THE OLD CAP, OR TIME'S ALTERATION. Our ladies, in those days, In civil habit went; Broad cloth was then worth praise, The holly tree was polled At Christmas for each hall; There was fire to curb the cold, And meat for great and small : The neighbours were friendly bidden, And all had welcome true; The poor from the gates were not chidden When this old cap was new. Black jacks to every man Were filled with wine and beer; No pewter pot nor can Did in those days appear. Good cheer in a nobleman's house Was counted a seemly show; We wanted no brawn nor souse, When this old cap was new. We took not such delight None under degree of a knight Now each mechanical man Hath a cupboard of plate for show: Which was a rare thing then, When this old cap was new. We have been unable to trace the original source from whence the following old ballad has been derived; but in all probability it was written just after the Restoration, when the limits, within which the festivities of the season had been confined by the over-zealous Puritans, were overstepped, and something like a revival of the old hospitality began to show itself. A paragraph, which appears to form a regular accompaniment of the old ballad, describes it to be "a looking-glass for rich misers, wherein they may see (if not blind) how much they are to blame for their penurious housekeeping; and likewise an encouragement to those noble-minded gentry, who lay out a great part of their estate in hospitality, relieving such persons as have need thereof. "Who feasts the poor, a true reward shall find, OLD CHRISTMAS RETURNED. ALL you that to feasting and mirth are inclined, Old Christmas is come for to keep open house, He scorns to be guilty of starving a mouse! Then come, boys, and welcome for diet the chief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef. 1 OLD CHRISTMAS RETURNED. A long time together he hath been forgot, But now he's returnèd you shall have, in brief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef. The times were ne'er good since old Christmas was fled, And all hospitality hath been so dead, No mirth at our festivals late did appear, They scarcely would part with a cup of March beer; The butler and baker, they now may be glad, The times they are mended though they have been bad; The brewer, he likewise may be of good cheer, He shall have good trading for ale and strong beer; All trades shall be jolly, and have, for relief, The holly and ivy about the walls wind, And show that we ought to our neighbours be kind, Inviting each other for pastime and sport, And where we best fare, there we most do resort. We fail not for victuals, and that of the chief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef. The cooks shall be busied by day and by night They still are employed for to dress us, in brief, Although the cold weather doth hunger provoke, "Tis a comfort to see how the chimneys do smoke ; For all that are willing or ready to dine; All travellers, as they do pass on their way, Now Mock-beggar Hall it no more shall stand empty, The court, and the city, and country are glad Whilst others are feasting with diet the chief- Those that have no coin at the cards for to play, OLD CHRISTMAS RETURNED. And drink of their moisture contented and free-- And when they are hungry, full to their relief, Young gallants and ladies shall foot it along, And each country swain trip about with his lass; The cooks and the scullion, who toil in their frocks, Then well may we welcome Old Christmas to town, Then let all curmudgeons, who dote on their wealth, |