Robert Hegge has given us his autograph in two places, and in both added the cognomen of “Dunelmensis.” On this account, some writers have conjectured that the volume originally came from Durham; but this supposition is not supported by any evidence and very little probability. The principal mark of dialect which the Mysteries contain, viz., _x_ for _sh_ in such words as _xal_, _xulde_, &c., belong to that part of the country in which Coventry is situated. If, then, we have not complete and absolute evidence that Ludus Coventriæ is the proper title of these Mysteries, yet the probabilities are greatly in favour of the correctness of this appellation, and no urgent reasons have been given for any different conclusion. By this name, at all events, the MS. has been known since the time of Dr. James, who died in 1639. The external evidence is also greatly in favour of the claim of Coventry to these plays. Coventry was a place formerly famous for the performance of its Corpus Christi plays by the Grey Friars, in the same manner as Chester was for the performances of its trading companies. Mr. Sharp’s _Dissertation on the Coventry Mysteries_, 4to., Cov. 1816, contains a most curious and valuable collection of information[5] relative to the plays once performed there, and the manner in which the actors were dressed. In 1456, Queen Margaret was at Coventry, when she saw “alle the pagentes pleyde save domesday, which might not be pleyde for lak of day.” Even as late as 1575, “certain good harted men of Coventree” had the honour of performing before Queen Elizabeth in the celebrated entertainment at Kenilworth, and gained considerable applause.[6] And Heywood, in a passage which has been frequently quoted, alludes to the devil as a famous character in the old Coventry mysteries:— “For as good happe wolde have it chaunce, Thys devyll and I were of olde acqueyntaunce; For oft, in the play of Corpus Christi, He hath played the devyll at Coventry.”[7] The Coventry Mysteries attracted the attention of the antiquary, Dugdale, at an early period, and he has given us the following curious and important account of them:—