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“Christis Kirk,” “Peblis to the Play,” and the German Peasant-Brawl

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 March 2021

George Fenwick Jones
George Fenwick Jones*
Affiliation:
Princeton University, Princeton, N. J.
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Extract

“Christis Kirk, on the Grene” and “Peblis to the Play” are no doubt the most popular and most frequently published works in Middle Scots literature; yet almost nothing has been written about them. This study aims to throw some light on them by viewing them as examples of the “peasant-brawl,” a popular literary tradition during the Ute Middle Ages. First it will define the peasant-brawl as a literary genre and then trace its development, using for this purpose mostly South German parallels, since these seem to be the most plentiful. One can justify the use of such geographically remote parallels because of certain cultural similarities between the Lowland Scots and the South Germans of that period, both of whom were largely derived from Teutonic tribes that had occupied foreign territory and destroyed, expelled, or assimilated the native element. Both peoples had absorbed Roman Christianity and later French civilization, which they gradually blended with their own cultural heritage. In view of these similarities in origin and development, one might expect their popular literatures to have much in common, just as their vernaculars did.

Type
Research Article
Information
PMLA , Volume 68 , Issue 5 , December 1953 , pp. 1101 - 1125
Copyright
Copyright © Modern Language Association of America, 1953

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References

page 1101 note 1 CK: Tim Bannatyne Manuscript, ed. W. Ritchie (Edinburgh and London, 1934), ii 262; also in The Maitland Folio Manuscript, ed. W. Craigie (Edinburgh and London, 1919), i, 149. PP: Maitland Folio, i, 176. For earlier editions, see C. Rogers, The Poetical Romains of King James I of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1873), pp. 20–22. For exhaiutive bibliography of works ascribed to James I, see Wm. Geddie, A Bibliography of Middle Scots Poets (Edinburgh and London: STS, 1912), lxi, lxxvii–lxxii, 95–132.

page 1101 note 2 For obsolete but interesting comparison of the two languages, see J. Callander, Two Ancient Scottish Poems (Edinburgh, 1792), pp. 11-15. CK was published in Göttingen in 1775 to illustrate “the ultimate connexion of the Scotch with the German language.” D. Irving, The History of Scolisk Poetry (Edinburgh, 1861), p. 142.

page 1101 note 3 The Maitland version of PP contained a strophe about the bride and groom. John Pinkerton included it in his Selected Scotish Baliads (London, 1783), ii, 27, but subsequent editors have deleted it as extraneous. However, it shows that the peasant-brawl and the peasant-wedding were associated in Scotland as well as in Germany.

page 1102 note 4 Ne ed. M. Hupt, neu bearbeitet von E. Wiessner (Leipzig, 1923). For s Neidhart song that largely fills the requirements of the genre, tee HMS, iii 212b, str. 3–5.

page 1102 note 5 For development of the “Naidhart tradition,” see K. Gusinde, (Breslau, 1899).

page 1102 note 6 “Die Kirmes der vollen Bauern,” “Die Kirms au Bessa,” “Die Bauern von Sanct Pöllen,” “Die tippigen Bauern,” A ed. F. Böhme (Leipzig, 1877), Nos. 449–451; Alte. hock- und ed. L. Unland (Stuttgart and Berta, n.d.), Nos. 248, 249, 345. For another mien of The Pretentions Peanuts,“ see A. Hauptmann, ”Hans Hesellohers Lieder,“ Rome v, 455.

page 1102 note 7 “Von Mayr Betzen,” ed. C. Haltaus (Quedlinburg and Leipzig, 1840), No. 67; “Von Metaen Hochzit,” ed. J. v. Lassberg (St. Gall, 1844), iii, No. 226. For argument in favor of former as source of Ring, see E. Wiessner, “Das Gedicht von der Bauernhochzeit,” (1908), 243.

page 1102 note 8 E. Wiener ed. (Leipzig, 1931).

page 1102 note 9 Ed. E. Goetze (Halle, 1893), i, No. 2 (NDL,).

page 1102 note 10 A. Schults, Familienausgabe (Wien, 1892), fig. 194; tee also 192. E. Fuchs, (Munich, n.d.), i, figs. 464, 401–407; cf. p. 304. According to L. Maeterlinck, Le Genre Sa (Brussels, n.d.), pp. 194, 200, German painter, such as Hopfer influenced the comie painters of Fanders in the 16th century.

page 1103 note 11 The Kingis Quair, ed. W. W. Skeat (Edinburgh and London, 1911), p. xxi. For arguments, see pp. xvi-xxi.

page 1103 note 12 J. Veitch, of the (Edinburgh and London, 1893), pp. 53–63; T. Henderson, (London, 1898), pp. 104–115. For older opinions, see Irving, pp. 142–153.

page 1103 note 13 Irving, p. 147. Cf. also: “The structure, language, versification, and humour of the two poems are alike” (C. Rogers, p. 25).

page 1103 note 14 E. Hull, Folklore of the British Isles (London, 1928), pp. 248 S.

page 1104 note 15 Cf. Hull, pp. 227, 248–260 et passim with W. Mannhardt, Wa (Berlin. 1875), i, 160–190 et passim.

page 1104 note 16 A. Bielschowsky, (Berlin, 1890), pp. 13 ff. For in interesting relic of this custom, fee Unland, No. 8. A hymn welcoming the May seems reflected in the English folksong “Sumer is i-cumen in.”

page 1104 note 17 Hull, p. 227. C. Holes, (New York, 1940), p. 87. Note that Neidhart's ”Sonunerlieder“ always concern der mei. For a reference to the Introductio Maii in England, see E. K. Chambers, T Stage (London, 1903), i, 91.

page 1104 note 18 Panorama (Cambridge, 1946) p. 96.

page 1104 note 19 In moat peasant-brawl poema the peasants dance around the linden: e.g., “Farmer Beta,” v. 227, “Metzi's Wedding,” v. 453, “The Kermess of the Full Peasants,” Str. 5, v. 3, “The Kermess at Bessa,” Str. 3, v. 1, and in several of the above-mentioned pictures.

page 1104 note 20 Bielschowsky, pp. 4 ff.; Unland, ii, Anmerkungen, pp. 164 ff. F. M. Böhme, Gaschichte (Leipzig, 1886), pp. 17–21. For Church attitude toward survival of pagan customs in England, see Chambers, i, 161–163; C. K. Baskervill, “Dramatic Aspects of Medieval Folk Festivals in England,” SP, xvii (1920), 19–87.

page 1105 note 21 EETS, OS, Vols. 119–123, vv. 4681–4685.

page 1105 note 22 Der Renner von ed. G. Ehrismann (Tübingen, 1908 ff.), vv. 12, 441 ff. See also Unland, ii, 185, n. 5.

page 1105 note 23 Des ed. K. Barack (Stuttgart, 1863), vv. 1537 ff. For further clerical invective againsti dancing, see Böhme, Geschichte des Tonzes, pp. 91–112.

page 1105 note 24 Das Brant, ed. K. Goedeke (Leipzig, 1872), Chap. lxi.

page 1106 note 25 ... daz die vrouwen müezen schouwen waz dèr törpel trage,“ from S. Singer, (Tübingen, 1920), p. 37. See n. 49, below.

page 1106 note 26 Kaiserhronik, ed. H. Massmann (Quedlinburg and Leipzig, 1849), vv. 14,819 ff.

page 1106 note 27 Neidhart, Str. 37, v. 1. For the melody of a see L. Erk and F. Böhme, (Leipzig, 1893), ii, 726, No. 957. In “The Kermess of the Full Peasants” the piper Pipes “wol nach der dörfer sitten” (Str. 7, v. 6). They ahs dance a which mint be a peasant dance too, since hottal means “geel” and stant means “whoal” Nevertheless a nobleman joint in it The word “Platefute” (CK, v. 48) is “probably the name of a peasant dance” (OED). Callander (p. 119) contrasts it with the word “transs” (CK, v. 40), which he believes to be a foreign dance.

page 1107 note 28 Chambers, i, 195–196. Mannhardt, i, 546 et passim. See also A. Kuhn, “Wodan,” v (1845), 481 ff.

page 1107 note 29 (Paris, 1893), ii, 47.

page 1107 note 30 Chambers, i, 171. For a Middle Scots example of this genre, see Robert “Rebene sat on gud grene hill,” Bannatyne MS., iv, 308–312.

page 1107 note 31 A girl in a Neidhart song (23, vv. l7–20)

page 1108 note 32 Fr. Pfeiffer ed.(Leipzig, 1880), No. 72.

page 1108 note 33 Ring, vv. 6267, 6333, 6436.

page 1108 note 34 Kuhn, p. 478. Mannhudt, i, 621 (see under); Hole, p. 132. Pcrhaps this birch hat it related to the enigmatic “hats o the birk” belonging to the dead sons in “The Wife of Usher's Well.” F. J. Chile, New York, 1885), ii, 238, A. str. S. Cf. “hats made o the bark,” B. str. 1.

page 1108 note 35 Mannhart, i, 251 ff. Tis may alto explain the “Spitxruthen” in Böhme, p. 175.

page 1109 note 36 A Glossary, to the * (Hunterian Club, 1894), p. 128.

page 1109 note 37 Böhme, Altdeutsch No. 453, V. 2.

page 1109 note 38 Schultz, fig. 192. Cf. “eine kleine rtsen guot zarte er ab ir houbet, dar zuo einen bhiomen hnot” (N 81, vv. 3–5).

page 1109 note 29 Kuhn, p. 481. Perhapt there is significane in the “tree” of “barchane, grüene also der klê” in one of the Neidhart songs (str. 36, v. 7). One of Hans Sacht't 186).

page 1109 note 10 “Du grit furent lour watonent”—The ed. G. (Oxford, 1889), i, v. 26, 458.

page 1110 note 41 ed. A. v. Keller (Stuttgart 1853), i, 440, vv. 5, 10.

page 1110 note 42 ed. J. Seemüller (Hannover, 1890), v. 20,020.

page 1110 note 43 461 ff.

page 1110 note 44 “Spottlied auf die Bauern,” (1897), 179.

page 1110 note 45 (Haue, 1886), ii, v. 71.

page 1110 note 46 1894), iv, A, v. 564,

page 1112 note 47 The Acts of the Parliament of Scotland (London, 1814), ii, 49.

page 1112 note 48 Already at the beginning of the 13th century Neidhart had complained that the peasants were (str. 54, v. 36), “mit rede er ” Cf. 764–765.

page 1112 note 49 Georce F. Jones, “Twey Mytenes, as Mete,” MLN lxvii (1952), 512–516.

page 1112 note 50 The Poetic Remains of Some of the, Scotish Kings (London, 1824), p. 139.

page 1113 note 51 vv. 321, 1081. Cf. “zwen stiuel glatt rott leder,” J. Bolte, (Berlin, 1890), Acta Germanica, iii, 226, str. 5.

page 1113 note 52 “... et certe ut apparet ad ostendendum mulieribus membra sua ut sic ad luxuriam provocentur,” from M. Bowden, Communion an the (New York, 1948), p. 80.

page 1113 note 53 A. Krappe, The Science of Folklore (London, 1927), p. 273; (Lancaster, Pa., 1927), pp. 26–34; Mannhardt, i, 549–552; Hull, p. 249; Chambers, i, 187.

page 1114 note 54 During the reign of Henry VIII, the people of London “did fetch in Maypoles with divers warlike shows, with good archers, morice-dancers ...” (Hull, p. 249). See also 13/

page 1114 note 55 480.

page 1114 note 56 294–301.

page 1115 note 57 Acts of the Parliament of Scotland, ii, 48.

page 1116 note 58 CK, v. 61 nevell; v. 109 forkis, v. 111 bowgaris of barns; v. 114 rungis; v. 120

page 1116 note 59 The death of a woman was “dem pharret ane schaden” and the injuries suffered by the men were “Dem wundartzet ane schaden” (Ring, vv. 1233, 1241). For the peasant-tournament tradition, see my “The Tournaments of Tottenham and Lappenhausen,” PMLA, lxvi (1951), 1123–40.

page 1116 note 60 ed. J. Wright (London, 1898 ff.), iii, 347.

page 1117 note 61 A cowardly villager called Tarn Tailor appears in a questionable strophe in CK (Pinkerton, ii, 27).

page 1117 note 62 The denied minstrels the right of revenge. See Otto Beneke, (Hamburg, 1863), pp. 22 ff.

page 1117 note 63 Bartlett J. Whiting suggests that “wan within twa wains” means “went between or behind two wagons” and thus got out of harm's way (see OFD, win, 12; within, B, 1 [b]).

page 1117 note 64 Ring, v.v. 201, 1347, 6301 et passim.

page 1117 note 65 I interpret the name Thome Lular (CK, v. 37) as Tom the Bagpiper (see “Wittenwiler's lüller,” MLN, lxvii [1952], 402–104). The minstrel at Peebles plays a 194).

page 1117 note 66 George F. Jones, “Wittenwiler's Becki and the Medieval Bagpipe, ”JEGP, xlviii (1949), 209–228.

page 1118 note 67 Ring, vv. 5446, 6469. In one of the Neidhart (str. xlii, v. 24) a rustic “stiex manege dierne nider, als in sin unfuoge biss.”

page 1118 note 68 The words “gub glaikis” may be a misplaced corruption of “Gib Glaiks,” which was a “contearptoaus epithet,” tat first word being “s term of reproach, especially for an old weans” (OED).

page 1118 note 69 For

page 1119 note 70 Glotssary

page 1119 note 71 “Farmer Betz”

page 1119 note 72 ... was new cuming fra

page 1119 note 73 Jones, “The Tournaments,” p. 1134.

page 1119 note 74 “The Peasants of St. Pölten” str. 3, v. 3;

page 1119 note 75 According to St. Anselm, the

page 1120 note 76 ubel war (“Mettft Weifini” v. 22); 79, v. 1; 17; str. 96. v. 21); pei ir

page 1120 note 77 Scotch girls washed their faces in Msydew on Mayday (Hull, p. 255).

page 1120 note 78 v. 6212.

page 1120 note 79 Swain, s.v. 4, “a conntry or farm laborer ...”

page 1120 note 80 The hero of the (v. 63) is a “defen süberlich and stolts.” The hero of “Metzi's Wedding” (v. 33) is a “suber man.”

page 1121 note 81 Baskervill, pp. 44–15; Chambers, i, 169.

page 1121 note 82 “wowaria” (CK, v. 5); “wawaria” (PP, v. 233).

page 1121 note 83 Scottish Poetry of the Sixteenth Century (Glasgow, 1892), p. 161.

page 1121 note 84 Böhme, Geschiehte im Tonzes, pp. 153–154.

page 1121 note 85 Erk and Böhme, ii, No. 987. I am indebted to Professor Archer Taylor for calling my attention to this long, as well as for giving me much valuable information and criticism.

page 1122 note 86 See Zeitschefrides veriens für Volkunde, v (1895), 202. There is an excellent example of a Maclein in the Ring, vv. 63333-55

page 1122 note 87 Blestovosky p. 31. Cf. (Cambridge, 1922), v. 509.

page 1123 note 88 Piers the Plougman, ed. W. W. Skeat (Oxford, 1886)

page 1123 note 89 Both are diminutivs of Matilda

page 1123 note 90 The Paster translated by Richard Rofle of Hompole, ed. H. Bramley (Oxford, 1884), p. 57

page 1123 note 91 “... wand elten im gelinert, der wider sinen orden ringt”

page 1124 note 92 For a typed example, see Ring, vv. 7877–82.

page 1124 note 93 For example, H. Hügli, Der. Berne (Berne, 1928);

page 1124 note 94 The works of James I. King of Scotland, ed. R. Morrison (London, 1787), p. 83.