210 Charles Davidson — English Mystery Plays. 



These pageants were originally stationary, mute mysteries, placed 

 upon stages of elaborate construction along the route which the 

 King would take within the city. That these shows should be sta- 

 tionary is reasonable, since in such case the King and his retinue 

 need be detained no longer than they wished. That they should be 

 mute, though usually indulging in pantomimic action, is more 

 strange, but of the fact there is abundant evidence. It will aid us 

 to understand the progress from pure mystery to allegory, if we con- 

 sider somewhat at length these mute mysteries. 



1313. A mute play of the history of Jesus Christ from Nativity 

 to Passion was exhibited at Paris before Edward II and his wife 

 Isabella.* 



13V7. At the coronation of Richard II, a castle was erected by 

 the goldsmiths on Cheapside. Of the pageants exhibited two are 

 described by Herbert.^ 



1420, Dec. 1st. In the entry of Charles YI and Henry V into 

 Paris, a mute mystery, consisting of stationary pageants represent- 

 ing a connected story, the Passion of our Savior, was shown, — a 

 bas-relief of living figures counterfeiting a bas-relief of stone.' 



1424, Sept. 8th. The pageant at the entry of the Duke of Beau- 

 fort into Paris was described by an eye-witness in these words : 



" Devant le Chastelet, avoit ung moult bel mystere du Vieil testa- 

 ment, et du Nouvel, que les enffens de Paris firent ; et fut fait sans 

 parler ne sans signer, comme ce feussent ymaiges enlevez contre ung 

 mur. 



1430. At the entry of Henry VI into London there were many 

 stationary pageants, some with verses attached and some where per- 

 sonages spoke.'" 



We have passed over a century, recording here and there one of 

 the royal entries. All are alike, stationary, mute, and representa- 

 tions of some portion of the Bible story. I find earlier a curious 

 exception, as though uniformity of custom had not established itself 

 prior to 1800. 



1293. To welcome Edward I upon his return from Scotland, the 

 London Gilds held a procession, with what appears to have been 

 moving pageants indicative of trade." But very early in the four- 

 teenth century the type became fixed, and we find little variation 

 until the time of Henry YI. 



Before 1430 the pageants had been taken from the Bible story, 

 and were easily recognized by all in their conventionalized form, 



1 Julleville, vol. 2, p. 188. 2 Herbert, vol. 2, pp. 217, 221. 3 JuUeville, vol. 2, p. 189. 

 4 Julleville, vol. 2, p. 190. « Fabyan, pp. 603-7. e Herbert, vol. 1, p. 89. 



