midnight
`` 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 -LRB- returned -RRB- in the face , as his deadly enemy . '' -LSB- 43 -RSB- 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 . '' -LSB- 44 -RSB- `` 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 . '' -LSB- 45 -RSB- Games , dances , rude dramatic performances succeeded each other for hours , interspersed with feasting and drinking .