full payment for the disguising made at Christmas,
L14 13s. 4d., and payments for similar purposes occur in the following
years. Another book, also in the Chapter-house, called "The Kyng's
boke of paymentis," contains entries of various sums given to players
and others who assisted to amuse the King at Christmas, and among the
rest, to the Lord of Misrule (or Abbot as he is sometimes called), for
several years, "in rewarde for his besynes in Crestenmes holydays, L6
13s. 4d." The plays at this festival seem to have been acted by the
"gentlemen of the King's Chapell," as there are several liberal
payments to certain of them for playing on Twelfth Night; for
instance, an entry on January 7th, 23 Henry VII., of a reward to five
of them of L6 13s. 4d., for acting before the King on the previous
night; but there was a distinct set of players for other times.

Leland, speaking of 1489, says: "This Cristmas I saw no disgysyngs,
and but right few plays. But ther was an Abbot of Misrule, that made
much sport and did right well his office." In the following year,
however, "on neweres day at nyght, there was a goodly disgysyng," and
"many and dyvers pleyes."

That the Christmas festival did not pass unobserved by the men of this
period who navigated the high seas we know from the name of a Cuban
port which was

A CHRISTMAS DISCOVERY BY CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.

On Christmas Day, 1492, Christopher Columbus, the celebrated Genoese
navigator, landed at a newly-discovered port in Cuba, which he named
Navidad, because he landed there on Christmas Day.

THE FIRE AT THE ROYAL RESIDENCE, SHENE,

was the event of Christmas, 1497. It broke out in the palace,
on the evening of December 21st, while the royal family were
there, and for three hours raged fiercely, destroying, with the
fairest portion of the building, the rich furniture, beds, tapestry,
and other decorations of the principal chambers. Fortunately
an alarm was given in time, and the royal and noble personages
of the Court escaped to a place of safety. In consequence of
this fire the King built the fine new palace of Richmond.

ROYAL CHRISTMASES

were kept by Henry VII. at Westminster Hall with great hospitality,
the King wearing his crown, and feasting numerous guests, loading the
banquet-table with peacocks, swans, herons, conger, sturgeon, brawn,
and all the delicacies of the period. At his ninth Christmas festival
the Mayor and Aldermen of London were feasted with