Twelve Parliament men now are sold for a peny.



Ballad: A Christmas Song When The Rump Was First Dissolved



From the King's Pamphlets, British Museum. The Rump Parliament, in
an excess of Puritanic acerbity, had abolished the observance of
Christmas, and forbidden the eating of puddings and pies, as
savouring of Popery.

Tune - "I tell thee, Dick."


This Christmas time 'tis fit that we
Should feast, and sing, and merry be.
It is a time of mirth;
For never since the world began
More joyful news was brought to man
Than at our Saviour's birth.

But such have been these times of late,
That holidays are out of date,
And holiness to boot;
For they that do despise and scorn
To keep the day that Christ was born,
Want holiness no doubt.