gave the citizens of London an opportunity of keeping Christmas on the
ice. An old chronicler says: "From 21st December, 1564, a hard frost
prevailed, and on new year's eve, people went over and alongst the
Thames on the ise from London Bridge to Westminster. Some plaied at
the football as boldlie there, as if it had been on the drie land;
divers of the Court, being then at Westminster shot dailie at prickes
set upon the Thames, and tradition says, Queen Elizabeth herself
walked upon the ise. The people both men and women, went on the Thames
in greater numbers than in any street of the City of London. On the
third daie of January, 1565, at night it began to thaw, and on the
fifth there was no ise to be seene between London Bridge and Lambeth,
which sudden thaw caused great floods, and high waters, that bore
downe bridges and houses and drowned Manie people in England."
HOW QUEEN ELIZABETH WENT TO WORSHIP, CHRISTMAS, 1565.
Nichols[55] gives the following particular account of Queen
Elizabeth's attendance at Divine worship, at the "Chappell of
Whitehall, Westminster," Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 1565:--
"Item, on Monday, the 24th of December, the Officers of Arms being
there present, the Queen's Majesty came to the evening prayer, the
sword borne by the Earle of Warwick, her trayn borne by the Lady
Strange.
"Item, on Christmas Day her Majesty came to service very richly
apparelled in a gown of purple velvet embroidered with silver very
richly set with stones, with a rich collar set with stones; the Earl
of Warwick bare the sword, the Lady Strange the trayn. After the
Creed, the Queene's Majesty went down to the offering, and having a
short forme with a carpet, and a cushion laid by a gentleman usher,
the ... taken by the Lord Chamberlain, her Majesty kneeled down, her
offering given her by the Marquis of Northampton; after which she went
into her traverse, where she abode till the time of the communion, and
then came forth, and kneeled down at the cushion and carpet aforesaid;
the Gentlemen Ushers delivered the towel to the Lord Chamberlain, who
delivered the same to be holden by the Earl of Sussex on the right
hand, and the Earl of Leicester on the left hand; the Bishop of
Rochester served the Queen both of wine and bread; then the Queen went
into the traverse again; and the Ladie Cicilie, wife of the Marquis of
Baden, came out of the traverse, and kneeled at the place where the
Queen kneeled, but she had no cushion, but one to kneel on; after she
had received she returned to the traverse again; then the Archbishop
of Canterbury and the Lord Chamberlain received the Communion with the
Mother of the Maids; after which the service proceeded to the end, and
the Queen returned again to the Chamber of presence strait, and not
the closet. Her Majesty dined not abroad; the said Officers of Arms
had a mess of meat of seven dishes, with bread, beer, ale, and wine."
ROYAL CHRISTMASES AT HAMPTON COURT.
In 1568, the Earl of Shrewsbury, writing from Hampton Court to his
countess, says, "The Plage is disposed far abrode in London, so that
the Queene kepes hur Kyrsomas her, and goth not to Grenwych as it was
mete." Meet or not, Elizabeth kept many Christmases at Hampton Court,
banqueting, dancing, and dicing--the last being a favourite amusement
with her, because she generally won, thanks to her dice being so
loaded as to throw up the higher numbers. Writing from Hampton Court
at Christmas, 1572, Sir Thomas Smith says: "If ye would what we do
here, we play at tables, dance, and keep Christmasse."
[Illustration: Coat of Arms.]
QUEEN ELIZABETH'S SINGERS AND PLAYERS.
The Christmas entertainments of Queen Elizabeth were enlivened by the
beautiful singing of the children of her Majesty's Chapel. From the
notes to Gascoigne's _Princely Pleasures_ (1821) it appears that Queen
Elizabeth retained on her Royal establishment four sets of singing
boys; which belonged to the Cathedral of St. Paul, the Abbey of
Westminster, St. George's Chapel, Windsor, and the Household Chapel.
For the support and reinforcement of her musical bands, Elizabeth,
like the other English Sovereigns, issued warrants for taking "up
suche apt and meete children, as are fitt to be instructed and framed
in the Art and Science of Musicke and Singing." Thomas Tusser, the
well-known author of "Five Hundreth Points of Good Husbandrye," was in
his youth a choir boy of St. Paul's. Nor is it astonishing, that
although masses had ceased to be performed, the Queen should yet
endeavour to preserve sacred melody in a high state of perfection;
since, according to Burney, she was herself greatly skilled in musical
learning. "If her Majesty," says that eminent author, "was ever able
to execute any of the pieces that are preserved in a MS. which goes
under the name of Queen Elizabeth's Virginal-book, she must have been
a very great player, as some of the pieces which were composed by
Tallis, Bird, Giles, Farnaby, Dr. Bull, and others, are so difficult
that it would be hardly possible to find a master in Europe who would
undertake to play any of them at the end of a month's practice."[56]
But the children of the chapel were also employed in the theatrical
exhibitions represented at Court, for which their musical education
had peculiarly qualified them. Richard Edwards, an eminent poet and
musician of the sixteenth century, had written two comedies; Damon and
Pythias, and Palemon and Arcite, which, according to Wood, were often
acted before the Queen, both at Court and at Oxford.
[Illustration: THE ACTING OF ONE OF SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS IN THE TIME OF
QUEEN ELIZABETH.
(_By permission, from Messrs Cassell & Co's "Illustrated History of
England_")]
With the latter of these Queen Elizabeth was so much delighted that
she promised Edwards a reward, which she subsequently gave him by
making him first Gentleman of her Chapel, and in 1561 Master of the
Children on the death of Richard Bowyer. As the Queen was particularly
attached to dramatic entertainments, about 1569 she formed the
children of the Royal Chapel into a company of theatrical performers,
and placed them under the superintendence of Edwards. Not long after
she formed a second society of players under the title of the
"Children of the Revels," and by these two companies all Lyly's plays,
and many of Shakespeare's and Jonson's, were first performed. Jonson
has celebrated one of the chapel children, named Salathiel Pavy, who
was famous for his performance of old men, but who died about 1601,
under the age of thirteen. In his beautiful epitaph of Pavy, Jonson
says:--
"'Twas a child that did so thrive
In grace and feature,
As heaven and nature seem'd to strive
Which own'd the creature.
Years he number'd scarce thirteen
When fates turn'd cruel,
Yet three fill'd Zodiacs had he been
The stage's jewel;
And did act, what now we moan.
Old men so duly,
That the Parcoe thought him one
He played so truly."
The Shakespearian period had its grand Christmases, for
THE CHRISTMAS PLAYERS
at the Court of Queen Elizabeth included England's greatest dramatist,
William Shakespeare; and the Queen not only took delight in witnessing
Shakespeare's plays, but also admired the poet as a player. The
histrionic ability of Shakespeare was by no means contemptible, though
probably not such as to have transmitted his name to posterity had he
confined himself exclusively to acting. Rowe informs us that "the
tip-top of his performances was the ghost in his own _Hamlet_;" but
Aubrey states that he "did act exceedingly well"; and Cheetle, a
contemporary of the poet, who had seen him perform, assures us that he
was "excellent in the quality he professed." An anecdote is preserved
in connection with Shakespeare's playing before Queen Elizabeth. While
he was taking the part of a king, in the presence of the Queen,
Elizabeth rose, and, in crossing the stage, dropped her glove as she
passed the poet. No notice was taken by him of the incident; and the
Queen, desirous of finding out whether this was the result of
inadvertence, or a determination to preserve the consistency of his
part, moved again towards him, and again dropped her glove.
Shakespeare then stooped down to pick it up, saying, in the character
of the monarch whom he was playing--
"And though now bent on this high embassy,
Yet stoop we to take up our cousin's glove."
He then retired and presented the glove to the Queen, who was highly
pleased with his courtly performance.
GRAND CHRISTMAS AT GRAY'S INN.
In 1594 there was a celebrated Christmas at Gray's Inn, of which an
account was published in 1688 under the following title:--
"Gesta Grayorum: or the History of the High and Mighty Prince, Henry
Prince of Purpoole, Arch-Duke of Stapulia and Bernardia, Duke of High
and Nether Holborn, Marquis of St. Giles and Tottenham, Count
Palatine of Bloomsbury and Clerkenwell, Great Lord of the Cantons of
Islington, Kentish-Town, Paddington, and Knights-bridge, Knight of the
most Heroical Order of the Helmet, and Sovereign of the same; Who
Reigned and Died, A.D. 1594. Together with a Masque, as it was
presented (by his Highness's Command) for the entertainment of Q.
Elizabeth; who, with the Nobles of both Courts, was present thereat.
London, Printed for W. Canning, at his shop in the Temple-Cloysters,
MDCLXXXVIII. Price one shilling." 4to nine sheets, dedicated "To the
most honourable Matthew Smyth, Esq., Comptroller of the honourable
society of the Inner Temple."
The Prince of Purpoole was Mr. Henry Helmes, a Norfolk gentleman, "who
was thought to be accomplished with all good parts, fit for so great a
dignity; and was also a very proper man of personage, and very active
in dancing and revelling." His coffers were filled by voluntary
contributors, amongst whom the lord treasurer, Sir William Cecil, sent
him ten pounds, and a purse of rich needlework.
The performers were highly applauded by Queen Elizabeth, who expressed
satisfaction in her own peculiar style. When the actors had performed
their Masque, some of her Majesty's courtiers danced a measure,
whereupon the Queen exclaimed: "What! shall we have bread and cheese
after a banquet?" Finally the Prince and his Officers of State were
honoured by kissing her fair hands, and receiving the most flattering
commendations. The whole amusement terminated in fighting at barriers;
the Earl of Essex, and others, challengers; the Earl of Cumberland and
company defendants, "into which number," says the narrator, "our
Prince was taken, and behaved himself so valiantly and skilfully
therein, that he had the prize adjudged due unto him, which it pleased
her Majesty to deliver him with her own hands; telling him, that it
was not her gift, for if it had, it should have been better; but she
gave it to him, as that prize which was due to his desert, and good
behaviour in those exercises; and that hereafter he should be
remembered with a better reward from herself. The prize was a jewel,
set with seventeen diamonds and four rubies; in value accounted worth
a hundred marks."
The following is the Gray's Inn list of performers, which included
some gentlemen who were afterwards "distinguished members in the law."
[From "Gesta Grayorum," page 6.]
"The order of the Prince of Purpoole's proceedings, with his
officers and attendants at his honourable inthronization; which
was likewise observed in all his solemn marches on grand days,
and like occasions; which place every officer did duly attend,
during the reign of his highness's government.
A Marshal.} {A Marshal.
Trumpets. } {Trumpets.
Pursuevant at Arms _Lanye._
Townsmen in the Prince's Livery} {Yeomen of the Guard
with Halberts. } {three couples.
Captain of the Guard _Grimes._
Baron of the Grand Port _Dudley._
Baron of the Base Port _Grante._
Gentlemen for Entertainment, three couples _Binge, &c._
Baron of the Petty Port _Williams._
Baron of the New Port _Lovel._
{_Wentworth._
Gentlemen for Entertainment, three couples {_Zukenden._
{_Forrest._
Lieutenant of the Pensioners _Tonstal._
Gentlemen Pensioners, twelve couples, viz.:
Lawson. } {Rotts. } {Davison.
Devereux. } {Anderson.} {
Stapleton.} {Glascott.} {
Daniel. } {Elken. } {cum reliquis.
Chief Ranger and Master of the Game _Forrest._
Master of the Revels _Lambert._
Master of the Revellers _Tevery._
Captain of the Pensioners _Cooke._
Sewer _Archer._
Carver _Moseley._
Another Sewer _Drewery._
Cup-bearer _Painter._
Groom-porter _Bennet._
Sheriff _Leach._
Clerk of the Council _Jones._
Clerk of the Parliament.
Clerk of the Crown _Downes._
Orator _Heke._
Recorder _Starkey._
Solicitor _Dunne._
Serjeant _Goldsmith._
Speaker of the Parliament _Bellen._
Commissary _Greenwood._
Attorney _Holt._
Serjeant _Hitchcombe._
Master of the Requests _Faldo._
Chancellor of the Exchequer _Kitts._
Master of the Wards and Idiots _Ellis._
Reader _Cobb._
Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer _Briggs._
Master of the Rolls _Hetlen._
Lord Chief Baron of the Common Pleas _Damporte._
Lord Chief Justice of the Princes Bench _Crew._
Master of the Ordnance _Fitz-Williams._
Lieutenant of the Tower _Lloyd._
Master of the Jewel-house _Darlen._
Treasurer of the House-hold _Smith._
Knight Marshal _Bell._
Master of the Ward-robe _Conney._
Comptroller of the House-hold _Bouthe._
Bishop of St. Giles's in the Fie _Dandye._
Steward of the House-hold _Smith._
Lord Warden of the four Ports _Damporte._
Secretary of State _Jones._
Lord Admiral _Cecil (Richard)._
Lord Treasurer _Morrey._
Lord Great Chamberlain _Southworth._
Lord High Constable.
Lord Marshal _Knapolck._
Lord Privy Seal _Lamphew._
Lord Chamberlain of the House-hold _Markham._
Lord High Steward _Kempe._
Lord Chancellor _Johnson._
Archbishop of St. Andrews in Holborn _Bush._
Serjeant at Arms, with the Mace _Flemming._
Gentleman-Usher _Chevett._
The Shield of Pegasus, for the Inner-Temple _Scevington._
Serjeant at Arms, with the Sword _Glascott._
Gentleman-Usher _Paylor._
The Shield of the Griffin, for Gray's-Inn _Wickliffe._
The King at Arms _Perkinson._
The great Shield of the Prince's Arms _Cobley._
The Prince of Purpoole _Helmes._
A Page of Honour _Wandforde._
Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber, six couples.
A Page of Honour _Butler (Roger)._
Vice-Chamberlain _Butler (Thomas)._
Master of the Horse _Fitz-Hugh._
Yeomen of the Guard, three couples.
Townsmen in Liveries.
The Family and Followers."
CHRISTMAS'S LAMENTATION
is the subject of an old song preserved in the Roxburgh Collection of
Ballads in the British Museum. The full title is: "Christmas's
Lamentation for the losse of his acquaintance; showing how he is forst
to leave the country and come to London." It appears to have been
published at the end of the sixteenth or the beginning of the
seventeenth century. The burden of the song is that Christmas "charity
from the country is fled," and the first verse will sufficiently
indicate the style of the writing:--
Christmas is my name, far have I gone,
Have I gone, have I gone, have I gone, without regard,
Whereas great men by flocks there be flown,
There be flown, there be flown, there be flown, to London-ward;
Where they in pomp and pleasure do waste
That which Christmas was wonted to feast, Welladay!
Houses where music was wont for to ring
Nothing but bats and owlets do sing.
Welladay! Welladay! Welladay! where should I stay?
OLD CHRISTMAS RETURNED
is the title of a lively Christmas ditty which is a kind of reply to
the preceding ballad. It is preserved in the collection formed by
Samuel Pepys, some time Secretary to the Admiralty, and author of the
famous diary, and by him bequeathed to Magdalene College, Cambridge.
The full title and first verse of the old song are as follows:--
"Old Christmas returned, or Hospitality revived; being a Looking-glass
for Rich Misers, wherein they may see (if they be not blind) how much
they are to blame for their penurious house-keeping, and likewise an
encouragement to those noble-minded gentry, who lay out a great part
of their estates in hospitality, relieving such persons as have need
thereof:
'Who feasts the poor, a true reward shall find,
Or helps the old, the feeble, lame, and blind.'"
"All you that to feasting and mirth are inclined,
Come, here is good news for to pleasure your mind;
Old Christmas is come for to keep open house,
He scorns to be guilty of starving a mouse;
Then come, boys, and welcome, for diet the chief,
Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minc'd pies, and roast beef."
CHRISTMAS-KEEPING IN THE COUNTRY
was revived in accordance with the commands of Queen Elizabeth, who
listened sympathetically to the "Lamentations" of her lowlier
subjects. Their complaint was that the royal and public pageants at
Christmastide allured to the metropolis many country gentlemen, who,
neglecting the comforts of their dependents in the country at this
season, dissipated in town part of their means for assisting them, and
incapacitated themselves from continuing that hospitality for which
the country had been so long noted. In order to check this practice,
the gentlemen of Norfolk and Suffolk were commanded by Queen Elizabeth
to depart from London before Christmas, and "to repair to their
counties, and there to keep hospitality amongst their neighbours." The
presence of the higher classes was needed among the country people to
give that assistance which was quaintly recommended by Tusser in his
"Hundreth good Points of Husbandrie":
"At Christmas be mery, and thanke God of all:
And feast thy pore neighbours, the great with the small.
Yea al the yere long have an eie to the poore:
And God shall sende luck to kepe open thy doore."
Henry Lord Berkeley, who had a seat in Warwickshire,
appears to have set a good example in this respect to the
noblemen of the period, for, according to Dugdale, "the greatest
part of this lord's abydinge after his mother's death, happenynge
in the sixth yeare of Queen Elizabeth, was at Callowdon, till his
own death in the eleventh of Kinge James, from whence, once
in two or three yeares, hee used in July to come to Berkeley."
The historic house of Berkeley essentially belongs to Gloucestershire;
but on the death of Edward VI., Henry Lord Berkeley,
[Illustration:
"With a good old fashion, when Christmas was come,
To call in all his old neighbours with bagpipe and drum."]
by descent from the Mowbrays and the Segraves, became possessed of the
ancient Manor and castellated mansion of Caludon, near Coventry, where
he lived in splendour, and kept a grand retinue, being profuse in his
hospitalities at Christmas, as well as in his alms to the poor
throughout the year. "As touchinge the Almes to the poore of 5 & six
country p'ishes & villages hard adjoyninge to Callowdon were relieved,
with each of them a neepe of holsome pottage, with a peece of beoffe
or mutton therin, halfe a cheate loafe, & a kan of beere, besides the
private Almes that dayly went out of his purse never without eight or
ten shillings in single money of ijd iijd & groates, & besides
his Maundy & Thursday before Ester day, wherein many poore men and
women were clothed by the liberality of this lord and his first wife,
whilest they lived; and besides twenty markes, or twenty pound, or
more, which thrice each yeare, against the feaste of Christmas, Ester,
and Whitsontide, was sent by this Lord to two or three of the chiefest
Inhabitants of these villages, and of Gosford Street at Coventry, to
bee distributed amongst the poore accordinge to their discretions.
Such was the humanity of this Lord, that in tymes of Christmas and
other festyvalls, when his neighbor townships were invited and feasted
in his Hall, hee would, in the midst of their dynner, ryse from his
owne, & goynge to each of their tables in his Hall, cheerfully bid
them welcome. And his further order was, having guests of Honour or
remarkable ranke that filled his owne table, to seate himselfe at the
lower end; and when such guests filled but half his bord, & a meaner
degree the rest of his table, then to seate himselfe the last of the
first ranke, & the first of the later, which was about the midst of
his large tables, neare the salt."
Another home of Christmas hospitality in the days of "Good Queen Bess"
was Penshurst in Kent, the birthplace of the distinguished and
chivalrous Sir Philip Sidney. "All who enjoyed the hospitality of
Penshurst," says Mills's _History of Chivalry_, "were equal in
consideration of the host; there were no odious distinctions of rank
or fortune; 'the dishes did not grow coarser as they receded from the
head of the table,' and no huge salt-cellar divided the noble from the
ignoble guests." That hospitality was the honourable distinction of
the Sidney family in general is also evident from Ben Jonson's lines
on Penshurst:
"Whose liberal board doth flow
With all that hospitality doth know!
Where comes no guest but is allow'd to eat,
Without his fear, and of thy Lord's own meat
Where the same beer and bread, and self-same wine,
That is His Lordship's, shall be also mine."[57]
A reviewer of "The Sidneys of Penshurst," by Philip Sidney, says there
is a tradition that the Black Prince and his Fair Maid of Kent once
spent their Christmastide at Penshurst, whose banqueting hall, one of
the finest in England, dates back to that age of chivalry. At
Penshurst Spenser wrote part of his "Shepherd's Calendar," and Ben
Jonson drank and rhymed and revelled in this stateliest of English
manor houses.
[Illustration: CHRISTMAS IN THE HALL.
"A man might then behold,
At Christmas, in each hall,
Good fires to curb the cold,
And meat for great and small."]
Queen Elizabeth died on March 23, 1603, after nominating James VI. of
Scotland as her successor, and
THE ACCESSION OF KING JAMES,
as James I. of England, united the crowns of England and Scotland,
which had been the aim of Mary Queen of Scots before her death.
[49] Cassell's "History of England."
[50] "Domestic Memoirs of the Royal Family."
[51] "History of the English People."
[52] "Progresses."
[53] "English Plays."
[54] Sir William Dugdale's "Origines Juridiciales."
[55] "Progresses."
[56] "History of Music," vol iii. p. 15.
[57] Gifford's "Ben Jonson," vol. viii. p. 254.
[Illustration]
_CHAPTER VIII._
CHRISTMAS UNDER JAMES I.
(1603-1625.)
COURT MASQUES.
The Court entertainments of Christmastide in the reign of James the
First consisted chiefly of the magnificent masques of Ben Jonson and
others, who, by their training in the preceding reign, had acquired a
mastery of the dramatic art. The company to which Shakespeare belonged
(that of Lord Chamberlain's players) became the King's players on the
accession of James, and several of Shakespeare's plays were produced
at Court. But very early in this reign plays gave place to the more
costly and elaborate entertainments called masques, but which were
very different from the dumb-show masques of Elizabeth's reign, the
masquerades of Henry the Eighth, and the low-buffoonery masques of
earlier times. At the Court of James thousands of pounds were
sometimes expended on the production of a single masque. To the aid of
poetry, composed by poets of the first rank, came the most skilful
musicians and the most ingenious machinists. Inigo Jones, who became
architect to the Court in 1606, shared honours with Ben Jonson in the
production of the Court masques, as did also Henry Lawes, the eminent
musician. In some of the masques the devices of attire were the work
of "Master Jones," as well as the invention and the architecture of
the whole of the scenery. D'Israeli[58] says:--"That the moveable
scenery of these masques formed as perfect a scenical illusion as any
that our own age, with all its perfection and decoration, has attained
to, will not be denied by those who have read the few masques that
have been printed. They usually contrived a double division of the
scene; one part was for some time concealed from the spectator, which
produced surprise and variety. Thus in the Lord's Masque, at the
marriage of the Palatine, the scene was divided into two parts from
the roof to the floor; the lower part being first discovered, there
appeared a wood in perspective, the innermost part being of "releeve
or whole round," the rest painted. On the left a cave, and on the
right a thicket from which issued Orpheus. At the back of the scene,
at the sudden fall of a curtain, the upper part broke on the
spectators, a heaven of clouds of all hues; the stars suddenly
vanished, the clouds dispersed; an element of artificial fire played
about the house of Prometheus--a bright and transparent cloud reaching
from the heavens to the earth, whence the eight maskers descended with
the music of a full song; and at the end of their descent the cloud
broke in twain, and one part of it, as with a wind, was blown athwart
the scene. While this cloud was vanishing, the wood, being the under
part of the scene, was insensibly changing: a perspective view opened,
with porticoes on each side, and female statues of silver, accompanied
with ornaments of architecture, filled the end of the house of
Prometheus, and seemed all of goldsmith's work. The women of
Prometheus descended from their niches till the anger of Jupiter
turned them again into statues. It is evident, too, that the size of
the procenium accorded with the magnificence of the scene; for I find
choruses described, 'and changeable conveyances of the song,' in
manner of an echo, performed by more than forty different voices and
instruments in various parts of the scene."
The masque, as Lord Bacon says, was composed for princes, and by
princes it was played. The King and Queen, Prince Henry, and Prince
Charles (afterwards Charles the First) all appeared in Court masques,
as did also the nobility and gentry of the Court, foreign ambassadors,
and other eminent personages.
In his notes to "The Masque of Queens," Ben Jonson refers several
times to "the King's Majesty's book (our sovereign) of Demonology."
The goat ridden was said to be often the devil himself, but "of the
green cock, we have no other ground (to confess ingenuously) than a
vulgar fable of a witch, that with a cock of that colour, and a bottom
of blue thread, would transport herself through the air; and so
escaped (at the time of her being brought to execution) from the hand
of justice. It was a tale when I went to school."
That there was no lack of ability for carrying out the Court commands
in regard to the Christmas entertainments of this period is evident
from the company of eminent men who used to meet at the "Mermaid."
"Sir Walter Raleigh," says Gifford,[59] "previously to his unfortunate
engagement with the wretched Cobham and others, had instituted a
meeting of _beaux esprits_ at the Mermaid, a celebrated tavern in
Friday Street. Of this club, which combined more talent and genius,
perhaps, than ever met together before or since, Jonson was a member;
and here, for many years, he regularly repaired with Shakespeare,
Beaumont, Fletcher, Selden, Cotton, Carew, Martin, Donne, and many
others, whose names, even at this distant period, call up a mingled
feeling of reverence and respect." Here, in the full flow and
confidence of friendship, the lively and interesting "wit-combats"
took place between Shakespeare and Jonson; and hither, in probable
allusion to them, Beaumont fondly lets his thoughts wander in his
letter to Jonson from the country.
"What things have we seen,
Done at the Mermaid? heard words that have been,
So nimble, and so full of subtle flame,
As if that every one from whom they came,
Had meant to put his whole wit in a jest," &c.
Masques, however, were not the only Christmas diversions of royalty at
this period, for James I. was very fond of hunting, and Nichols[60]
says that, in 1604, the King kept
A ROYAL CHRISTMAS AT ROYSTON,
at his new hunting seat there, and "between the 18th of December and
22nd of January he there knighted Sir Richard Hussey, of Salop; Sir
Edward Bushell, of Gloucestershire; Sir John Fenwick, of
Northumberland; Sir John Huet, of London; Sir Robert Jermyn, of
Suffolk; Sir Isaac Jermyn, of Suffolk; Sir John Rowse; Sir Thomas
Muschamp, of Surrey. Mr. Chamberlaine, in a letter to Mr. Winwood from
London, December 18th, says: 'The King came back from Royston on
Saturday; but so far from being weary or satisfyed with those sports,
that presently after the holy-days he makes reckoning to be there
againe, or, as some say, to go further towards Lincolnshire, to a
place called _Ancaster Heath_.'"
In this letter Mr. Chamberlaine also refers to
OTHER COURT AMUSEMENTS OF CHRISTMASTIDE,
for, proceeding, he says:--
"In the meantime here is great provision for Cockpit, to entertaine
him at home, and of Masks and Revells against the marriage of Sir
Philip Herbert and the Lady Susan Vere, which is to be celebrated on
St. John's Day. The Queen hath likewise a great Mask in hand against
Twelfth-tide, for which there was £3,000 delivered a month ago. Her
brother, the Duke of Holst, is here still, procuring a levy of men to
carry into Hungary. The Tragedy of 'Gowry,' with all the action and
actors, hath been twice represented by the King's Players, with
exceeding concourse of all sorts of people; but whether the matter or
manner be not well handled, or that it be thought unfit that Princes
should be played on the stage in their lifetime, I hear that some
great Councellors are much displeased with it, and so 'tis thought
shall be forbidden. And so wishing a merry Christmas and many a good
year to you and Mrs. Winwood, I committ you to God. Yours, most
assuredly, John Chamberlaine."
"On the 26th of January, Mr. Chamberlaine writes thus to Mr. Winwood:
'I doubt not but Dudley Carleton hath acquainted you with all their
Christmas-games at Court, for he was a spectator of all the sports and
shows. The King went to Royston two days after Twelfth-tide, where and
thereabout he hath continued ever since, and finds such felicity in
that hunting life, that he hath written to the Councill that it is the
only means to maintain his health, which being the health and welfare
of us all, he desires them to take the charge and burden of affairs,
and foresee that he be not interrupted or _troubled with too much
business_.'"
Campion's Masque in honour of Lord Hayes and his bride was presented
before King James, at Whitehall, on Twelfth Night, 1606; and in
reference to the Christmas festivities at Court the following year
(1607), Mr. Chamberlaine, writing to Sir D. Carleton, on the 5th of
January, says:
"The Masque goes forward at Court for Twelfth-day, though I doubt the
New Room will be scant ready. All the Holidays there were Plays; but
with so little concourse of strangers, that they say they wanted
company. The King was very earnest to have one on Christmas-night; but
the Lords told him it was not the fashion. Which answer pleased him
not a whit; but he said, 'What do you tell me of the fashion? I will
make it a fashion.' Yesterday he dined in the Presence in great pomp,
with two rich cupboards of plate, the one gold, the other that of the
House of Burgundy pawned to Queen Elizabeth by the States of Brabant,
and hath seldom been seen abroad, being exceeding massy, fair, and
sumptuous. I could learn no reason of this extraordinary bravery, but
that he would show himself in glory to certain Scots that were never
here before, as they say there be many lately come, and that the Court
is full of new and strange faces. Yesterday there were to be shewn
certain rare fire-works contrived by a Dane, two Dutchmen, and Sir
Thomas Challoner, in concert."
On January 8th, another letter of Mr. Chamberlaine thus refers to
gaming at Court: "On the Twelfth-eve there was great golden play at
Court. No Gamester admitted that brought not £300 at least. Montgomery
played the King's money, and won him £750, which he had for his
labour. The Lord Montegle lost the Queen £400. Sir Robert Cary, for
the Prince, £300; and the Earl Salisbury, £300; the Lord Buckhurst,
£500; _et sic de cæteris_. So that I heard of no winner but the King
and Sir Francis Wolley, who got above £800. The King went a
hawking-journey yesterday to Theobalds and returns to-morrow.
"Above Westminster the Thames is quite frozen over; and the Archbishop
came from Lambeth, on Twelfth-day, over the ice to Court. Many
fanciful experiments are daily put in practice; as certain youths
burnt a gallon of wine upon the ice, and made all the passengers
partakers. But the best is, of an honest woman (they say) that had a
great longing to encrease her family on the Thames" (Nichols's
"Progresses").
THE REIGN OF JAMES I.'S FAVOURITES
dates from Christmas Day, 1607, when he knighted Robert Carr, or Ker,
a young border Scot of the Kers of Fernihurst, the first of the
favourites who ruled both the King and the kingdom. Carr had been some
years in France, and being a handsome youth--"straight-limbed,
well-formed, strong-shouldered, and smooth-faced"--he had been led to
believe that if he cultivated his personal appearance and a
courtliness of address, he was sure of making his fortune at the Court
of James. "Accordingly he managed to appear as page to Lord Dingwall
at a grand tilting match at Westminster, in 1606. According to
chivalric usage it became his duty to present his lord's shield to his
Majesty; but in manoeuvring his horse on the occasion it fell and
broke his leg. That fall was his rise. James was immediately struck
with the beauty of the youth who lay disabled at his feet, and had him
straightway carried into a house near Charing Cross, and sent his own
surgeon to him.... On Christmas Day, 1607, James knighted him and made
him a gentleman of the bedchamber, so as to have him constantly about
his person. Such was his favour that every one pressed around him to
obtain their suits with the King. He received rich presents; the
ladies courted his attention; the greatest lords did him the most
obsequious and disgusting homage."[61] He afterwards formed that
connection with Frances Howard, Countess of Essex, which resulted in
her divorce from her husband, and, subsequently, on his marrying Lady
Essex, the King made him Earl of Somerset, that the lady might not
lose in rank. On the circumstances attending the murder of Sir Thomas
Overbury being brought to light, the complicity of Somerset was
thought to be involved in the ascertained guilt of his wife. In May,
1616, the Countess was convicted; a week later her husband shared her
fate. After a long imprisonment Somerset was pardoned, and ended his
life in obscurity.
In this reign the Court revels and shows of Christmas were imitated at
the country seats of the nobility and gentry, and at the Colleges of
Oxford and Cambridge. An account has been preserved of one of the most
remarkable exhibitions of this kind, entitled--
"THE CHRISTMAS PRINCE."
It took place in the year 1607, at St. John's College, Oxford, and the
authentic account was published from the original manuscript, in 1816,
by Robert Tripbook, of 23, Old Bond Street, London: "To the
President, Fellows, and Scholars of St. John Baptist College, in the
University of Oxford, this curious Record of an ancient custom in
their Society, is respectfully inscribed by the Publisher." Of the
authenticity of this description the Publisher says "no doubt can
possibly exist, it was written by an eye-witness of, and performer in,
the sports; and is now printed, for the first time, from the original
manuscript preserved in the College Library.
"From the Boy Bishop, the Christmas Prince may be supposed to derive
his origin. Whilst the former was bearing sway in the ecclesiastical
foundations, the latter was elected to celebrate the festivities of
Christmas in the King's palace, at the seats of the nobility, at the
universities, and in the Inns of Court. The custom prevailed till the
ascendancy of the Puritans during the civil war; and some idea of the
expense, and general support it received, may be formed from the
account of the Gray's Inn Prince and an extract from one of the
Strafford Papers. The latter is from a letter written by the Rev. G.
Garrard to the Earl of Strafford, dated Jan. 8, 1635: 'The Middle
Temple House have set up a prince, who carries himself in great state;
one Mr. Vivian a Cornish gentleman, whose father Sir Francis Vivian
was fined in the Star-Chamber about a castle he held in Cornwall,
about three years since. He hath all his great officers attending him,
lord keeper, lord treasurer, eight white staves at the least, captain
of his pensioners, captain of his guard, two chaplains, who on Sunday
last preached before him, and in the pulpit made three low legs to his
excellency before they began, which is much laughed at. My lord
chamberlain lent him two fair cloths of state, one hung up in the hall
under which he dines, the other in his privy chamber; he is served on
the knee, and all that come to see him kiss his hand on their knee. My
lord of Salisbury hath sent him pole-axes for his pensioners. He sent
to my lord of Holland, his justice in Eyre, for venison, which he
willingly sends him; to the lord mayor and sheriffs of London for
wine, all obey. Twelfth-day was a great day, going to the chapel many
petitions were delivered him, which he gave to his masters of the
requests. He hath a favourite, whom with some others, gentlemen of
great quality, he knighted at his return from church, and dined in
great state; at the going out of the chambers into the garden, when he
drank the King's health, the glass being at his mouth he let it fall,
which much defaced his purple satten suit, for so he was clothed that
day, having a cloak of the same down to his foot, for he mourns for
his father who lately died. It cost this prince £2,000 out of his own
purse. I hear of no other design, but that all this is done to make
them fit to give the prince elector a royal entertainment with masks,
dancings, and some other exercises of wit, in orations or
arraignments, that day that they invite him.'
"The writer, or narrator, of the events connected with the Christmas
Prince of St. John's was Griffin Higgs, who was descended of a
respectable and opulent family in Gloucestershire, though he was
himself born at Stoke Abbat, near Henley on Thames, in 1589. He was
educated at St. John's, and thence, in 1611, elected fellow of Merton
college, where he distinguished himself, in the execution of the
procuratorial duties, as a man of great courage, though, says Wood, of
little stature. In 1627 he was appointed chaplain to the Queen of
Bohemia, by her brother Charles the First, and during his absence, in
the performance of his duties, was created a doctor of divinity at
Leyden by the learned Andrew Rivet. He returned, after a residence
abroad of about twelve years, when he had the valuable rectory of
Clive or Cliff, near Dover, and shortly after the deanery of
Lichfield, conferred upon him. During the civil wars he was a sufferer
for the royal cause, and, losing his preferment, retired to the place
of his birth, where he died in the year 1659, and was buried in the
chancel of the church of South Stoke.
"Thomas Tucker, the elected Prince, was born in London, in 1586,
entered at St. John's in 1601, became fellow of that house and took
holy orders. He afterwards had the vicarage of Pipping-burge, or
Pemberge, in Kent, and the rectory of Portshead, near Bristol, and
finally obtained the third stall in the cathedral church of Bristol,
in which he was succeeded, August 25, 1660, by Richard Standfast."
The following explanation is given of "the apparently strange titles
of the Prince of St. John's: 'The most magnificent and renowned
Thomas, by the favour of Fortune, Prince of _Alba Fortunata_, Lord St.
Johns, high Regent of the Hall, Duke of St. Giles, Marquis of
Magdalens, Landgrave of the Grove, County Palatine of the Cloisters,
Chief Bailiff of the Beaumonts, High Ruler of Rome, Master of the
Manor of Waltham, Governor of Gloucester Green, Sole Commander of all
Tilts,' &c. The Prince of _Alba Fortunata_ alludes, as may be readily
conjectured, to the name of the founder, Sir Thomas _White_; St.
John's, and the Hall, are equally clear; Magdalens is the parish in
which a portion of the college stands, and a part of which belongs to
the society; the Grove and the Cloisters are again parts of the home
domain of the college; Beaumonts is the name of a portion of land
belonging to the college, on which stands the ruin of the palace of
Beaumonts, built about the year 1128 by King Henry the First; Rome is
a piece of land so called, near to the end of the walk called _Non
Ultra_, on the north side of Oxford. The manor of Waltham, or Walton,
is situate in the north suburb of Oxford, and is the property of the
college, as is a considerable portion of Gloucester-green, which
though now better known as the site of an extensive bridewell, was in
1607 literally a meadow, and without any building more contiguous than
Gloucester-hall, from which house it derived its name."
Then follows "A true and faithfull relation of the rising and fall of
Thomas Tucker, Prince of _Alba Fortunata_, Lord St. Johns, &c., with
all the occurrents which happened throughout his whole domination."
"It happened in the yeare of our Lord 1607, the 31 of October, beinge
All Sayntes Eve, that at night a fier was made in the Hall of St. John
Baptist's Colledge, in Oxon, accordinge to the custome and statuts of
the same place, at which time the whole companye or most parte of the
Students of the same house mette together to beginne their Christmas,
of which some came to see sports, to witte the Seniors as well
Graduates, as Under-graduates. Others to make sports, viz., Studentes
of the seconde yeare, whom they call Poulderlings, others to make
sporte with all, of this last sorte were they whome they call
Fresh-menn, Punies of the first yeare, who are by no meanes admitted
to be agents or behoulders of those sports, before themselves have
been patient perfourmers of them. But (as it often falleth out) the
Freshmen or patients, thinkinge the Poulderlings or Agentes too buysie
and nimble, They them too dull and backwarde in theyr duety, the
standers by findinge both of them too forwarde and violente, the
sportes for that night for feare of tumultes weare broken upp, everye
mann betakinge himself to his reste.
"The next night followinge, beinge the feast of All Sayntes, at nighte
they mett agayne together; And whereas it was hoped a night's sleepe
would have somewhat abated their rage, it contraryewise sett a greater
edge on theyr furye, they havinge all this while but consulted how to
gett more strength one agaynst another, and consequently to breed newe
quarrells and contradictions, in so much that the strife and
contentions of youthes and children had like to have sett Men together
by the eares, to the utter annihilatinge of all Christmas sportes for
the whole yeare followinge.
"Wherfore for the avoydinge both the one, and the other, some who
studied the quiet of all, mentioned the choosinge of a Christmas Lord,
or Prince of the Revells, who should have authorytie both to appoynt &
moderate all such games, and pastimes as should ensue, & to punishe
all offenders which should any way hinder or interrupte the free &
quiet passage of any antient & allowed sporte.
"This motion (for that the person of a Prince or Lorde of the Revells
had not been knowen amongst them for thirty yeares before, and so
consequentlye the danger, charge and trouble of such jestinge was
cleane forgotten) was presentlye allowed and greedilye apprehended of
all; Wher upon 13 of the senior Under graduates (7 of the bodye of the
House & 6 Comoners, Electors in such a case) withdrew themselves into
the parlour, where after longe debatinge whether they should chouse a
Graduate or an Under Graduate, thinkinge the former would not
vouchsafe to undertake it at theyr appoyntmentes, the latter should
not be upheld & backed as it was meete & necessary for such a place,
they came forth rather to make triall what would be done, than to
resolve what should be done. And therefore at their first entrance
into the Hall meeting Sir Towse a younge man (as they thought) fitt
for the choyse, they laid handes on him, and by maine strength
liftinge him upp, _viva voce_, pronounced him Lord. But hee as
stronglye refusinge the place as they violentlye thrust it upon him,
shewing with all reasons why hee could by no meanes undergoe such a
charge, they gott onlye this good by their first attempt, that they
understood heer by how that the whole Colledge was rather willinge a
Seniour Batchelour at least, if not a junior Master should be chosen
in to the place rather than any Under graduate, because they would
rather an earnest sporte than a scoffinge jest should be made of it.
Wher fore the Electors returninge againe into the Parlour and
shuttinge the dore close upon themselves begaune more seriously to
consult of the matter, and findinge some unable, some unwillinge to
take the place, at length they concluded to make the 2 weird printing
error?] assay but with more formalitie and deliberation; resolvinge,
if they were not now seconded of all handes, to meddle no more with
it. Wherfore, enteringe the second time in to the Hall they desired
one of the 10 Seniors & one of the Deanes of the Colledge to hold the
Scrutinye and the Vice-President to sitt by as overseer, who willingly
harkeninge to their request, sate all 3 downe at the highe table: Then
the Electors went up one by one in senioritye to give their voyce by
writinge. In the meane time there was great expectation who should bee
the Man. Some in the lower ende of the Hall, to make sporte, had theyr
Names loudest in their mouthes whome they least thought of in their
mindes, & whome they knew should come shortest of the place. At length
all the voyces being given and, accordinge to custome, the Scrutinie
at large being burned, the Vice-president with the rest stoode upp,
and out of the abstract the Deane read distinctly in the hearinge of
all present as followeth
"_Nominantur in hoc Scrutinio duo quorum_
{ 1 Joanes Towse, _habet suffragia sex_.
{ 2us Thomas Tucker, _habet suffragia septem_.
"These wordes were not out of his mouthe before a generall and loud
crie was made of Tucker, Tucker, Vivat, Vivat, &ct. After which all
the younger sorte rane forth of the Colledge crieinge the same in the
streets; which Sir Tucker beinge then howsde not farr from the
Colledge, over hearinge, kept himself close till the companye were
past, and then, as soone and secretly as he could, gott him to his
Chamber; where (after he had been longe sought for abroad in the
Towne, and at home in the Colledge, haste and desire out runinge it
self, and seekinge there last where it might first finde) he was in a
manner surprised, and more by violence than any will of his owne,
taken upp & with continuall & joyfull outcries, carried about the
Hall, and so backe to his Chamber, as his owne request was, where for
that night he rested, dismissinge the Company and desiringe some time
to think of their loves and goodwill, and to consider of his owne
charge and place.
"About 3 or 4 dayes after, on the 5 of November the Lord Elect with
the Batchelours, and some of the Senior Under-graduates came into the
Hall where every man beinge seated in his order, many speaches were
made by diverse of diverse matters, some commendinge a monarchicall
state of Governmente, and the sometimes suddayne necessitye of
Dictators, others discommendinge both. Some again extollinge sportes &
revells, others mainely disallowinge them, all of them drawinge some
conclusion concerninge the like or dislike of the government newly
begune, and like for a little space to continue amongst them. In the
ende the Lord Elect himselfe, to conclude all, delivered his owne
minde in manner followinge:--
"Quæ beneficia (Viri Electores clarissimi) plus difficultatis atque,
oneris apportant collacata, qu[=a] debite administrata; poterunt honoris,
cautè magis primo in limine credo excipienda qu[=a] aut imensæ dignitatis
expectatione appetenda auidè, aut boni incogniti coeco appetitu
app'hendenda temere. Quor[=u] in albo (Electores conscripti) c[=u] semper
dignitates istiusmodi serio retulerim, Vos (pace dic[=a] vestræ diligentiæ)
non tam mihi videmini gratias debere expectare, qua ipse istud onus
suscepturus videor promereri. N[=a] illud demum gratijs excipitur
benefici[=u] (pro tempor[=u] ratione loquor) quod nec sollicitudo vrget nec
offici[=u]--Infinitæ autem adeo sunt anxietates, quæ vel istam dominatus
[Greek: anatypôsin] circumcingunt, vt pauci velint ipsas c[=u] dominatu
lubentèr amplecti, nulli possint euitare, nulli sustinere. N[=a] vbi veri
imperij facies est repræsentanda expectanda semper est aliqua curar[=u]
proportio. Veru cum dignitas Electoria, amicitia suffragatoria, populi
applausus, [=o]ni[=u] consensus Democratiæ tollendæ causâ ad primatum
euocauerint, lubens animi nostri strenuæ renuentis temperabo impet[=u],
et sedulò impendà curam, vt Reip: (si vobis minus possim singulis) toti
satisfaci[=a]. Hic ego non ità existimo opportun[=u] progressu[=u]
nostror[=u] aduersarijs cur[=a] imperij promiscuam et indigestam
collaudantibus respondere, aut status Monarchici necessitat[=e]
efferentibus assentari: Disceptation[=u] vestrar[=u] non accessi judex,
accersor imperator; Amori vestro (Viri nobis ad prime chari) lubens
tribuo gloriæ nostræ ort[=u]; progress[=u] august[=u] atque, gloriosu a
vobis ex officio vestro exigere, præter amor[=e] nostrum fore no arbitror.
Tyra[=u]idem non profiteor, imperi[=u] exercebo. Cujus foeliciores
processus vt promoueantur, atque indies stabiliant æris magis quam oris
debetis esse prodigi. Quarè primitias amoris, atque officij vestri statuo
extemplo exigendas, nè aut ipse sinè authoritate imperare, aut imperium
sinè gloriâ capessisse videar [Greek: Politeian] Atheniensem sequimur,
cujus ad norman Ego ad munus regui jam suffectus, Mineruæ, Vulcano et
Prometheo sacra c[=u] ludorum curatoribus pro moris vsu, primâ meâ in his
sacris authoritate fieri curabo. Interim vero (Viri nostrâ authoritate
adhuc majores) juxta prædictæ Reipublicæ jmagin[=e] choragos, seu adjutores
desidero, qui n[=o] tantum ludis præponantur, sed et liberalitate pro
op[=u] ratione in Reipublicæ impensas vtentes, ex ære publico præmia partim
proponant, partim de suo insumant, hoc nomine quod illor[=u] sint præfecti.
Quæ alia vestri sunt officij moniti præstabitis, quæ amoris, vltro (vti
Spero) offeretis.
"This was counted sufficient for his private installmente, but with
all it was thought necessary that some more publicke notice hereof
should be given to the whole Universitie, with more solemnitie and
better fashion; yet before they would venter to publish their private
intendements, they were desirous to knowe what authoritie and
jurisdiction would be graunted to them, what money allowed them
towards the better going through with that they had begune. And not
long after the whole company of the Batchelours sent 2 bills to the
Masters fire, the one cravinge duety and alleageance, the other money
and maintenance in manner & forme followinge:
"The coppye of a Bill sent by the Lord Elect, and the whole
Company of the Batchelours to the Masters fire, cravinge their
duety and alleageance.
"Not doubtinge of those ceremonious and outward duetyes which
yourselves (for example sake) will performe, Wee _Thomas Tucker_ with
the rest of the Bacchelours are bold to entreat, but as _Thomas, Lord
Elect_, with the rest of our Councell are ready to expect, that no
Tutor or Officer whatsoever shall at any time, or upon any occasion,
intermeddle, or partake with any scholler, or youth whatsoever, but
leavinge all matters to the discretion of our selves, stand to those
censures and judgementes which wee shall give of all offenders that
are under our govermente in causes appertaininge to our government.
All wayes promisinge a carefull readinesse to see schollerlike
excercise performed, and orderly quietnesse mayntained in all sortes;
This as Wee promise for our owne partes, so Wee would willingly desire
that you should promise the performance of the rest of your partes,
accordinge to that bountye & love which allready you have shewed us.
Yours, Thomas Tucker
Joseph Fletcher Thomas Downer
John Smith Rouland Juxon
Richard Baylye John Huckstepp
Richard Holbrooke James Bearblocke
John Towse John English
"This Bill subscribed with all their handes was seene and allowed by
all the Masters, who promised rather more than lesse than that which
was demanded. But concerninge the other Bill for Subsidyes, it was
answered that it was not in their power to grant it without the
President, whose cominge home was every day expected: against which
time it was provided, and delivered unto him; who together with the 10
Seniors, was loath to grant any thinge till they were certified what
sportes should bee, of what quality & charge, that so they might the
better proportion the one to the other, the meanes to the matter: They
were allso willinge to knowe what particular Men would take upon them
the care of furnishinge particular nightes. For they would by no
meanes relye upon generall promises because they were not ignorant how
that which concerneth all in generall is by no man in speciall
regarded. Wherfore they beinge somewhat, although not fully, satisfied
in their demaundes by some of the Masters, whom they seemed cheefly to
trust with the whole businesse, the Bill was againe perused, and every
man ceazed in manner and forme followinge:
"'The coppye of an auncient Act for taxes and subsidyes made in the
raygne of our Predecessor of famous memorye, in this Parliament
held in Aula Regni the vi^{th} of November 1577 and now for Our
Self new ratified and published, anno regni jº November 7º 1607.
"'Because all lovinge & loyall Subjects doe owe not onely themselves,
but allso their landes, livinges, goodes, and what soever they call
theirs, to the good of the Commonwealth, and estate under which they
peaceably enjoy all, It is further enacted that no man dissemble his
estate, or hide his abilitye, but be willinge at all times to pay such
duetyes, taxes, and subsidies, as shall be lawfully demaunded &
thought reasonable without the hinderance of his owne estate, upon
payne of forfettinge himself and his goodes whatsoever.'
[List of contributions amounting to 52^{li} xiii^{s.} vii]
"Though the whole company had thus largely contributed towards the
ensuinge sportes, yet it was found that when all thinges necessary
should be layed toegether, a great sum of money would be wantinge, and
therfore a course was thought upon of sendinge out privie Seales to
able & willinge Gentlemen which had been sometimes Fellowes or
commoners of the Colledge that it would please them to better the
stocke, and out of their good will contribute somewhat towardes the
Prince's Revells."
Then followed the form of the writ issued, "To our trustye and
welbeloved Knight, or Esquire," &c. "Given under our privye Seale at
our Pallace of St. John's in Oxen, the seventh of December in the
first yeare of our rayne, 1607." Then follow "the names of those who
were served with this writt, and who most willingly obeyed upon the
receipt thereof," contributing altogether xvi^{li} x^{s} 0.
"Others were served and bragd of it, as though they had given, but
sent nothing."
"For all these Subsidies at home, and helpes abroad, yet it was founde
that in the ende there would rather be want (as indeed it happened)
than any superfluitye, and therfore the Prince tooke order with the
Bowsers to send out warrantes to all the Tenantes & other friendes of
the Colledge, that they should send in extraordinary provision against
every Feast, which accordingly was performed; some sendinge money,
some wine, some venison, some other provision, every one accordinge to
his abilitye.
"All thinges beinge thus sufficiently (as it was thought) provided
for, the Councell table, with the Lord himself, mett together to
nominate officers & to appoint the day of the Prince's publike
installment which was agreed should be on St. Andrews Day at night;
because at that time the Colledge allso was to chouse their new
officers for the yeare followinge.
"Now for that they would not playnely and barely install him without
any farther ceremonies, it was thought fitt that his whole ensuinge
Regiment (for good lucke sake) should be consecrated to the _Deitie of
Fortune_, as the sole Mistres and Patronesse of his estate, and
therfore a schollerlike devise called _Ara Fortunæ_ was provided for
his installment; which was performed in manner & forme followinge:
ARA FORTUNÆ.
_Inter-locutores._
Princeps.
Fortuna.
Tolmæa.
Thesaurarius.
Camerarius.
Jurisconsultus.
Philosophus.
Rusticus.
Stultus.
Rebellis Primus.
---- Secundus.
---- Tertius.
---- Quartus.
Nuncius.
* * * * *
[The Drama is not given on account of its length. And it will be
remarked that, whenever asterisks are substituted, some portion of the
MS. has been omitted.]
"This showe by ourselves was not thought worthye of a stage or
scaffoldes, and therfore after supper the tables were onlye sett
together, which was not done with out great toyle & difficulty, by
reason of the great multitude of people (which, by the default of the
dorekeepers, and divers others, every man bringinge in his friends)
had filled the Hall before wee thought of it. But for all this it
began before 8 of clock, and was well liked by the whole audience,
who, how unrulye so ever they meante to bee afterwardes, resolved I
think at first with their good applause and quiet behaviour to drawe
us on so farr, as wee should not bee able to returne backwardes
without shame & discreditt. They gave us at the ende 4 severall &
generall plaudites; at the 2 wherof the Canopie which hunge over the
Altare of Fortune (as it had been frighted with the noise, or meante
to signifie that 2 plaudites were as much as it deserved) suddenly
fell downe; but it was cleanly supported by some of the standers by
till the company was voyded, that none but our selves took notice of
it.
"Some upon the sight of this Showe (for the better enoblinge of his
person, and drawinge his pedigree even from the Godes because the
Prince's name was Tucker, and the last Prince before him was Dr. Case)
made this conceipt that _Casus et Fortuna genuerunt [Greek: Tycheron]
Principem Fortunatum_--so the one his father, and the other his
mother.
"Another accident worthy observation (and which was allso then
observed) was that the Foole carelesly sittinge downe at the Prince's
feete brake his staff in the midst, whence wee could not but directly
gather a verye ill omen, that the default and follye of some would bee
the very breaknecke of our ensueing sports, which how it fell out, I
leave to the censures of others; our selves (I am sure) were guilty to
our selves of many weaknesses and faultes, the number wherof were
increased by the crossinge untowardnesse, and backwardnesse of divers
of the Prince's neerest followers, nay the Prince himself had some
weaknesses which did much prejudice his state, wherof the chiefest
weere his openesse, and familiaritye with all sortes, beinge
unwillinge to displease eny, yet not able to please all. But to
proceede:--On St. Thomas day at night the officers before elect were
solemnly proclaimed by a Sergeant at armes, and an Herauld, the
trumpetts soundinge beetwixt every title. This proclamation after it
was read, was for a time hunge up in the Hall, that every man might
the better understande the qualitie of his owne place, and they that
were of lower, or no place, might learne what duety to performe to
others.
"The manner wherof was as followeth:
"Whereas by the contagious poyson, and spreadinge malice
of some ill disposed persons, hath been threatned not
onelye the danger of subvertinge peaceable & orderlye proceedinges,
but the allmost utter annihilatinge of auncient &
laudable customes--It hath been thought convenient, or
rather absolutely necessarye for the avoydinge of a most
dangerous ensuinge Anarchie, a more settled order of
goverment, for the better safetye of all well meaninge
Subjects, and curbinge of discontented, headstronge persons,
should bee established. And whereas through wante of good
lawes by wise and discreet Magistrates to bee duely and
truely executed, a giddye conceipt hath possest the
mindes of manye turbulent spirites, of endueringe no
superiour, hardly an equall, whereby the common-wealth
might growe to bee a manye-headed monster--It hath
been provided by the staide and mature deliberations of
well-experienced governours and provident counsellours, that
one whose highe deserts might answere his high advancement
should bee sett over all to the rulinge and directinge
of all--Therefore by these presentes bee it knowne unto
all of what estate or condicion soever whome it shall
concerne that Thomas Tucker, an honorable wise & learned
Gentleman to the great comeforte of the weale-publique from
hence-forth to be reputed, taken and obayed for the true,
onely and undoubted Monarche of this revellinge Climate,
whom the generall consent and joynte approbation of the
whole Common-wealth hath invested and crowned with
these honours and titles followinge:
"The most magnificent and renowned Thomas by the favour
of Fortune, Prince of Alba Fortunata, Lord St. Johns,
high Regent of the Hall, Duke of St. Giles, Marquesse
of Magdalens, Landgrave of the Grove, County Palatine
of the Cloisters, Chiefe Bailiffe of the Beaumonts, high
Ruler of Rome, Maister of the Manor of Waltham, Governour
of Gloster-greene, sole Commaunder of all Titles, Tourneaments,
and Triumphes, Superintendent in all Solemnities
whatsoever.
"Now because they whom the unknowne cares, & unweildie burdens of a
sole regiment shall relie upon, neede extraordinary helpe in the more
than ordinarye affaires, Hee hath as well for the better discharge &
ease of those royall duetyes (as it were) which attend on his place,
as for the avoidinge the odious & ingratefull suspition of a single
dominion, and private Tyranye, selected and chosen unto himself a
grave and learned assistance both for Councell and government, whom,
and every of which, his princely will is, shall in their severall
places & dignities bee both honoured and obeid, with no lesse respect
and observance than if himself were there present in person. And that
carelesse ignorance may bee no lawfull excuse for the breach of his
will therin hee hath appointed their severall names and titles, with
their subordinate officers and deputies to be signified & proclaimed
to all his lovinge and leige Subjects, in manner followinge:
"The right gracious John Duke of Groveland, Earle de Bello-Monte,
Baron Smith, chiefe Ranger of the Woods & Forests, great Master of
the Prince's Game, hath for his subordinate officers--
Sir Frauncis Hudson, Keeper of the Parkes, & Warder of the
Warrens.
Sir Thomas Grice, Forrester & Sargeaunt of the Woodhowse.
"The right honourable Rowland Lord Juxon, Lord Chauncelour, Keeper of
the Great Seale, Signer of all publicke Charters, Allower of all
Priviledges, hath for his subordinate officers.
Sir William Dickenson, Master of the Requests, & the Prince's
Remembrancer.
Sir Owen Vertue, Clerke of the Signet, and Chafer of Waxe.
"The right honourable Thomas Lord Downer, Lord high Treasurer,
Receaver General of all Rents, Revenues, Subsidies, belonginge by
Nature, custome or accident to the Prince; the great Payemaster
of all necessary charges appertayninge to the Court, hath for his
subordinate Officers--
Sir John Williamson, Steward of the Household, Disburser for the
Familye.
Sir Christopher Wren, Cofferer, and Clerke of the Exchequer.
"The right honourable Joseph Lord Fletcher, Lord high Admirall,
great Commaunder of all the narrow seas, floods and passages;
Surveyor of the Navye, Mayster of the Ordinance, hath for his
subordinate Officers,
Sir Stephen Angier, Warden of the Cinque Ports, and
Victualler of the Fleet.
Sir Anthony Steevens, Captayne of the Guard.
"The right honourable Richard Lord Baylie, Lord high Marshall,
President of all Titles, and Tourneaments, Commander in all
Triumphes, Suppressor of suddayne tumultes, Supervisor of all
games, and publique pastimes, hath for his subordinate Officers,
Sir William Blagrove, Master of the Revells.
Sir John Hungerford, Knight Marshall, severe Commander of the
Wayes for the Prince's passage.
"The right honourable John Lord Towse, Lord high Chamberlayne,
Purveyor for the Prince's pallace, Overseer of all feasts and
banquets, furnisher of all Chambers, and Galleries, Examiner
of all private pastimes, hath for his subordinate Officers,
Sir Richard Swinerton} the Prince's Wards and
Sir William Cheyney } Squiers of his bodye.
Mr. Edward Cooper, Groome-Porter.
"The right honourable Richard Lord Holbrooke, Comptroller
Generall, Chiefe overseer of all Purseavants, Orderer of all
household Servaunts, hath for his subordinate officers,
Sir Thomas Stanley} Sergeaunts at Armes & Gentlemen Ushers
Mr. John Alford } to the Prince
Mr. Brian Nailor, Master of the Robes of State, Keeper of the
Wardrobe, and Surveyor of Liveries.
"The right honourable James Lord Berbloke, principall Secretarye,
Lord privye Seale, designer of all Embasies, Drawer of all Edicts
and Letters, Scribe to the State, hath for his subordinate Officers,
Sir Thomas Clarke, Master of the Roles, & Prothonotarye.
Mr. Marcheaumount Nedham, Clerke of the Councell-table.
"The right honourable John Lord English, Lord Chiefe Justice, Examiner
of all causes Capitall; Sessor upon life and death, Judge of
controversies criminall, hath for his subordinate Officers,
Sir John Alder, Attourney Generall, and the Prince's Solicitor.
Mr. John Sackevile, Baylife Erraunt.
"Now because good Governours without good laws, carefull Magistrates
without wholesome Statutes are like dumb (though paynted) images, or
unweapon'd soldiers--Hee of his absolute authoritye, conferred upon
him in the late free election, doth ratifie and establish all such
Decrees and Statutes, as Hee now findeth wisely and warely ordayned of
his famous Predecessor; promisinge onely by a full and severe
execution to put life in their dead remembrance, Adding moreover some
few cautions to be observed in his ensuinge Triumphs."
These statutes were ratified and established by the Prince "at our
Manor of Whites-Hall, December the 21st in the first of our Raygne."
"The same night the Prince, with the rest of his Councell meetinge at
the high table in the Hall, a Bill was preferred by the Lord Treasurer
for the advancement of Mr. Henery Swinarton to the Earldome of
Cloyster-sheere, and the over-seeinge of the Princes great Librarye."
After due consideration, "the Prince at length graunted the request,
and his title was presently drawne by the Clerke of the
Councell-table, and pronounced in manner followinge:
"The right honourable Henry Lord Swinarton, Earle of Cloister-Sheer,
Barron of the Garden, chiefe Master of the Presse, and overseer of
the Prince's great Librarye, hath for his subordinate Officers,
Mr. William Rippin, Surveyor of the Walkes.
Mr. Christopher Riley, Corrector of the Printe.
"From this time forward, and not before, the Prince was thought fully
to be instal'd, and the forme of government fully established,
in-so-much that none might or durst contradict anything which was
appoynted by himself, or any of his officers.
"The Holy-dayes beinge now at hand, his privye-chamber was provided
and furnisht, wherein a chayre of state was placed upon a carpett with
a cloth of state hanged over it, newly made for the same purpose. On
Christmas Day in the morninge he was attended on to prayers by the
whole companye of the Bacchelours, and some others of his Gentlemen
Ushers, bare before him. At dinner beinge sett downe in the Hall at
the high table in the Vice-president's place (for the President
himself was then allso present) he was served with 20 dishes to a
messe, all which were brought in by Gentlemen of the Howse attired in
his Guard's coats, ushered in by the Lord Comptroller, and other
Officers of the Hall. The first messe was a Boar's Head, which was
carried by the tallest and lustiest of all the Guard, before whom (as
attendants) wente first, one attired in a horseman's coate, with a
Boars-speare in his hande, next to him an other Huntsman in greene,
with a bloody faucion drawne; next to him 2 Pages in tafatye sarcenet,
each of them with a messe of mustard; next to whome came hee that
carried the Boares-head crost with a greene silk scarfe, by which
hunge the empty scabbard of the faulcion which was carried before him.
As they entered the Hall, he sang this Christmas Caroll, the three
last verses of everie staffe beinge repeated after him by the whole
companye:
1. The Boare is dead,
Loe, here is his head,
What man could have done more
Than his head off to strike,
Meleager like,
And bringe it as I doe before?
2. He livinge spoyled
Where good men toyled,
Which made kinde Ceres sorrye;
But now dead and drawne,
Is very good brawne,
And wee have brought it for you.
3. Then sett downe the Swineyard,
The foe to the Vineyard,
Lett Bacchus crowne his fall,
Lett this Boare's-head and mustard
Stand for Pigg, Goose, and Custard,
And so you are wellcome all.
"At this time, as on all other Holy-dayes, the Princes allowed
Musitions (which were sent for from Readinge, because our owne Town
Musick had given us the slipp, as they use to doe at that time when we
had most need of them) played all dinner time, and allso at supper.
The Prince as ofte as hee satt in the Hall was attended on by a
Commoner and Scholler of the Colledge in tafaty sarcenett. After
supper there was a private Showe performed in the manner of an
Interlude, contayninge the order of the Saturnalls, and shewinge the
first cause of Christmas-candles, and in the ende there was an
application made to the Day and Nativitie of Christ, all which was
performed in manner followinge:
SATURNALIA.
Hercules
Curius
Doulus
* * * * *
"This shew was very well liked of our selves, and the better: first,
because itt was the voluntary service of a younge youth; nexte,
because there were no strangers to trouble us.
"St. Steevens day was past over in silence, and so had St. John's day
also; butt that some of the Prince's honest neighbours of St. Giles's
presented him with a maske, or morris, which though it were but
rudely performed, yet itt being so freely and lovingly profered, it
could not but bee as lovingly received.
"The same nighte, the twelve daies were suddenly, and as it were
extempore, brought in, to offer their service to the Prince, the
holy-daies speaking Latine, and the working-daies English, the
transition was this:
Yee see these working-daies they weare no satten,
And I assure you they can speake no Latten;
But if you please to stay a-while,
Some shepheard for them will change the style.
"After some few daunces the Prince, not much liking the sporte (for
that most of them were out both in their speeches and measures, having
but thought of this devise some few houres before) rose, and lefte the
hall, after whose departure, an honest fellow to breake of the sportes
for that night, and to void the company made suddenly this Epilogue:
These daunces were perform'd of yore
By many worthy Elfes,
Now if you will have any more
Pray shake your heeles your selves.
"The next day being Innocents-day, it was expected, and partly
determined by our selves, that the Tragedy of _Philomela_ should have
been publickly acted, which (as wee thought) would well have fitted
the day, by reason of the murder of Innocent Itis. But the carpenters
being no way ready with the stage, or scaffolds (whereof
notwithstanding some were made before Christmas), wee were constrained
to deferre it till the nexte day, which was the 29th of December.
PHILOMELA.
Tereus, Rex Thraciæ.
Progne, Regina, Uxor Terei,
Eugenes, a consilijs Terei.
Phaulus, Seruus Terei,
Tres Socii Terei a Classe,
Ancilla Prognes.
Philomela, Soror Prognes
Itis, Filius Pronges et Terei
Ancilla Philomelæ.
Faustulus, Pastor Regius.
Faustula, Pastoris Filia.
Chorus.
Terra
Mare.
* * * * *
"The whole play was wel acted and wel liked.
"New-yeare's eve was wholly spent in preparation for the Prince's
triumphs, so that nothing was done or expected that night.
"Next day in the morning (beeing New-yeare's-day) the Prince sent Mr.
Richard Swinnerton, one of the Squires of his body to Mr. President
with a paire of gloves, charging him to say nothing but these two
verses:
The Prince and his Councell, in signe of their loves,
Present you, their President, with these paire of gloves.
"There was some what else written in the paper which covered them, but
what it is uncertaine.
"At night were celebrated the Prince's triumphs, at which time onely
and never before nor after he was carryed in full state from his
pallace to the hall, where in the sight of the whole University a
supplication was presented unto him by Time and seconded with a shew
called _Times Complaint_. It was performed in manner and forme
following:
TIME'S COMPLAINT.
Time.
Veritas, the Daughter of Time.
Opinion } Seducers of Veritas.
Error }
Studioso, a Scholler.
Manco, a lame Souldiour.
Clinias, a poore Country-man.
Humphry Swallow, a drunken Cob
Goodwife Spiggot, an Ale-wife.
Philonices, a rangling Lawyer.
Seruus Philonices.
Bellicoso, a Casheere Corporall.
PROLOGUE.[62]
"Worthelie heere wee bring you Time's Complaint
Whom we have most just cause for to complaine of,
For hee hath lent us such a little space
That what wee doe wants much of its true grace.
Yet let your wonted love that kindelie take,
Which we could wish were better for your sake.
_Enter_ Time _with the Musicians to place them._
Time.
O wellsaid, wellsaid; wellcome, wellcome, faith!
It doth mee good to see I have some friends.
Come, true observers of due time, come on:
A fitt of musicke, but keepe time, keepe time
In your remembrance still, or else you jarre:
These for my sake too much neglected are.
The world termes them beggars, fidling roagues,
But come my fidling friends, I like you well,
And for my sake I hope this company,
Naie more the Prince himselfe, will like your tunes.
Here take your place and shew your greatest skill,
All now is well that is not verie ill.
Time _expecting the comming of the Prince (to whom hee preferreth a
petition) placeth himselfe on the stage till the traine bee past._
This waie hee comes, here will I place my selfe,
They saie hee is an honourable Prince,
Respectfull, curteous, liberall, and learn'd:
If hee bee soe hee will not choose but heare mee.
Poore aged Time was never so abused,
And in these daies Princes themselves are wrong'd.
If not for my sake, yet for his owne good,
Hee will read over my petition.
Oft hath the like beene drawne and given up
To his nobilitie; But carelesse they
In theire deepe pockets swallow good men's praiers.
This his owne hand shall have, or I will keepe it:--
But here they come, stand close and viewe the traine.
Enter first six Knighte Marshalls men in suitable liveries with
links and truncheons two by two.
Next the Knighte Marshall alone in armour and bases with a truncheon.
Then fower other of his men as before.
After these fower Knightes in rich apparell with hats and feathers,
rapiers and daggers, bootes and spurres, everie one his Lackie
attending on him with torch-light, all two by two.
After these the Master of the Requests, the Master of the Robes in
vaste velvet gownes, with Lackies and torches before them.
After these fower Barons in velvet cloakes, likewise attended with
Lackies and torches.
After these an Herald at Armes bare, with two Lackies attendant
bearing torches.
After these six of the privie Counsell in Schollars gownes and civill
hoods, everie one attended on by a Footman bearing on his jacket both
behind and before his Lord's armes according to his office (as it is
before mentioned) with torches alsoe in theire hands.
After those two Sergeants at armes, with great Maces, and two Squiers
before them with torches, all bare.
After these two Hench-men, the one with a sword, the other with a
scepter, likewise attended by two Squiers with torch lights, all
bare.
After these the Prince himselfe in a scholler's gowne and civill hood,
with a coronett of laurell about his hat, attended on by fower
footmen in suitable liveries with torches.
After these the Captaine of the guard alone in hose and dublett, hatt
and feather, etc., and following him, twenty of the guard in suitable
guards' coats and halberds in their hands, and lightes intermingled
here and there.
"When this traine first entered out of the Prince's palace there was a
volye of shotte to the number of fiftie or three-score gunnes, and
once againe as it passed through the quadrangle, and the third time
when the Prince was readie to enter uppon the stage in the hall, after
which third peale ended, the nobilitie having past along some parte of
the stage, the rest of the traine disposed in places provided for
them, and the Prince himselfe newlie entered, the showe went forward.
* * * * *
"It hath beene observed if they which performe much in these kinde of
sportes must needs doe something amisse, or at the least such is the
danger and trouble of them, that something in the doing will miscarry,
and so be taken amisse, and such was our fortune at this time; for the
Prologue (to the great prejudice of that which followed) was most
shamefully out, and having but halfe a verse to say, so that by the
very sense the audience was able to prompt him in that which followed,
yet hee could not goe forward, but after long stay and silence, was
compelled abruptly to leave the stage, whereupon beeing to play
another part, hee was so dasht, that hee did nothing well that night.
"After him Good-wife Spiggot, comming forth before her time, was most
miserably at a non plus & made others so also, whilst her selfe
staulked in the middest like a great Harry-Lion (as it pleased the
audience to terme it), either saying nothing at all, or nothing to the
purpose.
"The drunken-man, which in the repetitions had much pleased and done
very well, was now so ambitious of his action, that he would needs
make his part much longer than it was, and stood so long upon it all,
that he grew most tedious, whereuppon it was well observed and said by
one that
----'twas pitty there should bee
In any pleasing thing satiety.
"To make up the messe of absurdities the company had so fil'd the
stage, that there was no roome to doe any thing well, to bee sure many
thinges were mistaken and therefore could not but bee very
distastfull, for it was thought that particular men were aymed at, and
disciphered by the drunken-man, and Justice Bryar, though it was fully
knowne to our-selves that the author had no such purpose.
"In fine, expectation the devourer of all good endeavours had
swallowed more in the very name and title of the interlude than was
either provided or intended in the whole matter, for wee onely
proposed to our selves a shew, but the towne expected a perfect and
absolute play, so that all things mett to make us unhappy that night,
and had not Time him selfe (whose lines and actions were thought good)
somewhat pleased them, they would never have endured us without
hissing, howsoever in the end they gave us two or three cold
plaudites, though they departed no way satisfyed, unlesse it were in
the shew about the quadrangle, wherein the Prince was carryd to his
chamber in the same state that hee came from thence in the beginning
(as is above mentioned), the whole company of actors beeing added to
his traine who immediately followed him before the guard in this
order:
First, Time alone, attended, with two pages and lightes.
Next, Veritas alone, likewise attended.
Then Error and Opinion, which all the way they went pull'd Veritas by
the sleeve, one by one and the other by the other, but shee would not
harken to them.
After these came Studioso and Philonices, both pleading the case, one
upon his ringers and the other with both his hands.
Then came Manco, the lame souldiour and Philonices his man; the
souldiour haulting without his cruch, the other beating him with the
cruch for counterfeyting.
After these came Clinias and Bellicoso houlding the halter betwixt
them, which Bellicoso had found in Clinias his pocket.
Last after these came Humphry Swallow and good wife Spiggot, hee
reeling uppon her, she pulling and hayling him for the money he
ought her.
After these came the guard as before, and so the Prince in full state
was conveyed to his pallace.
"Here wee were all so discouraged that wee could have found in our
heartes to have gone no farther. But then consulting with our selves
wee thought it no way fitt to leave when thinges were at the worst,
and therefore resolved by more industry and better care of those
things which should follow, to sue out a fine of recovery for our
credites. Whereuppon the comedy which was already a foote and
appointed to bee done on 12 day, was revewed and corrected by the best
judgments in the house, & a Chorus by their direction inserted, to
excuse former faults, all which was a cause that Twelfe eve & Twelfe
day past away in silence, because the comedy beeing wholy altered
could not bee so soone acted, neyther could any other thing bee so
suddenly provided to furnish those nights.
"Heere the Lord-treasurer made a complaint to the King and the rest of
his councell that his treasure was poore and almost exhausted, so that
without a fresh supply or new subsidy nothing more could bee done. And
that this might not seem an idle complaint, a bill of some of the
particulars and chiefe expences was exhibited, wherein it might
appeare how costly the presedent revels had beene."
The "Bill of Expences" amounted to lxiiij^{li} v^{s} o^{d}.
"This bill beeing seene and allowed, they begane to cast about for
more money, whereuppon a new privy seale was drawn in Latin." "Those
which were served with this writte and obey'd" contributed a total sum
of 5^{li}.
"This beeing not as yet sufficient there was a new subsedy levyed by
the Junior Masters and the rest of the Colledge to the summe of Six
Poundes three shillings, whereuppon finding themselves againe before
hand, and resolving to save nothing for a deare yeare, they proceeded
to new expences and new troubles.
"The Suneday after, beeing the last day of the Vacation and tenth day
of the moneth, two shewes were privately performed in the Lodging, the
one presently after dinner called _Somnium Fundatoris_, viz., the
tradition that wee have concearning the three trees that wee have in
the President his garden. This interlude by the reason of the death of
him that made it, not long after was lost, and so could not bee heere
inserted; but it was very well liked, and so wel deserved, for that it
was both wel penned and well acted.
"Now because before were divers youths whose voyces or personages
would not suffer them to act any thing in publicke, yet withall it was
thought fitt, that in so publicke a buisnes every one should doe some
thing, therefore a mocke play was provided called _The 7 Dayes of the
Weeke_, which was to be performed by them which could do nothing in
earnest, and, that they should bee sure to spoyle nothing, every man's
part was sorted to his person, and it was resolved that the worse it
was done, the better it would be liked, and so it fell out; for the
same day after supper it was presented by one who bore the name of the
Clerke of St. Gyleses, and acted privately in the lodging in manner
and forme following:
THE SEVEN DAYES OF THE WEEKE.
_Interloqutores._
The Clerke of St. Gyleses.
Mooneday.
Tuseday.
Wenesday.
Thurseday.
Frieday.
Satterday.
Suneday.
Night.
Chorus.
A Woman
A Paire of Snuffers.
_Enter the Clerke with all his Acteurs._
Prologue
Clerke.
"I am the poore, though not unlettered, Clerke,
And these your subjects of St. Gyles his parishe,
Who in this officious season would not sharke
But thought to greet your highnesse with a morrice,
Which since my riper judgement thought not fitt,
They have layd down their wisedomes to my witt.
And that you might perceive (though seeminge rude)
Wee savour somewhat of the Academie,
Wee had adventur'd on an enterlude
But then of actors wee did lacke a manye;
Therefore we clipt our play into a showe,
Yet bigg enough to speake more than wee knowe.
The subject of it was not farr to seeke
Fine witts worke mickle matter out of nifle:
Nam'd it I have _The Seven Dayes of the Weeke_,
Which though perchaunce grave heads may judge a trifle,
Yet if their action answere but my penninge,
You shall heare that, that will deserve a hemminge.
To tell the argument, were to forstalle
And sour the licquour of our sweete conceate;
Here are good fellowes that will tell you all
When wee begin once, you shall quickely ha'te,
Which if your grace will grace with your attention,
You shall soone sounde the depth of our invention."
[Then follows the mock play in seven Acts.]
"Nothing, throughout the whole yeare, was better liked and more
pleasant than this shewe, in so much that, although it were more
privately done before our selves onely or some few friends, yet the
report of it went about all the towne, till it came to the
Vice-chauncellours and L. Clifford's eares, who were very desyrous to
see it acted againe, and so it was as heereafter shal bee specifyed.
"The next day beeing Munday the 11 of January the terme should have
begun in the house, but because of the extreame cold and froast which
had now continued full six weekes and better without any intermission,
as also by reason the hall was still pestered with the stage and
scaffolds which were suffered to stand still in expectation of the
Comedy, therefore it was agreed by the President and the officers that
the terme should bee prorogued for 7 dayes longer in which time it was
agreed the Comedy should bee publickely acted on Friday, the 15th day
of January.
"But heere the President and some of the Seniors in abundance of care
were affrayd to put any thing againe to the publicke view of the
University, because their last paines at _The Complaint of Time_ had
so ill thriving. Besides the season was so severe and tempestuous with
wind and snow, which had continued some dayes without ceasing, and the
complaint of the poore was so grievious for want of wood and meate,
which by this time were growne very scant and deere, that they urged
it was a time rather to lament and weepe than make sports in,
whereupon a streight inhibition was sent out from the officers, that
no man should thinke of playing that night or any time after, till the
weather should breake up and bee more temperate, for they thought it
no way fitt publickly to revell at a time of such generall wo and
calamity.
"But yet because all thinges were in a readinesse and the expectation
of the whole towne was set uppon that night, the younger men of the
Colledge went forward with their buisnes, intending to take no notice
of what the officers had aggreed uppon, wherefore some of the officers
were fayne to come in person to forbid the worke-men, and to undo some
things which were already done, to the great griefe and discouragement
of all the youth, who, though the weather was extreame cold, were
themselves most hotte uppon the matter in hand, resolving now or never
to recover their losse credit.
"And, as though the heavens had favoured their designes, so it
happened that about noone the weather brake up and it begann to thaw,
whereuppon the President was agayne importun'd by the Prince himselfe
and his councell for the performance of the Comedy that night; who
(seeing they were all so earnest) did not so much graunt, as not deny
them, their request, whereuppon they begann againe to sett forward the
buisnes, and what they wanted in time they made up by their
willingnesse and paynes, so that for all these crosses they begann the
play before 7 a clocke and performed it in manner following:
PHILOMATHES.
INTERLOQUTORES.
Chorus.
Janus.
Tempus.
Motus Locus.
Quies Vacuum.
Philomathes. Sophia.
Chrysophilos, Senex Avarus. Antarchia.
Phantasta, Stolidus Generosus. Anthadia.
[Greek: Aphronios], Filius Chrysophili. Anæa, Mulier Inepta.
Chrestophilos, Socius Philomathis.
Crito, Senex, Pater Sophiæ.
Critonis Seruus.
Cerdoos, Seruus Chrysophili.
Petinus, Seruus Phantastæ.
* * * * *
"This play was very well acted, but especially the Chorus, the stage
was never more free, the audience never more quiett and contented, so
that they went away many of them crieing--_Abundè satisfactum est!_
itt was so well liked and applauded of all that saw itt.
"Here the stage & scaffold were pul'd downe which had stood from
Cristmas, and it was resolved that upon the chaunge of the weather,
the terme should begin on the Munday following.
"But in the meane time on Sunday nighte, being the Seventeenth of
January, the Vice-chancelor, and the L. Clifford, with many other
Doctors and Gentlemen were invited to supper in the President's
lodging, where after supper they were entertained with a shew before
mentioned, to witt, _The Seven Dayes in the Weeke_, to which, by this
time, there was somewhat added, but not much: all was most kindly
accepted, and the nighte was spent in great mirth. For the straungenes
of the matter, and rarity of the fashion of their action pleased above
expectation.
"At the end of this shew for the more rarity, there was one brought in
my Lord's Stockes with this speech made uppon itt:
"'My Lord, I which am the lowest, am now become the lowdest, though
(I hope) not the lewdest of your Lordshippe's servauntes. And though I
come _pridie Calendas_, before I am cald, yet (I hope) my audacity
shall have audience, and my faithfulnes favor. I am your Lordshippe's
Elephaunt and heere is your castell, so that where other Lords are
brought to their castells, heere your castell is brought to you. _Est
locus in carcere_, there is a locke upon your Lordshippe's castell,
which was committed unto my trust, how faithfull I have been therein
they can tell who have taken an exact measure of my office by the
foote: the matter of which your castell is builded is so precious,
that there is none amongst company but is contented to wear of it
within his buttons, the end for which it was builded is very
commendable, that they may bee kepte in order with wood, which
otherwise would not bee kepte in order, heere is _fons latus pedibus
tribus_, a fountaine to wash three mens legs, that they which have
bene _aurium tenus_, over shoes, heere may be _crurum tenus_ over
bootes too, This your Lordshippe's oracle or Tripos, out of which
malefactors tell the truth and foretell of their amendment. Nay, I wil
bee bould to compare it to your Lordshippe's braine, for what is there
designed is heere executed. In these sells or ventricles are fancy,
understanding, and memory. For such as your Lordshippe doth not fancy
are put in the first hole, such as were dull and without understanding
were put in the second hole, but such as your Lordshippe threatned
(remember this) or I'le remember you, were put in the last and lowest
dungeon, _cum nemini obtrudi potest itur ad me_. When they cannot bee
ruled otherwise they are brought unto mee, and my entertainment is
_strato discumbitur ostro_, they straite sett downe att this oister
table, where they are fast and doe fast, ffor _vinitur exiguo melius_,
they make small meales, till the flames of clemency doe mitigate the
Salamanders of your Lordshippe's severity. Now, my Lord, since I have
told you what I am, I will bee bold to tell you what you may bee--You
are mortall--Ergo you must die, the three sisters will not spare you,
though you were their owne brother, and therefore while you have your
good witts about you, _fac quid vobis_, make your will, that wee may
know amongst so many well deserving men, that doe lay claime to this
your castell, to whome as rightfull heire itt shall lawfully descend,
that so all controversies being ended, before your Lordshippe's
deceasse, hereafter your bones may ly, and wee your subjects live, in
all rest and quietnes.
"'Dixi.'
"To make an end of this nighte's sporte, all departed merry and very
well pleased, the actors were much commended, and the terme for their
sakes prorogued one day longer.
"On the Thursday following the Prince was solemnly invited by the
Canons of Christchurch to a comedy called _Yuletide_, where many
thinges were either ill ment by them, or ill taken by us, but wee had
very good reason to think the former, both for that the whole towne
thought so, and the whole play was a medley of Christmas sportes, by
which occasion Christmas Lords were much jested at, and our Prince was
soe placed that many thinges were acted upon him, but yet, Mr. Deane
himselfe, then vice-chancelor, very kindly sent for the Prince and
some others of our howse, and laboured to satisfie us, protesting that
no such thing was mente, as was reported, whereupon wee went away
contented, and forebore the speaking of many things which otherwise
were afterwards intended, for aunswering of them in their owne kind.
"On Candlemas nighte it was thoughte by our selves, and reported in
the towne, that the Prince should resigne his place, but nothing being
in readines for that purpose itt was deferred, but yet, least nothing
should bee done, there was a Vigilate (as they terme it) a watching
nighte procured by the Prince and his Counsell, and graunted by the
officers of the Colledge, which was performed in manner following.
"THE VIGILATE.
"First, about eighte of the Clocke (for then itt was to begin, and to
continue till fowre in the morning) the Colledge gates were shutt, and
all the students summon'd by the sounding of a Trumpett three times,
to make their personall appearance in the greate Hall, where after
they were all come together, that the Prince's pleasure might bee the
better knowne, this proclamation was publikely pronounced by a
Serjeant att Armes, in the hearing of them all.
"The high and mighty Thomas by the favour of Fortune Prince of Alba
Fortunata, Lord St. Johns, High Regent of the Hall, &c. To all
Presidents, Vice Presidents, Officers, Readers, Masters, Batchelors,
Felowes, Schollers, Commoners, Under-commoners, Servaunts, Scruitors,
sendeth greeting.
Whereas of late by the turbulent spirits of seditious minded persons
hath bene buzzed into the eares of many of our loving and liege
subjectes a fearefull and dangerous report of our sudden downefall,
which according to their libelling speeches should att this nighte
fall upon us--We have thought it necessary not so much for our owne
feares which are none at all, as for satisfieing and strengthening our
welmeaning friends in their love and duty, to publish and by these
presents to all our loyal subjects of what state and condicion soever,
that they make their personall appearance to the setting and
furnishing of a most strong guarde and carefull watch as well for
their security as the safety of our owne royall person, & the whole
Common-wealth; In the which generall watch for the better comfort and
ease of all men, our selfe, with our honourable privy Counsell, and
the rest of our Nobility, intend to bee personally present.
"But because wee are no way minded to oppresse any man above his
power, on our princely bounty, wee give licence to such as (for age or
infirmity) are not able to perform that duty, to forfaite for their
absence, yf they plead age ijs. vi^{d}.; if infirmity, xii^{d}., towards
the furnishing of his Highnes with a tall and sufficient watchman.
"Now because that which wee have wisely thought, and for our peace and
safety, may not proove the cause of new troubles and dissentions, wee
have thought good to adjoine some few cautions, in way of admonitions
to bee observed.
"First, for that the disorders of an unruly and mutinous watch
doe often open as it were the gate of danger and outrage,
our princely will and pleasure is, that each man keepe his
station with out murmuring, performing cheerefully all such
offices and duties, as shal bee lawfully enjoin'd by us, or
our offices, upon paine of forfeiting ijs. vi^{d}., as for age.
"Secondly, because sloth is a kind of disease in a well-ordered
Common-wealth wee further charge and command by the
vertue of our absolute authority, that no man bee found
winking, or pincking, or nodding, much lesse snorting,
upon paine of forfaiting twelve pence, as for infirmity.
"Thirdly, for the avoiding of a sudden dearth, or lingring famine
which may ensue and justly follow the free and undoubted
liberty of a riotous and luxurious time, yt is by us thought
necessary that no man should in hugger mugger eate or
drincke more than is publickly seene and allowed by the
face of the body civill and politicke, upon paine of paieing
twise, for such is in a manner stolen provision, and the
second paiement to bee arbitrary.
"Given att our Mannor of Whites-hall, the seacond of
February, and in the first of our Raigne.
"This proclamation being read and set up in the great hall, the Prince
called for his officers and servants about him, charging every man
carefully to execute his office. First the steward and buttler (who
for their auncient fidelity kept their places according as they had
long before beene appointed by the Colledge) were commaunded to bring
their bookes, and by them to call up all the howse, whereupon (every
one beeing first charged to aunswere to his name) it presently
appeared who were present and who were absent.
"After this the Master of the Revels and the Knight Marshall were
willed to appoint severall sportes that no man might bee seene idle
upon payne of the Prince's high displeasure whereupon presently some
went to cardes, some to dice, some to dauncing, every one to some
thing.
"Not long after, for more variety sake, there was brought in a maske;
the devise was sudden and extempore, videl: a little page attired in
his long coats, with these six verses which were spoke as soone as he
entered the hall.
"These are six carpet knights, and I one page
Can easily bring in six that bee of age,
They come to visite this your highnes court,
And if they can, to make your honour sport.
Nay, this is all, for I have seene the day
A richer maske had not so much to say.
"After these maskers had finished the measures, and some few other
daunces, the said page waved them forth with his wan, and spake these
two verses:
"There are three they say would shew you an anticke,
But when you see them, you'll thinke them franticke.
"Then there came in three in an anticke which were well attyred for
that purpose, and daunced well to the great delite of the beholders.
"After these had stollen away one by one, as the manner is, it pleased
the Prince to aske what was a clocke, it beeing aunswered almost
twelve hee presently called in for supper. But first the bill of those
which were before noted to bee absent was called, to see whether any
of them would yet appeare, and the Prince would deale favourably with
them. It was also examined whether any of those which were present
before were now gon to bed, and accordingly authority was given by the
Prince to the marshalls of the hall and other officers to search the
chambers for sleepers, and where they made aunswere to aske the reason
of their slothfull neglect or wilfull contempt of the Prince's
commands, and if they pleaded either infirmity or age to take their
fine, and so quietly to depart, first causing them faithfull to give
their words that they harboured no other idle or suspicious parsons.
But if they knoct at any of the chambers of those that were absent and
nobody would answer, then they had full authority to breake open the
dores and to make a privy search, and if they found any abed they
tooke them as they were in their shirts and carryed them downe in
state to the hall after this manner:--
"First went the marshals with lights to make room.
Then came one squire carrying the goune of him whom they
brought and another that carryed his hatt & band.
Then came two other squires whereof one carryed his dublet
the other his breeches.
Then came two with lights.
Next came he that was in his shirt carryed by two in a chaire
and covered with a blanket.
Last behind came one squire more that carryed his shoes &
stockings.
"All these beeing entered the hall, the squires made their attendance
about him, with great observance, every one reaching him his apparrell
as it pleased him to call for it, and then also helping him on with
it. And this was the punishment of those that were found a bed.
"Others which were found up in their chambers & would not answer were
violently brought downe with bills and staves as malefactors and by
the Knight Marshals appointment were committed close prisoners to the
Prince's castle, videl. the stocks, which were placed upon a table to
that purpose, that those which were punished might bee seene to the
terrour of others.
"By this time supper was ready and the sewer called to the
dresser whereupon the buttery bell was presently rung, as it
uses to bee at other ordinary meales, besides a trumpet was
sounded at the kitchen hatch to call the wayters together.
"After the first messe was served in, the Prince with the rest
of his councell satt downe, then all the rest of the howse in
seniority.
"Towardes the end of supper two gentlemen of the second table fell out,
wee could never distinctly know about what, it was verely supposed
themselves scarsly knew, but from wordes they fell suddenly to blowes,
and ere any man was aware, one of them had stabbed the other into the
arme with his knife to the great prejudice of the mirth, which should or
would have followed that night. But the offender was presently
apprehended (and though a gentleman of some worth) put into my Lord's
stocks, where hee lay most part of that night with shame and blame
enough. And yet for all that punishment the next day he was convented
before the officers of the Colledge, and there agayne more grievously
punished; for the fault was much agravated by the circumstances of the
time, place and person that was hurt, who was a very worshipfull
knight's sonne and heyre.
"After this the Prince with some of the better sort of the
howse beeing much disconted with the mischaunce that had
happened, retyred themselves into the president lodging, where
privatly they made themselves merry, with a wassall called the
five bells of Magdalen Church, because it was an auncient note
of those bells, that they were almost never silent. This shew
for the better grace of the night was performed by some of the
Masters and officers themselves in manner following:
"_Enter the Clerke of Magdalens alone,_
"Your kind acceptance of the late devise
Presented by St. Gyles's clerke, my neighbour,
Hath hartned mee to furnish in a trice
This nights up sitting with a two houres labour:
For any thing I hope, though ne're so naghty
Wil be accepted in a Vigilate.
I have observed as your sportes did passe all
(A fault of mine to bee too curious)
The twelfe night slipt away without a wassall,
A great defect, to custome most injurious:
Which I to mend have done my best endeavour
To bring it in, for better late than never.
And more, for our more tuneable proceeding,
I have ta'ne downe the five bells in our towre,
Which will performe it, if you give them heeding,
Most musically, though they ring an houre.--
Now I go in to oyle my bells and pruin them,
When I come downe Ile bring them downe & tune them.
_Exit._
"After a while he returned with five others presenting his five bells,
and tyed with five bell-ropes, which after he had pulled one by one,
they all began a peale, and sang in Latin as followeth:--
"Jam sumus lætis dapibus repleti,
Copiam vobis ferimus fluentem,
Gaudium vobis canimus jocose
Vivite læti.
Te deum dicunt (venerande Bacche)
Te deum dicunt (reverenda mater)
Vos graves vobis removete luctus:
Vivite læti.
Dat Ceres vires, hominumque firmat
Corpora, et Bacchus pater ille vini
Liberat curis animos molestis:
Vivite læti.
Ne dolor vestros animos fatiget,
Vos jubet læta hæc removere curas
Turba, lætari feriæque suadent
Vivite læti.
En Ceres lætæ segetis creatrix,
Et pater vini placidique somni
Pocula hæc vobis hilares ministrant
(monarcha
Sume (
(magister.
_Bibunt omnes ordine dum, actores hæc ultima carmina sæpius repetunt;
max singuli toti conventui sic ordine gratulantur._
_Tenor._
Reddere fælicem si quemquam copia possit
Copia fælicis nomen habere jubet,
Copia læte jubet tristes depellere curas,
Copia quam cingit Bacchus et alma Ceres.
_Counter._
Quem non delectant moderatè pocula sumpta?
_Tenor._
Cujus non animum dulcia vina juvant?
Dulcia vina juvant dulcem dant vina soporem,
Magnificas ornant dulcia vina dapes.
_Meane._
Frugibus alma Ceres mortalia pectora nutrit,
Exornant campurn frugibus alma Ceres.
Si cuiquam desint Cerelia dona, nec illi
Lenæi patris munera grata placent.
Nec vobis Cereris nec Bacchi munera desint,
Annuat et votis Jupiter ipse meis.
_Treble._
Alma Ceres vestris epulis lætatur, et ecce
Copia cum Baccho gaudia læta canunt
_Mox omnes cantantes Exeunt._
Gaudium lætum canimus, canemus
Hoc idem semper, nec enim dolere
Jam licet, lætae feriæ hic aguntur
Vivite læti.
Sæpius nobis reriæ revertant,
Sæpius vinum liceat potare,
Sæpius vobis hilares cánamus
Vivite læti.
"This then was suddenly and extempore clapt together for want of a
better, but notwithstanding was as willingly and chearefully receaved
as it was proferd.
"By this time it was foure a clocke and liberty was given to every one
to goe to bed or stay up as long as they pleased. The Prince with his
councell brake up their watch, so did most of the Masters of the
house, but the younger sort stayed up till prayers time, and durst not
goe to bed for feare of one another. For some, after they had licence
to depart, were fetcht out of their beds by their fellowes, and not
suffered to put on their clothes till they came into the hall. And
thus the day came and made an end of the night's sport.
"On the sixt of February, beeing egge Satterday, it pleased some
gentlemen schollers in the towne to make a dauncing night of it. They
had provided many new and curious daunces for the maske of Penelope's
Woers, but the yeare beeing far spent and Lent drawing on and many
other thinges to bee performed, the Prince was not able to bestow that
state upon them which their love & skill deserved. But their good will
was very kindely received by the Prince in this night's private
travels. They had some apparell suddenly provided for them, and these
few Latin verses for their induction:
"Isti fuere credo Penelopes proci
Quos justa forsan ira Telemachi domo
Expulit Ulyssis.
"After all this sport was ended the Prince entertayned them very
royally with good store of wine and a banquet, where they were very
merry and well pleased all that night.
"Against the next Tuesday following, beeing Shrovetuesday, the great
stage was againe set up and the scaffolds built about the hall for the
Prince's resignation, which was performed that night with great state
and solemnity in manner and forme following:
IRA SEU TUMULUS FORTUNE.
INTERLOCUTORES.
Princeps.
Admiralius.
Thesaurarius.
Comptrollarius.
Cancellarius.
Justitiarius.
Marescallus.
Camerarius.
Philosophus.
Cynicus.
Momus.
Polycrates.
Philadelphus.
Juridicus.
Magister Ludorem.
Anteambulo Primus.
Anteambulo Secundus.
Stultus.
CHORUS.
Minerva
Euphemia
Fortuna.
Tolmæa.
* * * * *
"Many straungers of all sorts were invited to this shew, and many more
came together, for the name's sake only of a resignacon, to see the
manner and solemnity of it, for that it was reported (and truly) that
there was nothing els to bee done or seene beside the resignacon and
no man thought so much could have beene said of so little matter.
"The stage was never so oppressed with company, insomuch that it was
verely thought it could not bee performed that night for want of
roome; but the audience was so favourable as to stand as close and
yeeld as much backe as was possible; so that for all tumults it began
about 7 a clocke, and was very well liked of all.
"Only some few, more upon their owne guilty suspicion than our plaine
intention, thinking themselves toucht at that verse of _Momus_:
"Dixi et quem dederat cursum fortuna peregi,
laboured to raise an hissing, but it was soon smothered, and the whole
company in the end gave us good applause and departed very well
pleased.
"After the shew was ended, the sometimes Lord was carried in state to
his owne private chamber after this manner:
First went two Squires with lights.
Next Euphemia and Tolmæa.
Then 2 other Squires with lightes.
Next Minerva and Fortuna.
Then came 4 other Squires with lightes, and in the midst of
them 4 schollers bearing on their shoulders a tombe
or sepulcher adorned with scutchions and little flagges,
wherein all the Prince's honours had bene buried before.
After this came the Prince alone in his schollers gowne and
hood as the chiefe mourner.
Then all the rest of his Counsell and company likewise in
blacke gownes and hoodes, like mourners, two by two.
"All these were said to goe to the Temple of Minerva there to
consecrate and erecte the sepulcher, and this state was very well
liked of all that saw itt.
"Heere wee thought to have made an end of all, and to have puld downe
the scaffolds and stage, but then many said that so much preparacon
was too much for so small a show. Besides there was an English Tragedy
almost ready, which they were very earnest should bee performed, but
many arguments were alledged against it: first, for the time, because
it was neere Lent, and consequently a season unfitt for
plaies--Secondly, the stile for that itt was English, a language
unfitt for the Universitie, especially to end so much late sporte with
all--Thirdly, the suspicon of some did more hinder it than all the
rest, for that it was thought that some particulars were aimed att in
the Chorus, which must needs bee distastfull--Lastly, the ill lucke,
which wee had before with English, made many very loth to have any
thing done againe in that straine.
"But these objections being aunswered all well as might bee, and
faithfull promise being made and taken that if any word were thought
personall, it should be presently put out, the stage was suffered to
stand, and the scaffolds somewhat enlarged against the Saturday
following. Att which time such a concourse of people from all places,
and of all sorts came together presently after dinner, that itt was
thought impossible any thing should have beene done that night for
tumults. Yet in the beginning such order and care was taken (every one
being willing att the last cast to helpe towardes the making a good
end,) that the stage was kept voide of all company, and the scaffoldes
were reserved for straungers and men sorte, better than ever they were
before, so that it began very peaceably somewhat before six a clocke,
and was performed in manner following:
PERIANDER.
CHORUS
The Master of the Revels. Detraction.
The Master of the Revels Boy. Resolution.
Ingenuity a Doctor of Physicke.
INTERLOCUTORES.
Periander, Tyrannus Corinthi.
Cypsilus, Hæres Periandri, Stultus.
Lycophron Frater Cypsili.
Neotinos, Puer, Satelles Lycoph.
Lysimachos}
Aristhæus } Nobiles et a Consilijs Periandri.
Philarches}
Eriterus } Juuenes Nobiles in Aulâ Periandri.
Symphilus }
Cratæa Mater Periandri.
Melissa Uxor Periandri.
Melissæ Umbra.
Eugenia Filia Periandri.
Pronæa }
Zona } Duæ Meritriculæ Periandri.
Larissæa Soror Philarchis.
Europe Aristhæi Filia.
Fæminæ Quatuor Corinthiæ cum 4 or Pueris Inseruientibus.
Arion Celebris Musicus.
Nantæ Quatuor.
Cines Duo Togati.
Vigiles Duo.
Calistus }
Stratocles } Satellites Periandri.
Borius }
Tres Aut 4 or Alij Satellites.
Epilogus.
* * * * *
"EPILOGUE.
"Gentlemen, welcome! our great promises
Wee would make upp, your selves must needs confesse,
But our small timbred actors, narrow roome,
Necessity of thrifte make all short come
Of our first apprehensions; wee must keepe
Our auntient customes though wee after creepe.
But wee forgett times limitts, Nowe tis Lente--
Old store this weeke may lawfully be spente
Our former shewes were giv'n to our cal'd Lorde,
This, and att his request, for you was storde.
By many hands was Periander slaine,
Your gentler hands will give him live againe.
FINIS.
"A certain gentlewoman, upon the hearing of these two last verses,
made two other verses, and in way of an aunswer sent them to the
Prince, who having first plaied Periander afterwards himselfe also
pronounced the Epilogue.
"The verses were these
If that my hand or hart him life could give,
By hand and hart should Periander live.
"But it is almost incredible to thinke how well this Tragedy was
performed of all parties, and how well liked of the whole, which (as
many of them as were within the hall) were very quiet and attentive.
But those that were without and could not get in made such an hideous
noice, and raised such a tumult with breaking of windows all about the
colledge, throwinge of stones into the hall and such like ryott, that
the officers of the coll: (beeing first dar'd to appeare) were faine
to rush forth in the beginning of the play, with about a dozen
whiflers well armed and swords drawne, whereat the whole company
(which were gathered together before the chapell doore to try whether
they could breake it open) seeing them come behind them out of the
lodging, presently gave backe, and ranne away though itt was thought
they were not so few as 4 or 500.
"The officers gave some faire words and some fowle as they saw
occasion, the whiflers were very heedfull to marke who were the
ringleaders of the rest, and having some notice given of them by some
of our friendes, they took some of them and committed them to the
Porter's lodge, where they lay close prisoners till the play was done,
and then they were brought forth and punished, and so sente home.
"After this all was quiet only some were so thrust in the hall, that
they were carried forth for dead but soone recovered, when they came
into the aire.
"The Chorus of this Tragedy much pleased for the rarity of it.
_Detraction_ beeing taken from among the company, where hee had liked
to have been beaten for his sawsines (as it was supposed) for nobody
at first toke him for an actor. The chiefest in the hall commaunded
that notice should be taken of him, that hee might afterwards bee
punished for his boldnes;--but as soone as it at once appeared that he
was an actor, their disdaine and anger turned to much pleasure and
content.
"All were so pleased att the whole course of this play, that there
were at least eight generall plaudites given in the midst of it in
divers places and to divers persons.
"In the end, they clapped their hands so long, that they went forth of
the colledge clapping.
"But in the midst of all this good liking wee were neere two
mischaunces, the one from Lycophron who lost a faire gold ring from
his finger, which notwithstanding all the hurleburly in the end of the
play, was soone found againe; the other from Periander, who, going to
kill his daughter Eugenia, did not so couch his dagger within his
hand, but that hee prickt her through all her attire, but (as God
would have it) it was onely a scratch and so it passed.
THE CONCLUSION.
"Many other thinges were in this yeare intended which neither were nor
could be performed. As the maske of Penelope's Wooer, with the State
of Telemachus, with a Controversie of Jrus and his ragged Company,
whereof a great parte was made. The devise of the Embassage from
Lubber-land, whereof also a parte was made. The Creation of White
Knights of the order of Aristotle's Well, which should bee sworne to
defend Aristotle against all authors, water against wine, footemen
against horsemen, and many more such like injunctions. A lottery for
those of the colledge or straungers as itt pleased them to draw, not
for matters of wealth, but only of mirth and witt. The triumph of all
the founders of the colledges in Oxford, a devise much thought on, but
it required more invention, more cost than the time would affoord. The
holding of a court leet and baron for the Prince, wherein there should
have beene leasses drawne, copies taken, surrenders made, all which
were not so much neglected as prevented by the shortnes of time and
want of money, better wits and richer daies may hereafter make upp
which was then lefte unperfect.
"Here some letters might be inserted, and other gratulatory messages
from divers friends to the Prince, but it is high time to make an end
of this tedious and fruitelesse relation, unlesse the knowledge of
trouble and vanity bee fruitefull.
"Wee intended in these exercises the practise and audacity of our
youth, the credit and good name of our colledge, the love and favor of
the University; but instead of all these (so easie a thing it is to be
deceived in a good meaning) wee met with peevishnesse at home,
perversnes abroad, contradictions everywhere; some never thought
themselves entreated enough to their owne good and creditt; others
thought themselves able to doe nothing if they could not thwarte and
hinder something; most stood by and gave aime, willing to see much and
doe nothing, nay perchaunce they were ready to procure most trouble,
which would bee sure to yield least helpe. And yet wee may not so much
grudge at faults at home as wee may justly complaine of hard measure
abroad; for instead of the love and favour of the Universitie, wee
found our selves (wee will say justly) taxed for any the least error
(though ingenious spirits would have pardoned many things, where all
things were intended for their owne pleasure) but most unjustly
censured, and envied for that which was done (wee dare say)
indifferently well: so that, in a word, wee paide deere for trouble,
and in a manner hired and sent for men to doe us wrong.
"Let others herafter take heed how they attempte the like, unlesse
they find better meanes at home, and better mindes abroad. And yet wee
cannot complaine of all, some ment well and said well, and those tooke
good will for good paiment, good endevors for good performaunce, and
such (in this kind) shall deserve a private favour, when other shal
bee denied a common benefitt.
"_Seria vix recte agnoscit, qui ludicra nescit._
FINIS."
CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENTS.
During the reign of James the First there was a revival of chivalric
exercises, especially in connection with the training of the young
Prince Henry. Almost as soon as he could wield a lance and manage his
horse when clothed in complete armour, he insisted on taking his place
at the lists; and from this time no great tournament took place in
England in which his Royal Highness did not take part. The most
important of these exhibitions was
THE GRAND "FEAT OF ARMES"
which took place on Twelfth Night, 1610, at the palace of Whitehall,
in the presence of King James I. and his queen, and a brilliant
assemblage of lords, ladies, and gentlemen, among whom were several
foreign ambassadors, when the heir-apparent, Prince Henry, was in the
16th year of his age, and therefore arrived at the period for claiming
the principality of Wales and the duchy of Cornwall. It was granted to
him by the king and the High Court of Parliament, and the 4th of June
following appointed for his investiture: "the Christmas before which,"
Sir Charles Cornwallis says, "his highnesse, not onely for his owne
recreation, but also that the world might know what a brave prince
they were likely to enjoy, under the name of Meliades, lord of the
isles, (an ancient title due to the first born of Scotland,) did, in
his name, by some appointed for the same purpose, strangely attired,
accompanied with drummes and trumpets, in the presence, before the
king and queene, and in the presence of the whole Court, deliver a
challenge to all knights of Great Britaine." The challenge was to this
effect, "That Meliades, their noble master, burning with an earnest
desire to trie the valour of his young yeares in foraigne countryes,
and to know where vertue triumphed most, had sent them abroad to espy
the same, who, after their long travailes in all countreys, and
returne," had nowhere discovered it, "save in the fortunate isle of
Great Britaine: which ministring matter of exceeding joy to their
young Meliades, who (as they said) could lineally derive his pedegree
from the famous knights of this isle, was the cause that he had now
sent to present the first fruits of his chivalrie at his majesties'
feete: then after returning with a short speech to her majestie, next
to the earles, lords, and knights, excusing their lord in this their
so sudden and short warning, and, lastly, to the ladies; they, after
humble delivery of their chartle concerning time, place, conditions,
number of weapons and assailants, tooke their leave, departing
solemnly as they entered."
Then preparations began to be made for this great fight, and each was
happy who found himself admitted for a defendant, much more an
assailant. "At last to encounter his highness, six assailants, and
fifty-eight defendants, consisting of earles, barons, knights, and
esquires, were appointed and chosen; eight defendants to one
assailant, every assailant being to fight by turnes eight several
times fighting, two every time with push and pike of sword, twelve
strokes at a time; after which, the barre for separation was to be let
downe until a fresh onset." The summons ran in these words:
"To our verie loving good ffreind sir Gilbert Loughton, knight, geave
theis with speed:
"After our hartie commendacions unto you. The prince, his highnes,
hath commanded us to signifie to you that whereas he doth intend to
make a challenge in his owne person at the Barriers, with six other
assistants, to bee performed some tyme this Christmas; and that he
hath made choice of you for one of the defendants (whereof wee have
comandement to give you knowledge), that theruppon you may so repaire
hither to prepare yourselfe, as you may bee fitt to attend him.
Hereunto expecting your speedie answer wee rest, from Whitehall this
25th of December, 1609. Your very loving friends,
Nottingham. T. Suffolke. E. Worcester."
On New Year's Day, 1610, or the day after, the Prince's challenge was
proclaimed at court, and "his highnesse, in his own lodging, in the
Christmas, did feast the earles, barons, and knights, assailants and
defendants, until the great Twelfth appointed night, on which this
great fight was to be performed."
On the 6th of January, in the evening, "the barriers" were held at the
palace of Whitehall, in the presence of the king and queen, the
ambassadors of Spain and Venice, and the peers and ladies of the land,
with a multitude of others assembled in the banquetting-house: at the
upper end whereof was the king's chair of state, and on the right a
sumptuous pavilion for the prince and his associates, whence, "with
great bravery and ingenious devices, they descended into the middell
of the roome, and there the prince performed his first feates of
armes, that is to say, at _Barriers_, against all commers, being
assisted onlie with six others, viz., the duke of Lenox, the earle of
Arundell, the earle of Southampton, the lord Hay, sir Thomas Somerset,
and sir Richard Preston, who was shortly afterwards created lord
Dingwell."
To answer these challengers came fifty-six earles, barons, knights,
and esquiers. They were at "the lower end of the roome, where was
erected a very delicat and pleasant place, where in privat manner they
and their traine remained, which was so very great that no man
imagined that the place could have concealed halfe so many." Thence
they issued in comely order, "to the middell of the roome, where sate
the king and the queene, and the court, to behold the barriers, with
the several showes and devices of each combatant." Every challenger
fought with eight several defendants two several combats at two
several weapons, viz. at push of pike, and with single sword. "The
prince performed this challenge with wonderous skill and courage, to
the great joy and admiration of the beholders," he "not being full
sixteene yeeres of age until the 19th of February." These feats, and
other "triumphant shewes," began before ten o'clock at night, and
continued until three o'clock in the morning, "being Sonday." The
speeches at "the barriers" were written by Ben Jonson. The next day
(Sunday) the prince rode in great pomp to convoy the king to St.
James', whither he had invited him and all the court to supper, the
queen alone being absent; and then the prince bestowed prizes to the
three combatants best deserving; namely, the Earl of Montgomery, Sir
Thomas Darey (son of Lord Darey), and Sir Robert Gourdon. Thus ended
the Twelftide court festivities in 1610.
During the early years of James's reign tournaments divided with
masques the favour of the Court; and, as we have just seen when Prince
Henry reached his sixteenth year, he put himself forth in a more
heroic manner than usual with princes of his time to engage in "feats
of armes" and chivalric exercises; but after his death (1612) these
sports fell quite out of fashion, and George Wither, a poet of the
period, expresses, in the person of Britannia, the feelings of the
nation:--
"Alas! who now shall grace my tournaments,
Or honour me with deeds of chivalry?
What shall become of all my merriments,
My ceremonies, shows of heraldry,
And other rites?"
[Illustration]
Religious matters received a good deal of attention from James I. in
the later years of his reign, and his Majesty's proposals raised the
question of the observance of
THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL IN SCOTLAND.
In 1617 the King made a journey to Scotland with the object of
establishing the English Church in all its forms and authority as the
State Church of Scotland for ever. One of the famous Five Articles in
which the King set forth his will proposed "That the festivals of
Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, Ascension Day, and Whit Sunday, should
be observed in Scotland just as in England." The Articles were
received with unequivocal marks of displeasure, many of the churches
refusing to obey the royal command, and the revival of the festival of
Christmas was denounced as the return of the ancient Saturnalia. Three
years later the King obtained an Act of Parliament enforcing the
Articles on the repugnant spirit of the people. "Dr. Laud, whose name
we now meet for the first time, afterwards to become so notorious,
even urged James to go further lengths; but his fatal advice was
destined to act with more force on the next generation."[63]
The King returned to London very much displeased with the religious
views of his Scotch subjects, and his sourness seems to have
manifested itself even at Christmastide, for on December 20th of this
year Mr. Chamberlaine thus wrote to Sir Dudley Carleton: "The King
hath been at Theobald's ever since Wednesday, and came to town this
day. I am sorry to hear that he grows every day more froward, and with
such a kind of morosity, that doth either argue a great discontent in
mind, or a distemper of humours in his body. Yet he is never so out of
tune but the very sight of my Lord of Buckingham doth settle and quiet
all."[64]
So soothed and softened was the King by "my Lord of Buckingham" that
Mr. Chamberlaine, writing again on the 3rd of January, says that on
New Year's Day the earl was created "Marquis of Buckingham, a dignity
the King hath not bestowed since his coming to this crown." And, says
the same writer, "This night was the Lord Marquiss's [Buckingham's]
great
FEAST, WHERE WERE THE KING AND PRINCE,
with Lords and Ladies _sans nombre_. You may guess at the rest of the
cheer by this scantling, that there were said to be seventeen dozen of
pheasants, and twelve partridges in a dish throughout; which methinks
was rather spoil than largess; yet for all the plenty of presents, the
supper cost £600. Sir Thomas Edmondes undertook the providing and
managing of all, so that it was much after the French. The King was
exceedingly pleased, and could not be satisfied with commending the
meat and the Master; and yet some stick not to say, that young Sir
Henry Mildmay, a son of George Brooke, that was executed at
Winchester, and a son of Sir William Monson's, begins to come into
consideration."
THE FAILING HEALTH OF THE KING
interfered somewhat with the celebration of the subsequent Royal
Christmases of this reign; and Nichols, referring to the Court
celebrations of Twelfth Day, 1620-1, says:
"'On Twelfth Day the King went to Chappel, but they had much ado to
support him. He offered gold, frankincence, and myrrhe, and touched 80
of the evil.'[65] In the evening 'the French Ambassador and his choise
followers were brought to court by the Earle of Warwick to be present
at a Maske; he seated as before with the King, the better sort of the
other on a fourme behind the Lords, the Lord Treasurer onely and the
Marquesse of Hamilton sitting at the upper end of it, and all the rest
in a box, and in the best places of the scaffolds on the right hand of
his Majesty. No other Ambassadors were at that time present or
invited.'"
As to
THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES
of the next year (1621-2) Nichols[66] says Mr. Meade wrote thus to Sir
Martin Stuteville:--