Chapter 4

Late-medieval courtiers had a voracious appetite for literature and commissioned works that ranged from historical and religious narratives to romantic and didactic literature. They especially had a taste for rhyming texts, which they patronized and performed. This literature, including the chivalric tales and the "Mirror for Princes" guides to statecraft, not only provided entertainment but also served to affirm the identity and legitimacy of the nobility.

The chapter treats a few examples in depth, including a copy of Gautier de Coinci's "Miracles of Our Lady" manuscript, which was read aloud in court. Marks of wear on the folios reveal that the recitations were accompanied by the physical interaction with images. The manuscript reveals how performance, which involved touching and gesturing to the illuminations, enhanced audience engagement, thereby merging visual art with storytelling.

The chapter further explores the shift from Latin to vernacular literature, the versification of prose, and the implications for literacy and the use of manuscripts beyond ecclesiastical or administrative contexts. It discusses the transition from silent, solitary reading to the auditory experience of public readings, contrasting scholarly debates on this shift and presenting evidence of performance practices, such as the use of prolectors.

Ultimately, the chapter underscores how courtly life was reflected and shaped by its literature, with manuscripts functioning as performative objects that engaged audiences and readers in a shared cultural and educational experience. The chapter concludes by suggesting that this interaction with texts and images was not just for entertainment but also a part of the court's ritualistic and moral instruction.