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
"For all these Subsidies at home, and helpes abroad, yet it was founde
that in the ende there would rather be want (as indeed it happened)
than any superfluitye, and therfore the Prince tooke order with the
Bowsers to send out warrantes to all the Tenantes & other friendes of
the Colledge, that they should send in extraordinary provision against
every Feast, which accordingly was performed; some sendinge money,
some wine, some venison, some other provision, every one accordinge to
his abilitye.
"All thinges beinge thus sufficiently (as it was thought) provided
for, the Councell table, with the Lord himself, mett together to
nominate officers & to appoint the day of the Prince's publike
installment which was agreed should be on St. Andrews Day at night;
because at that time the Colledge allso was to chouse their new
officers for the yeare followinge.
"Now for that they would not playnely and barely install him without
any farther ceremonies, it was thought fitt that his whole ensuinge
Regiment (for good lucke sake) should be consecrated to the _Deitie of
Fortune_, as the sole Mistres and Patronesse of his estate, and
therfore a schollerlike devise called _Ara Fortunae_ was provided for
his installment; which was performed in manner & forme followinge:
ARA FORTUNAE.
_Inter-locutores._
Princeps.
Fortuna.
Tolmaea.
Thesaurarius.
Camerarius.
Jurisconsultus.
Philosophus.
Rusticus.
Stultus.
Rebellis Primus.
---- Secundus.
---- Tertius.
---- Quartus.
Nuncius.
* * * * *
[The Drama is not given on account of its length. And it will be
remarked that, whenever asterisks are substituted, some portion of the
MS. has been omitted.]
"This showe by ourselves was not thought worthye of a stage or
scaffoldes, and therfore after supper the tables were onlye sett
together, which was not done with out great toyle & difficulty, by
reason of the great multitude of people (which, by the default of the
dorekeepers, and divers others, every man bringinge in his friends)
had filled the Hall before wee thought of it. But for all this it
began before 8 of clock, and was well liked by the whole audience,
who, how unrulye so ever they meante to bee afterwardes, resolved I
think at first with their good applause and quiet behaviour to drawe
us on so farr, as wee should not bee able to returne backwardes
without shame & discreditt. They gave us at the ende 4 severall &
generall plaudites; at the 2 wherof the Canopie which hunge over the
Altare of Fortune (as it had been frighted with the noise, or meante
to signifie that 2 plaudites were as much as it deserved) suddenly
fell downe; but it was cleanly supported by some of the standers by
till the company was voyded, that none but our selves took notice of
it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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