68 A description of Christmas. 
z At Christmas the daies doo! begin to take length, 
of Christ doth religion cheefly* take strength. 
As Christmas is onely a figure or trope, 
so onely in Christ is the strength of our hope. 
At Christmas we banket, the rich with the poore, 
who then (but the miser) but openeth [h Jis doore ? 
At Christmas of Christ many Carols we sing, 
and giue many gifts in the ioy of that King. 
Q 
4 At Christmas in Christ we reioice and be glad, 
as onely of whom our comfort is had ; 
At Christmas we ioy altogether with mirth, 
for his sake that ioyed vs all with his birth. 
29. 
‘| 4 description of apt time to spend. 
Chap. 27. 
I ET such (so fantasticall) liking not this, 
nor any thing honest that ancient is, 
Giue place to the time that so meete we doo see 
appointed of God as it seemeth to bee. 
2 At Christmas good husbands haue corne on the ground, 
in barne, and in soller, woorth many a pound, 
With plentie of other things,’® cattle and sheepe, 
all sent them (no doubt on) good houses to keepe. 
3 At Christmas the hardnes of Winter doth rage, 
a griper of all things and specially age: 
Then lightly poore people, the yoong with the old, 
be sorest oppressed with hunger and cold. 
1 the day doth. 1577. 
2 Of Christ our faith doth begin, etc. 1577. 
% Things plentie in house. 1577. 
