The original mumming was in dumb show, and was sometimes of considerable proportions, _vide_ one in 1348, where there were "eighty tunics of buckram, forty-two visors, and a great variety of other whimsical dresses were provided for the disguising at court at the Feast of Christmas." A most magnificent mummery or disguising was exhibited by the citizens of London in 1377, for the amusement of Richard, Prince of Wales, in which no fewer than 130 persons were disguised; which, with that in 1401, I have already described. Philip Stubbes, the Puritan, says: "In 1440, one captain John Gladman, a man ever true and faithful to God and the King, and constantly sportive, made public disport with his neighbours at Christmas. He traversed the town on a horse as gaily caparisoned as himself, preceded by the twelve months, each dressed in character. After him crept the pale attenuated figure of Lent, clothed in herring skins, and mounted on a sorry horse, whose harness was covered with oyster shells. A train, fantastically garbed, followed. Some were clothed as bears, apes, and wolves; others were tricked out in armour; a number appeared as harridans, with blackened faces and tattered clothes, and all kept up a promiscuous fight. Last of all marched several carts, whereon a number of fellows, dressed as old fools, sat upon nests, and pretended to hatch young fools." We still have our mummers in very many a country village; but the sport is now confined to the village boys, who, either masked or with painted faces, ribbons, and other finery (I have known them tricked out with paper streamers, obtained from a neighbouring paper mill), act a play(!), and, of course, ask for money at its conclusion. By some, it is considered that this play originated in the commemoration of the doughty deeds of the Crusaders. The earliest of these plays that I can find is in a fifteenth century MS.--_temp._ Edward IV.--and the characters are the nine worthies: _Ector de Troye._ Thow Achylles in bataly me slow, Of my worthynes men speken I now. _Alisander._ And in romaunce often am I leyt, As conqueror gret thow I seyt. _Julius Caesar._ Thow my cenatoures me slow in c[=o]llory, Fele londes byfore by conquest wan I. _Josue._ In holy Chyrche 3e mowen here and rede, Of my worthynes and of my dede. _Dauit._ After y^{t} slayn was Golyas, By me the sawter than made was. _Judas Macabeus._ Of my wurthynesse 3yf 3e wyll wete, Secke the byble, for ther it is wrete. _Arthour._ The round tabyll I sette w^{t} Knyghtes strong, Zyt shall I come a3en, thow it be long. _Charles._ With me dwellyd Rouland Olyvere, In all my conquest fer and nere.