roses, as the prize of valour in a tournament which
succeeded the pageant."[39]

CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES OF NOBLEMEN AND OTHERS.

The royal magnificence was imitated by the nobility and gentry of the
period, who kept the Christmas festival with much display and
prodigality, maintaining such numerous retinues as to constitute a
miniature court. The various household books that still exist show the
state in which they lived. From that of the Northumberland family
(1512), it appears that the "Almonar" was often "a maker of
Interludys," and had "a servaunt to the intent for writynge the
parts." The persons on the establishment of the Chapel performed plays
from some sacred subject during Christmas; as "My lorde usith and
accustomyth to gyf yerely, if his lordship kepe a chapell and be at
home, them of his lordschipes chapell, if they doo play the Play of
the Nativitie uppon Cristynmes day in the mornnynge in my lords
chapell befor his lordship, xxs." Other players were also permitted
and encouraged, and a Master of the Revells appointed to superintend.
And "My lorde useth and accustomyth yerly to gyf hym which is ordynede
to be Master of the Revells yerly in my lordis hous in Cristmas for
the overseyinge and orderinge of his lordschips Playes, Interludes,
and Dresinge that is plaid befor his lordship in his hous in the XII
dayes of Christenmas, and they to have in rewarde for that caus yerly,
xxs." Another entry shows that 13s. 4d. was the price paid to the
chaplain, William Peres, in the 17th Henry VIII., "for makyng an
Enterlued to be playd this next Christenmas."

In this reign the working classes were allowed greater privileges at
Christmas than at any other part of the year. The Act of 11 Henry VII.
c. 2, against unlawful games, expressly forbids Artificers, Labourers,
Servants, or Apprentices, to play at any such games, except at
Christmas, and then only in their masters' houses by the permission of
the latter; and a penalty of 6s. 8d. was incurred by any householder
allowing such games, except during those holidays; which, according to
Stow, extended from All-hallows evening to the day after Candlemas
Day. The Act of 33 Henry VIII. c. 9, enacts more particularly, "That
no manner of Artificer or Craftsman of any handicraft or occupation,
Husbandman, Apprentice, Labourer, Servant at husbandry, Journeyman, or
Servant of Artificer, Mariners, Fishermen, Watermen, or any
Serving-man, shall from the said feast of the Nat