han formerly; and various publications
appeared which plainly showed that the popular sentiments were in
favour of the festivities. The motto of No. 37 of _Mercurius
Democritus_, from December 22, 1652, begins:

"Old Christmas now is come to town
Though few do him regard,
He laughs to see them going down
That have put down his Lord."

In "The Vindication of Father Christmas," 1653, a mock complaint in
the character of Father Christmas, he laments the treatment he had
received for the last twelve years, and that he was even then but
coolly received. "But welcome, or not welcome, I am come," he says,
and then states that his "best and freest welcome was with some kinde
of country farmers in Devonshire," thus describing his entertainment
among them:--"After dinner we arose from the boord, and sate by the
fire, where the harth was imbrodered all over with roasted apples,
piping hot, expecting a bole of ale for a cooler, which immediately
was transformed into warm lamb wool. After which we discoursed merily,
without either prophaneness or obscenity; some went to cards; others
sung carols and pleasant songs (suitable to the times), and then the
poor laboring Hinds, and maid-servants, with the plow-boys, went
nimbly to dancing; the poor toyling wretches being glad of my
company, because they had little or no sport at all till I came
amongst them; and therefore they skipped and leaped for joy, singing a
carol to the tune of hey,

"Let's dance and sing, and make good chear,
For Christmas comes but once a year:
Draw hogsheads dry, let flagons fly,
For now the bells shall ring;
Whilst we endeavour to make good
The title 'gainst a King.

"Thus at active games, and gambols of hot cockles, shooing the wild
mare, and the like harmless sports, some part of the tedious night was
spent."

[Illustration]

THE NATIONAL TROUBLES

were not brought to an end by the execution of Charles I. on the 30th
of January, 1649. In addition to the rioting caused by the attempt to
abolish the festival of Christmas by law, the Lord Protector (Oliver
Cromwell) had to struggle against discontented republicans and also
against fresh outbreaks of the Royalists; and, although able to carry
on the Protectorate to the end of his own life, Cromwell was unable to
secure a strong successor. He died on September 3, 1658, having on his
deathbed nominated his son Richard to succeed him. Richard Cromwell
was accepted in Engla