Book AntiquaRecords 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:
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