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Archiver > CHESHIRE > 2000-08 > 0966353575


From: "Sue Tinsley" <>
Subject: Re: [CHS] the lord of misrule???
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2000 08:32:55 -0700
References: <LPBBKMKBFGAMNDDEMCGOCEBDCBAA.peter@fodenp.freeserve.co.uk>


Sounds like this could have been the forerunner of the Christmas pantomime
we have today!

Sue Tinsley, Wales (raining, again)
----- Original Message -----
From: Peter C Foden <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2000 12:06 AM
Subject: RE: [CHS] the lord of misrule???


>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Phyllis Ryerse [mailto:]
>
> What on earth is a lord of misrule! It sounds pretty wild!
> Phyllis in Atlanta
> (a Dutton cousin)
>
> Hello Phyllis,
>
> To expand a little on the reply from Helen. This is taken from a book
"Mist
> over Pendle" by Robert Neill. Set in the early 1600s.
>
> Just before midnight on the 24th of December, "the doors were flung wide,
> and into the room, tumbling in joyous somersaults, his motley a wild
flurry
> of blue and yellow, came the man who meant Christmas-the crazy Lord of
> Misrule".
>
> "He had a thunderous welcome, and pretended to be angered by it. He
> belaboured the nearest with his sceptre-an inflated bladder, swinging by a
> cord from a two foot stick- and he roared lustily for silence. They
should,
> he said do penance by paying homage to his horse Old Ball; (two men in a
> horses outfit)".
>
> Old Ball would seem to have been popular with the crowds, it seems he
would
> make a collection from the guests by fair means or foul, but in a Fun sort
> of way. Then to music he would march round the room with the company
> hanging on to his tail or onto each other, faster and faster till someone
> fell with the rest of the company on top.
>
> There are a couple of pages about the Lord of Misrule, but as Helen said
an
> entertainments officer and Jester. Then of course the following night
> came-------the Mummers, but that's another story.
>
> Best wishes
>
> Peter Foden
> Preston, Lancashire
>
>
>
> ==== CHESHIRE Mailing List ====
> Cheshire GENUKI page:
> http://www.fhsc.org.uk/genuki/chs/
>

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