e "Seven Champions of
Christendom," and in the picture on the preceding page "St. George" is
shown engaged in combat with "St. Peter," while "St. Andrew" and "St.
Denys" are each kneeling on one knee, a sign of their having been
vanquished.

"It may be well to point out," says Mr. Fallow, "that in the West
Riding, or at any rate in the neighbourhood of Leeds, the sword-actors
were quite distinct from the 'mummers.' They generally numbered nine
or ten lads, who, disguised by false beards as men, were dressed in
costume as appropriate to the occasion as their knowledge and finances
would permit, and who acted, with more or less skill, a short play,
which, as a rule, was either the 'Peace Egg' or the 'Seven Champions
of Christendom.' The following illustration shows two of the
'champions,' as photographed at the time stated:--

[Illustration: "ST. PETER." "ST. DENYS."]

"There was a little indefiniteness," says Mr. Fallow, "as to the
characters represented in the play, but usually they were the King of
Egypt, his daughter, a fool or jester, St. George, St. Andrew, St.
Patrick, St. David, St. Denys, St. James, and a St. Thewhs, who
represented a Northern nation--Russia, or sometimes Denmark--and whose
exact identity seems obscure. The seven champions occasionally
included St. Peter of Rome, as in the group whose photograph is given.
St. George engaged in mortal combat with each champion in succession,
fighting for the hand of the King of Egypt's daughter. When at length
each of the six was slain, St. George, having vanquished them all, won
the fair lady, amid the applause of the bystanders. Then, at the
conclusion, after a general clashing and crossing of swords, the fool
or jester stepped forward, and wound up the performance with an appeal
for pecuniary recognition."

OTHER CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCES.

In a Christmas article, published in 1869, Dr. Rimbault mentions the
performance of "St. George and the Dragon" in the extreme western and
northern parts of the country. The following five characters are
given: Father Christmas, Turkish Knight, King of Egypt, St. George,
Doctor. Other writers mention similar plays, with variations of
characters, as seen in the rural parts of Northamptonshire,
Warwickshire, and Staffordshire, and the present writer has himself
seen such plays at Madeley, in Shropshire.

S. Arnott, of Turnham Green, writing in _Notes and Queries_, December
21, 1878, says: "When I was living at Hollingto