at his girdle is a black pouch.

When Henry VIII. became old and inactive, his Christmases grew
gradually duller, until he did little more than sit out a play or two,
and gamble with his courtiers, his Christmas play-money requiring a
special draught upon the treasury, usually for a hundred pounds. He
died on January 28, 1547.

[34] "Book of Days," Edinburgh.

[35] Williams's "Domestic Memoirs of the Royal Family and
of the Court of England."

[36] Chaucer.

[37] "William's Domestic Memoirs."

[38] Nichols's "Progresses of Queen Elizabeth."

[39] "Recollections of Royalty," by Mr. Charles C. Jones,
1828.

[40] "Sports and Pastimes."

[41] Introduction to "Christmas Carols."

[42] Hall's "Chronicle."

[43] Baker's "Chronicle."

[44] Hall's "Chronicle."

[45] Peter Bayne, LL. D.

[46] Wood's "Athenae Oxonienses."

[47] "History of English Poetry."

[48] Dugdale, "Origines Juridiciales."

_CHAPTER VII._

CHRISTMAS UNDER EDWARD VI., MARY, AND ELIZABETH.

(1547-1603.)

CHRISTMAS UNDER KING EDWARD VI.--GEORGE FERRERS
"MASTER OF THE KING'S PASTIMES."

During the short reign of the youthful monarch Edward the Sixth
(1547-1553), the splendour of the Royal Christmases somewhat abated,
though they were still continued; and the King being much grieved at
the condemnation of the Duke of Somerset, his uncle and Protector, it
was thought expedient to divert his mind by additional pastimes at the
Christmas festival, 1551-2. "It was devised," says Holinshed, "that
the feast of Christ's nativitie, commonlie called Christmasse, then at
hand, should be solemnlie kept at Greenwich, with open houshold, and
franke resort to Court (which is called keeping of the hall), what
time of old ordinarie course there is alwaise one appointed to make
sport in the court, commonlie Lord of Misrule; whose office is not
unknown to such as have been brought up in noblemen's houses, and
among great housekeepers, who use liberall feasting in that season.
There was therefore by order of the Councell, a wise gentleman, and
learned, named George Ferrers, appointed to that office for this
yeare; who, being of better credit and estimation than comonlie his
predecessors had been before, received all his commissions and
warrants by the name of the maister of the King's pastimes. Which
gentleman so well supplied his office, both in show of sundry sights
and devi