literary tradition, international conflict, historical trends, humanists, insult, violence, gallows, humour, scatological
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94
skirmishes are part of a literary tradition that most usually arises only at particular historical moments under conditions of international conflict and it is therefore problematic to speak of them as part of cohesive literary or historical trends. They are occasional poems that recycle the conventions of their avatars in response to the immediate circumstances of international conflict.
At first examination, the contrast between the language used in sixteenth-century Anglo-Scottish and Anglo-French flytings would seem to suggest that Anglo-French exchanges were relatively more upmarket and sophisticated affairs than their Anglo-Scottish equivalents which appear significantly cruder. The Anglo-French disputes I consider are conducted in Latin between humanists and debate specific details of war and diplomacy. Anglo-Scottish examples are more often vernacular and use more direct and forceful insults, derogating their adversaries’ stereotyped national characteristics in stronger terms, although they are also engaged politically. They use language that is hyperbolically obscene and aggressive, including threats of violence, gallows humour and scatological insults. Nonetheless, while the surviving Anglo-French examples are conducted between humanist courtiers and high ranking officials, the Anglo-Scots exchanges also involve important men and are equally competent, and arguably even superior, examples of stingingly insulting verse.
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