GAMBOL, _like a tumbler, with a hoop and bells; his torch-bearer armed with a colt-staff, and a binding cloth._

POST AND PAIR, _with a pair-royal of aces in his hat; his garment all done over with pairs and purs; his squire carrying a box, cards, and counters._

NEW-YEAR'S-GIFT, _in a blue coat, serving-man like, with an orange, and a sprig of rosemary gilt on his head, his hat full of brooches, with a collar of ginger-bread, his torch-bearer carrying a march-pane with a bottle of wine on either arm._

MUMMING, _in a masquing pied suit, with a vizard, his torch-bearer carrying the box, and ringing it._

Wa.s.sEL, _like a neat sempster and songster; her page bearing a brown bowl, drest with ribands, and rosemary before her._

OFFERING, _in a short gown, with a porter's staff in his hand, a wyth born before him, and a bason, by his torch-bearer._

BABY-CAKE, _drest like a boy, in a fine long coat, biggin-bib, muckender, and a little dagger; his usher bearing a great cake, with a bean and a pease._

_They enter singing._

Now G.o.d preserve, as you do well deserve, Your majesties all, two there; Your highness small, with my good lords all, And ladies, how do you do there?

Give me leave to ask, for I bring you a masque From little, little, little London; Which say the king likes, I have pa.s.sed the pikes, If not, old Christmas is undone.

[_Noise without._

_Chris._ Ho, peace! what's the matter there?

_Gam._ Here's one o' Friday-street would come in.

_Chris._ By no means, nor out of neither of the Fish-streets, admit not a man; they are not Christmas creatures: fish and fasting days, foh! Sons, said I well? look to it.

_Gam._ No body out o' Friday-street, nor the two Fish-streets there, do you hear?

_Car._ Shall John b.u.t.ter o' Milk-street come in? Ask him.

_Gam._ Yes, he may slip in for a torch-bearer, so he melt not too fast, that he will last till the masque be done.

_Chris._ Right, son.

Our dance's freight is a matter of eight; And two, the which are wenches: In all they be ten, four c.o.c.ks to a hen, And will swim to the tune like tenches.

Each hath his knight for to carry his light, Which some would say are torches To bring them here, and to lead them there, And home again to their own porches.

Now their intent,--

_Enter_ VENUS, _a deaf tire-woman._

_Ven._ Now, all the lords bless me! where am I, trow? where is Cupid?

"Serve the king!" they may serve the cobbler well enough, some of 'em, for any courtesy they have, I wisse; they have need o' mending: unrude people they are, your courtiers; here was thrust upon thrust indeed: was it ever so hard to get in before, trow?

_Chris._ How now? what's the matter?

_Ven._ A place, forsooth, I do want a place: I would have a good place, to see my child act in before the king and queen's majesties, G.o.d bless 'em! to-night.

_Chris._ Why, here is no place for you.

_Ven._ Right, forsooth, I am Cupid's mother, Cupid's own mother, forsooth; yes, forsooth: I dwell in Pudding-lane: ay, forsooth, he is prentice in Love-lane, with a bugle maker, that makes of your bobs, and bird-bolts for ladies.

_Chris._ Good lady Venus of Pudding-lane, you must go out for all this.

_Ven._ Yes, forsooth, I can sit anywhere, so I may see Cupid act: he is a pretty child, though I say it, that perhaps should not, you will say. I had him by my first husband; he was a smith, forsooth, we dwelt in Do-little-lane then: he came a month before his time, and that may make him somewhat imperfect; but I was a fishmonger's daughter.

_Chris._ No matter for your pedigree, your house: good Venus, will you depart?

_Ven._ Ay, forsooth, he'll say his part, I warrant him, as well as e'er a play-boy of 'em all: I could have had money enough for him, an I would have been tempted, and have let him out by the week to the king's players. Master Burbage has been about and about with me, and so has old master Hemings, too, they have need of him; where is he, trow, ha! I would fain see him--pray G.o.d they have given him some drink since he came.

_Chris._ Are you ready, boys? Strike up! nothing will drown this noise but a drum: a'peace, yet! I have not done. Sing,--

Now their intent is above to present--

_Car._ Why, here be half of the properties forgotten, father.

_Offer._ Post and Pair wants his pur-chops and his pur-dogs.

_Car._ Have you ne'er a son at the groom porter's, to beg or borrow a pair of cards quickly?

_Gam._ It shall not need; here's your son Cheater without, has cards in his pocket.

_Offer._ Ods so! speak to the guards to let him in, under the name of a property.

_Gam._ And here's New-Year's-Gift has an orange and rosemary, but not a clove to stick in't.

_New-Year._ Why, let one go to the spicery.

_Chris._ Fy, fy, fy! it's naught, it's naught, boys.

_Ven._ Why, I have cloves, if it be cloves you want. I have cloves in my purse: I never go without one in my mouth.

_Car._ And Mumming has not his vizard, neither.

_Chris._ No matter! his own face shall serve, for a punishment, and 'tis bad enough; has Wa.s.sel her bowl, and Minced-pie her spoons?

_Offer._ Ay, ay: but Misrule doth not like his suit: he says the players have sent him one too little, on purpose to disgrace him.

_Chris._ Let him hold his peace, and his disgrace will be the less: what! shall we proclaim where we were furnish'd? Mum! mum! a'peace! be ready, good boys.

Now their intent is above to present, With all the appurtenances, A right Christmas, as of old it was, To be gathered out of the dances.

Which they do bring, and afore the king, The queen, and prince, as it were now Drawn here by love; who over and above, Doth draw himself in the geer too.

_Here the drum and fife sound, and they march about once. In the second coming up_, CHRISTMAS _proceeds in his song:_