This essay focuses on provincial libel cases between private individuals tried at the court of Star Chamber during early seventeenth century. Libelling saw personal scandals creatively couched in verses, visual symbols, or mock-ceremonies, and read, sung, posted modern communities. identifies a range ‘manners’ libel, compares libellous ‘Stage plaie’ to set mock-proclamations ‘book’ playing card...

Chapter 2 benefits from a larger corpus collected over several years by Noël J. Gueunier and his collaborator Madjidhoubi Said. Numerous versions of Africa’s most widespread folktale, the defiant girl who marries monster in human disguise, reinforce importance making proper marriage. The popularity tale, many small island, show performers varying it tone borrowing elements other tales. One vers...