A fascinating discovery by Cambridge University scholar James Wade sheds light on the lover’s role in medieval entertainment. Wade stumbled upon a 15th-century manuscript at the National Library of Scotland that provides a rare glimpse into the oral stories and popular entertainment of the time. Including those talking about killer rabbits

The manuscript, attributed to Richard Hyge, a clergyman and educator, contains humorous poems, a comic sermon, and a burlesque romance. In one of the texts entitled “The Rabbit Hunt” there is a brief reference to a murderous rabbit reminiscent of the famous scene depicted on the facade of Notre Dame.

While Wade acknowledges that there is no concrete evidence linking the manuscript directly to the lover, he believes it is a transcription of a live performance or a copy from the lover’s recording. The lyrics show originality, local references, and aim to entertain mixed audiences. This discovery offers a unique opportunity to look at medieval humorous and entertaining practices that have been largely lost in history.