Ludus Coventriæ
LUDUS COVENTRIÆ.
A Collection of Mysteries, FORMERLY REPRESENTED AT COVENTRY ON THE FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI.
EDITED BY JAMES ORCHARD HALLIWELL, ESQ. F.R.S. HON. M.R.I.A., F.S.A., F.R.A.S., &c.
LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY. 1841.
LONDON: F. SHOBERL, JUN., 51, RUPERT STREET, HAYMARKET, PRINTER TO H. R. H. PRINCE ALBERT.
Mr. Collier, in the second volume of his excellent History of English Dramatic Poetry, has carefully analyzed the Coventry Mysteries, with occasional notices of resemblances or dissimilarities in the method in which the same subjects are treated in the other collections. It will, therefore, be unnecessary for me in this place to enter on the general question of the chain in the evidence of dramatic history which these mysteries afford.
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.
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PROLOGUE.
I. THE CREATION.
II. THE FALL OF MAN.
III. CAIN AND ABEL.
IV. NOAH’S FLOOD.
V. ABRAHAM’S SACRIFICE.
VI. MOSES AND THE TWO TABLES.
VII. THE PROPHETS.
VIII. THE BARRENNESS OF ANNA.
IX. MARY IN THE TEMPLE.
X. MARY’S BETROTHMENT.
XI. THE SALUTATION AND CONCEPTION.
XII. JOSEPH’S RETURN.
XIII. THE VISIT TO ELIZABETH.
XIV. THE TRIAL OF JOSEPH AND MARY.
XV. THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.
XVI. THE ADORATION OF THE SHEPHERDS.
XVII. ADORATION OF THE MAGI.
XVIII. THE PURIFICATION.
XIX. THE SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS.
XX. CHRIST DISPUTING IN THE TEMPLE.
XXI. THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST.
XXII. THE TEMPTATION.
XXIII. THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY.
XXIV. LAZARUS.
XXV. THE COUNCIL OF THE JEWS.
XXVI. THE ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM.
XXVII. THE LAST SUPPER.
XVIII. THE BETRAYING OF CHRIST.
XXIX. KING HEROD.
XXX. THE TRIAL OF CHRIST.
XXXI. PILATE’S WIFE’S DREAM.
XXXII. THE CONDEMNATION AND CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST.
XXXIII. THE DESCENT INTO HELL.
XXXIV. THE BURIAL OF CHRIST.
XXXV. THE RESURRECTION.
XXXVI. THE THREE MARIES.
XXXVII. CHRIST APPEARING TO MARY.
XXXVIII. THE PILGRIM OF EMAUS.
XXXIX. THE ASCENSION.
XL. THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY GHOST.
XLI. THE ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN.
XLII. DOOMSDAY.
NOTES.
CORRECTIONS OF THE MS. AND ERRATA.
GLOSSARY.