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The records often present a different satirical situation than the play texts. In the Wells shows of 1607, for example, segments of the local gentry, as well as the Dean of Wells Cathedral and his circle, found the shows and parodies greatly amusing, read aloud and circulated ballads related to the shows, encouraged others to write more of them, and even took part themselves. They weren't mocking the traditions or the tradesmen and burgesses as such but those who opposed the traditions (puritan "reformers" of every class). Numerous examples can be found in the mock musters, May games, etc. recorded in the REED vols for Somerset and for Dorset. It would be well worth a look in all the REED vols for matter of that kind. May not be what you had in mind, but satire and class were complicated matters in 16th c. England (as the records show, so I offer this note in response to your queries to the list. Jim Stokes -----Original Message----- From: PJW Marty [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2001 10:29 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Mocking performances Does anyone know of records for other performances that describe aristocrats amused by the efforts of local performers? Or any records of aristocrats as players satirizing lower class traditions or performances? Thanks, Paulette Marty University of Wisconsin-Madison At 08:32 AM 6/12/01 +0100, you wrote: >On Mon, 11 Jun 2001 19:45:59 -0400 Tyler Smith ><[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > > > Bruce R. Smith recently argued that Laneham's descriptions of a peasant > > marriage ceremony and a Coventry artisans' Hock Tuesday play there are > > designed to amuse elite readers. > > >As did I, in "Kingston to Kenilworth: early plebeian morris", Folklore, vol. >100, 1989, no. 1, 88-104 -- or rather, they are looking at them >humorously from a position of detachment > > >Michael Heaney >Head of Service Assessment and Planning >University Library Services >University of Oxford >[log in to unmask]