Page:Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern.djvu/78



“By Christofer Gyles, a Cutler, a meate knyf with a feyer hafte of white bone; a conceyte in it.

“By Morgan, Apotticary, thre boxes, one of gynger candy, another of grene gynger, and the thirde orenge candit.

“By Smyth, Dustman, two boltes of cameryck.

All persons who made her these gifts, had in general gifts in “guilte plate” of different value in return.

In 1578—9 is the following :—“ By Morrys Watkins, eighteen larkes in a cage :“ in reward for these Watkins had 20s.

In 1581—2, “Item, a juell of golde, being a catt, and myce playing with her, garnished with smale dyamondes and perle. Geven by the Lady Howarde.

“Item, a flower of golde, garnished with sparcks of diamonds, rubyes, and ophales, with an agathe of her Majestis phisnamy, and a perle pendante, with devices painted in it. Geven by Eight Maskers in Christmas-weeke.”

I have understood that the practice was continued up to the time of George III.; and Brand mentions that in his time the nobility used to send the King a purse with gold in it. And until these few years past there was a remnant left, in a custom of putting a crown-piece under the plates of the chaplains in waiting at dinner; but the crown-pieces have latterly gone after the plum-porridge.

Formerly, tenants used to make presents at this time to their landlords, frequently a capon, or something of similar value, and the custom still partially exists. Richard Evelyn, Esq. High Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex in 1634, held a splendid Christmas at his mansion at Wotton, having a regular Lord of Misrule for the occasion; and it appears it was then the custom for the neighbours to send