The sixteenth century was a time of great scientific, historical, religious and artistic upheaval. Without the benefit of computers, Television, Radio or Nosy Neighbours, much dissemination of social codes and conventions, stories, fables and legends, came from ballads of sonnets. Literacy ballads and the like were a basic format of song, with an emphasis on action rather than character, that told a story, usually concerning some social phenomena, such as romantic relationships, cheating wives or …
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…later on. So, pleasant tall-tale, or social lesson? Perhaps both of these ballads are examples of pure, 16th Century English Entertainment. Or maybe, just maybe, they give us a fascinating insight into the attitudes, beliefs and values of our ancestors. Bibliography Christoph Amberger (1999): "The Secret History of the Sword" Multi-Media Books, Thomas P. Petrarch (1989): "The English Sonnet Sequence" Roche Publishing Peter Burke (1994): "Popular Culture in Early Modern Europe" Joyce Youings (1984): "Sixteenth Century England" Penguin books.