Check, "let us con well our neck-verse that we have not a check" (M[23],c), i.e. be hung.
Chery-time, "but a chery-time" (M[12],a), a short time, "like cherry blossoms" (Furnivall and Pollard).
Che[vi]sance, "the new che[vi]sance" (M[29],a), chesance in original: usually chevisance = treaty, agreement, bargain; but here, as Mischief is speaking of the food and other cheer he has stolen, the meaning may be gain, booty, plunder, spoil. "Eschaunges and chevysaunces, with swich chaffare I dele."—Langland, P. Plowman (1363), 2969.
Chill (passim), I will—'ch 'ill.
Chive, "I warrant him a chive" (R[185],d), a chip, fragment: a small standard of value. "If any chive, chip, or dust skip into the eye, ... then can you not cure the eye but by removing and drawing the said chive."—Barrough, Method of Physick (1624.)
Chop, Chope (a) "in nomine Patris, chope ... Ye shall not chop my jewels" (M[20],a), in both cases the original has choppe; but as Nought and New Guise were funning and punning, I have preserved the play on the words which I think was intended—chope = ch'ope (I hope) and chop = cut off; but the student can choose, and regard the first chop also to mean "cut!" "strike!" "Chope you'll consider my pain."—Misogonus, Anon. Plays, 2 Ser. (E.E.D.S.), 210b.
(b) "Into a deanery ... to chop" (R[223],d). Mr. Magnus glosses this as "snap"; but is it not used in the closer sense of to pop? cf. chop-church = (1) one who exchanges livings, or (2) such an act of barter. "As flise at libertee in and out might chop."—Heywood, Spider and Flie (1556), Works, III. (E.E.D.S.).
Chould (passim), I would—'ch 'ould.
Christendom, "by my christendom" (R[196],d). See E.E.D.S., Anon. Plays, Series 2 and 3, Note-Books, s.v. 4.2]
Christmas device (R[179],b), Christmas was better kept as a festival in olden times than in modern days, lasting at this period from Christmas Eve to Old Christmas Day or Twelfth night. At Court, and in the Inns of Court, high revel was kept; from references such as the above it is clear that many a play was specially written for, and first presented at, these festivals. The sources of detailed descriptions are too well known to need particular reference.