[Illustration: 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 Perrers, 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 Westminster, the festival being made memorable

by all the nobles of the realm attending to swear fealty to the son of

the Black Prince, who, by 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

TERRIBLE CHRISTMAS TEMPEST,

which he says occurred in 1362: "The King held his Christmas 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 CHRISTMAS ROBES

that were worn at this period. And these accounts also show that Alice

Perrers 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 (styled 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 Perrers. And at a festival at Windsor the King caused

twelve ladies (including his daughters and Alice Perrers) to be

clothed in handsome hunting suits, with ornamented bows and arrows, to

shoot at the King's deer; and a very attractive band of foresters they

made. We have also seen that eighty costly tunics were provided for

the Christmas sports and disguisings at Guildford.

We now come to a

COMICALLY CRUEL CHRISTMAS INCIDENT,

recorded by Sir John Froissart, and which he says gave "great joye" to

the hilarious "knightes and squyers" who kept the festival with "the

Erle of Foiz":--

"So it was on a Christmas day the Erle 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 dyned 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 chymney, 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 hym on his backe, and

went up all the stayres into the galary, and dyde cast downe the asse

with all the woode into the chymney, and the asses fete upward;

wherof the erle of Foiz had great joye, and so hadde all they that

were there, and had marveyle of his strength howe he alone came up all

the stayres with the asse and the woode in his necke."

[Illustration]

Passing on to

THE REIGN 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, disguisings, pageants, and

plays continued to be the diversions of Christmastide at court. From

the rolls of the royal wardrobe, 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[25] 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.

[Illustration: [On one side is the legend, MONETA NOVA ADRIANI

STVLTORV PAPE, the last E being in the field of the piece, on which is

represented the Pope, 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 grotesque person with a

cardinal's hat, with the oft-recurring legend, STVLTORV INFINITVS EST

NVMERVS.]]

But the miracle plays and mysteries performed by the Churchmen

differed greatly from the secular plays and interludes which at this

period "were acted by strolling companies of minstrels, jugglers,

tumblers, dancers, bourdours, or jesters, and other performers

properly qualified for the different parts of the entertainment, which

admitted of a variety of exhibitions. These pastimes are of higher

antiquity 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 other 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 diligently 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

performed 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 composed 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."

[Illustration: A COURT FOOL.]

In his Christmas feasts Richard the Second outdid his predecessors in

prodigal hospitality. He delighted in the neighbourhood of Eltham,

and spent much of his time in feasting with his favourites at the

royal palace there. In 1386 (notwithstanding the still prevalent

distress, which had continued 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 completion

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 lifelong

banishment, his doom being pronounced in the very hall which he had

reared to such magnificence for his own glory. Thus ingloriously

Richard disappears from history, for nothing certain is known 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!"

[Illustration]

GRAND CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT.

An example of the tournaments which were favourite diversions of kings

and nobles at this period is found in that held at Christmastide in

London in 1389. Richard II., his three uncles, and the greater barons

having heard of a famous tournament at Paris at the entry 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, should challenge all foreign knights. They therefore sent

heralds into all parts of England, Scotland, Germany, Italy, Flanders,

Brabant, Hainault, and France to proclaim the time, place, and other

circumstances of the proposed gathering, 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 Smithfield,

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 first day of the

tournament (Sunday) sixty-five 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 Smithfield, attended by a numerous band of trumpeters and other

minstrels. Immediately 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 provided for them; the

knights mounted their horses and began the jousts, in which they

exhibited such feats of valour and dexterity 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

prepared. The ladies, knights, and heralds who had been appointed

judges awarded one of the prizes, a crown 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 entertainment which they had enjoyed in England.

KING HENRY THE FOURTH

was born at Bolingbroke, in Lincolnshire, being the eldest son of John

of Gaunt and of his first wife, the heiress of the house of Lancaster,

and a grandson of Edward III. On the death of John of Gaunt in 1399,

Richard II. seized his lands, having in the previous year banished

Henry of Bolingbroke. On Henry hearing what had occurred, knowing his

own popularity and Richard's unpopularity, 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 was 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 assassination. 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 insurrection

proved abortive, and the fate of the leaders was summary and

sanguinary.

The favourite palace of Henry the Fourth was 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

subsequent festivals; then the king's health gave way, and he passed

the last Christmas of his life in seclusion at Eltham, suffering 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 conspiracy to

murder the king is alleged against the Lollards, but the charge has

never been satisfactorily proved. "If we are to believe 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

policy, 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."[26] Lord Cobham was put

to death by cruel torture in St. Giles's Fields, London, on Christmas

Day, 1418.

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 holiday

season to interfere with his military operations; 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

Henry married the Princess Katherine, the youngest daughter of Charles

VI., King of France, and the king and queen spent their first

Christmas of wedded life at Paris, the festival being celebrated by a

series of magnificent entertainments. Henry's subsequent journey to

England was "like the ovation of an ancient conqueror." He and his

queen were received with great festivity at the different towns on

their way, and on the 1st 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

magnificent 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, but, 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."[27]

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

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 Westminster 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 Nevill 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-Marshal, 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 with the

doctors, bearing a reason (motto) in her right hand, saying, in the

French apparently of Stratford-at-the-Bow, "Madame le Royne," 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_--Jelly coloured with columbine flowers, white potage,

or cream of almonds, bream of the sea, conger, soles, cheven, barbel

with roach, fresh salmon, halibut, gurnets, broiled roach, fried

smelt, crayfish or lobster, leche damask with the king's word or

proverb flourished "_une sanz 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."

_Third course_--Dates in composite, cream mottled, carp, turbot,

tench, perch, fresh sturgeon with whelks, porpoise roasted, memis

fried, crayfish, prawns, eels roasted with lamprey, a leche called the

white leche flourished with hawthorn leaves and red haws, and a march

pane, garnished with figures of angels, having among them an image of

St. Katherine holding this reason--

"Il est ecrit,

Pour voir et dit

Per mariage pur

C'est 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 countenance of throwing mirrors

at the great tiger, the which held this reason--

"Gile de mirror,

Ma fete distour."

[Illustration: "Marble Panel Florentine 1420,

S. Kensington museum."]

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 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[28] 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."

[Illustration: Henry IV.'s Cradle]

In 1433 Henry kept his Christmas at Bury, and in 1436 at Kenilworth

Castle. Nothing remarkable, however, is recorded respecting these

festivities. But some interesting particulars have been preserved of a

CHRISTMAS PLAY PERFORMED IN 1445

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

the early owners of Sandringham, which is now a residence of the

Prince of Wales. Mrs. Herbert Jones[29] 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, representing 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.[30]

"It was in the courtyard that this quaint representation took place;

the musical dialogues, the songs and hymns, the profusion of

ornaments, personal and otherwise, recorded as pressed on to the

stage, the grotesque angel and virgin, must have furnished 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 hostilities, for some of the

most bloody encounters (as, for example, the terrible battle of

Wakefield) occurred at Christmastide. The wars of the contending

factions continued throughout the reign of Henry VI., whose personal

weakness left the House of Lancaster 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."[31]

The Christmases of Henry were not kept with the splendour which

characterised those of his rival and successor, Edward IV. Henry's

habits were religious, and his house expenses parsimonious--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 1451 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."[32]

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 VI., 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 was descended from Philippa, the only

daughter of the Duke of Clarence, second son of Edward III.; 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 III. 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 Lancastrian branch of the royal

family had enjoyed the crown for three generations it was resolved

that Henry VI. 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 on 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 Duke of Somerset and the

Earl of Devon. "Parliament being prorogued in December, 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 destroyed. On the 21st

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 were beheaded.

Edward, son of Richard Duke of York, was afterwards joined by his

cousin, Richard, Earl of Warwick, the famous "kingmaker." 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.

IN 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 (Parl. 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 marteaux [a

game played with small balls of different colours]; and some of her

ladies were playing at closheys [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, which 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

Berners, 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 (_show_) 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 fine 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 like a net, and there was a cupboard. In the third chamber

was ordained a bayne (_bath_) 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, comfits,

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 _William Wyrcester_) "the Duke of

Clarence dissembled there."

In 1478 the King celebrated the Christmas festival at Westminster 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 day. Edward almost entirely rebuilt Eltham Palace, of which the

hall was 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 finest 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 costly 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 Woodville) 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 and the

women, the clergy and the laity, each in his rank, filling four large

rooms. Also, the king invited my lord and all his noble attendants to

the table where he usually dined with his courtiers. And 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 who 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 waited 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 AND OTHER CHRISTMAS DIVERSIONS IN 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 by 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, evidently become very popular in England; and only twenty

years afterwards they are spoken of as the common Christmas game, 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 _cards_--such

disports she gave her folks leave to play, and none other.... I 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 following 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.'"

[Illustration: LADY MUSICIAN OF THE 15TH 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 lefull and

c[=o]mendable."

[Illustration: RUSTIC CHRISTMAS MINSTREL WITH PIPE AND 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, was arrested and

executed because he would not sanction Gloucester's nefarious schemes

for obtaining 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 III.

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,

RICHARD THE THIRD.

The King kept his first Christmas at Kenilworth Castle, having

previously visited the city of Coventry, at the festival of _Corpus

Christi_, to see the plays. The accounts of Kenilworth Castle show

that in 1484 John Beaufitz 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,

encouraging 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."[33] 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 VII.," which says: "Richard's wife was Anne, the younger

daughter of Warwick the King-maker. She died 16th 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 1st of

August, 1485, Henry set sail from Harfleur 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.

[19] Browning.

[20] "Every-day Book," vol. ii. p. 1635.

[21] "Shorter Poems."

[22] 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.

[23] Cassell's "History of England."

[24] Creighton's "Life of Edward the Black Prince."

[25] "Sports and Pastimes."

[26] Cassell's "History of England."

[27] Shakespeare.

[28] "History of Chivalry."

[29] "Sandringham Past and Present, 1888."

[30] King's Lynn Chamberlains' Accounts Rolls, 23rd of

Henry VI.

[31] "Chronicles of the White Rose of York."

[32] "Paston Letters."

[33] Halstead'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 married 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 VI.;

but after the battle of Tewkesbury he was taken by his uncle, Jasper

Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, to Brittany for safety. Edward IV. 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 following Christmas

festival he married Elizabeth of York. The Archbishop who married them

(Archbishop Bourchier) had crowned both Richard III. and Henry VII.,

and Fuller quaintly describes this last official act of marrying King

Henry to Elizabeth 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 coronation."

The Christmas festivities were attended to with increasing zest during

the reign of Henry VII., for the King studied 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 royal 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,

£14 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 sometimes called), for

several years, "in rewarde for his 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 playing on Twelfth Night; for

instance, an entry on January 7th, 23 Henry VII., 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 disgysyngs,

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 celebrated Genoese

navigator, landed at a newly-discovered port in Cuba, which he named

Navidad, because he landed there on Christmas Day.

THE FIRE AT THE ROYAL RESIDENCE, SHENE,

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 consequence of

this fire the King built the fine new palace of Richmond.

ROYAL CHRISTMASES

were kept by Henry VII. at Westminster Hall with great hospitality,

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 his 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 _in the morning_, 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 in 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 Christmas 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 Twelfth 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 it; an esquire of

the body was to bring it in a fair handkerchief, and the King was to

put it on with his own hands; he must 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 was 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 off his hood and lay it

about his neck, "clasping it before with a rich _owche_." 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 different 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 off 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 off, 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 VII. A Scotch writer,[34]

referring to this prohibition, says: "A universal Christmas 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-playing save

during the Christmas holidays. Of course, this prohibition extended

only to persons of humble rank; Henry's daughter, the Princess

Margaret, 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 _ridare_, and a _leu_, in all about equal to £42 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 frequented 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."

[Illustration]

THE REIGN OF HENRY THE EIGHTH.

On the death of Henry 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 magnificence. Proclaimed king on the 22nd of April at the

age of eighteen, and married on the 3rd of June to Katherine of

Arragon, 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 first 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 by 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

attendants, 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 commenced."[35]

"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."[36]

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,' witnessed a remarkable

revival of magnificence 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, though it fostered habits of luxury,

afforded an extraordinary impulse towards art."[37] In England the

love of finery became so general among the people that several

statutes 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 adornments, 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

picturesque masques of Christmastide.

On one occasion the King with some of the chief nobles of his Court

appeared apparelled as Robin Hood and his foresters, in which disguise

he entered unexpectedly into the Queen's chamber, "whereat," says

Holinshed, "the Queen and her ladies were greatly amazed, as well for

the strange sight as for the sudden appearance."

The splendour of the Court festivities necessitated

INCREASED 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 first 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 him 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," £137 14s. ½d. 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 playing affore the King

opon newyeres day at nyght with the children," £6 13s. 4d.

Hall, in his Chronicle, Henry VIII. folio 15b, 16a, gives the

following account of a

ROYAL MASQUERADE AT GREENWICH,

where the King was keeping his Christmas in 1512: "On the daie of the

Epiphanie, at night, the King with XI others, wer disguised after the

maner of Italie, 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

commonly seen. And after thei daunced and communed together, 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."[38]

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 TOURNAMENT DISPLAYS.

To these splendid exercises Henry gave unremitting attention, 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, was 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 Marquis 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 the name and

devices of the knights or scholars of Pallas, clothed in garments of

green velvet, carrying a crystal shield, on which was pourtrayed the

goddess Minerva, and had 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,

killed 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 flowed 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, perceiving that the ardour of the combatants had

become intemperate and dangerous, wisely limited the number 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 consisted 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 figures,

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 introduced 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

richly 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 ornaments; 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."[39]

CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES OF NOBLEMEN AND OTHERS.

The royal magnificence 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 they lived. From that of the Northumberland family

(1512), 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 lordschipes 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 caus yerly,

xxs." Another entry shows that 13s. 4d. was the price paid to the

chaplain, William Peres, in the 17th Henry VIII., "for makyng an

Enterlued to be playd this next Christenmas."

In this reign the working classes were allowed greater privileges at

Christmas than at any other part of the year. The Act of 11 Henry VII.

c. 2, against unlawful games, expressly forbids Artificers, 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 Artificer or Craftsman of any handicraft or occupation,

Husbandman, Apprentice, Labourer, Servant at husbandry, Journeyman, or

Servant of Artificer, Mariners, Fishermen, Watermen, or any

Serving-man, shall from the said feast of the Nativity of _St. John

Baptist_, play at the Tables, Tennis, Dice, Cards, Bowls, Clash,

Coyting, Logating, or any other unlawful Game, out of _Christmas_,

under the pain of xxs. to be forfeit for every time; and in

_Christmas_ 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[40] says that the "mummeries" practised by the 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,[41] in reference to this period, says: "The lower classes,

still practising the ceremonies and superstitions of their

forefathers, added to them some imitations of the revelries of 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 Henry 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 recreations 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 enjoying the customary festivities; listening to their tales

of legendary lore, round the yule block, when weary of more boisterous

sports, and encouraging them by their presence."

KING HENRY 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 quietly 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 not satisfy the haughty Cardinal Wolsey, who

"laye at the Manor of 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 hym kepe an open Court and the

Kyng a secret Court."[42]

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 "with 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 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."[43]

During the girlhood of the Princess (afterwards Queen) Mary,

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 directions 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_."[44] 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 supposed

unto the Pryncesse honorable householde this solempne fest 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 nyght.

And in likewise whither the Pryncesse shall sende any newe yeres gifts

to the Kinge, the Quene, your Grace, and the Frensshe Quene, 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 Teoxbury, the xxvij day of November.

Youre humble orators,

John Exon

"To the most reverent Father Jeilez Grevile

in God the Lord Cardinall Peter Burnell

his good Grace." John Salter

G. Bromley

Thomas Audeley."

CHRISTMAS AND THE REFORMATION.

The great Reformer, Martin Luther, took much interest in the

festivities of Christmastide, including, of course, the

Christmas-tree. One of his biographers[45] tells how young Luther,

with other boys of Mansfeld, a village to the north-west 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."

[Illustration: MARTIN LUTHER AND THE CHRISTMAS TREE.]

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 VIII. had not been fascinated by Anne Boleyn. But the King's

amour with the "little lively brunette" precipitated a crisis in the

relations between Church and State.

[Illustration: THE LITTLE ORLEANS MADONNA OF RAPHAEL]

Henry, who, by virtue of a papal dispensation, had married his

brother's widow, Katherine, now needed papal consent to a divorce,

that he might 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 clergy of England." And among the events 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 framed and introduced to Parliament soon

after the Christmas holidays by Cromwell, who for his successful

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 enslavement of the

clergy, the dissolution of the monasteries, and the gagging of the

pulpits followed, the years of Cromwell's administration being an

English reign of terror. But the ruthless manner 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 (1536), 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 Hampton Court, where she gave

birth to a son (who became Edward VI.), and died twelve days

afterwards, on the 14th of October, 1537.

During the married life of Queen Jane, the Princess 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 contributed 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 LANDING OF ANNE OF CLEVES,

at Deal, on the 27th of December. King Henry had become alarmed at the

combination between France and Spain, and his unprincipled Chancellor,

Cromwell, desirous of regaining his lost influence with the King,

recommended a Protestant marriage. He told Henry that Anne, daughter

of John III., 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 produced, soon concluded a

treaty of marriage, and sent the Lord Admiral Fitzwilliam, Earl of

Southampton, to receive the Princess at Calais, and conduct her to

England. On her arrival 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 have 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 Cleves 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

marvellously 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 was the custom of the several colleges to elect a "Christmas

Lord, or Lord of Misrule, styled in the registers _Rex Fabarum_ and

_Rex Regni Fabarum_; which custom continued till the Reformation of

Religion, and then that producing Puritanism, and Puritanism

Presbytery, the profession of it looked upon such laudable and

ingenious customs as Popish, diabolical and anti-Christian."[46]

Queen's College, Oxford (whose members have from time immemorial been

daily summoned to dine in hall by sound 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 laudes Domino._

The boar's head in hand bring I,

With garlands gay and rosemary,

I pray you all sing merrily

_Qui estis in convivio_."

Tradition says that this old custom commemorates the deliverance of a

student of the college, who, while walking in the country, studying

Aristotle, 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.

[Illustration: MAGDALEN COLLEGE, OXFORD.]

Warton[47] mentions that, "in an original draught of the Statutes of

Trinity College, at Cambridge, founded in 1546, one of the chapters is

entitled _De Præfecto Ludorum qui Imperator dicitur_, under whose

direction and authority Latin Comedies 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.

[Illustration: BRINGING IN THE BOAR'S HEAD WITH MINSTRELSY.]

CHRISTMAS AT THE INNS 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. Every Corporation appointed a

Lord of Misrule or Master of Merry Disports, and, according to Stow,

there was the like "in the house of every nobleman of honour or good

worship, were he spiritual or temporal." And during the period of the

sway of the Lord of Misrule, "there were fine and subtle disguisings,

masks, and mummeries, with playing at cards for counters, nails, and

points in every house, more for pastime than for gain." Town and

country would seem to have vied with each other as to which should

exhibit the greatest extravagance in the Christmas entertainments, but

(as in the days of Massinger the poet), the town carried off the

palm:--

"Men may talk of country Christmasses--

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

Their 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 conducting one

of these grand Christmases is in the 9th of Henry VIII.,[48] 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 thenceforth utterly banished, and no more to be

used in this house, upon pain to forfeit for every time five 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

fine imposed. The Society of Gray's Inn, however, in 1527, got into a

worse scrape than permitting Jack 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 Fleet, 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 liking 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 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 beneficed clergy of this period also "made merry" with their

parishioners is quite clear from the writings of "Master Hugh

Latimer," who, in Henry's reign, held the benefice of West Kington, in

Wiltshire. 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 disposition he soon

found the fashions of the court, and obtained a general love and

notice of the nobility; for he was no carry-tale, nor flattering

insinuator to breed discord and dissension, but an honest, plain,

downright [man], that would speak home without halting, and tell the

truth of purpose to shame the devil--so that his plainness, mixed with

a kind of facetiousness, and 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 fine

picture by Holbein of Henry VIII. 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 et Calamo_"), and

is now preserved in the British Museum. According to an ancient

custom, there is prefixed to Psalm lii., "_dixit incipens_" in the

Psalter, a miniature illumination of King David and a Fool, whose

figures, in this instance, are portraits of Henry VIII. 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 with 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, with a hood thrown over the back; his stockings

are blue; at his girdle is a black pouch.

When Henry VIII. 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.

[34] "Book of Days," Edinburgh.

[35] Williams's "Domestic Memoirs of the Royal Family and

of the Court of England."

[36] Chaucer.

[37] "William's Domestic Memoirs."

[38] Nichols's "Progresses of Queen Elizabeth."

[39] "Recollections of Royalty," by Mr. Charles C. Jones,

1828.

[40] "Sports and Pastimes."

[41] Introduction to "Christmas Carols."

[42] Hall's "Chronicle."

[43] Baker's "Chronicle."

[44] Hall's "Chronicle."

[45] Peter Bayne, LL. D.

[46] Wood's "Athenæ Oxonienses."

[47] "History of English Poetry."

[48] Dugdale, "Origines Juridiciales."

_CHAPTER VII._

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

predecessors 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 of Somerset." The day of execution was the 22nd of January,

1552, six weeks after the passing of the sentence.

King Edward took part in some of the Christmas masques performed at

his Court, with other youths of his age and stature, all the

performers being suitably attired in costly garments. Will Somers also

figured in some of these masques. The 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 with 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 was 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 7½ yards at £2 per yard,

guarded with plain yellow cloth of gold, 4 yards at 33s. 4d. per yard;

with a hood and a pair of buskins of the same figured gold containing

2½ yards at £5, and a girdle of yellow sarsenet containing one

quarter 16d., 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 16s. a yard, guarded with

embroidered cloth of gold, wrought in knots, 14 yards at 11s. 4d. a

yard; having fur of red feathers, with a cape of camlet thrum. A coat

of flat 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 £52 8s. 8d., which, considering the

relative value of money, must be considered a very costly dress.

The office 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, George Ferrers,

Gentleman of Lincolnes Inne, being 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 highly

accepted of the King and Councell."

RELIGIOUS MATTERS

occupied public attention throughout the reign of Edward VI.

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 with the

sanction of the sovereign, Cranmer, in 1552, issued a revised Liturgy,

known as the Second Prayer Book of King Edward VI., 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

VIII., 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 sufficed 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 QUEEN,

but the people refused to recognise the usurpation. After a brief

reign of eleven days,

THE CROWN WAS TRANSFERRED TO MARY,

daughter of Henry VIII. and Catherine of Arragon, and Lady Jane Grey

and her husband were sent to the Tower, and subsequently condemned to

death. They were kept in captivity for some time, and were not

executed until after Wyatt's rebellion in 1554.

[Illustration: Virgin & Child, Chirbury.]

Mary was a firm Roman Catholic, and she looked to her uncle, Charles

V. of Spain, for assistance and support. In January, 1554, much to the

disappointment of her subjects, she concluded a treaty of marriage

with Philip of Spain, son of Charles V. Afterwards her reign was

disturbed by insurrections, and also by the persecution of Protestants

by Cardinal Pole, who came over to England to push forward the Roman

Catholic reaction.

THIS TROUBLED REIGN

was not congenial to Christmas festivities, though they were still

kept up in different parts of the country. During 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, landed 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 rebellion

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."[49]

CHRISTMAS DIVERSIONS 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 article on the

"Antiquity of Tumbling," says: "It would seem that these artists were

really 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 Hatfield 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 proclamation from the King, in the

thirty-third year of Henry VIII., 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 Bishop of London to all the

clergy of his diocese, to have a Boy-bishop in procession. The year

following, 'the child Bishop, of Paules Church, with his company,'

were admitted into the Queen's privy chamber, where he sang before her

on Saint Nicholas Day, and upon Holy Innocents Day. After the death of

Mary this silly mummery was totally discontinued."

The Christmas entertainments of Philip and Mary at Richmond are thus

described by Folkstone Williams:[50] "The Queen strove to entertain

her Royal husband with masques, notwithstanding 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 played a little later. Besides

which, we find mention of a masque of covetous men with long noses--a

masque of men like 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. 18) says that in 1557 the Princess

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 napkin and plates of confects by the Lord

Paget. But she retired 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, insignificant 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 imprisonment, as it has been represented by most of our

historians."

[Illustration: Saints and angels.]

THE ROMISH PRIESTLY PRACTICES

on "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,

Whereby they thinke throughout the yeare to have good lucke in play,

And not to lose: then straight at game till day-light do they strive,

To make some present proofe how well their hallowde pence wil thrive.

Three Masses every priest doth singe upon that solemn day,

With offrings unto every one, that so the more may play.

This done, a woodden childe in clowtes is on the aultar set,

About the which both boyes and gyrles do daunce and trymly jet;

And Carrols sing in prayse of Christ, and, for to helpe them heare,

The organs aunswere every verse with sweete and solemne cheare.

The priestes do rore aloude; and round about the parentes stande

To see the sport, and with their voyce do helpe them and their hande."

THE CHRISTMAS MUMMERS

played a prominent part in the festivities of this period, and the

following illustration shows how they went a-mumming.

[Illustration: RIDING A-MUMMING AT CHRISTMASTIDE.]

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

ELIZABETH, CAME TO THE THRONE

in perilous times, for plots of assassination were rife, and England

was 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 regarding the welfare of her people, and she soon won and

never lost their affection.

With the accession of Queen Elizabeth there was a revival of the

courtly pomp and pageantry which were marked characteristics of her

father's reign. Just before the Christmas festival (1558) the new

queen made a state entry into the metropolis, attended by a

magnificent throng of nobles, ladies, and gentlemen, and a vast

concourse of people from all the country round. At Highgate she was

met by the bishops, who kneeled by 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 figure

representing "Truth" dropped from one of the triumphal arches, and

laid before the young Queen a copy of the Scriptures. Holinshed says

she revived the book with becoming reverence, and, pressing it to her

bosom, declared that of all the gifts and honours conferred upon her

by the loyalty of the people this was the most acceptable. Yet

Green,[51] 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 the

coronation 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 greeted 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 Westminster 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

magnificence.

[Illustration: A DUMB SHOW IN THE TIME OF ELIZABETH.

(_From Messrs Cassell & Co.'s "English Plays," by permission_)]

Elizabeth was particularly fond of dramatic displays, and her first

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 control 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

£227 11s. 2d., 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[52] mentions that on Twelfth Day, 1559, in the afternoon, the

Lord Mayor and Aldermen, and all the crafts of London, and the

Bachelors of the Mayor's Company, went in 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, afterwards, a great banquet which lasted

till midnight.

In this reign a more decorous and even refined style of entertainment

had usurped the place of the boisterous feastings 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."

[Illustration]

GRAND CHRISTMAS OF THE INNER TEMPLE, 1561-2.

Professor Henry Morley[53] says the first 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 Sackville, then aged twenty-five.

And the play was performed at this "Grand Christmass" kept by the

members of the Inner Temple. Before a "Grand Christmas" was kept the

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; officers 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."[54] 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 gentlemen

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 first 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 admission 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. 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 fire,

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 fire. 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

official 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 were 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 Elizabeth":--

"In the fourth year of Queen Elizabeth's reign there was kept

a magnificent 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 afterwards Lord

Chancellor of England.)

Mr. Blaston }

Mr. Yorke }

Mr. Pension } Masters of the Revells.

Mr. Jervise }

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 armes of this Society, thus goes on: 'After I had travelled

through the East parts of the unknown world, to understand of deedes

of armes, and so arriving in the fair river of Thames, I landed within

half a league from the City of 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 officer whose name he beareth."

"'I then demanded, "What province did he govern, that needed such an

officer?" He answered me, "The province was not great in quantity, but

antient in true nobility. A place," said he, "privileged by the most

excellent 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 fleece to their Prince and

Commonweal; 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 conference, are knit by continual

acquaintance in such unity of minds and manners as lightly never after

is severed, than which is nothing more profitable to the Commonweale."

"'And after he had told me thus much of honour of the place, I

commended in mine own conceit the policy of the Governour, which

seemed to utter in itself the foundation of a 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 profitable

People to a wise Commonweal; wherefore I determined with myself to

make proof of what I heard by report.

"'The next day I thought 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 hand; 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 shields, whereat I took pleasure to

behold. Thus gazing as one bereft with the rare sight, there came unto

me an Hereaught, by name Palaphilos, a King of Armes, who courteously

saluted me, saying, "For that I was a stranger, and seeming by my

demeanour 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

countenance, 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 cupbearer, 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 foot-bands and shot.

At the nether end of the Hall began 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 inferior officers 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 with 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 tuned their stroke.

"'Thus the Hall was served after the most 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; wherefore 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 achievement was

beautifully embroidered, and devised of sundry matters, with 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;

saying 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 commanded 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 elsewhere, 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 we may proceed in our purpose."

This done, Palaphilos obeying his Prince's commandement, with

twenty-four valiant 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 Christmasses, extracted

out of the Accompts 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, fowl, and other cates 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 harneys, 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; namely, the 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 themselves

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 discretion 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 officers' names,

appointed in Parliament; and then in token of joy and good-liking, the

Bench and Company 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 when 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 Masters 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.

"At the first course the minstrels must sound their instruments, 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 daies 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.

"_Christmas Day._--Service in the Church ended, the Gentlemen

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 gowns are to

attend at supper, and to bear two fair torches of wax, next before the

Musicians and Trumpetters, and to stand above the fire with the musick

till the first course be served in through the Hall. Which performed,

they, with the musick, are to return into the buttery. The like course

is to be observed in all things, during the time of Christmas. The

like at supper.

"At service time, this evening, the two youngest Butlers are to bear

two torches _Genealogia_.

"A repast at dinner is 12d. which strangers of worth are admitted to

take in the Hall; and such are to be placed at the discretion of the

Marshall.

"_St. Stephen's Day._--The Butler, appointed for Christmas, is to see

the tables covered, and furnished with salt-sellers, napkins, bread,

trenchers, and spoons. Young 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 Trumpetters; 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-Marshall 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-Marshall, 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 the

Lieutenant also in his seat or place. During this ceremony the Tower

is placed beneath the fire.

"Then cometh the Master of the Game, apparelled in 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 fire three times. Then the Master of the Game

maketh three curtesies; as aforesaid; and kneeleth down before the

Lord Chancellor, declaring the cause of his coming; and desireth to be

admitted into 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

hornes. 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 himself with drums

afore him, mounted upon a scaffold, born by four men; and goeth three

times round about the harthe, crying 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 _Fowlehurst_, in the county of

_Buckingham_.

"Sir _Randle Rakabite_, of _Rascall-Hall_, in the county of

_Rakehell_.

"Sir _Morgan Mumchance_, of _Much Monkery_, in the county of _Mad

Mopery_.

"Sir _Bartholomew Baldbreech_, of _Buttocks-bury_, 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 officer 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 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 performed on

St. Stephen's Day. After the second course served in, the King's

Serjeant, orator-like, declareth the disorder of the

Constable-Marshall, and of the Common-Serjeant: which complaint 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 officer 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 officer 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.

"_Childermas 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 roasted.

"_New Year's Day._--In the morning, breakfast as formerly. At dinner

like solemnity as on Christmas Eve.

"_The Banquetting Night._--It is proper to the Butler's office, to

give warning to every House of Court, of this banquet; to 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

Chancellor, 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 Marshall 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.

"_Twelf Day._--At breakfast, brawn, mustard, and malmsey, after

morning prayer ended. And at dinner, the Hall is to be served as upon

St. John's Day."

* * * * *

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 appreciated at that particular

"grand Christmasse," that Queen Elizabeth commanded a repetition of

the play about a fortnight later, before herself, at her Court at

Whitehall. A contemporary MS. note (Cotton MSS., Vit. F. v.) says of

THE PERFORMANCE BEFORE THE QUEEN,

that "on the 18th of January, 1562, there was a play in the Queen's

Hall at Westminster by 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 first 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 alteration, but

altogether as the same was shewed on stage before the Queen's

Majestie, by the gentlemen of the Inner Temple." The argument of the

play was taken from Geoffrey of Monmouth's "History of British Kings,"

and was a call to 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!

What 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 published 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, as well as to the

gentlemen and children of the chapel. The Master of the Children had a

salary of forty pounds a year; the children had largesse at high

feasts, and when additional use was made of their services; and each

Gentleman of the Chapel had nineteenpence a day, with board and

clothing. The Master of the Chapel who at this time had the training

of the children was 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."

[Illustration: THE FOOL OF THE OLD PLAY.

(_From a Print by Breughel._)]

At this period

THE CHRISTMAS REVELS AT THE INNS OF COURT

were observed with much zest and jollity. 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 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 by 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 upper

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 Gentlemen of the _Inner-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."