: and all the other Butlers to attend at the other tables in
like sort.

"The cupboard of plate is to remain in the Hall on Christmas Day, St.
Stephen's Day and New Year's Day, from breakfast time ended untill
after supper. Upon the banquetting night it was removed into the
buttry; which in all respects was very laudably performed.

"The office of the Constable Marshall to provide for his employment, a
fair gilt compleat harneys, with a nest of fethers in the helm; a fair
pole-axe to bear in his hand, to be chevalrously ordered on Christmas
Day and other days, as afterwards is shewed; touching the ordering and
settling of all which ceremonies, during the said Grand Christmas, a
solemn consultation was held at their Parliament in this house; in the
form following:

"First, at the Parliament kept in their Parliament Chamber in this
House, on the even at night of St. Thomas the Apostle, officers are to
attend, according as they had been long before that time, at a former
Parliament named and elected to undergo several offices for this time
of solemnity, honour, and pleasance; of which officers these are the
most eminent; namely, the Steward, Marshall, Constable Marshall,
Butler and Master of the Game. These officers are made known and
elected in Trinity Term next before; and to have knowledg thereof by
letters, in the country, to the end they may prepare themselves
against All-Hallow-tide; that, if such nominated officers happen to
fail, others may then be chosen in their rooms. The other officers are
appointed at other times nearer Christmas Day.

"If the Steward, or any of the said officers named in Trinity Term,
refuse or fail, he or they were fined every one, at the discretion of
the Bench; and the officers aforenamed agreed upon. And at such a
Parliament, if it be fully resolved to proceed with such a Grand
Christmas, then the two youngest Butlers must light two torches, and
go before the Bench to the upper end of the Hall; who being set down,
the antientest Bencher delivereth a speech briefly, to the whole
society of Gentlemen then present, touching their consent as afore:
which ended, the eldest Butler is to publish all the officers' names,
appointed in Parliament; and then in token of joy and good-liking, the
Bench and Company pass beneath the harth, and sing a carol, and so to
boyer.

"_Christmas Eve._--The Marshall at dinner is to place at the highest
table's end, and next to the Library, all on one side th