Page 39 - Jan2023

"

In Britain, there was the

Lord of Misrule long

before there was a

Father Christmas. Then,

came

Oliver Cromwell, the Lord

Protector, neither a believer in

Kings nor a fan of Christmas.

This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle,

T hosewho spend much of t he holiday season lament in
" g
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
it s fall int o frivolit y, commercialism, and low t ast e, rat her
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
t han concent rat ing solely on t he religious aspect s of t he
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Christ ian nat ivit y st ory, should t ake heart . The t hings t hey
Against infection and the hand of war,
lament as indicat ions of modern moral failings, have always
This happy breed of men, this lit
been a part of seasonal celebrat ions in December and January. tle world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
St art ing wit h t he Romans
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Alt hough t he Christ ian Church had made t remendous inroads
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
in t he Roman Empire by t he 4t h cent ury, t he much earlier
Against the envy of less happier lands,
mid-wint er fest ival of t he Sat urnalia, held in honour of t he god
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England ?
Sat urn, was st ill hanging about . The fest ival commenced on 17
December and was accompanied by seven days of
William Shakespeare, from John of Gaunt's speech in Richard II
merry-making.
39 story continues following page
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