the English kept festival so much in the winter-time. The Lords of Misrule, leaders of the revelry, "beginning their rule on All Hallow Eve, continued the same till the morrow after the Feast of the Purification, commonlie called Candelmas day: In all of which space there were fine and subtle disguisinges, Maskes, and Mummeries." This was written of King Henry IV's court at Eltham, in 1401, and is true of centuries before and after. They gathered about the fire and made merry while the October tempests whirled the leaves outside, and shrieked round the house like ghosts and demons on a mad carousal.
"The autumn wind—oh hear it howl:
Without—October's tempests scowl,
As he troops away on the raving wind!
And leaveth dry leaves in his path behind.
*****
"'T is the night—the night
Of the graves' delight,
And the warlock[1] are at their play!
- ↑ Devils
