Records of Early English Drama is proud to announce the publication of
the latest volume in the series and the first for the London area…
Ecclesiastical London edited by Mary C. Erler
Continuing in the tradition established by previous volumes of the
Records of Early English Drama, Ecclesiastical London presents the
ecclesiastically-generated dramatic records of London, notably its
parishes and St. Paul's Cathedral. Among the topics addressed by editor
Mary Erler are parish calendar customs such as hocking and maying,
parish pageant cars and costumes, and the widespread popularity of boy
bishops and of Palm Sunday prophets throughout London. Erler also looks
at St. Paul's choristers' theatre under master Sebastian Westcote and
examines its controversial venue.
Among the many primary source materials examined in this volume are
records from London’s religious houses and parish accounts, as well as
episcopal visitation injunctions and other documents of control and
authority at the time. Ecclesiastical London concludes with ten
invaluable appendices that look at subjects ranging from Paul's Cross
sermons to boy bishops. This volume presents a significant amount of
new information about the history of drama in London, including
discussion of a previously unknown performance by 'the clerks of
London' in 1391–92, and the 1540 inventory of Henry Walton, which
contains two substantial collections of costumes, identifying Walton as
an important theatrical entrepreneur of the mid-sixteenth century.
This extensively researched volume is an important addition to the REED
series and will be fascinating to those interested in the history of
London and of the theatre in general.
Mary C. Erler is a professor in the Department of English at Fordham
University.
Published by the University of Toronto Press and The British Library.
2008.
Ordering details can be found online at the following:
http://www.utpress.utoronto.ca/utp_D1/order.htm
http://www.bl.uk/services/publications.html
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