ABSTRACT
Gilbert Banaster's lifespan is, chronologically, the earliest covered by this book. He died in 1488, before William Buckley – the latest person in the book – was born. The surviving evidence for Banaster's life and cultural interests consists of several literary works; several musical compositions; some administrative details concerning his property ownership; and a last will and testament concerned again with substantial property holdings and also the bequest of various luxury goods to his family and social network. It is fairly certain that Gilbert Banaster produced a verse translation of a story from the Italian collection of moral tales known as the Decameron, which was written by Giovanni Boccaccio. In Banaster's version, Sismond's pitiful but noble reaction to the murder of her lover, Guistard, is described in detail. Although she had 'sorow inestimable' on seeing the gift, she responds to the messenger 'withoute changing off faconde', returning thanks to her father for noble gift which encases 'so noble an hart'.
