within eleven years after his marriage purchased a matteras or flockebed, and thereto a sacke of chaffe to rest his head upon, he thought himself to be as well lodged as the lord of the towne.”  The new comforts were the result, not of extravagance, but of prosperity.  Notwithstanding the rigid economy of the old times, men “were scearce able to live and paie their rents at their daies without selling of a cow, or an horse or more, although they paid but four pounds at the uttermost by the yeare, * * * whereas in my time,” says Harrison, “although peradventure foure pounds of old rent be improved to fourtie, fiftie, or an hundred poundes, yet will the farmer as another palme or date tree, thinke his gaines verie small toward the end of his terme, if he had not six or seven yeares rent lieing by him, therewith to purchase a new lease, beside a faire garnish of pewter on his cupboard, with so much in od vessell going aboute the house, three or four feather beds, so manie coverlids and carpets of tapestrie, a silver salt, a bowle for wine * * * and a dozzen of spoones to furnish up the sute."[42] The country gentleman sitting in his hall, hawk on hand, with his hounds about him, made a profuse hospitality his chief pride, and out-door sports the resource of his leisure and conversation.  Greek and Latin were gradually making their way into his store of knowledge, hitherto limited to the romances and chronicles.  But as Ascham complained, there was little sweetness to flavor his cup of learning.  “Masters for the most part so behave themselves,” said Peacham, “that their very name is hatefull to the scholler, who trembleth at their coming in, rejoyceth at their absence, and looketh his master (returned) in the face, as his deadly enemy."[43]

The amusements of the rural population partook of the character of material prosperity and material enjoyment which were so prominent in Elizabeth’s reign.  There is no sign of the prevailing improvement in the condition of men more suggestive than the effervescence of spirits which broke loose on every holiday and at every festival.  On the first day of May “the juvenile part of both sexes are wont to rise a little after midnight, and walk to some neighboring wood, accompany’d with music and the blowing of horns, where they break down branches from the trees and adorn them with nosegays and crowns of flowers.  When this done, they return with their booty homewards about the rising of the sun, and make their doors and windows to triumph in the flowery spoil."[44] “But their cheefest jewell they bring from thence is their Maie poole whiche they bringe home with great veneration, as thus:  They have twentie or fourtie yoke of oxen, every oxe havyng a sweete nosegaie of flowers, tyed on the tippe of his hornes, and these oxen drawe home this Maie poole."[45] Games, dances, rude dramatic performances succeeded each other for hours, interspersed with feasting and drinking.  An extravagant fancy sought expression in the excitement,