Many public puppet theatre performances were given during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, but the lack of texts and precise documentation sometimes makes it difficult to examine the specifics of their repertoire. In Spain, for example, the Church prevented actors from performing in the corrales during Lent, so the ‘maquina real’ replaced them. These are the earliest examples of a literary repertoire performed by marionettes, but it seems that no plays written specifically for the ‘maquina real’ have survived. However, in Portugal, José Antonio da Silva wrote all his plays for ‘bonifrates’, and a close examination of his works reveals how the author reinforced their metatheatrical dimension by alluding to this scenic device. The chapter then examines the use of puppetry for satirical and parodic purposes in the works of Ben Jonson and the plays written for the Parisian fair theatres.