Pierson—The Corpus Christi Procession. 
113 
Aberdeen 
DOCUMENTS—Continued. 
Date 
Document 
1554. Register, p. 457. 
See also Cham¬ 
bers, II, 332. 
1556. Chambers, II, 333 
Davidson, note, p. 95. 
Content 
“Williame Robertsone, 
dekin of the smythis, 
comperit in judgement, 
—thai war in vse of 
ganging be thame self- 
fis in the said proces- 
sione, under thair awin 
baner, hindmaist and 
nixt the Sacrament, and 
the said wrychtis ma- 
souns, cowperis, and 
sklaiteris to proceid to- 
gidder befoir thame, 
under ane baner and 
pegane, separat fra the 
said smythis.” 
“Order for observance 
of statute as to Corpus 
Christi procession.” 
Interpretation 
Stage YI, Stage II. 
“On Corpus Christi 
day the procession was 
under direction of the 
Abbot of Bon-Accord, 
later under that of 
T3 y—v i n TJrtArl 
Conclusion: Since by the first reference in 1440 spoken 
drama had already been established in Aberdeen, the succeeding 
references to the carrying of banners and the drawing of pag¬ 
eant wagons in the procession indicate merely a possible earlier 
connection between the procession and the plays. Certainly 
the gilds (contrary to Mr. Davidson’s; statement, p. 97) were 
concerned with both plays and procession (see entry 1479.) Be¬ 
cause the pageant wagons were drawn in the procession, it is 
not necessary that the plays should have originated in it. The 
plays may have developed separately and have become at¬ 
tached to the Corpus Christi festival. The wagons might then 
have been sent in the procession to add to its splendor or to an¬ 
nounce the plays. Obviously, material earlier than 1440, show¬ 
ing that the procession was flourishing before the first spoken 
drama, must be found to prove the validity of the theory. 
8—-S. A. 
