nto the Queen's privy chamber, where he sang before her
on Saint Nicholas Day, and upon Holy Innocents Day. After the death of
Mary this silly mummery was totally discontinued."

The Christmas entertainments of Philip and Mary at Richmond are thus
described by Folkstone Williams:[50] "The Queen strove to entertain
her Royal husband with masques, notwithstanding that he had seen many
fair and rich beyond the seas; and Nicholas Udall, the stern
schoolmaster, was ordered to furnish the drama. An idea of these
performances may be gathered from the properties of a masque of
patrons of gallies like Venetian senators with galley-slaves for their
torch-bearers, represented at Court in Christmas of the first and
second years of Philip and Mary, with a Masque of six Venuses, or
amorous ladies, with six Cupids, and as many torch-bearers. Among them
were lions' heads, sixteen other headpieces, made in quaint fashion
for the Turkish magistrates, as well as eight falchions for them, the
sheaths covered with green velvet, and bullioned with copper. There
were eight headpieces for women-masks, goddesses and huntresses. A
masque of eight mariners, of cloth of gold and silver, and six pairs
of chains for the galley slaves. Another mask of goddesses and
huntresses, with Turks, was performed on the following Shrovetide; and
one of six Hercules, or men of war, coming from the sea with six
Mariners to their torch-bearers, was played a little later. Besides
which, we find mention of a masque of covetous men with long noses--a
masque of men like Argus--a masque of women Moors--a masque of
Amazons--one of black and tawney tinsel, with baboons' faces--one of
Polanders, and one of women with Diana hunting."

Nichols ("Progresses," vol. i. p. 18) says that in 1557 the Princess
Elizabeth was present at a Royal Christmas kept with great solemnity
by Queen Mary and King Philip at Hampton Court. "On Christmas Eve, the
great hall of the palace was illuminated with a thousand lamps
curiously disposed. The Princess supped at the same table in the hall
with the King and Queen, next the cloth of state; and after supper,
was served with a perfumed napkin and plates of confects by the Lord
Paget. But she retired to her ladies before the revels, maskings, and
disguisings began. On St. Stephen's day she heard mattins in the
Queen's closet adjoining to the chapel, where she was attired in a
robe of white sattin, strung all over with large pearls. On the 29th