Father John Burges, Necessity urges My woeful cry To Sir Robert Pie: And that he will venture To send my debenture. Tell him his Ben Knew the time when He loved the Muses; Though now he refuses To take apprehension Of a year’s pension, And more is behind; Put him in mind Christmas is near, […]

I sing the birth was born to-night, The author both of life and light; The angels so did sound it. And like the ravished shepherds said, Who saw the light, and were afraid, Yet searched, and true they found it. The Son of God th’ eternal king, That did us all salvation bring, And freed […]

AS IT WAS PRESENTED AT COURT, 1616. The Court being seated Enter CHRISTMAS, with two or three of the guard, attired in round hose, long stockings, a close doublet, a high-crowned hat, with a brooch, a long, thin beard, a truncheon, little ruffs, white shoes, his scarfs and garters tied cross, and his drum beaten […]