: Due to the high risk of prosecution, most libels were circulated anonymously through scribal networks or by word of mouth rather than in print. Legal and Social Context
: The genre was predominantly characterized by an "aggressively masculine" voice that often used female bodies as metaphors for political corruption.
: While inherently political, many libels survived for decades—even after their victims were forgotten—because of their aesthetic value and "lively" insults. Notable Examples Target/Subject Scottish Libels on Mary, Queen of Scots Mary Stuart
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