Christmas: Its Origin and Associations Part 24

_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 laetis dapibus repleti, Copiam vobis ferimus fluentem, Gaudium vobis canimus jocose Vivite laeti.

Te deum dic.u.n.t (venerande Bacche) Te deum dic.u.n.t (reverenda mater) Vos graves vobis removete luctus: Vivite laeti.

Dat Ceres vires, hominumque firmat Corpora, et Bacchus pater ille vini Liberat curis animos molestis: Vivite laeti.

Ne dolor vestros animos fatiget, Vos jubet laeta haec removere curas Turba, laetari feriaeque suadent Vivite laeti.

En Ceres laetae segetis creatrix, Et pater vini placidique somni Pocula haec vobis hilares ministrant (monarcha Sume ( (magister.

_Bibunt omnes ordine dum, actores haec ultima carmina saepius repetunt; max singuli toti conventui sic ordine gratulantur._

_Tenor._

Reddere faelicem si quemquam copia possit Copia faelicis nomen habere jubet, Copia laete jubet tristes depellere curas, Copia quam cingit Bacchus et alma Ceres.

_Counter._

Quem non delectant moderate 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 Lenaei patris munera grata placent.

Nec vobis Cereris nec Bacchi munera desint, Annuat et votis Jupiter ipse meis.

_Treble._

Alma Ceres vestris epulis laetatur, et ecce Copia c.u.m Baccho gaudia laeta canunt _Mox omnes cantantes Exeunt._

Gaudium laetum canimus, canemus Hoc idem semper, nec enim dolere Jam licet, laetae feriae hic aguntur Vivite laeti.

Saepius n.o.bis reriae revertant, Saepius vinum liceat potare, Saepius vobis hilares canamus Vivite laeti.

"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.

Just.i.tiarius.

Marescallus.

Camerarius.

Philosophus.

Cynicus.

Momus.

Polycrates.

Philadelphus.

Juridicus.

Magister Ludorem.

Anteambulo Primus.

Anteambulo Secundus.

Stultus.

CHORUS.

Minerva Euphemia Fortuna.

Tolmaea.

"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: