,  with  the  exception  of  the  plum-pudding 
which  has  to  be  brought  to  the  table  in  a  basin,  as  it  firmiy 
refuses  to  bind. 

"  After  dinner  we  retire  to  the  sitting-room,  and  sit  round  the 
stove  talking,  while  those  of  us  addicted  to  the  fragrant  weed 
have  a  quiet  smoke.     Thus  passes  Christmas  afternoon. 

"  Tea-time  soon  comes  round,  and  after  we  have  refreshed 
ourselves,  we  resolve  to  end  the  day  by  paying  a  visit  to  a 
neighbour  who  possesses  an  American  organ,  and  Christmas 
evening  closes  in  to  the  music  of  those  sweet  old  carols  which 


MODERN   CHRISTMASES   ABROAD.  303 

that    evening  are    heard   over    the    whole    world   wherever   an 
English  colony  is  to  be  found." 

Christmas  in  Australia. 

Christmas  festivities  in  Australia  are  carried  on  in  what  we 
should  call  "  summer  weather."  There  is  no  lack  of  good  cheer 
and  good  living,  but  cold  and  snow  are  at  this  season  unknown, 
and  skating  and  snowballing,  as  a  consequence,  are  sports  unheard 
of  at  Christmastide  by  the  youth  in  the  Antipodes.  Large 
parties  and  excursions  are  often  arranged  for  spending  a  short 
time  in  the  parks  and  tields,  and  Christmas  picnics  partake 
much  of  the  character  of  English  "  gipsy-parties."  The  in- 
habitants being  chieily  English,  many  of  the  ceremonies 
customary  in  English  homes  are  observed,  and  the  changes 
that  are  made  are  enforced  for  the  most  part  by  the  difference 
in  climate,  and  by  the  altered  circumstances  under  which  the 
various  festivities  are  arranged. 

In  "  A  Summer  Christmas,"  Douglas  B.  \V.  Sladen  thus 
describes  the  Australian  festivities  : — 

"  The  Christmas  dinner  was  at  two, 
And  all  that  wealth  or  pains  could  do 
Was  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  luxury 
Which  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  designed 
For  Mr.  Forte's  severer  mind, 
Were  on  the  board,  yet  in  a  way 
It  did  not  seem  like  Christmas  day 
With  no  gigantic  beech  yule-logs 
Blazing  between  the  brass  fire-dogs, 
And  with  100°  in  the  shade 
On  the  thermometer  displayed. 
Nor  were  there  Christmas  offerings 
Of  tastefu-1  inexpensive  things, 
Like  those  which  one  in  England  sends 
At  Christmas  to  his  kin  and  friends. 
Though  the  Professor  with  him  took 
A  present  of  a  recent  book 
For  Lil  and  Madge  and  Mrs.  Forte, 
And  though  a  card  of  some  new  sort 
Had  been  arranged  by  Lil  to  face 
At  breakfast  everybody's  place. 
When  dinner  ended  nearly  all 
Stole  off  to  lounges  in  the  hall. 

All  save  the  two  old  folks  and  Lil, 
Who  made  their  hearts  expand  and  thrill 
By  playing  snatches,  slow  and  clear, 
Of  carols  they'd  been  used  to  hear 


304  .  CHRISTMAS. 

Some  half  a  century  ago 

At  High  Wick  Manor,  when  the  two 

Were  bashful  maidens  :   they  talked  on, 

Of  England  and  what  they  had  done 

On  byegonc  Christmas  nights  at  home, 

Of  friends  beyond  the  Northern  foam, 

And  friends  beyond  that  other  sea, 

Yet  further — whither  ceaselessly 

Travellers  follow  the  old  track, 

But  whence  no  messenger  comes  back." 

Christmas  i\  New  Zealand. 

In  1887,  we  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  \V.  M.  Stanton,  of 
Nelson,  New  Zealand,  giving  the  following  interesting  acconnt 
of  the  colonists'  observance  of  Christmas  :— 

"And  now,  as  to  Christmas,  I  wish  I  could  express  all  I  feel 
on   this  peculiarly  English  season   of  '  peace  and  goodwill.'     I 
remember  the  picturesque  snow  (seen  here  only  on  the  distant 
blue  mountain  tops),  the  icy  stalactites  pendant  from  the  leafless 
branches,  the  twitter  of  the  robin   redbreast,  the  holly,  and  the 
mistletoe,    decorated    homes,  redolent  with  the  effects   of   the 
festive  cooking,  and  the  warm  blazing  firelight,  the  meeting  of 
families  and  of  friends,  the  waits,  the  grand  old  peals  from  the 
belfries  ;  but,  alas,  here  these  childhood  associations  are  dis- 
pelled, half   broken,  and  we  acclimatised  denizens  adapt  our 
festivities    to    other  modes — not  that  we  forget  the  Christmas 
season,  but  enjoy  it  difl:'erently,  as  I  will  briefly  tell  you,  as  you 
ask,    '  how  we  spend  Christmas  in   New  Zealand.' '  First,  our 
ladies    decorate   the    churches   for  the  Christmas  services,  not 
with   the  evergreens  of  old  exclusively  ;  they  do  indeed  affect 
the  holly,  ivy,   and  (New   Zealand)  mistletoe,   but  they   make 
up  with    umbrageous  and  rich    ferns,    lachipoden,    lauristinas, 
Portugal  laurels,  and  our  own  beautiful  evergreen,  Ngaio,  and 
with  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  neigh- 
bouring bays  surrounding  small  townships,  and  villages  on  the 
coast.     Others  again,  take  the  train  for  a  day's  outing  and  play 
quoits,    rounders,    lawn    tennis,    and   the    like  ;  the  sportsman, 
perhaps,  preferring  his  gun  and   his  dog ;  families,    again,  are 
picnic-mad,  for  your  colonist  can  rival  the  Cockney  any  day  for 
making  his  holiday  in  the  country.     It  mav  be  to  '  the  rocks ' 
he  goes  to  watch  his  youngsters  paddling  in  the  rolling  tide,  or 
to  the  toil  of  clambering  up  the  '  dim  mountain,'  which  seems 
to   suit  their  hardy  lungs  better  than   the  shade  of  the   'fern 
glen,'  and  a  journey  of  eighteen  miles  to  the  Maori  Pa  is  as 
nothing.     The  Union  Company's  flue  coasting  steamships  run 
passengers   at  half  fares  at  this   season,  and  "the   result   is   an 
interchange  of  visits  between  the  dwellers  in  Nelson,  Wellington, 
Marlboro',  and  Wanjani,  amongst  whom  there  is   much  rivalry 
and  more  friendship.     Then  there  is  the  Christmas  regatta,  the 
performance  of  the  '  Messiah  '  by  the  musical  societies,  and  the 


MODERN   CHRISTMASES   ABROAD.  305 

inevitable  cveiiins^  dances,  and  thus  the  New  Zealand  Christmas 
is  spent. 

"  I  am  reminded,  by  my  young  clerk,  that  the  mail  is  about 
closing,  and  that  this  letter  must  also  close,  if  it  is  to  go  to-dav, 
and  thus  I  must  omit  the  mention  of  the  new  year's  festivities, 
which  properl}^  belong  to  our  numerous  Scottish  fellow  settlers 
who  in  their  own  country  ignore  Christmas  as  a  popish 
superstition  ;  they  are,  how^ever,  now  becoming  anglicised 
( '  Englitied  '  they  call  it)  in  their  habits,  and  similarly  the 
Midland  county  men  of  England  enter  into  their  Caledonian 
custom,  from  the  harmless  orgies  of  '  Hagmenae '  to  the  frantic 
capers  of  '  Gillie  Cullum,'  to  the  skirl  of  the  panting  piper." 

Christmas  at  the  Sandwich  Islands. 

In  "A  Voyage  in  the  Suiibcaiii,"  Lady  Brassey  gives  an 
interesting  account  of  the  keeping  of  Christmas,  1876,  on  the 
Sandwich  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  a 
large  wood  hre,  reaching  half  way  up  the  chimney. 

"  Everything  at  this  inn  is  most  comfortable,  though  the  style 
is  rough  and  ready.  The  interior  is  just  now  decorated  for 
Christmas,  with  wreaths,  and  evergreens,  and  ferns,  and 
branches  of  white  plumes,  not  unlike  reva-reva,  made  from  the 
path  of  the  silver  grass. 

"  The  grandeur  of  the  view  in  the  direction  of  the  volcano 
increased  as  the  evening  wore  on.  The  hery  cloud  above  the 
present  crater  grew  in  size  and  depth  of  colour  ;  the  extinct 
crater  glowed  red  in  thirty  or  forty  different  places  ;  and 
clouds  of  white  vapour  issued  from  every  crack  and  crevice  in 
the  ground,  adding  to  the  sulphurous  smell  with  which  the 
atmosphere  was  laden.  Our  room  faced  the  volcano  :  there 
were  no  blinds,  and  I  drew  back  the  curtains  and  lay  watching 
the  splendid  scene  until  I  fell  asleep. 

''Sunday,  December  2^lh  {Christinas  Eve) — I  was  up  at  four 
o'clock  to  gaze  once  more  on  the  wondrous  spectacle  that  lay 
before  me.  The  molten  lava  still  glowed  in  many  places,  the 
red  cloud  over  the  hery  lake  was  bright  as  ever,  and  steam  was 
slowly  ascending  in  every  direction  over  hill  and  valley,  till,  as 
the  sun  rose,  it  became  difticult  to  distinguish  clearly  the 
suljihurous  vapours  from  the  morning  mists.  We  walked  down 
to  the  Sulphur  Banks,  about  a  c|uarter  of  a  mile  from  the 
'  Volcano  House,'  and  burnt  our  gloves  and  boots  in  our 
endeavours  to  procure  crystals,  the  beauty  of  which  generally 
disappeared  after  a  very  short  exposure  to  the  air.  We  suc- 
ceeded, however,  in  iinding  a  few  good  specimens,  and,  by 
wrapping  them  at  once  in  paper  and  cotton-wool  and  putting 
them  into  a  bottle,  hope  to  bring  them  home  uninjured. 

"Monday,  December  2^th  {Christmas  Day) — Turning  in  last 
night  was  the  work  of  a  very  few  minutes,  and  this  mt)rning  I 

21 


3o6  CHRISTMAS. 

awoke  perfectly  refreshed  and  ready  to  appreciate  anew  the 
wonders  of  the  prospect  that  met  my  eyes.  The  piUar  of  lire 
was  still  distinctly  visible,  when  I  looked  ont  from  my  window, 
thongh  it  was  not  so  bright  as  when  I  had  last  seen  it,  but  even 
as  I  looked  it  began  to  fade  and  gradually  disappeared.  At  the 
same  moment  a  river  of  glowing  lava  issued  from  the  side  of  the 
bank  we  had  climbed  with  so  much  difficulty  yesterday,  and 
slowly  but  surely  overflowed  the  ground  we  had  walked  over. 
You  may  imagine  the  feelings  with  which  we  gazed  upon  this 
startling  phenomenon,  which  had  it  occurred  a  few  hours 
earlier,  might  have  caused  the  destruction  of  the  whole  party. 

"  It  would,  I  think,  be  difficult  to  imagine  a  more  interesting 
and  exciting  mode  of  spending  Christmas  Eve  than  yesterday 
has  taught  us,  or  a  stranger  situation  in  which  to  exchange  our 
Christmas  greetings  than  beneath  the  grass  roof  of  an  inn  on 
the  edge  of  a  volcano  in  the  remote  Sandwich  Islands. 

"The  ride  down  to  Hilo  was  as  dull  and  monotonous  as  our 
upward  journey  had  been.  At  last  we  reached  the  pier,  where 
we  found  the  usual  little  crowd  waiting  to  see  us  off.  The  girls 
who  had  followed  us  when  we  first  landed  came  forward  shyly 
when  they  thought  they  were  unobserved,  and  again  encircled 
me  with  leis  of  gay  and  fragrant  flowers.  The  custom  of 
decorating  themselves  with  wreaths  on  every  possible  occasion 
is  in  my  eyes  a  charming  one,  and  I  like  the  inhabitants  of 
Polynesia  for  their  love  of  flowers. 

"  The  w-hole  town  was  en  fete  to-day.  Natives  were  riding 
about  in  pairs,  in  the  cleanest  of  bright  cotton  dresses  and  the 
freshest  of  leis  and  garlands.  Our  own  men  from  the  yacht 
contributed  not  a  little  to  the  gaiety  of  the  scene.  They  were 
all  on  shore,  and  the  greater  part  of  them  were  galloping  about 
on  horseback,  tumbling  off,  scrambling  on  again,  laughing, 
flirting,  joking,  and  enjoying  themselves  generally  after  a 
fashion  peculiar  to  English  sailors.  As  far  as  we  know  the  only 
evil  result  of  all  this  merriment  was  that  the  doctor  received  a 
good  many  applications  for  diachylon  plaster  in  the  course  of 
the  evening,  to  repair  various  *  abrasions  of  the  cuticle,'  as  he 
expressed  it. 

"  I  think  at  least  half  the  population  of  Hilo  had  been  on 
board  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  shore 
was  very  gay,  and  as  we  approached  it  became  more  festive 
still.  All  her  masts  were  tipped  with  sugar-canes  in  bloom. 
Her  stern  was  adorned  with  flowers,  and  in  the  arms  of  the 
figurehead  was  a  large  bouquet.  She  w^as  surrounded  with 
boats,  the  occupants  of  which  cheered  us  heartily  as  we  rode 
alongside.     The  whole  deck  was  festooned   with  tro]iical  jilants 


MODERN   CHRISTMASES   ABROAD.  ^^07 

and  Howx'is,  and  the  decorations  of  the  cabins  were  even  more 
beautiful  and  elaborate.  I  believe  all  hands  had  been  hard  at 
work  ever  since  we  left  to  produce  this  wonderful  effect,  and 
every  garden  in  Hilo  had  furnished  a  contribution  to  please  and 
surprise  us  on  our  return. 

"  The  choir  from  Hilo  came  out  in  boats  in  the  evening",  sang 
all  sorts  of  songs,  sacred  and  secular,  and  cheered  everybody 
till  they  were  hoarse.  After  this,  having  had  a  cold  dinner,  in 
order  to  save  trouble,  and  having  duly  drunk  the  health  of  our 
friends  at  home,  we  all  adjourned  to  the  saloon,  to  assist  in  the 
distribution  of  some  Christmas  presents — a  ceremony  which 
afforded  great  delight  to  the  children,  and  which  was  equally 
pleasing  to  the  elder  people  and  to  the  crew,  if  one  may  judge 
from  their  behaviour  on  the  occasion. 

"Then  we  sat  on  deck,  gazing  at  the  cloud  of  lire  over 
Kilauea,  and  wondering  if  the  appearance  of  the  crater  could 
ever  be  grander  than  it  was  last  night,  when  we  were  standing 
on  its  brim. 

"  So  ended  Christmas  Day,  1876,  at  Hilo,  in  Hawaii.  God 
grant  that  there  may  be  many  more  as  pleasant  for  us  in  the 
future  !  " 

Christmas  ox  Bo.\kd  the  "Suxbe.\m,"  1879. 

"  The  wind  is  chill, 
But  let  it  whistle  as  it  will 
We'll  keep  our  Christmas  merry  still." 

In  "  Sunshine  and  Storm  in  the  East,  or  Cruises  to  Cyprus 
and  Constantinople,"  Lady  Brassey  gives  an  interesting  account 
of  the  celebration  of  Christmas  on  board  the  Siiiibcaiii,  between 
Malta  and  Marseilles,  December  25,  1879: — "We  had  service 
early  and  then  spent  a  long  busy  morning  in  arranging  all  the 
presents  for  the  children,  servants,  and  crew,  and  in  decorating 
the  cabin.  We  could  not  manage  any  holly,  but  we  had 
carefully  preserved  one  bough  of  mistletoe  from  Artaki  Bay, 
and  had  brought  on  board  at  Malta  baskets  full  of  flowers,  so 
that  all  the  jiictures,  lamps,  and  even  walls,  were  wreathed  with 
festoons  of  bougainvilkea,  ivy,  and  other  creeping  plants  ;  while 
in  every  available  corner  were  placed,  vases,  bowls,  and  soup- 
plates,  containing  flowers.  If  not  exactly  *  gay  with  holly- 
lierries,'  so  dear  to  English  hearts  from  their  association  with 
yule-tide  at  home,  the  general  appearance  of  the  cabins  was 
highly  satisfactory.  In  the  meantime  they  had  been  busy  in 
the  kitchen  and  pantry  departments,  preparing  all  sorts  of  good 
things  for  dinner,  and  pretty  things  for  dessert,  in  order  that 
the  crew  and  servants  might  enjoy  a  more  sumptuous  repast 
than  usual.  A  Christmas  tree,  a  snow  man,  or  an  ice  cave,  for 
the  distribution  of  presents,  was  not  within  the  limit  of  our 
resources  ;  but  we  decorated  our  tables  and  sideboards  with 
bright   shawls  and   scarves,   and    wreathed    and    divided    the 


3o8  'CHRISTMAS: 

surface  of  each  with  garlands  of  ilowers,  placing  in  every 
division  a  pretty  Christmas  card,  bearing  the  name  of  the 
recipient  of  the  present,  which  was  hidden  away  among  the 
flowers  beneath.  .  .  For  the  men  there  was  plenty  of  tobacco, 
besides  books  and  useful  things  ;  for  the  children  toys  ;  and  for 
ourselves,  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,  and 
mutual  congratulations  and  good  wishes  were  exchanged. 
Then  the  crew  and  servants  retired  to  enjoy  the,  to  them,  all- 
important  event  of  the  day — dinner  and  dessert.  After  our 
own  late  dinner,  we  thought  of  those  near  and  dear  to  us  at 
home,  and  drank  to  the  health  of  '  absent  friends.'  " 

A  Missionary's  Christmas  in  China. 

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  in 
China.  Well,  it  depends.  Some  spend  it  at  the  ports  dog- 
racing  and  eating  pudding — having  a  night  of  it.  The  mission- 
aries generally  take  no  notice  of  it.  In  our  mission  we  hold 
one  of  the  semi-annual  dedication-of-children  services  on 
Christmas.  We  think  it  a  very  appropriate  day  for  the  re- 
cognition of  the  sacredness  of  the  gift  of  trust  of  children. 
The  idea  is  a  Chinese  one,  originating  wdth  one  of  our 
Christians,  and  we  adopted  it  as  the  day  for  the  custom.  To- 
morrow will  be  Christmas  Day,  and  I  have  come  out  twenty 
miles  this  evening  to  hold  a  service  of  that  kind  with  the 
semi-annual  communion  as  it  happens.  -It  will  be  a  cold, 
cheerless  room  in  a  clay-built  cabin  down  in  the  corner  of  a 
bare  valley  in  a  trap  and  basalt  district  with  sparse  vegetation 
and  a  bare  aspect.  A  cold  spot  with  a  handful  of  Christians, 
bearing  their  testimony  alone  out  on  the  margin  of  our  held  of 
work.  I  hope  to  see  40  or  50  patients  up  to  sundown,  and 
then  have  worship  with  them  at  night.  That  will  be  my 
Christmas.  This  evening — in  the  city — all  the  children  and 
our  wives  are  having  a  Christmas  tree  in  the  theological 
lecture-room,  and  on  Tuesday  next  I  guess  we'll  have  our 
dinner.  John  Bull,  Paddy,  Sandy,  and  Taffy  all  seem  to  agree 
in  tlmt  feature.  My  Sunday  will  only  be  a  sample  of  others. 
So  it  goes — working  away.  Now  I  must  say  goodbye.  Many 
thanks  and  many  good  wishes." 

A  Visit  to  Christmas  Island. 

Letters  were  received  in  December,  1887,  from  H.M.S.  Egcria, 
Commander  Pelham  Aldrich,  containing  particulars  of  a  visit  she 
had  recently  made  to  Christmas  Island,  which  she  w\as  ordered 
to  explore  for  scientific  purposes.  Christmas  Island  is  situated 
in  the  Indian   Ocean,  in  latitude  11'^  south,  longitude   105^^  30 


MODERN  CHRISTMASES  ABROAD.  309 

east  ;  it  is  1,100  feet  above  the  sea,  is  twelve  miles  lon.^  and 
eight  miles  broad.  The  offieers  and  men  told  off  for  exploring 
purposes  found  that  the  whole  place  was  composed  of  coral 
and  rock  ;  notwithstanding  this,  however,  it  is  covered  almost 
completely  with  trees  and  shrubs,  the  trees,  which  are  of  large 
dimensions,  seeming  to  grow  literally  out  of  the  rock  itself, 
earth  surfaces  being  conspicuous  by  their  absence.  It  is 
uninhabited  by  human  beings,  nor  could  any  traces  of  animals 
be  discovered,  but  seabirds  swarm  over  every  part  of  the  island, 
and  about  four  hundred  wood  pigeons  were  shot  by  the  explorers 
while  they  remained  there.  No  fruits  or  vegetable  matter  ht 
for  consinnption  could,  however,  be  found,  nor  the  existence  of 
any  supply  (^f  fresh  water,  and  the  belief  is  that  the  vegetation 
of  the  island  is  dependent  for  nourishment  on  the  dews  and  the 
heavy  rains  that  fall. 

Christmas  in  America. 

Writing  just  before  the  Christmas  festival  of  1855,  Mr.  Howard 
Paul  says  the  general  manner  of  celebrating  Christmas  Day  is 
much  the  same  wherever  professors  of  the  Christian  faith  are 
found  ;  and  the  United  States,  as  the  great  Transatlantic  offshoot 
of  Saxon  principles,  would  be  the  first  to  conserve  the  traditional 
ceremonies  handed  down  from  time  immemorial  by  our  canonical 
progenitors  of  the  East.  But  every  nation  has  its  idiocratic 
notions,  minute  and  otherwise,  and  it  is  not  strange  that  the 
Americans,  as  a  creative  people,  have  peculiar  and  varied  ways 
of  their  own  in  keeping  this,  the  most  remarkable  day  in  the 
calendar.  Now  and  then  they  add  a  supplemental  form  to  the 
accepted  code — characteristic  of  the  mutable  and  progressive 
spirit  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  in 
the  mornipg,  dinner  in  the  afternoon,  and  amusements  in  the 
evening.  The  Christmas  dinners  concentrate  the  scattered 
.members  of  families,  who  meet  together  to  break  bread  in 
social  harmony,  and  exchange'  those  home  sentiments  that 
cement  the  happiness  of  kindred.  To-day  the  prodigal  once 
more  returns  to  the  paternal  roof  ;  the  spendthrift  forsakes  his 
boon  companions  ;  the  convivialist  deserts  the  wine-cup.  The 
beautiful  genius  of  domestic  love  has  triumphed,  and  who  can 
foresee  the  blessed  results  ? 

Parties,  balls,  and  fetes,  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  of 
enjoyment  marked  out.  Preparation  follows  preparation  in 
festal  succession.  Sorrow  hides  her  Gorgon  head,  care  may 
betake  itself  to  any  drearv  recesses,  for  Christmas  must  be  a 
gala  ! 


3IO  CHRISTMAS;. 

There  is  generally  snow  on  the  ground  at  this  time  ;  if  Nature 
is  amiable,  there  is  sure  to  be  ;  and  a  Christmas  sleigh-ride  is 
one  of  those  American  delights  that  defy  rivalry.  There  is  no 
withstanding  the  merry  chime  of  the  bells  and  a  fleet  passage 
over  the  snow-skirted  roads.  Town  and  country  look  as  if  they 
had  arisen  in  the  morning  in  robes  of  unsullied  white.  Every 
housetop  is  spangled  with  the  bright  element  ;  soft  flakes  are 
coquetting  in  the  atmosphere,  and  a  pure  mantle  has  been 
spread  on  all  sides,  that  fairly  invites  one  to  disport  upon  its 
gleaming  surface. 

We  abide  quietly  within  our  pleasant  home  on  either  the  eve 
or  night  of  Christmas.  How  the  sleighs  glide  by  in  rapid  glee, 
the  music  of  the  bells  and  the  songs  of  the  excursionists  falling 
on  our  ears  in  very  wildness.  We  strive  in  vain  to  content 
ourselves.  We  glance  at  the  cheerful  fire,  and  hearken  to  the 
genial  voices  around  us.  We  philosophise,  and  struggle  against 
the  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  moon 
is  beaming.     The  bells  tinkle  and  away  we  go  ! 

An  old  English  legend  was  transplanted  many  vears  ago  on 
the  shores  of  America,  that  took  root  and  flourished  with 
wonderful  luxuriance,  considering  it  was  not  indigenous  to  the 
country.  Probably  it  was  taken  over  to  New  York  by  one  of 
the  primitive  Knickerbockers,  or  it  might  have  clung  to  some 
of  the  drowsy  burgomasters  who  had  forsaken  the  pictorial  tiles 
of  dear  old  Amsterdam  about  the  time  of  Peter  de  Laar,  or 
II  Bombaccia,  as  the  Italians  call  him,  got  into  disgrace  in 
Rome.  However  this  may  be,  certain  it  is  that  Santa  Clans, 
or  St.  Nicholas,  the  kind  Patron-saint  of  the  Juveniles,  makes 
his  annual  appearance  on  Christmas  Eve,  for  the  purpose  of 
dispensing  gifts  to  all  good  children.  This  festive  elf  is 
supposed  to  be  a  queer  little  creature  that  descends  the 
chimney,  viewlessly,  in  the  deep  hours  of  night,  laden  with 
gifts  and  presents,  which  he  bestows  with  no  sparing  hand, 
reserving  to  himself  a  supernatural  discrimination  that  he  seems 
to  exercise  with  every  satisfaction.  Before  going  to  bed  the 
children  hang  their  newest  stockings  near  the  chimney,  or  pin 
them  to  the  curtains  of  the  bed.  Midnight  finds  a  world  of 
hosiery  waiting  for  favours  ;  and  the  only  wonder  is  that  a 
single  Santa  Clans  can  get  around  among  them  all.  The  storv 
goes  that  he  never  misses  one,  provided  it  belongs  to  a  deserving 
youngster,  and  morning  is  sure  to  bring  no  reproach  that  the 
Christmas  Wizard  has  not  nobly  performed  his  wondrous 
duties.  We  need  scarcely  enlighten  the  reader  as  to  who  the 
real  Santa  Clans  is.  Every  indulgent  parent  contributes  to  the 
pleasing  deception,  though  the  juveniles  are  strong  in  their  faith 
of  their  generous  holiday  patron.  The  following  favourite  lines 
graphically  describe  a  visit  of  St.  Nicholas,  and,  being  in  great 


MODERN   CHRISTMASES   ABROAD.  311 

vo.^iie  with  the  youiit;"  jx-oplc  of  America,  arc  fondly  rcprfxluccd 
from  vcar  to  year  : — 

"  'Twas  the  nigliL  before  Chrislnias,  when  all  lhroui,'li  the  luKise, 
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  snow 
Tiave  the  lustre  of  mid-day  to  objects  below. 
When  what  to  my  wondering  eyes  should  appear 
]5ut  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  I     Now  Prancer  !  now  \ixen  I 
On  Comet  I  on  Cupid  !  on  Donder  and  Rlixen  ! 
To  the  top  of  the  porch,  to  the  top  of  the  wall  ! 
Now  dash  away  !  dash  away  I  dash  away  all  ! ' 
As  the  leaves  that  before  the  wild  hurricane  fly, 
When  they  meet  will)  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  foot 
And  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  I  his  dimples,  how  merry  I 
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  belly 
That  shook  when  he  laughed,  like  a  bowl  full  of  jelly. 
He  was  chubby  and  plump — a  right  jolly  old  elf; 
.\nd  I  laughed  when  I  saw  him,  in  spite  of  myself. 
A  wink  of  his  eye  and  a  twist  of  his  head 
.Soon  gave  me  to  know  I  had  nothing  to  dread. 
He  spoke  not  a  word,  but  went  straight  to  his  work, 
And  nlled  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, 
.Vnd  away  they  all  flew  like  the  down  of  a  thistle. 
l>ut  I  heard  him  exclaim,  ere  he  drove  out  of  sight, 
'  Hap]iy  Christmas  to  all,  and  to  all  a  good  night  I '  " 

A  curious  feature  of  an  American  Christmas  is  the  egg-nogg 
and  free  lunch,  distributed  at  all  the  hotels  and  cafes.     A  week 


312  CHRISTMAS. 

;it  least  before  the  25th  fanciful  signs  are  suspended  over  the 
fountains  of  the  bars  (the  hotel-keepers,  are  quite  classic  in  their 
ideas)  announcing  superb  lunch  and  egg-noggs  on  Christmas 
Day.  This  invitation  is  sure  to  meet  with  a  large  response  from 
the  amateur  epicures  about  town,  who,  ever  on  the  qui  vivc  for 
a  banquet  gratis,  flock  to  the  festive  standard,  since  it  has  never 
been  found  a  difficult  matter  to  give  things  away,  from  the  time 
old  Heliogabalus  gastronomed  in  Phoenicia  up  to  the  present 
hour.  A  splendid  hall  in  one  of  the  principal  hotels,  at  this 
moment,  occurs  to  us.  A  table,  the  length  of  the  apartment,  is 
spread  and  furnished  with  twenty  made  dishes  peculiar  to  the 
Christmas  cuisine.  There  are  chorodcns  and  fricassees,  ragouts 
and  calipee,  of  rapturous  delicacy.  Each  dish  is  labelled,  and 
attended  by  a  black  servant,  who  serves  its  contents  on  very 
small  white  gilt-edged  plates.  At  the  head  of  the  table  a  vast 
bowl,  ornamented  with  indescribable  Chinese  figures,  contains 
the  egg-nogg — a  palatable  compound  of  milk,  eggs,  brandy,  and 
spices,  nankeenish  in  colour,  wath  froth  enough  on  its  surface 
to  generate  any  number  of  Venuses,  if  the  old  Peloponnesian 
anecdote  is  worth  remembering  at  all.  Over  the  egg-nogg  mine 
host  usually  officiates,  all  smiles  and  benignity,  pouring  the  rich 
draught  w4th  miraculous  dexterity  into  cut-glass  goblets,  and 
passing  it  to  the  surrounding  guests  with  profuse"  hand.  On  - 
this  occasion  the  long  range  of  fancy  drinks  are  forgotten. 
Sherry-cobblers,  mint-juleps,  gin-slings,  and  punches,  are  set 
aside  in  order  that  the  sway  of  the  Christmas  draught  may  be 
supreme.  Free  lunches  are  extremely  common  in  the  United 
States,  what  are  called  "  eleven  o'clock  snacks  "  especially  ;  but 
the  accompaniment  of  egg-nogg  belongs  unequivocallv  "to  the 
death  of  the  year. 

The  presentation  of  "boxes"  and  souvenirs  is  the  same  in 
America  as  in  England,  the  token  of  remembrance  having  an 
inseparable  alliance  with  the  same  period.  Everybody  expects 
to  give  and  receive.  A  month  before  the  event  the  fancy  stores 
are  crowded  all  day  long  with  old  and  young  in  search  of  suit- 
able souvenirs,  and  every  object  is  purchased,  from  costliest 
gems  to  the  tawdriest  bahiolc  that  may  get  into  the  market. 
If  the  weather  should  be  fine,  the  principal  streets  are  thronged 
with  ladies  shopping  in  sleighs  ;  and  hither  and  thither  sleds 
shoot  by,  laden  with  parcels  of  painted  tovs,  instruments  of 
mock  music  and  septuagenarian  dread,  from"  a  pennv  trumpet 
to  a  sheepskin  drum. 

Christmas  seems  to  be  a  popular  period  among  the  young 
folk  for  being  mated,  and  a  surprising  number  approach  the 
altar  this  morning.  Whether  it  is  that  orange-flowers  and 
bridal  gifts  are  admirably  adapted  to  the  time,  or  that  a  longer 
lease  of  happiness  is  ensured  from  the  joyous  character  of  the 
occasion,  we  are  not  sufficiently  learned  in  hymeneal  lore  to 
announce.  The  Christmas  week,  however,  is  a  merry  one  for 
the  honeymoon,  as  little  is  thought  of  but  mirth  and  gaiety  until 


MODERN   CHRISTMASES   ABROAD.  313 

the  dawning  New  Year  soberly  suggests  that  wc  sliould  put 
aside  our  masquerade  manners. 

In  (hawing-room  amusements  society  lias  a  weaUh  of 
pleasing  indoor  pastimes.  We  remember  the  sententious 
Question  n'linioiis,  the  hilarious  Surprise  parties,  Fairy-bowl, 
and  Hunt-the-slipper.  We  can  never  forget  the  vagabond 
Calathumpians,  who  employ  in  their  bands  everything  inhar- 
monious, from  a  tire-shovel  to  a  stewpan,  causing  more  din 
than  the  demons  down  under  the  sea  ever  dreamed  of. 

What,  then,  between  the  sleigh-rides,  the  bell-melodies,  old 
Santa  Clans  and  his  iictions,  the  egg-nogg  and  lunches,  the 
weddings  and  the  willingness  to  be  entertained,  the  Americans 
iind  no  difficulty  in  enjoying  Christmas  Dav.  Old  forms  and 
new  notions  come  in  for  a  share  of  observances  ;  and  the  young 
coun-tiy,  in  a  glow  of  good  hiuiK^ur,  with  one  voice  exclaims, 
"  Le  bon  temps  vienara  !  " 

President  Harrison"  as  "  Santa  Claus." 

Writing  from  New  York  on  December  22,  i8gi,  a  cor- 
respondent says  :  "  President  Harrison  was  seen  by  your 
correspondent  at  the  White  House  yesterday,  and  was  asked 
what  he  thought  about  Christmas  and  its  religious  and  social 
inlluences.  The  President  expressed  himself  willing  to  offer 
his  opinions,  and  said  :  '  Christmas  is  the  most  sacred  religious 
festival  of  the  year,  and  should  be  an  occasion  of  general 
rejoicing  throughout  the  land,  from  the  humblest  citizen  to 
the  highest  official,  w'ho,  for  the  time  being,  should  forget  or  put 
behind  him  his  cares  and  annoyances,  and  participate  in  the  spirit 
of  seasonable  festivity.  W^e  intend  to  make  it  a  happy  day  at  the 
White  House — all  the  members  of  my  family,  representing  four 
generations,  will  gather  around  the  big  table  in  the  State  dining- 
room  to  have  an  old-fashioned  Christmas  dinner.  Besides  ]\hs. 
Harrison,  there  will  be  her  father,  Dr.  Scott,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
M'Kee  and  their  children,  Mrs.  Dimmick  and  Lieutenant  and 
Mrs.  Parker.  I  am  an  ardent  believer  in  the  dutv  we  owe  to 
ourselves  as  Christians  to  make  merry  for  children  at  Christmas 
time,  and  we  shall  have  an  old-fashioned  Christmas  tree  for  the 
grandchildren  upstairs  ;  and  I  shall  be  their  Santa  Claus  mvself. 
If  my  influence  goes  for  aught  in  this  busv  world  let  me  hope 
that  my  example  may  be  followed  in  every  family  in  the  land.' 

"  Christmas  is  made  as  much  of  in  this  country  as  it  is  in 
England,  if  not  more.  The  plum-pudding  is  not  universal,  but 
the  Christmas  tree  is  in  almost  everv  home.  Even  in  the  tene- 
ment districts  of  the  East  side,  inhabited  bv  the  labouring  and 
poorer  classes,  these  vernal  emblems  of  the  anniversary  are 
quite  as  much  in  demand  as  in  other  quarters,  and  if  they 
and  the  gifts  hung  upon  them  are  less  elaborate  than  their 
West  side  congeners,  the  household  enthusiasm  which  wel- 
comes them  is  c]uite  as  marked.  As  in  London,  the  streets 
are  flooded  with  Christma.s  numbers  of  the  periodicals,  which, 


314  CHRISTMAS. 

it  may  be  remarked,  are  this  year  more  elaborate  in  clesi^Li'ii  and 
execution  than  ever.  The  use  of  Christmas  cards  has  also 
obtained  surprising"  proportions.  A  marked  feature  of  this 
year's  Christmas  is  the  variety  and  elegance  of  offerings  after 
the  Paris  fashion,  which  are  of  a  purely  ornamental  and  but 
slight  utilitarian  character.  There  are  bonbonnieres  in  a  variety 
of  forms,  some  of  them  very  magniiicent  and  expensive  ;  while 
the  Christmas  cards  range  in  prices  from  a  cent  to  ten  dollars 
each.  These  bonbonnieres,  decked  with  expensive  ribbon  or 
hand-painted  with  designs  of  the  season,  attain  prices  as  high 
as  forty  dollars  each,  and  are  in  great  favoiu-  among  the 
wealthy  classes.  Flowers  are  also  much  used,  and,  just  now,  ■ 
are  exceedingly  costly. 

''  While  the  usual  religious  ceremonies  of  the  day  are  generally 
observed  here,  the  mass  of  the  community  are  inclined  to  treat 
the  occasion  as  a  festive  rather  than  a  solemn  occasion,  and 
upon  festivity  the  whole  population  at  the  present  time  seems 
bent." 

"Merry  Christmas"  with  the  Negroes. 

A  journalist  who  has  been  amongst  the  negroes  in  the  Southern 
States  of  America  thus  describes  their  Christmas  festivities  : — 

"  Christmas  in  the  South  of  the  United  States  is  a  time- 
honoured  holiday  season,  as  ancient  as  the  settlement  of  the 
Cavalier  colonies  themselves.  We  may  imagine  it  to  have  been 
imported  from  '  merrie  England '  by  the  large-hearted  Papist, 
Lord  Baltimore,  into  Maryland,  and  by  that  chivalric  group  of 
Virginian  colonists,  of  whom  the  central  historical  figure  is  the 
famous  Captain  John  Smith,  of  Pocahontas  memory.  Perhaps 
Christmas  was  even  the  more  heartily  celebrated  among  these 
true  Papist  and  Church  of  England  settlers  from  the  disgust 
which  they  felt  at  the  stern  contempt  in  which  the  Natal  Day 
was  held  by  '  stiff-necked  Puritans '  of  New  England.  At 
least,  while  in  New  England  the  pilgrims  were  wont  to  work 
with  exceptional  might  on  Christmas  Day,  to  show  their 
detestation  of  it,  traditions  are  still  extant  of  the  jovial 
Southern  merrymaking  of  the  festival.  Christmas,  with  many 
of  the  Old  England  customs  imported  to  the  new  soil,  derived 
new  spirit  and  enjoyment  from  customs  which  had  their  origin 
in  the  Colonies  themselves.  Above  all  was  it  the  gala  season — 
the  period  to  be  looked  forward  to  and  revelled  in — of  the 
negroes.  Slavery,  with  all  its  horrors  and  wickedness,  had  at 
least  some  genial  features  ;  and  the  latitude  which  the  masters 
gave  to  the  slaves  at  Christmas  time,  the  freedom  with  which 
the  blacks  were  wont  to  concentrate  a  year's  enjoyment  into 
the  Christmas  week,  was  one  of  these.  In  Washington,  where 
until  the  war  slavery  existed  in  a  mild  and  more  civilised  form, 
the  negro  celebrations  of  Christmas  were  the  peculiar  and  amusing 
feature  of  the  season.  And  many  of  these  customs,  which  grew 
up  amid  slavery,  have  survived  that  institution.     The  Washing- 


MODERX   CHRISTMASFS   ABROAD.  315 

ton  negroes,  free,  have  pretty  iiiucli  the  same  zest  for  their 
time-honoured  amusements  which  they  had  when  under  the 
dominion  of  tlie  ohgarchy.  Christmas  is  still  their  great  gala 
and  occasion  for  merry-making,  and  the  sable  creatures 
thoroughly  understand  the  art  of  having  a  good  time,  being 
superior,  at  least  in  this  respect,  to  manv  a  blase  Prince  and 
Court  noble  distracted  with  cniiiti.  Those  who  have  seen 
the  'Minstrels'  may  derive  some  idea,  though  but  a  slight 
one,  of  the  negro  pastimes  and  peculiarities.  They  are,  above 
all,  a  social,  enthusiastic,  whole-souled  race  ;  they  have  their 
own  ideas  of  rank  and  social  caste,  and  they  have  a  humour 
which  is  homely,  but  thoroughly  genial,  and  quite  the  monopoly 
of  their  race.  They  insist  on  the  whole  of  Christmas  week  for 
a  holida}'.  *  Missus '  must  manage  how  she  can.  To  insist  on 
chaining  them  down  in  the  kitchen  during  that  halcyon  time 
would  stir  up  blank  rebellion.  Dancing  and  music  are  their 
favourite  Christmas  recreations  ;  they  manage  both  with  a  will. 
In  the  city  suburbs  there  are  many  modest  little  frame-houses 
inhabited  by  the  blacks  ;  now  and  then  a  homely  inn  kept  by 
a  dusky  landlord.  Here  in  Christmas  time  you  will  witness 
many  jolly  and  infectiously  pleasant  scenes.  There  is  a  '  sound 
of  revelry  by  night.'  You  are  free  to  enter,  and  observe  near 
by  the  countless  gyrations  of  the  negro  cotillon,  the  intricate 
and  deftly  executed  jig,  the  rude  melody  of  banjos  and  *  corn- 
stalk iiddles.'  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  their 
best  before  you.  You  will  be  astonished  to  observe  the  scrupu- 
lous neatness  of  the  men,  the  gaudy  and  ostentatious  habiliments 
of  '  de  ladies.'  The  negroes  have  an  intense  ambition  to  imitate 
the  upper  classes  of  white  society.  They  will  study  the  apparel 
of  a  well-dressed  gentleman,  and  squander  their  money  on 
'  swallow-tail'  coats,  high  dickeys,  white  neckties,  and  the  most 
elaborate  arts  of  their  dusky  barbers.  The  women  are  even 
more  imitative  of  their  mistresses.  Ribbons,  laces,  and  silks 
adorn  them,  on  festive  occasions,  of  the  most  painfully  vivid 
colours,  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  men 
towards  the  women  is  amazing.  They  make  gallant  speeches 
in  which  they  insert  as  manv  of  the  longest  and  most  learned 
words  as  thev  can  master,  picked  up  at  random,  and  not  always 
peculiarlv  adapted  to  the  use  made  of  them.  Their  excitement 
in  the  dance,  and  at  the  sound  of  music,  grows  as  intense  as 
does  their  furor  in  a  Methodist  revival  meeting.  They  have, 
too,  dances  and  music  peculiar  to  themselves — jigs  and  country 
dances  which  seem  to  have  no  method,  yet  which  are  perfectly 
adapted  to  and  rhythmic  with  the  inspiring  abrupt  thud  of  the 
banjo  and  the  bones.  As  they  dance,  thev  shout  and  sing,  slap 
their  hands  and  knees,  and  lose  themselves  in  the  enthusiasm 


3i6  CHRISTMAS. 

of  the  moment.  The  negroes  look  forward  to  Christmas  not 
less  as  the  season  for  present-giving  than  that  of  frolicking  and 
jollity.  Early  in  the  morning  they  hasten  upstairs,  and  catch 
'  massa  '  and  *  missus '  and  '  de  chillun '  with  a  respectful  but 
eager  '  Merry  Christmas,'  and  are  sure  to  get  in  return  a  new 
coat  or  pair  of  boots,  a  gingham  dress,  or  ear-rings  more  showy 
than  expensive.  They  have  saved  up,  too,  a  pittance  from  their 
wages,  to  expend  in  a  souvenir  for  'Dinah'  or  '  Pompey,'  the 
never-to-be-forgotten  belle  or  sweetheart." 

Christmas  in  France. 

The  following  account  of  Christmas  in  France,  in  1823,  is 
given  by  an  English  writer  of  the  period  : — 

"  The  habits  and  customs  of  Parisians  vary  much  from  thos.^ 
of  our  own  metropolis  at  all  times,  but  at  no  time  more  than  at 
this  festive  season.  An  Englishman  in  Paris,  who  had  been  for 
some  time  without  referring  to  his  almanac,  would  not  know 
Christmas  Day  from  another  day  by  the  appearance  of  the 
capital.  It  is  indeed  set  down  as  a  jour  dc  fete  in  the  calendar, 
but  all  the  ordinary  business  life  is  transacted  ;  the  streets  are 
as  usual,  crowded  with  waggons  and  coaches  ;  the  shops,  with 
few  exceptions,  are  open,  although  on  other  fete  days  the  order 
for  closing  them  is  rigorously  enforced,  and  if  not  attended  to, 
a  fine  levied  ;  and  at  the  churches  nothing  extraordinary  is 
going  forward.  All  this  is  surprising  in  a  Catholic  country, 
which  professes  to  pay  much  attention  to  the  outward  rites  of 
religion. 

''  On  Christmas  Eve,  indeed,  there  is  some  bustle  for  a  mid- 
night mass,  to  which  immense  numbers  flock,  as  the  priests,  on 
this  occasion,  get  up  a  showy  spectacle  which  rivals  the  theatres. 
The  altars  are  dressed  with  flowers,  and  the  churches  decorated 
profusely  ;  but  there  is  little  in  all  this  to  please  men  who  have 
been  accustomed  to  the  John  Bull  mode  of  spending  the  evening. 
The  good  English  habit  of  meeting  together  to  forgive  offences 
and  injuries,  and  to  cement  reconciliations,  is  here  unknown. 
The  French  listen  to  the  Church  music,  and  to  the  singing  of 
their  choirs,  which  is  generally  excellent,  but  they  know  notliing 
of  the  origin  of  the  day  and  of  the  duties  which  it  imposes. 
The  English  residents  in  Paris,  however,  do  not  forget  our 
mode  of  celebrating  this  day.  Acts  of  charity  from  the  rich 
to  the  needy,  religious  attendance  at  church,  and  a  full  obser- 
vance of  hospitable  rites,  are  there  witnessed.  Paris  furnishes 
all  the  requisites  for  a  good  pudding,  and  the  turkeys  are 
excellent,  though  the  beef  is  not  to  be  displayed  as  a  prize 
production. 

"  On  Christinas  Day  all  the  English  cooks  in  Paris  are  in  full 
business.  The  cjueen  of  cooks,  however,  is  Harriet  Dunn,  of 
the  Boulevard.  As  Sir  Astley  Cooper  among  the  cutters 
of  limbs,  and  d'Egville  among  the  cutters  of  capers,  so  is 
Harriet    Dunn    among    the   professors    of    one   of    the   most 


MODERN   CHRISTMASES   ABROAD.  317 

necessary,  and  in  its  results  most  stratifying  professions  in 
existence  ;  her  services  are  secnred  beforehand  by  special 
retainers  ;  and  happy  is  the  peer  who  can  point  to  his 
pndding,  and  declare  that  it  is  of  the  true  Dunn  composition. 
Her  fame  has  even  extended  to  the  provinces.  For  some  time 
previous  to  Christmas  Day,  she  forwards  puddings  in  cases  to 
all  parts  of  the  country,  ready  cooked  and  lit  for  the  table,  after 
the  necessary  warming.  All  this  is,  of  course,  for  the  English. 
No  prejudice  can  be  stronger  than  that  of  the  French  against 
plum-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  appear 
extraordinary,  have  ploiiib-pooiiing  upon  their  cartes,  but  in  no 
instance  is  it  ever  ordered  by  a  Frenchman.  Everybody  has 
heard  the  story  of  St.  Louis — Henri  Qautre,  or  whoever  else 
it  might  be — who,  wishing"  to  regale  the  English  ambassador  on 
Christmas  Day  with  a  plum-pudding,  procured  an  excellent 
recipe  for  making  one,  which  he  gave  to  his  cook,  with  strict 
injunctions  that  it  should  be  prepared  with  due  attention  to  all 
particulars.  The  weight  of  the  ingredients,  the  size  of  the 
copper,  the  quantity  of  water,  the  duration  of  time,  every- 
thing was  attended  to  except  one  trifle — the  king  forgot  the 
cloth,  and  the  pudding  was  served  up,  like  so  much 
soup  in  immense  tureens,  to  the  surprise  of  the  ambassador, 
who  was,  however,  too  well  bred  to  express  his  astonish- 
ment. Louis  XVHL,  either  to  show  his  contempt  of  the 
prejudices  of  his  countrymen,  or  to  keep  up  a  custom 
which  suits  his  palate,  has  always  an  enormous  pudding  on 
Christmas  Day,  the  remains  of  which,  when  it  leaves  the  table, 
he  requires  to  be  eaten  by  the  servants,  boii  grc,  iiiaiirais  grc ; 
but  in  this  instance  even  the  commands  of  sovereignty  are 
disregarded,  except  by  the  numerous  English  in  his  service, 
consisting  of  several  valets,  grooms,  coachmen,  &c.,  besides  a 
great  number  of  ladies'  maids  in  the  service  of  the  duchesses 
of  Angouleme  and  B.erri,  who  very  frequently  partake  of  the 
dainties  of  the  king's  table." 

In  his  *' Year  Book,  1832,"  Hone  says  that  at  Koiien,  after  the 
Tc  Dciini,  in  the  nocturnal  office  or  vigil  of  Christmas,  the 
ecclesiastics  celebrated  the  "  ofhce  of  the  shepherds "  in 
the  following  manner  : — 

"  The  image  of  the  Virgin  Mary  was  placed  in  a  stable  pre- 
pared behind  the  altar.  A  boy  from  above,  before  the  choir, 
in  the  likeness  of  an  angel,  announced  the  nativity  to  certain 
canons  or  vicars,  who  entered  as  shepherds  through  the  great 
door  of  the  choir,  clothed  in  tunicks  and  amesses.  Many  boys 
in  the  vaults  of  the  church,  like  angels,  then  began  the  \<lIoria 
ill  cxcchis.''  The  shepherds,  hearing  this,  advanced  to  the 
stable,  singing  ^  peace,  goodK'ill,'  &c.  As  soon  as  they  entered 
it,  two    priests    in    dalmaticks,  as  if  women  (quasi  obstetrices) 


3^^  CHRISTMAS. 

who  were  stationed  at  the  stable,  said,  '  Whom  seek  ye?' 
The  shepherds  answered,  according  to  the  angehc  annuncia- 
tion, 'Our  Saviour  Christ.'  The  women  then  opening  the 
curtani  exhibited  the  boy,  saying,  'The  httle  one  is  here  as 
the  Prophet  Isaiah  said.'  They  then  showed  the  mother, 
saymg,  '  Behold  the  Virgin,'  &c.  Upon  these  exhibitions  thev 
bowed  and  worshipped  the  boy,  and  saluted  his  mother.  The 
ol¥ice  ended  by  their  returning  to  the  choir,  and  sinmng 
Alleluia,  &c."  ' 

Christmas  Day  ix  Besieged  Paris. 

"  Christmas,  Paris, 
"  Sunday,  Dec.  25,  1870,  98//?  day  of  the  Siege. 

"  Never  has  a  sadder  Christmas  dawned  on  any  city.  Cold, 
hunger,  agony,  grief,  and  despair  sit  enthroned  at  every  habita- 
tion in  Paris.  It  is  the  coldest  clay  of  the  season  and  the  fuel 
IS  very  short ;  and  the  government  has  had  to  take  hold  of  the 
fuel  question,  and  the  magnificent  shade-trees  that  have  for 
ages  adorned  the  avenues  of  this  city  are  all  likely  to  go  in  the 
vain  struggle  to  save  France.  So  says  the  Oflicial  Journal  of 
this  morning.  The  sufferings  of  the  "past  week  exceed  by  far 
anything  we  have  seen.  There  is  scarcely  any  meat  but  horse- 
meat,  and  the  government  is  now  rationing.  It  carries  out  its 
work  with  impartiality.  The  omnibus-horse,  the  cab -horse, 
the  work-horse,  and  the  fancy-horse,  all  go  alike  in  the  mourn- 
ful procession  to  the  butchery  shops— the  magnificent  blooded 
steed  of  the  Rothschilds  by  the  side  of  the"  old  plug  of  the 
cabman.  Fresh  beef,  mutton,  pork  are  now  out  of  the 
question.  A  little  poultry  yet  remains  at  fabulous  prices 
In  walking  through  the  Rue  St.  Lazare  I  saw  a  middling- 
sized  goose  and  chicken  for  sale  in  a  shop-window,  and  I 
had  the  curiosity  to  step  in  and  inquire  the  price  (rash  man 
that  I  was).  The  price  of  the  goose  was  $25,  and  the 
chicken  $7."- 

Christmas  ix  Paris  ix  1886. 

The  Paris  correspondent  of  the  Daily  Telegraph  writes  :— 
"Ahhough  New  Year's  Day  is  the  great  French  festival,  the 
fashion  of  celebrating  Christmas  something  after  the  English 
custom  is  gaining  ground  in  Paris  every  year.  Thus  a  good 
deal  of  mistletoe  now  makes  its  appearance  on  the  boulevards 
and  in  the  shop  windows,  and  it  is  evident  that  the  famous 
Druidical  plant,  which  is  shipped  in  such  large  quantities  every 
year  to  England  from  Normandy  and  Brittany,  is  fast  becoming 
popular  among  Parisians.      Another  custom,  that  of  decorating 

'  Fosbroke's  "British  Monachism." 

-  ''  Reminiscences  of  the  Siege  and  Commune  of  Paris,"  by  Ex-Minister  E   B 
Washburne. 


MODERN  CHRISTMASES  ABROAD.  319 

Christinas  trees  in  the  Ens^Ush  and  Cieiinan  style,  has  become 
qnite  an  annual  solemnity  here  since  the  inilnx  of  Alsatians  and 
Lorrainers,  while  it  is  considered  cliic,  in  many  qnarters,  to  eat 
approximate  plum-puddins^  on  the  25th  of  December.  Unfortu- 
nately, the  Parisian  '  blom  budding,'  unless  prepared  by  British 
hands,  is  generally  a  concoction  of  culinary  atrocities,  tasting, 
let  us  say,  like  saveloy  soup  and  ginger-bread  porridge.  In  a 
few  instances  the  '  Angleesh  blom  budding '  has  been  served  at 
French  tables  in  a  soup  tureen  ;  and  guests  have  been  known  to 
direct  fearful  and  furtive  glances  towards  it,  just  as  an  English- 
man might  regard  with  mingled  feelings  of  surprise  and  suspicion 
a  fricassee  of  frogs.  But  independently  of  foreign  innovations, 
Parisians  have  their  own  way  of  celebrating  Noel.  To-night 
(Christmas  Eve)  for  instance,  there  will  be  midnight  masses  in 
the  principal  churches,  when  appropriate  canticles  and  Adam's 
popular  '  Noel '  will  be  sung.  In  many  private  houses  the 
boudin  will  also  be  eaten  after  the  midnight  mass,  the  rich 
baptising  it  in  champagne,  and  the  petit  bourgeois,  who  has  not 
a  wine  cellar,  in  a  cheap  concoction  of  bottled  stuff  with  a 
Bordeanx  label  bnt  a  strong  Paris  flavour.  The  feast  of  Noel  is, 
however,  more  archaically,  and  at  the  same  time  more  earnestlv, 
celebrated  in  provincial  France.  In  the  south  the  head  of  the 
family  kindles  the  yule-log,  or  buchc-dc-Xocl,  which  is  supposed 
to  continue  burning  until  the  arrival  of  spring.  Paterfamilias 
also  lights  the  calcii,  or  Christmas  lamp,  which  represents  the 
Star  of  Bethlehem,  and  then  all  repair  to  the  midnight  mass  in 
those  picturesque  groups  which  painters  have  delighted  to 
commit  to  canvas.  The  inevitable  baraqiies,  or  booths,  which 
are  allowed  to  remain  on  the  great  boulevards  from  Christmas 
Eve  until  the  Feast  of  the  Kings,  on  January  6,  have  made  their 
appearance.  They  extend  from  the  Place  de  la  Madeleine  to 
the  Place  de  la  Kepublique,  and  are  also  visible  on  some  of  the 
other  boulevards  of  the  metropolis.  Their  glittering  contents 
are  the  same  as  usual,  and,  despite  their  want  of  novelty,  crowds 
of  people  lounged  along  the  boulevards  this  afternoon  and 
inspected  them  with  as  much  curiosity  as  if  they  formed  part  of 
a  Russian  fair  w'hich  had  been  temporarily  transported  from 
Nijni  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  of 
winter  ilowers  from  the  rain,  and  this  gives  the  market  a  gayer 
and  more  brilliant  appearance  than  usual.  What  strikes  one 
more  than  anything  else,  however,  is  the  number  of  French 
people  whom  one  sees  purchasing  holly  bushes  and  mistletoe, 
which  they  carry  home  in  huge  bundles,  after  the  good  old 
English  fashion.  Notwithstanding  the  dampness  and  gloom  of 
the  weather,  which  hovers  between  frost  and  rain,  the  general 
aspect  of  Paris  to-day  is  one  of  cheerful  and  picturesque 
animation,    and    the  laughing  crowds  with  whom  one   jostles 


320  CHRISTMAS. 

in  the  streets  are  thoroughly  imbued  with   the  festive  character 
of  the  season. 

Christmas  in  Normandy. 

In  describing  the  old-custom-loving  people  of  Lower  X'or- 
mandy,  a  writer  on  "Calvados,"  in  1884-5,  thus  refers  to  the 
season  of  Christmas  and  Twelfth-tide  :  "  Now  Christmas  arrives, 
and  young  and  old  go  up  to  greet  the  little  child  Jesus,  lying  on 
his  bed  of  straw  at  the  Virgin  Mother's  feet  and'  smiling  to  all 
the  world.  Overhead  the  old  cracked  bell  clangs  exultant, 
answering  to  other  bells  faint  and  far  on  the  midnight  air  ;  a 
hundred  candles  are  burning  and  every  church  window  shines 
through  the  darkness  hke  the  gates  of  that  holy  New  Jerusalem 
'  whose  hght  was  as  a  stone  most  precious — a  jasper-stone  clear 
as  crystal.'  With  Twelfth-tide  this  fair  vision  suffers  a  meta- 
morphosis, blazoning  out  into  the  paganish  saturnalia  of  bonhres, 
which  in  Calvados  is  transferred  from  St.  John's  Eve  le  jour  dcs 
Rois.  Red  Hames  leap  skyward,  fed  by  dry  pine  fagots,  and 
our  erstwhile  devout  peasants,  throwing  moderation  to  the  winds, 
join  hands,  dance,  and  leap  for  good  luck  through  blinding 
smoke  and  embers,  shouting  their  rude   doggerel  : 

"  '  Adieu  les  R(jis 
Jusqu'a  douze  mois, 
Douze  mois  passes 
Les  boiigelces.'' " 


Christmas  in  Provence. 


PROVENCAL    PLAYS    AT   CIIRIST.MASTIDE. 


MODERN   CHRISTMASKS    ABROAD.  32 1 

Hcinrich   Heine  delighted  in  the   infantile  childishness  of  a 
Provencal  Christmas.     He   never  saw  anything  prettier  in  his 
life,    he  said,    than    a    Noel    procession    on    the    coast    of    the 
Mediterranean.     A    beautiful    young   woman    and    an    equally 
lovely   child  sat    on    a   donkey,  which  an  old   lisheiman  in    a 
Iknving  brown    gown  was  supposed  to  be  leading  into   Egypt. 
Young  girls  robed  in  white  muslin  were  supposed  to  be  angels,  and 
hovered  near  the  child  and  its  mother  to  supply  to  him  sweetmeats 
and  other  refreshments.    At  a  respectful  distance  there  was  a  pro- 
cession of  nuns  and  village  children,  and  then  a  band  of  vocalists 
and    instrumentalists.     Flowers    and    streaming    banners    were 
unsparingly  used.     Bright  sunshine  played  upon  them,  and  the 
deep  blue  sea  formed  a  background.     The  seafaring  people  who 
looked  on,  not  knowing  whether  to  venerate  or  laugh,  did  both. 
Falling  upon  their  knees  they  went  through  a  short  devotional 
exercise,  and  then  rose  to  join  the  procession  and  give  them- 
selves up  to  unrestricted  mirth.      In  the  chateaux  of  the  South 
of  France  creches  are  still  exhibited,  and  creche  suppers  given  to 
the  poorer  neighbours,  and  to  some  of  the  rich,  who  are  placed 
at  a  table  "  above  the  salt."  There  are  also  "  Bethlehem  Stable  " 
puppet-shows,  at  which  the   Holy   Family,   their  visitors,    and 
four-footed  associates  are  brought  forward  as  dranialis  persona'. 
St.  Joseph,  the  wise  men,  and  the  shepherds  are  made  to  speak 
in  patois.     But  the  Virgin  says  what  she  has  to  say  in  classical 
French.     In  the  relinement  of  her  diction,  her  elevation  above 
those  with   her  is  expressed.     At   Marseilles  an  annual  fair  of 
statuettes  is  held,  the  profits  of  which  are  spent  in  setting  up 
Bethlehem    creches    in    the   churches  and  other  places.      Each 
statuette  represents  a   contemporaneous  celebrity,  and  is  con- 
tained   in    the    hollow    part    of   the   wax   bust  of   some    saint. 
Gambetta,   Thiers,   Cavour,  Queen  Victoria,   Grevy,  the   Pope, 
Paul  Bert,  Kouvier  (who  is  a  Marseillais),  the  late  Czar  and  other 
celebrities  have  appeared  among  the  pi^iiriiies  hidden  within  the 
saintly  busts. 

Christmas  i\  Corsica. 

"A  Winter  in  Corsica,"  by  "Two  Ladies,"  published  in  1868, 
contains  an  interesting  account  of  the  celebration  of  Christmas 
in  that  picturesque  island  of  the  Mediterranean  which  is  known 
as  the  birthplace  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte — "  One  day  shortly 
before  Christmas  our  hostess,  or  landlady,  was  very  busy  with 
an  old  bodv  in  the  kitchen,  who  had  come  to  make  sundry 
cakes  in  preparation  for  that  festive  season.  We  were  all  called 
down  to  see  what  was  going  on,  and  our  attention  was 
particularly  directed  to  the  great  oven  which  was  heated  on 
purpose  to  bake  them.  One  kind  of  cake  was  made  of  chesnut 
Hour,  another  of  eggs  and  broche  (a  kind  of  curds  made  from 
goats'  milk),  but  the  principal  sort  was  composed  chiefly  of 
ahnonds,  extremely  good  and  not  unlike  macaroons,  but  thicker 
and  more  substantial.     For  several  days  previously,  everybody 


322  CHRISTMAS. 

in  the  house  had  been  busy  bhiuehing  and  pounding  ahnonds  ; 
not  only  the  two  servants,  but  Rose  and  Clara,  the  young  work- 
women who  were  so  often  staying  in  the  house,  and  who, 
indeed,  at  cMie  time  seemed  to  form  part  of  the  establishment. 
The  old  cook  herself,  a  stout  and  dumpy  person,  was  worth 
looking  at,  as  she  stood  surrounded  by  these  young  women,  who 
did  very  little  but  watch  her  operations  ;  and  the  whole  formed 
quite  an  animated  picture  of  a  foreign  iiiciiage,  which  one  rarely 
has  the  opportunity  of  seeing. 

"  Towards  Christmas,  considerable  preparations  began  to  be 
made  in  the  shops  for  the  coming  season,  but  chiefly,  perhaps, 
for  New  Year's  Day,  which  is  kept  throughout  France  as  a 
grand  fete  day.  Sweetmeats  in  great  variety  hlled  the  windows, 
and  especially  what  were  called  pralines — an  almond  comfit 
covered  with  rough  sugar,  and  of  a  peculiar  Havour.  They  are 
very  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  done 
with  summer. 

"  There  was  certainly  a  good  deal  of  novelty  in  our  mode  of 
passing  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  readily 
promised  to  take  us,  and  also  said  we  should  have  a  ptiit  soiipcr 
with  her  on  our  return.  She  told  us  afterwards  that  she  had 
spoken  to  the  organist,  and  obtained  permission  for  us  to  go 
into  the  organ-loft,  w^here  we  should  have  a  good  view  over  the 
church,  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  his 
daughter,  friends  of  hers,  proceeded  to  the  cathedral. 

"  As  there  is  no  gas  in  Ajaccio,  the  church  of  course  is 
lighted  only  with  candles,  and  very  dim  and  gloomy  it  looked, 
especially  at  first,  and  during  a  dull  monotonous  kind  of  chant- 
ing, which  we  were  told  were  the  offices  to  the  Virgin. 

"  By  and  by,  as  midnight  drew  near,  and  the  mass  was  about 
to  commence,  a  great  number  of  candles  were  lighted  on  the 
high  altar  and  in  the  side  chapels,  and  the  scene  became  more 
brilliant  and  animated.  We  looked  clown  upon  a  perfect  sea  of 
heads,  the  women  all  wearing  the  national  handkerchiefs,  many 
of  these  of  bright  colours,  and  making  them  conspicuous  among 
the  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  his 
allotted  place,  and  then  the  service  began.  At  one  point, 
supposed   to  be  the   moment  of  our  Saviour's  birth,  there  was 


MODERX  CHRISTMASES  ABROAD.  323 

quite  an  uproar.  Tlic  people  clapped  their  bauds,  and  stamped, 
and  shouted,  trumpets  sounded,  and  the  organ  j^ealed  forth  its 
loudest  tones. 

"  Then  there  was  a  very  sweet  hymn-tune  played,  and  some 
beautiful  voices  sang  Adeste  Fideles,  which  was  by  far  the  most 
pleasing  part  of  the  service  to  our  minds.  Next  came  the  read- 
ing of  the  Gospel,  with  much  formality  of  kissing  and  bowing, 
and  incensing  ;  the  book  was  moved  from  side  to  side  and  from 
place  to  place  ;  then  one  priest  on  his  knees  held  it  up  above  his 
head,  while  another,  sitting,  read  a  short  passage,  and  a  third 
came  forward  to  the  front  of  the  enclosed  space  near  the  altar, 
Ihnging  the  censer  ronnd  and  about.  Then  the  little  bell 
tinkled,  and  all  that  mass  of  heads  bowed  down  lower,  the  Host 
was  raised,  the  communion  taken  by  the  priests,  and  at  one 
o'clock  all  was  over. 

"  We  gladlv  regained  the  fresh  air,  which,  though  rather  cold, 
was  much  needed  after  the  close  atmosphere  of  the  crowded 
cathedral.  The  moon  was  very  bright,  and  we  hastened  home 
with  appetites  sharpened  by  our  walk,  for  what  proved  to  be  a 
handsome  dinner,  rather  than  a  pctil  soiipcr. 

"  P'or  ourselves,  we  did  not  forget  the  old  home  custom  of 
Christmas  decorations,  and  took  some  pains  to  dress  our  salon 
with  evergreens,  which  we  brought  down  from  the  hills  the 
previous,  day.  Although  we  had  neither  holly  nor  mistletoe,  we 
found  good  substitutes  for  them  in  the  elegant-leaved  lentiscus, 
the  tree  heath  and  sweetly  perfumed  myrtle  ;  while  round  the 
mirror  and  a  picture  of  the  Mrgin  on  the  opposite  wall  we 
twined  garlands  of  the  graceful  sarsaparilla.  The  whole  looked 
extremely  pretty,  and  gave  quite  a  festive  appearance  to  the 
room. 

"  On  Christmas  Day  we  joined  some  English  friends  for  a 
walk,  about  eleven  o'clock.  It  was  a  charming  morning,  bright 
and  hot,  as  we  strolled  along  the  shore  to  the  orange-garden  of 
Barbacaja,  where  we  gathered  oranges  fresh  from  the  trees. 

"  On  returning  home  to  din?ier  no  plum-pudding  or  mince-pies 
awaited  us  certainly,  but  we  had  tolerably  good  beef,  for  a 
wonder,  and  lamb,  merles,  and  new  potatoes. 

"  Christmas  Dav  in  Corsica  is  observed  by  the  people  as  a 
religious  festival,  but  not  as  a  social  one  ;  and  there  are  no 
familv  gatherings  as  in  England  and  Germany.  This  arises,  no 
doubt,  from  that  non-existence  of  true  domestic  life  which  must 
strike  all  English  taking  up  a  temporary  residence  in  France. 

"  There  was  a  succession  of  fete  days  throughout  Christmas 
week,  when  the  shops  were  shut  and  the  people  dressed  in  holiday 
attire.  But  the  great  day  to  which  every  one  seems  to  look 
forward  is  the  first  of  the  year,  le  ^oitr  dc  VAii.  Presents  are 
then  made  by  everybody  to  everybody,  and  visits  of  congratula- 


324 


CHRISTMAS. 


tion,  or  merely  of  ceremony,  received  and  expected.  The  gifts 
are  sometimes  costly  and  handsome,  but  generally  they  are 
trifling,  merely  valuable  as  works  of  remembrance,  consisting 
chielly  of  bonbons,  boxes  of  crystallised  fruits,  and  other  con- 
fectionery." 

Christmas  in  Chios. 


>MM>miA 


The  preceding  illustration  of  Eastern  art  belongs  to  the  same 
period  as  many  of  the  Christmas  customs  which  have  survived 
in  Chios,  and  it  carries  our  thoughts  back  to  the  time  when 
Byzantium  was  the  capital  of  the  Greek  Empire  in  the  east. 
From  an  interesting  account  by  an  English  writer  in  the 
ConiJiill  Magazine,  for  December,  1886,  who  spent  a  Christmas 
amongst  the  Greeks  of  this  once  prosperous  isle  of  Chios, 
it  appears  that,  two  days  before  Christmas,  he  took  up  his 
quarters  at  "  the  village  of  St.  George,  a  good  day's  journey 
from  the  town,  on  the  slopes  of  a  backbone  of  mountains,  which 
divides  Chios  from  north  to  south."  On  the  morning  following 
the  arrival  at  St.  George,  "  echoes  of  home  "  were  heard  which 
caused  the  writer  to  exclaim :  "  Surely  they  don't  have 
Christmas  waits  here."  Outside  the  house  stood  a  crowd  of 
chil  'ren  singing  songs  and  carrying  baskets.  From  the  window, 
the  mistress  of  the  house  was  seen  standing  amongst  the 
children  "  talking  hard,  and  putting  handfuls  of  something  into 
each  basket  out  of  a  bag."     "  On  descending,"  says  the  writer, 


MODERN   CHRIST  MASKS   AHROAD.  325 

"  I  inquired  tlie  cause  of  this  early  invasion,  and  learnt  that  it  is 
customary  on  the  day  before  Christmas  for  children  to  go  round 
to  the  houses  of  the  village  early,  before  the  celebration  of  the 
liturgy,  and  collect  what  is  called  *  the  luck  of  Christ ' — that  is 
to  say,  walnuts,  almonds ,  hgs,  raisins,  and  the  like.  Every 
housewife  is  careful  to  have  a  large  stock  of  these  things  ready 
overnight,  and  if  children  come  after  her  stock  is  exhansted  she 
says,  '  Christ  has  taken  them  and  passed  b3\'  The  urchins,  who 
are  not  always  willing  to  accept  this  excuse,  revile  her  w  ith 
uncomplimentary  remarks,  and  wish  her  cloven  feet,  and  other 
disagreeable  things." 

The  writer  visited  the  chief  inhabitants  of  St.  George,  and 
was  regaled  with  "  spoonfuls  of  jam,  cups  of  coffee,  and  glasses 
of  mastic  liquer  "  ;  and,  in  a  farmyard,  "  saw  oxen  with  scarlet 
horns,"  it  being  the  custom,  on  the  day  before  Christmas,  for 
"  every  man  to  kill  his  pig,  and  if  he  has  cattle  to  anoint  their 
horns  with  blood,  thereby  securing  their  health  for  the  coming 
year. 

"It  is  very  interesting  to  see  the  birthplace  of  our  own 
Christmas  customs  here  in  Greece,  for  it  is  an  undoubted  fact 
that  all  we  see  now  in  Greek  islands  has  survived  since  Byzan- 
tine days.  Turkish  rule  has  in  no  way  interfered  with  religious 
observances,  and  during  four  or  hve  centuries  of  isolation  from 
the  civilised  world  the  conservative  spirit  of  the  East  has 
preserved  intact  for  us  customs  as  they  were  in  the  earlv  days 
of  Christianity  ;  inasmuch  as  the  Eastern  Church  was  the  first 
Christian  Church,  it  was  the  parent  of  all  Christian  customs. 
Many  of  these  customs  were  mere  adaptations  of  the  pagan  to 
the  Christian  ceremonial — a  necessary  measure,  doubtless,  at  a 
time  when  a  new  religion  was  forced  on  a  deeply  superstitious 
population.  The  saints  of  the  Christian  took  the  place  of  the 
gods  of  the  ''  Iliad."  Old  customs  attending  religious  observances 
have  been  peculiarly  tenacious  in  these  islands,  and  here  it  is 
that  we  must  look  for  the  pedigree  of  our  own  quaint  Christian 
habits.  We  have  seen  the  children  of  St.  George  collecting 
their  Christmas-boxes,  we  have  spoken  of  )iig-killing,  and  we 
will  now  introduce  ourselves  to  Chiote  Christmas-trees,  the 
rhaiiiiuv,  as  they  are  callecl  here,  which  take  the  form  of  an 
offering  of  fruits  of  the  earth  and  flowers  by  tenants  to  their 
landlords. 

''  The  form  of  these  offerings  is  varied  :  one  tenant  we  saw 
chose  to  make  his  in  the  shape  of  a  tripod  ;  others  merely 
adorn  poles,  but  all  of  them  effect  this  decoration  in  a  similar 
fashion,  more  gaudily  than  artistically.  The  pole  is  over  a  yard 
in  height,  and  around  it  are  bound  wreaths  of  myrtle,  olive,  and 
orange  leaves  ;  to  these  are  hxed  any  ilowers  that  may  be 
found,  geraniums,  anemones,  and  the  like,  and,  by  way  of 
further  decoration,  oranges,  lemons,  and  strips  of  gold  and 
coloured  paper  are  added. 

"  On  Christmas  mornintr  the  tenants  of  the  numerous  gardens 


326  CHRISTMAS. 

of  Chios  proceed  to  the  houses  of  their  hmdlords,  ridin_s;"  on 
mules  ;uul  carryiut^  :i  liitiiiiiui  in  front  of  them  and  a  pair  of 
fowls  behind.  As  many  as  three  hundred  of  these  may  be  seen 
entering  the  capital  of  Chios  on  this  day,  and  I  was  told  the 
sight  is  very  imposing.  At  St.  George  we  had  not  so  many  of 
them,  but  sufhcient  for  our  purpose.  On  reaching  his  landlord's 
house  the  peasant  sets  up  the  trophy  in  the  outer  room,  to  be 
admired  by  all  who  come  ;  the  fowls  he  hands  over  to  the 
housewife  ;  and  then  he  takes  the  large  family  jars  or  auiphora-, 
as  they  still  call  them,  to  the  well,  and  draws  the  drinking  water 
for  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  returning 
home  each  man  receives  a  present  of  money  in  return  for  his 
offerings.  A  Greek  never  gives  a  present  without  expecting  an 
equivalent  in  return." 

Another  Christmas  custom  in  Chios  which  reminded  the 
writer  of  the  English  custom  of  carol-singing  is  thus  described  : 
"  There  are  iive  parishes  in  the  village  of  St.  George,  each 
supplied  with  a  church,  priests,  acolytes,  and  candle-lighters, 
who  answer  to  our  vergers,  and  who  are  responsible  for  the 
lighting  of  the  many  lamps  and  candles  which  adorn  an  Eastern 
church.  These  good  people  assemble  together  on  Christmas 
Day,  after  the  liturgy  is  over,  and  form  what  is  called  '  a  musical 
company  '  ;  one  man  is  secured  to  play  the  lyre,  another  the 
harp,  another  the  cymbals,  and  another  leads  the  singing 
— if  the  monotonous  chanting  in  which  they  indulge  can  be 
dignified  by  the  title  of  singing.  The  candle-lighter,  armed 
with  a  brass  tray,  is  the  recognised  leader  of  this  musical 
company,  and  all  day  long  he  conducts  them  from  one  house  to 
another  in  the  parish  to  play,  sing,  and  collect  alms.  These 
musicians  of  St.  George  have  far  more  consideration  for  the 
feelings  of  their  fellow-creatures  than  English  carol-singers,  for 
the  candle-lighter  is  always  sent  on  ahead  to  inquire  of  the 
household  they  propose  to  visit  if  there  is  mourning  in  the 
house,  or  any  other  valid  reason  why  the  musicians  should  not 
play,  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  not 
many  amusements,  poor  things,  and  their  Christmas  entertain- 
ment pleases  them  vastly. 

"  The  carols  of  these  islands  are  exceedingly  old-world  and 
quaint.  When  permission  is  given  the  troupe  advance  towards 
the  door,  singing  a  sort  of  greeting  as  follows  :  *  Come  now  and 
open  your  gates  to  our  party  ;  we  have  one  or  two  sweet  words 
to  sing  to  you.'  The  door  is  then  opened  by  the  master  of  the 
house  ;  he  greets  them  and  begs  them  to  come  in,  whilst  the 
other  members  of  the  family  place  chairs  at  one  end  of  the 
room,  on  which  the  musicians  seat  themselves.     The  first  carol 


MODERN   CHRISTMASES   ABROAD.  327 

is  a  (Genuine  Christmas  one,  a  sort  ot  rclitiious  recoLinition  of  the 
occasion,  according  to  our  notions  fraught  with  a  frivohty 
ahiiost  bordering  on  blasphemy  ;  but  then  it  must  be  remem- 
bered that  these  peasants  have  formed  their  own  simple  ideas  of 
the  life  of  Christ,  the  Virgin,  and  the  saints,  to  which  they  have 
given  utterance  in  their  songs.  A  priest  of  St.  George  kindly 
supplied  me  with  the  words  of  some  of  their  carols,  and  this  is 
a  translation  of  one  of  the  prefatorv  songs  with  whicli  the 
musical  companv  commence  : — 

"  '  Christmas,  Christmas  !  Christ  is  born  ; 
Saints  rejoice  and  devils  mourn. 
Christmas,  Christmas  !  Christ  was  fed 
On  sweet  honey,  milk,  and  bread, 
Just  as  now  our  rulers  eat 
Bread  and  milk,  and  honey  sweet.' 

After  this  the  company  sing  a  series  of  songs  addressed  to 
the  various  members  of  the  family,  to  the  father,  to  the  mother, 
to  the  daughters,  to  the  sons  ;  if  there  chances  to  be  a  betrothed 
couple  there,  they  are  sure  to  be  greeted  with  a  special  song  ; 
the  little  children,  too,  are  exhorted  in  song  to  be  good  and 
diligent  at  school.  Of  these  songs  there  are  an  infinite  number, 
and  many  of  them  give  us  curious  glimpses  into  the  life,  not  of 
to-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  centm-ies  of  Christmases  since 
the  old  Byzantine  days  when  such  things  as  are  mentioned 
in  the  song  really  existed  in  the  houses.  This  is  a  word-for- 
word  translation  : — 

"  '  We  have  come  to  our  venerable  master  ; 
To  his  lofty  house  with  marble  halls. 
His  walls  are  decorated  with  mosaic  ; 
With  the  lathe  his  doors  are  turned. 
Angels  and  archangels  are  around  his  w  indows, 
And  in  the  midst  of  his  house  is  spread  a  golden  carpet 
And  from  the  ceiling  the  golden  chandelier  sheds  light. 
It  lights  the  guests  as  they  come  and  go. 
It  lights  our  venerable  master.' 

On  the  conclusion  of  their  carols  the  musicians  pause  f(ir  rest, 
the  cymbal-player  throws  his  cymbal  on  the  floor,  and  the 
candle-lighter  does  the  same  thing  with  his  tray,  and  into  these 
the  master  of  the  house  deposits  his  gifts  to  his  parish  church, 
and  if  they  are  a  newly-married  couple  they  tie  up  presents  of 
food  for  the  musicians  in  a  handkerchief — hgs,  almonds,  &c., 
which  the  cvmbal-player  fastens  round  his  neck  or  ties  to  his 
girdle. 

"  Before  the  musicians  take  their  departure  the  housewife 
hurries  off  to  her  cupboard  and  produces  a  tray  with  the 
inevitable  jam  thereon.  Coffee  and  mastic  are  served,  and  the 
compliments  of  the  season  are  exchanged.     Whilst  the  candle- 


328  CHRISTMAS. 

lighter  is  absent  lookini;-  for  another  house  at  which  to  sing,  the 
musicians  sing  their  farewell,  '  We  wish  health  to  your  family, 
and  health  to  yourself.     We  go  to  join  the  pallicari.' 

"  In  villages  where  the  singing  of  carols  has  fallen  into  disuse 
the  inhabitants  are  content  with  the  priestly  blessing  only.  To 
distribute  this  the  priest  of  each  parish  starts  off  on  Christmas 
morning  with  the  candle-lighter  and  his  tray,  and  an  acolyte  to 
wave  the  censer  ;  he  blesses  the  shops,  he  sprinkles  holy  water 
over  the  commodities,  and  then  he  does  the  same  by  the 
houses  ;  the  smell  of  incense  perfumes  the  air,  and  the  candle- 
lighter  rattles  his  tray  ostentatiously  to  show  what  a  lot  of 
coppers  he  has  got." 

Christmas  in  a  Greek  Church. 

"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  the 
Greek  Catholics,  their  'churches  are  adorned  in  the  gayest 
manner.  I  entered  one,  in  which  a  sort  of  raree-show  hacl  been 
set  up,  illumed  with  a  multitude  of  candles  :  the  subject  of  it 
was  the  birth  of  Christ,  iwho  was  represented  in  the  background 
by  a  little  waxen  iigure  wrapped  up  in  embroidery,  and  reclining 
upon  an  embroidered  cushion,  which  rested  upon  another  of 
pink  satin.  This  was  supposed  to  be  the  manger  where  he  was 
born.  Behind  the  image  two  paper  bulls'  heads  looked  unutter- 
able things.  On  the  right  was  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  on  the  left 
one  of  the  eastern  Magi.  Paper  clouds,  in  which  the  paper 
heads  of  numberless  cherubs  appeared,  enveloped  the  whole  ; 
while  from  a  pasteboard  cottage  stalked  a  wooden  monk,  with 
dogs,  and  sheep,  and  camels,  goats,  lions,  and  lambs  ;  here 
walked  a  maiden  upon  a  stratum  of  sods  and  dried  earth,  and 
there  a  shepherd  flourishing  aloft  his  pastoral  staff.  The 
construction  of  these  august  figures  was  chieily  Dutch  :  they 
were  intermixed  with  china  images  and  miserable  daubs  on 
paper.  In  the  centre  a  real  fountain,  in  miniature,  squirted 
forth  water  to  the  ineffable  delight  of  crowds  of  prostrate 
worshippers." 

Christmas  in  Rome. 

Hone^  states  that  after  Christmas  Day,  during  the  remainder 
of  December,  there  is  a  Presepio,  or  representation  of  the 
manger,  in  which  our  Saviour  was  laid,  to  be  seen  in  many  of 
the  churches  at  Rome.  That  of  the  Ara  Coeli  is  the  best  worth 
seeing,  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  ;  aiul 
until  we  advanced,  we  did  not  perceive  the  artificial  light,  which 

'  "  Year  Book." 


MODERX'   CHRISTMASES  ABROAD. 


CALABRIAN    SHEPHERDS    I'LAYINC    IN    ROME    AT    CHRISTMAS. 
(From  Hone's  "  Eveiy-day  Hook,"  1.S26,) 


was  so  managed  as  to  stream  in  ilnctuating  rays,  from  interven- 
ing silvery  clouds,  and  shed  a  radiance  over  the  lovely  babe  and 
bending  mother,  who,  in  the  most  graceful  attitude,  lightly  holds 
up  the  draperv  which  half  conceals  her  sleeping  infant  from  the 
bvstanders.  He  lies  in  richly  embroidered  swaddling  clothes, 
and  his  person,  as  well  as  that  of  his  virgin  mother,  is  orna- 
mented with  diamonds  and  other  precious  stones  ;  for  which 
purpose,  we  are  informed,  the  princesses  and  ladies  of  high 
rank  lend    their   jewels.     Groups  of   cattle  grazing,  peasantry 


330  CHRISTMAS. 

engat^ed  in  different  occupations,  and  other  objects,  enliven 
the  picturesque  scenery  ;  every  Hving  creature  in  the  group, 
with  eyes  directed  towards  the  Presepio,  falls  prostrate  in 
adoration.  In  the  front  of  this  theatrical  representation  a  little 
girl,  about  six  or  eight  years  old,  stood  on  a  bench,  preaching 
extempore,  as  it  appeared,  to  the  persons  who  tilled  the  church, 
with  all  the  gesticulation  of  a  little  actress,  probably  in  com- 
memoration of  those  words  of  the  psalmist,  quoted  by  our 
blessed  Lord — ''  Out  of  the  mouths  of  babes  and  sucklings 
Thou  hast  perfected  praise."  In  this  manner  the  Scriptures  are 
acicd  ;  not  "  read,  marked,  and  inwardly  digested."  The  whole 
scene  had,  however,  a  striking  effect,  well  calculated  to  work 
upon  the  minds  of  a  people  whose  religion  consists  so  largely  in 
outward  show.     [From  "  A  Narrative  of  Three  Years  in  Italy."] 

As  at  the  beginning,  so  in  the  latter  part  of  the  nineteenth 
century,  the  church  celebrations  of  Christmas  continue  to  be 
great  Christmas  attractions  in  the  Eternal  City. 

From  the  description  of  one  who  was  present  at  the 
Christmas  celebration  of  1883,  we  quote  the  following 
extracts  : — 

''  On  Christmas  morning,  at  ten  o'clock,  when  all  the  world 
was  not  only  awake,  but  up  and  doing,  mass  was  being  said  and 
sung  in  the  principal  churches,  but  the  great  string  of  visitors  to 
the  Imperial  City  bent  their  steps  towards  St.  Peter's  to  witness 
the  celebration  of  this  the  greatest  feast  in  the  greatest  Christian 
Church. 

"  As  the  heavy  leather  curtain  which  hangs  before  the  door 
fell  behind  one,  this  sacred  building  seemed  "indeed  the  world's 
cathedral  ;  for  here  were  various  crowds  from  various  nations, 
and  men  and  women  followers  of  all  forms  of  faiths,  and  men 
and  women  of  no  faith  at  all.  The  great  church  was  full  of 
light  and  colour — of  light  that  came  in  broad  yellow  beams 
through  the  great  dome  and  the  high  eastern  windows,  making 
the  candles  on-  the  side  altars  and  the  hundred  ever-burning 
kimps  around  the  St.  Peter's  shrine  look  dim  and  yellow  in  the 
tulness  of  its  radiance  ;  and  of  colour  combined  "of  friezes  of 
burnished  gold,  and  brilliant  frescoes,  and  rich  altar  pieces,  and 
bronze  statues,  and  slabs  of  oriental  alabaster,  and  blocks  of  red 
porphyry  and  lapis  lazuli,  and  guilded  vaulted  ceiling,  and  walls 
of  inlaid  marbles. 

"  In  the  large  choir  chapel,  containing  the  tomb  of  Clement 
IX.,  three  successive  High  Masses  were  celebrated,  the  full 
choir  of  St.  Peter's  attending.  In  the  handsomely  carved  old 
oak  stalls  sat  bishops  in  purple  and  rich  lace,  canons  in  white, 
and  minor  canons  in  grey  fur  capes,  priests  and  deacons,  and  a 
hundred  acolytes  wearing  silver-buckled  shoes  and  surplices. 
This  chapel,  with  its  life-size  marble  figures  resting  on  the 
cornices,  has  two  organs,  and  here  the  choicest  'music  is 
frequently   heard. 

"  Of  course  the  choir  chapel  was  much  too  small  to  hold  the 


MODERN   CHRISTMASES   ABROAD.  331 

great  crowd,  which,  therefore,  overtiowed  into  ihe  aisles  and 
nave  of  the  vast  church,  where  the  music  could  be  heard  like- 
wise. This  crowd  broke  up  into  groups,  each  worthv  of  a 
study,  and  all  combining  to  afford  an  effect  at  once  strange  and 
picturesque.  There  are  groups  of  Americans,  English,  French, 
Germans,  and  Italians  promenading  round  the  church,  talking 
in  their  respective  native  tongues,  gesticulating,  and  now  and 
then  pausing  to  admire  a  picture  or  examine  a  statue. 
Acquaintances  meet  and  greet  ;  friends  introduce  mutual 
friends  ;  compliments  are  exchanged,  and  appointments  made. 
Meanwhile  masses  are  being  said  at  all  the  side  altars,  which 
are  surrounded  by  knots  of  people  who  fall  on  their  knees  at 
the  sound  of  a  little  bell,  and  say  their  prayers  quite  undisturbed 
by  the  general  murmur  going  on  around  them. 

"  Presently  there  is  a  stir  in  the  crowd  surrounding  the  choir 
chapel;  the  organ  is  at  its  loudest,  and  then  comes  a  long 
procession  of  vergers  in  purple  and  scarlet  facings,  and  cross 
and  torch  bearers,  and  censer  bearers,  and  acolytes  and  deacons 
and  priests  and  canons  and  bishops,  and  a  red-robed  cardinal 
in  vestments  of  cloth  of  gold  wrought  and  iigured  with  many  a 
sacred  sign,  and,  moreover,  adorned  with  precious  stones  ;  and 
High  Mass  at  St.  Peter's,  on  Christmas  Day,  is  at  an  end. 

"  During  the  day  most  of  the  shops  and  all  the  Government 
offices  were  open.  Soldiers  were  drilled  all  day  long  in  the 
Piazza  Vittorio  Emanuele,  and  were  formally  marched  to  their 
various  barracks,  headed  by  bands  discoursing  martial  music  ; 
whilst  the  postmen  delivered  their  freight  of  letters  as  on 
ordinary  davs  of  the  week.  In  the  afternoon  most  of  those  who 
were  at  St.  Peter's  in  the  morning  assembled  to  hear  Grand 
Vespers  at  the  handsome  and  famous  church  of  San  Maria 
Maggiore,  one  of  the  oldest  in  Christendom,  the  Mosaics  on  the 
chancel  arch  dating  from  the  fifth  centiuv.  The  church  was 
illuminated  with  hundreds  of  candles  and  hung  with  scarlet 
drapery,  the  effect  being  verv  fine  ;  the  music  such  as  can  alone 
be  heard  in  Rome.  On  the  high  altar  was  exhibited  in  a 
massive  case  of  gold  and  crvstal  two  staves  said  to  have  been 
taken  from  the  manger  in  which  Christ  was  laid,  this  being 
carried  round  the  church  at  the  conclusion  of  Vespers.  Almost 
everv  English  visitor  in   Rome  was  present." 

Christmas  at  Moxtk  Carlo. 

"  Every  one  has  heard  of  the  tiny  principality  of  Monaco,  with 
its  six  square  miles  of  territory  facing  the  Mediterranean,  and 
lying  below  the  wonderful  Corniche-road,  which  has  been  for 
ages  the  great  highway  south  of  the  Alps,  connecting  the  South 
of  France  with  Northern  Italy.  Of  course  many  visitors  come 
here  to  gamble,  but  an  increasing  number  are  attracted  by  the 
beauty  of  the  scenery  and  the  charm  of  the  climate;  and  here 
some  hundreds  of  Englishmen  and  Englishwomen  spent  their 
Christmas     Day    and    ate    the    conventional    plum  -  pudding. 


332  CHRISTMAS. 

Christmas  had  been  ushered  in  by  a  salvo  of  artiUery  and  a 
High  Mass  at  the  cathedral  at  eleven  on  Christmas  Eve,  and 
holly  and  mistletoe  (which  seemed  strangely  out  of  place 
amongst  the  yellow  roses  and  hedges  of  geraniums)  were  in 
many  hands.  As  illustrating  the  mildness  of  the  climate  and 
the  natural  beauty  of  the  district,  the  following  flowers  were  in 
full  bloom  in  the  open  air  on  Christmas  Day  :  roses  of  every 
variety,  geraniums,  primulas,  heliotropes,  carnations,  anemones, 
narcissus,  sweetwilliams,  stocks,  cactus,  and  pinks  ;  and  to 
these  may  be  added  lemon  trees  and  orange  trees  laden  with 
their  golden  fruit.  As  evening  wore  on  a  strong  gale  burst 
upon  the  shore,  and  Christmas  Day  closed  amongst  waving 
foliage  and  clanging  doors  and  clouds  of  dust,  and  the  iierc'e 
thud  of  angry  surf  upon  the  sea-shore  below. 

"January  2,  1890.  J.  S.  B." 

Christmas  Eve  Festivities  ix  German  v. 

In  ''The  German  Christmas  Eve,"  1846,  Madame  Apolline 
Flohr  recalls  her  "  childish  recollections "  of  the  Christmas 
festivities  in  the  ''happy  family"  of  which  she  was  a  member. 
They  met  amid  the  glare  of  a  hundred  lights,  and  according  to 
an  old-established  custom,  they  soon  joined  in  chaunting  the 
simple  hvmn  which  begins  : — 

"  Now  let  us  thank  our  God  ; 
Uplift  our  hands  and  hearts  : 
Eternal  be  His  praise, 

Who  all  good  things  imparts  !  " 

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  the 
children  of  the  house,  bore  gilded  fruits  of  every  species  ;  and 
as  we  gazed  with  childish  delight  on  these  sparkling  treasures 
our  dear  parents  wiped  away  the  tears  they  had  plentifully 
shed,  while  our  young  voices  were  ringing  out  the  sweet  hymn, 
led  by  our  friend,  Herr  Yon  Clappart,  with  such  deep'  and 
solemn  emotion. 

Now,  as  the  dear  mother  led  each  child  to  his  or  her  own 
little  table — for  the  gifts  for  each  were  laid  out  separately,  and 
thus  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  of 
friends  and  kindred.  We  liked  the  toys  very  much  indeed. 
We  were,  however,  too  happy  to  endure  quiet  pleasure  very 
long,  and  all  prepared  to  assemble  around  the  Christmas  tree. 
After  a  delightful  dance  around  the  tree,  and  around  our  dear 
parents,  our  presents  were  again  examined  ;  for  the  variety  of 
offerings  made  on  these  occasions  would  much  exceed  the 
belief  of  a  stranger  to  our  customs.     Every  article  for  children's 


MODERN  CHRlSrMASES  ABROAD.  333 

clothing  was  here  to  be  found,  both  for  ornament  and  use  ;  nor 
were  books  forgotten.  It  was  then  I  received  my  hrst  Bible 
and  Prayer-book  ;  and  at  the  moment  the  precious  gift  was 
placed  in  my  hand,  I  resolved  to  accompany  my  parents  to 
church  the  following  morning  at  live  o'clock.  (This  early 
attendance  at  public  worship  on  Christmas  morning  is  a 
custom  observed  in  Central  (lermany,  and  is  called  Christ- 
Kirche.) 

The  ceremony  of  withdrawing,  in  order  to  attire  ourselves  in 
some  of  our  new  dresses,  having  been  performed,  we  re-entered 
the  apartment,  upon  which  the  great  folding-doors  being 
thrown  open,  a  second  Christmas  tree  appeared,  laden  with 
lumdreds  of  lights.  This  effect  was  produced  by  the  tree  being 
placed  opposite  some  large  looking-glasses,  which  reflected  the 
lights  and  redoubled  their  brilliancy. 

Here  hung  the  gifts  prepared  by  the  hands  of  the  children 
for  their  beloved  parents. 

My  eldest  sister,  Charlotte,  had  knitted  for  her  mother  a 
beautiful  evening  cap,  and  a  long  purse  for  her  father. 

Emily  presented  each  one  of  the  family  with  a  pair  of 
mittens  ;  and  the  little  Adolphine  made  similar  offerings  of 
open-worked  stockings,  her  hrst  attempt. 

Our  parents  were  also  surprised  and  delighted  to  receive  some 
drawings,  exceedingly  well  executed,  by  my  brothers,  accom- 
panied by  a  letter  of  thanks  from  those  dear  boys,  for  the  kind 
permission  to  take  lessons  which  had  been  granted  to  them 
during  the  last  half-year. 

The  great  bell  had  called  us  together  at  live  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  to  receive  our  Christmas  gifts  ;  and  though  at  eleven 
our  eyes  and  hearts  were  still  wide  awake,  yet  were  we 
obliged  to  retire,  and  leave  all  these  objects  of  delight  behind 
us.  All  remembered  that,  at  least,  the  elder  branches  of  the 
family  must  rise  betimes  the  next  morning  to  attend  the  Christ- 
Kirche,  and  to  hear  a  sermon  on  the  birth  of  the  Saviour  of 
Mankind. 

The  great  excitement  of  the  previous  evening,  and  the  vision 
of  delight  that  still  hovered  around  my  fancy,  prevented  my 
sleeping  soundly  ;  so  that  when  the  others  w'ere  attempting  to 
steal  away  the  next  morning  to  go  to  church,  I  was  fully  roused, 
and  implored  so  earnestly  to  be  taken  with  the  rest  of  the 
family,  that  at  length  my  prayer  was  granted  ;  but  on  condition 
that  I  should  keep  perfectlv  still  during  the  service. 

Arrived  at  the  church  we  found  it  brilliantly  illuminated,  and 
decorated  with  the  boughs  of  the  holly  and  other  evergreens. 

It  is  quite  certain  that  a  child  of  live  years  old  could  not 
understand  the  importance,  beauty,  and  extreme  htness  of  the 
sublime  service  she  so  often  witnessed  in  after  life  ;  yet  I  can 
recollect  a  peculiarly  sweet,  sacred,  and  mysterious  feeling 
taking  possession  of  me,  as  my  infant  mind  received  the  one 
simple   impression   that  this  was  the  birthday  of  the  Saviour  I 


334 


CHRISTMAS. 


IkicI  been  taught  to  love  and  pray  to,  since  my  infant  lips  could 
lisp  a  word. 

vSince  early  impressions  are  likely  to  be  permanent,  it  is 
considered  most  important  in  my  fatherland  to  surround, 
Christmas  with  all  joyous  and  holy  associations.  A  day  of 
days,  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  and 
presents,  happy  surprises,  and  unlooked-for  offerings,  to  be 
presented  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  the 
German  Court,  from  which  it  appears  that  the  long-cherished 
Christmas  customs  are  well  preserved  in  the  highest  circle  in 
Germany  : — 

Christmas  at  the  German  Court. 

In  accordance  with  an  old  custom  the  Royal  Family  of 
Prussia  celebrate  Christmas  in  a  private  manner  at  the  Emperor 
WiUiam's  palace,  where  the  "  blue  dining-hall "  on  the  iirst 
Hoor  is  arranged  as  the  Christmas  room.  Two  long  rows  of 
tables  are  placed  in  this  hall,  and  two  smaller  tables  stand  in 
the  corners  on  either  side  of  the  pillared  door  leading  to  the 
ballroom.  On  these  tables  stand  twelve  of  the  rinest  and  tallest 
tir-trees,  reaching  nearly  to  tlie  ceiling,  and  covered  with 
innumerable  white  wax  candles  placed  in  wire-holders,  but 
without  any  other  decoration. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  24th  great  packages  are  brought  into 
this  room  containing  the  presents  for  the  members  of  the 
Imperial  household,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  Emperor  his 
Chamberlain  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  to 
place  the  objects  in  the  most  advantageous  positions,  and 
fastens  on  them  slips  of  white  paper  on  which  he  himself  has 
written  the  names  of  the  recipients.  The  Empress  is  also 
present,  occupied  with  arranging  the  presents  for  the  ladies  of 
her  own  household.  The  two  separate  tables  still  remain 
empty,  luitil  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  Koyal  Family  assemble  in  the  large 
dining-hall  of  the  Palace  for  their  Christmas  dinner.  Besides 
all  the  Princes  and  Princesses  without  exception,  the  members 
of  the  Imperial  household,  the  chiefs  of  the  Emperor's  military 
and  civil  Cabinets,  and  a  number  of  adjutants  are  also  present. 

Shortly  after  the  termination  of  the  dinner  the  double  doors 

.  leading  to  the  blue  hall  are  thrown  wide  open  at  a  sign  from 

the  Emperor,  and  the  brilliant  sight  of  the  twelve  great  hr-trees 

bearing  thousands  of  lighted  tapers  is  disclosed  to  view.     This 


MODERN  CHRISTMASES  ABROAD.  335 

is  the  great  nioiueut  of  the  German  Christmas  Eve  celebration. 
The  Imperial  conples  then  form  in  procession,  and  all  proceed 
to  the  Christmas  room.  The  Emperor  and  the  Empress  then 
jx-rsonally  lead  the  members  of  their  honseholds  to  the  presents 
which  are  grouped  in  long  rows  on  the  tables,  and  which  com- 
prise hundreds  of  articles,  both  valuable  and  useful,  objects  of 
art,  pictures,  statuary,  &c.  Meanwhile,  the  two  separate  tables 
still  remain  hidden  under  white  draperies.  In  other  rooms  all 
the  officials  and  servants  of  the  palace,  down  to  the  youngest 
stable-boy,  are  presented  with  their  Christmas-boxes.  At  about 
nine  o'clock  the  Imperial  Family  and  their  guests  again  return 
to  the  dining-room,  where  a  plain  supper  is  then  served. 
According  to  old  tradition,  the  menu  always  includes  the 
following  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.  After 
the  supper  all  return  once  more  to  the  Christmas  room,  where 
the  second  part  of  the  celebration — the  exchange  of  presents 
among  the  Royal  Family — then  comes  off. 

The  Emperor's  table  stands  on  the  right  side  of  the  ballroom 
door,  and  every  object  placed  on  it  bears  a  paper  with  an 
inscription  intimating  by  whom  the  present  is  given.  The 
presents  for  the  Empress  on  the  other  table  are  arranged  in 
the  same  manner.  Among  the  objects  never  missing  at  the 
Emperor's  Christmas  are  some  large  Nuremberg  ginger  cakes, 
with  the  inscription  ''  Weihnachten "  and  the  year.  About 
half-an-hour  later  tea  is  taken,  and  this  terminates  the  Christmas 
Eve  of  the  lirst  family  of  the  German  Empire. 

Christmas  throughout  Germany, 

it  may  be  added,  is  similarly  observed  in  the  year  1900. 
From  the  Imperial  palace  to  the  poor  man's  cottage  there  is 
not  a  family  in  Germany  that  has  not  its  Christmas  tree 
and  "Weihnachts  Bescheerung " — Christmas  distribution  of 
presents.  For  the  very  poor  districts  of  Berlin  provision  is 
made  by  the  municipal  authorities  or  charitable  societies  to  give 
the  children  this  form  of  amusement,  which  they  look  forward 
to  throughout  the  year. 

The  Christmas  Festivities  ix  Austria 

are  similar  to  those  in  Germany,  the  prominent  feature  being 
the  beautifully-adorned  and  splendidly-lighted  Christmas-tree. 
At  one  of  these  celebrations,  a  few  years  ago,  the  numerous 
presents  received  by  the  young  Princess  Elizabeth  included  a 
speaking  doll,  lifted  with  a  phonograph  cylinder,  which  created 
no  small  astonishment.  Among  other  things,  the  doll  was 
alile  to  recite  a  poem  composed  bv  the  Archduchess  Marie 
Valerie  in  honour  of  Christmas   Eve. 

The  poor  and  destitute  of  Vienna  are  not  forgotten,  for,  in 


336  CHRISTMAS. 

addition  to  the  Christmas-tree  which  is  set  up  at  the  palace  for 
them,  a  hirge  number  of  charitable  associations  in  the  various 
districts  of  Vienna  have  also  Christmas-trees  laden  with  presents 
for  the  poor. 

Christmas  Eve  in  St.  Mark's,  Venice. 

You  t^o  into  the  Duomo  late  on  Christmas  Eve,  and  find  the 
time-stained  alabasters  and  dark  aisles  lit  up  with  five  hundreds 
of  wax  candles  over  seven  feet  high.  The  massive  silver  lamps 
suspended  across  the  choir  have  the  inner  lamps  all  ablaze,  as 
is  also  the  graceful  B^'zantine  chandelier  in  the  centre  of  the 
nave  that  glitters  like  a  cluster  of  stars  from  dozens  of  tiny  glass 
cups  with  wick  and  oil  within.  In  the  solemn  and  mysterious 
gloom  you  pass  figures  of  men  and  women  kneeling  in  devotion 
before  the  many  shrines.  Some  are  accompanied  by  well- 
behaved  and  discreet  dogs,  who  sit  patiently  waiting  till  their 
owners'  prayer  shall  be  over  ;  whilst  others  less  well  trained, 
run  about  from  group  to  group  to  smell  out  their  friends  or 
growl  at  foes.  You  slowly  work  your  way  through  the  throng 
to  the  high  altar.  That  unique  reredos,  brought  from  Con- 
stantinople in  early  times — the  magnificent  ''  Pala  d'Ora,"  an 
enamelled  work  wrought  on  plates  of  gold  and  silver,  and 
studded  with  precious  stones — is  unveiled,  and  the  front  of  the 
altar  has  a  rich  frontispiece  of  the  thirteenth  century,  which  is 
of  silver  washed  with  gold,  and  embossed  figures.  Numbers  of 
ponderous  candles  throw  a  glimmer  over  the  treasures  with 
which  St.  Mark's  is  so  richly  endowed,  that  are  profusely  dis- 
played on  the  altar.  Bishops,  canons  and  priests  in  full  dress 
are  standing  and  kneeling,  and  the  handsome  and  much-beloved 
Patriarch  of  Venice  officiates,  in  dress  of  gorgeous  scarlet  and 
cream-coloured  old  lace,  and  heavy-brocaded  cope,  that  is 
afterwards  exchanged  for  one  of  ermine,  and  flashing  rings  and 
jewelled  cross.  There  is  no  music,  but  a  deep  quiet  pervades 
the  dim  golden  domes  overhead  and  the  faintly-lighted  tran- 
septs. Stray  rays  of  light  catch  the  smooth  surface  of  the 
mosaics,  which  throw  oft"  sparkles  of  brightness  and  cast  deeper 
shadows  bevond  the  uncertain  radiance.  After  the  midnight 
mass  is  celebrated  you  pass  out  with  the  stream  of  people  into 
the  cold,  frosty  night,  with  only  the  bright  stars  to  guide  you 
through  the  silent  allevs  to  your  rooms,  where  you  wish  each 
other  "  A  Merry  Christmas  !  "  and  retire  to  sleep,  and  to  dream 
of  the  old  home  in  England. — Oitccn. 

Christmas  in  Naples. 

An  English  writer  who  spent  a  Christmas  in  Naples  a  tew 
years  ago,  says  : — 

In  the  south  Christmas  is  bright  and  gay,  and  in  truth  noisy. 
The  fcsla  natalizie,  as  it  is  called  in  Naples,  is  celebrated  by 
fairs  and  bonfires  and  fireworks.     In  the  Toledo,  that  famous 


MODERN   CHRISTMASES  ABROAD. 


337 


y-r.-"rr.S' 


street  known  to  all  the  world,  booths  are  erected  beside  the 
shops,  flaming  in  colour,  and  filled  with  all  sorts  of  tempting 
wares.  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  them- 
selves and  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  witti- 
cisms to  and  fro,  until  the  welkin  rings  with  shouts  and 
laughter.  A  revolution  in  Paris  could  not  create  greater  excite- 
ment, or  greater  noise,  than  the  Christmas  fair  at  Naples,  the 
largest,  and   certainly   the    merriest,  in   the  world.     As    night 


33« 


CHRISTMAS. 


draws  on  the  mirth  grows  uproarious ;  improvisations  abound. 
Pulcinello  attracts  laughing  crowds.  The  bagpipes  strike  with 
their  ear-piercing  sounds,  and  arise  shrill  above  the  universal 
din.  Fireworks  are  let  oft"  at  every  street  corner,  llaming 
torches  carried  in  procession  parade  the  streets  ;  rockets  rise  in 
the  air,  coloured  lamps  are  hung  o\-er  doorways,  and  in  the 
midst  of  the  blaze  of  light  the  church  bells  announce  the  mid- 
night Mass,  and  the  crowd  leave  the  fair  and  the  streets,  and  on 
bended  knee  are  worshipping. 


Christmas  in  Spain. 

Spain   in  winter   must   be  divided   into  Spain  the  frigid  and 
Spain    the    semi-tropic  ;    for  while    snow   lies  a  foot    deep   at 


MODERN  CHRISTMASES  ABROAD.  339 

Christmas  in  the  north,  in  the  south  the  sun  is  shinin^f  brightly, 
and  flowers  of  spring  are  peeping  out,  and  a  nosegay  of  heho- 
trope  and  open-air  geraniums  is  the  Christmas-holly  and 
mistletoe  of  Andalusia.  There  is  no  chill  in  the  air,  there  is  no 
frost  on  the  window-pane. 

When  Christmas  Eve  comes  the  two  days'  holiday  com- 
mences. At  twelve  the  labourers  leave  their  work,  repair 
home,  and  dress  in  their  best.  Then  the  shops  are  all  ablaze 
with  lights,  ribbons  and  streamers,  with  tempting  fare  of  sweets 
and  sausages,  with  red  and  yellow  serge  to  make  warm  petti- 
coats ;  with  cymbals,  drums,  and  zaniboiiibas.  The  chief 
sweetmeats,  peculiar  to  Christmas,  and  bought  alike  by  rich 
and  poor,  are  the  various  kinds  of  preserved  fruits,  incrusted 
with  sugar,  and  the  famous  tiirnii.  This  last,  which  is  of  four 
kinds,  and  may  be  called  in  English  phraseology,  "  almond  rock," 
is  brought  to  your  door,  and  buy  it  you  must.  A  coarse  kind  is 
sold  to  the  poor  at  a  cheap  rate.  Other  comestibles,  peculiar 
to  Christmas,  are  almond  soup,  truffled  turkey,  roasted  chest- 
nuts, and  nuts  of  every  sort. 

Before  the  Noclie-biicna,  or  Christmas  Eve,  however,  one  or 
two  good  deeds  have  been  done  by  the  civil  and  military 
authorities.  On  the  twenty-third  or  twenty-fourth  the  custom 
is  for  the  military  governor  to  visit  all  the  soldier  prisoners,  in 
company  with  their  respective  defensores,  or  advocates  ;  and, 
lit'  officio,  there  and  then,  he  liberates  all  who  are  in  gaol  for 
light  offences.  This  plan  is  also  pursued  in  the  civil  prisons  ; 
and  thus  a  beautiful  custom  is  kept  up  in  classic,  romantic,  Old- 
world  Spain,  and  a  ray  of  hope  enters  into  and  illuminates  even 
the  bitter  darkness  of  a  Spanish  prisoners'  den. 

It  is  Christmas  Eve.  The  poor  man  has  his  relations  round 
him,  over  his  humble  piichcro  (stew)  :  the  rich  man  likewise. 
Friciuh  have  not  come,  "for  it  is  not  the  custom."  In  Spain 
only  blood  relations  eat  and  di'ink  in  the  house  as  invited  guests. 
Families  meet  as  in  England.  Two  per  cent,  of  the  soldiers 
get  a  fortnight's  leave  of  absence  and  a  free  pass  ;  and  there  is 
joy  in  peasant  homes  over  peasant  charcoal  pans.  The  dusky 
shades  of  evening  are  stealing  over  olive  grove  and  withering 
vineyard,  and  every  house  lights  up  its  tiny  oil  lamp,  and  every 
image  of  the  Virgin  is  illuminated  with  a  taper.  In  Eija,  near 
Cordova,  an  image  or  portrait  of  the  Virgin  and  the  Babe 
new-born,  hangs  in  well-nigh  every  room  in  every  house.  And 
why  ?  Because  the  beautiful  belief  is  rooted  in  those  simple 
minds,  that,  on  Christmas  Eve,  ere  the  clock  strikes  twelve,  the 
Virgin,  bringing  blessings  in  her  train,  visits  every  house  where 
she  can  find  an  image  or  portrait  of  her  Son.  And  many  a 
girl  kneels  clown  in  robes  of  white  before  her  humble  portrait 
of  the  Babe  and  prays  ;  and  hears  a  rustle  in  the  room,  and 
thinks,  "  the  Virgin  comes  :  she  brings  me  my  Christmas  Eve 
blessing  ;  "  and  turns,  and  lo  !  it  is  her  inotlicr,  and  the  Virgin's 
blessing  is  the  mother's  kiss  ! 


340  CHRISTMAS. 

In  Northern  Andalusia  you  have  the  zaiiiboiiiba,  a  flower-pot 
perforated  by  a  hollow  reed,  which,  wetted  and  rubbed  wath  the 
linger,  gives  out  a  hollow,  scraping,  monotonous  sound.  In 
Southern  Andalusia  the  panderita,  or  tambourine,  is  the  chief 
instrument.  It  is  wreathed  with  gaudy  ribbons,  and  decked  with 
bells,  and  beaten,  shaken,  and  tossed  in  the  air  with  graceful 
abandon  to  the  strains  of  the  Christmas  hymn  : 

"  This  night  is  the  good  night, 
And  therefore  is  no  night  of  rest ! " 

Or,  perhaps,  the  Church  chant  is  sung,  called  "  The  child  of 
God  was  born." 

Then  also  men  click  the  castanet  in  wine-shop  and  cottage  ; 
and  in  such  old-world  towns  as  Eija,  where  no  railway  has 
penetrated,  a  breast-plate  of  eccentrically  strung  bones — slung 
round  the  neck  and  played  with  sticks — is  still  seen  and 
heard. 

The  turkeys  have  been  slaughtered  and  are  smoking  on  the 
lire.  The  night  is  drawing  on  and  now  the  meal  is  over. 
Twelve  o'clock  strikes,  and  in  one  moment  every  bell  from  every 
belfrey  clangs  out  its  summons.  Poltroon  were  he  who  had 
gone  to  bed  before  twelve  on  Nochc-biiena.  From  every 
house  the  inmates  hurry  to  the  gaily-lit  church  and  throng  its 
aisles,  a  dark-robed  crowd  of  worshippers.  The  organ  peals 
out,  the  priests  and  choir  chant  at  this  midnight  hour  the 
Christmas  hymn,  and  at  last  (in  some  out-of-the-way  towais)  the 
priests,  in  gaudiest  robes,  bring  out  from  under  the  altar  and 
expose  aloft  to  the  crowds,  in  swaddling-clothes  of  gold  and 
white,  the  Babe  new-born,  and  all  fall  dow^n  and  cross  themselves 
in  mute  adoration.  This  service  is  universal,  and  is  called  the 
"  Misa  del  Gallo,"  or  Cock-crow  Mass,  and  even  in  Madrid  it 
is  customary  to  attend  it.  There  are  three  masses  also  on 
Christmas  Day,  and  the  Church  rule,  strictly  observed,  is  that  if 
a  man  fail  to  attend  this  Midnight  Mass  he  must,  to  save  his 
religious  character,  attend  all  three  on  Christmas  Day.  In 
antique  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  thronged 
with  rich  and  poor.  In  that  strange,  old-world  town,  also, 
the  chief  dame  goes  to  the  Midnight  Mass,  all  her  men- 
servants  in  procession  before  her,  each  playing  a  different 
instrument. 

Christmas  Eve  is  over.  It  is  1.30  a.m.  on  Christmas  morning, 
and  the  crowds,  orderly,  devout,  cheerful,  are  wending  their  way 
home.  Then  all  is  hushed  ;  all  have  sought  repose  ;  there  are 
no  drunken  riots  ;  the  dark  streets  are  lit  by  the  tiny  oil  lamps  ; 
the  watchman's  monotonous  cry  alone  is  heard,  "  Ave  Maria 
purissima  ;  las  dos  ;  y  sereno." 

The  three  masses  at  the  churches  on  Christmas  Day  are  all 
chanted  to  joyous  music.     Then  the  poor  come  in  to  pay  their 


MODEkN  CHRISTMASES  ABROAD.  341 

rent  of  turkeys,  pi.i;'s,  olives,  or  wiiiit  not,  to  their  lanclloid,  and 
he  i^ives  them  a  Christmas-box  :  such  as  a  piece  of  salt  lish. 
or  money,  or  what  may  be.  Then,  when  you  enter  your  house, 
you  will  find  on  your  table,  with  the  headins^,  "A  Happy 
Christmas,"  a  book  of  little  leaflets,  printed  with  verses.  These 
arc  the  petitions  of  th.e  postman,  scaven£.(er,  tele,t^n-aph  man, 
newsboy,  &c.,  asking  you  for  a  Christmas-box.  Poor  fellows  ! 
they  get  little  enough,  and  a  couple  of  francs  is  well  bestowed 
on  them  once  a  year.  After  mid-day  breakfast  or  luncheon  is 
over,  rich  and  poor  walk  out  and  take  the  air,  and  a  gaudy, 
pompous  crowd  they  form  as  a  rule.  As  regards  presents  at 
Christmas,  the  rule  is,  in  primitive  Spain,  to  send  a  present  to 
the  Ciira  (parish  priest)  and  the  doctor.  Many  Spaniards  pay  a 
tixed  annual  sum  to  their  medical  man,  and  he  attends  all  the 
family,  including  servants.  His  salary  is  sent  to  him  at  Christmas, 
with  the  addition  of  a  turkey,  or  a  cake,  or  some  tine  sweet- 
meats. 

On  Christmas  Eve  the  provincial  hospitals  present  one  of 
their  most  striking  aspects  to  the  visitor.  It  is  a  feast-day,  and 
instead  of  the  usual  stew,  the  soup  called  cahio — and  very  weak 
stuff  it  is — or  the  stir-about  and  fried  bread,  the  sick  have 
their  good  sound  meats,  cooked  in  savoury  and  most  approved 
fashion,  their  tumbler  of  wine,  their  extra  cigar.  Visitors, 
kindly  Spanish  ladies,  come  in,  their  hands  laden  with  sweets 
and  tobacco,  &c.,  and  the  sight  of  the  black  silk  dresses  trailing 
over  the  lowly  hospital  couches  is  most  human  and  pathetic. 
At  last  niglit — the  veritable  Christmas  Eve  comes.  The  chapels 
in  these  hospitals  are  generally  on  the  ground  floor,  and 
frequentlv  sunk  some  feet  below  it,  but  open  to  the  hospital  ; 
so  that  the  poor  inmates  who  can  leave  their  beds  can  hobble 
to  the  railing  and  look  down  into  the  chapel — one  mass  of 
dazzling  lights,  glitter,  colour,  and  music  :  and  thus,  without 
the  fatigue  of  descending  the  stairs,  can  join  in  the  service.  At 
half-past  eleven  at  night  the  chapel  is  gaily  lit  up  ;  carriage 
after  carriage,  mule-cart  after  mule-cart  rattles  up  to  the 
hospital  door,  discharging  crowds  of  ladies  and  gentlemen 
in  evening  dress  ;  thus  the  common  people,  chiefly  the 
young,  with  their  tambourines  and  zambombas,  pour  into 
the  chapel  from  Caiiipo,  and  alley,  and  street,  and  soon  the 
chapel  is  tilled  ;  while  above,  sitting,  hobbling,  lying  all 
round  the  rails,  and  gazing  down  upon  the  motley  and  noisy 
throng  below,  are  the  inmates  of  the  hospital.  The  priest 
begins  the  Midnight  Mass,  and  the  organs  take  up  the  service, 
the  whole  of  which,,  for  one  hour,  is  chanted.  Meanwhile,  the 
tambourines  and  other  musical  instruments  are  busy,  and  join 
in  the  strains  of  the  organ  ;  and  the  din,  glitter,  and  excite- 
ment are  most  exhilarating.  And  thus  the  occupants  of  the 
Spanish  provincial  hospitals  join  in  the  festivities  of  Christmas- 
tide,  as  seen  bv  one  who  has  dwelt  "  Anioiii^  I  lie  Spanish 
People" 


34^  CHRISTMAS. 

Christmas  Customs  ix  Norway. 

A  writer  who  knows  the  manners  and  habits  of  the  people  of 
Norway,  and  their  cnstoms  at  Christmastide,  says  : — 

At  Christiania,  and  other  Norwegian  towns,  there  is,  or  used 
to  be,  a  dehcate  Christmas  custom  of  offering  to  a  lady  a  brooch 
or  a  pair  of  earings  in  a  truss  of  hay.  The  house-door  of  the 
person  to  be  complimented  is  pushed  open,  and  there  is  thrown 
into  the  house  a  truss  of  hay  or  straw,  a  sheaf  of  corn,  or  a  bag 
of  chaff.  In  some  part  of  this  "  bottle  of  hay  "  envelope,  there 
is  a  "  needle  "  as  a  present  to  be  hunted  for.  A  friend  of  mine 
once  received  from  her  betrothed,  according  to  the  Christmas 
custom,  an  exceedingly  large  brown  paper  parcel,  which,  on 
being  opened,  revealed  a  second  parcel  with  a  loving  motto  on 
the  cover.  And  so  on,  parcel  within  parcel,  motto  within 
motto,  till  the  kernel  of  this  paper  husk — which  was  at  length 
discovered  to  be  a  delicate  piece  of  minute  jewellery — was 
arrived  at. 

One  of  the  prettiest  of  Christmas  customs  is  the  Norwegian 
practice  of  giving,  on  Christmas  Day,  a  dinner  to  the  birds.  On 
Christmas  morning  every  gable,  gateway,  or  barn-door,  is 
decorated  with  a  sheaf  of  corn  hxed  on  the  top  of  a  tall  pole, 
wherefrom  it  is  intended  that  the  birds  should  make  their 
Christmas  dinner.  Even  the  peasants  contrive  to  have  a 
handful  set  by  for  this  purpose,  and  what  the  birds  do  not  eat 
on  Christmas  Day,  remains  for  them  to  finish  at  their  leisure 
during  the  winter. 

On  New  Year's  Day  in  Norway,  friends  and  acquaintances 
exchange  calls  and  good  wishes.  In  the  corner  of  each 
reception-room  is  placed  a  little  table,  furnished  all  through  the 
day  with  wine  and  cakes  for  the  refreshment  of  the  visitors  ; 
who  talk,  and  compliment,  and  llirt,  and  sip  wine,  and  nibble 
cake  from  house  to  house,  with  great  perseverance. 

Between  Christmas  and  Twelfth  Day  mummers  are  in  season. 
They  are  called  "  Julebukker,"  or  Christmas  goblins.  They 
invariably  appear  after  dark,  and  in  masks  and  fancy  dresses. 
A  host  may  therefore  have  to  entertain  in  the  course  of  the 
season,  a  Punch,  Mephistopheles,  Charlemagne,  Number,  Nip, 
Gustavus,  Oberon,  and  whole  companies  of  other  fanciful  and 
historic  characters  ;  but,  as  their  antics  are  performed  in 
silence,  they  are  not  particularly  cheerful  company. 

Christm.^s  IX  Russia. 

With  Christmas  Eve  begins  the  festive  season  known  in 
Russia  as  Siyatki  or  Svyatiiie  Vechem  (Holy  Evenings),  which 
lasts  till  the  Epiphany.  The  numerous  sportive  ceremonies 
which  are  associated  with  it  resemble,  in  many  respects,  those 
with  which  we  are  familiar,  but  they  are  rendered  specially 
interesting  and  valuable  by  the  relics  of  the  past  which  they 


MODERX   CHRISTMASES   ABROAD.  543 

have  been  the  means  of  jireservint^f — the  Irai^nicnts  of  ritual 
song  whieh  refer  to  the  ancient  paj^^anism  of  the  land,  the  time- 
honoured  customs  which  originally  belonged  to  the  feasts  with 
which  the  heathen  Slavs  greeted  each  year  the  return  of  the 
sun.  On  Christmas  Eve  commences  the  singing  of  the  songs 
called  Kolvadki,  a  word,  generally  supposed  to  be  akin  to 
KalciuiiV,  though  reference  is  made  in  some  of  them  to  a 
mysterious  being,  apparently  a  solar  goddess,  named  Kolvada. 
"  kolyada,  Kolyada  !  Kolyada  has  come.  We  wandered  about, 
we  sought  holy  Kolyada  in  all  the  courtyards,"  commences  one 
of  these  old  songs,  for  manv  a  vear,  no  doubt,  solemnlv  sung  by 
the  young  people  who  used  in  olden  times  to  escort  from 
liomestead  to  homestead  a  sledge  in  which  sat  a  girl  dressed  in 
white,  who  represented  the  benignant  goddess.  Nowadays 
these  songs  have  in  many  places  fallen  into  disuse,  or  are  kept 
up  only  by  the  children  who  go  from  ■  house  to  house,  to 
congratulate  the  inhabitants  on  the  arrival  of  Christmas,  and  to 
wish  them  a  prosperous  New  Year.  In  every  home,  says  one 
of  these  archaic  poems,  are  three  inner  chambers.  In  one  is 
the  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 
— that  is  the  housewife  ;  the  many  stars — they  are  the  little 
children. 

The  Russian  Church  sternlvsets  its  face  against  the  old  customs 
with  which  the  Christmas  season  was  associated,  denouncing  the 
"  hendish  songs,"  and  "  devilish  games,"  the  "  graceless  talk," 
the  "  nocturnal  gambols,"  and  the  various  kinds  of  divination 
in  which  the  faithful  persisted  in  indulging.  But,  although 
repressed,  they  were  not  to  be  destroyed,  and  at  various  seasons 
of  the  year,  but  especiallv  those  of  the  summer  and  winter 
solstice,  the  ''  orthodox,"  in  spite  of  their  pastors,  made  merry 
with  old  heathenish  sports,  and,  after  listening  to  Christian 
psalms  in  church,  went  home  and  sang  songs  framed  by  their 
ancestors  in  honour  of  heathen  divinities.  Thus  century  after 
century  went  by,  and  the  fortimes  of  Russia  underwent  great 
changes.  But  still  in  the  villages  were  the  old  customs  kept  up, 
and  when  Christmas  Day  came  round  it  was  greeted  by  survivals 
of  the  ceremonies  with  which  the  ancient  Slavs  hailed  the 
returning  sun  god,  who  caused  the  days  to  lengthen,  and  lilled 
the  minds  of  men  with  hopes  of  a  new  year  rich  m  fruits  and 
grain.  One  of  the  customs  to  which  the  Church  most  strongly 
objected  was  that  of  mumming.  As  in  other  lands,  so  in  Russia 
it  was  customary  for  mummers  to  go  about  at  Christmastide, 
visiting  various  homes  in  which  the  festivities  of  the  season 
were  being  kept  up,  and  there  dancing  and  performing  all  kinds 
of  antics.  Prominent  parts  were  always  played  by  human 
representatives  of  a  goat  and  a  bear.  Some  of  the  party  would 
be  disguised  as  "Lazaruses,"  that  is,  as  the  blind  beggars  who 
bear  that  name,  and  whose  plaintive  strains  have  resounded  all 
over  Russia  from  the  earliest  times  to  the  present  day.     The 


344  CHRISTMAS 

rest  disguised  themselves  as  they  best  eoiild,  a  certain  number 
of  them  being  generally  supposed  to  play  the  part  of  thieves 
desirous  to  break  in  and  steal.  When,  after  a  time,  they  were 
admitted  into  the  room  where  the  Christmas  guests  were 
assembled,  the  goat  and  the  bear  would  dance  a  merry  round 
together,  the  Lazaruses  would  sing  their  "  dumps  so  dull  and 
heavy,''  and  the  rest  of  the  performers  would  exert  themselves 
to  produce  exhilaration.  Even  among  the  upper  classes  it  was 
long  the  custom  at  this  time  of  year  for  the  young  people  to  dress 
up  and  visit  their  neighbours  in  disguise.  Thus  in  Count  Tolstoy's 
"  Peace  and  War,"  a  novel  which  aims  at  giving  a  true  account 
of  the  Russia  of  the  early  part  of  the  present  century,  there  is  a 
charming  description  of  a  visit  of  this  kind  paid  by  the  younger 
members  of  one  family  to  another.  On  a  bright  frosty  night 
the  sledges  are  suddenly  ordered,  and  the  young  people  dress 
up,  and  away  they  drive  across  the  crackling  snow  to  a  country 
house  si.x  miles  off,  all  the  actors  creating  a  great  sensation,  but 
especially  the  fair  maiden  Sonya,  who  proves  irresistible  when 
clad  in  her  cousin's  hussar  uniform  and  adorned  with  an  elegant 
moustache.  Such  mummers  as  these  would  lay  aside  their 
disguises  with  a  light  conscience,  but  the  peasant  was  apt  to 
feel  a  depressing  qualm  when  the  sports  were  over  ;  and  it  is 
said  that,  even  at  the  present  day,  there  are  rustics  who  do  not 
venture  to  go  to  church,  after  having  taken  part  in  a  mumming, 
until  they  have  washed  off  their  guilt  by  immersing  themselves 
in  the  benumbing  waters  of  an  ice-hole. 

Next  to  the  mumming,  what  the  Church  most  objected  to 
was  the  divination  always  practised  at  Christmas  festivals. 
W^ith  one  of  its  forms  a  number  of  songs  have  been  associated, 
termed  podblyiidniiiya,  as  connected  with  a  biyiido,  a  dish  or 
bowl.  Into  some  vessel  of  this  kind  the  young  people  drop 
tokens.  A  cloth  is  then  thrown  over  it,  and  the  various  objects  are 
drawn  out,  one  after  another,  to  the  sound  of  songs,  from  the 
tenor  of  which  the  owners  deduce  omens  relative  to  their  future 
happiness.  As  bread  and  salt  are  also  thrown  into  the  bowl, 
the  ceremony  may  be  supposed  to  have  originally  partaken  of 
the  nature  of  a  sacrifice.  After  these  songs  are  over  ought  to 
come  the  game  known  as  the  "  burial  of  the  gold."  The  last 
ring  remaining  in  the  prophetic  bowl  is  taken  out  by  one  of  the 
girls,  who  keeps  it  concealed  in  her  hand.  The  others  sit  in  a 
circle,  resting  their  hands  on  their  knees.  She  walks  slowly 
round,  while  the  first  four  lines  are  sung  in  chorus  of  the  song 
beginning,  "See  here,  gold  I  bury,  I  bury."  Then  she  slips  the 
ring  into  one  of  their  hands,  from  which  it  is  rapidly  passed  on 
to  another,  the  song  being  continued  the  while.  When  it 
comes  to  an  end  the  ''gold  burier  "  must  try  to  guess  in  whose 
hand  the  ring  is  concealed.  This  game  is  a  poetical  form  of 
our  "  hunt  the  slipper."  Like  many  other  Slavonic  customs  it 
is  by  some  archccologists  traced  home  to  Greece.  By  certain 
mythologists  the  "  gold  "  is  supposed  to  be  an  emblem  of  the 


Modern  christmases  abroad.  -545 

sun,  lout;'  hidden  by  envious  wintry  clouds,  but  at  this  time  of 
year  beginning  to  prolong"  the  hours  of  daylight.  To  the  sun 
really  refer,  in  all  probability,  the  bonfires  with  which  Christmas- 
tide,  as  well  as  the  New  Year  and  Midsummer  is  greeted  in 
Kussia.  In  the  Ukraine  the  sweepings  from  a  cottage  are 
carefully  preserved  from  Christmas  Day  to  New^  Year's  Day, 
and  are  then  burnt  in  a  garden  at  sunrise.  Among  some  of  the 
Slavs,  such  as  the  Servians,  Croatians,  and  Dalmatians,  a 
badiiyak,  or  piece  of  wood  answering  to  the  northern  Yule-log, 
is  solemnly  burnt  on  Christmas  Eve.  But  the  signiiicance 
originally  attached  to  these  practices  has  long  been  forgotten. 
Thus  the  grave  attempts  of  olden  times  to  search  the  secrets  of 
futurity  have  degenerated  into  the  sportive  guesses  of  young 
people,  who  half  believe  that  they  may  learn  from  omens  at 
Christmas  time  what  manner  of  marriages  are  in  store  for  them. 
Divinings  of  this  kind  are  known  to  all  lands,  and  bear  a  strong 
family  likeness  ;  but  it  is,  of  course,  only  in  a  cold  country  that 
a  spinster  can  hud  an  opportunity  of  sitting  beside  a  hole  cut  in 
the  surface  of  a  frozen  river,  listening  to  prophetic  sounds 
proceeding  from  beneath  the  ice,  and  possibly  seeing  the  image 
of  the  husband  who  she  is  to  marry  w'ithin  the  year  trembling 
in  the  freezing  w-ater.  Throughout  the  whole  period  of  the 
Svyalki,  the  idea  of  marriage  probably  keeps  possession  of  the 
minds  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  out 
into  the  open  air  and  to  beseech  the  "  stars,  stars,  dear  little 
stars,"  to  be  so  benignant  as  to 

"Send  forth  through  the  christened  world 
Arrangers  of  weddings." 

W.  R.  S.  Ralston,  in  Xoics  and  Queries,  Dec.  21,  1878. 


Christmas-keepixg  IX  Africa. 

"A  certain  voung  man  about  town"  {•^^.ys  Chambers  s  yoiinial, 
December  25,  1869),  "once  forsook  the  sweet  shady  side  of  Pall 
Mall  for  the  sake  of  smoking  his  cigar  in  savage  Africa  ;  but 
when  Christmas  came,  he  was  seized  with  a  desire  to  spend  it 
ii^  Christian  company,  and  this  is  how^  he  did  spend  it  :  'We 
b^nglish  once  possessed  the  Senegal ;  and  there,  every  Christmas 
Eve,  the  Feast  of  Lanterns  used  to  be  held.  The  native  women 
picked  up  the  words  and  airs  of  the  carols  ;  the  custom  had 
descended  to  the  Gambia,  and  even  to  the  Casemanche,  where 
it  is  still  preserved.  A  few  minutes  after  I  had  ridden  up, 
sounds  of  music  were  heard,  and  a  crowd  of  blacks  came  to  the 
door,  carrying  the  model  of  a  ship  made  of  paper,  and  illiuTii- 
nated  within  ;  and  hollowed  pumpkins  also  lighted  up  for  the 
occasion.     Then    thev  sang  some  of   our   dear    old    Christinas 


346  CHRISTMAS. 

carols,  and  anions^  others,  one  which  I  had  heard  years  ago  on 
Christmas  Eve  at  Oxford  : 

Nowel,  Nowel,  the  angels  did  say, 

To  certain  poor  shepherds  in  fields  as  they  lay — 

In  fields  as  they  lay  keeping  their  sheep, 

One  cold  winter's  night,  which  was  so  deep. 

Nowel,  Nowel,  Nowel,  Nowel, 

Born  is  the  King  of  Israel. 

You  can  imagine  with  what  feehngs  I  listened  to  those  simple 
words,  sung  by  negresses  who  knew  not  a  phrase  of  English 
besides.  You  can  imagine  what  recollections  they  called  up,  as 
I  sat  under  an  African  sky,  the  palm-trees  rustling  above  my 
head,  and  the  crocodiles  moaning  in  the  river  beyond.  I 
thought  of  the  snow  lying  thick  upon  the  ground  ;  of  the  keen, 
clear,  frosty  air.  I  thought  of  the  ruddy  tire  which  would  be 
blazing  in  a  room  I  knew  ;  and  of  those  young  faces  which 
would  be  beaming  still  more  brightly  by  its  side  ;  I  thought  of 
— oh,  of  a  hundred  things,  which  1  can  laugh  at  now,  because  I 
am  in  England,  but  which,  in  Africa,  made  me  more  wretched 
than  I  can  well  express.' 

"  Next  day,  sadness  and  sentiment  gave  way,  for  a  w^iile  at 
least,  to  more  prosaical  feelings.  When  Mr.  Reade  sat  down 
to  his  Christmas  dinner,  he  must  have  wished,  with  Macbeth, 
*  May  good  digestion  wait  on  appetite,'  as  he  contemplated  the 
fare  awaiting  discussion,  and  to  which  a  boar's  head  grinned  a 
welcome.  Snails  from  France,  oysters  torn  from  trees,  gazelle 
cutlets,  stewed  iguana,  smoked  elephant,  fried  locusts,  manati- 
breasts,  hippopotamus  steaks,  boiled  alligator,  roasted  crocodile 
eggs,  monkeys  on  toast,  land  crabs  and  Africa  soles,  carp,  and 
mullet — detestable  in  themselves,  but  triumphant  proof  of  the 
skill  of  the  cook — furnished  forth  the  festival-table,  in  company 
with  potatoes,  plantains,  pine-apples,  oranges,  papaws,  bananas, 
and  various  fruits  rejoicing  in  extraordinary  shapes,  long  native 
names,  and  very  nasty  flavours  ;  and  last,  but  not  least,  palm- 
cabbage  stewed  in  white  sauce,  '  the  ambrosia  of  the  gods,'  and 
a  bottle  of  good  Bordeaux  at  every's  man's  elbow.  When  even- 
ing came,  Mr.  Reade  and  a  special  friend  sought  the  river  :  'The 
rosy  wine  had  rouged  our  yellow  cheeks,  and  w^e  lay  back  on 
the  cushions,  and  watched  the  setting  sun  with  languid,  half- 
closed  eyes.  Four  men,  who  might  have  served  as  models  to 
Appelles,  bent  slowly  to  their  stroke,  and  murmured  forth  a 
sweet  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  and 
tinkled  their  bracelets  in  the  air.  Then,  gliding  into  the  water, 
they  brought  us  flowers  from  beneath  the  dark  bushes,  and 
kissed  the  hands  which  took  them,  with  wet  and  laughing  lips. 
Like  a  dark  curtain,  the  warm  night  fell  upon  us  ;  strange  cries 
roused  from  the  forest  ;  beasts  of  the  waters  plunged  around  us, 


MODERN   CHRISTMASES   ABROAD. 


347 


and  my  honest  friend's  hand  pressed  mine.  And  Christmas  Day 
was  over.  We  mis.jht  seek  loni^  for  a  stranger  contrast  to  an 
Enghshman's  Christmas  at  home,  although — to  adapt  some 
seasonable  lines — ■ 

Where'er 
An  English  heart  exists  to  do  and  dare, 
Where,  amid  Afric's  sands,  the  lion  roars, 
Where  endless  winter  chains  the  silent  shores, 
W^iiere  smiles  the  sea  round  coral  islets  bright. 
Where  Brahma's  temple's  sleep  in  glowing  light — 
In  every  spot  where  England's  sons  may  roam. 
Dear  Christmas-tide  still  speaks  to  them  of  Home  I 


R'^ 


2 


^ 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

CONCLUDING    CAROL    SERVICE    OF    THE 
NINETEENTH    CENTURY. 


Now,  returning  from  the  celebrations  of  Christmas  in  distant 
parts  of  the  world,  we  conclude  our  historic  account  of  the 
great  Christian  festival  b}'  recording  the  pleasure  with  which  we 
attended  the 

Concluding  Carol  Sekvick  of  the  Nineteenth  Ci-:nti'ry 
at   a    hne    old    English    cathedral — the    recently   restored    and 


Jid'fcy  (maiT^ 


-~".^> 


I.ICHKIELI)    CATHEDRAL, 
(/j'v  pennission  of  Mr.  A.  C.  I.omax's  Sncassois,  Lichfield.) 

beautiful  cathedral  at  Lichheld,  whose  triple  spires  are  seen  and 
well  known  by  travellers  on  the  Trent  valley  portion  of  the 
London  and  North-Western  main  line  of  railway  which  links 
London  with  the  North. 

349 


350  CONCLUDING   CAROL   SERVICE. 

Christmas  carols  have  been  sun<r  at  Lichfield  from  long  before 
the  time  of  "  the  mighty  Oi'fa,"  King  of  the  Mercians,  in  whose 
days  and  by  wliose  influence  Lichfield  became  for  a  time  an 
archiepiscopal  see,  being  elevated  to  that  dignity  by  Pope 
Adrian,  in  785.  And,  in  the  seventeenth  century,  the  Deanery 
of  Lichfield  was  conferred  upon  the  Rev.  Griffin  Higgs,  the 
writer  of  the  events  connected  w^ith  the  exhibition  of  *'  The 
Christmas  Prince  "  at  St.  John's  College,  Oxford,  in  1607,  whose 
authentic  account  of  these  interesting  historical  events  will  be 
found  in  an  earlier  chapter  of  this  work. 

The  Christmas  carols  at  Lichfield  Cathedral,  sung  by  the  full 
choir  at  the  special  evening  service  on  St.  Stephen's  Day 
(December  26th),  have,  for  many  years,  attracted  large  and 
appreciative  congregations,  and  the  last  of  these  celebrations  in 
the  nineteenth  century  (on  December  26,  1900)  was  well 
sustained  by  the  singers  and  attended  by  many  hundreds  of 
citizens  and  visitors.  Eight  Christmas  Carols  and  an  anthem 
were  sung,  the  concluding  Carol  being  ''  The  First  Nowell  "  ; 
and  the  organist  (Mr.  J.  B.  Lott,  Mus.  Bac,  Oxon)  played  the 
Pastoral  Symphony  from  Sullivan's  "  Light  of  the  World," 
Mendelssohn's  March  ("  Cornelius "),  the  Pastoral  Symphony 
from  Handel's  "  Messiah,"  and  other  exquisite  voluntaries. 
From  the  anthem,  E.  H.  Sears's  beautiful  verses  beginning 

"  It  came  upon  the  midnight  clear, 
That  glorious  song  of  old," 

set  to  Stainer's  music  and  well  sung,  we  quote  the  concluding 
predictive  stanza  : 

"  For  lo,  the  days  are  hast'ning  on, 

By  prophet-bards  foretold, 
When  with  the  ever-circling  years 

Comes  round  the  age  of  gold  ; 
When  peace  shall  over  all  the  earth 

Its  ancient  splendours  fling, 
And  the  whole  world  give  back  the  song 

Which  now  the  angels  sing." 


INDEX 


Abbot    (if  Misrule,  95  (sec   also  Lord  of 

Misrule) 
Abbot  of  Westminster,  80 
Abdication  of  Richard  Cromwell,  213 
Abingdon,  51,  208 
Aboard  the  Siiiibeaiii,  307 
Abolition      of      Christmas      celebration 

attempted,  206 
Abraham,  29 
Abyssinia,  29S 
"  Adam  Hell,"  193 
Adam's  Xoi'l,  319 
Adams.  Herbert  H.,  227,  249 
Addison,  227 
Adcste  Fidcles,  323 
Allien  les  Rois,  320 
Adrian,  Pope,  330 
Advent  of  Christ,  the,  5  ;  season  of   the, 

12  ;  date  of  the,  14 
Advertisement,  curious,  232 
"  Aerra  Geola  "  (December),  28 
Africa,  345 
Africa,  South,  299 
Agincourt,  81 

Agrippina,  wife  of  Claudius,  24 
Aidan,  Columbian  Monk,  27 
Ajaccio,  322 
Alban,  St.,  20 

Albert,  Prince  Consort,  261 
Albemarle,  Lady,  241 
Aldrich,  Commander  Pelham,  308 
Ale,  26,  55,  37,  231,  231,  238,  239 
Alexander,  King  of  the  Scots,  64 
Alexander  Se\erus,  29 
Alexandria,  34 
Alfred  the  Great,  King,  36 
AllHallowtide,  73,  131  ' 
Almaine  accoutrements,  120 
"  Almes  "  at  Christmas,  14S,  237-8 
Almoner,  Lord  High,  260 
Alsatians,  319 
Ahvyn,  Walter,  95 
Aniadas,  Rob,  100 
Ambassadors,  foreign,  132 
Anibleleuse,  Brittany,  220 
Ambrose,  St.,  21 
America,  309-316 
Amours  of  Henr^-  VI IL,  106 
Amusements,  33,  153,  195,246-9 
.Ancaster  Heath,  133 
Andalusia,  339 


Andrew,  St.,  283 

Andrewes,  Bishop,  193 

Andromecln  tetrngoiiu,  293 

Angel,    the,    appears     unto    Joseph,    5  ; 

unto  the  shepherds,  7 
Angels'  Song,  10,  12 
Anger,  13 

"  Angieesh  blom-bodding,"  311) 
Angles,  King  of  the,  34 
Anglo-Xorman  language,  37 
Anglo-Saxon  Kings,  29 
Anglo-Saxons,  23,  28 
Angoulenie,  Duchess,  317 
Angus,  Scotland,  242 
Anjou  wine,  57 
.■\nnan.  Dumfriesshire,  71 
.Anne,  daughter  of  Frederick    III.,  King 

of  Denmark,  197 
Anne,  Queen,  226 
Anne,  wife  of  Richard  III.,  93 
Annunciation,  the,  13,  15 
Anointing  cattle,  325 
Anselm,  Archbishop,  49 
Antioch,  59  ;  the  church  at,    i  r  ;   Prince 

of,  52 
Antiochus  Epiphanes,  17 
.Antipodes,  303 
Ara  C<tli,  Church  of,  328 
"  Arch;eologia,"  200 
Archbishops'  Quarrel,  48 
Archduchess  ^larie  Valerie,  335 
Arctic  regions,  294-6 
Aristophanes,  286 
Armenian  Church,  the,  12 
Armour  under  robes,  118 
Arnot,  S.,  284 

"Arraignment  of  Christmas,"  the,  209 
.\rtaki  'l?ay,  307 
.Arthur,    King,    and   his    Knights,    30,  67, 

Arthur,  Prince  of  Wales,  99 
.Arundel,  Earl  of,  190,  193.  194 
Astley,  Sir  John,  201 
Aston,  near  Birmingham.  243 
Athelney,  36 
Attainder,  222 
Attire,  magnificent,  99 
Attorney-General,  199 
Aubrey,  142,  201,  243 
Audley,  Lord,  82 
Augusta,  Princess,  241 
Augustine,  St.,  26,  28 
.Australia,  303 


35^ 


lAWEX. 


Austria,  288,  335 

Austria,  Archdul<e  of,  35  ;   Duke  of,  58 


B 


"  Babe  Cake,"  273 

Babingley,  263 

Babyloii,"s4,  59 

Bacchanalia,  13,  15,  19 

Bacchus,  19 

Bacon,  Lord,  93,  94,  152 

Baden,  Marquis  of,  139 

Bagpipes,  220 

Baker,  Chronicler,  105 

Balancing,  feats  of,  229 

Balliol,  Edward,  71 

Balls,  249,  250,  309 

Baltimore,  Lord,  314 

Banks  Island  reindeer,  294 

Banquetings,  31, 88, 126, 146-9, 219, 220,23; 

Banqueting-night  ceremonies,  135 

Barabrith,  281 

Barbadoes,  288 

Barclay  Alexander,  104 

Barne,  Sir  George,  117 

'■  Baron  of  Beef,"  273 

"Baron's  Yule  Feast,"  266 

Barons,  55,  60 

Barriers,  at,  189 

Barristers  singing  and  dancing,  137 

Barrow,  Isaac,  204 

Barry,  Sir  Charles,  46 

Bartiie,  Master  George,  88 

"  Batt  upon  Batt,"  221 

Bay  of  Mere}',  294 

Beamonde,  Lord  of,  70 

Bear-baiting,  119,  229 

Beatrice,  Princess,  262 

Beaufitz,  John,  93 

Beaumont,  152 

Beauties,  Court,  99 

Becket,  St.  Tliomas,  52 

Bedchambers,  lifteenth  centurv,  88 

Bede,  the  Venerable,  24 

Bedford,  64 

Bellman,  the,  224 

Bells,  Christmas,  270,  271 

Belshazzar,  78 

Belton,  Mr.,  219 

Belvoir  Castle,  224,  266 

Benevolence,  260-6 

Bengel,  13 

Berkele\',  69,  146  ;   Lord  Henry,  146 

Berkshire,  276 

Berlin,  335 

Bermondsey,  52 

Berners,  Lord,  69,  88 

Berri,  Duchess,  317 

Bertha,  Queen,  27 

Berwick,  68 

Besieged  Paris,  318 

Bethlehem,  7,  14 

Betterton,  218 

Bevis  of  Southampton,  195 

Billiards,  195 

Bills  of  fare,  fifteenth  century,  82 

Bird,  140 

Birds'  dinner,  342 

Birth  of  Christ,  5  ;   date  of,  14 

Blackborough  Priory,  85 


Blackburn,  Mr.  Francis,  238 

Black  Prince,  149 

Blake,  Mr.  Andrew,  262 

Blanchard,  Laman,  268 

Blenheim  Mansion,  226 

Blessington,  Countess  of,  266 

Blindman's  Buff,  236,  248,  249 

Blue  Jackets,  294 

Boar,  wild,  32,  33,  45,  no 

Boar's  Head  ceremony,  109-11,  125,  167 

Bocking,  John,  86 

Bohemia,  Queen  of,  193 

"  Bold  Slasher,"  284 

Bok'vn,  .Anne,  106 

Bdlingbroke,  Henry  of.  So 

Bonbonnieres,  314 

Bonfires,  320,  336 

Bonner,  Bishop,  122 

Boswell,  241 

Bosworth  Field,  93,  loi 

Bountifulness,  96,  260 

Bounty  Royal,  260 

Bourcliier,  Archbishop,  94 

Bourchier,  John,  69 

Bouvines,  battle  of,  60 

Bowyer,  Richard,  141 

Boy  Bishop,  68,  119,  156 

Boyhood's  Christmas  breaking-up,  242 

Boy-king  taken  to  Tower,  92 

Brabant,  States  of,  1 54 

Brahmins,  28 

Brand,  221,  232,  243,  244 

Brandon,  Charles,  loi 

Brandon,  Sir  William,  loi 

Brant,  Sebastian,  104 

Brassey,  Lady,  305 

Brave,  blood  "of  the,  73,  99,  190 

Brawn,  96,  232 

Brazil,  288 

Breda,  214 

Breton,  Nicholas,  199 

Bridgewater,  242 

Bridgewater,  Earl  of,  200 

Brill,  Vale  of  Aylesbury,  60 

Brilliant  episodes,  59,  73,  84,  93,  99 

Brinsford,  219 

Bristol,  6S,  242 

British  India,  288 

British  Museum,   114,   145,  210,211,232, 

241,  244,  324 
Brito,  Richard,  53 
Britons,  Ancient,  23,  28 
Brittany,  318 
Brompton,  274 
Brooke,  George,  192 
Brothers,  Royal,  at  the  Tower,  92 
Browne,  General,  207 
Brown,  Sir  Sam.,  300 
Browning,  Robert,  66,  270 
Bruges,  116,  271 
Buchan,  285 
Buche-de-Xo'cI,  319 
Buckeridge,  Bishop,  195 
Buckhurst,  Lord,  154 
Buckingham,  Duke  of,  88 
Buckingham,  Lord,  191 
Buckinghamshire  peasants,  23S 
Bull,  Dr.,  140 
Bull-baiting,  229 
Bunbmy,  Mrs,,  241 


INDEX. 


35: 


Bun-loaf,  2.S1 

Hiirfoid  Dcnvus,  218 

liuryundv,  Duliu  nl,  88 

lUirj^undy,  Huiisu  oi,  154 

l!urle3qut;  Court,  126 

I'lurney,  140 

Huruluuii,  Buckiuj;hauisliirt;,  257 

ISurton,  Robert,  H)^ 

JUiry,  68,  84 

ISusiiell,  Sir  Kilward,  153 

lUittry,  William,  100 

Hyclnyak,  or  Yule-log,  345 

Byzantium,  324 


C 


Cabul  River,  302 

Cade,  John,  85 

Caer  Caradoc,  24 

C;esars,  the,  35 

Cxsarea,  the  Clnuxh  at,  1 1 

Cakes,  36,  265,  321 

Calais,  72,  Si,  109 

Calathumpians,  the  Vagabund,  313 

Caledonian  custom,  303 

"  Caliburne,"  the  "  gude  sword,"  58 

Caludon,  near  Coventry,  146 

Calvados,  320 

Cambridge,  204 

Camden  Societv,  219 

Camp  lire,  301 

Campion,  154 

Camulodunum,  Bishop  of,  25 

Canada,  288,  302 

Candle  illuminations,  168,  322,  331 

Candlemas,  80,  138,  178 

Canning,  \V.,  143 

Canons  of  Christchurch,  177 

Canterbury,  63,  86.  210  ;  monks  of,  56 

Canterbury  Cathedral,  53 

Canterbury,  Archbishop  of.  60,  82.  99,  139 

Canute,  King.  37 

Cape  de  Verd  Islands,  288 

Cape  Finistcrre,  226 

Caradoc  (called  Caractacus),  24 

Card-playing,  87,  91,  97,  98,  108,  195,  237 
241,  247,  256,  313 

Carew,  152 

Carleton,  Sir  Dudley,  154,  191 

Carlisle,  68 

Carminow,  Jolm,  113 

Carnival,  286 

Carols,  37,  204,  327 

Carol  service,  349,  350 

Carol-singer  Luther,  106 

Carol-singing,  326 

Caroline,  Queen,  241 

Car,  or  Ker,  Robert,  155 

Larvell,  Sir  Henry,  194 

Cary,  Sir  Robert,  154 

Casemanche,  345 

Cassel,  Dr.,  Germany,  r6 

Castanet,  340 

Castellated  mansion,  148 

Castles,  52,  55,  57,  58 

Catacombs  of  Rome,  19 
Catches,  195 

Catesby,  93 

Cawarden,  Sir  Thomas,  116.  124 
Cecil,  Sir  William,  143 


Celebrations  in  times  ot  |iersecution.  18 

Central  Ciermany,  333 

Ceremonies  for  Christmas  Day,  167 

Ceremonies  for  Grand  Cliristmas,  132 

Cern,  264 

Chaldeans,  28 

Challon,  67 

Challoner,  Thomas,  154 

Chamberlain  to  the  King,  88 

Chamberlain  to  the  Queen,  88 

Chamberlaine,  Jolm,  153,  154,  191 

Chambers  of  Pleasance,  88 

Chamber  of  Presence,  139 

Champions  of  Diana,  102 

Channel  Islands,  288 

Chapel  Royal,  138,  140,  241 

Chardai,  300 

Charibert,  King,  28 

Charlemagne,  Emperor,  34,  342 

Charles  .Augustus,  Emperor,  35 

Charles  I.,  152,  195,  197,  212,  213 

Charles  II.,  214 

Charles,  Prince,  hiding  in  an  uak,  215  ' 

Charles  V.  of  Spain,  118 

Charter,  The  Great,  signed,  61 

Chaucer,  9,  33,  73,  99 

Cheetle,  142 

Cherwell,  log 

Cheshunt,  Hertfordshire,  214 

Chess,  33,  91,  195 
.    Chester,  Earl  of,  64 

Cheu  Fu  Chefoo,  308 

Chevalier,  Rev.  W.  A.  C,  71 

Chichester,  Bishop  of,  64,  193 

Childermas  Day,  112,  135 

Children  of  the  Chapel  Royal,  100.  140 
141 

Children's  Treat,  264,  265 

Chili,  288 

China,  308 

Chios,  324-8 

Chippenham,  35 

Chit-chat,  268',  "269 

Chivalric  usages,  59,  84,  155,  190 

Christiania,  342 

Chrisi-Kiniw,  333 

Christmas — tlie  origin  and  associations 
of,  5  ;  the  word  "  Christmas,"  its 
orthography  and  meaning,  8  ;  words 
in  Welsh,  Scotch,  French,  Italian,  and 
Spanish  representing  Christmas,  9  ; 
an  acrostic  spelling  Christmas,  9  ;  the 
earlier  celebrations  of,  10 ;  lixing  the 
date  of,  12  ;  Christmas  the  Fcstoniin 
oiiiniuin  inelropolis,  12  ;  its  connection 
with  ancient  festivals,  14  ;  Christmas- 
boxes  and  presents,  15,  29,  30,  89,  90, 
96,  148,  257,  258,  26CMS,  300,  312,  325, 
334-5.  341;  caudles,  168,  322,  331; 
cards,  271  ;  ceremonies,  132,  167  ; 
customs  depicted  in  a  carol,  204  ;  Eve, 
125,  131,  250-1,  286,  332-5  ;  "  Grand," 
125  ;  Island,  308  ;  Lord,  95,  100,  iO(}, 
112,  115,  126.  198,  200;  Prince,  155: 
at  sea,  95,  96,  218,  307  ;  Tree,  106,  261, 
263,  264,  296.  313,  325,  332  (see  also 
other  items  in  the  index  arranged 
alphabetically). 
Chrysostom,  St.,  12 
Church  Parade,  301 

24 


354 


INDEX. 


Cluircli     rcioniis     of     Cardinal     Wolsey, 

1 06 
ChurclV  shows,  316 
Cicilii.',  Ladit,  139 
Cider,  55 

Cinque  Ports,  Barous  of,  64 
City  and  country  feasts  compared,  112 
Civil  war,  156 
Clappart,  Herr  Von,  33- 
Clarence,  Duke  of,  86,  Sy 
Classical  and  Christian  elements,  icj 
Claudius,  fourth  Roman  Emperor,  23 
Clement  of  Alexandria,  12 
Clement  IX.,  tomb  of,  330 
Clerical  plaj-ers,  77 
Cleves,  Anne  of,  108 
Clifford,  Lord,  82,  86 
Closheys  (ninepins),  88 
Clothini^,  265 
Cloth  of  gold,  88 
Clyde,  Lord,  299 
Clymmeof  Clough,  195 
Cnut,  King,  37 
Cobham,  Lord,  81 
"  Cob-loaf  stealing,"  243 
Cockpit,  153    . 
Collar-day  at  Court,  240 
Colebrooke,  Mr.,  279 
Coleridge,  S.  T.,  274 
Colleges' festivities,  109,  110,  in,  155 
Collier,  124,  201 
Colonist,  English,  302 
Columbine,  230 
Columbus,  Christopher,  95 
Combats,  inspiriting,  99 
Comedies  and  Tragedies,  Latin,  no 
Comedies,  1 12 

Comicailv  cruel  incident,  75 
Commonwealth,  197 
Communicants  apprehended,  21  r 
"  Complaint  of  Christmas,"  206 
Coiiciliiiiu  AfricaiiHiii,  22 
Conger,  96 
Conjurors,  237 
Consort,  Prince,  261-2 
Conspiracy"  against  the  King,  80 
Constable  Marshal,  125 
Constantine  the  Great,  21  ;  Church  of  St. 

Constantine,  16 
Constantinople,  52,  54,  ^07  ;  Emperor  of. 

80 
Cooper,  Sir  Astley,  316 
Cooper,  T.,  233 
Co(jper,  Thomas,  266 
Corbeuil,  Archbishop,  48 
Cordova,  339 

Cornelius,  a  Roman  Centurion,  23 
Cornhill,  London,  210 
Corniche  Road,  331 
Cornisse,  Mr.,  100 
Cornwall,  113,  156 
Cornwall,  the  Duchy  of,  188 
Cornwall,  Barry,  272 
Cornwall,  Sir  Gilbert,  194 
Cornwallis,  Sir  Charles,  188 
Coronation  of  Edward  IIL,  69 
Corpus  Christi,  festival  of,  93 
Corsica,  321 
Costly  garments,  116 
Costumes  ablaze,  291 


Cottage     Christmas-keeping,     tourteenth 

century,  71 
Cotterell,  Sir  Clement,  194 
Cotton,  152 
Cotton  MSS.,  136 
Council  of  Aries,  25 
Council  of  Auxerre,  22 
Councils,  Great,  41 
Country  festivities,  219,  226,  227 
Courrieres,  Lord  of,  118 
Court  entertainments,  151,  i()7.   (See  other 

items  under  Sovereigns'  names.) 
Court  Fool,  77,  113,  116 
Court  Leet  and  Baron,  187 
Court  Masques,  151-2 
Coventr}',  85,  89,  93,  148,  198 
Cox,  Captain,  197 
Crackers,  289 
Cranbourne,  Ralph,  276 
Cranes'  flesh,  55 
Cranmer,  Archbishop,  1 1 7 
Crecj',  72 
Creighton,  74 
Crimean  Christmas,  297 
Croatians,  345 
Cromwell,  Oliver,  213 
Cromwell,  Richard,  213 
Cromwell,  Thomas,  107,  108 
Crowne,  218 

Crovliiiid  Chronicler.  87,  93 
.  Crusades,  The,  58,  59 
Cuba,  96 
Cuisine,  312 
Cumberland,  256 
Cumberland,  Earl  of,  143 
Cumnor  Custom,  231 
Cupids,  1 19 
Cyflath,  281 
Cymbals,  339 

Cyprian,  Bishop  of  Carthage,  22 
Cvprus,  307  ;   King  of,  74 
CatII,  St.,  of  Jerusalem,  12 


D 


Dacre,  Lord,  86 

Dakka,  300 

Dalmatians,  345 

"  Damon  and  Pythias,"  140 

Dancers,   32,  49  ;    dancing,   74,  132,   195, 

224,  236,  249,  250,  261,  294,  296 
Dane,  a  firework  artificer,  154 
Danes,  29,  35,  36,  38 
Danube,  226 
Darev,  Sir  Thomas,  190 
David,  City  of,  7 
David,  King  of  Scotland,  72,  74 
David,  St.,  "284 
Dawson,  Mr.  George,  274 
Day,  John,  Aldersgate,  136 
Davs  of  "  Good  Queen  Bess,"  148 
De  Beauchanip,  William,  64 
De  Broc,  The  family  of,  33 
December,  28,  29,  33 
Decking,  15,  204,  227,  273,  282,  305,  318 
Decline  of  Christmas,  217 
De  Comines,  Philip,  93 
Decorations,  323.     (See  also  "decking.") 
D'Egville,  316 
"  Delights  of  Christmas,"  243 


INDEX. 


355 


Uellegrout,  55 

De  Molis,  Sir'Nichokxs,  64 

Dcmoiiology,  152,  196 

Dc  Montfort,  Sinum,  65 

Deiiby,  219 

Uenisoii,    Hon.    Mr.    ;uul     llic     Mi.sacs, 

273 
Denis,  St.,  5^,,  28^ 
Denmark,  2S4,  288 
De  Patteshall,  Hugh,  64 
Depeiuk-nts  feasting,  202 
Deposition  of  Edward  II.,  O9 
De  Pnvfcclo  Ludoniiu,  no 
Deptford  Dockj'ard,  223 
Derby,  Countess  Dowager  of,  200 
Dersingbani,  2O3 
Desborougb,  213 
De  Tracy,  XV'illiani,  53 
Detroit,  291 
Devon,  Earl  of,  87 
Devonshire,  213,  278 
De  Worde,  \V.,'9i 
Diana,  102 

Diana  Hunting,  a  masque,  120 
Dice,  195,  237 
Dickens,  Cliarles,  274,  292 
Dieppe,  43 
Dimmick,  Mrs.,  313 
Dinah,  316 
Dingwell,  Lord,  190 
Dinners  to  5,000  poor,  264 
Diocletian's  atrocities,  20 
Dionj-sius  Exiguus,  13 
Dipmore  End,  27O 
Disguisings,  75,  76,  91,  95,  100 
D'Israeli,  151 

"  Dissipation  and  Negligence,"  112 
Dissolution  of  Monasteries,  108 
Distributions  to  the  poor,  257,  2O0,  264 
Diversions,      76,      91,      95,       loi,      119, 

153.  205,  246-7,  251 
Diverting  ditties,  233-7 
Divinings,  345 

"  Doctor,"  284  ;  medical,  341 
"  Domesday  Book,"  45 
Donne,  152 
Doran,  Dr.,  209,  210 
Dorset,  Coimtess  of,  211 
Dorset,  Marquis  of,  loi 
Dover,  63,  81 
Dragon's  heads,  &c.,  73 
Dramatic  displays,  123,  i3')-7,  140-2,  153 
Dramatist,  England's  greatest,  142 
Drinkhail,  58 

Drinks,  55  (see  "  Ale,"  "  Mead,"  &.c.) 
Druidical  plant,  228,318 
Druidism,  15,  28,228 
Drums,  220,  339 
Dryden,  196 
Dublin,  52 

Dudley,  Lord  Robert,  1 26 
Dugdale,    Sir    William,    112,      125.    138, 

146 
Dunn,  Harriett,  316 
Dunois,  84 

Dunstan's  Churchyard,  St.,  136 
Durham,  43 

Durham,  Bishop  of,  241 
Dutchmen  display  lire  works,  154 
Dwarfs,  195 


E 


Ealdred,  Archbisliop,  39 

Earl  Marshal,  82 

Early  celebrations  in  Britain,  23 

I'^astern  Churches,  the,  ii,  12,  325 

Edgar,  King,  3O 

Edinburgh,  the  late  Didie  of,  263 

Edniondes,  Sir  Thomas,  192 

Edmund,  Archbishop,  63 

Eclmundsbury,  St.,  60 

Eclnumd,  son  of  Ethelred,  37 

Edric,  the  Saxon,  37 

Edric,  Earl  of  Xorthumberland,  37 

Edward  the  Confessor,  38 

Edward,  Prince,  241 

Edward,  St.,  86 

Edward  L,  67 

Edward  II.,  68 

Edward  III.,  69 

Edward  IV.,  86,  87,  88,  89 

Edward  Y.,  92 

Edward  VI.,  108,  115,  116,  117 

Edward  the  Black  Prince,  74 

Edwards,  Richard,  137,  140 

Edwin's  Chiefs,  King,  30    ■ 

Effect  of  Season,  282 

"Egeria,"  H.M.S.,  308 

Egg-nogg,  311 

Egg  Saturday,  1S3 

Egmont,  Count  of,  1 18 

Eija,  339,  340 

Eisenach,  io6 

Eisleben,  106 

Eleanor  of  Aquitane,  58 

Eleanor  of  Castile,  68 

Eleanor  of  Provence,  62 

Eleutherius,  Bishop  of  Rome,  24 

Elizabeth,  eldest  daughter  of  Edward  I\'. 

88 
Elizabeth,   Princess   (afterwards   Queen), 

119,  120 
Elizabeth,  Princess  of  Austria,  335 
IClizabeth,  Queen,  122,  138,  140,  142,  150 
Elizabeth  of  York,  93 
liUis,  105 
El  Teb,  302 

Eltham,  78,  80,  81,  89,  104 
I*;h-,  Bishop  of,  193 
Ely,  Monks  of,  37 
Emma,  the  Ladv,  37,  38 
England,  288 
English  Court,  38 
English  exiles,  93 

Entertainments,  30,  77,  112,  218,  233,   294 
Epiphany,  11,  60,  93,97,  192,  345 
Episcopal  cautions,  22 
Ernalton  of  Spayne,  75 
Errant,  Knights,  195 
Essex,  Earl  of,  143 
Ethelbert,  King  of  Kent,  28 
Ethelred,  King,  36,  37,  38 
Ethelwine,  Bishop,  43 
Eusebius,  13 

Evelyn,  John,  201,  211,  22], 
Evelvn,  Richard,  200 
Ewald,  13 
Excursionists,  310 
I'",xeter,  232 
Exeter  Cathedral,  280 


3S6 


INDEX. 


Exeter  Cluipel,  211 

Exeter,  Duchess  of,  88 

Excesses,  Anj^lo-Saxon,  33  ;  Xorman,  56 

Expenditure  for  Christmas-keeping;,  loo-i 

Experiences,  Christmas,  2S7 


Fabian,  81 

"  Fabhau  of  Sir  Cleges,"  69 

Fair,  Cliristmas,  337 

Fairies,  195,  237 

Fairv-bowl,  31s 

Fallow,  Mr.  T/M.,  F.S.A.,  282-3 

Fare,  enormous,  65 

Farnab}-,  140 

Farrar,  Dean,  7 

Fatally  Burnt  in  Christmas  Costiinies,  291 

"  Father  Christmas,"  284 

Favourites  of  James  I.,  155 

Feast  in  the  hall,  148 

Feats  of  arms,  59,  67,  72,  73,  81,  99,  188 

Fenwick,  Sir  John,  153,  222 

Ferrers,  Georj^e,  115,  116 

"  Ferrex  and  Porrex,"  136 

Fcstti  Natalazie,  336 

Festival  in  Scotland,  the,  191 

Festivities  in  the  seventeenth  century,  199 

Fetes,  309 

Finland,  288   . 

Fire,  the  all-attracting,  at  Christmas,  201, 

217,  253,  259 
Fire  at  King's  Palace,  96 
Fire  in  middle  of  halls,  30,  201 
First  English  Tragedy,  125 
First  Footing  in  Scotland,  285 
"  F"irst  Nowell,"  the,  346,  350 
Fitzstephen,  45 
Fitz  Urse,  Reginald,  53 
Fitzwilliam,  Lord  Admiral,  109 
Fitzwilliam,  Sir  William,  122 
Five  Articles  of  James  I  ,  191 
"Five  Bells  of  Magdalen  Church,"  182 
Fleet,  the,  112 
Fleetwood,  213 
Flemings,  52 
Fletcher,  152 
Flodden  Field,  98 
Flohr,  Madame  Appuline,  ^^2 
Florentine,  Old,  249 
Flowers,  306,  307 
Foiz,  Erie  of,  75 
"Fool's  Dance,"  the,  ii6 
Fool,  or  Jester,  77,  113,  116,  284 
Forbes,  Mr.  Archibald,  299 
Forest  of  Dean,  43 
Foresters,  Lady,  75 

Foresters  and  htmtsnien  in  pla\',  100,  102 
Forfeits,  246-7 
Forte,  Mr.,  3C53 
Fosse,  the,  267 
Foster,  Birket,  illustrations  by,  2,  32,  44, 

57,  III,  202,  234,  240,  250,  257,  271 
"  Foula  Reel,"  the,  286 
France,  63,  72,  108,  288,  316-321 
Francis  II.,  Emperor,  35 
Franco-German  War,  35 
"  Franklin's  Tale,"  the,  33 
Eraser,  Sir  Simon,  71 
Free-lunches  at  hotels,  UI 


Freeman,  William,  25,  37,  43,  45 

French  Embassy,  loi 

Fretevel,  53 

Friars,  195,  271 

Friday  Street  Tavern,  152 

Friscobald,  Leonard,  100 

Froissart,  Sir  John,  31,  (x),  75 

Frost,  hard,  of  1564,  138 

Frozen  regions,  296 

Fuller,  94 

Fur-clad  revellers,  310 


Gairdner,  Mr.  James,  86 

Gaities,  309 

Gala,  309 

Galerius,  20 

Gambia,  345 

Gambols,  213,  221,  228,  247,  251 

Games,  33,  88,  98,  102,  154,  205,  24*) 

Garden  of  pleasure,  88 

Ciarrard,  Rev.  G.,  156 

Garrett.  INIr.  Edward,  284 

Garrick,  David,  219,  230,  237 

Gascoigne,  140 

Gascon  wine,  57 

Gaul,  28 

Gaunt,  John  of,  94 

Gay,  John,  229 

Geikie,  Dr.,  12 

Generosity,  31,  263 

Gentlemen  of  the  Chapel  Royal,  136,  141 

Gentleman's  Magazine,  243 

Gentry,   55,    91.     {Also    see    items    under 

names  of  "  Gentry.") 
Geoffrej'  of  Monmouth,  31,  49,  136 
Geological  Societj',  297 
George  I.,  229 
George  II.,  231 
George  II.,  costumes,  286 
George  III.,  240 
George  IV.,  258 

George's  Chapel,  St.,  Windsor,  140 
George,  King  of  Bohemia,  89 
George,  Prince,  225 
George,  St.,  village  of,  324 
George,  St.,  and  the  Dragon,  59,  2S4 
Germans,  33,  35,  288,  332,  333,  334 
Germany,  Emperor  and  Empress  of,  334 
"  Gerniania,"  295 
Gesla  Grayornni,  142 
Ghost  Stories,  33,  237,  274,  276 
Giants,  195 
Gifford,  152,  197 

Gifts,  30,  42,  69,  89,  96,  148,  170,  300,  ^2^ 
Giles,  140 

Giles's  Christian  Mission,  St.,  265 
Giles  Fields,  St.,  London,  81 
"  Gillie  Cullum,"  305 
Gipps,  Mr.  Richard,  218 
Giraldus  Cambrensis,  49 
Gleemen,  31,  6g.     {Also  see  "  Minstrels.") 
*' Gloria  in  Excelsis,"  317 
Gloucester,  38,  45 
Gloucester,  Duke  of,  92 
Gloucestershire,  Sheriff  of,  65 
Goblins,  195,  342 
Gods  of  the  "  Iliad,"  325 
Goddesses  and  huntresses,  119 


INDEX. 


Godwin,  House  of,  "^8 

Goffc,  212 

Gold  Co.-ist,  288 

Golden  play  at  Court,  154 

Goldsmith,  Olixxr,  241 

"  Good  old  fashion,"  14O 

Googe,  Karnabv,  121 

Goose-pie,  256 

"  Gorboduc,"  125,  136 

Gorgeous  apparellinj;',  loi 

Gostord  Street,  Coventry,  14S 

Gospatrie,  38 

Gourdon,  Sir  Robert,  iqo 

"  Governance  Lord,"  112 

"  Gracious  time,"  a,  34 

Graduals,  22 

Grand  entertainments,  gg,  100-2 

'•Grand  Christmas"  ceremonies,  132 

Grand  Guiser,  286 

Grant,  254 

Granthuse,  Lord  of,  87 

Grape  gathering,  16 

Grattan,  5g 

Gray's  Inn,   in,   112,   142,  143,  144,   T45. 

ig3,  218 
Gray's  Inn  List  of  Performers,  143-3 
Great  houses,  in 
Gregory  Nazianzen,  Bishop,  22 
Gregory    the    Great — His     AiiiiphoiKiry, 

22  ;  his  story  about  English  slaves,  27  ; 

sends  Augustine  to  England,  28 
Greek  Church  show,  328 
Greek  Empire,  324 
Green,  J.  R.,  122,  200 
Greenland,  2g5,  2g6 
Greenwich,  100,  loS,  115,  lig 
Greenwich  Hospital  Gathering,  288 
Grey  de  Ruthvn,  Lord,  82 
Grey,  Lady  Jane,  and  her  husband,  117 
Grev,  Lord  Richard,  g2 
Griffiths,  William,  136 
"  Grimston,  Young,"  273 
Groceries,  263 
Grose,  227 
Guildford,  60,  73 
Guising,  286 
Gunhild,  37 
Gunning,  Mr.,  211 
Gustavus,  342 
Guy  of  Warwick,  ig5 
Gvbson,  Richard,  100 


H 


"  Hackin,  the,"  216,  233 

H.-iddon  Hall,  224,  223 

Haninciuie,  305 

"  Halig  monatli ''  (Holv  month),  20 

Hallam,  223 

Hall,  chronicler,  100,  104 

Hall,  a  gentleman's,  30,  201 

Halstead,  93 

Hamilton,  ^L^rqnesse  of,  192 

"  Hamlet,"  34,  142 

Ham]itoii  Court,  108,  139 

Handel,  350 

Hanover.  229 

"  Hansa,"  the,  293 

"  Happy  Land,''  the,  286 

Harefieid,  200 


Harefleur,  g3 

Hare  soup,  293 

Harleian,  MS.,  30,  93 

Harlequin,  230 

"  Harlequin  Sorcerer,"  230 

Harold  L,  son  of  Canute,  37 

Harold  II.,  son  of  Godwin,  39 

Harpers,  31,  41,  91 

Harrison,  President,  and  Mrs.,  313 

Harthacnut,  37 

Haselrig,  213 

Haslewood,  Mr.  Joseph,  232,  241,  244 

Hastings,  battle  of,  39 

Hastings,  Lord,  87,  88 

Hatfield  House,  iig,  120 

Hat  of  Estate,  roj-al,  96 

Hatton,  Lady,  211 

Hawaii,  307 

Hawking,  32,  154 

Hay,  Lord,  190 

Heathenish  practices,  26 

Helirew  and  Hellenic  elements,  19 

Heine,  Henrich,  321 

Helena  of  York,  21 

Heliogabalus,  312 

Helnies,  Mr.  Henrv,  143 

Hemans,  Mrs.,  47 

Hems,  Mr.  Harry,  278 

Hengest,  28 

Henley-on-Thames,  157 

Henrietta  Maria,  214 

Henry,  Cardinal  of  Winchester,  82 

Henry  L,  47 

Henrv  H.,  52,  36 

Henry  IIL,  62,^64 

Henry  IV.,  79 

Henrv  V.,  80  ;  widow  of,  94 

Henry  VI.,  S3,  85,  86,  87 

Henry  of  Richmond,  93 

Henrv  VII.,  marries  Elizabeth   of  York, 

94  ' 
Henry  VIII. ,98  ;  becomes  head  of  Church, 

107 
Henry  V.  of  German}',  47 
Henry,  Prince,  Son  of  James  I.,  132,  188 
"  Henry,  Prince  of  Purpoole,"  142 
Herald  .Angels,  the  (a  poem),  3 
Heralds  and  pursuivants,  89 
Herbert,  Sir  Philip,  133 
Hereford,  Duke  of,  78" 
Herod,  King,  7 
Herons,  96 

Herrick,  Robert,  202,  279 
"  Hesperides,"  the,  203,  279 
Heton,  68 

Heynalte,  Syr  John,  70 
Heywood,  a  player,  108 
Higgs,  Griffin,  writer  of  the  "  Christmas 

Prince,"  157,  350 
High  Festival  at  Court,  240 
Highgate,  122 
Highlands,  234 
Hiiarv's  ])av,  St.,  73 
HiIo,306 

Hinds'  and  maids'  festivities,  213 
Hippodrome,  52 
Hobbyhorse,  the,  197 
Hobgoblins,  237 
Hochstetter,  Professor.  297 
Hogges,  village  of,  32 


358 


INDEX. 


Holl-iein,  Hans,  109,  114 

Holinslied,  100,  115,  122 

Holland,  Governor  of,  87 

Holland,  Lord,  156 

Hollinsjiton,  near  Hastini^s,  284 

Hollis,'  Sir  William,  220 

Hoist.  Duke  of,  I53 

Holt,  Sir,  24s 

Hollv,  273,  282 

"  Ht)lly  Bough,  under  the,"  274 

Holy  evenings,  342 

Holy  Land,  67 

Homage  in  the  fifteenth  century,  go 

Hone,  66,  241,  317 

Honey  and  wine,  55 
Hood,  Thomas,  274 

Hoop  and  hide,  237 

Hooton  Roberts,  220 

Horses  gaily  caparisoned,  gg 

Hospitality,"  30,   124,   145,   146,  220,   256, 
260-6,  278  ' 

Hostilities  suspended  for  Christmas-day, 
81,84 

Hot  cockles.  229,  247,  252 

Houghton  Chapel,  220 

Household  Booktif  Henry  \'II.,  93 

Household  Book  of  Henry  VIII.,  too 

Housekeeping,  Christmas,  232 

House  of  Commons,  207 

House  of  Peers,  226 

Howard  family,  loi 

Howard,    Frances.    Countess   of     Essex, 

155 
Howitt,  Mary,  276 
"  Hue  and  Cry  after  Christmas,"  208 
Huet,  Sir  John,  153 
Huisli,  241 
Humher,  the,  43 

Humphrey,  Duke  of  Gloucester,  82 
Hungary,  153  ;  King  of,  35 
Hunting,  32,  54 
Huntingdon,   Earl    of,  7() ;    Countess  of. 

82 
Hunt  the  Slipper,  247,  313 
Hussars,  loth,  301 
Hussey,  Sir  Richard,  153 
Hypocras,  53 


Iceberg,  Christmas  upon  an,  2g7 

Ice-bound  regions,  295 

Ice  sports,  43,  r  s8,  i  34-5 

Ideler,  13  > 

Illuminations  at  Hampton  Court,  120 

Immanuel,  3,  6 

India,  299 

Indian  Ocean,  308 

Ingenuities  and  devices,  63 

Inner  Temple,  125,  136,  138 

Innocents'  Day,  38,  iig,  169 

Inns  of  Court,"iii,  112,  137,  201,  218 

Interludes,  103,  112 

Interruptions  of  festivities,  83,  206 

"  Investigator,"  the,  294 

lona,  the  monks  of,  27 

Ipomydon,  Romance  of,  33 

Ipswich,  68,  210 

Ira  Sen  Tiniiiiliis  Foiiime,  i8-^ 

Ireland,  52,  288 


Irish  customs,  251 

Irish  Princes  and  Chieftains,  35 

Irving,  Washington,  241,  258 

Isabel,  Queen  of  France,  78 

IsabelhC daughter  of  Edward  III.,  73 

Isaiah,  the  Prophet,  3 

Italy,  288 

Italian  characters,  230 

Italian  Masque,  100 

J 

"Jack  Straw,"  a  masque,  112 

Jacobites,  237 

Jade,  a  charming,  232 

Jamaica,  288 

James  I.,  138,  150,  191,  193-  10 

James  IL,  220,  223 

James  III.  of  Scotland,  98 

James  IV.  of  Scotland,  98 

James's,  St.,  241 

"Jane  the  Fool,"  108 

Jellalabad  Plain,  302 

Jermyn,  Sir  Isaac,  133  ;  Sir  Robert,  153 

lerome,  St.,  13,  21 

Jerusalem,  the  church  at,  1 1 

Jerusalem  Chamber,  207 

"  Jesus,  the  Nazarene,"  52 

Jhelum,  300 

Jinks,  high,  285 

Joan  of  Arc,  84 

Joan  of  Kent,  76,  149 

Jocund  holiday,  266 

John's  College",  St.,  Oxford,  in 

John  III.,  Duke  of  Cleves.  109 

John's  Day,  St.,  86,  134,  153,  219,  320 

John,  King,  39 

John  of  Gaunt,  74 

John  of  Salisbury,  54 

John  the  Baptist,  13 

Joints  of  meats,  265 

Jones,  Rev.  A.  G.,  308 

Jones,  Mr.  Charles  C,  102 

Jones,  Mrs.  Herbert,  85,  263 

Jones,  Inigo,  151 

Jones,  Mary,  280 

Jonson,  Ben,  86,   141,    148,  149,    151,    152. 

190,  197 
Jordan,  19 
Joseph,  5,  6 
Jousts,  32,  120 
Judas  Maccabruus,  17 
Juda;an    origin    of  Christmas,    supposed, 

17 
Jugglers.  31 
Juie  {sec  Yule) 
""  Julebukker,"  342 
Julius  Agricola,  23 
Julius  I.,  Bishop  of  Rome,  12 
Jupiter.  132 
Justin  Martyr,  7 
Justiciars'  extravagance,  59 

K 

Katherine  of  Arragon,  99 
Katherine,  wife  of  Henry  V,,  81 
Kalends  of  January,  22 
Karumpie,  33 
Ken.  Bishop,  11 


INDEX. 


359 


Kenilworth    Castle,  67,  68,  69,  84,  93 

Kent,  iiS 

KliU.  earldom  of,  46 

Kent,  Countess  of,  82  ;   Fair  Maid  of 

"  Kepe  Open  Court,"  69 

"  Kepe  open  thy  door,"  30,  146.  220 

Kilaue,  307 

Kimberley,  299 

Kiui;  and  Council,  117 

King  at  Lord  Buckingiiam's,  192 

Kinj4,  Josiah,  233 

Kinf^  of  Christmas,  112 

"  Kin}«  of  the  Cockneys,^'  112 

"  King  of  the  Peak,"  224 

King  of  Egypt  antl  his  daughter,  284 

King's  deer,  75 

King's  Lynn,  85 

King's  players,  151,  153 

King's  singing  men,  89 

King's  train-hearer,  96 

"  Kingdonie's  Weekly  Intelligencer,"  . 

Kinloch,  300 

Kirke,  George,  201 

Kissing  Bush,  250,  281 

Kitts,  St.,  288 

Knevet,  Sir  Thomas,  lor 

Knights  and  Ladies,  jilaying  at,  252 

Knights  of  the  Round  Table,  30 

Knights  in  armour,  99 

Knight  Templars,  60 

Knipton,  266 

Kyrie  Eliesons,  22,  28 


Im  Blanche  Xcf.  47 

Ladies-in-waiting,  263 

Lady-bells  ring,  267 

Ladv-Mass,  88 

"Lady  Public  Weal,"  112 

Ladysmith,  299 

Lalain,  Count  of,  118 

Lamb,  Charles,  200,  244-6 

Lamheth,  38,  138 

"  Lamentation,"  145 

Lancastrians,  85,  86 

Lanfranc,  Archbishop,  46,  49 

Lanterns,  Feast  of,  345 

"  Largess,"  a,  129 

Latimer,  Hugh,  113 

Latin  and  Greek  verse,  in 

Laube,  Dr.,  297 

Laud,  Dr.  (Archbishoji),  191,  195 

Launcelot,  Sir,  32 

Laurel,  273,  282 

Laurel  blent  with  cypress,  298 

Lavaine,  Sir,  32 

Lavish  entertainments,  59 

Law,  Christmas,  ancient,  35 

Lawes,  Henry,  151 

Leaping,  32,  229 

Leech,  John,  289 

Lee's  "  Mithridates,"  218 

Leeds,  283,  291 

Legend  of  St.  Xicholas,  310 

Leicester,  Karl  of,  66,  131) 

Leigh,  Gerard,  127 

Leland,  95 

Lenox,  Duke  of,  190 

Leo,  Pope,  35 


197        Leon,  King  of  .Armenia,  78 

Leon  von  Rozmital,  89 

Leonard's  chime,  St.,  267 
149         Lerwick,  286 

I^etter  Missions,  292 

Leyden,  157 

Library,  St.  John's  College,  136 

Lichlield    Cathedral,   349,  350;  Deanery 

"f.  157.  350 
Lincoln,  51,  68 
Lincoln,  Earl  of,  64 
Lincoln's  Inn,  ill,  112,  138 
Lincolnshire,  266 
Linlithgow,  68 

Lion  and  antelope  as  performers,  102 
Lions'  lieacls,  119 
Lisbon,  226 
Lists  of  combat,  10 1 
Literature,  292,313 
Llanfairpyllycrochon,  2S0 
208  Llewellyn,  Prince  of  Wales,  67 

Log-fires,  32,  301 
Lollards,  80 

London,  36,  38,  43,  45,  51,  60, 63,  71,  78,  138 
London,  Bishop  of,  25,  79 
Longchamps,   William,    Bishop    of    Ely, 

59 
Longe,  John,  71,  72 
Longfellow,  26,  43,  44,  271 
Lord  Chamberlain,  87,  139 
Lord  Chamberlain's  players,  151 
Lord  ]Mayor  of  London,  116 
Lord    Mayor   and    Lord   of    Misrule    at 

loggerheads,  198 
Lord  of  Misrule,  74,  93,  100,  105,  109,  112, 

115,  125,  126,  198,  200,  218 
Lord  President  of  Wales,  200 
Lord  Treasurer,  192 
Lorrainers,  319 
Loseley,  Surrey,  122 
Lott,  Mr.  J.  B.',  350 
Louis  of  France,  62 
Lambert,  213 
Louis,  St.,  317 
"  Love's  Triumph,"  i()8 
Lucius  Verus,  24 
"  Luck  of  Christ,"  the,  325 
Ludlow,  92,  200 
Luke,  St.,  (),  7 
Luther,  Martin,  106 
"  Lying  Valet,"  237 
Lyly's  Plays,  141 
Lvson's  "  Magna  Britannia,"  251 


M 


Macaulav,  Lord,  40 

Machinists,  ingenious,  151 

Mackay,  Dr.  Charles,  274 

Madden,  Sir  Frederick,  87 

Madeley,  Shropshire,  255,  284 

Mafeking,  299 

Magdalen  College,  Oxford,  la),  no 

Magdalene  College,  Cambridge,  145 

Magi,  the,  11,  19,  28 

Miigini  Cluirlii,  60 

Magnilicence,  40,  87 

Magnus,  St.,  49 

Maid  of  Kent,  Fair,  76.  149 

Maid  Marians,  286 


?6o 


INDEX. 


Mainard,  John,  117 

Mallard,  John,  1 14 

■Malory,  Sir  Thomas,  32 

Malta,  307 

IManger,  superb  substitutes  for,  32(S 

Manners,  Lord  and  Lady  John,  266 

Manners,  Sir  John,  224 

Manor,  ancient,  148,  140 

Mansfeld,  106 

Mansions,  55 

Manuel,  Emperor,  J2 

Maori  Pa,  304 

March,  Earl  of,  82 

Marcus  Aurelius  Antonius,  24 

Margaret,  daughter  of  Henrv  IIL,  64 

Margaret  of  Anjou,  85,  86 

Margaret,  daughter  of  Henrv  VII.,  97 

Mark's,  St.,  Venice,  336 

Marlboro',  304 

Marlborough,  Ducliess  of,  22;^  ;   Duke  of, 

225 
"  Marmirn,"  36 
Marriage   festivities,   62,   63,    64,  Si,  99, 

1 51-2 
Marseilles,  307 

Alarteaux  (a  game  with  halls),  88 
Martial-music,  84 
Martignv,  George,  88 
Martin,  152 

Martin's,  St.,  Cantcrhurv,  24 
Martyn,  John,  231 
Martyrs,  British,  20 
Marv,  the  mother  of  Jesus,  5,  6, 
Mary,  St.,  53 
Mary,  Princess  (afterwards  Queen),   105  ; 

her  accession,  117  ;  Queen,  119,  136 
Marj-land,  314 

Mary,  Queen,  wife  of  Willi:iin  III.,  221 
Mason,  251 

Masquer.-ide,  100,  102,  236 
M.'isques,  52,  99,  119.   120,  143,   151,   152, 

153,  154,  168,  192,  i()5,  197,  201  ;  rustic 

masque,  272 
Massacres  of  Christians,  20 
Massinger,  Philip,  112,  193 
"  Master  Christmas,"  206 
Master  of  the  Children,  the,  136 
Master    of  the  Revels,  74,  112,  125,218 

(  see  also  Lord  of  Misrule) 
Matilda,  Empress,  daughter  of  Henry  I., 

47.  51 
Matilda,  Queen  of  Henrv  I.,  49 
Matins,  88 
Matthew,  St.,  6 
Maud,  General,  300 
Maupigvrum,  55 
Mauritius,  288' 

Maj'or  and  Aldermen  of  London,  74,  96 
Mayor  of  Canterbury  mobbed,  210 
McClure,  Sir  R.,  2()4" 
Mead,  55 

Meade,"  Mr.,  192,  198 
Mediterranean,  307,  321,  331 
Medley  of  Nymphs,  savages,  &c.,  102 
Melbourne,  303 
"  Meliades,""iS"9 
Melrose,  98 
Memphis,  59 
Mendelssohn,  350 
Men  of  Kent,  210 


Mephistopheles,  342 

Mercia,  34,  35 

"  Merciless  Parliament,"  78 

"  MciTiirius  Acadciuictis"  207 

''  Meiriiriiis  Ciriais,"  208 

Mermaid  Inn,  152 

"  Merry  Boys  of  Christmas,"  215 

Merry    Disports,   Lord  of,    117   (see    also 

Master  of  the  Revels) 
"  Merry  in  the  hall,"  235 
Merry  tales,  195 
Merton  College,  Oxford,  237 
"  Messiah,"  304,  350 
Metrical  Romance,  69 
Mexborough,  219 
Michell,  Sir  Francis,  194 
Middle  Temple,  156,  192 
Middleton  Tower,  Norfolk,  84 
Midnight  Mass,  316,  323 
Midwinter  Customs  in  the  north,  284 
Mildmay,  Sir  Henry,  192 
Milford  Haven,  93 
Millbrook,  Southampton,  265 
Miller,  Thomas,  248 
Mills,  148 
Milner,  Dr.,  31 
Milton,  13,  200,  253 
Mimics,  6g 
"  Mince-pie,"  273 
Minerva,  the  Goddess,  102 
Minstrels,  31,  41,  42,  43,  44,  58,  69,  313 
Miracles  at  Becket's  Sepulchre,  54 
Miracle  Plays,  52,  77 
"  Misa  del  Gallo,"  340 
"  Misa  di  Lux"  340 
Miscomia,  297 

Misrule  (see  "  Lord  of  Misrule  ") 
Missionary's  Christmas,  30S 
Mission  to  Deep  Sea  Fishermen,  286 
Mistletoe,  28,  228,  250,  273,  282,  307,  318, 

319 
M'Kee,  Mr.  and  Mrs.,  313 
Modern  Cliristmases  at  home,  240 
Modern  Christmases  abroad,  294 
"  Modern  Intelligencer,"  The,  20S 
Mohupielen,  335 
Monk,  General,  214 
Monks,  merry,  37.  36 
Monson,  Sir  William,  192 
Monstrelet,  81 
Monte  Carlo,  331 
Montegele,  Lord,  154 
Montgomery,  154,  190 
Morat,  55 
Moray,  Earl  of,  71 
More,  Mr.,  of  Loseley,  122 
Morle}',  Lady,  91 
Morley,   Professor   Henry,   69,    123,    136, 

193."  22Q 
Morrice  Dance,  102 
Mortimer,  Anne,  86 
Morville,  Hugh  de,  53 
Mosaics,  16,  331 
Mother  of  the  maids,  139 
Motley  throng,  286 
Mowbrays,  148 
Movie,  "Thomas,  112 
Muddle,  General,  2()7 
Mununing,  52,  So,  121,  234,  236,  267 
Murray,  Sir  Andrew,  71 


INDEX. 


\6i 


Muscliamp,  Sir  Tlionias,  153 
Music,  iqt 
Musicians,  i2q 
Musk  veal,  294 
Mysteries,  77 


"  Nnogcorgiis,"  121 

Naples,  336 

Napoleon  IJonaparte,  321 

Nasebj-,  2og 

Nativity,    place   of   the,    7  ;   Church  and 

Convent  of  the,  7  ;    feast  of  the,   15  ; 

massacres  at  the,  20  ;  sermons  on  the, 

193-5 
Navarre,  63 
Navidad  discovered,  96 
Negroes'  merry  Christmas,  314 
Negro  minstrels,  286 
Neighbours  and  Tenants,  146,  220 
Nelson,  New  Zealand,  304 
Nero,  15,  20 
Netherlands,  28S 
Neville's  Cross,  74 
Neville,  Sir  Richard,  S2 
Nevil,  Lord,  86,  loi 
Newark-on-Trent,  62 
New  Brunswick,  288 
Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  68 
New  England  Puritans,  314 
New  Forest,  47 
Newmarket,  194,  218 
New  style,  237 
Newton,  Sir  Isaac,  14,  204 
New  Year's  Day,  93,  95,  96,  100,  130,  133, 

169,    170,   189,  199,  203,  260,  263,  271, 

284,  286,  291,  323,  342 
New  Zealand,  304 
Nicholas's  Day,  St.,  119 
Nichols,   120,  124,  126,  153,  155,  191,  192, 

193-5 
Nicomedia,  20 
Nigellus,  53 
Novgorod,  319 
Nip,  342 

"  Nippin  Grund,"  the,  286 
Noblemen,  99,  124  (see  others  named) 
Xoche-buctia,  340 
Nocturnal  OlVice,  317 
Noel   or    Nowell,    9,    33,   319.    321,    346, 

350 
Nonconformists,  207 
Norfolk,  143,  146,  218 
"  Norman  Baron,"  the,  43-4 
Norman  celebrations,  40,  41 
Norman  Conquest  helped,  37 
Norman-French  customs,  38 
Normandy,  dukedom  of,  47 
Normandy,  42,  318,  320 
Northampton,  Marquis  of,  130 
Northamptonshire,  284 
North.  Mr.  Thomas,  232 
Nortliern  nations,  15 
North  Pole,  295 
North  Sea  fishermen,  286 
North  West  Passage,  294 
Northumberland,  43,  253 
Nortlnmiberland,  Earl  of,  37,  86  ;  earldom 

of,  43  ;  Duke  of,  1 17 
Northumberland  Household  Book,  103 


Xortlumibrians,  27,  38 
Norton,  Thomas,  123 
Norway,  288,  342 
Nottingham,  68,  189 
Nova  Scotia,  288 
Nuns,  267,  271,  321 

O 

Oberon,  342 

Odo,  Bishop,  46 

Offa,  "the  mighty,"  34,  350 

Oflicers    of   "Grand    Christmas,"    list  of, 

126  ;    of   Christmas    Prince,    i63-(')-7  , 

officers.  Royal,  of  Arms,  I3() 
Oglethorpe,  Bishop,  123 
Oiaf,  King,  26 

"  Old  Christmas,"  145,  230,  273,  276 
"Old  and  Young  Courtiers,"  217 
Oldisworth,  Micliael,  201 
"  Open  Court  "  of  Cardinal  Wolsey,  104 
"  Open  House,"  113,  220 
Opera,  the,  228 

Order  of  the  Garter  instituted,  72 
Ordinances  of  the  Puritans,  207 
Orkney  Isles,  2S7 
Orleans,  84 
Orpheus,  19,  29,  152 
Osborne  House,  261-3 
Othbert,  49 

Ovation  to  Henry  V.,  81 
Overbury,  Sii  Thomas,  133 
Ovid,  230 
Oxford,  38,  51,  68,  109,  140,  210 


Paganism,  19,  20,  22,  28 

Pageantry,  31,  63,  122 

Paget,  Lord,  120 

I'alatine,  marriage  of,  151 

"  Palemon  and  Arcite,"  140 

Palestine,  54 

"  Pallas,  Knights  of,"  102 

Palmer,  Mr.,  Lord  of  Misrule,  19S 

Pansch,  Dr.,  295 

Panting  Piper.  305 

Pantomime,  229,  230 

Papal  Legate,  64 

Pappa  Wcstra,  287 

Paris,  35,  291,  316,  317,  318 

Paris,  Matthew,  34,  63 

Paris  Tournament,  78 

Parker,  Lieutenant  and  Mrs.,  313 

"  Parlement,"  45 

Parliamentarians,  206 

Parliament,  new  Houses  of,  46 

Parliament,  the  first  English,  65 

Parson  makes  merry  with    parishioners, 

113 
Parties,  309 

"  Paston  Letters,"  86,  91 
Pastoral,  "Calisto,"  21S 
Patriarch  of  Venice,  336 
Patrick,  St.,  284 
Piudiinis,  Missionary,  30 
Paul,  Mr.  Howard.  30() 
Paul's  Cathedral,  St".,  140 
Paul's  Church,  St.,  1 19 
Paul's  Cross,  St.,  92 


362 


IXDEX. 


Paul  St.,  Earl  of,  79 

Paul's  School,  St.,  77 

Paupers,  merry,  288 

Paw,  Salathiel,  142 

Peacocks,  96,  97 

Pej<asus,  198 

Pemhroke,  the  Kej^ent,  62 

Pembroke,  Countess  of.  241 

"  Penelope's  Wooer,"  187 

Penshurst,  Kent,  148-9 

Pepys,  Samuel,  145,  218 

Perche,  Countess  of,  47 

Peres,  William,  103 

Performers,  various,  41,  77 

"  Periander,"  a  traj^edy,  185 

Periodicals,  292,  313 

Period  of  Christmas,  12,  35,  rii,  125,  227 

Perrers,  Alice,  74,  75 

Perth,  274 

Perry,  55 

Peshawur,  300 

Peta  villa,  13 

Peter  of  Blois,  ^6 

Peter,  St.,  283 

Peter  the  Great,  of  Russia,  223 

Peter's,  St.,  Rome,  330 

J't'lit  Soiipcr,  322 

Petworth,  225 

Philip  of  Spain,  118 

Philip  and  Mar\',  119 

Philippa,  Queen,  72 

"  Philomathes,"  176 

"  Philomela,"  a  traijedy,  169 

Philosopher's  game,  195 

Phienicia,  55 

Picnics,  304 

Picts  and  Scots,  26,  31 

"  Picturesque  Europe,"  224 

Piece  dc  resistance,  294 

Piers  Gaveston,  68 

Pisijment,  55 

Pilgrims,  59 

Pires  Barnard,  68 

Pipers,  31,  89 

Place  de  la  Madeline,  319 

Place  de  la  Republiqiic.  319 

Plague,  the,  139 

Plantagenets,  68 

Plato's  Dialogue,  17 

Plays,  Christmas,   76-7,  84,  91,   95,   102, 

112,  125,  136-7,  142,  284,  320-1 
Playing  Cards,  qo 
Plum-pudding,    245,  263,   265,    273,    317, 

Pocahontas,  314 

I'oculuni  charitatis,  237 

Poetic  pictures  of  Christmas,  33,  34,  43-4, 
6q,  203,  204-5,  217,  221-2,"  227,  230, 
258,  274,  276-8,  288,  298,  330 

Poictiers,  74 

Pointer,  237 

Poleaxes  for  Pensioners,  136 

Pole,  Cardinal,  118,  119 

"  Pompey,"  316 

Pontefract,  87,  92 

"  Poor  Robin's  .Almanack,"  217,  222,  22'?, 
230 

Pope,  poet,  46,  230 

"  Popish  Customs,"  so  called,  109 

Popple,  John,  257 


Popular  festivities,  242 

Portugal,  226,  288 

Post  and  Pair,  247,  250 

Post-oflice  and  postmen,  292 

Poverty  at  Court,  86 

Prayer  Hooks  of  Edward  W.,  1 17 

Presbytery,  109 

Presents,    15,  42,    69,    88,   312,   323,    326, 

.1,1 5 
Presentation  in  the  Temple,  348 
Presepio  (manger),  328 
Preston,  Sir  Richard,  190 
Priestess,  Druid,  228 
Priests  bearing  relics,  90 
Priestly  practices,  121,  317,  328 
Primate's  cruelty,  200 
Primitive  celebrations,  19 
"  Prince  Charlie,"  237 
Prince  of  Wales,  83,  225,  263 
Prince  of  Wales's  Strait,  294 
Princes  of  Germany,  35,  109 
Princes  play  in  masques,  152,  i()7 
Privy  Council,  117 
Prolongaticm  of  Revels,  201 
Prometlius,  132 
Protectorate,  the,  213 
Protestantism  of  Queen  Elizalieth,  122 
Proven(;al  Plays,  320-1 
Provence,  320,  321  ;   Eleanor  of,  62-4 
Provision  for  the  poor,  257-8,  26o-() 
Prowess,  67,  72,  73,  84,  99,  190 
Prussian  Royal  Familv,  334 
Prynne,  William,  191) 
Psyche,  19 

Ptarmigan  pasties,  295 
Pnnch,  282,  342 
Puppet  shows,  227,  321,  328 
Purification,  the,  73 
Puritan  Directory,  207 
Puritanism,  109 
Purposes,  195 
Puss-in-the-Corner,  236 
Pynson,  printer,  .104 

Q 

Quadrangle,  Royal,  88 
■'  Quartette  "  cards,  272 
Queen's  College,  O.xford,  109 
Queen's  Gentlewomen,  88 
Questions  and  Commands,  i()5,  236 
Ouintin,  45,  59 


R 


Races,  218 

Railways,  the,  292 

Raleigh,  Sir  Walter,  152 

Rampini,  Sheriff,  286 

Ratcliffe,  93 

Rathbertus,  a  priest,  40 

Reade,  Mr.,  346 

"  Read's  Weekly  Journal,"  232 

"  Recollections  of  old  Christmas," 

Recreations,  11)5,  315 

Redcoats,  294 

Rcdmile,  261') 

Rcedwald,  29 

Reformation,  106,  109 

Regatta,  the  Christmas,  304 


INDEX. 


363 


"Regis  Omtor  I'l  Culauio,"  114 
Regulations     for     a     giaiul      Christmas, 

112 
Reindecr-sleigii  of  St.  Xick,  3 1  r 
Rejoicings  on  Krcncli  battle  ground,  72 
Relics,  sacred,  ()0,  331 
Religious  matters,  1  1 7 
Rennes  cloth,  SS 
Reresby,  Sir  John,  219 
Restoration,  the,  215 
Reunions,  313 

Re\els  resembling  Saturnalia,  18 
Revels,  called  a  Maskelyn,  100 
Revels,  Master  of  the,  112  (sec  also  "  Lord 

of  Misrule") 
Revels,   132,    133,  180,   181,  i()2,    i<)3,  218, 

315 
Revolution,  220 
AV.v  Fa  [yam  111,  lot) 
Riiedon,  93 
Rheims  Cathedral,  94 
Rhosllanerchrugog,  264 
Rhosvmedre,  Denbighshire,  264 
Rhys;  brother  of  Gr'uffydd,  38 
Richard  I.  ("  C(fiur  de  Lion  "),  58 
Richard  II.,  76 

Richard,  Duke  of  Gloucester,  92 
Richard  IIL,  93,  lor 
Richard,  Dukeof  York,  86,  87 
Richard  tlie  Good,  of  Normandv,  38 
Rich,  Christopher,  229 
Rich,  John,  229 

Richmond,  96,  98,  99,  102,  108,  lu) 
Richmond,  Duke  of,  105 
"  Richemond  Manor,"  open  house  at,  T04 
Riding  School,  Windsor,  260 
Riddles,  252 
Rigden,  Mr.,  219 
Ripon,  242 

Rivers,  Lady,  88  ;  Earl,  92 
Rivet,  Andrew,  157 
••  Roast  Beef  of  Old  England,"  301 
Robert  of  Comines,  43 
Robes,  costlv,  75 
Robin  Hood,  66 
Robin   Hood  and  his  foresters  depicted, 

100,  286 
Rochester,  1 18 
Rochester,  Bishop  of,  i3() 
Roe,  Sergeant,  1 12 
Roger  de  Coverlev,  Sir,  227 
Roger  Mortimer,  68 
Roland,  Captain  of  Charlemagne,  41 
Roman  Church,  62 
Roman  Catholic  reaction,  ii8 
Roman  Empire,  35 
Roman  invasion  of  Britain,  2j!, 
Romantic  davs,  3 1 
Rome,  early  Church  at,  1 1 
Rome,  328 

Romish  priestly  practices,  121 
Rooke,  Sir  George,  226 
Rope-dancing,  229 
Roses  united  in  marriage,  94 
Rotterham,  220 
Rouen,  81,  317 

"  Round  about  oiu'  Coal  Fire,"  201,  23^ 
Round  Table,  30,  67,  73 
Royalists,  206,  215 
Royal  Bounties,  258,  260 


Royal  festivities,  54,  94,  99,  141,  261  {see 
also  other  festivities  recorded  under 
the  names  of  different  Sovereigns) 

Rowbotham,  28 

Rowe,  142 

Rowse,  Sir  John,  153 

Royston,  153 

Roxburgh   Collection    (British    Museum), 

145 
Ruabon,  264 
Rufus's  revelries,  47 
Rmnp,  the,  213,  217 
Running,  32 
Runnvmede,  60 
Russell,  Lord  John,  297 
Russia,  284,  288,  342 
Rutland,    Duke    of,     224,    266  ;    Janetta, 

Duchess  of,  225  ;   Lord,  80,  87 


Sabine  Island,  293 

Sackville,  Thomas,  125 

Sailors'  gathering,  288 

Salisbury,  Earl  of,  87,  154,  136 

Salom  Moss,  loi 

Sanctuarv  at  Westminster,  92 

Sandal  Castle,  87 

Sandhurst,  Berkshire,  276 

Sandringham,  85,  263 

Sandwicli  Island,  294 

Sandwich  Islands,  303 

Sandvs,  William,  F.S.A.,  13,  104,  137,  201, 

206 
San  Maria  Maggiore  Church,  331 
Saracens,  59 
Santa  Claus,  290,  310 
"  Saturday  Review,"  207 
Saturnalia,  13,  15,  19,  29,  168,  191,  320 
Saxon  chiefs,  43 
Saxon  sports,  44 
Scales,  Lord  and  Lady,  84,  83 
Scaliger,  13 

••  Scalloway  Lasses,"  286 
Scandinavianism,  285 
Scenic  magnificence,  132 
Schon  berg,  Duke  of,  226 
Scottish  annals,  48,  68,  71.  82,  98,   134. 

191,  207,  242,  2=4,  284-8 
Scotch  first-footing,  283 
Scott,  Dr.,  313 

Scott,  Sir  Walter,  36,  98,  230 
Scripture  history  plays,  77 
Sea  celebr.itions,  95,  218,  307 
Sears,  E.  H.,  330 
Sectaries,  207 
Segraves,  148 
Selden,  152 
Seleucus  Nicator,  13 
Senegal,  345 
Senlac,  battle  of,  39 

'•  Seven  Champions  of  Christendom,"  283 
"Seven  Daves  of  the  Weeke,"  the,  174 
Sermons,  Christmas,  i()3 
Servants'  feasts,  202,  2 1 2-3,  263 
Servians,  343 
Settlers,  iMiglish,  314 
Seville  Cathedral,  338 
Seymour,  Jane,  108 
Shaftesbury,  37 


3^4 


INDEX. 


Shakespeare,    ^4,    So,    Si,    141,    142, 

152,  153,  26.-^ 
Shaw,  Dr.,  92 
Shene,  75,  g6 
Shepherds,  7,  317 
Sherwood  Forest,  66 
Shetland,  285 

'•  Shewes,"  triuniph.uit,  i()0 
Shipwreck  on  Christmas-dav,  287 
Shopping  in  sleighs,  312 
Shovelboard,  195 
Shrewsbury,  Earl  of,  139 
Shrine  of  St.  Peter,  330 
Shropshire,  24,  118,  253,  284 
Shrove  Tuesday-,  1S3 
Sicily,  King  of,  59    . 
Sidney,  Sir  Philip,  14S 
Sieur  de  Nigry,  118 
Silurians,  King  of,  24 
Simeon,  348 
Sinclair,  Rev.  John,  2S7 
Singing,  140,  195,  294,  326.  350 
Sirloin  of  roast  beef,  231 
Siward,  Sir  Richard,  64 
Skating,  45  (see  "  Ice  Sports") 
Skeleton  at  bed  foot,  276 
Skinner's  Wells,  76 
Skylarking,  294 
Slade,  Monty,  302 
Sladen  Douglas,  B.  W.,  303 
Slavs,  345 
Sleighing,  302,  310 
Smith,  Captain  John,  314 
Smith,  Dr.  Walter,  285 
Smith,  Sir  Thomas,  139 
Smithfield,  London,  79 
Smyth,  John,  court  fool,  116 
Smyth,  Matthew,  143 
"  Snap  "  cards,  272 
Snapdragon,  247 
Social  festivities,  252 
Society  Islands,  288 
Somerset,  Duke  of,  87,  115,  223 
Somerset,  Earl  of,  155 
Somerset,  Sir  Thomas,  190 
Somersetshire,  31 
Somers,  Will,  king's  jester,  113 
"  Sons}-  haggis,"  255 
"  Sonva,"  344 

Soutliampton,  Earl  of,  190 
Southern  merrymaking,  314 
Sou  they,  257 
Souvenirs,  3 1 2 
Spain,    75,   loS,   120,   190,   212,    22^, 

338 
Spanish  cavaliers,  2S6 
Spectacular  entertainments,  52,  99 
"  Spectator,"  the,  227 
Speech  from  the  throne,  87 
Spenser,  149 
Spithead,  225 

Sports,  33,  54,  154,  169,  19S,  203,  247 
Stacj',  Louis,  88 
Staffordshire,  284,  349,  350 
Stained  glass,  modern,  34S 
Stainer,  350 
Stanley,  Dean,  17 
Stanton,  Mr.  W.  M.,  304 
Stapleton,  Lady,  91 
Star  of  Bethlehem,  319 


28S, 


Star  Chamber,  156 

State    meetings,    29,    38,   45,    54  ;    State 

worship,  96-7 
Steele,  227 
Steplien,  King,  51 
Stephen's    Day,    St.,    120,    126,    130,    133, 

168,  219,  350 
Steward's  Department,  Lord,  260 
Steward,  Sir  John,  82 
"Still  Christmas  "  of  Henrv  VIII.,  104 
Stoke  Abbat,  157 
Stony  Stratford,  92 
Stories  of  Christmastide,  48,  49,  237,  274, 

273,  276,  287 
Stowe,  66,  74,  102,  112,  ri6 
Strafford  papers,  136 
Strange,  Ladv,  139 
Stratford-upon-Avon,  2 1 S 
Strutt,  44,  76,  103,  119.  21S 
Strype,  119 
Sturgeon,  96 

Stuteville,  Sir  Martin,  192,  198 
Subtleties,  83,  97 
Sufed  Koh,  302 
Suffolk,  146' 
Suffolk,  Earl  of,  84,  189 
Sullivan,  350 

Sumptuous  feasts  of  Normans,  34 
Superstitions,  33,  34,  283 
Sussex,  Earl  of,  139 
Sussex,  Sheriff  of,  65 
Swans,  96 
Sweden,  288 
Sweetmeats,  322 
Swegen,  King,  36 
Swein,  King  of  Denmark,  43 
Swithin,  St.,  Winchester,  56 
Sword-dance,  229,  253 
Sword  actors,  282-4 
Sword  of  King  Arthur,  38 
Swynford  Catherine,  94 
"  Synod  of  Westminster,"  208 
Synod  of  Whitby,  27 
Syria,  53 


Tacitus,  24,  33 

Taillefer.  Xorman  minstrel,  41 

Talbot,  Sir  John,  84 

Tallard,  Marshal,  226 

Tales,  weird,  274-5 

Tallis,  140 

Tambourine,  340 

Tancred,  King,  58 

"Tatler,"  the,  228 

Taverner,  Edmund,  201 

Taylor,  John,  206 

'J'c  Dcinii,  317 

Telesphorus,  St.,  Bishop  of  Rome.  12 

Tempest,  great,  74 

Templars'  sports,  198 

Temple-horn  winded,  198 

Temple  of  Minerva,  1S4 

Temples,  the,  ill 

Tenants'  and  labourers'  feast,  231 

Tennyson,  31,  -270 

Teonge,  Rev.  Henrv,  21S 

Tetzel,  89 

Teuton  forefathers,  our,  26 


INDEX. 


365 


'reutoii  kins'iicii,  34 

Tewkesbury,  04 

Thackeray,  Mr.,' 229 

Thames,  108,  127 

Thauet,  Isle  of,  2,S 

Theatrical  exliibitions,  141,  229,  230 

Thelhisoii,  Hon.  Mr.  and  Miss,  273 

Theobald,  Arclibishop,  53 

Theobalds,  154,  193,  194 

Theotlosius  the  younger,  22 

Thewlis,  St.,  284 

Thomas,  St.,  54 

Thomas,  St.  (a  place),  288 

Thomas's  Day,  St.,  130,  164,  265 

Thomas,  Thomas,  280 

Thomas,  the  Misses,  262 

Thor,  15,  26,  29 

Thorolci,  Sir  Wilfrid  de,  267 

Thunder  (see  Thor),  29 

Thurstan,  Archbisho]"i,  48 

Thrybergh,  2ig 

Tilting,  155  (see  also  Tournanieul) 

"Time's  Alteration,"  217 

"Time's  Complaint,"  170 

"Time's  Telescope,"  251 

Tolxacco,  259,  278 

Ti)ffee,  28 1 

Tommy  .4tkins,  299 

Torchlight  procession,  2SO 

Torksey  Hall,  266 

Tostig,  Earl,  38 

Tournaments,  ^2,  52,  by,  73,  78,  99,   loi, 
155.  189-   100 

Tower    of    London,    79,    92,     117,     123, 
223,   226 

Towton,  87 

Toys,  265 

Tragedy  of  "  Gowrv,"  the,  153 

Traill,  Mr.,  287 

Transatlantic  Sa.xons,  309 

Transvaal,  2S8 

Travelling,  ancient,  31 

"Treason!    treason!"    cried    James    1., 

193 
Tricks  by  animals,  229 
Trinity  College,  Cambridge,  no 
Trinity  Term,  131 
Triphoi)k,  Robert,  155 
Tripoli,  55 

Triumphs  of  the  tournament,  10 1 
Trumpeters,  89 
Trumpets,  220,  261 
Trunks,  small,  195 
"Truth,"  in  pageautrj-,  122 
Tucker,    Thomas,     the     elected     Prince, 

156 
Tudela,  Benjamin  ot,  52 
Tudor,  Edmund,  Jasper,  Owen,  94 
Tumbling,  119,  228 
Turkeys,  246,  340 
'■  Turkish  Knight,"  284 
"Turkish  Magistrates,"  119 
Turnham  Green,  284 
Tusser,  Thomas,  124,  140,  146 
Twelfthtide,   15,  35,  95,  97,  100,  102,  125, 

I3.S>   153.   154.   188,   190,   193,   198,  201, 

-41,  320,  342 
Twelve  days  of  Christmas,  35,  in,  125,  227 
Tyrrel,  Sir  Walter,  47 
Tytler,  General,  300 


U 

Udall,  Nicholas,  119 

Ukraine,  345 

Ule  (sec  Yule) 

Uniformity,  Act  of,  117 

United  States,  288,  3a;- ^l() 

Uphelya,  286 

"  Ups  and  Downs  of  Christmas, '  tiie,  2ckj 

"  Ursa  Minor,"  273 

Usher,  13 

Ushers,  Gentlemen,  I3() 

Uvedale,  Lord  of  Wickham  Manor,  71 


Valorous  deeds,  59 

Vane,  213 

Variety  of  players,  63 

Vaughan,  ALister,  88 

Vawce.  Sergeant,  117 

"  Venetian  Senators,"  119 

Venice,  190,  336 

Vere,  Karl  of  Oxford,  75 

Vere,  Lady  Susan,  153 

Vernon,  Doroth}',  224 

Versailles,  35 

Vespers,  331 

Viands,  55 

Victoria,  Queen,  258,  260-3 

Victoria's  grandchildren,  Oueen,  262 

Vienna,  336 

Vigil  of  Christmas,  49,  317 

Vigilate,  a,  178 

"  Vindication  of  Father  Christmas,"  the, 

212 
Vineyard  of  pleasure,  88 
Vintage,  the,  16 
Violins,  220 
Virgil's  Eclogues,  17 
Virginian  Colonists,  314 
\'irgin  Mary,  image  of  the,  317 
Visors  tlepicted  in  verse,  104 
Vivian,  Sir  Francis,  15O  ;  Mr.  Vi\ian,  15O 
Vijlcano,  305 


VV 


Waits,  44,  240 

Wakefield,  battle  of,  86 

Wales,  38,  188,  200,  280,  2S8 

Wales,  Prince  and  Princess  of,  85,  225,  263 

Wallingford,  51,  68 

Wanjani,  304 

Ward,  Ke\-.  John,  218 

Warning  shots,  127 

Warren,  Earl  of,  64 

Warrior-King  (Edward  III.),  74 

Warriors  rewarded,  42 

Wars  of  Barons,  65 

Wars  of  Roses,  85 

Wars  of  Roses  ended,  93 

War  suspended  for  Christmas,  81,  84 

Warton,  author,  no 

Warwick,  Earl  of,  87,  93,  139,  192 

Warwick  muses,  198 

Warwickshire,  146,  284 

Wash,  the,  O2 

Wassail,  15,  58,  97,  i8i 

"  Wassail  Bowl,"  15,  273 


366 


INDEX. 


\V;issailiiii;  the  apple-trees,  278-9  , 

Washburn,  Ex-Minister  E.  B.,  318 

Washiiij^ton  negroes,  314 

Watt-wille,  Monsieur  Robert,  68 

"  Weekly  Account,"  the,  208 

"  Wcihnacten,"  335 

"  ]\'ciliiiactt's  Bescliccriiiif<."  335 

•■  Welcome  to  Christmas,"  276 

Welcome  to  all  comers,  30,  148,  220, 

Wellington,  304 

Welsh  border,  38,  43 

Welsh  Christmas,  280-2 

Western  Church,  the,  12 

West  Kington,  1 13 

Westminster,  4O,  O2,  64,  74,  87,  8y,  1 

Westminster  Abbey,  38,  51,  123,  140, 

Westminster  Hall,  4O,  Oo,  64,  68,  7 

118,  123,  226 
Weston,  Dr.,  118 
West  Riding  of  Yorkshire,  282-4 
West  Newton,  263 
Whallev,  Colonel,  212 
Wheatley,  Mr.  W.  M.,  265 
Whippingham,  262 
White,  Sir  Thomas,  1 18 
Whitehall,  118,   154 
Whitelock,  207 
"  Wliite  Rose  of  York,"  85 
Whittier,  J.  G.,  37 
Wild  Boar,  32,  33,  45,  no 
William,  Prince  of  Orange,  220 
William  and  Mary,  221 
William  IV.,  258 
William  the  Almoner,  64 
William  the  Conqueror,  39 
William,  King  of  Prussia,  35 
William  Rufus,  46 
William,  son  of  Henry  I.,  47 
William  of  Malmesbury,  49 
William  of  Ypres,  52 
Williams,  99 
Willoughby,  Lord,  82 
Winchester,  31,  34,  37,  47,  65  ;  rnonl^ 

56 
Winchester,  Bishop  of,  195 
Winchester  Palace,  62,  65 
Winchester  School,  71 
Windsor,  31,  47,  48,  54,  62,  75,  80,  87, 

261 
Wine  and  honey,  55 
Winer,  13 

Winters,  hard,  67,  138,  154-5 
Winter  solstice,  15,  29,  295 
Wiuwood,  Mr.,  153 
Wise  Men  (Magi),  11,  19,  28 
Wise  Men  (the  King's),  29,  38,  45 


356 


i'>3 
S,  93. 


Witches,  195,  237 

"Wit-combats,"  153 

Witenagemot,  29 

Wither,  George,  190,  204 

Wizard  of  Christmas,  310 

Woden,  2=;,  29 

Wolf,  45  ^ 

Wolferton,  263 

Wolley,  Sir  Francis,  154 

Wolsey,  Cardinal,  104,  106,  112 

Women  masks,  1 19 

Wood,  Mr.,  log,  140,  157 

Woodstock,  226 

Woodville,  Elizabeth,  89' 

Woodville  family,  92 

Woolsthorpe,  204,  266 

Worcester,  52,  60,  67  ;  Earl  of,  82,  189 

Workhouse,  Christmas  at,  28S 

Worksop,  87 

Worship  in  State,  96-7 

Wortley,  near  Leeds,  291 

Wotton,  200 

Wrestling,  32 

Wright,  Thomas.  F.S.A.,  90 

Wyatt,  Sir  Thomas,  118 

Wvkeham,  William  of,  71 

Wvnn,  Ladv  Williams,  264 

Wynn,  Sir  W.  W.,  Bart.,  264 

Wynnstay  Park,  264 

Uyrccf.tcr,  William,  87,  89 


X 


Xtemas,  9 


Yeoman,  124 

Yew,  282 

York,  31,  36,  43,  f>4,  ()8,  80 

York,  Archbishop  of,  65,  240 

York,  Bishop  of,  25 

York,  Duchess  of,  82 

York,  Duke  of,  the  young,  92 

York,  wars  of,  83 

Yorkshire,  251,  282-4 

Yule,  Jule,  or  Ule,  9,  15,  195,  285 

Yule-log,  I,  268,  302,  319,  345 

"  Yuletide,"  177,  227,  267,  285 


Z 


/ainhoiiihiiSy  339 
Zanzibar,  288 
Zukkur  Kehls,  300 


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