A Righte Merrie Christmasse Part 19

Which you may know, by the very show, Albeit you never ask it: For there you may see, what his ensigns be, The rope, the cheese, and the basket.

This CAROL plays, and has been in his days A chirping boy, and a kill-pot.

Kit cobler it is, I'm a father of his, And he dwells in the lane called Fill-pot.

But, who is this? O, my daughter Cis, MINCED PIE; with her do not dally On pain o' your life; she's an honest cook's wife, And comes out of Scalding-alley.

Next in the trace, comes GAMBOL in place; And to make my tale the shorter, My son Hercules, tane out of Distaff lane, But an active man and a porter.

Now, POST AND PAIR, old Christmas's heir, Doth make and a gingling sally; And wot you who, 'tis one of my two Sons, card makers in Pur-alley.

Next, in a trice, with his box and his dice, Mac' pipin my son, but younger, Brings MUMMING in; and the knave will win For he is a costermonger.

But NEW YEAR'S GIFT, of himself makes s.h.i.+ft To tell you what his name is; With orange on head, and his gingerbread, Clem Waspe of Honey lane 'tis.

This, I you tell, is our jolly Wa.s.sEL, And for Twelfth night more meet too; She works by the ell, and her name is Nell, And she dwells in Threadneedle street too.

Then OFFERING, he, with his dish and his tree, That in every great house keepeth, Is by my son, young Little-worth, done, And in Penny-rich street he sleepeth.

Last BABY CAKE, that an end doth make Of Christmas merry, merry vein-a, Is child Rowlan, and a straight young man, Though he comes out of Crooked lane-a.

There should have been, and a dozen, I ween, But I could find but one more Child of Christmas, and a LOG it was, When I had them all gone o'er.

I prayed him, in a tune so trim, That he would make one to prance it: And I myself would have been the twelfth, O! but LOG was too heavy to dance it.

Nor must we forget a Masque by Milton, "Comus, a Masque, at Ludlow Castle, 1634," in which appeared the Lord Brockley, Mr. Thomas Egerton, his brother, and the Lady Alice Egerton.

But all Christmas sports were not so gentle as was the Masque, as the following account of the Virgin Queen's amus.e.m.e.nts shows us. Amongst the original letters preserved by the descendants of Sir John Kytson, of Hengrave Hall, is one addressed by Christopher Playter to Mr.

Kytson, in 1572, which contains the following: "At Chris-time here were certayne ma^{rs} of defence, that did challenge all comers at all weapons, as long sworde, staff, sword and buckler, rapier with the dagger: and here was many broken heads, and one of the ma^{rs} of defence dyed upon the hurt which he received on his head. The challenge was before the quenes Ma^{tie}, who seemes to have pleasure therein; for when some of them would have sollen a broken pate, her Majesty bade him not to be ashamed to put off his cap, and the blood was spied to run about his face. There was also at the corte new plays, w^{h} lasted almost all night. The name of the play was huff, suff, and ruff, with other masks both of ladies and gents."

CHAPTER XIX

The Lord of Misrule--The "Emperor" and "King" at Oxford--Dignity of the Office--Its abolition in the City of London--The functions of a Lord of Misrule--Christmas at the Temple--A grand Christmas there.

We have seen in the account of historic Christ-tides how a Lord of Misrule was nominated to amuse Edward VI., and with what honour he was received at the Mansion house. The popular idea of the Lord of Misrule is that he was a buffoon; but this is far from being the case. Warton says that, in an original draught of the Statutes of Trinity College, Cambridge, founded in 1546, one of the chapters is ent.i.tled "De Praefecto Ludorum, qui IMPERATOR dicitur." And it was ordered, as defining the office of "Emperor," that one of the Masters of Arts should be placed over the juniors every Christmas for the regulation of their games and diversions at that season. His sovereignty was to last during the twelve days of Christmas, and also on Candlemas day, and his fee was forty s.h.i.+llings. Warton also found a disburs.e.m.e.nt in an audit book of Trinity Coll. Oxon. for 1559. "Pro prandio _Principis Natalicii_."

Anthony a Wood, in his _Athenae_, speaking of the "Christmas Prince of St. John's College, whom the Juniors have annually, for the most part, elected from the first foundation of that College," says: "The custom was not only observed in that College, but in several other Houses, particularly in Merton College, where, from the first foundation, the fellows annually elected, about St. Edmund's Day, in November, a Christmas Lord, or Lord of Misrule, styled in the Registers _Rex Fabarum_, and _Rex Regni Fabarum_: which custom continued till the Reformation of Religion, and then that producing Puritanism, and Puritanism Presbytery, the possession of it looked upon such laudable and ingenious customs as popish, diabolical, and anti-Christian."

The office was one of dignity, as we may see by Henry Machyn's diary, 1551-52: "The iiij day of Januarii was made a grett skaffold in chepe, hard by the crosse, agaynst the kynges lord of myssrule c.u.mmyng from Grenwyche and (he) landyd at Toure warff, and with hym yonge knyghts and gentyllmen a gret nombur on hosse bake sum in gownes and cotes and chaynes abowt ther nekes, and on the Toure hyll ther they went in order, furst a standard of yelow and grene sylke with Saint George, and then gounes and skuybes (squibs) and trompets and bagespypes, and drousselars and flutes, and then a gret company all in yelow and gren, and docturs declaryng my lord grett, and then the mores danse, dansyng with a tabret," etc.

But so popular were these Lords of Misrule that every n.o.bleman and person of position had one. Henry Percy, fifth Earl of Northumberland, had one certainly in 1512, whose fee was 30s. Nor did Sir Thomas More, when attached to the household of Cardinal Morton, object to "stepp in among the players." That they were usual adjuncts to great houses is evidenced by an extract from Churchyard's _Lamentacion of Freyndshypp_, a ballad printed about 1565:--

Men are so used these dayes wyth wordes, They take them but for jestes and boordes, That _Christmas Lordes_ were wont to speke.

Stow tells us that, by an Act of Common Council, 12, Philip and Mary, for retrenching expenses, among other things it was ordered that the Lord Mayor or Sheriffs shall not keep any Lord of Misrule in any of their houses. But it still seems to have been customary for Sheriffs, at least, to have them, for Richard Evelyn, Esq. (father of the diarist), who kept his Shrievalty of Surrey and Suss.e.x in 1634, in a most splendid manner, did not forego his Lord of Misrule, as the following shows:--

"Articles made and appoynted by the Right Wo^{ll} Richard Evelyn Esq., High Sheriffe and Deputie Leavetenaunt to the Kinge's Ma^{tie} for the Counties of Surrey and Suss.e.x.

"IMPRIMIS. I give free leave to Owen Flood my Trumpeter, gent. to be Lo^{d} of Misrule of all good Orders during the twelve dayes. And also I give free leave to the said Owen Flood to co[=m]and all and every person whatsoev^{r}, as well servants as others, to be at his co[=m]and whensoev^{r} he shall sound his Trumpett or Musick, and to do him good service as though I were present my selfe at their perills.

"His Lo^{pp} commaunds every person or persons whatsoev^{r} to appeare at the Hall at seaven of the Clocke in the morninge, to be at prayers, and afterwards to be at his Lo^{pps} commaunds, upon paine of punishment, accordinge as his Lo^{pp} shall thinke fitt.

"If any person shall sware any oath w^{th}in the precinct of the ...

shall suffer punishment at his Lo^{pps} pleasure.

"If any man shall come into the Hall, and sett at dinner or supper more than once, he shall endure punishment at his Lo^{pps} pleasure.

"If any man shal bee drunke, or drinke more than is fitt, or offer to sleepe during the time abovesaid, or do not drinke up his bowle of beere, but flings away his snuffe (that is to say) the second draught, he shall drinke two, and afterwards be excluded.

"If any man shall quarrell, or give any ill language to any person duringe the abovesaid twelve dayes w^{th}in the gates or precinct thereof, he is in danger of his Lo^{pps} displeasure.

"If any person shall come into the kitchen whiles meate is a dressinge, to molest the cookes, he shall suffer the rigor of his Lo^{pps} law.

"If any man shall kisse any maid, widdow or wife, except to bid welcome or farewell, w^{th}out his Lo^{pps} consent, he shall have punishment as his Lo^{pp} shall thinke convenient.

"The last article: I give full power and authoritie to his Lo^{pp} to breake up all lockes, bolts, barres, doores, and latches, and to flinge up all doores out of hendges to come at those whoe presume to disobey his Lo^{pps} commaunds.

"G.o.d save the King."

These somewhat whimsical articles of agreement were evidently intended to prevent mirth relapsing into licence, which, unfortunately, was too often the case, especially with the Lord of Misrule or Prince of Love, who directed the revels of the law students. Gerard Legh, in _The Accidens of Armory_, 1562, says that Christmas was inaugurated with "the shot of double cannon, in so great a number, and so terrible, that it darkened the whole air," and meeting "an honest citizen, clothed in a long garment," he asked him its meaning, "who friendly answered, 'It is,' quoth he, 'a warning to the Constable Marshall of the Inner Temple to prepare the dinner.'"

Sir William Dugdale, in _Origines Juridiciales_ (ed. 1666, p. 163, etc.), gives us the following account of a grand Christmas in the Inner Temple, "extracted out of the Accompts of the House":--

"First, it hath been the duty of the Steward to provide five fat Brawns, Vessells, Wood, and other necessaries belonging to the Kitchin: As also all manner of Spices, Flesh, Fowl, and other Cates for the Kitchin.

"The Office of the Chief Butler to provide a rich Cupboard of Plate, Silver and Parcel gilt; Seaven dozen of Silver and gilt Spoons; Twelve fair Salt-cellars, likewise Silver and gilt; Twenty Candlesticks of the like.

"Twelve fine large Table Cloths of Damask and Diaper. Twenty dozen of Napkins suitable, at the least. Three dozen of fair large Towells; whereof the Gentlemen Servers and Butlers of the House to have, every of them, one at meal times, during their attendance. Likewise to provide Carving Knives: Twenty dozen of white Cups and green Potts; a Carving Table; Torches; Bread; Beer, and Ale. And the chief of the Butlers was to give attendance on the highest Table in the Hall, with Wine, Ale, and Beer; and all the other Butlers to attend at the other Tables in like sort.

"The Cupboard of Plate is to remain in the Hall on _Christma.s.s_ day, _St. Stephan's_ day, and _New Year's_ day. Upon the Banquetting night it was removed into the b.u.t.try; which, in all respects, was very laudably performed.

"The Office of the Constable Marshall to provide for his imployment, a fair gilt compleat Harneys, with a nest of Fethers in the Helm; a fair Poleaxe to bear in his hand, to be chevalrously ordered on _Christma.s.s_ day, and other days, as, afterwards, is shewed: touching the ordering and setling of all which ceremonies, during the said _grand Christma.s.s_, a solempn consultation was held at their Parliament in this House, in form following:--

"First, at the Parliament kept in their Parliament Chamber of this House, on the even at night of _St. Thomas_ the Apostle, Officers are to attend, according as they had been, long before that time, at a former Parliament named and elected to undergo several offices for this time of solempnity, honour, and pleasance: Of which Officers, these are the most eminent; namely the _Steward_, _Marshall_, _Constable Marshall_, _Butler_, and _Master of the Game_. These Officers are made known, and elected in _Trinity Term_ next before; and to have knowledg thereof by Letters, if in the Country, to the end that they may prepare themselves against _All Hallow-tide_; that, if such nominated Officers happen to fail, others may then be chosen in their rooms. The other Officers are appointed at other times neerer _Christma.s.s_ day.

"If the Steward, or any of the said Officers named in _Trinity Term_, refuse, or fail, he, or they, were fined, every one, at the discretion of the Bench; and the Officers aforenamed agreed upon. And at such a Parliament, if it be fully resolved to proceed with such a _grand Christma.s.s_, then the two youngest Butlers must light two Torches, and go before the Bench to the Upper end of the Hall; who, being set down, the ancientest Bencher delivereth a Speech, briefly to the whole society of gentlemen then present, touching their Consent, as afore; which ended, the eldest Butler is to publish all the Officers names, appointed in Parliament; and then in token of joy and good liking, the Bench and Company pa.s.s beneath the Harth, and sing a Carol, and so to Boyer (drink).

[Sidenote: _Christmas Eve._]

"The _Marshall_ at Dinner is to place at the highest Table's end, and next to the Library, all on one side thereof, the most ancient persons in the Company present: the Dean of the Chapell next to him; then an Antient, or Bencher, beneath him. At the other end of the Table, the Server, Cup-bearer and Carver. At the upper end of the Bench Table, the King's Serjeant and Chief Butler: and, when the Steward hath served in, and set on the Table, the first Mess, then he, also, is to sit down.

"Also, at the upper end of the other Table, on the other side of the Hall, are to be placed the three Masters of the Revells; and at the lower end of the Bench Table, are to sit, the King's Attorney, the Ranger of the Forest, and the Master of the Game. And, at the lower end of the Table, on the other side of the Hall, the fourth Master of the Revells, the Common Sergeant, and Constable Marshall. And, at the upper end of the Utter Barister's Table, the Marshall sitteth, when he hath served in the first Mess: The Clark of the Kitchin, also, and the Clark of the Sowce-tub, when they have done their offices in the Kitchin, sit down. And, at the upper end of the Clark's Table, the Lieutenant of the Tower, and the attendant to the b.u.t.try are placed.

"At these two Tables last rehersed, the persons there, may sit on both sides of the Table: but, of the other three Tables, all are to sit upon one side. And then, the Butlers, or Christmas servants, are first to cover the Tables with fair linnen Table-Cloths; and furnish them with Salt-cellars, Napkins and Trenchers, and a Silver Spoon. And then, the Butlers of the House must place at the Salt-cellar, at every the said first three highest Tables, a stock of Trenchers, and Bread: and, at the other Tables, Bread only, without Trenchers.