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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Rare manuscripts reveal medieval 'stand-up comedy' | Rare manuscripts reveal medieval 'stand-up comedy' |
| (8 months later) | |
| Dr James Wade, of Cambridge University, noticed the texts while researching in the National Library of Scotland and said they "poke fun at everyone, high and low". | Dr James Wade, of Cambridge University, noticed the texts while researching in the National Library of Scotland and said they "poke fun at everyone, high and low". |
| Dr James Wade, of Cambridge University, noticed the texts while researching in the National Library of Scotland and said they "poke fun at everyone, high and low". | |
| A 15th Century manuscript offers the "rarest glimpse" into medieval live comedy performances, according to a Cambridge University academic. | A 15th Century manuscript offers the "rarest glimpse" into medieval live comedy performances, according to a Cambridge University academic. |
| Dr James Wade said the raucous texts mocked kings, priests and peasants, and encouraged audiences to get drunk. | Dr James Wade said the raucous texts mocked kings, priests and peasants, and encouraged audiences to get drunk. |
| They also showed the role played by minstrels, considered "important figures" in medieval society. | They also showed the role played by minstrels, considered "important figures" in medieval society. |
| "These texts give us a snapshot of medieval life being lived well," Dr Wade said. | "These texts give us a snapshot of medieval life being lived well," Dr Wade said. |
| The manuscripts were copied by cleric Richard Heege, a tutor to the Sherbrooke family, part of the Derbyshire gentry, to whom his booklets first belonged. | The manuscripts were copied by cleric Richard Heege, a tutor to the Sherbrooke family, part of the Derbyshire gentry, to whom his booklets first belonged. |
| Dr Wade concluded that Heege copied the text of an unknown minstrel who performed near the Derbyshire-Nottinghamshire border, in about 1480. | Dr Wade concluded that Heege copied the text of an unknown minstrel who performed near the Derbyshire-Nottinghamshire border, in about 1480. |
| Throughout the Middle Ages, minstrels travelled between fairs, taverns and baronial halls to entertain people with songs and stories. | Throughout the Middle Ages, minstrels travelled between fairs, taverns and baronial halls to entertain people with songs and stories. |
| Fictional minstrels are common in medieval literature, but references to real-life performers are rare and fleeting. | Fictional minstrels are common in medieval literature, but references to real-life performers are rare and fleeting. |
| The rare Heege manuscript contains the earliest recorded use of the term 'red herring' in English, (bottom line three and four) | The rare Heege manuscript contains the earliest recorded use of the term 'red herring' in English, (bottom line three and four) |
| The rare Heege manuscript contains the earliest recorded use of the term 'red herring' in English, (bottom line three and four) | |
| "Heege gives us the rarest glimpse of a medieval world rich in oral storytelling and popular entertainments," said Dr Wade, of Cambridge's English faculty and Girton College, external. | |
| When this minstrel was performing, the Wars of the Roses were still being fought and life was hard for most people in England. | When this minstrel was performing, the Wars of the Roses were still being fought and life was hard for most people in England. |
| But, Dr Wade said: "These texts remind us that festive entertainment was flourishing at a time of growing social mobility. | But, Dr Wade said: "These texts remind us that festive entertainment was flourishing at a time of growing social mobility. |
| "People back then partied a lot more than we do today, so minstrels had plenty of opportunities to perform. | "People back then partied a lot more than we do today, so minstrels had plenty of opportunities to perform. |
| "They were really important figures in people's lives right across the social hierarchy. These texts give us a snapshot of medieval life being lived well." | "They were really important figures in people's lives right across the social hierarchy. These texts give us a snapshot of medieval life being lived well." |
| 'Mad and offensive' | 'Mad and offensive' |
| Dr Wade said he had a "moment of epiphany" when he noticed the scribe had written: "By me, Richard Heege, because I was at that feast and did not have a drink." | Dr Wade said he had a "moment of epiphany" when he noticed the scribe had written: "By me, Richard Heege, because I was at that feast and did not have a drink." |
| "It was an intriguing display of humour and it's rare for medieval scribes to share that much of their character," said Dr Wade. | "It was an intriguing display of humour and it's rare for medieval scribes to share that much of their character," said Dr Wade. |
| The rare medieval manuscript revealed live comedy sketches of entertainers in Middle Ages Britain | The rare medieval manuscript revealed live comedy sketches of entertainers in Middle Ages Britain |
| The rare medieval manuscript revealed live comedy sketches of entertainers in Middle Ages Britain | |
| Dr Wade's study is published in The Review of English Studies, external journal on Wednesday. | |
| It focuses on the first of nine miscellaneous booklets in the Heege Manuscript, external. | |
| "Most medieval poetry, song and storytelling has been lost," said Dr Wade. | "Most medieval poetry, song and storytelling has been lost," said Dr Wade. |
| "Manuscripts often preserve relics of high art. This is something else. It's mad and offensive, but just as valuable. | "Manuscripts often preserve relics of high art. This is something else. It's mad and offensive, but just as valuable. |
| "Stand-up comedy has always involved taking risks and these texts are risky, they poke fun at everyone, high and low." | "Stand-up comedy has always involved taking risks and these texts are risky, they poke fun at everyone, high and low." |
| Dr Wade believed the booklet's secrets have been hiding in plain sight because previous study has focused on how the manuscript was made, and overlooked its comedic significance. | Dr Wade believed the booklet's secrets have been hiding in plain sight because previous study has focused on how the manuscript was made, and overlooked its comedic significance. |
| He came across the texts while researching in the National Library of Scotland, external. | |
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| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| University of Cambridge | University of Cambridge |
| Derbyshire | Derbyshire |
| British comedy | British comedy |