ENGLISH CHURCH-PLA YS 423 



outside the church, probably the latter. But a portion of the play, 

 that relating to the 'temple,' was apparently given inside the 

 church. We see that the religious drama was still a source of great 

 profit to the Church ; especially is this apparent when we regard 

 the relative value of money then and now; and, further, we note 

 the profit that could be made by letting out the theatrical wardrobe 

 at a period when the whole countryside was clamorous for the 

 players. About 1575 we find the connection between Church and 

 stage comes to an end, and then within a couple of decades the stage 

 as a lay institution had reached almost the zenith of its power. 



