d pious a work."

Among the single sheets in the British Museum is an order of
Parliament, dated the 24th of December, 1652, directing,

"That no observation shall be had of the five and twentieth day of
December, commonly called Christmas Day; nor any solemnity used or
exercised in churches upon that day in respect thereof."

Referring to the celebration of Christmas Day in 1657, Evelyn says:--

"I went to London with my wife to celebrate Christmas Day, Mr. Gunning
preaching in Exeter Chapel, on Micah vii. 2. Sermon ended; as he was
giving us the Holy Sacrament the chapel was surrounded with soldiers,
and all the communicants and assembly surprised and kept prisoners by
them, some in the house, others carried away. It fell to my share to
be confined to a room in the house, where yet I was permitted to dine
with the master of it, the Countess of Dorset, Lady Hatton, and some
others of quality who invited me. In the afternoon came Colonel
Whalley, Goffe, and others from Whitehall to examine us one by one;
some they committed to the Marshal, some to prison. When I came before
them they took my name and abode, examined me why, contrary to the
ordinance made that none should any longer observe the superstitious
time of the Nativity (as esteemed by them), I durst offend, and
particularly be at Common Prayers, which they told me was but the mass
in English, and particularly pray for Charles Stuart, for which we had
no Scripture. I told them we did not pray for Charles Stuart, but for
all Christian kings, princes, and governors. They replied, in so doing
we prayed for the King of Spain too, who was their enemy and a Papist;
with other frivolous and ensnaring questions and much threatening,
and, finding no colour to detain me, they dismissed me with much pity
of my ignorance. These were men of high flight and above ordinances,
and spake spiteful things of our Lord's Nativity. As we went up to
receive the sacrament the miscreants held their muskets against us, as
if they would have shot us at the altar, but yet suffering us to
finish the office of communion, as perhaps not having instructions
what to do in case they found us in that action; so I got home late
the next day, blessed be God!"

Notwithstanding the adverse acts of the Puritans, however, and the
suppression of Christmas observances in high places, the old customs
and festivities were still observed in different parts of the country,
though with less ostentation t