Charles Davidson — English Mystery Plays. 201 



Of this movable stage I have found no trace upon the continent, 

 except in the Jew plays of Italy, where, on wagon-stages drawn by 

 oxen, the Jew in Q^gj was mocked, tormented, and finally burned,^ 

 and in the representations upon chariots, given by the Basoche in 

 the provinces, but unknown in Paris.^ 



XIV. 

 EVIDENCES OF EARLY ITALIAN AND SPANISH PLAYS. 



Such aid as the continental plaj^s, prior to the date of the extant 

 English plays, can give towards the study of the English cycles has, 

 according to my knowledge, been presented ; not in its detail, which 

 will serve better as illustration when taken with the English plays, 

 but in the general outline, as showing the trend of development in 

 the various stages of advancement and severance from the church 

 ritual. Our reliance has been almost entirely upon the French and 

 Oerman plays. The notices of the Italian drama, prior to the 

 "Devozioni" that we have outlined, are quickly given. 



We hear of Italian plays first in 1244, the records stating that on 

 that date a Passion and Resurrection Play was presented.^ On Whit- 

 suntide and the two following days, in 1238, according to the chron- 

 icle of Julianus, Canon of Cividale, the Passion, Resurrection, 

 Ascension, and Outpouring of the Holy Spirit* were acted,^ form- 

 ing a cycle of no mean proportions. But already other portions of 

 the Bible narrative, which the church linked with the Advent plays 

 as prophetic or explanatory of Christ's coming, were claiming atten- 

 tion, and six years later, according to the same authority, the Creation 

 of Adam and Eve, the Annunciation, and Birth were played. Thus 

 we find in Italy as early as 1306, in two cycles, probably written in 

 Latin, and surely played under the direction or patronage of the 

 highest clergy, the principal scenes of the future world-cycle that 

 should extend from the Creation of the Angels to the Last Judgment. 



It is evident that the mystery plays must have arisen in Italy as 

 in France, although but scanty remains of the liturgical plaj^s are 

 extant ; otherwise cyclic dramas so early as 1298 would be impossible 

 of explanation. That they also had a recognized standing in the 



1 Klein, vol. 4, p. 239. 2 Jullevllle, Les Comediens, p. 133. 3 Ebert, vol. 5, p. 51. 



4 Evidently the Passion, Kesurrection, Ascension, were considered as forming a fitting: 

 introduction to the Giving' of the Holy Spirit of which the celebration was a coiu- 

 meraoration. 5 Ebei-t, vol. 5, p. 54. 



