For the last number of years, we have, at Southern, and now at Northern Faire, seen the "Fools Parade"--a celebration of the election of the new "King of Fools". This is not so strange as might appear, being an outgrowth and celebration of the Fools Guild, an Officially Un-recognized guild here in Faire-land. The parade may seem to be a colorful, joyous bit of relative nonsense; but there is, indeed, an iota of substance to the tissue.

In antiquarian days there existed a tradition, again Officially Un-recognized, known as the "Feast of Fools". This consisted of the making into hash of the Church (Catholic) service and services. The younger, and therefore, seemingly, wilder, members of the clergy, did garb themselves in complete opposition to their usual vestments, said Mass in reverse, used beer as a sacrament, delivered themselves of sermons that would tinge even my ears, and behaved in a generally wild and ludicrous manner.It was, of course, an embarrassing, yet entertaining, spectacle.The senior clergy could only cluck and worry over the younger generation (so what else is new?), but, of course, they knew what was afoot, themselves having once been junior clergy.

Then came the final acceptance of the Church of England (Decree'd in part by Henry 8, and the "Pilgrimage of Shame", the dissolution of the monastic institutions, which thereby weakened the power of Rome in England). After Catholic "Bloody" Mary finished turning Smithfield into a charnel house, reeking with the blood of non-Catholics, there came her younger, (and perhaps more intelligent) half-sister, Elizabeth I. During her more tolerant and religiously moderate reign, the Feast of Fools was finally suppressed, probably by the more puritanical element, only to be replaced by a secular festival--the election of the "Abbott of Unreason" or "Lord of Misrule".

Stubbes, in "Anatomie of Abuses", (1583)- describes it thusly:

"First, all the wilde hearts of the parish, conventyng together, chuse them a Graunde Capitaine (of all mischeef) whom thei ennoble with the title of My Lord of Misserule, and him thei crown with great solemnitie, and adopt for their King.

This King, anointed, chuseth forth twentie. fourtie, threescore or an hundred lustie guttes like to himself. They are dressed in his livery, of green, yellow, or some other light, wanton colour. And as though that were not gaudie enough I should sale, thei bedeck themselves with scarffes, ribbons, and laces, hanged all over with gold rynges, precious stones, and other jewelles. This doen, thei tye about either legge twentie or fourtie belies, with rich hande kercheefes in their handes, sometimes laied a crosse over their shoulders and neckes, borrowed, for the moste parte of their prettie Mopsies, loovyng Bessies, for bussyng them in the darcke. Thus, all thynges sette in order, then have thei their Hobble Horses, Dragons, and other Antiques, together with their baudie Pipers and thonderyng Drommes to strike up the Devilles's Daunce with all, then march these heathen companie towards the Churche and churcheyarde, their Pipers pipyng, their Drommers thonderyng, their stumpes dauncing, their belies tynglyng, their hande kercheefes swyngyng about their heads like madmen, their Hobble Horses and other monsters skirmshyng amongst the throng; and in this sorts thei goe to the Churche, (though the minister be at praier or preachyng )- dauncyng and swyngyng their hande kercheefes over their heads in the churche like devils incarnate, makynge such an hullaballoo that nobody can heere himself thynke. Meanwhile, the congregation, like foolish people, thei looke, thei stare, thei laugh, thei fleere, and mount up on formes and pewes to see these goodlie Pageauntes solemnized in this sorte. Then, after this, about the churche thei goe, caperyng again and again, and sos forth into the churche yarde where thei have Eommonlie builded their Sommer Haules, their Bowers, Arbours, and Banquettyng houses, wherein thei feaste, banquet, and daunce alle that daie and, peradventure, alle that night, too. And thus these Terrestrial Furies spend the Sabbath dale.

Members of the court of the Lord of Misrule have badges, and these the attendants sell to anybody who will "...maintaine them in this their Heathenrie, Devilrie, Whoredome, Dronkenness, pride, and whatnot!"

Morris Dancing anyone?