A righte Merrie Christmasse!!!
The Story of Christ-tide
By John Ashton.
Copperplate Etching of
"The Wassail Song," by
Arthur C. Behrend.
London: published by the Leadenhall
Press, Ltd., 50 Leadenhall Street;
Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent
& Co., Ltd. New York: Charles
Scribner's Sons, 153-157 Fifth Avenue.
[1894]
The Leadenhall Press Ltd. London
Transcriber's Note: This text contains passages using the Anglo-Saxon thorn (, equivalent of "th"), which should display properly in most browsers. This text also contains the Anglo-Saxon yogh (equivalent of "y," "g," or "gh"), which may not display properly in some browsers. A mouse-over pop-up transliteration has been provided for words containing a yogh, e.g., e . In addition, the text contains two instances of a single m with a macron over it, signifying a double m. This is represented here as "m[m]."
The Wassail Song
TO THE READER
I do not craue
mo thankes to haue,
than geuen to me
all ready be;
but this is all,
to such as shall
peruse this booke.
That, for my sake,
they gently take
what ere they finde
against their minde,
when he, or she,
shal minded be
therein to looke.
Tusser.
|
A righte Merrie Christmasse!!!
PREFACE
It is with a view of preserving the memory of Christmas that I have written this book.
In it the reader will find its History, Legends, Folk-lore, Customs, and Carolsin fact, an epitome of Old Christ-tide, forming a volume which, it is hoped, will be found full of interest.
JOHN ASHTON.
A righte Merrie Christmasse!!!
CONTENTS
Date of Christ's Birth discussedOpinions of the FathersThe Eastern Church and Christ-tideError in ChronologyRoman SaturnaliaScandinavian YuleDuration of Christ-tide
Historic Christ-tides in 790, 878, and 1065William I., 1066-1085William II.Henry I., 1127StephenHenry II., 1158-1171Richard I., 1190John, 1200Henry III., 1253Edwards I., II., and III.Richard II., 1377-1398Henry IV.-V., 1418Henry VIII., his magnificent Christ-tides
Historic Christ-tidesEdward VI., 1551MaryElizabethJames I.The PuritansThe Pilgrim FathersChristmas's LamentationChrist-tide in the Navy, 1625
Attempts of Puritans to put down Christ-tideAttitude of the peoplePreaching before Parliament"The arraignment, etc., of Christmas"
The popular love of ChristmasRiots at Ealing and CanterburyEvelyn's Christmas days, 1652, '3, '4, '5, '7, Cromwell and Christ-tideThe RestorationPepys and Christmas day, 1662"The Examination and Tryal of old Father Christmas"
Commencement of Christ-tide"O Sapientia!"St. Thomas's dayWilliam the Conqueror and the City of YorkProviding for Christmas fareCharities of foodBull-baitingChrist-tide charitiesGoing "a-Thomassing," etc.Superstitions of the day
Paddington Charity (Bread and Cheese Lands)Barring-out at SchoolsInteresting narrative
The BellmanDescriptions of himHis verses. The WaitsTheir originNed Ward on themCorporation WaitsYork Waits (17th century)Essay on WaitsWestminster WaitsModern Waits
Christ-tide CarolsThe days of YuleA Carol for Christ-tide"Lullaby"The Cherry-tree CarolDives and Lazarus
Christmas EveHerrick thereonThe Yule LogFolk-lore thereonThe Ashen FaggotChristmas CandlesChristmas Eve in the Isle of ManHunting the WrenDivination by Onions and SageA Custom at Aston"The Mock"Decorations and Kissing Bunch"Black Ball"Guisers and WaitsAle Posset
Christmas Eve in North NottsWassailing the Fruit TreesWassail SongsWassailing in SussexOther CustomsKing at Downside CollegeChrist-tide CarolMidnight MassThe MangerSt. Francis of Assisi
Decorating with EvergreensIts Origin and AntiquityMistletoe in ChurchesThe permissible EvergreensThe Holly"Holly and Ivy""Here comes Holly""Ivy, chief of Trees""The Contest of the Ivy and the Holly"Holly Folk-loreChurch DecorationsTo be kept up till Candlemas day
Legends of the NativityThe AngelsThe BirthThe CradlesThe Ox and AssLegends of AnimalsThe Carol of St. StephenChristmas WolvesDancing for a Twelve-monthsUnderground BellsThe Fiddler and the Devil
The Glastonbury Thorn, its LegendCuttings from itOaks coming into leaf on Christmas dayFolk-loreForecast, according to the days of the week on which Christmas fallsOther Folk-lore thereon
Withholding Light"Wesley Bob"Wassail CarolPresents in ChurchMorris Dancers"First Foot"Red-haired MenLamprey Pie"Hodening"Its Possible OriginThe "Mari Lhoyd"
Curious Gambling Customs in ChurchBoon grantedSheaf of Corn for the BirdsCrowning of the Cock"The Lord Mayor of Pennyless Cove""Letting in Yule"GuisardsChristmas in the HighlandsChristmas in ShetlandChristmas in Ireland
Ordinance against out-door RevelryMarriage of a Lord of MisruleMummers and MummingCountry MummersEarly PlayTwo modern Plays
A Christmas jestBen Jonson's Masque of ChristmasMilton's Masque of ComusQueen Elizabeth and the Masters of Defence
The Lord of MisruleThe "Emperor" and "King" at OxfordDignity of the OfficeIts abolition in the City of LondonThe functions of a Lord of MisruleChristmas at the TempleA grand Christmas there
A riotous Lord of Misrule at the TempleStubbes on Lords of MisruleThe Bishops dittoMumming at Norwich 1440Dancing at the Inns of CourtDancing at ChristmasThe Cushion Dance
Honey FairsCard-playing at ChristmasThrowing the HoodEarly Religious PlaysMoralitiesStory of a Gray's Inn PlayThe first PantomimeSpectacular dramaGeorge BarnwellStory respecting this Play
Profusion of Food at Christ-tideOld English FareHospitalityProclamations for People to spend Christ-tide at their Country PlacesRoast BeefBoar's HeadBoar's Head CarolCustom at Queen's College, Oxon.BrawnChristmas PieGoose PiePlum PuddingPlum PorridgeAnecdotes of Plum PuddingLarge oneMince PiesHackinFolk-loreGifts at Christ-tideYule DoughsCop-a-loafSnap-dragon
The First CarolAnglo-Norman CarolFifteenth-Century Carol"The Twelve Good Joys of Mary"Other Carols"A Virgin most Pure"Carol of Fifteenth Century"A Christenmesse Carroll"
Christmas Gifts forbidden in the City of LondonCharles II. and Christmas GiftsChristmas TreeAsiatic DescentScandinavian DescentCandles on the TreeEarly Notices of in EnglandSanta ClausKrishkinkleCurious Tenures of Land at Christmas
Christ-tide LiteratureChristmas CardsTheir OriginLamplighter's VersesWatchman's VersesChristmas Pieces
Carol for St. Stephen's DayBoxing DayOrigin of CustomEarly examplesThe BoxBleeding HorsesFestivity on this DayCharity at BamptonHunting the Wren in IrelandSong of the Wren Boys
St. John's DayLegend of the SaintCarols for the DayHoly InnocentsWhipping ChildrenBoy BishopsCeremonies connected therewithThe King of Cockney's Unlucky DayAnecdote thereonCarol for the Day
