Biblical Drama and Politically Incorrect Ideas in the Dutch Reformation Era

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Abstract Chambers of Rhetoric in Flanders, Brabant, Holland and Zeeland opened themselves up to the new religious ideas, especially in the 1530s. These were discussed among their members and the Scriptures were read and conversed upon. The results of their reflections were written down and performed in allegorical plays (spelen van sinne), biblical plays, refrains and songs. In this essay particular attention will be paid to how the staging of biblical figures and stories was not only a means to propagate the new “evangelical” ideas among the audience, but also a way to criticize the persecution of the same by the imperial and ecclesiastical authorities. To that purpose a closer analysis is offered of a play entitled De Bekeeringe Pauli (The Conversion of Paul), which was based upon Acts 9:1–19. Most probably the play was created by the Chamber of Rhetoric De Goudbloem (Marigold), which was active in Vilvoorde near Brussels. The essay will further illustrate how these “religiously-politically incorrect” plays induced the authorities to take increasingly stringent measures against the performance of rhetoricians’ plays in the Low Countries.