![]() Kempte, by an oversight, describes him as the principal writer. Ferrers, in this official capacity, composed a variety of masques and interludes, which are no longer known to exist, and he is also the author of one or two of the legends in the “Mirror for Magistrates,” of which Mr. Albans, Herts, who was Lord of Misrule to Edward VI. ![]() The following passage may be worth extracting: “We humbly beseche the same (your grace) to let us knowe youre gracious pleasure concernyng aswell a ship of silver for the almes dishe requysite for her high estate, and spice plats, as also for trumpetts and a rebek to be sent, and whyther we shall appoynte any Lord of Mysrule for the said honorable householde, or provide for enterluds, disgysyngs, or pleys in the said fest, or for banket or twelf nyght.”Īmong the Losely Papers, printed by Kempe in 1836, are several relating to George Ferres, of St. The letter is dated Tewkesbury, November 27, without any note of the year. The May or London and either of the sheriffs had their several lords of misrule, ever contending, without quarrel or offence, who should take the rarest pastime to delight the beholders these lords, beginning their rule at Allhallond Eve, continued the same till the morrow after the feast of the Purification, commonly called Candlemas Day : in which space there were fine and subtle disguisings, masts, and mummeries, with playing at cards, for counters, nayels, and points at every house, more for pastimes than for gaine.”Įllis prints a letter from the Council of the Princess Mary's household to Cardinal Wolsey, supposed to have been written in 1525, several years before the date of the “Privy Purse Expenses” published by Madden in this document we get a glimpse of unusually splendid and costly preparations for the then approaching Christmas holidays. “In the feast of Christmas,” says Stow in his “Survey,” “there was in the King's House, wheresoever he lodged, a Lord of Misrule, or Master of merry disports, and the like had ye in the house of every nobleman of honour or good worship, were he spiritual or temporal. Carew Hazlitt, Faith and Folklore: A Dictionary of National Beliefs, Superstitions and Popular Customs, Past and Current, With Their Classical and Foreign Analogues, Described and Illustrated.įorming A New Edition of "The Popular Antiquities of Great Britain" By Brand and Ellis, Largely Extended, Corrected, Brought Down To The Present Time, and Now First Alphabetically Arranged. Perhaps this is the source of the New Year’s Resolution we still hold as a Yule/New Year’s practice.Source: Brand's Popular Antiquities Of Great Britain This is done by exposing it in a blunt and honest manner, and using misrule and humor to gain another perspective, thus disarming the monster and bringing about change. With this liberty, one may find a new horizon and shift the path of one’s life or some practice, element, or habit one would like to be rid of. And freeing ourselves from the chains of social convention, the clear sight and understanding or “insight” one may get by freeing oneself from the chains of the societal norm, is where the practice brings to us its true Saturnalian Yule Gift. This Misrule celebration also supports the liberty of our bound spirits of creativity. But the idea is to celebrate the spirit of Misrule within a ritual celebration format in order to satiate that spirit so it has no desire or need to reach into our mundane life, world or society, and thereby leave Saturn empowered! ![]() In our Tradition, we observe this time of Misrule as Dark Time the Misrule element being worked more around the Yule period, which is appropriate to the Saturnalia.Ī Celebration of Misrule for the Father of Boundaries and order may seem strange. In today’s Trad Craft this practice is still maintained in some traditions, sometimes under the guise of the Lord of Misrule and a period of Misrule. It was a festival of Misrule where Masters served the servants, clothes were worn inside out/back to front, and all kinds of misrule ran amok. The Saturnalia, a seasonal celebration of this time of year for old Rome, was of course sacred to Saturn and celebrated as an inversion or reversal of what was the norm. ![]()
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