Charles Davidson — English Mystery Plays. 209 



4. Dedicated to Saint Nicholas/ 



5. Played stationary plays at Skinner's Well.'' 



6. In 1390 a three days' play at Skinner's Well.^ 



7. In 1409 an eight days' play at Skinner's Well. 



•8. Plays attended by most of the nobles and gentry of England. 

 9. In 1554, feast at Guildhall College, with singing, playing, and 

 the next day a great procession.* 



Among the points to be considered are the following : 



I. The social or religious gilds of England are, in general, a 

 century later in origin. Thus, to cite a few illustrations — 



1327. Fraternit}^ of Corpus Christi in Skinner's Company in London." 



1348. The Gild of Corpus Christi at Coventry.^ 



1358. The Gild of Corpus Christi at Kingston-upon-Hull.'' 



1355. The Gild of St. Mary at Beverly.' 



1378. The Gild of St. Elene at Beverly.' 



II. Their plays followed continental, not English, traditions. 



a. They were stationary plays as were all the plays of France. 



h. They continued three and eight days, as did the continental plays. 



G. They were especially patronized by the nobility. 



One might venture to say that they were probably in the French 

 language. 



III. The most marked discrepancy is that touching the patron 

 saint. On the continent the Virgin seems to have been universally 

 adopted, but the Puys later did not hesitate to write in honor of 

 St. Nicholas, and, finally, after the opening of the fifteenth century, 

 to cultivate profane poetry. 



II. The Royal Entry. 



Nothing illustrates better the community of custom and literary 

 standards among the nobility of England and France than the cere- 

 monies observed when the King, or a high church or state official, 

 entered a city. Indeed, we need not limit our study to England and 

 France, as the same customs obtained in the Netherlands and in 

 Scotland. Two elements of the royal entry concern us here, the 

 pageants and the * riding.' 



I Hone, p. 208. 2 Survey of London, p. 7 ; given as 1391, p. 36, 



8 Survey of London, p. 143 ; given as 1490 by Hone, and 1407 bj' Pollard. 



4 Strype, vol. 3, chap. 13, p. 121 ; given as 1651 by Hone. 



5 Herbert, vol. 2, p. 299. g English Gilds, p. 232. 7 English Gilds, p. 161. 

 8 English Gilds, p. 149. 9 English Gilds, p. 148. 



