Christmas: Its Origin and Associations Part 21

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 Thraciae.

Progne, Regina, Uxor Terei, Eugenes, a consilijs Terei.

Phaulus, Seruus Terei, Tres Socii Terei a Cla.s.se, Ancilla Prognes.

Philomela, Soror Prognes Itis, Filius p.r.o.nges et Terei Ancilla Philomelae.

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 s.p.a.ce 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 pet.i.tion) 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 pet.i.tion.

Oft hath the like beene drawne and given up To his n.o.bilitie; 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 pa.s.sed 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 n.o.bilitie 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.