In his The Anatomie of Abuses (1583.) the Puritan Philip Stubbes is a source of our more particular information on Pagan holdovers in the Catholic celebrations of the Christmas season that were handed along to the Anglican celebrations. Also of more timeless customs like playing at cards, gambling with dice, bowling, playing tennis, etc. These pastimes were against the law for common folk during most of the 16th century.... except during the Christmas holidays.
The one bit of translation necessary in order to appreciate these texts, however, is to turn the tone of disapproval into one of celebration and joy.
As for cards, dice, tables, bowls, tennisse, and such like, they are furta officiosa, a certain kind of smooth, deceiptfull, and sleightie theft, wherby many a one is spoiled of all that ever he hath, sometimes of his life withal, yea, of body and soul for ever. And yet (more is the pitie) these be the onely exercyses used in every man's howse, all the yeer through; But specially in Christmas tyme, there is nothing else used but cards, dice, tables, masking, mumming, bowling, & such like fooleries. And the reason is, they think they have a commission and prerogative that time to do what they lust, and to follow what vanitie they will.
Tellingly, what were not only lawful but encouraged during sabaths and festive times throughout the year were archery competitions. The English armies depended heavily on the use of the long bow and the law was intended to keep up the stock and quality of archers.
More in the line of Pagan practice was the Lord of Misrule selected each year to preside over the houses of the king and nobles and the environs of many colleges and even church parishes during the days of Christmas.The tradition was so popular that we will be reading further accounts in the weeks ahead. All will be far more festive and approving than Stubbes's but not necessarily more detailed.
First, all the wild heads of the parishe, conventing together, choose them a grand Capitaine (of mischief) whom they ennoble with the title of my Lord of Misrule, and hym they crown with great solemnitie, and adopt for their kyng. This kyng anoynted, chooseth for the twentie, fourtie, three score, or a hundred lustie guts like to hymself, to waite uppon his lordly majestie, and to guarde his noble person. Then every one of these his men he investeth with his liveries, of greene, yellowe, or some other light wanton colour. And as though that were not (baudie) gaudy enough I should say, they bedecke themselves with scarves, ribons, and laces, hanged all over with golde rynges, precious stones, and other jewelles: this done, they tye about either legge twentie or fourtie belles with rich handekercheefes, in their handes, and sometymes laied acrosse over their shoulders and neckes, borrowed for the moste parte of their pretie
Mopsies and loving Bessies for bussyng them in the dark. Thus thinges set in order, they have their Hobbie horses, Dragons, and other antiques, together with their baudie Pipers, and thunderyng Drummers, to strike up the Deville’s Daunce [Morris dance] withall, then marche these Heathen companie towardes the Church and Churche yarde, their Pipers pipyng, Drummers thunderyng, their stumppes dauncyng, their Belles jinglyng, their handkerchiefs swyngyng about their heades like madmen, their Hobbie horses, and other Monsters skirmishing amongest the throng: and in this sorte they goe to the Churche (though the Minister bee at Praier or Preachyng), dauncyng and swingyng their handkercheefes over their heades, in the Churche, like Devilles incarnate, with suche a confused noise, that no man can heare his owne voice. Then the foolishe people, they looke, they stare, they laugh, they fleer, and mount upon formes and pews, to see these goodly pageauntes, solemnized in this sort. Then after this, aboute the Churche they goe againe and againe, and so forthe into the Churche yarde, where they have commonly their summer halls, their Bowers, Arbours, and Banquettyng Houses set up, wherein they feaste, banquet, and daunce all that day, and (peradventure) all that night too. And thus these terrestrial furies spend their Sabbath day.
Then for the further ennobling of this honorable Lurdane (Lorde I should saye) they have also certaine papers, wherein is paynted some babblerie or other, of Imagery worke, and these they call my Lord of Misrule's badges, these they give to every one, that will give money for them to maintaine them in this their Heathenrie, Divelrie, Whoredome, Drunkennesse, Pride, and what not. And who will not shewe himselfe buxome to them, and give them money for these the Deville’s Cognizaunces, they shall be mocked, and flouted at shamefully. And so sotted are some that they not onely give them money, to maintaine their abhomination withall, but also weare their Badges and Cognizances in their Hattes, or Cappes, openly.
Another sorte of fantasticall fooles bring to these Helhoundes (the Lord of Misrule and his accomplices) some Bread, some good Ale, some newe Cheese, some olde Cheese, some Custardes, some Cakes, some Flans, some Tartes, some Creame, some Meate, some one thing, some another: but if they knewe that as often as they bring any to the maintenaunce of these execrable pastymes, they offer sacrifice to the Devill and Satan, they would repent, and withdrawe their handes, whiche God graunt they may.”
And with that! Merry Christmas to all!
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