He plaieth Herode on a skaffold hie.”
The parish-clerks, says Tyrwhit, had always a principal share in the representation of mysteries. See notes to Canterbury Tales, v. 3384, Sharp’s Dissertation on the Coventry Mysteries, p. 17, and Reliquiæ Antiquæ, vol. i. p. 322.
P. [297], l. 13. Et cantabit gallus.] This was accomplished by one of the company, and a proficiency in the imitation was probably aimed at and accomplished. Among the accounts published by Mr. Sharp is the following entry:—“Paid to Fawston for coc croyng, iiij. d.”—Dissertation, p. 36.
P. [313], l. 4. Whi spekest not me to.] A great deal of this is merely paraphrased from the vulgate. Pilate “seide to Jhesu, of whenis art thou? but Jhesus gaf noon answere to him. Pilat seith to him, spekist thou not to me, wost thou not that I have power to crucifie thee, and I have power to delivere thee.”—John, chap. xix, Wickliffe’s version.
P. [329]. The Descent into Hell.] The oldest mystery in the English language is founded on this subject, a very popular theme, the principal authority for which is the gospel of Nicodemus. It is related in Piers Ploughman, ed. Wright, p. 385-393.
The print of Christ harrowing hell, published by Hearne, and the unique illustration which it affords to two passages in Shakespeare, are too well known to require a more particular notice.
P. [338]. The Resurrection.] The writer of the sermon against mysteries before quoted is very severe on the performance of so sacred a subject as the present. “In the dayes of ceremonial religion,” says Lambarde, “they used at Wytney to set foorthe yearly in manner of a shew or interlude, the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Chryste, partly of purpose to draw thyther some concourse of people that might spend their money in the towne, but chiefly to allure by pleasant spectacle the comon sort to the likinge of Popish maumetrie; for the which purpose, and the more lyvely thearby to exhibite to the eye the hole action of the Resurrection, the pristes garnished out certein smalle puppets, representinge the persons of Christe, the watchmen, Marie, and others, amongest the which one bare the parte of a wakinge watcheman, who, espiinge Christ to arise, made a continual noyce, like to the sound that is caused by the metinge of two styckes, and was thereof comonly called Jack Snacker of Wytney.”—Dictionarium Angliæ Topographicum et Historicum, Lond. 1730, p. 459.
P. [346], l. 11, 12.
Harde gatys have I gon,
And peynes sofryd many on.