rdinal Wolsey, conscience-smitten, thought this
to be a reflection on himself, and deprived the author, Sergeant Roe,
of his coif, and committed him to the Fleet, together with Thomas
Moyle, one of the actors, until it was satisfactorily explained to
him.

It was found necessary from time to time to make regulations to limit
the extent of these revels and plays, and to provide for the expenses,
which were considerable, and they were therefore not performed every
year. In 1531 the Lincoln's Inn Society agreed that if the two Temples
kept Christmas, they would also do so, not liking to be outdone. And
later an order was made in Gray's Inn that no Comedies, commonly
called Interludes, should be acted in the refectory in the intervals
of vacation, except at the celebration of Christmas; and that then the
whole body of students should jointly contribute towards the dresses,
scenes, and decorations.

As an example of the Christmas hospitality of the period, we refer to
the establishment of John Carminow, whose family was of high repute in
the county of Cornwall in the time of Henry the Eighth. Hals says that
"he kept open house for all comers and goers, drinkers, minstrells,
dancers, and what not, during the Christmas time, and that his usual
allowance of provision for those twelve days, was twelve fat bullocks,
twenty Cornish bushels of wheat (_i.e._, fifty Winchesters),
thirty-six sheep, with hogs, lambs, and fowls of all sort, and drink
made of wheat and oat-malt proportionable; for at that time
barley-malt was little known or used in those parts."

That the beneficed clergy of this period also "made merry" with their
parishioners is quite clear from the writings of "Master Hugh
Latimer," who, in Henry's reign, held the benefice of West Kington, in
Wiltshire. A citation for heresy being issued against Latimer, he
wrote with his peculiar medley of humour and pathos: "I intend to make
merry with my parishioners this Christmas, for all the sorrow, lest
perchance I may never return to them again."

One of the most celebrated personages of this period was

WILL SOMERS, THE KING'S JESTER.

This famous fool enlivened the Christmas festivities at the Court of
Henry the Eighth, and many quaint stories are told of his drolleries
and witticisms. Though a reputed fool, his sarcastic wit and sparkling
talents at repartee won him great celebrity. Very little is known of
his actual biography, but some interesting things are told