"The circulation of poems in manuscript form provided a gossiping back channel behind the outward formality and strict rules of court life, and a conveniently ambiguous way to make practical points. Poems were read out in small gatherings known as 'pastimes', given as gifts, enclosed in letters, posted conspiratorially into people's pockets, or simply left lying around where the would be found and read. They would then be passed from hand to hand, copied and shared, and transcribed into notebooks (such as the Devonshire Manuscript) for future reference."
Tom Standage, Social Media: The First 2000 Years