The mediaeval stage, volume 2 (of 2)Chambers, E. K. (Edmund Kerchever)
History
The mediaeval stage, volume 2 (of 2)
Chambers, E. K. (Edmund Kerchever)
Drama, Medieval -- History and criticism; Theater -- History -- Medieval, 500-1500
‘Item: Mr. Mayor for the time being to find St. George a-horseback, and
the wardens to pay three shillings and four pence for his wages that
day. And the Bailives for the time being to find four horses, with men
upon them, well apparelled, to beare the pole-axe, the standard, and the
Emperor and St. George’s sword.
‘Item: The elder master of the yeald to find a mayd well aparelled to
lead the dragon; and the Clerk of the Market to find a good line for the
dragon.
‘Item: The elder warden to find St. George, with four trumpettors, and
St. George’s [Guild] to pay their wages.
‘Item: the yonger warden to finde the king of Dele and the queene of
Dele, and two knightes to lead the queene of Dele, with two maydens to
beare the trayne of her goune, all wholy in black apparell, and to have
St. George’s chappell well hanged and apparelled to every purpose with
cushins ... russhes and other necessaries belonging for said St. George’s
day[810].’
DUNSTABLE, BEDFORDSHIRE.
One Geoffrey, a Norman, was ‘apud Dunestapliam, expectans scholam S.
Albani sibi repromissam; ubi quendam ludum de S. Katerina (quem Miracula
vulgariter appellamus) fecit; ad quae decoranda petiit a Sacrista
S. Albani, ut sibi capae chorales accommodarentur, et obtinuit.’
Unfortunately the ‘capae’ were burnt. This must have been early in the
twelfth century, as Geoffrey in grief became a monk, and was Abbot of St.
Albans by 1119[811].
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND.
The civic records show traces of municipal plays in 1554, but it is not
clear that they were miracle-plays proper or of long standing. Sir David
Lyndsay’s _Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis_ was played in the Greenside
between 1550 and 1559 (cf. p. 442). On June 15, 1554, a payment was made
to Sir William Makdougall, ‘maister of werk,’ for those ‘that furneist
the grayth to the convoy of the moris to the Abbay and of the play maid
that samyn day the tent day of Junii instant.’ Makdougall was to deliver
to the dean of guild the handscenye [ensign] and canves specifiit in the
said tikkit to be kepit to the behuif of the town.’ Sums were also paid
this summer for ‘the playing place’ or ‘the play field now biggand in the
Grenesid.’
On Oct. 12 Walter Bynnyng was paid for ‘the making of the play graith’
and for painting the ‘handsenye’ and ‘playariss facis.’ He was to ‘mak
the play geir vnderwrittin furthcumand to the town, quhen thai haif ado
thairwith, quhilkis he has now ressauit; viz. viij play hattis, ane
kingis crown, ane myter, ane fulis hude, ane septour, ane pair angell
wingis, twa angell hair, ane chaplet of tryvmphe.’
On Dec. 28 ‘the prouest, baillies and counsale findis it necessar and
expedient that the litill farsche and play maid be William Lauder be
playit afoir the Quenis grace[812].’ I trace a note of regret for the
doubtful morals and certain expense of the entertainments which the
presence in Edinburgh of the newly-made Regent, Mary of Lorraine, imposed
upon the burghers.
EASTERFORD, ESSEX.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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