that on Twelfth Day, 1559, in the afternoon, the
Lord Mayor and Aldermen, and all the crafts of London, and the
Bachelors of the Mayor's Company, went in procession to St. Paul's,
after the old custom, and there did hear a sermon. The same day a
stage was set up in the hall for a play; and after the play was over,
there was a fine mask; and, afterwards, a great banquet which lasted
till midnight.

In this reign a more decorous and even refined style of entertainment
had usurped the place of the boisterous feastings of former times, but
there was no diminution in that ancient spirit of hospitality, the
exercise of which had become a part of the national faith. This is
evident from the poems of Thomas Tusser (born 1515--died 1580) and
other writers, who show that the English noblemen and yeomen of that
time made hospitality a prominent feature in the festivities of the
Christmas season. In his "Christmas Husbandry Fare," Tusser says:--

"Good husband and housewife, now chiefly be glad
Things handsome to have, as they ought to be had,
They both do provide against Christmas do come,
To welcome their neighbour, good cheer to have some;
Good bread and good drink, a good fire in the hall,
Brawn pudding and souse, and good mustard withal.

Beef, mutton, and pork, shred pies of the best,
Pig, veal, goose, and capon, and turkey well dressed;
Cheese, apples, and nuts, jolly carols to hear,
As then in the country is counted good cheer.

What cost to good husband is any of this?
Good household provision only it is;
Of other the like I do leave out a many,
That costeth the husbandman never a penny."

[Illustration]

GRAND CHRISTMAS OF THE INNER TEMPLE, 1561-2.

Professor Henry Morley[53] says the first English tragedy, "Gorboduc,"
was written for the Christmas festivities of the Inner Temple in the
year 1561 by two young members of that Inn--Thomas Norton, then
twenty-nine years old, and Thomas Sackville, then aged twenty-five.
And the play was performed at this "Grand Christmass" kept by the
members of the Inner Temple. Before a "Grand Christmas" was kept the
matter was discussed in a parliament of the Inn, held on the eve of
St. Thomas's Day, December 21st. If it was resolved upon, the two
youngest of those who served as butlers for the festival lighted two
torches, with which they preceded the benchers to the upper end of the
hall. The senior bencher there made a speech; officers were appoin