Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-25

first four years of mis- reign, and then eel
ebrated it at Windsor. Henry II kept his
first Christmas at Bermondsey. and in iii
in Ireland. In 1901 John kept Christmas
at Guildford, but was very angry because
the Archbishop of Canterbury attempted to
outCo him In extravaganza. In 1241 the
mobiles who appeared at Westminster were
outraged because the papal legate had the
place of honor at the banquet; but Henry
ITS Christmas in 1852 was a great success
one thousand knights attending, besides the
peers OF the realm, to witness the marriage
of the Princess Margaret with Alexander,
King of the Scots. The archbishop of York
gave six hundred fat oxen and e., 700 to-
ward the expenses. In 1913 Henry ordered
Westminster Hall to be filled with poor
people and Toasted for a week. Edward
kept Christmas at Bury, Collingham, Ips-
wich Bristol, and Carlisle. In 1874 and 1322j
Edward II kept the festival royalty at Not
tingham, but 1926 found him prisoner at
kenilworth- Edward III kept Christmas
at Guildford in 1881 and 134S, Mosques and
mummtngs on large scale being exhib-
tied. When Richard II kept Christmas at
Litchfield, he enlarged the episcopal palace.
and 1000 oxen and 200 tuns of wine were
consumed on the occasion. Ten thousand
people dined daily at the expense of the
king. Richard kept 1000 cooks, who gave
to the world the famous cookery book, The
Form of Curry, 1880 Henry VI, in 143333
kept Christmas at Bury, and was met on
Newmarket Heath by the aldermen and
live hundred tOwnsmen; and the Lord Abb
DOT OIL the famous monastery entertained
him in a manner worthy such a princely
foundation. Henry VII generally kept
Christmas in Westminster Hail. feasting
his subjects right royalty. The kings al
ways wore their crowns on these occasions.
Lavish Entertainments.
Henry VIII took a conspicuous part in the
festivities, and kept Christmas generally at
Greenwich and Richmond. Artificial gar
cens, tents, etc, were devised in the hail.
out of which came dancers or knights who
fought. The cloth of gold for one of these
cost 1000. After a few years Henry con-
tented himself with a duller Christmas, and
generally gambed good deal on the occa-
sion. In the time of Edward vi a gentle
man named Ferrers was made Lord of Mis-
rule, and was very clever in inventing plays
and interludes. The money lavished on
these entertainments was enormous; one of
his lordship's dresses cost f52, and ne had
train OF councillors. gentlemen ushers,
kept Christmas at Hampton court, but the
entertainments of the latter were much
Eayer than those OF her sister. Ben jon
son was masque writer at the court of
James. Three thousand pounds were eX-
pended upon that writer's Masque of Black
ness, performed at Whitehall in 1908.
Charles l kept Christmas like his father;
but the Puritans abolished it altogether;
and Charles II did not restore it to any
thing approaching it's former magniicence.
FavOrite Forms of Fun.
Mumming was favorite Christmas
amusement in the olden time. In Scotland
the mummers were styled guisers or quiz
ards. Mumner is the same as masker
danish mumme, or Dutch momme). This
custom was derived from the masquerades
which formed a part of the Roman Satur-
MALTA. The mystery or miracle plays are an
example of the policy of the church chang
ing the revels of the heather into church
amusements. Stowe tells US of a splendid
masquerade which, in 1877, was performed
by the citizens of London before Candlemas
for the amusement of Richard son of the
Black Prince, afterward Richard III. Twelve
aldermen and their sons visited Henry "
at Ethan as mummers. Henry VIII actu-
ally passed an act declaring mummers Ii
able to be committed to Jail vagabonds.
a sort of drama like the legend of ST.
George was generally acted by the num-
mers, i'll which st. George fought Turk.
and doctor worked a wonderful cure on
the wounded man.
Christmas Carols.
On Christmas eve, and on the morning of
Christmas day, carols Were sung, many
old specimens of which are very interest
ing. The word is probably derived from
cantare, to sing, and rola, joyous ex
clamation. Wynkyn de Worde, 1921, pub
lished a collection of carols. and many
early ones are preserved in the British Mu-
scum. Other early collections are: Ger
tayne goodly Carowles TO be sOnge to
the Glory of Cod" and again,
''Chrestenmas Carowles auctorisshed by
my Lord of London" The Puritans, of
course, denounced the singing of carols in
the same spirit as they tasted on Christ
mas day. Bishop Hall and Robert Herrick
seventeenth century, both wrote carols.
1t is a curious fact that carol-singing has
never been very prevalent in Scotland. we
will now give one or two specimens of old
AIa Tho foil Ic of 10 ms n
Henry VI:
PUER NOBIS NATUS EST DE VIRGINE MARIA.
Lystenyl lordyDgs more and less,
bryng you tydyns of gladnes
AS Gabriel beryt witness:
dlcam vobs quia.
l bryng you tydynges that fwul gowde;
Now es borne blyesful fowde
That bowt us allie upon the rode
sue morte pia.
For the trespas of Adam,
Fro We fader Jhesu no cam
Here in berthe how're kende he nam
sua mente pta.
Maybe Moder, swete virgine,
Was godnys nay no man divine,
Sche bare schild wyt wot pnye,
teste profecia,
Mari moder that Us so fire.,
Wyt herte my ide pray to the,
Fro the fende thou kepe me
tua precc pia.
Milton, in Paradise Lost thus alludes
to the first Christmas carol:
His place Of birth solemn angel tells
To simple shepherds, keeping watch by night;
They gladly thither haste, and by qure
OF sluadroned angels hear his carol sung.
The Waits and Their Duties.
Connected with carols are our old friends
tine waits. AS early as 400 there was
regular company of these MINISTRIES at Exc
ter, and Rymer gives the following ac-
count of the duties of such people: "A
wayte that nightelye from Mychelmas to
Shreve Thursdaye pipeth the watche
withen this courte flower tymes, in the
so,nere nyghteS ii times, and makeithe bon
gayle at every chambere-dore and offyce,
as well for feare of pyckeres and pliers.
He eateth in the hall with mynstrielles,
and takeithe lyverye at night loffe. a
gallone of allie. and for somere nyghtes
two candles pich, a bushel of coles; dayle
Whistle he is presente in courte for his
wages in cheque roale allowed iiiid OBJ, or