Charles Davidson — English Mystery Plays. 281 



There are, then, in this cento seven distinct passages, the work of 

 six different authors. Indeed, I suspect that single sentences, which 

 were favorite expressions of the day, are imbedded in O, but am not 

 sufficiently conversant with the literature of the day to locate them. 



We will now consider another play which exhibits marked cor- 

 respondences in all the cycles. 



XXIV. 



THE PLAY OF THE ANNUNCIATION. 



Y. The Annunciation, and Visit of Elizabeth to Mary. 



W. Annunciacio. 



W. Salutacio Elizabeth. 



Ch. The Salutation and Nativity. 



Co. The Salutation and Conception. 



Co. The Visit to Elizabeth. 



S & T. The Pageant of the Shearmen and Taylors of Coventry. 



The Prologue of Y is in the stanza of the parent cycle. We will 

 make that the basis of the comparison of Prologue : 



Y, 2. Howe man was made with-outen raysse. 

 W, 3. And Adam with my handes hath wrought. 



Y, 3. And sette whare he sulde euer haue bene. 

 W, 5. To won ther in, as that I weynd. 



Y, 6. And was putte oute fro paradys. 

 W, 7. Then I hyme put out of that place, 



Y, 7. And sithen what sorouse sor wai're sene 

 Sente vn-to hym and to al bis. 



W, 11. Tor he has bought his syn f uUe sore. 

 Y, 9. And hoAve they lay lange space 

 In helle lokyn fro Ij^ght. 

 W, 12. Thise v thousand yeris and more, 

 Fyrst in erth, and sythen in helle. 

 Y, 11. Tille god graunted ]?am grace 

 Of helpe, als he hadde hyght. 

 W, 14. Bot long therin shalle he not dwelle, 

 Outt of payn he shalle be boght, 

 I wylle not tyne that I have wroght. 

 W, 15-42. Will send his Son. 



Y, 17-132. The statements of the prophets, in Latin with English exposition. 

 W, 43-50. As his prophets have said. 



Y, 134-144. Luke says that God sent Gabriel. 

 W, 51-74. Deus commands Gabriel to go. 



Co. Prologue by Contemplaclo. Parallel passages are— 

 To Y, 9. Ffowre thousand six undryd four yere I telle 

 Man ffor his offens and tf owle foly. 

 Hath loyn geres in the peynes of helle, 



