Transcripts of old gild plays or Mysteries, and papers about them, from British Museum MSS., written in about A.D. 1800
Comprises:
1 (pp. 1, 121). Seven Chester plays, preceded by a proclamation of 1532 and 'Banes 'of 1600. The plays are:
- the Water leaders' (Noah, p. 10)
- the Cappers' (Balaam, p. 33)
- the Painters' (the Shepherds, p. 121)
- the Websters' (Last Day, p. 143)
- the Drapers' (the Creation, p. 167)
- the Goldsmiths' (Herod, p. 191)
- the Fletchers' (the Passion, p. 207)
These appear to be all from MSS. Harl. 2013, 2124. At p. 57 is a list of the Chester Gilds which performed the plays, etc., from 'Holmes's MS. [i.e. Harl.] 2125 'and 2142.
Also comprises four Coventry plays:
- (p. 24) Pilate's Wife, including part of the Crucifixion
- (p. 77) the Woman taken in Adultery
- (p. 95) Mary and Joseph
- (p. 109) the Creation
At p. 61 is a list of forty plays performed at Coventry, in English verse. The whole is from MS. Cotton Vesp. D.viii.
Dates
- Creation: written in about A.D. 1800
Extent
222 pages
Language of Materials
- English
Shelfmark
MS. Malone 4
Other Finding Aids
Falconer Madan, et al., A summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford which have not hitherto been catalogued in the Quarto series (7 vols. in 8 [vol. II in 2 parts], Oxford, 1895-1953; reprinted, with corrections in vols. I and VII, Munich, 1980), vol. IV, no 20552
Physical Facet
On paper
Dimensions
10 × 7 5/8 in.
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk