Pierson—The Corpus Christi Procession , 
125 
Chester . 
Date Document 
1358. Morris, p. 405. 
1462. Chambers, II, 352. 
Morris, p. 316. 
1471. Morris, p. 316. 
1520. Morris, p. 316. 
1520. Morris, p. 349. 
1544-? Chambers, II, 
350. 
? Morris, p. 309. 
Pre-Reformation. 
Banns. 
DOCUMENTS. 
Content 
Trades go in Corpus 
Christi procession with 
candles. 
“Baker’s charter re¬ 
fers to their ‘play and 
light of Corpus Christi.’ ” 
Half of certain fines 
of sadlers are to go to 
the support of pageant, 
light, and play on the 
Festival of Corpus 
Christi. 
“ ‘The Stuards of the 
Founders and Pewters 
agree with the Stew¬ 
ards of the Smiths to 
here and draw the 
Whitson Playe and Cor¬ 
pus Christi light.’ ” 
Certain gilds to have 
Corpus Christi light. 
“ ‘On Corpus Xpi day 
the Colliges and prestys 
bryng forth a play on 
the assentement of the 
Maire.’ ” 
“There will be a ‘sol- 
empne procession’ with 
the sacrament on Cor¬ 
pus Christi day from 
‘Saynt Maries on the 
Hill’ to ‘Saynt John’s,” 
together with ‘a play 
sett forth by the clergye 
In honor of the fest.’ ” 
“Also maister maire 
of this Citie with all his 
bretheryn accordingly 
A solempne procession 
ordent hath he 
To be done to the best 
Appon the day of Cor¬ 
pus Christi; 
The blessed sacrament 
carried shall be 
And a play sett forth 
by the clergye 
In honor of the fest 
Many torches there may 
you see 
Marchaunts and craftys 
of this citie, 
By order passing in 
their degree. 
A goadly sight that day 
They come from Saynt 
Maries on the hill 
The Church of Saynt 
John untill 
And there the sacra¬ 
ment leve they will. 
The south [sooth] as I 
you say.’ ” 
Interpretation 
Stage I. 
Stage V. 
Stage V. 
The play was prob¬ 
ably transferred to 
Whitsuntide to avoid a 
clash with the proces¬ 
sion. 
Chambers, II, 353. 
Note that this is not a 
craft play. 
Note that this is not a 
craft play. 
