Historical Notes 



In the Steward's accounts of the guild of Corpus 

 Christi, at Leicester, for the years 1^25-6, is the fol- 

 lowing entry : — 



* ' It' ffor garneshyng off the awter . . . iijs. iiijd.^" 



That the custom of decorating churches with ever- 

 greens and flowers was not confined to Christmas 

 alone, the above quotations show. 



John Evelyn, writing about the year 1660, describes 

 the practice in his time — a time when the ancient 

 customs of the Church were more or less smothered 

 by Puritanism. Speaking of holly, he bursts into a 

 poetical rapture, and says : — We still dress up our 

 Churches and houses on Christinas and other festival 

 days, with its cheerful green, and rutilant'^ berries." 



In I j3 5 the University of Oxford was visited by the 

 Royal Commissioners; and, in the year after, the King 

 recommended certain articles concerning faith and 

 ceremonies ; saying, among other matters, " that vest- 

 ments for God's service, holy water, candles on 



6 North's Chron. of S. Martm. 



7 Shining. 



