Historians from Cambridge found the text of a medieval stand-up
Miscellaneous / / June 01, 2023
Centuries change, but comedians have the same themes.
Scientists from the University of Cambridge have found a text in a 15th-century manuscript that provides a "rare insight" into medieval comedy performances. According to Dr. James Wade, who conducted study, this work confirms the important role of minstrels in the society of that time.
Judging by the text, in a comedic performance, the author makes fun of kings, priests and peasants, and also encourages the audience to get drunk more.
The manuscripts were copied by clergyman Richard Hyge, tutor to the Sherbrooke family of Derbyshire gentry, who originally owned his booklets.
Dr. Wade concluded that Hige had copied the text of an unknown minstrel who spoke on the border of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire around 1480.
Throughout the Middle Ages, minstrels traveled between fairs, taverns and baronial halls to entertain people with songs and stories.
Fictional minstrels are common in medieval literature, but references to actual performers are extremely rare.
Hige gives us a rare glimpse of the medieval world, rich in oral history and popular entertainment.
James Wade
Doctorate from the Cambridge English Department and Girton College
When this minstrel spoke, War of the Scarlet and White Roses was still going on, and life was hard enough for most people in England. But even in such times, idle entertainment flourished, and the minstrels always had platforms to perform.
Dr. Wade also added that in such texts of the 15th century it is sometimes difficult to recognize the comedic subtext, but in this case, he literally had a “moment of epiphany” when he noticed that the author had written: “[Written] by me, Richard Heage, because I was at that feast and didn't drink».
Much of the medieval poetry, songs and stories have been lost. And manuscripts often contain relics of high art. It's something else. It's crazy and insulting, but just as valuable. Stand-up comedy has always been about risk, and these lyrics are risky, they make fun of everyone, high and low.
James Wade
Doctorate from the Cambridge English Department and Girton College
Read also🧐
- Where does the humor go? Discussing the Comedy Crisis in the New Watcher Podcast