Calamy in his sermon said, "This day is the day which is commonly called the Feast of Christ's Nativity, or Christmas Day, a day that hath hitherto been much abused in superstition and profaneness. I have known some that have preferred Christmas Day before the Lord's Day, and have cried down the Lord's Day and cried up Christmas Day. I have known those that would be sure to receive the Sacrament on Christmas Day though they did not receive it all the year after. This was the superstition of this day, and the profaneness was as great. There were some that did not play cards all the year long, yet they must play at Christmas. This year, God, by a providence hath buried this Feast in a Fast, and I hope it will never rise again. You have set out, Right Honourable, a strict Order for the keeping of it, and you are here to-day to observe your own Order, and I hope you will do it strictly." And he finished with a prayer, in which he begged they might have grace "to be humbled, especially for the old superstition and profaneness of this Feast." But although the English people were crushed for a time under the iron heel of the Puritan boot, they had no sympathy with their masters, nor their ways--_vide_ the rebound, immediately after Oliver Cromwell's death, and the return to the old state of things, which has never altered since, except as a matter of fashion. Yet, even then, there were protests against this effacement of Christ-tide, and many have been handed down to us, differing naturally very much in style. One really amusing one has the merit of being short: and when the reader of this book has perused it, I believe he will thank me for having reproduced it. It is-- "THE ARRAIGNMENT Conviction and Imprisonment of CHRISTMAS On _S. Thomas Day_ last, And How he broke out of Prison in the Holidayes and got away, onely left his hoary hair, and gray beard, sticking between two Iron Bars of a Window. With An Hue and Cry after CHRISTMAS, and a Letter from _Mr. Woodcock_, a Fellow in Oxford, to a Malignant Lady in LONDON. And divers passages between the Lady and the Cryer, about Old Christmas: And what shift he was fain to make to save his life, and great stir to fetch him back again. With divers other Witty Passages. Printed by _Simon Minc'd Pye_, for _Cissely Plum-Porridge_; And are to be sold by _Ralph Fidler_, Chandler, at the signe of the _Pack of Cards_ in _Mustard-Alley_, in _Brawn Street_. 1645." This little Tract commenced with the supposed Letter, "Lady,