Christmas: Its Origin and Associations: Together with Its Historical Events and Festive Celebrations During Nineteen CenturiesDawson, W. F. (William Francis)
History
Christmas: Its Origin and Associations: Together with Its Historical Events and Festive Celebrations During Nineteen Centuries
Dawson, W. F. (William Francis)
Christmas -- History
"The office of the Chief Butler, to provide a rich cupboard of plate,
silver and parcel gilt: seaven dozen of silver and gilt spoons: twelve
fair salt-cellers, likewise silver and gilt: twenty candlesticks of
the like.
"Twelve fine large table cloths, of damask and diaper. Twenty dozen of
napkins suitable at the least. Three dozen of fair large towels;
whereof the Gentleman Sewers, and Butlers of the House, to have every
of them one at mealtimes, during their attendance. Likewise to provide
carving knives; twenty dozen of white cups and green potts: a carving
table; torches; bread, beer, and ale. And the chief of the Butlers was
to give attendance on the highest table in the Hall, with wine, ale
and beer: and all the other Butlers to attend at the other tables in
like sort.
"The cupboard of plate is to remain in the Hall on Christmas Day, St.
Stephen's Day and New Year's Day, from breakfast time ended untill
after supper. Upon the banquetting night it was removed into the
buttry; which in all respects was very laudably performed.
"The office of the Constable Marshall to provide for his employment, a
fair gilt compleat harneys, with a nest of fethers in the helm; a fair
pole-axe to bear in his hand, to be chevalrously ordered on Christmas
Day and other days, as afterwards is shewed; touching the ordering and
settling of all which ceremonies, during the said Grand Christmas, a
solemn consultation was held at their Parliament in this house; in the
form following:
"First, at the Parliament kept in their Parliament Chamber in this
House, on the even at night of St. Thomas the Apostle, officers are to
attend, according as they had been long before that time, at a former
Parliament named and elected to undergo several offices for this time
of solemnity, honour, and pleasance; of which officers these are the
most eminent; namely, the Steward, Marshall, Constable Marshall,
Butler and Master of the Game. These officers are made known and
elected in Trinity Term next before; and to have knowledg thereof by
letters, in the country, to the end they may prepare themselves
against All-Hallow-tide; that, if such nominated officers happen to
fail, others may then be chosen in their rooms. The other officers are
appointed at other times nearer Christmas Day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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