subs. (old).—A bawd’s man; a PONCE (q.v.): see ABBESS. Whence ABBOT ON THE CROSS (or CROZIERED ABBOT) = the BULLY (q.v.) of a brothel.
ABBOT (or LORD) OF MISRULE, subs. phr. (old).—The leader of the Christmas revels: see quots. Also (Scots’) ABBOT OF UNREASON, and Fr. Abbé de Liesse (= Abbot of Joy).
1591. J. LYLY, Endimion, v. 2. No Epi, love is a LORD OF MISRULE, and keepeth the Christmas in my corps.
1603. J. STOW, The Survey of London, 72. First, at Christmasse, there was in the kinge’s house, wheresoever hee was lodged, a LORD OF MISRULE, or mayster of merie disporters, and the like had ye in the house of every noble man, of honor or good worshippe, were he spirituall or temporall.—These lordes, beginning their rule on Alhollon eve, continued the same till the morrow after the feast of the Purification, commonly called Candlemas day. In all which space there were fine and subtile disguisings, maskes, and mummeries, etc.
1822. NARES, Glossary, s.v. MISRULE. There is little doubt that all these contrivances for encouraging and enlivening the sports of Christmas, were derived from the more ancient feast of the Boy-Bishop, which being found superstitious, and liable to various abuses, was put down by proclamation, in 1542.
