A Righte Merrie Christmasse The Story of Christ-Tide   By: John Ashton (1834-1911)

The Story of Christ tide

By John Ashton. Copperplate Etching of "The Wassail Song," by Arthur C. Behrend.

London: published by the Leadenhall Press, Ltd., 50 Leadenhall Street; Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Ltd. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 153 157 Fifth Avenue.

The Leadenhall Press Ltd. London [1894]

[Transcriber's Notes:

This text contains passages using the Anglo Saxon thorn (Þ or þ, equivalent of "th"), which should display properly in most text viewers. The Anglo Saxon yogh (equivalent of "y," "i," "g," or "gh") will display properly only if the user has the proper font, so to maximize accessibility, the character "3" is used in this e text to represent the yogh.

Characters with a macron are preceded by an equal sign and enclosed in square brackets, e.g., [=a].

Superscripted characters are preceded by a carat and enclosed in curly brackets, e.g., y^{t}.]

[Illustration: The Wassail Song]

TO THE READER

I do not craue mo thankes to haue, than geuen to me all ready be; but this is all, to such as shall peruse this booke. That, for my sake, they gently take what ere they finde against their minde, when he, or she, shal minded be therein to looke.

Tusser.

A righte Merrie Christmasse!!!

PREFACE

It is with a view of preserving the memory of Christmas that I have written this book.

In it the reader will find its History, Legends, Folk lore, Customs, and Carols in fact, an epitome of Old Christ tide, forming a volume which, it is hoped, will be found full of interest.

JOHN ASHTON.

A righte Merrie Christmasse!!!

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

Date of Christ's Birth discussed Opinions of the Fathers The Eastern Church and Christ tide Error in Chronology Roman Saturnalia Scandinavian Yule Duration of Christ tide 1

CHAPTER II

Historic Christ tides in 790, 878, and 1065 William I., 1066 1085 William II. Henry I., 1127 Stephen Henry II., 1158 1171 Richard I., 1190 John, 1200 Henry III., 1253 Edwards I., II., and III. Richard II., 1377 1398 Henry IV. V., 1418 Henry VIII., his magnificent Christ tides 9

CHAPTER III

Historic Christ tides Edward VI., 1551 Mary Elizabeth James I. The Puritans The Pilgrim Fathers Christmas's Lamentation Christ tide in the Navy, 1625 19

CHAPTER IV

Attempts of Puritans to put down Christ tide Attitude of the people Preaching before Parliament "The arraignment, etc., of Christmas" 26

CHAPTER V

The popular love of Christmas Riots at Ealing and Canterbury Evelyn's Christmas days, 1652, '3, '4, '5, '7, Cromwell and Christ tide The Restoration Pepys and Christmas day, 1662 "The Examination and Tryal of old Father Christmas" 34

CHAPTER VI

Commencement of Christ tide "O Sapientia!" St. Thomas's day William the Conqueror and the City of York Providing for Christmas fare Charities of food Bull baiting Christ tide charities Going "a Thomassing," etc. Superstitions of the day 45

CHAPTER VII

Paddington Charity (Bread and Cheese Lands) Barring out at Schools Interesting narrative 53

CHAPTER VIII

The Bellman Descriptions of him His verses. The Waits Their origin Ned Ward on them Corporation Waits York Waits (17th century) Essay on Waits Westminster Waits Modern Waits 63

CHAPTER IX

Christ tide Carols The days of Yule A Carol for Christ tide "Lullaby" The Cherry tree Carol Dives and Lazarus 70

CHAPTER X

Christmas Eve Herrick thereon The Yule Log Folk lore thereon The Ashen Faggot Christmas Candles Christmas Eve in the Isle of Man Hunting the Wren Divination by Onions and Sage A Custom at Aston "The Mock" Decorations and Kissing Bunch "Black Ball" Guisers and Waits Ale Posset 75

CHAPTER XI