New-York tribune., 1891-12-25

Abbot q crowd of mummers rustic jewellers in
fantastic habits headed by an Abbot of Unreason
he told how their irreverent pranks had long
been tolerated and even encouraged by the priests
who thought the diversion harmless, and allowed
them to buresque the services of the Church
within the consecrated house itself, as long as
they cast no reflection or doubt on the Churchs
doctrine and how, when Protestant tenets began
60 prevail, the privileges thus fostered were
turned against the Romsh Church, and the sports
were used in derison of its forms. Scott also
intimates, in a note ion Marmion,' that the
mummers are relic Of the religious plays them
selves Another writer finds in them the sue
cessons of old Christmas mabques, and believes
that their history goes much farther back than
that Of religious plays. The probability is that
such frelics, with disguises Ikaying an important
part in theni have never been wholly out Of
fashion since those of the Romans that have
already been mentioned, and that those which
still exist are the legitimate descendants Of the
Oldest of which there is any record, and perhaps
of some much older Of which there is no record.
The Abbot of Unreasen, as Scott Gals him, had
other names in other countries, such as the
Boy Bishop, the President of Fools, and
the Pope of Fools, and in England.
where he probably reached his greatest
glory. he was called the Lord OF Misrule. HIS
function was much more than the leading about
of motley crowd Of mummers he was great
chief of the reves ana his state all but kingy
nay. sometimes it was actually kingly. His
sway began on All Hallow Eve and lasted till
Candlemas a clear period of three months, ana
sometimes it was even longer, extending TO Shrove
Tuesday OF even till Ascension Day. In Scotland'
indeed, the Abbot of Unreason seems to have had
no certain term of Office, but to hold MS place.
whenever revel was wanted, till his successor
was appointed. Every great lord in England, and
even the King himself bad his Lord Of Misrulc for
the Christmas holidays, and at the Inns OF court
he shone with peccliar spendor.
One Henry Helmes was famous Lord of Mis-
rule at Gray's Inn, and he once conducted Tcvels
before Queen Elizabeth. How great man he
was accounted may be assumed from his titles.
which were as follows: THE High and Mighty
Prince Henry. Prince of Purpoole; Archduke OF
StapuIia and Bernardia Duke OF High and Neither
Holborn; Marquis of ST. Giles and Tottenham;
Count Palatine Of Bloomsbury and Clerkenwell;
Great Lord of the Cantons of Islington, Kentish
Town, Paddington and Knightsbridge; Knight OF
the most HeIoical Order OF the Helmet, ana
Sovereign of the same" In the reign OF the
following monarch Of England there was LORD
of Msrule for the Christmas festivities at St.
Johns College, Oxford, who had titles almost as
good as these. They The most magnlh-
cent and renowned Thomas ny the favor of
Fortune Prince of Alba Fortunate, Lord of st.
Johns, High Regent Of the Hall, Duke Of ST.
Gies's, Marquis OF Magdalens, Landgrave of the
Grove, Count Palatine of the ClOysters. Chief
Bailin of Beaumont, High Ruler of Rome, Master
of the Manor of Walton, Governor Of Gloucester
Green, Sole Commander of all Titles, Tourna-
ments and Triumphs, Superintendent of all Solemn
ties whatever"
In spite of all this verbosity, the true pinnacle
of grandeur for a Lord of Misrule had been
passcd in the reign of Edward VI when George
Ferrers held the office. Ferrers was man oil
large talents, a lawyer, poet, an historian and
soldier. When he became Lord of Misrule, his
train included chancellor, treasurer, controller.
vice-chamberlaln lords-counciors divine, philoso-
pber, astronomer poet, physician, apothecary.
master of requests, clown, gentlemen ushers.
pages Of honor, sergants-at-arms, prov
ost-marshal, under-marshal, footman, mes
sengers, trumpeter, herald, orator, hunt
ers, jugslers, tumbers, band, fools and friars.
The King himself could scarcely have more. The
discussion of the Lord of Misrule may end for the
present with some brief extracts from letter
written by this same George Ferrers to Sir Thomas
Cswarden, the Master of the Kings Revels, touch
ing certain particulars Of the approaching rule.
lie says:
First as towching my Introduction. Whereas the
aste years nay devise TO of cute OF the none.
this yeare l imagine to cum cute OF place called
vastum vacuum the great waste as moche TO sale as a
neither fer, ayre, nor earth; and that l have bene
remayning there sins the last yeare Ana; because
OF eeraine devses which have towching this matter,
l wOd, VI IL were possybe, have all myne APPAREL
blewe, the first dale that psent my self to the Rings
Matte and even as shewe my self that dale 80 my
mynd is In like order and In Ike suets to shew my.
self at my comyng into London after the halowed
daies.
Towching my suet of blew, have sent Won = pece
of velvet which hath kinde of powdered ermanes in
IT, veahe fytt for my werng, II you so thynke good
But this Lord of Misrue is far too gorgeous
a creature TO be pleasant companion for plain