Lottery Participants Pioneering with Lottery Rhymes : Motives behind the Rhyming Practices in the ‘s-Hertogenbosch Lottery of 1506

Abstract

In 1506, ‘s-Hertogenbosch staged a lottery of prizes. Although its medieval citizens were familiar with urban performances, this European phenomenon was new to them. Meticulous archival records provide a detailed view on this event, particularly a complete and intact lottery register that includes all the names of the ticket buyers as well as a small number of rhymes. This thesis has researched these rhymes and the lottery participants behind them in order to reveal the motives involved in this rhyming practices. The results of the research in this thesis show that the rhyming practice in the Den Bosch lottery of 1506 was still in its infancy, and not yet being influenced by the chambers of rhetoric. Rhymers, mostly belonging to the upper (middle) class, were motivated to rhyme by their desire to win the biggest prize in the lottery. Additional motives for rhymers to record their rhymes were the display of wealth and influence, the representation of their families and of their knowledge and erudition before an urban audience. The latter was reflected in the Latin prosen, inspired by the Bible and other religious texts, used by literate citizens working in the secretary of the municipality, in educational positions or in religious institutions.