394 Elbert N. S. Thompson 
be inferred from the frequency with which it is pointed out on the 
title-pages of the plays. ‘“ Fower may Play this Enterlude,” precedes 
the assignment of parts by the printer of ew Custom, and similar 
advertisements are found in Wealth and Health, Like Will to Like, 
and other plays. Such shortened entertainment was preferred by 
the audiences—-for did not even King Henry find one of Medwell’s 
lost allegories too tedious for endurance’; but it was largely the 
inability of traveling companies to supply the actors and the staging 
for the long, full-scope moralities, that most effectively caused their 
abridgment. 
Through this curtailment the moralities lost much in scenic effect. 
The processional features of Wisdom Who ts Christ, a strictly the- 
ological play, are most striking. At one point the Five Wits of 
the Soul, dressed in “white kertyllys & mantelys, with cheuelers 
& chappelettis,’ and singing, “ Nigra sum, sed formosa, filiae Jerusa- 
lem,” lead the march; Anima follows, “as a mayde, in a wyght 
clothe of golde gyntely purfyled with menyver”; then Wisdom, 
clothed in a purple robe richly ornamented with gold, and furred 
with ermine, and finally Mind, Will, and Understanding, “all i in 
wyght cloth of golde,” bring up the rear. The richness and variety 
of the costumes, the slow, stately’ march, and the solemn hymn, 
gave undoubtedly a splendid scenic effect not dissimilar to the 
familiar processions in the cathedrals. Only slightly less impressive 
were the seven followers of Mind in “ rede berdis, & lyouns rampaunt 
on here crestis, & yche a warder in hys honde,” the six perjurers 
who follow Understanding, and the six gallants who accompany 
Will, each party with trumpets, bagpipes, or other musical instru- 
ments. In all there are thirty-eight characters, twentyfour of whom 
are on the stage at one time. By such scenic display even reli- 
gious allegory could be made attractive; crowds would come, if not 
to listen, at least to see. But could Anima, Will, and the rest con- 
tinue to hold interest when stripped of their splendor? This the 
professional actor had to determine.’ 

1 Chambers, 2. 201. 2 36, 41, 46, 58-60. 
’ The costuming of Zhe Castle of Perseverance is indicated on the plan 
accompanying the manuscript. Queen Mary gave order for the delivery 
of certain theatrical costumes to her servants for a play to be given by 
“the gentlemen of the chapell.” Some of the items were: 
Genus humanum for a gowne purple breges satten vij yardes 
v virgins Cassockes of white breges, satten 
reason, verytie and plentie, every of them vij yardes 
