MISRULE, Lord of, a whimsical title given to the leader of the Christmas revels in the Middle Ages. He is a descendant of the king of the ancient Roman Saturnalia who im personated Saturn. His duties were to lead the multifarious revels of the season; or, in other words, to act as master of ceremonies. Stow in his
the Inns of Court in London that the Loid of Misrule reigned with the greatest splendor, being surrounded with all the parade and cere mony of royalty, having his lord-keeper and treasurer, his guard of honor, and even his two chaplains, who preached before him on Sunday in the Temple church. On Twelfth Day he abdicated his sovereignty. In the year 1635 this mock representative of royalty expended in the exercise of his office about /2,000 from his own purse; and, at the end of his reign, he was knighted by Charles I at White hall. The office was regarded among the Templars as most honorable and was gen erally conferred on young gentlemen of good family. The Lord of Misrule was always cos tumed extravagantly and carried a fool's bauble as badge of office. A favorite form for his lordship to enter upon his duties was to absolve the company of all their wisdom, leaving them 'lust wise enough to make fools of themselves?' Fealty was sworn to the merry monarch and the reign of fun and folly began.
In Scotland this character was called the Abbot of Unreason; in France, he was the Abbe de Liesse and Abbas Stultorum — the Abbot, or Pope of Fools. Scott gives a descrip tion of one of these mock-ecclesiastics in 'The Abbot.'