Historical Notes 



13 



we and they are paying a silent and grateful homage 

 to Him "who crowneth the year with His good- 

 ness 



* Would that our scrupulous sires had dared to leave 



Less scanty measure of those grateful rites 



And usages, whose due return invites 

 A stir of mind too natural to deceive ; 

 Giving the memory help when she would weave 



A crown for Hope ! I dread the boasted lights, 



That all too often are but fiery blights. 

 Killing the bud, o'er which in vain we grieve. 

 Go, seek, when Christmas snows discomfort bring, 



The counter spirit found in some gay Church, 



Green with fresh holly, ev'ry pew a perch, 

 On which the linnet or the thrush might sing, 



Merry and loud, and safe from prying search, 

 Strains offer'd only to the genial spring.'' 



Wordsworth. 



In many ancient documents, which contain records 

 of expenses incurred by the parishes or guilds to 

 which they formerly belonged, we find frequent entries 

 of money paid for materials for decorating Churches 

 for the various seasons. For instance, in the account- 

 books of the parish of S. Mary-at-Hill, in the city of 



