Page:Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern.djvu/45

 a mock complaint in the character of Father Christmas, he laments the treatment he had received for the last twelve years, and that he was even then but coolly received, adding, “But welcome, or not welcome, I am come;” he says, his “best and freest welcome with some kinde of countrey farmers was in Devonshire,” (in which we may fairly include Cornwall, where the customs are still so zealously preserved,) thus describing his entertainment among them (pp. 7—8).

“After dinner we arose from the boord, and sate by the fire, where the harth was imbrodered all over with roasted apples, piping hot, expecting a bole of ale for a cooler, which immediately was transformed into warm lambwool. After which, we discoursed merily, without either prophaness or obscenity; some went to cards; others sung carols, and pleasant songs (suitable to the times); then the poor laboring Hinds, and Maid-servants, with the plow-boys, went nimbly to dancing; the poor toyling wretches being glad of my company, because they had little or no sport at all till I came amongst them; and therefore they skipped and leaped for joy, singing a carol to the tune of hey,

“Thus at active games, and gambols of hotcockles, shooing the wild mare, and the like harmless sports, some part of the tedious night was spent.”

After the Restoration an effort was made to revive the Christmas amusements at Court at Whitehall, but they do not appear ever to have