Full Description
The York Corpus Christi Play as we know it consists of 47 surviving individual plays or "pageants," 27 of which are included in this volume. (The whole is always referred to in the singular, following the usage of medieval York itself.) This cycle of plays was produced by the York civic government and its occupational guilds—called "crafts"—and performed annually for nearly 200 years on Corpus Christi day, a mid-summer feast with a movable date that could fall between May 23 and June 24. The York Corpus Christi play is the only extant and complete cycle of plays performed on Corpus Christi day in England throughout the play's life. The earliest record we have of the York play is from 1376; the last performance until the 20th century was in 1569. Together these 27 plays represent the cycle's core narrative of creation, fall, and salvation. In addition to 27 of the pageants, this new edition includes extensive annotation (both marginal glosses and explanatory footnotes), a wide-ranging introduction, and a helpful selection of background contextual materials.
Contents
Introduction
The York Corpus Christi Play: Selected Pageants
The Barkers
Pageant 1: The Creation of the Angels and the Fall of Lucifer
The Plasterers
Pageant 2: The Creation
The Coopers
Pageant 5: The Fall of Adam and Eve
The Shipwrights
Pageant 8: The Building of the Ark
The Fishers and Mariners
Pageant 9: The Flood
The Parchmentmakers and Bookbinders
Pageant 10: Abraham and Isaac
The Hosiers
Pageant 11: Moses and Pharaoh
The Spicers
Pageant 12: The Annunciation and Visitation
The Pewterers and Founders
Pageant 13: Joseph's Trouble About Mary
The Tilethatchers
Pageant 14: The Nativity
The Chandlers
Pageant 15: The Shepherds
The Masons; The Goldsmiths
Pageant 16: Herod and the Magi; The Offering of the Magi
The Girdlers and Nailers
Pageant 19: The Slaughter of the Innocents
The Capmakers
Pageant 24: The Woman Taken in Adultery and the Raising of Lazarus
The Skinners
Pageant 25: The Entry into Jerusalem
The Bowers and Fletchers
Pageant 29: Christ Before Annas and Caiaphas
The Tapiters and Couchers
Pageant 30: The First Trial Before Pilate: The Dream of Pilate's Wife
The Litsters
Pageant 31: The Trial Before Herod
The Tilemakers
Pageant 33: The Second Trial Before Pilate: The Judgment
The Pinners
Pageant 35: The Crucifixion
The Butchers
Pageant 36: The Death of Christ
The Saddlers
Pageant 37: The Harrowing of Hell
The Carpenters
Pageant 38: The Resurrection
The Winedrawers
Pageant 39: Christ's Appearance to Mary Magdalene
The Drapers
Pageant 44: The Death of Mary
The Weavers
Pageant 45: The Assumption of Mary
The Mercers
Pageant 47: The Last Judgment
In Context
Four Middle English Crucifixion Poems (c. 1340-1400)
"Ye that passen by the way"
"Men rent me on rood"
"Stand well, Mother, under rood"
"I sike when I sing"
Select Civic and Guild Records
From the Mercers' Pageant Accounts (1462)
From the City Chamberlains' Rolls: Account of Receipts for Station Placement (1462)
An Ordinance of the Tanners (1476)
From the City Council Minutes: Two Judgments Concerning Pageant Costs (1517)
Manuscript Images
Page from the Tile Thatchers' Nativity
Page from the Girdlers' and Nailers' Slaughter of the Innocents
Page from the Pinners' Crucifixion
Other Images
Holkham Bible: Adam and Eve
Bedford Hours: Noah Building the Ark
Canterbury Psalter: Scenes from Christ's infancy
Holkham Bible: Crucifixion
Gough Psalter: The Harrowing of Hell
