Page:Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern.djvu/28

 payments are made to the same Gybson in after years for the same purpose, particularly in the 11th, for the revells, called a Maskelyn.

In the 10th year large rewards were given to the gentlemen and children of the King’s Chapel; the former having £13. 6s. 8d. for their good attendance in Xtemas; and “Mr. Cornisse for playing affore the king opon newyeres day at nyght with the children,” £6. 13s. 4d.

In the 17th year of this reign (1525) there was a great sickness and mortality in London, and the King therefore kept his Christmas quietly at Eltham, whence it was called the “still Christmas.” This however did not satisfy the haughty Cardinal Wolsey, who “laye at the Manor of Richemond, and there kept open housholde, to lordes, ladies, and all other that would come, with plaies and disguisyng in most royall maner; whiche sore greued the people, and in especiall the kynges seruauntes, to se hym kepe an open Court, and the kyng a secret Court.”

The King made himself amends for this cessation by the festivities of subsequent years, and Greenwich was frequently resorted to during this season. In 1527 there was a “solemne Christmas” held there “with revels, maskes, disguisings, and banquets; and the thirtieth of December, and third of January were solemne Justs holden, when at night the King and fifteen other with him, came to Bridewel, and there putting on masking apparell, took his barge, and rowed to the Cardinalls (Woolsey) place, where were at supper many Lords and Ladyes, who danced with the maskers, and after the dancing was made a great Banquet.”

The lower classes still practising the ceremonies