When Christmas is ended, bid feasting adue, Goe play the good husband, thy stock to renue: Be mindful of rearing, in hope of a gaine, Dame Profit shall give thee reward for thy paine. This was the recommendation of prudence tempered by kindness; a desire for diligence in the husbandman, with an allowance of reasonable pastime to sweeten his labour. From Naogeorgus, in “The Popish Kingdome,” a poem before quoted, and which will be frequently referred to for its lore regarding our ancient customs, it is to be gathered, that the king of Twelfth-night, after the manner of royalty, appointed his officers. He himself attained his dignity thus: Then also every householder, to his abilitie, Doth make a mightie cake, that may suffice his companie: Herein a pennie doth he put, before it come to fire, This he divides according as his householde doth require, And every peece distributeth, as round about they stand, Which in their names unto the poore is given out of hand. But who so chaunceth on the peece wherein the money lies, Is counted king amongst them all, and is with showtes and cries Exalted to the heavens up. Mr. Fosbroke notices, that “the cake was full of plums, with a bean in it for the king, and a pea for the queen, so as to determine them by the slices. Sometimes a penny was put in the cake, and the person who obtained it, becoming king, crossed all the beams and rafters of the house against devils. A chafing-dish with burning frankincense was also lit, and the odour snuffed up by the whole family, to keep off disease for the year. After this, the master and mistress went round the house with the pan, a taper, and a loaf, against witchcraft.” So far Mr. Fosbroke abridges Naogeorgus’s account, which goes on to say, that --in these dayes beside, They judge what weather all the yeare shall happen and betide: Ascribing to each day a month, and at this present time, The youth in every place doe flocke, and all apparel’d fine, With pypars through the streetes they runne, and singe at every dore. * * * * * There cities are, where boyes and gyrles, together still do runne, About the streete with like, as soone as night beginnes to come, And bring abrode their wassel bowles, who well rewarded bee, With cakes and cheese, and great good cheare, and money plenteouslee. Queen Elizabeth’s Progresses by Mr. Nichols, contain an entertainment to her at Sudley, wherein were Melibæus, the King of the Bean, and Nisa, the queen of the Pea. “_Mel._ Cut the cake: who hath the _beane_, shall be King; and where the _peaze_ is, she shall be Queene. “_Nis._ I have the _peaze_, and must be Queene. “_Mel._ I have the _beane_, and King; I must commande.”