Charles Davidson — English Mystery Plays. 223 



seem that the play which is extant, Abraham and Isaac, was such an 

 isolated play, and not one of a cycle/ 



VII. Dunstable, 13th century (St. Catherine). A cloister-drama, probably in Latin. 

 VIII. Edinburgh, 1503. A play by John Eng-lish and his company, being- the players of 



the King- of England, before James IV at his nuptials with the Princess Mai-garet at 



Edinburgh.2 The records say- 

 Dec. 1554. The "litill farsche and play" made by William Lander to be performed 



before the Queen. s 



1558. Payment to William Adamsoan for a play made for the triumph of our sover- 



•eign Lady's marriage. 



Payment to William Lamb for setting forth the play. 

 Payment to all the writers who wrote the play. 

 Payment to Patrick Doran for writing certain plays.4 



The Records of Edinburgh are remarkable for their silence con- 

 cerning plays. In 1503 an ordinance in restraint of plays was passed, 

 from which one infers that English innovations were not viewed 

 wholly with approval. In 1554 the city built a j^lay -field ^ at heavy 

 expense, and there are several entries of that year relating to plays. ^ 

 Plays, however, do not seem to have prospered in Edinburgh, and 

 evidently the city had no craft plays. 



IX. "Gloucestershire, 16th century. At Christmas. A kind of miracle play with 

 the characters of Herod, Belzebub, and others." Probably a mumming in character, 

 surely no mystery play.f 



X. Heybridge, Essex, 1533, no data accessible. 



XL Lancashire, 1809. A mumming similar to that of Gloucestershire. 

 XII. Leicester, 1477 (Passion Play). A play presented by certain players who ac- 

 counted to the city for receipts. The money and stage properties were devoted to the 

 support of the processional pageants.s 



1546-1571. Church plays at Church of St. Martin probably. The above appear to have 

 been connected with the "Reading of the Passion on Palm Sunday." 9 



There were plays also at other churches. i" 



St. Mary's church, 1491. Paid to the players on New-Year's day at Even in the 

 church, vi d. 



1499. Paid for a play in the church in Dominica infra octave Epiph., ii s. 



XIII. Lincoln, 1564 (Play of Old Tobit). An occasional play, played at Broadgate in 

 July. There is no sign that it was repeated. u 



XIV. London, 12th century (miracle plays). " London, instead of theatrical shows 

 and scenic entertainments, has dramatic performances of a more sacred kind, either 

 representations of the miracles which holy confessors have wrought, or of the passions 

 and sufferings in which the constancy of martyrs Avas signally displayed." 12 



These were probably Latin plays in churches and cloisters. 



1 Modern Language Notes, vol. 7, No. 6, p. 339 ff. 



2 Collier, vol. 1, p. 39; also Warton, vol. 3, p. 395, note. 



3 Extracts from the Records of Edinburg, p. 206. 4 Dalzell, p. 32. 



5 Cp. with Windmillhill at Aberdeen, the play-field of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and the 

 plain for sports in Cornwall. 



6 Extracts from the Records of Edinburgh. 



1 For text of a similar play, see Notices of Leicester, Wra. Kelly, p. 53. 

 8 Kelly, p. 27. o Kelly, p. 23. 10 Kelly, p. 14. 



11 Gentleman's Magazine, vol. 54, p. 103. 12 SurAcy of London, 11. 214. 



