Auo. 14, 1885.] 



♦ KNOWLEDGE ♦ 



T assert, with the confidence of absolute certainty, that, 

 if 40, they are utterly mistaken in supposing that there 

 are meteor-systems really radiating for months from the 



whi. 



the 



ich Mr. 

 Tupman his support ( 

 tionablj' have been .k i 

 asserted, just as the fl a 

 but it is simply impci-- 

 luously exceeding tin 





and Col. 

 on, must unques- 

 contrary may be 

 1 may be asserted, 

 at velocities enor- 

 in of revolution, 



:, »ell and go,.,l 

 i^rtain meteors t 

 ose due to p.u-,1, 



lot ^^ell ii 

 e that a s 



MYSTERIES AXD MORALITIES. 



Br Edwakd Clodd. 



AS proclaimed in tlie Banes, the Ciiester pla; 

 performed at Whitsuntide. 



As in this citie divers yeares the have bene set out, 

 Soe at this tyme of Pentecoste, called Whitsontyde, 

 Although to all the citie followe labour and coste. 

 Yet God guiving leave that tyme shall you, in playe, 

 For three dayes together, begyninge one ilondaye, 

 See these pagentes played to the beste of theire skili 

 Wher to supplye all ivantcs shalbe noc wantes of gO( 



The records of the plays ;,ssio„,,l ,,, ,.,.,-tuin 

 indicate a selection in liarm. ii\ . as I'ai- as imssibl 

 the business of the erafis, as in ilir ]( i-fwnuance 

 Deluge by the wider aan-i, rs ..f llu- |)<v, and 

 Last Supper bv tl.r bakns. 



Of the parneula,' a.-i,M-s of (1„. T-unrl,.v set 



■Xt to 







.f Vo 



u.k dat 



137C. 



Kduard 111,, and containing, under date 1-115, a 

 coniplclr list .,f ihc plays and the crafts to which tliey 

 were sev< rally allotted. Comparing a few of the Yoriv 

 and Chester together, we have as follows :^ 



York. Chkstkk. 



The Creation and Fall of 



Lucifer Barkers (i.e., of trees) Tanners. 



Adam and Eve in Eden* Fullers Drapers. 



Building of the Arkt Shipwrights 



Noah and the Flood j FyshersandMarynars Water-leaders, 



Drawers of Dee. 



* In Dublin by tho Glovers. 



t In Nencastle-on-Tyi.e by the Shipwrights. 



X In Dublin by the Mariners and Vintners. 



York. Cdesiee. 



Abraham's Sacrifice I'archmyners and 



Bokebynders Barkers, Waxe- 



Chaundlers. 



Coming of the Three 



Kings* Goldsmyths MerchantVintners 



Massacre of the Innocents GyrdillersandNaylers Gonldesmythes. 



Temptation of Jesus Smythis Bnchers. 



Entry into Jerusalem Skynners Corvisors (Shoe- 

 maker?. 



The Last Supper Baxteres (Bakers) ... Bakers. 



Crucifixiont Py nners and Pay nters Fflechers, Bow- 



yers, Coopers, § 

 Stringers, and 

 Ironmongers. 



Harrowing of Helll Sadilleres Cooker. 



Kesurrectiont CarpentersH Skynnerr. 



Travellers to Emmans ... Sledmen (Porters) ... Saddlers. 



The Judgement Merceres Weavers. 



The Coventry series, like the Chester, is preceded by 



a proclamation giving metrical lists of the several plays. ^ 



The Chester " vexillalor.'" ,,r licrald, prefaces his 



"banes" with several i i/,- I of<,re reciting the 



subjects and bidding tin |l,\.i. tike their places, but 



the Coventry ijrologue, \\lii(li was delivered by three 



heralds, starts with the briefest announcement to 

 Gentyllys i 



iianry of goodly lyff lad, 

 •-'yde, 



This 

 We xal you shewe, ai 

 How that this werd ffyrst began, 

 And how God made bothe molde (earth) and man, 

 Iff that ze wyl abyde. 

 Space permits the quotation of only a few verses from 

 the two jjrologues for purposes of comparison, showing 

 the fuller and more poetical form of the Coventry, which 

 is also the most elevated in tone Md dignity of the four 

 collections. 



Chester Banes. 

 Nowe, you worshippfull tanners, that of custome olde 

 The fall of Lucifer did sett out. 



Some writers awarrante your matter, theirfore be boulde, 

 Erstelye to playe the same to all the rowtte ; 

 And yf any thereof stande in any doubte, 

 Your anthour his authour hath, your shewe let bee 

 Good speech, fyne players, with appai-rill comelye. 



Country Banes. 

 In the ffyrst pagenc, we thenke to play \ -^^Ctcxi- 

 How God dede make, thorowe his owyn mj'H;,'^ 'ul^ ■■ 

 Hevyn so clere upon the fyrst day. 

 And therin he sett angelle fful bryth. 

 Than angelle with songe, this is no nav, 

 Xal worchep God, as it is rvth ; 

 But Lucvfer, that ant'rlle f"o t;av. 



That 



to take. 



icn and Taylers. 



liery ; the fflechers tixed the feathers 

 lenters performed " The Buriall of 

 wiih either the York or Towneley 



