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
"Heere the Lord-treasurer made a complaint to the King and the rest of
his councell that his treasure was poore and almost exhausted, so that
without a fresh supply or new subsidy nothing more could bee done. And
that this might not seem an idle complaint, a bill of some of the
particulars and chiefe expences was exhibited, wherein it might
appeare how costly the presedent revels had beene."
The "Bill of Expences" amounted to lxiiij^{li} v^{s} o^{d}.
"This bill beeing seene and allowed, they begane to cast about for
more money, whereuppon a new privy seale was drawn in Latin." "Those
which were served with this writte and obey'd" contributed a total sum
of 5^{li}.
"This beeing not as yet sufficient there was a new subsedy levyed by
the Junior Masters and the rest of the Colledge to the summe of Six
Poundes three shillings, whereuppon finding themselves againe before
hand, and resolving to save nothing for a deare yeare, they proceeded
to new expences and new troubles.
"The Suneday after, beeing the last day of the Vacation and tenth day
of the moneth, two shewes were privately performed in the Lodging, the
one presently after dinner called _Somnium Fundatoris_, viz., the
tradition that wee have concearning the three trees that wee have in
the President his garden. This interlude by the reason of the death of
him that made it, not long after was lost, and so could not bee heere
inserted; but it was very well liked, and so wel deserved, for that it
was both wel penned and well acted.
"Now because before were divers youths whose voyces or personages
would not suffer them to act any thing in publicke, yet withall it was
thought fitt, that in so publicke a buisnes every one should doe some
thing, therefore a mocke play was provided called _The 7 Dayes of the
Weeke_, which was to be performed by them which could do nothing in
earnest, and, that they should bee sure to spoyle nothing, every man's
part was sorted to his person, and it was resolved that the worse it
was done, the better it would be liked, and so it fell out; for the
same day after supper it was presented by one who bore the name of the
Clerke of St. Gyleses, and acted privately in the lodging in manner
and forme following:
THE SEVEN DAYES OF THE WEEKE.
_Interloqutores._
The Clerke of St. Gyleses.
Mooneday.
Tuseday.
Wenesday.
Thurseday.
Frieday.
Satterday.
Suneday.
Night.
Chorus.
A Woman
A Paire of Snuffers.
_Enter the Clerke with all his Acteurs._
Prologue
Clerke.
"I am the poore, though not unlettered, Clerke,
And these your subjects of St. Gyles his parishe,
Who in this officious season would not sharke
But thought to greet your highnesse with a morrice,
Which since my riper judgement thought not fitt,
They have layd down their wisedomes to my witt.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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