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Lords daunced on the one Part with the Mummers, who did also dance; which Jollity being ended, they were again made to drink, and then departed in Order as they came.

The like he says was to Henry the 4th-in the 2d Year of his Reign, he then keeping his Christmass at Eltham, twelve Aldermen of London, and their Sonnes, rode in a Mumming, and had great Thanks.

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We reade in Fabian's Chronicle, Temp. Henry 4th: "In whiche passe Tyme the Dukys of Amnarle,

of Surrey, and of Exetyr, with the Earlys of Sa"lesbury, and of Gloucetyr, with other of their Affynyte made Provysyon for a Dysguysynge, or a Mummynge, to be shewyd to the Kynge upon "twelfethe Nyght, and the Tyme was nere, at "Hande, and all Thynge redy for the same. Upon "the sayd twelfethe Day, came secretlye unto the

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Kynge, the Duke of Amnarle, and shewyd to ર hym, that he wyth the other Lordys aforenamed, were appointyd to sle hym in the Time of the "fore sayd Dysguysynge, &c." Fol. 169.

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*

This Mumming had like to have proved a very serious Jest!

Mr.

**Mummer signifies a Masker; one disguised under a Vizard; from the Danish Numme, or Dutch Homme. Lipsius tells us, in his 44th Epistle, Book III. " that Momar, which is used by the "Sicilians for a Fool, signifies in French, and in our Language, a "Person with a Mask on." See Lye's Junii Etymolog. in verbo.

The very ingenious Scotch Writer, Buchanan, presented to the unfortunate Mary Queen of Scots the following singular Kind of

New

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Mr. Bourne seems to "carry Coals to Newcastle, when he attempts to prove that it is no Way sinful to wish each other a good New Year. That Person carried his Scruples methinks very far, who first doubted concerning the Lawfulness of this Ceremony. If the Benevolent can thus hardly be saved, how shall the Malicious and the Envious appear?

New years Gift. History is silent concerning the Manner in which her Majesty received it.

Ad Mariam Scotia Reginam:

Do quod adest: opto quod abest tibi, dona darentur
Aurea, Sors animo si foret æqua meo.

Hoc leve si credis, paribus me ulciscere donis:
Et quod abest, opta tu mihi: da quod adest.

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CHAP. XVII.

Of the Twelfth Day, how observed: The Wickedness, of observing the Twelve Days after the common Way.

ON the Epiphany, or Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, commonly called the TwelfthDay, the Eastern Magi were guided by the Star, to pay their Homage to their Saviour; and because they came that Day, which is the Twelfth after the Day of the Nativity, it is therefore called the Twelfth-Day.

The Twelfth Day itself is one of the greatest of the Twelve, and of more jovial Observation than the others, for the visiting of Friends and Christmas-Gambols. The Rites of this Day are different in divers Places, tho' the End of them is much the same in all; namely, to do Honour to the Memory of the Eastern Magi, whom they suppose to have been kings. In* France, one of the Courtiers is chosen King, whom the King himself, and the other Nobles, attend at an

* In Gallia unus ex ministris, &c.-Idem in Germania, &c. Hospin. in Epiphan.

Enter

Entertainment. In Germany, they observe the same Thing on this Day in Academies and Cities, where the Students and Citizens create one of themselves King, and provide a Magnificent Banquet for him, and give him the Attendance of a King, or a stranger Guest. Now this is answerable to that Custom of the Saturnalia, of Masters making Banquets for their Servants, and waiting on them; and no doubt this Custom has in Part sprung from that.

Not many Years ago, this was a common Christmas Gambol in both our Universities; and it is still usual in other Places of our Land, to give the Name of King or Queen to that Person, whose extraordinary Luck hits upon that Part of the divided Cake, which is honour'd above the others, with a Bean in it.

But tho' this be generally the greatest of the Twelve, yet the others preceding are observed with Mirth and Jollity, generally to Excess. Was this Feasting confined within the Bounds of Decency and Moderation, and gave more Way than it does to the Exercises and the Religious Duties of the Season, it would have nothing in it immoral or sinful. The keeping up of Friendship, and Love, and old Acquaintance, has nothing in it harmful; but the Mis

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fortune is, Men upon that Bottom, act rather like Brutes than Men, and like Heathens than Christians; and the Preservation of Friendship and Love, is nothing else but a Pretence for Drunkenness, and Rioting, and Wantonness. And such I am afraid hath been the Observation of the Christmas Holy-days, since the holiest Times of the Christian Church; and the Generality of Men have rather look'd upon them, as a* Time of Eating and Drinking, and Playing, than of returning Praises and Thanksgivings to GOD, for the greatest Benefit he ever bestow'd upon the Sons of Men.

Gregory Nazianzen, in that excellent Oration of his upon Christmas-Day, says, Let us not celebrate the Feast after an Earthly, but an Heavenly Manner; let not our Doors be crown'd; let not Dancing be encourag'd; let not the Cross-paths be adorned, the Eyes fed, nor the Ears delighted, &c. . Let us not Feast to excess, nor be Drunk with Wine, &c. From this we may clearly see, what has been the Custom in these Days. And in all Probability it has been much the same among us, from the

* Vide Bishop Blackall's Sermon on the Lawfulness and the right Manner of keeping Christmas and other Christian Festivals. Beginning

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