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
which took place on Twelfth Night, 1610, at the palace of Whitehall,
in the presence of King James I. and his queen, and a brilliant
assemblage of lords, ladies, and gentlemen, among whom were several
foreign ambassadors, when the heir-apparent, Prince Henry, was in the
16th year of his age, and therefore arrived at the period for claiming
the principality of Wales and the duchy of Cornwall. It was granted to
him by the king and the High Court of Parliament, and the 4th of June
following appointed for his investiture: "the Christmas before which,"
Sir Charles Cornwallis says, "his highnesse, not onely for his owne
recreation, but also that the world might know what a brave prince
they were likely to enjoy, under the name of Meliades, lord of the
isles, (an ancient title due to the first born of Scotland,) did, in
his name, by some appointed for the same purpose, strangely attired,
accompanied with drummes and trumpets, in the presence, before the
king and queene, and in the presence of the whole Court, deliver a
challenge to all knights of Great Britaine." The challenge was to this
effect, "That Meliades, their noble master, burning with an earnest
desire to trie the valour of his young yeares in foraigne countryes,
and to know where vertue triumphed most, had sent them abroad to espy
the same, who, after their long travailes in all countreys, and
returne," had nowhere discovered it, "save in the fortunate isle of
Great Britaine: which ministring matter of exceeding joy to their
young Meliades, who (as they said) could lineally derive his pedegree
from the famous knights of this isle, was the cause that he had now
sent to present the first fruits of his chivalrie at his majesties'
feete: then after returning with a short speech to her majestie, next
to the earles, lords, and knights, excusing their lord in this their
so sudden and short warning, and, lastly, to the ladies; they, after
humble delivery of their chartle concerning time, place, conditions,
number of weapons and assailants, tooke their leave, departing
solemnly as they entered."
Then preparations began to be made for this great fight, and each was
happy who found himself admitted for a defendant, much more an
assailant. "At last to encounter his highness, six assailants, and
fifty-eight defendants, consisting of earles, barons, knights, and
esquires, were appointed and chosen; eight defendants to one
assailant, every assailant being to fight by turnes eight several
times fighting, two every time with push and pike of sword, twelve
strokes at a time; after which, the barre for separation was to be let
downe until a fresh onset." The summons ran in these words:
"To our verie loving good ffreind sir Gilbert Loughton, knight, geave
theis with speed:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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