The following account of a pageant which took place at Christmas, 1440, is from the records of Norwich:—­“John Hadman, a wealthy citizen, made disport with his neighbours and friends, and was crowned King of Christmas.  He rode in state through the city, dressed forth in silks and tinsel, and preceded by twelve persons habited as the twelve months of the year, their costumes varying to represent the different seasons of the year.  Alter King Christmas followed Lent, clothed in white garments trimmed with herring skins, on horseback, the horse being decorated with trappings of oyster-shells, being indicative that sadness and a holy time should follow Christmas revelling.  In this way they rode through the city, accompanied by numbers in various grotesque dresses, making disport and merriment,—­some clothed in armour, carrying staves, and occasionally engaging in martial combat; others, dressed as devils, chased the people, and sorely affrighted the women and children; others, wearing skin-dresses, and counterfeiting bears, wolves, lions, and other animals, and endeavouring to imitate the animals they represented, in roaring and raving, alarming the cowardly and appalling the stoutest hearts.”

Dalmatia.

At Selenico, in Dalmatia, according to Fortis; they elect a king at Christmas, whose reign lasts only a fortnight; but notwithstanding the short duration of his authority, he enjoys several prerogatives of sovereignty:  such, for example, as that of keeping the keys of the town, of having a distinguished place in the cathedral, and of deciding upon all the difficulties or disputes which arise among those who compose his court.  The town is obliged to provide him with a house suitable to the dignity of his elevated situation.  When he leaves his house, he is always compelled to wear a crown of wheat-ears, and he cannot appear in public without a robe of purple or scarlet cloth, and surrounded by a great number of officers.  The governor, the bishops, and other dignitaries, are obliged to give him a feast; and all who meet him must salute him with respect.  When the fortnight is at an end, the king quits his palace, strips off his crown and purple, dismisses his court, and returns to his hovel.  For a length of time this pantomimical king was chosen from amongst the nobles, but at present it has devolved on the lowest of the people.

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THE LITERARY SOUVENIR, FOR 1833,