ROXBURGHE BALLADS Meaning and
Definition
-
Roxburghe Ballads refer to a collection of popular English and Scottish broadside ballads that were compiled and named after the Roxburghe Club, a renowned bibliophilic society in the 19th century. These ballads were printed on large single sheets of paper, featuring a catchy title, lyrics, and sometimes even an illustration. The term "Roxburghe Ballads" specifically denotes the narrow genre of ballads that were included in this particular collection.
The Roxburghe Ballads encompass a wide range of themes, including love, politics, crime, and historical events. They were primarily created during the 16th and 17th centuries and mirror the popular sentiments and cultural interests of the common people during that era. Often sold in markets, these printed ballads served as cheap entertainment and news sources for the general populace.
The significance of the Roxburghe Ballads lies not only in their historical and cultural value but also in their role as invaluable sources for studying the oral tradition and societal norms of the past. They provide fascinating insights into the tastes, values, and concerns of the people, shedding light on their humor, emotions, and perspectives on various themes.
Due to their perishable nature, surviving copies of Roxburghe Ballads are now quite rare and are highly sought after by collectors, researchers, and enthusiasts interested in the history of popular culture and literature. The Roxburghe Ballads collection stands as a testament to the enduring appeal and popularity of these engrossing, rhyming narratives from bygone eras.
Etymology of ROXBURGHE BALLADS
The term "Roxburghe Ballads" has its etymology rooted in the Roxburghe Collection of English ballads. The collection was named after its owner, Robert Ker, 1st Earl of Roxburghe, who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The Roxburghe Collection is one of the largest and most significant collections of English ballads, containing over 1,500 broadside ballads from the 17th century.
Broadside ballads were popular street literature in the 17th century, consisting of single sheets of paper printed with a ballad's lyrics and often accompanied by woodcut illustrations. They were typically sold in the streets, at fairs, or by traveling peddlers. These ballads covered a wide range of topics, including love, politics, historical events, crime, and religion.
