e
He played so truly."

The Shakespearian period had its grand Christmases, for

THE CHRISTMAS PLAYERS

at the Court of Queen Elizabeth included England's greatest dramatist,
William Shakespeare; and the Queen not only took delight in witnessing
Shakespeare's plays, but also admired the poet as a player. The
histrionic ability of Shakespeare was by no means contemptible, though
probably not such as to have transmitted his name to posterity had he
confined himself exclusively to acting. Rowe informs us that "the
tip-top of his performances was the ghost in his own _Hamlet_;" but
Aubrey states that he "did act exceedingly well"; and Cheetle, a
contemporary of the poet, who had seen him perform, assures us that he
was "excellent in the quality he professed." An anecdote is preserved
in connection with Shakespeare's playing before Queen Elizabeth. While
he was taking the part of a king, in the presence of the Queen,
Elizabeth rose, and, in crossing the stage, dropped her glove as she
passed the poet. No notice was taken by him of the incident; and the
Queen, desirous of finding out whether this was the result of
inadvertence, or a determination to preserve the consistency of his
part, moved again towards him, and again dropped her glove.
Shakespeare then stooped down to pick it up, saying, in the character
of the monarch whom he was playing--

"And though now bent on this high embassy,
Yet stoop we to take up our cousin's glove."

He then retired and presented the glove to the Queen, who was highly
pleased with his courtly performance.

GRAND CHRISTMAS AT GRAY'S INN.

In 1594 there was a celebrated Christmas at Gray's Inn, of which an
account was published in 1688 under the following title:--

"Gesta Grayorum: or the History of the High and Mighty Prince, Henry
Prince of Purpoole, Arch-Duke of Stapulia and Bernardia, Duke of High
and Nether Holborn, Marquis of St. Giles and Tottenham, Count
Palatine of Bloomsbury and Clerkenwell, Great Lord of the Cantons of
Islington, Kentish-Town, Paddington, and Knights-bridge, Knight of the
most Heroical Order of the Helmet, and Sovereign of the same; Who
Reigned and Died, A.D. 1594. Together with a Masque, as it was
presented (by his Highness's Command) for the entertainment of Q.
Elizabeth; who, with the Nobles of both Courts, was present thereat.
London, Printed for W. Canning, at his shop in the Temple-Cloysters,
MDCLXXXVIII. Price one shilling." 4to nine sheet