red feathers, with a cape of camlet thrum. A coat
of flat silver, fine with works, 5 yards at 50s., with an embroidered
garb of leaves of gold and coloured silk, containing 15 yards at 20s.
a yard. He wore a cap of maintenance, hose buskins, panticles of
Bruges satin, a girdle of yellow sarsenet with various decorations,
the cost of his dress being L52 8s. 8d., which, considering the
relative value of money, must be considered a very costly dress.

The office which George Ferrers so ably filled had been too often held
by those who possessed neither the wit nor the genius it required;
but, originally, persons of high rank and ability had been chosen to
perform these somewhat difficult duties. Ferrers received L100 for the
charges of his office; and afterwards the Lord Mayor, who probably had
been at the Royal festival, entertained him in London. The cost of the
Royal festivities exceeded L700.

Stowe, in his "Annals," thus refers to the celebration: "The King kept
his Christmasse with open houshold at Greenwich, George Ferrers,
Gentleman of Lincolnes Inne, being Lord of the merry Disports all the
12 dayes, who so pleasantly and wisely behaved himselfe, that the King
had great delight in his pastimes. On Monday the fourth of January,
the said Lord of Merry Disports came by water to London, and landed at
the Tower-wharfe, entered the Tower, and then rode through the
Tower-streete, where he was received by Sergeant Vawce, Lord of
Misrule to John Mainard, one of the Sheriffes of London, and so
conducted through the Citie with a great company of young Lords and
gentlemen, to the house of Sir George Barne, Lord Maior; where he,
with the chiefe of his company dined, and after had a great banquet;
and, at his departure, the Lord Maior gave him a standing cup, with a
cover of silver and gilt, of the value of ten pounds, for a reward;
and also set a hogs-head of wine, and a barrell of beere, at his
gate, for his traine that followed him; the residue of his gentlemen
and servants dined at other Aldermen's houses, and with the sheriffes,
and so departed to the Tower wharfe againe, and to the Court by water,
to the great commendation of the Maior and Aldermen, and highly
accepted of the King and Councell."

RELIGIOUS MATTERS

occupied public attention throughout the reign of Edward VI.
The young king was willing to support the reforming projects of
Archbishop Cranmer, and assented to the publication of the new Liturgy
in the