Page:Marmion - Walter Scott (ed. Bayne, 1889).pdf/311

 commemorated by Olaus Magnus, who says, they danced with such fury, holding each other by the hands, that, if the grasp of any failed, he was pitched into the fire with the velocity of a sling. The sufferer, on such occasions, was instantly plucked out, and obliged to quaff off a certain measure of ale, as a penalty for "spoiling the king's fire."–

1. 33. Scott, after explaining that in Roman Catholic countries mass is never said at night except on Christmas eve, quotes as illustrative of early celebrations of the festival the names and descriptions of the allegorical characters in Jonson's Christmas his Masque.' The personages are Father Christmas himself and his ten sons and daughters, led in by Cupid. 'Baby-Cake,' the youngest child, is misprinted 'Baby-Cocke' in Scott.

1. 45. Post and pair, a game at cards, is one of the sons of Father Christmas in Jonson's Masque. He comes in with a pair royal of aces in his hat; his garment all done over with pairs and purs; his squire carrying a box, cards, and counters.'

1. 55. The reference is to the ancient salt- cellar, which parted superiors from inferiors at table.

1. 75. 'It seems certain that the Mummers of England, who in Northumberland at least) used to go about in disguise to the neighbouring houses, bearing the then useless ploughshares; and the Guisards of Scotland, not yet in total disuse, present, in some in distinct degree, a shadow of the old mysteries, which were the origin of the English drama. In Scotland, (me ipso teste,) we were wont, during my boyhood, to take the characters of the apostles, at least of Peter, Paul, and Judas Iscariot; the first had the keys, the second carried a sword, and the last the bag, in which the dole of our neighbours' plum -cake was deposited. One played as a champion, and recited some traditional rhymes; another was:

. . . ."Alexander, King of Macedon, Who conquer'd all the world but Scotland alone. When he came to Scotland his courage grew cold, To see a little nation courageous and bold."

These, and many such verses, were repeated, but by rote, and unconnectedly. There were also, occasionally, I believe, a Saint George. In all, there was a confused resemblance of the ancient mysteries, in which the characters of Scripture, the Nine Worthies, and other popular personages, were usually exhibited. It were much to be wished that the Chester Mysteries were published from the MS. in the Museum, with the annotations which a diligent in-