276 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. 
much in length and in incident : indeed, the difference in in¬ 
cident® is very striking; but there is a family likeness which 
makes possible a classification under the general head of St. 
George, or Mummers 7 , Plays. 
The most complete study of these plays is that of 
Chambers, 1 who gives a list of twenty-nine texts, 2 and on the 
basis of these various texts gives an account of the leading 
features of the plays. From these texts and from Mr. L, 
Gomme’s excellent description of the presentation of these 
plays, 3 we can say that the following features are common to 
all, or to the greater part of them: 
(1) The drawing of a circle, inside of which the players 
stand when playing their parts. This seems to have no con¬ 
nection with the familiar “witch’s circle.” It is rather the 
mere marking out of the limits of the stage. 
(2) A fight between individuals, or a melee. 
(3) The death and revivification of one or more persons. 
In this incident these plays, correspond with the German 
Shrove-tide and Whitsuntide plays. 4 - The revival of the 
dead is accomplished by a braggadocio Doctor. 
(4) The costumes of the players frequently consist of 
masks and armor like leaves. 
(5) Some of the characters represent animals. 
The importance of the third heading, the death and revivi¬ 
fication, is so characteristic of the plays that we shall present a 
few of the different treatments of it. Taking the Lutterworth 
play 5 as the norm, Prince George fights the Turkish Knight 
and is mortally wounded. The Doctor comes- in and revives 
1 “The Mediaeval Stage,” vol. 1, chap. 10. 
2 L. c., vol. 1, pp. 205-206. In Appendix K of his book Mr. Chambers’ 
prints the Lutterworth play. 
3 In Nature. Dec. 23, 1897. Other descriptions are to be found in 
Folk-Lore. Vol. 10, pp. 186 ff., has photographs of a Warwickshire play. 
4 Chambers, “The Mediaeval Stage,” vol. 1, p. 218. 
5 Written down by Kelly in 1863, “Notices of Gloucester,” pp. 53-56. 
Reprinted by Billson, “Folk-Lore of Leicestershire and Rutland,” 1895, 
p. 130; by Manly, “Specimens of the Pre-Shaksperean Drama,” 1897, 
vol. 1, pp. 289-292; and by Chambers, “The Mediaeval Stage,” 1901, vol. 
2, Appendix K. 
