pipers, and
thunderyng drummers, to strike up the devill's dance withal." So they
march to the church, invading it, even though service be performing,
"with such a confused noyse that no man can heare his own voice." Then
they adjourn to the churchyard, where booths are set up, and the rest of
the day spent in dancing and drinking. The followers of "My Lord" go
about to collect money for this, giving in return "badges and
cognizances" to wear in the hat; and do not scruple to insult, or even
"duck," such as will not contribute. But, adds Stubbes, "another sort of
fantasticall fooles" are well pleased to bring all sorts of food and
drink to furnish out the feast.]

[Footnote 135: A rare quarto tract seems to give an authentic narrative
of one of these grand Christmas keepings, exhibiting all their
whimsicality and burlesque humour: it is entitled "Gesta Grayorum; or
the History of the high and mighty Prince Henry, Prince of Purpoole,
Arch-duke of Stapulia and Bernardia (Staple's and Bernard's Inns), Duke
of High and Nether-Holborn, Marquess of St. Giles and Tottenham, Count
Palatine of Bloomsbury and Clerkenwell, Great Lord of the Cantons of
Islington, Kentish Town, &c., Knight and Sovereign of the most heroical
Order of the Helmet, who reigned and died A.D. 1594." It is full of
burlesque speeches and addresses. As it was printed in 1688, I suppose
it was from some manuscript of the times; the preface gives no
information. Hone, in his "Year-Book," has reprinted this tract, which
abounds with curious details of the mock-dignity assumed by this
_pseudo_-potentate, who was ultimately invited, with all his followers,
to the court of Queen Elizabeth, and treated by her as nobly as if he
had been a real sovereign.]

[Footnote 136: On the last Revels held, see _Gent. Mag._ 1774, p. 273.]

[Footnote 137: Pleasant Notes upon Don Quixote, by Edmund Gayton, Esq.,
folio, 1654, p. 24.]

[Footnote 138: The universities indulged in similar festivities. An
account of the Christmas Prince, elected by the University of Oxford in
1607, was published in 1816, from a manuscript preserved in St. John's
College, where his court was held. His rule commenced by the issuing of,
"an act for taxes and subsidies" toward the defrayment of expenses, and
the appointment of a staff of officers. After this the revels opened
with a banquet and a play. The whole of his brief reign was conducted in
"right royal" style. His mandates were constructed in