Unique 'bawdy bard' act discovered, revealing 15th-century roots of British comedy

[erronis]

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-unique-bawdy-bard-revealing-15th-century.html

An unprecedented record of medieval live comedy performance has been identified in a 15th-century manuscript. Raucous texts—mocking kings, priests and peasants; encouraging audiences to get drunk; and shocking them with slapstick—shed new light on Britain's famous sense of humor and the role played by minstrels in medieval society.

The texts contain the earliest recorded use of "red herring" in English, extremely rare forms of medieval literature, as well as a killer rabbit worthy of Monty Python. The discovery changes the way we should think about English comic culture between Chaucer and Shakespeare.

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 real-life performers are rare and fleeting. We have first names, payments, instruments played and occasionally locations, but until now virtually no evidence of their lives or work.

[Drum]

1. K&R!

🎭

[DBoon]

2. killer rabbit

[erronis]

3. Thank you. This works 30-40 years and probably forever.