Elizabeth, who said that such toys occupied, without offence, the minds
of many, who, lacking them, might find worse subjects of pastime; and that their
pastors, however commendable for learning and godliness, were somewhat too sour
in preaching against the pastimes of their flocks; and so the pageant was
permitted to proceed.
    Accordingly, after a morning repast, which Master Laneham calls an ambrosial
breakfast, the principal persons of the court in attendance upon her Majesty,
pressed to the Gallery Tower to witness the approach of the two contending
parties of English and Danes; and after a signal had been given, the gate which
opened in the circuit of the Chase was thrown wide to admit them. On they came,
foot and horse; for some of the more ambitious burghers and yeomen had put
themselves into fantastic dresses, imitating knights, in order to resemble the
chivalry of the two different nations. However, to prevent fatal accidents, they
were not permitted to appear on real horses, but had only license to accoutre
themselves with those hobbyhorses, as they are called, which anciently formed
the chief delight of a morrice-dance, and which still are exhibited on the
stage, in the grand battle fought at the conclusion of Mr. Bayes's tragedy. The
infantry followed in similar disguises. The whole exhibition was to be
considered as a sort of anti-masque, or burlesque of the more stately pageants,
in which the nobility and gentry bore part in the show, and, to the best of
their knowledge, imitated with accuracy the personages whom they represented.
The Hocktide play was of a different character, the actors being persons of
inferior degree, and their habits the better fitted for the occasion, the more
incongruous and ridiculous that they were in themselves. Accordingly their
array, which the progress of our tale allows us no time to describe, was
ludicrous enough, and their weapons, though sufficiently formidable to deal
sound blows, were long alder-poles instead of lances, and sound cudgels for
swords; and for fence, both cavalry and infantry were well equipped with stout
headpieces and targets, both made of thick leather.
    Captain Coxe, that celebrated humorist of Coventry, whose library of
ballads, almanacs, and penny histories, fairly wrapped up in parchment, and tied
round for security with a piece of whipcord, remains still the envy of
antiquaries, being himself the ingenious person under whose direction the
pageant had been set forth, rode valiantly on his hobbyhorse before the bands of
English, high trussed, saith Laneham, and brandishing his long sword, as became
an experienced man of