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Note:  Do not rely on this information. It is very old.

Bazoche

Bazoche, the guild of clerks of the Parliament of Paris, which administered justice among its own members, and like some other French guilds affected the forms of royalty. It held an annual montre, or review, in military form. Its chief importance, however, is in the history of the drama. The privilege of performing religious plays, granted to the guild by Philip the Fair in 1303, led to the annual presentation of a morality play, satirising distinguished personages. The personalities these plays contained led to repeated interference during the 14th and 15th centuries, and, ultimately, to the suppression of the guild. The last trace of dramatic performance is in 1582. The plays may be regarded to some extent as precursors of modern comedy.