Table of Contents

Part 1 A socio-cultural history: the contexts; recorded history; internal history; season of performance; geographical distribution; oral transmission and the Chapbook; the decline of the custom. Part 2 A commentary on the performance: areas and arenas; costume; guising and disguising; "said, sung and acted"; making a beginning; the combat; the doctor and the cure; the followers; the land of marvels; the singing and the collection; "Galoshins" and the meaning of the name.