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" Thomas Fitz-Gerald, Earl of Kildare, and Lord Lieute- 

 " nant of Ireland in the year 1528, was invited to a new play 

 " every day in Chriftmas, Arland Ufher being then mayor, and 

 " Francis Herbert and John Squire bayliffs, wherein the Taylors 

 " ailed the part of Adam and Eve ; the Shoemakers reprefented 

 ^' the ftory of Crifpin and Crifpianus; the Vintners adled Bachus 

 " and his ftory ; the Carpenters that of Jofeph and Mary ; Vulcan, 

 " and what related to him, was aded by the Smiths ; and the 

 " comedy of Ceres, the goddefs of corn, by the Bakers. Their 

 " ftage was erefled on Hoggin-green, (now called College-green,) 

 " and on it the priors of St. John of Jerufalem, of the bleffed 

 " Trinity, and of all All-hallows, caufcd two plays lo be adeH, 

 " the one reprefenting the paffion of our Saviour, and the other 

 " the feveral deaths which the apoftles fufFered." From this 

 record (which is the firft exprefs mention that has occurred to me 

 of the reprefentation of Myfteries and Moralities in Ireland) it 

 fhould feem, that it was cuftomary with the chief magiftrates of 

 Dublin to invite the Lord Lieutenant to a new play every day in 

 Chriftmas*; and therefore, as I have already obferved, it may be 



( Y ) inferred, 



King of Ireland, enumerates comedies with the araufements on that occafion. — 

 " Epulas, Comced'ias, et certamina ludicra, qux fequebantur, quid attinct diceie?" 

 But Sir James, little fkilled in polite literature, has probably dignified the rut'e IMo- 

 ralities of our anceftors with the appellation of Comedies. 



* I have been informed, that it was alfo formerly cuftomary with the feveral cor- 

 porations of Dublin to invite the Chief Governor to a play at St. George's Chapel 

 on the anniverfaries of their patron Saints. 



