lde, to
lordes, ladies, and all other that would come, with plaies and
disguisyng in most royall maner; whiche sore greved the people, and in
especiall the Kynges servauntes, to se hym kepe an open Court and the
Kyng a secret Court."[42]

THE ROYAL CHRISTMASES

subsequently kept, however, made amends for the cessation of
festivities at the Kyng's "Still Christmas," especially the royal
celebrations at Greenwich. In 1527 the "solemne Christmas" held there
was "with revels, maskes, disguisings, and banquets; and on the
thirtieth of December and the third of January were solemne Justs
holden, when at night the King and fifteen other with him, came to
Bridewell, and there putting on masking apparell, took his barge, and
rowed to the Cardinall's (Woolsey) place, where were at supper many
Lords and Ladyes, who danced with the maskers, and after the dancing
was made a great Banquet."[43]

During the girlhood of the Princess (afterwards Queen) Mary,
entertainments were given for her amusement, especially at
Christmastide; and she gave presents to the King's players, the
children of the Chapel, and others. But, Sandys says, that "as she
grew up, and her temper got soured, she probably lost all enjoyment of
such scenes." Ellis, in his "Original Letters," gives a curious
application from the Council for the household of the Lady Mary to the
Cardinal Wolsey, to obtain his directions and leave to celebrate the
ensuing Christmas. In this letter the reader is reminded of the long
train of sports and merriment which made Christmas cheerful to our
ancestors. The Cardinal, at the same time that he established a
household for the young Duke of Richmond, had also "ordained a
council, and stablished another household for the Lady Mary, then
being _Princess of the Realm_."[44] The letter which seems to have
been written in the same year in which the household was established,
1525, is as follows:--

"Please it youre Grace for the great repaire of straungers supposed
unto the Pryncesse honorable householde this solempne fest of
Cristmas, We humbly beseche the same to let us knowe youre gracious
pleasure concernyng as well a ship of silver for the almes disshe
requysite for her high estate, and spice plats, as also for trumpetts
and a rebek to be sent, and whither we shall appoynte any Lord of
Mysrule for the said honorable householde, provide for enterluds,
disgysyngs, or pleyes in the said fest, or for banket on twelf nyght.
And in