0100,0100,0100This is an appeal for help to identify two quotations from medieval canon law
against drama (ludi seculares).
I am working on a French document which is, in effect, a report of a legal
dispute which took place in 1541 before the Parlement de Paris, in which the
"procureur du roy" puts forward a number of arguments as to why the
Confrerie de la Passion should not be allowed to perform the "Mistere du
Vieux Testament" the following year. He makes several different points, but
the first argument is that making a habit of large-scale public performances
is to be condemned. (The Confrerie had recently put on such plays in 1539
and 1541).
This argument is supported by several Latin quotations and references to
Latin legal authorities. I have managed to trace most of these; they are
based largely on canon law, and invoke Gratian's decretals, and various
commentaries on these, as well as quoting the Councils of Carthage [398]
and of Bale [1435].
There are a couple such quotations whose source I have not managed to
trace, although they probably a similar type of origin to the others.
a) Et encores, aprés que les Romains feurent atte[n]duz de telz jeulx
publicques et qu’ilz congnurent qu’il tournoient en lascivité et in pernicione
de la Republicque, ilz les laissairent; et y eust loy expresse que les fraiz et
impenses qui se faisoient es jeulx publicques seroient employees es
reparations et fortifications de la ville de Rome; et encores est aujourd’huy
ceste loy escripte in libro [?] unico capitulo De expensis ludorum, lib. xjo.Times New Roman
Arialb) Sexto: il advient mille inconveniens et maulx, car soubz couleur de ses
jeulx se font plusieurs parties et assignations, infinies fornications,
adultaires, macquerellaiges, et pour ceste cause est eadem rubrica seu
titulo in libro xjo capitulo De spectaculis et senicis et levonibusTimes New Roman.
ArialHas anyone ever heard of either De Expensis ludorum or De spectaculis et
scenicis et levonibus? The latter is not Tertullian.Times New Roman
ARIALAny suggestions would be most welcome.0100,0100,0100Times New Roman
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Graham A. Runnalls
Professor Emeritus and Honorary Fellow in French
School of European Languages and Cultures
University of Edinburgh
Postal address:
85A Colinton Road
Edinburgh EH10 5DF, G.B.
Telephone (home) +44 (0)131 337 1737
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