I find no trace of plays at the meetings of the Guild Merchant, although there was always a great procession, which from 1762 or earlier included such allegorical figures as Adam and Eve for the Tailors, Vulcan for the Smiths, &c.[897] READING, BERKSHIRE. The churchwardens’ accounts of St. Lawrence’s record ‘a gaderyng of a stage-play’ in 1498. In 1507 a play of _Adam and Eve_ was held on ‘the Sonday afore Bartylmastyde’ ‘in the Forbury.’ There was a ‘schapfold,’ but ‘pagentts’ were also used. A Corpus Christi procession is also mentioned in 1509, 1512, and 1539. In 1512 also was the ‘play of Kayme,’ and in 1515, ‘Cayme’s pageaunt’ in the market-place. On May 1, 1499, and again in 1539, was the _Kings of Cologne_. This was distinct, no doubt, from the ‘king play,’ with its ‘tree,’ ‘king game,’ or ‘kyng ale,’ which took place at Whitsuntide (cf. vol. i. p. 173). But the date, May 1 (for which cf. Abingdon), is curious for a miracle-play, and must have been influenced by the folk feast. A payment for ‘rosyn to the resurrecyon pley’ (possibly for making a blaze: cf. p. 23, note 5) occurs in 1507, and in 1533-5 payments to ‘Mʳ Laborne’ ‘for reforming the Resurrecon pley,’ and ‘for a boke’ of it. In 1508 was a ‘pageaunt of the Passion on Easter Monday[898].’ RUCKINGE, KENT. Ruckinge players were at New Romney in 1430, and Lydd in 1431. RYE, SUSSEX. Rye players were at Lydd in 1480, and at New Romney in 1489. SABSFORD (?), ESSEX. ‘Sabsforde men’ hired the Chelmsford (q.v.) wardrobe in 1562, 1563, and 1566. But I can find no such place. SAFFRON WALDEN, ESSEX. ‘Men of Waldyne’ hired the Chelmsford (q.v.) wardrobe during 1564-6. ST. JUST, CORNWALL. See s.v. PERRANZABULO. SALISBURY, WILTSHIRE. A cathedral inventory of 1222 includes:— ‘Coronae ij de latone ad representationes faciendas.’ These latten ‘coronae’ may, I suppose, have been either crowns for the Magi, or ‘stellae[899].’ The churchwardens’ accounts of St. Edmund’s for 1461 include an item ‘for all apparel and furniture of players at the Corpus Christi[900].’ SHELFHANGER, NORFOLK. Thetford Priory made a payment ‘in regard to Schelfanger play’ in 1507-8 (Appendix E, iii). SHIPTON, OXFORDSHIRE. It was decided (†1220-28), as part of an award concerning the rights of collation to the churches of Shipton and Bricklesworth, both being prebends in Sarum cathedral, as follows:— ‘Actiones autem, si quae competant, in villa de Fifhide et de Idebire cedant canonico de Brikeleswrth. Actiones vero, si quae competant, in villa de Mideltone et de Langele, cedant canonico de Schiptone. Emolumentum vero actionum, si quae competant, in villa de Linham aequaliter inter se dividant[901].’ The editor of the _Sarum Charters_ can only explain _actiones_ as ‘plays.’ Ducange gives the word in the sense of _spectacula_.