The poet Wynnere and Wastoure

a 14th-century banquet, luttrell psalter; has been theorized wynnere , wastoure written banquet held @ chester castle. poem describes wastoure s banquets in detail: venyson frumentee, , fesanttes full riche / baken mete therby 1 burde sett (334-5)

the writer of wynnere , wastoure sophisticated poet, confident in both alliterative verse-form , in handling complex satire. however, know nothing author s identity other can deduced poem s language. modern opinion identifies dialect, , therefore author, originating north-west midlands, possibly far north southern lancashire (the poem may make reference rebellion occurred in chester, north-western provenance likely). presence of east midland forms - of contemporary dialect of london - has led suggestion poet may have been part of household of lord seat in north-west, had connections london , court. academic thorlac turville-petre has proposed king s herald in poem can identified sir john wingfield, steward of black prince s lands around chester in 1351. in interpretation, poet have travelled wingfield , chief justice shareshull chester judicial enquiry, or eyre, recorded in 1353; poem have been suitable entertainment banquet held prince @ chester castle local administrators.

the author laments @ start of wynnere , wastoure poetic standards , appreciation have degenerated alongside society; once lords gave place skilled makers of myrthes (21), serious poets have been supplanted beardless youths japes telle (26), having neuer wroghte thurgh witt 3 wordes togidere (25). complaint indicate conservatism on poet s part, though merely conventional, similar passages quite common.

it has been argued (following poem s first editor, israel gollancz) similar alliterative work parlement of thre ages, shares same dialect , thornton copied bl add. ms. 31042, same author, although there no conclusive evidence.