Pinkerton’s “Ancient Scotish Poems,” contain a letter from sir Thomas Randolph, queen Elizabeth’s chamberlain of the Exchequer, to Dudley lord Leicester, dated from Edinburgh on the 15th January, 1563, wherein he mentions, that Lady Flemyng was “Queen of the _Beene_” on Twelfth-day in that year: and in Ben Jonson’s Masque of Christmas, Baby-cake, one of the characters, is attended by “an Usher, bearing a great cake with a bean, and a pease.” Herrick, the poet of our festivals, has several allusions to the celebration of this day by our ancestors: the poem here subjoined, recognises its customs with strict adherence to truth, and in pleasant strains of joyousness. TWELFE-NIGHT, OR KING AND QUEENE. Now, now the mirth comes With the cake full of plums, Where beane’s the king of the sport here, Beside, we must know, The pea also Must revell, as queene in the court here. Begin then to chuse, This night as ye use, Who shall for the present delight here, Be a king by the lot, And who shall not Be Twelfe-day queene for the night here. Which knowne, let us make Joy-sops with the cake; And let not a man then be seen here, Who unurg’d will not drinke, To the base from the brink, A health to the king and the queene here. Next crowne the bowle ful. With gentle lambs-wooll; Adde sugar, nutmeg, and ginger, With store of ale, too; And thus ye must doe To make the wassaile a swinger. Give them to the king And queene wassailing; And though with ale ye be whet here; Yet part ye from hence, As free from offence, As when ye innocent met here. A citation by Brand represents the ancient Twelfth-night-cake to have been composed of flour, honey, ginger, and pepper. The maker thrust in, at random, a small coin as she was kneading it. When baked, it was divided into as many parts as there were persons in the family, and each had his share. Portions of it were also assigned to Christ, the Virgin, and the three Magi, and were given in alms. * * * * * On Twelfth-day the people of Germany and the students of its academies chose a king with great ceremony and sumptuous feastings.