LORD OF MISRULE
A TUDOR CHRISTMAS IN 1536
Lord of Misrule – 12 Days of Christmas
Christmas Eve – Derek was the Lord of Misrule
Oh! Geraint this Christmas is a wonderful time
With Tudors all splendid and turned out so fine
The 12 days of Christmas I am here to extoll
How you may be misled by the Lord of Misrule
—
Each day will have its own Lordship to tell
Of a feast, or a happenstance, that they want to sell
To get you excited and involved is their mission
But they can do nothing at all, without your permission
—
My story begins on the day before Christmas
Christmas Eve, you say, is not one of the Masses
And yes, you are right, it is the last day of fasting
Fourteen days! now for a feast and no working
—
Spinning and weaving is what, I hear, you do best
No more working is allowed, it is now time for a rest
The wheel must be stopped going round and around
You must decorate it beautifully, to be very proud
—
There is also a plough as you can see right here
No more work must it do until early next year
We must give it thanks for the work it has done
Then a libation with beer and keep it out of the sun
Task: Derek did the Libation of the Plough while members: Thanked the Plough for its work throughout the year and encouraged it to keep out of the Sun. The members were organised into 3 teams to decorate the 3 spinning wheels.
Christmas Day – First Day of Christmas – Ann was the Lord of Misrule
At last, we are here on this cold Christmas day
What shall we do, it is Christmas, I hear you say
But first let us reflect on a year without precedent
A year that has seen two Queens heaven sent
—
First there was Katherine a Queen much loved
All alone in a tower with her marriage annulled
Then there was Anne whose head came off
Henry VIII ‘our King’ really has been a bit of a Toff
—
Henry was not yet finished, so he just carried on
Coming closer to home it was our poor Abbey’s turn
The Dissolution of Cwmhir was just one of the many
Three Monks were turned out without even a penny
—
Next on his list were the Lords of the Marches
He abolished the lot; it was just one of his changes
An Act of Union would create our new Radnorshire
But Courts would be in English, the language of the sire
—
So, I ask you again how shall we celebrate today
To feast on some pies might encourage you to stay
Then a chorus we could sing, with a rousing refrain
The First Day of Christmas again, and again and again.
Jill led members in singing:- ‘On the First Day of Christmas our Henry gave to Anne; A diamond for her lovely silken hair’
Task: Mince pies were then given to members, some 13 ingredients including mutton, and some as we eat them today.
St Stephen’s Day/St Ystyffan’s Day/Boxing Day – 2nd Day of Christmas – Jan was the Lord of Misrule
You will know of St Stephen, Stephen the Martyr of course
The first, they say, of many, who would die for a cause
Stoned to death by many, with Saul throwing stones too
Stephen forgave them, like Jesus, ‘for they know not what they do’
—
As Deacon or Archdeacon, he would give alms to the poor
The widows of Greek Jews would come to his door
He challenged Jewish orthodoxy and the treatment of prophets
But it is his charitable work that inspires and from which we still profit
—
Only one church in Wales has been dedicated to St Stephen
It is in Old Radnor, with that carved case, for the organ
But the dedication maybe wrong and is a Norman misnomer
Is it St Ystyffan we are celebrating? Our very own intercessor
—
Whether it is Stephen or Ystyffan you will have come with a gift
A Food Bank near here wants to give some people a lift
In the spirit of Boxing Day we will collect what you’ve brought
To put it all in a box and then on to Llandod
Jill led members in singing:- ‘On the Second Day of Christmas our Henry gave to Anne two pearl bracelets; And a diamond for her lovely silken hair’
Task: Members had been asked in advance to bring an item to go to the Food Bank in Llandod. These were collected into baskets.
The Feast of the Apostle, St John the Evangelist – 3rd Day of Christmas – Mary was the Lord of Misrule
On the 3rd Day of Christmas an Apostle comes forth
St John the Evangelist, who drinks wine with some froth
Poison does not harm him; his faith carries him through
And he is there at the resurrection to tell us what is true
—
St John was a writer, and a writer of some note
A Gospel and Revelations it is said that he wrote
An Epistle or two would keep him writing to the end
Some doubt that he did and he is not here to defend
—
As the ‘Beloved Disciple’ he was clearly well thought
The son of Zebedee and Salome, this did set him apart
He was a cousin to Jesus and well placed to be
A Pillar of the Church, the Church that we now see
—
But it is to our Beloved Geraint that we must now turn
A Dean at Brecon Cathedral in the Parish of St John
It was Geraint who wanted a Tudor Christmas this year
So let us celebrate together St John with some cheer
—
Yesterday was different we gave generously to the frail
Today we share a tipple and wish each other wassail
Good health and good fortune I wish to you all
As we pass around a vessel, this vessel so tall
Jill led members singing:- ‘On the Third Day of Christmas our Henry gave to Anne; Three Gold Heart; Two Pearl Bracelets; And a diamond for her lovely silken hair.’
Member were treated to a Wassail drink from the vessel so tall
Jan led a group of members in a Tudor DANCE to the tune of ‘Greensleeves’’
The 4th Day of Christmas – Childermas, the Feast of the Holy Innocents – The Boy (Girl) Bishop was Issy
If you have children, you will know this day well
Keeping them safe it is your duty, a duty to excel
Not Herod however he would massacre the boys
All to prevent one child from getting any more toys
—
Childermas is the feast that we celebrate today
A remembrance of children and lives taken away
As your Lordship, the Boy Bishop, I am only a child
If you treat me without deference, I might just go wild
—
Holy Innocent’s Day they call it whether innocent or not
We would trick you and tease you when we were only a tot
The games that we played you may know ever so well
But catching you out is the story, the story we would tell
—
I will give you a teaser to get you in the mood
And if you can get it right that would be very good
—
Why did Henry VIII have so many wives?
He liked to chop and change.
———————-
Henry VIII had six wives. He would behead two of them.
Those were his axe wives
————————–
How did Henry VIII’s wife enter the room
She would: amble in
———————–
Jill led members in singing :- ‘On the Forth Day of Christmas our Henry gave to Anne Four Ruby Roses, Three Gold Hearts, Two pearl Bracelets, and a Diamond for her lovely silken hair.’
And then:
‘On the Fifth Day of Christmas our Henry gave to Anne, Five Gold Rings, Four Ruby Roses, Three Gold Hearts, Two pearl Bracelets, and a Diamond for her lovely silken hair’
7th Day of Christmas – New Year’s Eve – Feast Day of Sylvester – John was the Lord of Misrule
The 7th Day of Christmas, it’s the Feast of Sylvester
Sylvester who, you may ask? An early pope and healer
He cured the Emperor Constantine, it is said, of his leprosy
On the 31st December, New Year’s Eve, to you and me
—
But today is not the Eve of this or any New Year
We will celebrate it with joy on the 25th March, my dear
Lady’s Day it is called, and the Annunciation of Mary
When Gabriel told Mary, she would have a very special baby
—
Returning to the 7th Day, a day special to King Henry
A day for games and sports and his favourite, archery
Practice makes perfect, so you are encouraged to take part
Giving you skills to help our Henry when things fall apart
—
Archery is a sport that you cannot do here,
So, what can we do, that will give rise to a cheer
Maybe I could persuade you to a game of Blind Man’s Bluff
Or maybe Shuffleboard that will leave you not out of puff
Jill led members in Singing:- ‘On the Seventh Day of Christmas our Henry gave to Anne, Seven serving pots, Five Gold Rings, Four Ruby Roses, Three Gold Hearts, Two pearl Bracelets, and a Diamond for her lovely silken hair’
Task: Members in their Teams were given either a shove halfpenny board or bagatelle and encouraged members to have a go.
8th Day of Christmas – New Year’s Day – Gift Day – The Lord of Misrule was Jill
As you now know New Year is not what it seems
25th March was the day for those wishful dreams
8th Day of Christmas, was for the giving of presents
But for King Henry this was not just a about gifts
—
When Katherine sent Henry a beautiful gold cup
He was cross, he was angry, like a badly trained pup
And poor Katherine in her tower could not get her passport
While Anne Boleyn was treated like the King’s new Consort
—
But remembering Anne, who was the mother of Elizabeth
Maybe there is a lesson, that we had better to not sayeth
It could be that Henry is still listening here in Mid Wales
And we might do much better, telling some other tales
—
New Year here in Wales we covered only last year
‘Mari Lwyd’ made an entrance and I can still hear the cheer
There was mention of a poor wren caught in a cage
Carried around from door to door, and causing outrage
—
Then there is Holming, a tradition not worth remembering
Followed by a song that I am hoping we might sing
Or maybe I will ask our friends from Clwb Clonc a Coffi
And we hope that the New Year will be Dda i chi
—
Jill Sang: Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i chi
Ac i bawb sydd yn y tŷ
Dyma fy nymuniad i
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i chi
Jill led members in Singing:-‘ On the Eighth Day of Christmas our Henry gave to Anne, Eight Silver Flagons, Seven serving pots, Five Gold Rings, Four Ruby Roses, Three Gold Hearts, Two pearl Bracelets, and a Diamond for her lovely silken hair’’
12th Day of Christmas – Eve of Epiphany – Derek was the Lord of Misrule
This, the 12th day, marks both the beginning and the end
It is the last day of Christmas a sad message to send
But it is the beginning of the Epiphany a source of revelation
That gives to many an understanding of our creation
—
Everything changes, nothing will ever be the same
There are things that are happening you might want to tame
My time with you in my many guises is now gone
From your midst you will see arise an exciting new one
—
As the Lord of Misrule, it is my pleasant duty to appoint
The King, or Queen, of the Bean and not to disappoint
A pie has been prepared and in it someone will find
A Bean meaning Royalty and we hope he/she will be kind
—
Jill led Members in Singing:- ‘On the Twelfth Day of Christmas our Henry gave to Anne, Twelve Chafing Dishes, Eight Silver Flagons, Seven serving pots, Five Gold Rings, Four Ruby Roses, Three Gold Hearts, Two pearl Bracelets, and a Diamond for her lovely silken hair.’
Task: A pie was brought in and divided amongst the members and the Queen of Bean was Elizabeth Newmans who found a bean in her piece of pie.
Elizabeth was crowned by Derek as the Queen of the Bean complete with a Crown and an Orb and Sceptre. Elizabeth then read out the final proclamation:
—
As King/Queen of the Bean I have only one task
To remind you of the Calennig and it is this that I ask
Give the apple three legs, stud it with cloves and some green
Then on the Epiphany, stand it, where it can be seen
—
Task: Members were shown a Calennig Apple and then given an apple, some holly and hazel with which to decorate their Calennig Apple to take home for Good Luck.
Lord of Misrule was Written by Derek Turner
Cast: Derek Turner
Ann Morgan
Jan Swindale
Mary Davies
Issy Costain-Willians
John Senior
Jill Willey
Elizabeth Newmans
Music: Adaptaion of First Day of Christmas: Derek Turner
Led by: Jill Willey
Dance: Arranged by Janet Swindale
Dancers: Jill Swindale
Mary Davies
Ann Morgan
Janet Mathews
Costumes: Jan Swindale and Elizabeth Turner
Food: Elizabeth Turner
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