Christmas: Its Origin and Associations / Together with Its Historical Events and Festive Celebrations During Nineteen Centuries

You go into the Duomo late on Christmas Eve, and find the time-stained alabasters and dark aisles lit up with five hundreds of wax candles over seven feet high. The massive silver lamps suspended across the choir have the inner lamps all ablaze, as is also the graceful Byzantine chandelier in the centre of the nave that glitters like a cluster of stars from dozens of tiny glass cups with wick and oil within. In the solemn and mysterious gloom you pass figures of men and women kneeling in devotion before the many shrines. Some are accompanied by well-behaved and discreet dogs, who sit patiently waiting till their owners' prayer shall be over; whilst others less well trained, run about from group to group to smell out their friends or growl at foes. You slowly work your way through the throng to the high altar. That unique reredos, brought from Constantinople in early times—the magnificent "Pala d'Ora," an enamelled work wrought on plates of gold and silver, and studded with precious stones—is unveiled, and the front of the altar has a rich frontispiece of the thirteenth century, which is of silver washed with gold, and embossed figures. Numbers of ponderous candles throw a glimmer over the treasures with which St. Mark's is so richly endowed, that are profusely displayed on the altar. Bishops, canons and priests in full dress are standing and kneeling, and the handsome and much-beloved Patriarch of Venice officiates, in dress of gorgeous scarlet and cream-coloured old lace, and heavy-brocaded cope, that is afterwards exchanged for one of ermine, and flashing rings and jewelled cross. There is no music, but a deep quiet pervades the dim golden domes overhead and the faintly-lighted transepts. Stray rays of light catch the smooth surface of the mosaics, which throw off sparkles of brightness and cast deeper shadows beyond the uncertain radiance. After the midnight mass is celebrated you pass out with the stream of people into the cold, frosty night, with only the bright stars to guide you through the silent alleys to your rooms, where you wish each other "A Merry Christmas!" and retire to sleep, and to dream of the old home in England.—Queen.

An English writer who spent a Christmas in Naples a few years ago, says:—

In the south Christmas is bright and gay, and in truth noisy. The festa natalizie, as it is called in Naples, is celebrated by fairs and bonfires and fireworks. In the Toledo, that famous street known to all the world, booths are erected beside the shops, flaming in colour, and filled with all sorts of tempting wares. Throughout Christmas Eve an immense crowd of men, women, and children throng this street, nearly a mile in length. The vendors shriek at the top of their voice, praising themselves and their goods, and then, with merry peals of laughter, exhibit with Neapolitan drollery all the arts of their trade. The crowd catch the contagious spirit of fun, and toss witticisms to and fro, until the welkin rings with shouts and laughter. A revolution in Paris could not create greater excitement, or greater noise, than the Christmas fair at Naples, the largest, and certainly the merriest, in the world. As night draws on the mirth grows uproarious; improvisations abound. Pulcinello attracts laughing crowds. The bagpipes strike with their ear-piercing sounds, and arise shrill above universal din. Fireworks are let off at every street corner, flaming torches carried in procession parade the streets; rockets rise in the air, coloured lamps are hung over doorways, and in the midst of the blaze of light the church bells announce the midnight Mass, and the crowd leave the fair and the streets, and on bended knee are worshipping.

Spain in winter must be divided into Spain the frigid and Spain the semi-tropic; for while snow lies a foot deep at Christmas in the north, in the south the sun is shining brightly, and flowers of spring are peeping out, and a nosegay of heliotrope and open-air geraniums is the Christmas-holly and mistletoe of Andalusia. There is no chill in the air, there is no frost on the window-pane.

When Christmas Eve comes the two days' holiday commences. At twelve the labourers leave their work, repair home, and dress in their best. Then the shops are all ablaze with lights, ribbons and streamers, with tempting fare of sweets and sausages, with red and yellow serge to make warm petticoats; with cymbals, drums, and zambombas. The chief sweetmeats, peculiar to Christmas, and bought alike by rich and poor, are the various kinds of preserved fruits, incrusted with sugar, and the famous turrni. This last, which is of four kinds, and may be called in English phraseology, "almond rock," is brought to your door, and buy it you must. A coarse kind is sold to the poor at a cheap rate. Other comestibles, peculiar to Christmas, are almond soup, truffled turkey, roasted chestnuts, and nuts of every sort.

Before the Noche-buena, or Christmas Eve, however, one or two good deeds have been done by the civil and military authorities. On the twenty-third or twenty-fourth the custom is for the military governor to visit all the soldier prisoners, in company with their respective defensores, or advocates; and, de officio, there and then, he liberates all who are in gaol for light offences. This plan is also pursued in the civil prisons; and thus a beautiful custom is kept up in classic, romantic, Old-world Spain, and a ray of hope enters into and illuminates even the bitter darkness of a Spanish prisoners' den.

It is Christmas Eve. The poor man has his relations round him, over his humble puchero (stew): the rich man likewise. Friends have not come, "for it is not the custom." In Spain only blood relations eat and drink in the house as invited guests. Families meet as in England. Two per cent. of the soldiers get a fortnight's leave of absence and a free pass; and there is joy in peasant homes over peasant charcoal pans. The dusky shades of evening are stealing over olive grove and withering vineyard, and every house lights up its tiny oil lamp, and every image of the Virgin is illuminated with a taper. In Eija, near Cordova, an image or portrait of the Virgin and the Babe new-born, hangs in well-nigh every room in every house. And why? Because the beautiful belief is rooted in those simple minds, that, on Christmas Eve, ere the clock strikes twelve, the Virgin, bringing blessings in her train, visits every house where she can find an image or portrait of her Son. And many a girl kneels down in robes of white before her humble portrait of the Babe and prays; and hears a rustle in the room, and thinks, "the Virgin comes: she brings me my Christmas Eve blessing;" and turns, and lo! it is her mother, and the Virgin's blessing is the mother's kiss!

In Northern Andalusia you have the zambomba, a flower-pot perforated by a hollow reed, which, wetted and rubbed with the finger, gives out a hollow, scraping, monotonous sound. In Southern Andalusia the panderita, or tambourine, is the chief instrument. It is wreathed with gaudy ribbons, and decked with bells, and beaten, shaken, and tossed in the air with graceful abandon to the strains of the Christmas hymn:

Or, perhaps, the Church chant is sung, called "The child of God was born."

Then also men click the castanet in wine-shop and cottage; and in such old-world towns as Eija, where no railway has penetrated, a breast-plate of eccentrically strung bones—slung round the neck and played with sticks—is still seen and heard.

The turkeys have been slaughtered and are smoking on the fire. The night is drawing on and now the meal is over. Twelve o'clock strikes, and in one moment every bell from every belfrey clangs out its summons. Poltroon were he who had gone to bed before twelve on Noche-buena. From every house the inmates hurry to the gaily-lit church and throng its aisles, a dark-robed crowd of worshippers. The organ peals out, the priests and choir chant at this midnight hour the Christmas hymn, and at last (in some out-of-the-way towns) the priests, in gaudiest robes, bring out from under the altar and expose aloft to the crowds, in swaddling-clothes of gold and white, the Babe new-born, and all fall down and cross themselves in mute adoration. This service is universal, and is called the "Misa del Gallo," or Cock-crow Mass, and even in Madrid it is customary to attend it. There are three masses also on Christmas Day, and the Church rule, strictly observed, is that if a man fail to attend this Midnight Mass he must, to save his religious character, attend all three on Christmas Day. In antique towns, like Eija, there are two days' early mass (called "Misa di Luz") anterior to the "Misa del Gallo," at 4 a.m., and in the raw morning the churches are thronged with rich and poor. In that strange, old-world town, also, the chief dame goes to the Midnight Mass, all her men-servants in procession before her, each playing a different instrument.

Christmas Eve is over. It is 1.30 a.m. on Christmas morning, and the crowds, orderly, devout, cheerful, are wending their way home. Then all is hushed; all have sought repose; there are no drunken riots; the dark streets are lit by the tiny oil lamps; the watchman's monotonous cry alone is heard, "Ave Maria purissima; las dos; y sereno."

The three masses at the churches on Christmas Day are all chanted to joyous music. Then the poor come in to pay their rent of turkeys, pigs, olives, or what not, to their landlord, and he gives them a Christmas-box: such as a piece of salt fish, or money, or what may be. Then, when you enter your house, you will find on your table, with the heading, "A Happy Christmas," a book of little leaflets, printed with verses. These are the petitions of the postman, scavenger, telegraph man, newsboy, &c., asking you for a Christmas-box. Poor fellows! they get little enough, and a couple of francs is well bestowed on them once a year. After mid-day breakfast or luncheon is over, rich and poor walk out and take the air, and a gaudy, pompous crowd they form as a rule. As regards presents at Christmas, the rule is, in primitive Spain, to send a present to the Cura (parish priest) and the doctor. Many Spaniards pay a fixed annual sum to their medical man, and he attends all the family, including servants. His salary is sent to him at Christmas, with the addition of a turkey, or a cake, or some fine sweetmeats.

On Christmas Eve the provincial hospitals present one of their most striking aspects to the visitor. It is a feast-day, and instead of the usual stew, the soup called caldo—and very weak stuff it is—or the stir-about and fried bread, the sick have their good sound meats, cooked in savoury and most approved fashion, their tumbler of wine, their extra cigar. Visitors, kindly Spanish ladies, come in, their hands laden with sweets and tobacco, &c., and the sight of the black silk dresses trailing over the lowly hospital couches is most human and pathetic. At last night—the veritable Christmas Eve comes. The chapels in these hospitals are generally on the ground floor, and frequently sunk some feet below it, but open to the hospital; so that the poor inmates who can leave their beds can hobble to the railing and look down into the chapel—one mass of dazzling lights, glitter, colour, and music: and thus, without the fatigue of descending the stairs, can join in the service. At half-past eleven at night the chapel is gaily lit up; carriage after carriage, mule-cart after mule-cart rattles up to the hospital door, discharging crowds of ladies and gentlemen in evening dress; thus the common people, chiefly the young, with their tambourines and zambombas, pour into the chapel from Campo, and alley, and street, and soon the chapel is filled; while above, sitting, hobbling, lying all round the rails, and gazing down upon the motley and noisy throng below, are the inmates of the hospital. The priest begins the Midnight Mass, and the organs take up the service, the whole of which, for one hour, is chanted. Meanwhile, the tambourines and other musical instruments are busy, and join in the strains of the organ; and the din, glitter, and excitement are most exhilarating. And thus the occupants of the Spanish provincial hospitals join in the festivities of Christmastide, as seen by one who has dwelt "Among the Spanish People."

A writer who knows the manners and habits of the people of Norway, and their customs at Christmastide, says:—

At Christiania, and other Norwegian towns, there is, or used to be, a delicate Christmas custom of offering to a lady a brooch or a pair of earings in a truss of hay. The house-door of the person to be complimented is pushed open, and there is thrown into the house a truss of hay or straw, a sheaf of corn, or a bag of chaff. In some part of this "bottle of hay" envelope, there is a "needle" as a present to be hunted for. A friend of mine once received from her betrothed, according to the Christmas custom, an exceedingly large brown paper parcel, which, on being opened, revealed a second parcel with a loving motto on the cover. And so on, parcel within parcel, motto within motto, till the kernel of this paper husk—which was at length discovered to be a delicate piece of minute jewellery—was arrived at.

One of the prettiest of Christmas customs is the Norwegian practice of giving, on Christmas Day, a dinner to the birds. On Christmas morning every gable, gateway, or barn-door, is decorated with a sheaf of corn fixed on the top of a tall pole, wherefrom it is intended that the birds should make their Christmas dinner. Even the peasants contrive to have a handful set by for this purpose, and what the birds do not eat on Christmas Day, remains for them to finish at their leisure during the winter.

On New Year's Day in Norway, friends and acquaintances exchange calls and good wishes. In the corner of each reception-room is placed a little table, furnished all through the day with wine and cakes for the refreshment of the visitors; who talk, and compliment, and flirt, and sip wine, and nibble cake from house to house, with great perseverance.

Between Christmas and Twelfth Day mummers are in season. They are called "Julebukker," or Christmas goblins. They invariably appear after dark, and in masks and fancy dresses. A host may therefore have to entertain in the course of the season, a Punch, Mephistopheles, Charlemagne, Number, Nip, Gustavus, Oberon, and whole companies of other fanciful and historic characters; but, as their antics are performed in silence, they are not particularly cheerful company.

With Christmas Eve begins the festive season known in Russia as Svyatki or Svyatuie Vechera (Holy Evenings), which lasts till the Epiphany. The numerous sportive ceremonies which are associated with it resemble, in many respects, those with which we are familiar, but they are rendered specially interesting and valuable by the relics of the past which they have been the means of preserving—the fragments of ritual song which refer to the ancient paganism of the land, the time-honoured customs which originally belonged to the feasts with which the heathen Slavs greeted each year the return of the sun. On Christmas Eve commences the singing of the songs called Kolyadki, a word, generally supposed to be akin to Kalendæ, though reference is made in some of them to a mysterious being, apparently a solar goddess, named Kolyada. "Kolyada, Kolyada! Kolyada has come. We wandered about, we sought holy Kolyada in all the courtyards," commences one of these old songs, for many a year, no doubt, solemnly sung by the young people who used in olden times to escort from homestead to homestead a sledge in which sat a girl dressed in white, who represented the benignant goddess. Nowadays these songs have in many places fallen into disuse, or are kept up only by the children who go from house to house, to congratulate the inhabitants on the arrival of Christmas, and to wish them a prosperous New Year. In every home, says one of these archaic poems, are three inner chambers. In one is the bright moon, in another the red sun, in a third many stars. The bright moon—that is the master of the house; the red sun—that is the housewife; the many stars—they are the little children.

The Russian Church sternly sets its face against the old customs with which the Christmas season was associated, denouncing the "fiendish songs," and "devilish games," the "graceless talk," the "nocturnal gambols," and the various kinds of divination in which the faithful persisted in indulging. But, although repressed, they were not to be destroyed, and at various seasons of the year, but especially those of the summer and winter solstice, the "orthodox," in spite of their pastors, made merry with old heathenish sports, and, after listening to Christian psalms in church, went home and sang songs framed by their ancestors in honour of heathen divinities. Thus century after century went by, and the fortunes of Russia underwent great changes. But still in the villages were the old customs kept up, and when Christmas Day came round it was greeted by survivals of the ceremonies with which the ancient Slavs hailed the returning sun god, who caused the days to lengthen, and filled the minds of men with hopes of a new year rich in fruits and grain. One of the customs to which the Church most strongly objected was that of mumming. As in other lands, so in Russia it was customary for mummers to go about at Christmastide, visiting various homes in which the festivities of the season were being kept up, and there dancing, and performing all kinds of antics. Prominent parts were always played by human representatives of a goat and a bear. Some of the party would be disguised as "Lazaruses," that is, as the blind beggars who bear that name, and whose plaintive strains have resounded all over Russia from the earliest times to the present day. The rest disguised themselves as they best could, a certain number of them being generally supposed to play the part of thieves desirous to break in and steal. When, after a time, they were admitted into the room where the Christmas guests were assembled, the goat and the bear would dance a merry round together, the Lazaruses would sing their "dumps so dull and heavy," and the rest of the performers would exert themselves to produce exhilaration. Even among the upper classes it was long the custom at this time of year for the young people to dress up and visit their neighbours in disguise. Thus in Count Tolstoy's "Peace and War," a novel which aims at giving a true account of the Russia of the early part of the present century, there is a charming description of a visit of this kind paid by the younger members of one family to another. On a bright frosty night the sledges are suddenly ordered, and the young people dress up, and away they drive across the crackling snow to a country house six miles off, all the actors creating a great sensation, but especially the fair maiden Sonya, who proves irresistible when clad in her cousin's hussar uniform and adorned with an elegant moustache. Such mummers as these would lay aside their disguises with a light conscience, but the peasant was apt to feel a depressing qualm when the sports were over; and it is said that, even at the present day, there are rustics who do not venture to go to church, after having taken part in a mumming, until they have washed off their guilt by immersing themselves in the benumbing waters of an ice-hole.

Next to the mumming, what the Church most objected to was the divination always practised at Christmas festivals. With one of its forms a number of songs have been associated, termed podblyudnuiya, as connected with a blyudo, a dish or bowl. Into some vessel of this kind the young people drop tokens. A cloth is then thrown over it, and the various objects are drawn out, one after another, to the sound of songs, from the tenor of which the owners deduce omens relative to their future happiness. As bread and salt are also thrown into the bowl, the ceremony may be supposed to have originally partaken of the nature of a sacrifice. After these songs are over ought to come the game known as the "burial of the gold." The last ring remaining in the prophetic bowl is taken out by one of the girls, who keeps it concealed in her hand. The others sit in a circle, resting their hands on their knees. She walks slowly round, while the first four lines are sung in chorus of the song beginning, "See here, gold I bury, I bury." Then she slips the ring into one of their hands, from which it is rapidly passed on to another, the song being continued the while. When it comes to an end the "gold burier" must try to guess in whose hand the ring is concealed. This game is a poetical form of our "hunt the slipper." Like many other Slavonic customs it is by some archæologists traced home to Greece. By certain mythologists the "gold" is supposed to be an emblem of the sun, long hidden by envious wintry clouds, but at this time of year beginning to prolong the hours of daylight. To the sun really refer, in all probability, the bonfires with which Christmastide, as well as the New Year and Midsummer is greeted in Russia. In the Ukraine the sweepings from a cottage are carefully preserved from Christmas Day to New Year's Day, and are then burnt in a garden at sunrise. Among some of the Slavs, such as the Servians, Croatians, and Dalmatians, a badnyak, or piece of wood answering to the northern Yule-log, is solemnly burnt on Christmas Eve. But the significance originally attached to these practices has long been forgotten. Thus the grave attempts of olden times to search the secrets of futurity have degenerated into the sportive guesses of young people, who half believe that they may learn from omens at Christmas time what manner of marriages are in store for them. Divinings of this kind are known to all lands, and bear a strong family likeness; but it is, of course, only in a cold country that a spinster can find an opportunity of sitting beside a hole cut in the surface of a frozen river, listening to prophetic sounds proceeding from beneath the ice, and possibly seeing the image of the husband who she is to marry within the year trembling in the freezing water. Throughout the whole period of the Svyatki, the idea of marriage probably keeps possession of the minds of many Russian maidens, and on the eve of the Epiphany, the feast with which those Christmas holidays come to an end, it is still said to be the custom for the village girls to go out into the open air and to beseech the "stars, stars, dear little stars," to be so benignant as to

W. R. S. Ralston, in Notes and Queries, Dec. 21, 1878.

"A certain young man about town" (says Chambers's Journal, December 25, 1869), "once forsook the sweet shady side of Pall Mall for the sake of smoking his cigar in savage Africa; but when Christmas came, he was seized with a desire to spend it in Christian company, and this is how he did spend it: 'We English once possessed the Senegal; and there, every Christmas Eve, the Feast of Lanterns used to be held. The native women picked up the words and airs of the carols; the custom had descended to the Gambia, and even to the Casemanche, where it is still preserved. A few minutes after I had ridden up, sounds of music were heard, and a crowd of blacks came to the door, carrying the model of a ship made of paper, and illuminated within; and hollowed pumpkins also lighted up for the occasion. Then they sang some of our dear old Christmas carols, and among others, one which I had heard years ago on Christmas Eve at Oxford:

You can imagine with what feelings I listened to those simple words, sung by negresses who knew not a phrase of English besides. You can imagine what recollections they called up, as I sat under an African sky, the palm-trees rustling above my head, and the crocodiles moaning in the river beyond. I thought of the snow lying thick upon the ground; of the keen, clear, frosty air. I thought of the ruddy fire which would be blazing in a room I knew; and of those young faces which would be beaming still more brightly by its side; I thought of—oh, of a hundred things, which I can laugh at now, because I am in England, but which, in Africa, made me more wretched than I can well express.'

"Next day, sadness and sentiment gave way, for a while at least, to more prosaical feelings. When Mr. Reade sat down to his Christmas dinner, he must have wished, with Macbeth, 'May good digestion wait on appetite,' as he contemplated the fare awaiting discussion, and to which a boar's head grinned a welcome. Snails from France, oysters torn from trees, gazelle cutlets, stewed iguana, smoked elephant, fried locusts, manati-breasts, hippopotamus steaks, boiled alligator, roasted crocodile eggs, monkeys on toast, land crabs and Africa soles, carp, and mullet—detestable in themselves, but triumphant proof of the skill of the cook—furnished forth the festival-table, in company with potatoes, plantains, pine-apples, oranges, papaws, bananas, and various fruits rejoicing in extraordinary shapes, long native names, and very nasty flavours; and last, but not least, palm-cabbage stewed in white sauce, 'the ambrosia of the gods,' and a bottle of good Bordeaux at every's man's elbow. When evening came, Mr. Reade and a special friend sought the river: 'The rosy wine had rouged our yellow cheeks, and we lay back on the cushions, and watched the setting sun with languid, half-closed eyes. Four men, who might have served as models to Appelles, bent slowly to their stroke, and murmured forth a sweet and plaintive song. Their oars, obedient to their voice, rippled the still water, and dropped from their blades pearls, which the sun made rubies with its rays. Two beautiful girls, who sat before us in the bow, raised their rounded arms and tinkled their bracelets in the air. Then, gliding into the water, they brought us flowers from beneath the dark bushes, and kissed the hands which took them, with wet and laughing lips. Like a dark curtain, the warm night fell upon us; strange cries roused from the forest; beasts of the waters plunged around us, and my honest friend's hand pressed mine. And Christmas Day was over. We might seek long for a stranger contrast to an Englishman's Christmas at home, although—to adapt some seasonable lines—

simeon received the child jesus into his arms, and blessed god

Luke 11 25-32

CHAPTER XIII

CONCLUDING CAROL SERVICE OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.

Now, returning from the celebrations of Christmas in distant parts of the world, we conclude our historic account of the great Christian festival by recording the pleasure with which we attended the

at a fine old English cathedral—the recently restored and beautiful cathedral at Lichfield, whose triple spires are seen and well known by travellers on the Trent valley portion of the London and North Western main line of railway which links London with the North.

Christmas carols have been sung at Lichfield from long before the time of "the mighty Offa," King of the Mercians, in whose days and by whose influence Lichfield became for a time an archiepiscopal see, being elevated to that dignity by Pope Adrian, in 785. And, in the seventeenth century, the Deanery of Lichfield was conferred upon the Rev. Griffin Higgs, the writer of the events connected with the exhibition of "The Christmas Prince" at St. John's College, Oxford, in 1607, whose authentic account of these interesting historical events will be found in an earlier chapter of this work.

The Christmas carols at Lichfield Cathedral, sung by the full choir at the special evening service on St. Stephen's Day (December 26th), have, for many years, attracted large and appreciative congregations, and the last of these celebrations in the nineteenth century (on December 26, 1900) was well sustained by the singers and attended by many hundreds of citizens and visitors. Eight Christmas Carols and an anthem were sung, the concluding Carol being "The First Nowell"; and the organist (Mr. J. B. Lott, Mus. Bac., Oxon) played the Pastoral Symphony from Sullivan's "Light of the World," Mendelssohn's March ("Cornelius"), the Pastoral Symphony from Handel's "Messiah," and other exquisite voluntaries. From the anthem, E. H. Sears's beautiful verses beginning

set to Stainer's music and well sung, we quote the concluding predictive stanza:

INDEX

• A
•  
• Abbot of Misrule, 95 (see also Lord of Misrule)
• Abbot of Westminster, 80
• Abdication of Richard Cromwell, 213
• Abingdon, 51, 208
• Aboard the Sunbeam, 307
• Abolition of Christmas celebration attempted, 206
• Abraham, 29
• Abyssinia, 298
• "Adam Bell," 195
• Adam's Noël, 319
• Adams, Herbert H., 227, 249
• Addison, 227
• Adeste Fideles, 323
• Adieu les Rois, 320
• Adrian, Pope, 350
• Advent of Christ, the, 0055;
  • season of the, 11;
  • date of the, 14
• Advertisement, curious, 232
• "Aerra Geola" (December), 28
• Africa, 345
• Africa, South, 299
• Agincourt, 81
• Agrippina, wife of Claudius, 24
• Aidan, Columbian Monk, 27
• Ajaccio, 322
• Alban, St., 20
• Albert, Prince Consort, 261
• Albemarle, Lady, 241
• Aldrich, Commander Pelham, 308
• Ale, 26, 55, 57, 231, 251, 258, 259
• Alexander, King of the Scots, 64
• Alexander Severus, 29
• Alexandria, 54
• Alfred the Great, King, 36
• All Hallowtide, 73, 131
• Almaine accoutrements, 120
• "Almes" at Christmas, 148, 257-8
• Almoner, Lord High, 260
• Alsatians, 319
• Alwyn, Walter, 95
• Amadas, Rob, 100
• Ambassadors, foreign, 152
• Ambleteuse, Brittany, 220
• Ambrose, St., 21
• America, 309-316
• Amours of Henry VIII., 106
• Amusements, 33, 153, 195, 246-9
• Ancaster Heath, 153
• Andalusia, 339
• Andrew, St., 283
• Andrewes, Bishop, 193
• Andromeda tetragona, 295
• Angel, the, appears unto Joseph, 5;
  • unto the shepherds, 7
• Angels' Song, 10, 11
• Anger, 13
• "Angleesh blom-bodding," 319
• Angles, King of the, 34
• Anglo-Norman language, 57
• Anglo-Saxon Kings, 29
• Anglo-Saxons, 25, 28
• Angouleme, Duchess, 317
• Angus, Scotland, 242
• Anjou wine, 57
• Annan, Dumfriesshire, 71
• Anne, daughter of Frederick III., King of Denmark, 197
• Anne, Queen, 226
• Anne, wife of Richard III., 93
• Annunciation, the, 13, 15
• Anointing cattle, 325
• Anselm, Archbishop, 49
• Antioch, 59;
  • the church at, 11;
  • Prince of, 52
• Antiochus Epiphanes, 17
• Antipodes, 303
• Ara Cœli, Church of, 328
• "Archæologia," 200
• Archbishops' Quarrel, 48
• Archduchess Marie Valerie, 335
• Arctic regions, 294-6
• Aristophanes, 286
• Armenian Church, the, 11
• Armour under robes, 118
• Arnot, S., 284
• "Arraignment of Christmas," the, 209
• Artaki Bay, 307
• Arthur, King, and his Knights, 30, 67, 195
• Arthur, Prince of Wales, 99
• Arundel, Earl of, 190, 193, 194
• Astley, Sir John, 201
• Aston, near Birmingham, 243
• Athelney, 36
• Attainder, 222
• Attire, magnificent, 99
• Attorney-General, 199
• Aubrey, 142, 201, 243
• Audley, Lord, 82
• Augusta, Princess, 241
• Augustine, St., 26, 28
• Australia, 303
• Austria, 288, 335
• Austria, Archduke of, 35;
  • Duke of, 58

• B
•  
• "Babe Cake," 273
• Babingley, 263
• Babylon, 54, 59
• Bacchanalia, 13, 15, 19
• Bacchus, 19
• Bacon, Lord, 93, 94, 152
• Baden, Marquis of, 139
• Bagpipes, 220
• Baker, Chronicler, 105
• Balancing, feats of, 229
• Balliol, Edward, 71
• Balls, 249, 250, 309
• Baltimore, Lord, 314
• Banks Island reindeer, 294
• Banquetings, 31, 88, 126, 146-9, 219, 220, 232
• Banqueting-night ceremonies, 135
• Barabrith, 281
• Barbadoes, 288
• Barclay Alexander, 104
• Barne, Sir George, 117
• "Baron of Beef," 273
• "Baron's Yule Feast," 266
• Barons, 55, 60
• Barriers, at, 189
• Barristers singing and dancing, 137
• Barrow, Isaac, 204
• Barry, Sir Charles, 46
• Barthe, Master George, 88
• "Batt upon Batt," 221
• Bay of Mercy, 294
• Beamonde, Lord of, 70
• Bear-baiting, 119, 229
• Beatrice, Princess, 262
• Beaufitz, John, 93
• Beaumont, 152
• Beauties, Court, 99
• Becket, St. Thomas, 52
• Bedchambers, fifteenth century, 88
• Bede, the Venerable, 24
• Bedford, 64
• Bellman, the, 224
• Bells, Christmas, 270, 271
• Belshazzar, 78
• Belton, Mr., 219
• Belvoir Castle, 224, 266
• Benevolence, 260-6
• Bengel, 13
• Berkeley, 69, 146;
  • Lord Henry, 146
• Berkshire, 276
• Berlin, 335
• Bermondsey, 52
• Berners, Lord, 69, 88
• Berri, Duchess, 317
• Bertha, Queen, 27
• Berwick, 68
• Besieged Paris, 318
• Bethlehem, 7, 14
• Betterton, 218
• Bevis of Southampton, 195
• Billiards, 195
• Bills of fare, fifteenth century, 82
• Bird, 140
• Birds' dinner, 342
• Birth of Christ, 5;
  • date of, 14
• Blackborough Priory, 85
• Blackburn, Mr. Francis, 238
• Black Prince, 149
• Blake, Mr. Andrew, 262
• Blanchard, Laman, 268
• Blenheim Mansion, 226
• Blessington, Countess of, 266
• Blindman's Buff, 236, 248, 249
• Blue Jackets, 294
• Boar, wild, 32, 33, 45, 110
• Boar's Head ceremony, 109-11, 125, 167
• Bocking, John, 86
• Bohemia, Queen of, 193
• "Bold Slasher," 284
• Boleyn, Anne, 106
• Bolingbroke, Henry of, 80
• Bonbonnieres, 314
• Bonfires, 320, 336
• Bonner, Bishop, 122
• Boswell, 241
• Bosworth Field, 93, 101
• Bountifulness, 96, 260
• Bounty Royal, 260
• Bourchier, Archbishop, 94
• Bourchier, John, 69
• Bouvines, battle of, 60
• Bowyer, Richard, 141
• Boy Bishop, 68, 119, 156
• Boyhood's Christmas breaking-up, 242
• Boy-king taken to Tower, 92
• Brabant, States of, 154
• Brahmins, 28
• Brand, 221, 232, 243, 244
• Brandon, Charles, 101
• Brandon, Sir William, 101
• Brant, Sebastian, 104
• Brassey, Lady, 305
• Brave, blood of the, 73, 99, 190
• Brawn, 96, 232
• Brazil, 288
• Breda, 214
• Breton, Nicholas, 199
• Bridgewater, 242
• Bridgewater, Earl of, 200
• Brill, Vale of Aylesbury, 60
• Brilliant episodes, 59, 73, 84, 93, 99
• Brinsford, 219
• Bristol, 68, 242
• British India, 288
• British Museum, 114, 145, 210, 211, 232, 241, 244, 324
• Brito, Richard, 53
• Britons, Ancient, 23, 28
• Brittany, 318
• Brompton, 274
• Brooke, George, 192
• Brothers, Royal, at the Tower, 92
• Browne, General, 207
• Brown, Sir Sam., 300
• Browning, Robert, 66, 270
• Bruges, 116, 271
• Buchan, 285
• Buche-de-Noël, 319
• Buckeridge, Bishop, 195
• Buckhurst, Lord, 154
• Buckingham, Duke of, 88
• Buckingham, Lord, 191
• Buckinghamshire peasants, 238
• Bull, Dr., 140
• Bull-baiting, 229
• Bunbury, Mrs., 241
• Bun-loaf, 281
• Burford Downs, 218
• Burgundy, Duke of, 88
• Burgundy, House of, 154
• Burlesque Court, 126
• Burney, 140
• Burnham, Buckinghamshire, 257
• Burton, Robert, 195
• Bury, 68, 84
• Bushell, Sir Edward, 153
• Buttry, William, 100
• Bydnyak, or Yule-log, 345
• Byzantium, 324

• C
•  
• Cabul River, 302
• Cade, John, 85
• Caer Caradoc, 24
• Cæsars, the, 35
• Cæsarea, the Church at, 11
• Cakes, 36, 265, 321
• Calais, 72, 81, 109
• Calathumpians, the Vagabond, 313
• Caledonian custom, 305
• "Caliburne," the "gude sword," 58
• Caludon, near Coventry, 146
• Calvados, 320
• Cambridge, 204
• Camden Society, 219
• Camp fire, 301
• Campion, 154
• Camulodunum, Bishop of, 25
• Canada, 288, 302
• Candle illuminations 168, 322, 331
• Candlemas, 80, 138, 178
• Canning, W., 143
• Canons of Christchurch, 177
• Canterbury, 63, 86, 210;
  • monks of, 56
• Canterbury Cathedral, 53
• Canterbury, Archbishop of, 60, 82, 99, 139
• Canute, King, 37
• Cape de Verd Islands, 288
• Cape Finisterre, 226
• Caradoc (called Caractacus), 24
• Card-playing, 87, 91, 97, 98, 108, 195, 237, 241, 247, 256, 313
• Carew, 152
• Carleton, Sir Dudley, 154, 191
• Carlisle, 68
• Carminow, John, 113
• Carnival, 286
• Carols, 57, 204, 327
• Carol service, 349, 350
• Carol-singer Luther, 106
• Carol-singing, 326
• Caroline, Queen, 241
• Car, or Ker, Robert, 155
• Carvell, Sir Henry, 194
• Cary, Sir Robert, 154
• Casemanche, 345
• Cassel, Dr., Germany, 16
• Castanet, 340
• Castellated mansion, 148
• Castles, 52, 55, 57, 58
• Catacombs of Rome, 19
• Catches, 195
• Catesby, 93
• Cawarden, Sir Thomas, 116, 124
• Cecil, Sir William, 143
• Celebrations in times of persecution, 18
• Central Germany, 333
• Ceremonies for Christmas Day, 167
• Ceremonies for Grand Christmas, 132
• Cern, 264
• Chaldeans, 28
• Challon, 67
• Challoner, Thomas, 154
• Chamberlain to the King, 88
• Chamberlain to the Queen, 88
• Chamberlaine, John, 153, 154, 191
• Chambers of Pleasance, 88
• Chamber of Presence, 139
• Champions of Diana, 102
• Channel Islands, 288
• Chapel Royal, 138, 140, 241
• Chardai, 300
• Charibert, King, 28
• Charlemagne, Emperor, 34, 342
• Charles Augustus, Emperor, 35
• Charles I., 152, 195, 197, 212, 213
• Charles II., 214
• Charles, Prince, hiding in an oak, 215
• Charles V. of Spain, 118
• Charter, The Great, signed, 61
• Chaucer, 9, 33, 73, 99
• Cheetle, 142
• Cherwell, 109
• Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, 214
• Chess, 33, 91, 195
• Chester, Earl of, 64
• Cheu Fu Chefoo, 308
• Chevalier, Rev. W. A. C, 71
• Chichester, Bishop of, 64, 193
• Childermas Day, 112, 135
• Children of the Chapel Royal, 100, 140, 141
• Children's Treat, 264, 265
• Chili, 288
• China, 308
• Chios, 324-8
• Chippenham, 35
• Chit-chat, 268, 269
• Chivalric usages, 59, 84, 155, 190
• Christiania, 342
• Christ-Kirche, 333
• Christmas—the origin and associations of, 5;
  • the word "Christmas," its orthography and meaning, 8;
  • words in Welsh, Scotch, French, Italian, and Spanish representing Christmas, 9;
  • an acrostic spelling Christmas, 9;
  • the earlier celebrations of, 10;
  • fixing the date of, 11;
  • Christmas the Festorum omnium metropolis, 11;
  • its connection with ancient festivals, 14;
  • Christmas-boxes and presents, 15, 29, 30, 89, 90, 96, 148, 257, 258, 260-6, 300, 312, 325, 334-5, 341;
  • candles, 168, 322, 331;
  • cards, 271;
  • ceremonies, 132, 167;
  • customs depicted in a carol, 204;
  • Eve, 125, 131, 250-1, 286, 332-5;
  • "Grand," 125;
  • Island, 308;
  • Lord, 95, 100, 109, 112, 115, 126, 198, 200;
  • Prince, 155;
  • at sea, 95, 96, 218, 307;
  • Tree, 106, 261, 263, 264, 296, 313, 325, 332
  • (see also other items in the index arranged alphabetically).
• Chrysostom, St., 11
• Church Parade, 301
• Church reforms of Cardinal Wolsey, 106
• Church shows, 316
• Cicilie, Ladie, 139
• Cider, 55
• Cinque Ports, Barons of, 64
• City and country feasts compared, 112
• Civil war, 156
• Clappart, Herr Von, 332
• Clarence, Duke of, 86, 89
• Classical and Christian elements, 19
• Claudius, fourth Roman Emperor, 23
• Clement of Alexandria, 11
• Clement IX., tomb of, 330
• Clerical players, 77
• Cleves, Anne of, 108
• Clifford, Lord, 82, 86
• Closheys (ninepins), 88
• Clothing, 265
• Cloth of gold, 88
• Clyde, Lord, 299
• Clymme of Clough, 195
• Cnut, King, 37
• Cobham, Lord, 81
• "Cob-loaf stealing," 243
• Cockpit, 153
• Collar-day at Court, 240
• Colebrooke, Mr., 279
• Coleridge, S. T., 274
• Colleges' festivities, 109, 110, 111, 155
• Collier, 124, 201
• Colonist, English, 302
• Columbine, 230
• Columbus, Christopher, 95
• Combats, inspiriting, 99
• Comedies and Tragedies, Latin, 110
• Comedies, 112
• Comically cruel incident, 75
• Commonwealth, 197
• Communicants apprehended, 211
• "Complaint of Christmas," 206
• Concilium Africanum, 22
• Conger, 96
• Conjurors, 237
• Consort, Prince, 261-2
• Conspiracy against the King, 80
• Constable Marshal, 125
• Constantine the Great, 21;
  • Church of St. Constantine, 16
• Constantinople, 52, 54, 307;
  • Emperor of, 80
• Cooper, Sir Astley, 316
• Cooper, T., 233
• Cooper, Thomas, 266
• Corbeuil, Archbishop, 48
• Cordova, 339
• Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, 23
• Cornhill, London, 210
• Corniche Road, 331
• Cornisse, Mr., 100
• Cornwall, 113, 156
• Cornwall, the Duchy of, 188
• Cornwall, Barry, 272
• Cornwall, Sir Gilbert, 194
• Cornwallis, Sir Charles, 188
• Coronation of Edward III., 69
• Corpus Christi, festival of, 93
• Corsica, 321
• Costly garments, 116
• Costumes ablaze, 291
• Cottage Christmas-keeping, fourteenth century, 71
• Cotterell, Sir Clement, 194
• Cotton, 152
• Cotton MSS., 136
• Council of Arles, 25
• Council of Auxerre, 22
• Councils, Great, 41
• Country festivities, 219, 226, 227
• Courrieres, Lord of, 118
• Court entertainments, 151, 197. (See other items under Sovereigns' names.)
• Court Fool, 77, 113, 116
• Court Leet and Baron, 187
• Court Masques, 151-2
• Coventry, 85, 89, 93, 148, 198
• Cox, Captain, 197
• Crackers, 289
• Cranbourne, Ralph, 276
• Cranes' flesh, 55
• Cranmer, Archbishop, 117
• Crecy, 72
• Creighton, 74
• Crimean Christmas, 297
• Croatians, 345
• Cromwell, Oliver, 213
• Cromwell, Richard, 213
• Cromwell, Thomas, 107, 108
• Crowne, 218
• Croyland Chronicler, 87, 93
• Crusades, The, 58, 59
• Cuba, 96
• Cuisine, 312
• Cumberland, 256
• Cumberland, Earl of, 143
• Cumnor Custom, 251
• Cupids, 119
• Cyflath, 281
• Cymbals, 339
• Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, 22
• Cyprus, 307;
  • King of, 74
• Cyril, St., of Jerusalem, 11

• D
•  
• Dacre, Lord, 86
• Dakka, 300
• Dalmatians, 345
• "Damon and Pythias," 140
• Dancers, 32, 49;
  • dancing, 74, 132, 195, 224, 236, 249, 250, 261, 294, 296
• Dane, a firework artificer, 154
• Danes, 29, 35, 36, 38
• Danube, 226
• Darey, Sir Thomas, 190
• David, City of, 7
• David, King of Scotland, 72, 74
• David, St., 284
• Dawson, Mr. George, 274
• Day, John, Aldersgate, 136
• Days of "Good Queen Bess," 148
• De Beauchamp, William, 64
• De Broc, The family of, 53
• December, 28, 29, 33
• Decking, 15, 204, 227, 273, 282, 305, 318
• Decline of Christmas, 217
• De Comines, Philip, 93
• Decorations, 323. (See also "decking.")
• D'Egville, 316
• "Delights of Christmas," 243
• Dellegrout, 55
• De Molis, Sir Nicholas, 64
• Demonology, 152, 196
• De Montfort, Simon, 65
• Denby, 219
• Denison, Hon. Mr. and the Misses, 273
• Denis, St., 53, 283
• Denmark, 284, 288
• De Patteshall, Hugh, 64
• Dependents feasting, 202
• Deposition of Edward II., 69
• De Præfecto Ludorum, 110
• Deptford Dockyard, 223
• Derby, Countess Dowager of, 200
• Dersingham, 263
• Desborough, 213
• De Tracy, William, 53
• Detroit, 291
• Devon, Earl of, 87
• Devonshire, 213, 278
• De Worde, W., 91
• Diana, 102
• Diana Hunting, a masque, 120
• Dice, 195, 237
• Dickens, Charles, 274, 292
• Dieppe, 43
• Dimmick, Mrs., 313
• Dinah, 316
• Dingwell, Lord, 190
• Dinners to 5,000 poor, 264
• Diocletian's atrocities, 20
• Dionysius Exiguus, 13
• Dipmore End, 276
• Disguisings, 75, 76, 91, 95, 100
• D'Israeli, 151
• "Dissipation and Negligence," 112
• Dissolution of Monasteries, 108
• Distributions to the poor, 257, 260, 264
• Diversions, 76, 91, 95, 101, 119, 153, 205, 246-7, 251
• Diverting ditties, 233-7
• Divinings, 345
• "Doctor," 284;
  • medical, 341
• "Domesday Book," 45
• Donne, 152
• Doran, Dr., 209, 210
• Dorset, Countess of, 211
• Dorset, Marquis of, 101
• Dover, 63, 81
• Dragon's heads, &c., 73
• Dramatic displays, 123, 136-7, 140-2, 153
• Dramatist, England's greatest, 142
• Drinkhail, 58
• Drinks, 55 (see "Ale," "Mead," &c.)
• Druidical plant, 228, 318
• Druidism, 15, 28, 228
• Drums, 220, 339
• Dryden, 196
• Dublin, 52
• Dudley, Lord Robert, 126
• Dugdale, Sir William, 112, 125, 138, 146
• Dunn, Harriett, 316
• Dunois, 84
• Dunstan's Churchyard, St., 136
• Durham, 43
• Durham, Bishop of, 241
• Dutchmen display fireworks, 154
• Dwarfs, 195

• E
•  
• Ealdred, Archbishop, 39
• Earl Marshal, 82
• Early celebrations in Britain, 23
• Eastern Churches, the, 11, 11, 325
• Edgar, King, 36
• Edinburgh, the late Duke of, 263
• Edmondes, Sir Thomas, 192
• Edmund, Archbishop, 63
• Edmundsbury, St., 60
• Edmund, son of Ethelred, 37
• Edric, the Saxon, 37
• Edric, Earl of Northumberland, 37
• Edward the Confessor, 38
• Edward, Prince, 241
• Edward, St., 86
• Edward I., 67
• Edward II., 68
• Edward III., 69
• Edward IV., 86, 87, 88, 89
• Edward V., 92
• Edward VI., 108, 115, 116, 117
• Edward the Black Prince, 74
• Edwards, Richard, 137, 140
• Edwin's Chiefs, King, 30
• Effect of Season, 282
• "Egeria," H.M.S., 308
• Egg-nogg, 311
• Egg Saturday, 183
• Egmont, Count of, 118
• Eija, 339, 340
• Eisenach, 106
• Eisleben, 106
• Eleanor of Aquitane, 58
• Eleanor of Castile, 68
• Eleanor of Provence, 62
• Eleutherius, Bishop of Rome, 24
• Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Edward IV. 88
• Elizabeth, Princess (afterwards Queen), 119, 120
• Elizabeth, Princess of Austria, 335
• Elizabeth, Queen, 122, 138, 140, 142, 150
• Elizabeth of York, 93
• Ellis, 105
• El Teb, 302
• Eltham, 78, 80, 81, 89, 104
• Ely, Bishop of, 193
• Ely, Monks of, 37
• Emma, the Lady, 37, 38
• England, 288
• English Court, 38
• English exiles, 93
• Entertainments, 30, 77, 112, 218, 233, 294
• Epiphany, 11, 60, 93, 97, 192, 345
• Episcopal cautions, 22
• Ernalton of Spayne, 75
• Errant, Knights, 195
• Essex, Earl of, 143
• Ethelbert, King of Kent, 28
• Ethelred, King, 36, 37, 38
• Ethelwine, Bishop, 43
• Eusebius, 13
• Evelyn, John, 201, 211, 223
• Evelyn, Richard, 200
• Ewald, 13
• Excursionists, 310
• Exeter, 232
• Exeter Cathedral, 280
• Exeter Chapel, 211
• Exeter, Duchess of, 88
• Excesses, Anglo-Saxon, 33;
  • Norman, 56
• Expenditure for Christmas-keeping, 100-1
• Experiences, Christmas, 287

• F
•  
• Fabian, 81
• "Fabliau of Sir Cleges," 69
• Fair, Christmas, 337
• Fairies, 195, 237
• Fairy-bowl, 313
• Fallow, Mr. T. M., F.S.A., 282-3
• Fare, enormous, 65
• Farnaby, 140
• Farrar, Dean, 7
• Fatally Burnt in Christmas Costumes, 291
• "Father Christmas," 284
• Favourites of James I., 155
• Feast in the hall, 148
• Feats of arms, 59, 67, 72, 73, 81, 99, 188
• Fenwick, Sir John, 153, 222
• Ferrers, George, 115, 116
• "Ferrex and Porrex," 136
• Festa Natalazie, 336
• Festival in Scotland, the, 191
• Festivities in the seventeenth century, 199
• Fêtes, 309
• Finland, 288
• Fire, the all-attracting, at Christmas, 201, 217, 253, 259
• Fire at King's Palace, 96
• Fire in middle of halls, 30, 201
• First English Tragedy, 125
• First Footing in Scotland, 285
• "First Nowell," the, 346, 350
• Fitzstephen, 45
• Fitz Urse, Reginald, 53
• Fitzwilliam, Lord Admiral, 109
• Fitzwilliam, Sir William, 122
• Five Articles of James I., 191
• "Five Bells of Magdalen Church," 182
• Fleet, the, 112
• Fleetwood, 213
• Flemings, 52
• Fletcher, 152
• Flodden Field, 98
• Flohr, Madame Appoline, 332
• Florentine, Old, 249
• Flowers, 306, 307
• Foiz, Erle of, 75
• "Fool's Dance," the, 116
• Fool, or Jester, 77, 113, 116, 284
• Forbes, Mr. Archibald, 299
• Forest of Dean, 43
• Foresters, Lady, 75
• Foresters and huntsmen in play, 100, 102
• Forfeits, 246-7
• Forte, Mr., 303
• Fosse, the, 267
• Foster, Birket, illustrations by, 2, 32, 44, 57, 111, 202, 234, 240, 250, 257, 271
• "Foula Reel," the, 286
• France, 63, 72, 108, 288, 316-321
• Francis II., Emperor, 35
• Franco-German War, 35
• "Franklin's Tale," the, 33
• Fraser, Sir Simon, 71
• Free-lunches at hotels, 311
• Freeman, William, 25, 37, 43, 45
• French Embassy, 101
• Fretevel, 53
• Friars, 195, 271
• Friday Street Tavern, 152
• Friscobald, Leonard, 100
• Froissart, Sir John, 31, 69, 75
• Frost, hard, of 1564, 138
• Frozen regions, 296
• Fuller, 94
• Fur-clad revellers, 310

• G
•  
• Gairdner, Mr. James, 86
• Gaities, 309
• Gala, 309
• Galerius, 20
• Gambia, 345
• Gambols, 213, 221, 228, 247, 251
• Games, 33, 88, 98, 102, 154, 205, 246
• Garden of pleasure, 88
• Garrard, Rev. G., 156
• Garret, Mr. Edward, 284
• Garrick, David, 219, 230, 237
• Gascoigne, 140
• Gascon wine, 57
• Gaul, 28
• Gaunt, John of, 94
• Gay, John, 229
• Geikie, Dr., 11
• Generosity, 31, 263
• Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal, 136, 141
• Gentleman's Magazine, 243
• Gentry, 55, 91. (Also see items under names of "Gentry.")
• Geoffrey of Monmouth, 31, 49, 136
• Geological Society, 297
• George I., 229
• George II., 231
• George II., costumes, 286
• George III., 240
• George IV., 258
• George's Chapel, St., Windsor, 140
• George, King of Bohemia, 89
• George, Prince, 225
• George, St., village of, 324
• George, St., and the Dragon, 59, 284
• Germans, 33, 35, 288, 332, 333, 334
• Germany, Emperor and Empress of, 334
• "Germania," 295
• Gesta Grayorum, 142
• Ghost Stories, 33, 237, 274, 276
• Giants, 195
• Gifford, 152, 197
• Gifts, 30, 42, 69, 89, 96, 148, 170, 300, 323
• Giles, 140
• Giles's Christian Mission, St., 265
• Giles Fields, St., London, 81
• "Gillie Cullum," 305
• Gipps, Mr. Richard, 218
• Giraldus Cambrensis, 49
• Gleemen, 31, 69 (Also see "Minstrels.")
• "Gloria in Excelsis," 317
• Gloucester, 38, 45
• Gloucester, Duke of, 92
• Gloucestershire, Sheriff of, 65
• Goblins of the "Iliad," 325
• Goddesses and huntresses, 119
• Godwin, House of, 38
• Goffe, 212
• Gold Coast, 288
• Golden play at Court, 154
• Goldsmith, Oliver, 241
• "Good old fashion," 146
• Googe, Barnaby, 121
• Goose-pie, 256
• "Gorboduc," 125, 136
• Gorgeous apparelling, 101
• Gosford Street, Coventry, 148
• Gospatric, 38
• Gourdon, Sir Robert, 190
• "Governance Lord," 112
• "Gracious time," a, 34
• Graduals, 22
• Grand entertainments, 99, 100-2
• "Grand Christmas" ceremonies, 132
• Grand Guiser, 286
• Grant, 254
• Granthuse, Lord of, 87
• Grape gathering, 16
• Grattan, 59
• Gray's Inn, 111, 112, 142, 143, 144, 145, 193, 218
• Gray's Inn List of Performers, 143-5
• Great houses, 111
• Gregory Nazianzen, Bishop, 22
• Gregory the Great—His Antiphonary, 22;
  • his story about English slaves, 27;
  • sends Augustine to England, 28
• Greek Church show, 328
• Greek Empire, 324
• Green, J. R., 122, 200
• Greenland, 295, 296
• Greenwich, 100, 108, 115, 119
• Greenwich Hospital Gathering, 288
• Grey de Ruthyn, Lord, 82
• Grey, Lady Jane, and her husband, 117
• Grey, Lord Richard, 92
• Griffiths, William, 136
• "Grimston, Young," 273
• Groceries, 265
• Grose, 227
• Guildford, 60, 73
• Guising, 286
• Gunhild, 37
• Gunning, Mr., 211
• Gustavus, 342
• Guy of Warwick, 195
• Gybson, Richard, 100

• H
•  
• "Hackin, the," 216, 235
• Haddon Hall, 224, 225
• Hagmenae, 305
• "Halig monath" (Holy month), 29
• Hallam, 223
• Hall, chronicler, 100, 104
• Hall, a gentleman's, 30, 201
• Halstead, 93
• Hamilton, Marquesse of, 192
• "Hamlet," 34, 142
• Hampton Court, 108, 139
• Handel, 350
• Hanover, 229
• "Hansa," the, 295
• "Happy Land," the, 286
• Harefield, 200
• Harefleur, 93
• Hare soup, 295
• Harleian, MS., 30, 95
• Harlequin, 230
• "Harlequin Sorcerer," 230
• Harold I., son of Canute, 37
• Harold II., son of Godwin, 39
• Harpers, 31, 41, 91
• Harrison, President, and Mrs., 313
• Harthacnut, 37
• Haselrig, 213
• Haslewood, Mr. Joseph, 232, 241, 244
• Hastings, battle of, 39
• Hastings, Lord, 87, 88
• Hatfield House, 119, 120
• Hat of Estate, royal, 96
• Hatton, Lady, 211
• Hawaii, 307
• Hawking, 32, 154
• Hay, Lord, 190
• Heathenish practices, 26
• Hebrew and Hellenic elements, 19
• Heine, Henrich, 321
• Helena of York, 21
• Heliogabalus, 312
• Helmes, Mr. Henry, 143
• Hemans, Mrs., 47
• Hems, Mr. Harry, 278
• Hengest, 28
• Henley-on-Thames, 157
• Henrietta Maria, 214
• Henry, Cardinal of Winchester, 82
• Henry I., 47
• Henry II., 52, 56
• Henry III., 62, 64
• Henry IV., 79
• Henry V., 80;
  • widow of, 94
• Henry VI., 83, 85, 86, 87
• Henry of Richmond, 93
• Henry VII., marries Elizabeth of York, 94
• Henry VIII., 98;
  • becomes head of Church, 107
• Henry V. of Germany, 47
• Henry, Prince, Son of James I., 152, 188
• "Henry, Prince of Purpoole," 32
• Herald Angels, the (a poem), 3
• Heralds and pursuivants, 89
• Herbert, Sir Philip, 153
• Hereford, Duke of, 78
• Herod, King, 7
• Herons, 96
• Herrick, Robert, 202, 279
• "Hesperides," the, 203, 279
• Heton, 68
• Heynalte, Syr John, 70
• Heywood, a player, 108
• Higgs, Griffin, writer of the "Christmas Prince," 157, 350
• High Festival at Court, 240
• Highgate, 122
• Highlands, 254
• Hilary's Day, St., 73
• Hilo, 306
• Hinds' and maids' festivities, 213
• Hippodrome, 52
• Hobbyhorse, the, 197
• Hobgoblins, 237
• Hochstetter, Professor, 297
• Hogges, village of, 52
• Hogges, village of, 52
• Holbein, Hans, 109, 114
• Holinshed, 100, 115, 122
• Holland, Governor of, 87
• Holland, Lord, 156
• Hollington, near Hastings, 284
• Hollis, Sir William, 220
• Holst, Duke of, 153
• Holt, Sir, 243
• Holly, 273, 282
• "Holly Bough, under the," 274
• Holy evenings, 342
• Holy Land, 67
• Homage in the fifteenth century, 90
• Hone, 66, 241, 317
• Honey and wine, 55
• Hood, Thomas, 274
• Hoop and hide, 237
• Hooton Roberts, 220
• Horses gaily caparisoned, 99
• Hospitality, 30, 124, 145, 146, 220, 256, 260-6, 278
• Hostilities suspended for Christmas-day, 81, 84
• Hot cockles, 229, 247, 252
• Houghton Chapel, 220
• Household Book of Henry VII., 95
• Household Book of Henry VIII., 100
• Housekeeping, Christmas, 232
• House of Commons, 207
• House of Peers, 226
• Howard family, 101
• Howard, Frances, Countess of Essex, 155
• Howitt, Mary, 276
• "Hue and Cry after Christmas," 208
• Huet, Sir John, 153
• Huish, 241
• Humber, the, 43
• Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, 82
• Hungary, 153;
  • King of, 35
• Hunting, 32, 54
• Huntingdon, Earl of, 79;
  • Countess of, 82
• Hunt the Slipper, 247, 313
• Hussars, 10th, 301
• Hussey, Sir Richard, 153
• Hypocras, 55

• I
•  
• Iceberg, Christmas upon an, 297
• Ice-bound regions, 295
• Ice sports, 45, 138, 154-5
• Ideler, 13
• Illuminations at Hampton Court, 120
• Immanuel, 55, 6
• India, 299
• Indian Ocean, 308
• Ingenuities and devices, 63
• Inner Temple, 125, 136, 138
• Innocents' Day, 38, 119, 169
• Inns of Court, 111, 112, 137, 201, 218
• Interludes, 103, 112
• Interruptions of festivities, 85, 206
• "Investigator," the, 294
• Iona, the monks of, 27
• Ipomydon, Romance of, 33
• Ipswich, 68, 210
• Ira Seu Tumulus Fortune, 183
• Ireland, 52, 288
• Irish customs, 251
• Irish Princes and Chieftains, 55
• Irving, Washington, 241, 258
• Isabel, Queen of France, 78
• Isabella, daughter of Edward III., 75
• Isaiah, the Prophet, 5
• Italy, 288
• Italian characters, 230
• Italian Masque, 100

• J
•  
• "Jack Straw," a masque, 112
• Jacobites, 237
• Jade, a charming, 252
• Jamaica, 288
• James I., 138, 150, 191, 193, 196
• James II., 220, 225
• James III. of Scotland, 98
• James IV. of Scotland, 98
• James's, St., 241
• "Jane the Fool," 108
• Jellalabad Plain, 302
• Jermyn, Sir Isaac, 153;
  • Sir Robert, 153
• Jerome, St., 13, 21
• Jerusalem, the church at, 11
• Jerusalem Chamber, 207
• "Jesus, the Nazarene," 52
• Jhelum, 300
• Jinks, high, 285
• Joan of Arc, 84
• Joan of Kent, 76, 149
• Jocund holiday, 266
• John's College, St., Oxford, 111
• John III., Duke of Cleves, 109
• John's Day, St., 86, 134, 153, 219, 320
• John, King, 59
• John of Gaunt, 74
• John of Salisbury, 54
• John the Baptist, 13
• Joints of meats, 265
• Jones, Rev. A. G., 308
• Jones, Mr. Charles C., 102
• Jones, Mrs. Herbert, 85, 263
• Jones, Inigo, 151
• Jones, Mary, 280
• Jonson, Ben, 86, 141, 148, 149, 151, 152, 190, 197
• Jordan, 19
• Joseph, 5, 6
• Jousts, 32, 120
• Judas Maccabæus, 17
• Judæan origin of Christmas, supposed, 17
• Jugglers, 31
• Jule (see Yule)
• "Julebukker," 342
• Julius Agricola, 25
• Julius I., Bishop of Rome, 11
• Jupiter, 152
• Justin Martyr, 7
• Justiciars' extravagance, 59

• K
•  
• Katherine of Arragon, 99
• Katherine, wife of Henry V., 81
• Kalends of January, 22
• Karumpie, 55
• Ken, Bishop, 11
• Ken, Bishop, 11
• Kenilworth Castle, 67, 68, 69, 84, 93, 197
• Kent, 118
• Kent, earldom of, 46
• Kent, Countess of, 82;
  • Fair Maid of, 149
• "Kepe Open Court," 69
• "Kepe open thy door," 30, 146, 220
• Kilaue, 307
• Kimberley, 299
• King and Council, 117
• King at Lord Buckingham's, 192
• King, Josiah, 233
• King of Christmas, 112
• "King of the Cockneys," 112
• "King of the Peak," 224
• King of Egypt and his daughter, 284
• King's deer, 75
• King's Lynn, 85
• King's players, 151, 153
• King's singing men, 89
• King's train-bearer, 96
• "Kingdome's Weekly Intelligencer," 208
• Kinloch, 300
• Kirke, George, 201
• Kissing Bush, 250, 281
• Kitts, St., 288
• Knevet, Sir Thomas, 101
• Knights and Ladies, playing at, 252
• Knights of the Round Table, 30
• Knights in armour, 99
• Knight Templars, 60
• Knipton, 266
• Kyrie Eliesons, 22, 28

• L
•  
• La Blanche Nef, 47
• Ladies-in-waiting, 263
• Lady-bells ring, 267
• Lady-Mass, 88
• "Lady Public Weal," 112
• Ladysmith, 299
• Lalain, Count of, 118
• Lamb, Charles, 200, 244-6
• Lambeth, 38, 138
• "Lamentation," 145
• Lancastrians, 85, 86
• Lanfranc, Archbishop, 46, 49
• Lanterns, Feast of, 345
• "Largess," a, 129
• Latimer, Hugh, 113
• Latin and Greek verse, 111
• Laube, Dr., 297
• Laud, Dr. (Archbishop), 191, 195
• Launcelot, Sir, 32
• Laurel, 273, 282
• Laurel blent with cypress, 298
• Lavaine, Sir, 32
• Lavish entertainments, 59
• Law, Christmas, ancient, 35
• Lawes, Henry, 151
• Leaping, 32, 229
• Leech, John, 289
• Lee's "Mithridates," 218
• Leeds, 283, 291
• Legend of St. Nicholas, 310
• Leicester, Earl of, 66, 139
• Leigh, Gerard, 127
• Leland, 95
• Lenox, Duke of, 190
• Leo, Pope, 35
• Leon, King of Armenia, 78
• Leon von Rozmital, 89
• Leonard's chime, St., 267
• Lerwick, 286
• Letter Missions, 292
• Leyden, 157
• Library, St. John's College, 156
• Lichfield Cathedral, 349, 350;
  • Deanery of, 157, 350
• Lincoln, 51, 68
• Lincoln, Earl of, 64
• Lincoln's Inn, 111, 112, 138
• Lincolnshire, 266
• Linlithgow, 68
• Lion and antelope as performers, 102
• Lions' heads, 119
• Lisbon, 226
• Lists of combat, 101
• Literature, 292, 313
• Llanfairpyllycrochon, 280
• Llewellyn, Prince of Wales, 67
• Log-fires, 32, 301
• Lollards, 80
• London, 36, 38, 43, 45, 51, 60, 63, 71, 78, 138
• London, Bishop of, 25, 79
• Longchamps, William, Bishop of Ely, 59
• Longe, John, 71, 72
• Longfellow, 26, 43, 44, 271
• Lord Chamberlain, 87, 139
• Lord Chamberlain's players, 151
• Lord Mayor of London, 116
• Lord Mayor and Lord of Misrule at loggerheads, 198
• Lord of Misrule, 74, 95, 100, 105, 109, 112, 115, 125, 126, 198, 200, 218
• Lord President of Wales, 200
• Lord Treasurer, 192
• Lorrainers, 319
• Loseley, Surrey, 122
• Lott, Mr. J. B., 350
• Louis of France, 62
• Lambert, 213
• Louis, St., 317
• "Love's Triumph," 198
• Lucius Verus, 24
• "Luck of Christ," the, 325
• Ludlow, 92, 200
• Luke, St., 6, 7
• Luther, Martin, 106
• "Lying Valet," 237
• Lyly's Plays, 141
• Lyson's "Magna Britannia," 251

• M
•  
• Macaulay, Lord, 40
• Machinists, ingenious, 151
• Mackay, Dr. Charles, 274
• Madden, Sir Frederick, 87
• Madeley, Shropshire, 255, 284
• Mafeking, 299
• Magdalen College, Oxford, 109, 110
• Magdalene College, Cambridge, 145
• Magi, the, 11, 19, 28
• Magna Charta, 60
• Magnificence, 40, 87
• Magnus, St., 49
• Maid of Kent, Fair, 76, 149
• Maid Marians, 286
• Maid Marians, 286
• Mainard, John, 117
• Mallard, John, 114
• Malory, Sir Thomas, 32
• Malta, 307
• Manger, superb substitutes for, 328
• Manners, Lord and Lady John, 266
• Manners, Sir John, 224
• Manor, ancient, 148, 149
• Mansfeld, 106
• Mansions, 55
• Manuel, Emperor, 52
• Maori Pa, 304
• March, Earl of, 82
• Marcus Aurelius Antonius, 24
• Margaret, daughter of Henry III., 64
• Margaret of Anjou, 85, 86
• Margaret, daughter of Henry VII., 97
• Mark's, St., Venice, 336
• Marlboro', 304
• Marlborough, Duchess of, 225;
  • Duke of, 225
• "Marmion," 36
• Marriage festivities, 62, 63, 64, 81, 99, 151-2
• Marseilles, 307
• Marteaux (a game with balls), 88
• Martial music, 84
• Martigny, George, 88
• Martin, 152
• Martin's, St., Canterbury, 24
• Martyn, John, 231
• Martyrs, British, 20
• Mary, the mother of Jesus, 5, 6
• Mary, St., 53
• Mary, Princess (afterwards Queen), 105;
  • her accession, 117;
  • Queen, 119, 136
• Maryland, 314
• Mary, Queen, wife of William III., 221
• Mason, 251
• Masquerade, 100, 102, 236
• Masques, 52, 99, 119, 120, 143, 151, 152, 153, 154, 168, 192, 195, 197, 201;
  • rustic masque, 272
• Massacres of Christians, 20
• Massinger, Philip, 112, 193
• "Master Christmas," 206
• Master of the Children, the, 136
• Master of the Revels, 74, 112, 125, 218 (see also Lord of Misrule)
• Matilda, Empress, daughter of Henry I., 47, 51
• Matilda, Queen of Henry I., 49
• Matins, 88
• Matthew, St., 6
• Maud, General, 300
• Maupigyrum, 55
• Mauritius, 288
• Mayor and Aldermen of London, 74, 96
• Mayor of Canterbury mobbed, 210
• McClure, Sir R., 294
• Mead, 55
• Meade, Mr., 192, 198
• Mediterranean, 307, 321, 331
• Medley of Nymphs, savages, &c., 102
• Melbourne, 303
• "Meliades," 189
• Melrose, 98
• Memphis, 59
• Mendelssohn, 350
• Men of Kent, 210
• Mephistopheles, 342
• Mercia, 34, 35
• "Merciless Parliament," 78
• "Mercurius Academicus," 207
• "Mercurius Civicus," 208
• Mermaid Inn, 152
• "Merry Boys of Christmas," 215
• Merry Disports, Lord of, 117 (see also Master of the Revels)
• "Merry in the hall," 235
• Merry tales, 195
• Merton College, Oxford, 237
• "Messiah," 304, 350
• Metrical Romance, 69
• Mexborough, 219
• Michell, Sir Francis, 194
• Middle Temple, 156, 192
• Middleton Tower, Norfolk, 84
• Midnight Mass, 316, 323
• Midwinter Customs in the north, 284
• Mildmay, Sir Henry, 192
• Milford Haven, 93
• Millbrook, Southampton, 265
• Miller, Thomas, 248
• Mills, 148
• Milner, Dr., 31
• Milton, 13, 200, 253
• Mimics, 69
• "Mince-pie," 273
• Minerva, the Goddess, 102
• Minstrels, 31, 41, 42, 43, 44, 58, 69, 315
• Miracles at Becket's Sepulchre, 54
• Miracle Plays, 52, 77
• "Misa del Gallo," 340
• "Misa di Lux," 340
• Miscomia, 297
• Misrule (see "Lord of Misrule")
• Missionary's Christmas, 308
• Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, 286
• Mistletoe, 28, 228, 250, 273, 282, 307, 318, 319
• M'Kee, Mr. and Mrs., 313
• Modern Christmases at home, 240
• Modern Christmases abroad, 294
• "Modern Intelligencer," The, 208
• Mohnpielen, 335
• Monk, General, 214
• Monks, merry, 37, 56
• Monson, Sir William, 192
• Monstrelet, 81
• Monte Carlo, 331
• Montegele, Lord, 154
• Montgomery, 154, 190
• Morat, 55
• Moray, Earl of, 71
• More, Mr., of Loseley, 122
• Morley, Lady, 91
• Morley, Professor Henry, 69, 125, 136, 193, 229
• Morrice Dance, 102
• Mortimer, Anne, 86
• Morville, Hugh de, 53
• Mosaics, 16, 331
• Mother of the maids, 139
• Motley throng, 286
• Mowbrays, 148
• Moyle, Thomas, 112
• Muddle, General, 297
• Mumming, 52, 80, 121, 234, 236, 267
• Murray, Sir Andrew, 71
• Murray, Sir Andrew, 71
• Muschamp, Sir Thomas, 153
• Music, 195
• Musicians, 129
• Musk veal, 294
• Mysteries, 77

• N
•  
• "Naogeorgus," 121
• Naples, 336
• Napoleon Bonaparte, 321
• Naseby, 209
• Nativity, place of the, 7;
  • Church and Convent of the, 7;
  • feast of the, 15;
  • massacres at the, 20;
  • sermons on the, 193-5
• Navarre, 63
• Navidad discovered, 96
• Negroes' merry Christmas, 314
• Negro minstrels, 286
• Neighbours and Tenants, 146, 220
• Nelson, New Zealand, 304
• Nero, 15, 20
• Netherlands, 288
• Neville's Cross, 74
• Neville, Sir Richard, 82
• Nevil, Lord, 86, 101
• Newark-on-Trent, 62
• New Brunswick, 288
• Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 68
• New England Puritans, 314
• New Forest, 47
• Newmarket, 194, 218
• New style, 237
• Newton, Sir Isaac, 14, 204
• New Year's Day, 93, 95, 96, 100, 130, 135, 169, 170, 189, 199, 203, 260, 263, 271, 284, 286, 291, 323, 342
• New Zealand, 304
• Nicholas's Day, St., 119
• Nichols, 120, 124, 126, 153, 155, 191, 192, 193-5
• Nicomedia, 20
• Nigellus, 53
• Novgorod, 319
• Nip, 342
• "Nippin Grund," the, 286
• Noblemen, 99, 124 (see others named)
• Noche-buena, 340
• Nocturnal Office, 317
• Noël or Nowell, 9, 33, 319, 321, 346, 350
• Nonconformists, 207
• Norfolk, 143, 146, 218
• "Norman Baron," the, 43-4
• Norman celebrations, 40, 41
• Norman Conquest helped, 37
• Norman-French customs, 38
• Normandy, dukedom of, 47
• Normandy, 42, 318, 320
• Northampton, Marquis of, 139
• Northamptonshire, 284
• North, Mr. Thomas, 232
• Northern nations, 15
• North Pole, 295
• North Sea fishermen, 286
• North West Passage, 294
• Northumberland, 43, 255
• Northumberland, Earl of, 37, 86;
  • earldom of, 43;
  • Duke of, 117
• Northumberland Household Book, 103
• Northumbrians, 27, 38
• Norton, Thomas, 125
• Norway, 288, 342
• Nottingham, 68, 189
• Nova Scotia, 288
• Nuns, 267, 271, 321

• O
•  
• Oberon, 342
• Odo, Bishop, 46
• Offa, "the mighty," 34, 350
• Officers of "Grand Christmas," list of, 126;
  • of Christmas Prince, 165-6-7;
  • officers, Royal, of Arms, 139
• Oglethorpe, Bishop, 123
• Olaf, King, 26
• "Old Christmas," 145, 230, 273, 276
• "Old and Young Courtiers," 217
• Oldisworth, Michael, 201
• "Open Court" of Cardinal Wolsey, 104
• "Open House," 113, 220
• Opera, the, 228
• Order of the Garter instituted, 72
• Ordinances of the Puritans, 207
• Orkney Isles, 287
• Orleans, 84
• Orpheus, 19, 29, 152
• Osborne House, 261-3
• Othbert, 49
• Ovation to Henry V., 81
• Overbury, Sir Thomas, 155
• Ovid, 230
• Oxford, 38, 51, 68, 109, 140, 210

• P
•  
• Paganism, 19, 20, 22, 28
• Pageantry, 31, 63, 122
• Paget, Lord, 120
• Palatine, marriage of, 151
• "Palemon and Arcite," 140
• Palestine, 54
• "Pallas, Knights of," 102
• Palmer, Mr., Lord of Misrule, 198
• Pansch, Dr., 295
• Panting Piper, 305
• Pantomime, 229, 230
• Papal Legate, 64
• Pappa Westra, 287
• Paris, 35, 291, 316, 317, 318
• Paris, Matthew, 54, 63
• Paris Tournament, 78
• Parker, Lieutenant and Mrs., 313
• "Parlement," 45
• Parliamentarians, 206
• Parliament, new Houses of, 46
• Parliament, the first English, 65
• Parson makes merry with parishioners, 113
• Parties, 309
• "Paston Letters," 86, 91
• Pastoral, "Calisto," 218
• Patriarch of Venice, 336
• Patrick, St., 284
• Paulinus, Missionary, 30
• Paul, Mr. Howard, 309
• Paul's Cathedral, St., 140
• Paul's Church, St., 119
• Paul's Cross, St., 92
• Paul's Cross, St., 92
• Paul St., Earl of, 79
• Paul's School, St., 77
• Paupers, merry, 288
• Pavy, Salathiel, 142
• Peacocks, 96, 97
• Pegasus, 198
• Pembroke, the Regent, 62
• Pembroke, Countess of, 241
• "Penelope's Wooer," 187
• Penshurst, Kent, 148-9
• Pepys, Samuel, 145, 218
• Perche, Countess of, 47
• Peres, William, 103
• Performers, various, 41, 77
• "Periander," a tragedy, 185
• Periodicals, 292, 313
• Period of Christmas, 11, 35, 111, 135, 227
• Perrers, Alice, 74, 75
• Perth, 274
• Perry, 55
• Peshawur, 300
• Petavius, 13
• Peter of Blois, 56
• Peter, St., 283
• Peter the Great, of Russia, 223
• Peter's, St., Rome, 330
• Pétit Souper, 322
• Petworth, 225
• Philip of Spain, 118
• Philip and Mary, 119
• Philippa, Queen, 72
• "Philomathes," 176
• "Philomela," a tragedy, 169
• Philosopher's game, 195
• Phœnicia, 55
• Picnics, 304
• Picts and Scots, 26, 31
• "Picturesque Europe," 224
• Pièce de résistance, 294
• Piers Gaveston, 68
• Pigment, 55
• Pilgrims, 59
• Pires Barnard, 68
• Pipers, 31, 89
• Place de la Madeline, 319
• Place de la République, 319
• Plague, the, 139
• Plantagenets, 68
• Plato's Dialogue, 17
• Plays, Christmas, 76-7, 84, 91, 95, 102, 112, 125, 136-7, 142, 284, 320-1
• Playing Cards, 90
• Plum-pudding, 245, 263, 265, 273, 317, 319
• Pocahontas, 314
• Poculum charitatis, 237
• Poetic pictures of Christmas, 33, 34, 43-4, 69, 203, 204-5, 217, 221-2, 227, 250, 258, 274, 276-8, 288, 298, 350
• Poictiers, 74
• Pointer, 237
• Poleaxes for Pensioners, 156
• Pole, Cardinal, 118, 119
• "Pompey," 36
• Pontefract, 87, 92
• "Poor Robin's Almanack," 217, 222, 223, 230
• Pope, poet, 46, 230
• "Popish Customs," so called, 109
• Popple, John, 257
• Popular festivities, 242
• Portugal, 226, 288
• Post and Pair, 247, 250
• Post-office and postmen, 292
• Poverty at Court, 86
• Prayer Books of Edward VI., 117
• Presbytery, 109
• Presents, 15, 42, 69, 88, 312, 323, 326, 335
• Presentation in the Temple, 348
• Presepio (manger), 328
• Preston, Sir Richard, 190
• Priestess, Druid, 228
• Priests bearing relics, 90
• Priestly practices, 121, 317, 328
• Primate's cruelty, 200
• Primitive celebrations, 19
• "Prince Charlie," 237
• Prince of Wales, 85, 225, 263
• Prince of Wales's Strait, 294
• Princes of Germany, 35, 109
• Princes play in masques, 152, 197
• Privy Council, 117
• Prolongation of Revels, 201
• Promethus, 152
• Protectorate, the, 213
• Protestantism of Queen Elizabeth, 122
• Provençal Plays, 320-1
• Provence, 320, 321;
  • Eleanor of, 62-4
• Provision for the poor, 257-8, 260-6
• Prowess, 67, 72, 73, 84, 99, 190
• Prussian Royal Family, 334
• Prynne, William, 199
• Psyche, 19
• Ptarmigan pasties, 295
• Punch, 282, 342
• Puppet shows, 227, 321, 328
• Purification, the, 73
• Puritan Directory, 207
• Puritanism, 109
• Purposes, 195
• Puss-in-the-Corner, 236
• Pynson, printer, 104

• Q
•  
• Quadrangle, Royal, 88
• "Quartette" cards, 272
• Queen's College, Oxford, 109
• Queen's Gentlewomen, 88
• Questions and Commands, 195, 236
• Quintin, 45, 59

• R
•  
• Races, 218
• Railways, the, 292
• Raleigh, Sir Walter, 152
• Rampini, Sheriff, 286
• Ratcliffe, 93
• Rathbertus, a priest, 49
• Reade, Mr., 346
• "Read's Weekly Journal," 232
• "Recollections of old Christmas," 272
• Recreations, 195, 315
• Redcoats, 294
• Redmile, 266
• Rœdwald, 29
• Reformation, 106, 109
• Regatta, the Christmas, 304
• "Regis Orator et Calamo," 114
• Regulations for a grand Christmas, 112
• Reindeer-sleigh of St. Nick, 311
• Rejoicings on French battle ground, 72
• Relics, sacred, 90, 331
• Religious matters, 117
• Rennes cloth, 88
• Reresby, Sir John, 219
• Restoration, the, 215
• Reunions, 313
• Revels resembling Saturnalia, 18
• Revels, called a Maskelyn, 100
• Revels, Master of the, 112 (see also "Lord of Misrule")
• Revels, 132, 153, 180, 181, 192, 193, 218, 315
• Revolution, 220
• Rex Fabarum, 109
• Rhedon, 93
• Rheims Cathedral, 94
• Rhosllanerchrugog, 264
• Rhosymedre, Denbighshire, 264
• Rhys, brother of Gruffydd, 38
• Richard I. ("Cœur de Lion"), 58
• Richard II., 76
• Richard, Duke of Gloucester, 92
• Richard III., 93, 101
• Richard, Duke of York, 86, 87
• Richard the Good, of Normandy, 38
• Rich, Christopher, 229
• Rich, John, 229
• Richmond, 96, 98, 99, 102, 108, 119
• Richmond, Duke of, 105
• "Richemond Manor," open house at, 104
• Riding School, Windsor, 260
• Riddles, 252
• Rigden, Mr., 219
• Ripon, 242
• Rivers, Lady, 88;
  • Earl, 92
• Rivet, Andrew, 157
• "Roast Beef of Old England," 301
• Robert of Comines, 43
• Robes, costly, 75
• Robin Hood, 66
• Robin Hood and his foresters depicted, 100, 286
• Rochester, 118
• Rochester, Bishop of, 139
• Roe, Sergeant, 112
• Roger de Coverley, Sir, 227
• Roger Mortimer, 68
• Roland, Captain of Charlemagne, 41
• Roman Church, 62
• Roman Catholic reaction, 118
• Roman Empire, 35
• Roman invasion of Britain, 23
• Romantic days, 31
• Rome, early Church at, 11
• Rome, 328
• Romish priestly practices, 121
• Rooke, Sir George, 226
• Rope-dancing, 229
• Roses united in marriage, 94
• Rotterham, 220
• Rouen, 81, 317
• "Round about our Coal Fire," 201, 233
• Round Table, 30, 67, 73
• Royalists, 206, 215
• Royal Bounties, 258, 260
• Royal festivities, 54, 94, 99, 141, 261 (see also other festivities recorded under the names of different Sovereigns)
• Rowbotham, 28
• Rowe, 142
• Rowse, Sir John, 153
• Royston, 153
• Roxburgh Collection (British Museum), 145
• Ruabon, 264
• Rufus's revelries, 47
• Rump, the, 213, 217
• Running, 32
• Runnymede, 60
• Russell, Lord John, 297
• Russia, 284, 288, 342
• Rutland, Duke of, 224, 266;
  • Janetta, Duchess of, 225;
  • Lord, 80, 87

• S
•  
• Sabine Island, 295
• Sackville, Thomas, 125
• Sailors' gathering, 288
• Salisbury, Earl of, 87, 154, 156
• Salom Moss, 101
• Sanctuary at Westminster, 92
• Sandal Castle, 87
• Sandhurst, Berkshire, 276
• Sandringham, 85, 263
• Sandwich Island, 294
• Sandwich Islands, 305
• Sandys, William, F.S.A., 15, 104, 137, 201, 206
• San Maria Maggiore Church, 331
• Saracens, 59
• Santa Claus, 290, 310
• "Saturday Review," 207
• Saturnalia, 13, 15, 19, 29, 168, 191, 320
• Saxon chiefs, 43
• Saxon sports, 44
• Scales, Lord and Lady, 84, 85
• Scaliger, 13
• "Scalloway Lasses," 286
• Scandinavianism, 285
• Scenic magnificence, 152
• Schomberg, Duke of, 226
• Scottish annals, 48, 68, 71, 82, 98, 154, 191, 207, 242, 254, 284-8
• Scotch first-footing, 285
• Scott, Dr., 313
• Scott, Sir Walter, 36, 98, 250
• Scripture history plays, 77
• Sea celebrations, 95, 218, 307
• Sears, E. H., 350
• Sectaries, 207
• Segraves, 148
• Selden, 152
• Seleucus Nicator, 13
• Senegal, 345
• Senlac, battle of, 39
• "Seven Champions of Christendom," 283
• "Seven Dayes of the Weeke," the, 174
• Sermons, Christmas, 193
• Servants' feasts, 202, 212-3, 263
• Servians, 345
• Settlers, English, 314
• Seville Cathedral, 338
• Seymour, Jane, 108
• Shaftesbury, 37
• Shaftesbury, 37
• Shakespeare, 34, 80, 81, 141, 142, 151, 152, 153, 263
• Shaw, Dr., 92
• Shene, 75, 96
• Shepherds, 7, 317
• Sherwood Forest, 66
• Shetland, 285
• "Shewes," triumphant, 190
• Shipwreck on Christmas-day, 287
• Shopping in sleighs, 312
• Shovelboard, 195
• Shrewsbury, Earl of, 139
• Shrine of St. Peter, 330
• Shropshire, 24, 118, 255, 284
• Shrove Tuesday, 183
• Sicily, King of, 59
• Sidney, Sir Philip, 148
• Sieur de Nigry, 118
• Silurians, King of, 24
• Simeon, 348
• Sinclair, Rev. John, 287
• Singing, 140, 195, 294, 326, 350
• Sirloin of roast beef, 231
• Siward, Sir Richard, 64
• Skating, 45 (see "Ice Sports")
• Skeleton at bed foot, 276
• Skinner's Wells, 76
• Skylarking, 294
• Slade, Monty, 302
• Sladen Douglas, B. W., 303
• Slavs, 345
• Sleighing, 302, 310
• Smith, Captain John, 314
• Smith, Dr. Walter, 285
• Smith, Sir Thomas, 139
• Smithfield, London, 79
• Smyth, John, court fool, 116
• Smyth, Matthew, 143
• "Snap" cards, 272
• Snapdragon, 247
• Social festivities, 252
• Society Islands, 288
• Somerset, Duke of, 87, 115, 225
• Somerset, Earl of, 155
• Somerset, Sir Thomas, 190
• Somersetshire, 31
• Somers, Will, king's jester, 113
• "Sonsy haggis" 255
• "Sonya," 344
• Southampton, Earl of, 190
• Southern merrymaking, 314
• Southey, 257
• Souvenirs, 312
• Spain, 75, 108, 120, 190, 212, 225, 288, 338
• Spanish cavaliers, 286
• Spectacular entertainments, 52, 99
• "Spectator," the, 227
• Speech from the throne, 87
• Spenser, 149
• Spithead, 225
• Sports, 33, 54, 154, 169, 198, 203, 247, 252
• Stacy, Louis, 88
• Staffordshire, 284, 349, 350
• Stained glass, modern, 348
• Stainer, 350
• Stanley, Dean, 17
• Stanton, Mr. W. M., 304
• Stapleton, Lady, 91
• Star of Bethlehem, 319
• Star Chamber, 156
• State meetings, 29, 38, 45, 54;
  • State worship, 96-7
• Steele, 227
• Stephen, King, 51
• Stephen's Day, St., 120, 126, 130, 133, 168, 219, 350
• Steward's Department, Lord, 260
• Steward, Sir John, 82
• "Still Christmas" of Henry VIII., 104
• Stoke Abbat, 157
• Stony Stratford, 92
• Stories of Christmastide, 48, 49, 237, 274, 275, 276, 287
• Stowe, 66, 74, 102, 112, 116
• Strafford papers, 156
• Strange, Lady, 139
• Stratford-upon-Avon, 218
• Strutt, 44, 76, 103, 119, 218
• Strype, 119
• Sturgeon, 96
• Stuteville, Sir Martin, 192, 198
• Subtleties, 83, 97
• Sufed Koh, 302
• Suffolk, 146
• Suffolk, Earl of, 84, 189
• Sullivan, 350
• Sumptuous feasts of Normans, 54
• Superstitions, 33, 34, 285
• Sussex, Earl of, 139
• Sussex, Sheriff of, 65
• Swans, 96
• Sweden, 288
• Sweetmeats, 322
• Swegen, King, 36
• Swein, King of Denmark, 43
• Swithin, St., Winchester, 56
• Sword-dance, 229, 255
• Sword actors, 282-4
• Sword of King Arthur, 58
• Swynford Catherine, 94
• "Synod of Westminster," 208
• Synod of Whitby, 27
• Syria, 55

• T
•  
• Tacitus, 24, 33
• Taillefer, Norman minstrel, 41
• Talbot, Sir John, 84
• Tallard, Marshal, 226
• Tales, weird, 274-5
• Tallis, 140
• Tambourine, 340
• Tancred, King, 58
• "Tatler," the, 228
• Taverner, Edmund, 201
• Taylor, John, 206
• Te Deum, 317
• Telesphorus, St., Bishop of Rome, 13
• Tempest, great, 74
• Templars' sports, 198
• Temple-horn winded, 198
• Temple of Minerva, 184
• Temples, the, 111
• Tenants' and labourers' feast, 231
• Tennyson, 31, 270
• Teonge, Rev. Henry, 218
• Tetzel, 89
• Teuton forefathers, our, 26
• Teuton forefathers, our, 26
• Teuton kinsmen, 34
• Tewkesbury, 94
• Thackeray, Mr., 229
• Thames, 108, 127
• Thanet, Isle of, 28
• Theatrical exhibitions, 141, 229, 230
• Thelluson, Hon. Mr. and Miss, 273
• Theobald, Archbishop, 53
• Theobalds, 154, 193, 194
• Theodosius the younger, 22
• Thewlis, St., 284
• Thomas, St., 54
• Thomas, St. (a place), 288
• Thomas's Day, St., 130, 164, 265
• Thomas, Thomas, 280
• Thomas, the Misses, 262
• Thor, 15, 26, 29
• Thorold, Sir Wilfrid de, 267
• Thunder (see Thor), 29
• Thurstan, Archbishop, 48
• Thrybergh, 219
• Tilting, 155 (see also Tournament)
• "Time's Alteration," 217
• "Time's Complaint," 170
• "Time's Telescope," 251
• Tobacco, 259, 278
• Toffee, 281
• Tommy Atkins, 299
• Torchlight procession, 286
• Torksey Hall, 266
• Tostig, Earl, 38
• Tournaments, 32, 52, 67, 73, 78, 99, 101, 155, 189, 190
• Tower of London, 79, 92, 117, 123, 223, 226
• Towton, 87
• Toys, 265
• Tragedy of "Gowry," the, 153
• Traill, Mr., 287
• Transatlantic Saxons, 309
• Transvaal, 288
• Travelling, ancient, 31
• "Treason! treason!" cried James I., 193
• Tricks by animals, 229
• Trinity College, Cambridge, 110
• Trinity Term, 131
• Triphook, Robert, 155
• Tripoli, 55
• Triumphs of the tournament, 101
• Trumpeters, 89
• Trumpets, 220, 261
• Trunks, small, 195
• "Truth," in pageantry, 122
• Tucker, Thomas, the elected Prince, 156
• Tudela, Benjamin of, 52
• Tudor, Edmund, Jasper, Owen, 94
• Tumbling, 119, 228
• Turkeys, 246, 340
• "Turkish Knight," 284
• "Turkish Magistrates," 119
• Turnham Green, 284
• Tusser, Thomas, 124, 140, 146
• Twelfthtide, 15, 35, 95, 97, 100, 102, 125, 135, 153, 154, 188, 190, 193, 198, 201, 241, 320, 342
• Twelve days of Christmas, 35, 111, 125, 227
• Tyrrel, Sir Walter, 47
• Tytler, General, 300

• U
•  
• Udall, Nicholas, 119
• Ukraine, 345
• Ule (see Yule)
• Uniformity, Act of, 117
• United States, 288, 309-316
• Uphelya, 286
• "Ups and Downs of Christmas," the, 209
• "Ursa Minor," 273
• Usher, 13
• Ushers, Gentlemen, 139
• Uvedale, Lord of Wickham Manor, 71

• V
•  
• Valorous deeds, 59
• Vane, 213
• Variety of players, 63
• Vaughan, Master, 88
• Vawce, Sergeant, 117
• "Venetian Senators," 119
• Venice, 190, 336
• Vere, Earl of Oxford, 75
• Vere, Lady Susan, 153
• Vernon, Dorothy, 224
• Versailles, 35
• Vespers, 331
• Viands, 55
• Victoria, Queen, 258, 260-3
• Victoria's grandchildren, Queen, 262
• Vienna, 336
• Vigil of Christmas, 49, 317
• Vigilate, a, 178
• "Vindication of Father Christmas," the, 212
• Vineyard of pleasure, 88
• Vintage, the, 16
• Violins, 220
• Virgil's Eclogues, 17
• Virginian Colonists, 314
• Virgin Mary, image of the, 317
• Visors depicted in verse, 104
• Vivian, Sir Francis, 156;
  • Mr. Vivian, 156
• Volcano, 305

• W
•  
• Waits, 44, 240
• Wakefield, battle of, 86
• Wales, 38, 188, 200, 280, 288
• Wales, Prince and Princess of, 85, 225, 263
• Wallingford, 51, 68
• Wanjani, 304
• Ward, Rev. John, 218
• Warning shots, 127
• Warren, Earl of, 64
• Warrior-King (Edward III.), 74
• Warriors rewarded, 42
• Wars of Barons, 65
• Wars of Roses, 85
• Wars of Roses ended, 93
• War suspended for Christmas, 81, 84
• Warton, author, 110
• Warwick, Earl of, 87, 93, 139, 192
• Warwick muses, 198
• Warwickshire, 146, 284
• Wash, the, 62
• Wassail, 15, 58, 97, 181
• "Wassail Bowl," 15, 273
• Wassailing the apple-trees, 278-9
• Washburn, Ex-Minister E. B., 318
• Washington negroes, 314
• Wattewille, Monsieur Robert, 68
• "Weekly Account," the, 208
• "Weihnacten," 335
• "Weihnactt's Bescheerung," 335
• "Welcome to Christmas," 276
• Welcome to all comers, 30, 148, 220, 256
• Wellington, 304
• Welsh border, 38, 43
• Welsh Christmas, 280-2
• Western Church, the, 11
• West Kington, 113
• Westminster, 46, 62, 64, 74, 87, 89, 123
• Westminster Abbey, 38, 51, 123, 140, 193
• Westminster Hall, 46, 60, 64, 68, 78, 93, 118, 123, 226
• Weston, Dr., 118
• West Riding of Yorkshire, 282-4
• West Newton, 263
• Whalley, Colonel, 212
• Wheatley, Mr. W. M., 265
• Whippingham, 262
• White, Sir Thomas, 118
• Whitehall, 118, 154
• Whitelock, 207
• "White Rose of York," 85
• Whittier, J. G., 37
• Wild Boar, 32, 33, 45, 110
• William, Prince of Orange, 220
• William and Mary, 221
• William IV., 258
• William the Almoner, 64
• William the Conqueror, 39
• William, King of Prussia, 35
• William Rufus, 46
• William, son of Henry I., 47
• William of Malmesbury, 49
• William of Ypres, 52
• Williams, 99
• Willoughby, Lord, 82
• Winchester, 31, 34, 37, 47, 65;
  • monks of, 56
• Winchester, Bishop of, 195
• Winchester Palace, 62, 65
• Winchester School, 71
• Windsor, 31, 47, 48, 54, 62, 75, 80, 87, 225, 261
• Wine and honey, 55
• Winer, 13
• Winters, hard, 67, 138, 154-5
• Winter solstice, 15, 29, 295
• Winwood, Mr., 153
• Wise Men (Magi), 11, 19, 28
• Wise Men (the King's), 29, 38, 45
• Witches, 195, 237
• "Wit-combats," 153
• Witenagemot, 29
• Wither, George, 190, 204
• Wizard of Christmas, 310
• Woden, 25, 29
• Wolf, 45
• Wolferton, 263
• Wolley, Sir Francis, 154
• Wolsey, Cardinal, 104, 106, 112
• Women masks, 119
• Wood, Mr., 109, 140, 157
• Woodstock, 226
• Woodville, Elizabeth, 89
• Woodville family, 92
• Woolsthorpe, 204, 266
• Worcester, 52, 60, 67;
  • Earl of, 82, 189
• Workhouse, Christmas at, 288
• Worksop, 87
• Worship in State, 96-7
• Wortley, near Leeds, 291
• Wotton, 200
• Wrestling, 32
• Wright, Thomas, F.S.A., 90
• Wyatt, Sir Thomas, 118
• Wykeham, William of, 71
• Wynh, Lady Williams, 264
• Wynn, Sir W. W., Bart., 264
• Wynnstay Park, 264
• Wyrcester, William, 87, 89

• X
•  
• Xtemas, 9

• Y
•  
• Yeoman, 124
• Yew, 282
• York, 31, 36, 43, 64, 68, 86
• York, Archbishop of, 65, 240
• York, Bishop of, 25
• York, Duchess of, 82
• York, Duke of, the young, 92
• York, wars of, 85
• Yorkshire, 251, 282-4
• Yule, Jule, or Ule, 9, 15, 195, 285
• Yule-log, 1, 268, 302, 319, 345
• "Yuletide," 177, 227, 267, 285

• Z
•  
• Zambombas, 339
• Zanzibar, 288
• Zukkur Kehls, 300