recreation and labour upon the Lord's
Day, or Sabbath (like the prelatical Book of Sports), these would want
no observers. Unwillingness to obey, in a multitude, argues generally
the goodnesse of a law, readinesse the contrary, especially in those
laws which have anything of religion in them.' Hence the puritanical
tyrants thought the observation of Christmas Day should be visited in
future years with more severe penalties. A few days after Christmas a
pamphlet was issued under the title of 'The Arraignment, Conviction,
and Imprisonment of Christmas.' A letter from a 'Malignant scholar' in
Oxford, where Christmas had been observed as usual, to 'a Malignant
lady in London,' had contained the promise or threat, according to the
pamphleteer, that the King would shortly appear in London, and restore
to his poor people their old social and religious liberties. 'We shall
soon be in London, and have all things as they were wont.' There was
small chance, six months after Naseby, of the fulfilment of the
prediction. The puritanical pamphleteer, however, owns that it would
be welcome to 'every 'prentice boy,' because the return of the King
would have meant the return of a free Christmas, which he sorely
missed. 'All popish, prelatical, Jesuitical, ignorant, Judaical, and
superstitious persons,' said he, 'ask after the old, old, old, very
old grey-bearded gentleman called Christmas, who was wont to be a very
familiar ghest (_sic_). Whoever finds him again shall be rewarded with
a benediction from the Pope, a hundred oaths from the Cavaliers, forty
kisses from the wanton wenches, and be made pursuivant to the next
Archbishop.' 'The poor,' he added, 'are sorry for it. They go to every
door a-begging, as they were wont to do, 'Good Mistress, somewhat
against this good time.' Instead of going to the alehouse to be
drunke, they are fain to work all the holy dayes.' Again, 'The
schollars come into the hall, where their hungry stomacks had thought
to have found good brawne and Christmas pie, roast-beef and
plum-porridge. But no such matter. Away, ye profane! These are
superstitious meats; your stomacks must be fed with sound doctrine.'"

In the _National Magazine_ (1857), Dr. Doran, on "The Ups and Downs of
Christmas," remarks upon the stout resistance given by the citizens of
London to the order of the Puritan Parliament, that shops should be
opened and churches closed on Christmas Day. "We may have a sermon on
any other day," said the